I’ll go with the Colts over the Cowboys. Now let me know your predictions…

More football talk on my weekly XM segment.

By Dalton Del Don

Last year I finished 130-117 ATS, becoming the new “staff picks” champ over at RotoWire. Chris Liss has yet to get over it. Now back to prove it was no fluke, Week 1 seemed easy to pick, which means a poor start is almost surely likely. Seriously, loving all these home dogs.

Redskins +3.5 at Giants

Buccaneers +3.5 at Saints

Rams +7.5 at Eagles

Jets -3 at Dolphins

Chiefs +16.5 at Patriots

Texans +6.5 at Steelers

Bengals -1 at Ravens (best bet)

Lions -3 at Falcons

Seahawks pick ‘em at Bills

Jaguars -3 at Titans

Cowboys -5.5 at Browns

Panthers +9.5 at Chargers

Cardinals -2.5 at 49ers

Bears +9.5 at Colts

Vikings +2.5 at Packers

Broncos -3 at Raiders

No longer on NFL.com, but now Yahoo. I think that means I’m moving up in the world. Anyway, here’s the Week 1 version.

By Dalton Del Don

Quarterbacks

1. Tom Brady
2. Tony Romo
3. Ben Roethlisberger
4. Peyton Manning
5. Drew Brees

6. Kurt Warner
7. Derek Anderson
8. Donovan McNabb
9. Carson Palmer
10. Jay Cutler
11. Matt Hasselbeck
12. Matt Schaub
13. Eli Manning
14. Jon Kitna
15. Brett Favre

16. Aaron Rodgers
17. J.T. O’Sullivan
18. David Garrard
19. Jeff Garcia
20. Philip Rivers
21. Jake Delhomme
22. Marc Bulger

Running Backs

1. Brian Westbrook
2. LaDainian Tomlinson
3. Adrian Peterson
4. Marion Barber
5. Joseph Addai
6. Frank Gore

7. Marshawn Lynch
8. Steven Jackson
9. Brandon Jacobs
10. Laurence Maroney
11. Michael Turner
12. Willis McGahee/Ray Rice
13. Selvin Young
14. Willie Parker
15. Clinton Portis
16. Ryan Grant
17. Earnest Graham
18. Kevin Smith

19. Darren McFadden
20. Reggie Bush
21. Jamal Lewis
22. Larry Johnson
23. Thomas Jones
24. Maurice Jones-Drew
25. Ricky Williams
26. Chris Perry
27. LenDale White
28. Matt Forte
29. Edgerrin James
30. DeAngelo Williams
31. Maurice Morris

Wide Receivers

1. Randy Moss
2. Terrell Owens
3. Braylon Edwards
4. Reggie Wayne
5. Larry Fitzgerald
6. Andre Johnson

7. Calvin Johnson
8. Santonio Holmes
9. Anquan Boldin
10. Plaxico Burress
11. Marques Colston
12. Roddy White
13. Greg Jennings
14. Chad Johnson
15. T.J. Houshmandzadeh
16. Roy Williams
17. Jerricho Cotchery
18. Torry Holt
19. Wes Welker

20. Lee Evans
21. Marvin Harrison
22. Nate Burleson
23. Hines Ward
24. Patrick Crayton
25. Dwayne Bowe
26. Chris Chambers
27. Laveranues Coles
28. Santana Moss
29. Donald Driver
30. Joey Galloway

31. Vincent Jackson
32. Ted Ginn
33. Reggie Brown
34. Reggie Williams
35. Bryant Johnson
36. Donte Stallworth
37. Sidney Rice
38. Bernard Berrian
39. Ronald Curry
40. Derrick Mason

By Dalton Del Don

1. Indianapolis Colts

Last year Peyton Manning threw 14 interceptions; eight of them came against the Chargers, who ended up knocking Indy out of the playoffs. Manning enters 2008 surrounded by questions regarding his health, something unfamiliar with the signal caller. It’s still unclear just how serious the knee issue will be this season, but it’s clearly the most important aspect of the team’s season. With Jake Scott gone and Jeff Saturday injured, rookie Mike Pollak will become an integral part of the offense, playing a position of significant importance. Saturday’s injury could be devastating. With Anthony Gonzalez developing and the return of Marvin Harrison, there are plenty of weapons in the passing game, even if Harrison shows expected signs of decline. If Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders remain healthy, the defense will be very tough to score on.

