By Pete Smits

Information is everywhere, coming from multiple sources in real-time.  The best thing we can give you is educated opinions to compare with your own and that of the other sources you use.  The Grab-Bag has a track record that speaks for itself, but opinions are exactly that – opinions.  This is a predictive column based on our best information available, and the Crystal Ball usually works well.  The Grab-Bag strives to keep you at least one week ahead of your competition by screening the one week wonders and separating them from the future stars. 

 

For any newcomers out there ---once the regular season starts, the Grab-Bag column by itself is available Monday mornings during the season with the first and earliest opinions on worthwhile pick-ups for the upcoming week.  The extended version of the Grab-Bag arrives in the Weekly Report, available Wednesday evening.  In this version of the column, changes and additions from Monday morning are italicized and occasionally highlighted in bold or red type as appropriate.

One unique aspect of this column is, in fact, how early we make suggestions for the following week.  At all times, these will be before your league's waiver wire deadlines and, depending on your own opinions, may lead you to grab a key player one week before the rest of your league has been alerted.

 

So, let’s get started on a winning season…..

 

 

GRAB ‘EM

 

 

QUARTERBACKS

 

Derek Anderson, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals could not have made Anderson's status as starting QB more official with this week's release of former first round draft choice (10th overall in 2006) Matt Leinart.  To this day, Anderson's reputation as anything resembling an adequate FF quarterback is based on a streak of good performances against terrible pass defenses in 2007.  Nevertheless, if you need a surprise starter, ideally in leagues where you can start two QB's, Anderson could be a respectable play in Week One at St. Louis.

 

Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

The Rams will put the first selection in the 2010 draft into action from Week One forward when they host the Cardinals in the opener.  Bradford has picked up NFL offensive and defensive schemes quickly, and has all of the physical and mental skills necessary to make the best of an always tough assignment for a rookie.   The Rams have the next to easiest schedule in the NFL based on 2009 results (.449 winning percentage for opponents), and if your roster allows you to stash Bradford to wait for the right match-up he should post some respectable numbers over the second half of the season.

 

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The athletic, speedy second year QB from Kansas State was a trendy dark horse pick in the early preseason before fracturing the tip of his thumb on a helmet a few weeks ago.  All indications are that Freeman will be ready for the Bucs opener hosting the Cleveland Browns, making an opening week FF start within the bounds of possibility.  He has outstanding physical skills and has a presence on the field that suggests he will very comfortable in the league, posting nice numbers through the air and on the ground.

 

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

Along with the usual opening week developments, there are two RB tandems in Cleveland and Oakland where the present and potential starting backs have arguably increased in value.

 

Jerome Harrison, Cleveland Browns

With rookie running back Montario Hardesty out for the season with a torn ACL, the sensation of late 2009 has the starting job for now.  Harrison posted 570 yards over the past four games of the season, all job-saving wins for HC Eric Mangini.  Reading between the lines, the Browns are not content to place their backfield firmly in the hands of the 5-9, 198 lbs. 5th year back from Washington State, meaning that an alert FF owner should also consider....

 

Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns

The Browns acquired the versatile 6-2, 250 lbs. former Arkansas fullback (where he shared the backfield with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones) from the Broncos in the offseason.  Hillis has good hands and has a surprising burst for someone his size.  The starting job is Harrison's to lose, but Hillis will be in the mix regardless.  During the worst of the Broncos' backfield injuries, Hillis handled every down carries with good results and could do so again if called upon in 2010.

 

Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders

It looks like starting RB Michael Bush will not be available for at least the first few weeks of the regular season after fracturing his thumb during the preseason, giving the starting job back to the disappointing Darren McFadden by default rather than merit.  The offense should be generally energized by the addition of an actual NFL quarterback in Jason Campbell.  The offensive line does a far better job blocking for the run than the pass.  Question marks abound even for a Week One start for McFadden as he is struggling with a hamstring injury and faces a good rush defense in Tennessee.  Nevertheless, he is nearing the end of his opportunities to seize an NFL career and, in theory, should give it everything he has in 2010.