2. Houston Texans (wild card)

Watch out, this team could be dangerous. Defense is still a huge question mark, but Mario Williams could lead the league in sacks this season, and a dominant end can be felt everywhere. Amobi Okoye could also break out, while DeMeco Ryans is a force at linebacker. Fred Bennett allowed the fewest YPA of any corner in football last season. Bottom line, it remains to be seen how the unit will perform as a whole, but there are some nice pieces in place, especially if Dunta Robinson can return to old form midway through the season. On offense, it’s imperative Matt Schaub stays healthy. Sage Rosenfels is a solid backup, but he’s nowhere near the QB Schaub is. With Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels as targets, this passing game could light up the scoreboard. The fact they don’t have a brand name running back means little.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville is a solid football team, but the defense overachieved last year. On a per play basis, they were average, but when it came to the red zone, they did a tremendous job of holding opponents to field goals and not touchdowns. Kind of like a hitter who raked with RISP one season, that type of performance is likely unsustainable, which means the Jags will be giving up more points this year, especially since Marcus Stroud is gone, and John Henderson is aging and a big injury risk. However, it’s possible their draft picks will help nullify that. Adding Jerry Porter probably won’t help much, but David Garrard is an elite talent. Still, his 0.9 interception percentage last year was the lowest in NFL history, so more turnovers are inevitable.

4. Tennessee Titans

If defense and running the football leads to winning, the Titans will certainly finish higher than this fourth place projection. The defense is strong, especially if Albert Haynesworth can stay healthy and motivated. Cortland Finnegan sounds more like an Irish Pub than it does a cornerback, but he’s legit. The offensive line is also a strength, and Chris Johnson adds an explosive element previously missing. It says here Johnson has a much better year than LenDale White. Unfortunately, the passing game is completely inept, with no wide receivers and Vince Young at quarterback. Young could show improvement with Norm Chow now gone, but he’s a better fantasy QB than one in real life. It’s a big problem.

By Dalton Del Don

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The division is filled with solid yet flawed teams. The Steelers are least flawed.  The offensive line was already a weakness, and that was before Alan Faneca departed. The defensive line is also aging, so in the trenches, this team isn’t what it used to be, and that’s a major area of concern. The drafting of Rashard Mendenhall improves the running game, especially in short-yardage situations. Santonio Holmes is long on talent, and he’s a future superstar. Ben Roethlisberger takes too many sacks, but he’s the key difference maker in the division. He’s a top-5 player in football playing the most important position on the field.

2. Cleveland Browns

The Browns were the surprise team of 2007, and the requisite hype has followed that into this season. Cleveland’s schedule gets much tougher, including more games under the lights than the defending Super Bowl champs. Never has this team played with such expectations. The additions of Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers to the D-line could prove huge, but the secondary remains a huge problem. The offensive line is a big strength, as are Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards. Derek Anderson is the key, and the fact his YPA dropped from 8.2 to 6.2 over the second half of last season is some concern, but it was his first year as a starter, and the weather also played a role. Brady Quinn could be an adequate replacement if need be, but he’s more of a check down guy at this stage of his career, whereas Anderson attacks downfield like no other.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have stars at quarterback and wide receiver, but that’s about it. The defense remains a big problem, although adding Antwan Odom and Keith Rivers could help. The offensive line makes Palmer’s job much tougher, as it’s not a strong unit. If all three wide receivers can stay healthy and out of prison, the passing game won’t be easy to defend, especially with Ben Utecht now in the fold. Still, this team is soft and can’t play on the road. Of all the divisions in the NFL, this one would surprise me least if my predicted order was reversed at season’s end.

4. Baltimore Ravens

This defense could return to elite status, as the line is awfully strong and the secondary tough with a healthy Chris McAlister and the addition of Fabian Washington. The offense, however, is a problem, starting with the line, which is unproven and lost Jonathan Ogden to retirement. Rookie Ray Rice adds a much-needed new dimension to the backfield, and he looks like the future at the position for Baltimore. Todd Heap is perpetually banged up, and unfortunately, Mark Clayton looks like the new Michael Clayton. The team better hope Troy Smith makes it back on the field as soon as possible, because Joe Flacco certainly isn’t ready.

By Dalton Del Don

1. New England Patriots

After rewriting the record books in 2007, the Patriots actually enter the year with something to prove, as the Super Bowl loss to the Giants no doubt still lingers in their minds. There’s not much to say here; this team is very good and has few weaknesses, despite going through the preseason as if they were destined to finish last. The offense is more likely to play like it did during the second half of last season than the first, but that’s still plenty good. Tom Brady’s current health status is questionable, but it’s doubtful that situation turns into a long-term problem. Randy Moss needs to avoid leg injuries, and Laurence Maroney needs to learn how to block, but New England enters 2008 as the heavy favorite to win it all.

2. New York Jets

During the offseason, the Jets added Brett Favre, Alan Faneca, Damien Woody and Kris Jenkins, so the expectations are sky high. While many of the additions look good on paper, the NFL’s not as easily transferable as other sports, and it’s extremely important to tie players together with scheme, so it remains to be seen how they fit in. Favre, most likely, will be an upgrade, and Jerricho Cotchery could explode as a result. If Thomas Jones gets another 300 carries, the team will likely have a below average ground game, but there should be more room to run in 2008. David Harris might be the best player few people talk about.

3. Miami Dolphins

Yes, they were 1-15 last year, but six of those losses were by three points, so they weren’t some historical doormat. With an entire new coaching regime, things are looking up, but there will need to be patience. Chad Pennington has his shortcomings, but there’s no doubt he’s an upgrade over John Beck. Chad Henne is the future. The O-line should also get better with the additions of Jake Long and Justin Smiley. Ted Ginn gives the offense an explosive element, while Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams form a terrific duo in the backfield. Miami isn’t headed to the playoffs, but they are likely to remain competitive in most of their games this season.

4. Buffalo Bills

The Bills weren’t bad last year, but they were probably a little bit worse than their record indicated. It’s possible Trent Edwards is the answer at quarterback, but he hasn’t shown many signs of that being the case thus far. Even if he demonstrates improvement during year two as starter, he’ll remain inconsistent. Marshawn Lynch is good, but Jason Peters might be more important to the franchise, and his holdout appears to be long lasting, which is a significant blow. Lee Evans has the skills of an elite wide receiver, but his numbers fail to reveal that more often than not.

By Dalton Del Don

1. Denver Broncos

The Broncos were soft against the run last year, but that’s the area on defense you’d prefer to be weak against. Champ Bailey figures to rebound after a disappointing 2007 campaign, and Dre Bly isn’t a bad No. 2 corner. The linebackers should improve, and Elvis Dumervil looks like a potential dominant end. With a relatively easy looking schedule, the defense could become a strength. If I had the No. 1 pick in starting a franchise right now, I’d be hard pressed to pass on Jay Cutler, who is going to explode in his third year and now healthy after his diabetes was treated. Football is more than the quarterback position, but the Broncos have a major advantage here, and Brandon Marshall is an elite weapon as well. Rookie Eddie Royal will also contribute, as will Tony Scheffler. The offensive line isn’t what it once was, but it’s still a plus, especially after adding left tackle Ryan Clady through the draft. It doesn’t matter that Denver doesn’t have a name brand running back; the team will almost assuredly average better than 4.5 YPC and finish among the league-leaders. Playing in Colorado’s thin air is also an advantage that can’t be underestimated.

2. San Diego Chargers (wild card)

This might be the only preview where the Chargers aren’t finishing first in the division, but there’s no doubting the team enters with plenty of talent. The health of Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates are concerns. Shawne Merriman and Nick Hardwick are also hurt. San Diego has a very good offensive line (although Marcus McNeill took a huge step back last year) with Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson out wide, so there’s no shortage of depth. Still, Rivers will need to play like he did in the playoffs for the team to dominate, as he was merely a league average starter throughout the regular season, and the rest of the division figures to be improved this time around. This is admittedly anecdotal, but teams often struggle the year after losing in the Conference Championship.

3. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are moving in the right direction, but the decision to draft JaMarcus Russell over Calvin Johnson last year could prove crushing. The defense could be sneaky good, as DeAngelo Hall was added to play alongside Nnamdi Asomugha, the NFL’s best cover corner. Additionally, the signing of Gibril Wilson helped two-fold, as he’s a big upgrade from Stewart Schweigert, and it also allowed Michael Huff to move to free safety, which will better utilize his skills. The strong secondary will allow the team to allocate more resources toward stopping the run, an area the Raiders struggled mightily in last year. The offensive line, and in particular the run blocking, is a major strength. Robert Gallery has finally found a home at left guard, and while new left tackle Kwame Harris can run block, it could get ugly in pass protection. Oakland will be a run-heavy team that’s likely successful, but Russell is going to struggle, especially with a very thin receiving group.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs were smart to admit where the franchise stood and went into full-blown rebuild mode this offseason, focusing on getting younger through the draft. The additions of Glenn Dorsey and Branden Albert should pay dividends down the road, but this team is quite a ways from contention, mainly because they still lack a franchise quarterback. Brodie Croyle’s wife may be hot, but that appears to be about all he’s got going for him. Dwayne Bowe will be a star once the team does decide to upgrade under center, and any fantasy owner who drafted Larry Johnson this year will end up disappointed.

By Dalton Del Don

1. New Orleans Saints

After an 0-4 start last year, the Saints were a pretty good football team. However, the defense is a problem. The additions of Jonathan Vilma and Sedrick Ellis could make a major impact, and the offense should be a plus. One serious concern is that the team may once again be at the mercy of New Orleans’ weather, which is even worse when you consider one of their “home” games will be played in London. It’s amazing how few times Drew Brees gets sacked with all those pass attempts, and it’s safe to expect last year’s 6.8 YPA to jump at least a half a yard. Jeremy Shockey’s presence certainly won’t hurt. Absolutely nothing should be expected of Deuce McAllister, and it’d be a mild surprise if Pierre Thomas doesn’t finish with more yards and touchdowns than the disappointing Reggie Bush. But the Saints will win with their passing attack.

2. Carolina Panthers (wild card)

The Panthers were one of only two teams last year to start four different quarterbacks, and since they were painfully slow to realize David Carr is a lemon, the team was doomed as a result. There’s no guarantee Jake Delhomme stays healthy or returns to form coming off major elbow surgery and now 33 years old, but all signs point to a full recovery. It’s simple – when he and Steve Smith are on the same field together, the offense is tough. Of course, Smith will miss the first two games of the season after rearranging Ken Lucas’ face, but that incident supposedly brought the team together like never before. Seriously. D.J. Hackett probably won’t make a huge difference, but the return of Muhsin Muhammad should help the running game. Speaking of which, Carolina’s ground game should take huge strides, as rookie Jonathan Stewart is a massive upgrade over the departed DeShaun Foster, and his addition has also led to a vastly improved DeAngelo Williams. Rookie Jeff Otah’s presence can’t hurt either. Expect a monstrous bounce back from Julius Peppers, making the defense a force.

3. Atlanta Falcons

Out with the old, and in with the new. One more year removed from the Michael Vick debacle, the Falcons now have their franchise quarterback, left tackle, running back and coach. Of course, there’s going to be growing pains, especially since they will be starting a rookie QB from the get go. Still, there’s reason for optimism here, and Mike Smith is a gigantic upgrade over that fraud Bobby Petrino. Roddy White is a star who will demand opposing defenses attention, while the Michael Turner/Jerious Norwood combo should be pretty productive.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The fact every single division winner in the NFC South has finished in last place the following year is irrelevant, as stats like that certainly aren’t useful predictive measures. Still, it’s quite possible the trend continues, as Tampa Bay enters 2008 with plenty of question marks. The defense is solid, no doubt, but the offense could be a major problem, with its two best players ages 36 and 38. Expect plenty of regression from Jeff Garcia this season.

By Dalton Del Don

1. Minnesota Vikings

Not a big fan of going with the popular and chic pick, but the Vikings are set up to win the North this season. Losing Bryant McKinnie for the first four games won’t help, but it’s still a strong offensive line. The team’s two biggest strengths – running the ball and stopping the run – aren’t really all that important to winning football games, despite what the media would lead you to believe. Still, with the addition of Jared Allen, Minnesota’s pass defense figures to improve. On offense, Adrian Peterson can walk on water and then afterward turn that into wine, but it all comes down to Tarvaris Jackson. Turnovers have been a big problem with Jackson, but he’s probably the fastest QB in the league and did improve to 7.1 YPA over the second half last year and also looked good this preseason before suffering an injury. The addition of Bernard Berrian combined with the emerging Sidney Rice should help make the offense less one-dimensional.