 

Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders

Given McFadden's injury history and Bush's tenacity, the latter will definitely be a useful back this season and could be back as early as Week Three or Four.  The Raiders were expecting to give Bush every down work along with increased use in the passing game.   Accordingly, we recommend drafting Bush just about where you would have before his thumb injury, allowing nature and McFadden to take their usual course.

 

Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks

With the “is he or isn’t he released” status of Julius Jones, (and right this second he has NOT been released by Seattle), the obvious winner is rookie Justin Forsett. Given the opportunity, the 5-8 194 lbs. Forsett looks like he could post numbers and results somewhat similar to what Maurice Jones-Drew does for the Jaguars.  Speedy scatback Leon Washington also appears to be near full-strength and expects to see change-up and third down work, but not enough to affect the upside for Forsett.

 

Fred Taylor, New England Patriots

On one hand, the former Florida Gator is 34 years old; on the other, Taylor is the starting running back for the Patriots going into the season, moving ahead of turnover-prone Laurence Maroney.

 

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The rookie from Syracuse came into the league with the dreaded "character" issues from his time at Syracuse.  Williams has put all of those concerns aside during the preseason with all reports pointing to a potentially epic rookie season for the muscular 6-2, 221 lbs. receiver.  He continues to be mostly overlooked in many FF drafts to date.

 

Mike Williams, Seattle Seahawks

The former first round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2005 is about to complete one of the better comebacks in recent memory, moving into the starting line-up in Seattle with the release of WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh.   The 6-5, 235 lbs. Williams came into camp in great shape, caught 10 passes for 177 yards and a TD in the preseason, and will start opposite veteran Deion Branch.

 

Patrick Crayton, San Diego Chargers

Wherever and whenever holdout wide receiver Vincent Jackson plays in 2010, it will not be with the Chargers.  Meanwhile, the reasonably talented Crayton escaped a crowded receiving corps in Dallas, and could work his way into slot receiver duty in San Diego sooner rather than later.   With most of the team talent coming from the passing game, we like Crayton's chances to work his way into the starting mix along with relatively unproven receivers Malcom Floyd and Legedu Naanee.

 

 

 

FROM THE DEEP:

 

This section is devoted to deeper leagues to try to give a few names that are still available and may make an impact later in the year.

 

Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

The exact role for the 5-11, 229 lbs. 6th round draft choice from Georgia Tech is not determined, but given Steeler precedent, there is a good chance that Dwyer vultures goal line carries from starter Rashard Mendenhall.  Mendenhall is expected to see more passes out of the backfield, which could lead to Dwyer also giving him a breather on an odd series here and there.  This could be one of those rare situations where a shared backfield increases the value of both backs, even more so given the likelihood that the Steelers rein the passing offense in during Roethlisberger's suspension.

 

Kareem Huggins, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The 5-9, 198 lbs. 2nd year from Hofstra is rumored to have posted a 4.28 time in the 40-yard dash and is one Cadillac Williams' knee injury away from taking over starting duties for the Bucs.  That sentence alone should lead you to consider him in the late rounds of your draft or in your first week on the waiver wire.

 

Sammie Stroughter, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Stroughter posted some nice games towards the end of 2009 and will be starting opposite rookie Mike Williams in the Tampa Bay offense.  Second year QB Josh Freeman will bring energy to the offense and value to Stroughter as the season progresses.

 

Keiland Williams, RB, Washington Redskins

With only aging Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson in front of him, this undrafted rookie from LSU could be the next Mike Shanahan find in the Redskins' backfield.  The 5-11, 230 lbs. Williams has moved into the third slot on the depth chart, with former Bronco Ryan Torain being assigned to the Washington practice squad.  Portis is already ailing going into the season and Johnson has little, if anything, left in the tank.