2. Green Bay Packers

The Packers will definitely contend for the division, but their secondary is aging, and the team is extremely weak in the middle upfront. The offensive line does open gaping holes for Ryan Grant, and the wide receiving corps is a huge strength. Still, the team’s success will obviously come down to how Aaron Rodgers plays. He was impressive during his one relief appearance against the Cowboys last year, but that was one half of football against a team that didn’t prepare for him. Rodgers looked terrific one game this preseason, then horrible the next. He’s also rather injury-prone. His teammates around him are good enough to keep Green Bay in contention, but Rodgers will need to step up. There probably isn’t a worse QB2 situation in football.

3. Detroit Lions

While the rest of the division went 1-3 this preseason, the Lions were undefeated. Of course, that means little, but the subtraction of Mike Martz should lead to fewer sacks and turnovers. The offensive line is a weakness, but Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams make the team difficult to defend. Johnson might be the most physically gifted athlete in the league and is a top-10 commodity in the NFL. If he outproduced Randy Moss, it should come as no surprise. Detroit’s defense doesn’t look good on paper, but they did revamp the secondary with players familiar with coach Rod Marinelli’s Tampa 2 scheme. It often takes time for a unit to adjust to such a system, so there could be improvement during year three of the regime.

4. Chicago Bears

In today’s game, it’s simply too hard to keep a dominant defensive unit for longer than three years. The defense is likely to bounce back some this season, but they really need to stay healthy for it to happen. The offensive line is a problem, and drafting Chris Williams, who was completely crossed off some teams’ boards because of a chronic back issue, doesn’t appear to be the answer since the back problem is already a serious issue. Matt Forte can only improve the running back position, but the team’s receiving corps is a joke. So is the quarterback. The Bears are one of the leading candidates to have the worst offense in the NFL in 2008.

By Dalton Del Don

1. Dallas Cowboys

Don’t expect another 13-3 season, especially playing in such a tough division, but the Cowboys are still the team to beat in the NFC. Tony Romo is a true superstar, but he needs Terrell Owens to stay healthy and also defy the laws of aging. Without Owens, the offense becomes a whole lot easier to defend. Marion Barer is one of the five best running backs in the league, and the team improves just by no longer wasting carries on the far inferior Julius Jones. Wade Phillips as coach is a negative, but Jason Garrett’s presence nullifies that. The defense theoretically improves with the Pacman Jones addition, but he was used to man coverage in Tennessee, and Dallas is primarily zone, and coming off a year away from football, there’s going to be a major transition period.

2. New York Giants (wild card)

While last year’s Super Bowl run qualified as a major surprise, this Giants team is no joke, and another deep run into the playoffs can’t be ruled out. Of course, losing Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora is a huge deal, since defensive line was the team’s main strength. While depth could be a problem, there’s still plenty of talent, as Justin Tuck is an emerging star, and Mathias Kiwanuka is a fine replacement. GM Jerry Reese hit yet another home run with the Kenny Phillips selection, and with Aaron Ross’ continued development, the secondary also looks like a plus. The ground game should also be extremely productive, regardless of whether Brandon Jacobs can stay healthy or not. It remains to be seen if Eli Manning truly took a step forward with his play in the postseason, but it’d take a major leap from his career performance (54.7 completion percentage, 6.3 YPA) just to be a better than average QB. Expect somewhere in between.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles finished strong last season and actually outscored their opponents by nearly 40 points, so they were better than the .500 record indicates. Unfortunately, the division is just too loaded. The defense is solid, but the Asante Samuel signing will likely go down as a mistake. Trent Cole is a beast. But the wideout group is one of the worst in football, and both Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook are health risks. McNabb improved as the year went on last year and is further removed from knee surgery, but he’s not some game-changing QB – he’s good, not great. Westbrook, on the other hand, might be the most difficult running back to gameplan against. He’s truly one of the most valuable backs in the NFL.

4. Washington Redskins

The Redskins are coming off a playoff appearance in 2007, and there’s about a zero percent chance of it happening again this year. There isn’t a glaring weakness on the team, but there also isn’t an area where they particularly exceed either. It figures to be a rough transition moving from Joe Gibbs’ system to a West Coast offense under Jim Zorn. Jason Campbell is nothing special, but it’d certainly help if Santana Moss somehow remained 100 percent throughout a season. Clinton Portis’ best days are behind him.

By Dalton Del Don

1. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona would likely finish last in half the divisions in the NFL, but because they are in the NFC West, they have a good shot at the postseason for the first time in a decade. The team really only excels in one area, and that’s the passing game, but that also comes with too many sacks and turnovers. Kurt Warner is the superior option, but he’s unlikely to last 16 games. Tim Hightower betters the running game, and the defense is improving. There will be major steps forward during year two under Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm.

2. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle enters the clear favorite in the division, with an emerging defensive unit and an offensive system that produces even with changing parts. At age 32, it’s unlikely Patrick Kerney repeats his performance form last season, and the ground game is in decline. Usually the system trumps name-brand receivers in Seattle, but this incredibly thin and untested corps will really test that theory. Matt Hasselbeck is good, not great, and last year’s 28 TD passes with a 7.1 YPA was a fluke. The Seahawks do, however, have a terrific homefield advantage.

3. San Francisco 49ers

After ranking dead last in total offense last year, the hope is that new OC Mike Martz can bring dramatic changes. It certainly can’t be worse than Jim Hostler’s predictable schemes. With the additions of Bryant Johnson and exciting rookie Josh Morgan, combined with the continued maturation of Vernon Davis, there is some upside here. However, that all depends on the quarterback, and J.T. O’Sullivan is the great unknown. Still, that’s better than the known, Alex Smith, who is one of the biggest busts in NFL history; he’s right up there with David Carr and Joey Harrington as the worst quarterbacks ever. As good as last year’s draft was (Patrick Willis, Joe Staley), it was equally as bad this time around (each of their first five picks look like game day inactives). Still, it’s likely the defense improves, and in such a winnable division, anything is possible.

4. St. Louis Rams

Things can’t possibly go as bad as last season, when injuries ravaged the entire offense. However, the team is also unlikely to fare all that much better. The offense is an aging unit with a leaky line. Steven Jackson is the team’s best player, which isn’t a good sign considering his position is running back – the most fungible on the field (linebacker is close). If Marc Bulger reverts to old form, St. Louis has a shot, but he needs to stay upright – and in games – for that to happen. With a far weaker cast of characters surrounding the signal caller, don’t expect it to happen.

By Dalton Del Don

It was too much to make accompanying write ups with these rankings, but here they (finally) are. They are a bit out of the box compared to the general consensus you’ll see elsewhere, and if you want an explanation/reasoning or to ridicule me, as always, feel free to bring that up in the comments section.

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Marion Barber
3. LaDainian Tomlinson
4. Joseph Addai
5. Steven Jackson
6. Brian Westbrook
7. Frank Gore

8. Marshawn Lynch
9. Ryan Grant
10. Clinton Portis
11. Larry Johnson
12. Maurice Jones-Drew
13. Michael Turner
14. Darren McFadden
15. Laurence Maroney
16. Brandon Jacobs
17. Jamal Lewis
18. Willis McGahee

19. Earnest Graham
20. Kevin Smith
21. Matt Forte
22. Selvin Young
23. Reggie Bush
24. Chris Johnson
25. Ronnie Brown

26. Willie Parker
27. Jonathan Stewart
28. DeAngelo Williams
29. Ricky Williams
30. LenDale White
31. Thomas Jones
32. Rashard Mendenhall
33. Chester Taylor
34. Fred Taylor
35. Chris Perry
36. Andre Hall
37. Ahmad Bradshaw
38. Justin Fargas
39. Tim Hightower
40. Ray Rice
41. Pierre Thomas
42. Kenny Watson
43. Felix Jones

44. Edgerrin James
45. Julius Jones
46. Steve Slaton
47. Maurice Morris
48. Jerious Norwood
49. Rudi Johnson
50. Brandon Jackson
51. Darren Sproles
52. Ladell Betts
53. Leon Washington
54. Fred Jackson
55. Kevin Jones

By Dalton Del Don

It was too much to make accompanying write ups with these rankings, but here they (finally) are. They are a bit out of the box compared to the general consensus you’ll see elsewhere, and if you want an explanation/reasoning or to ridicule me, as always, feel free to bring that up in the comments section.

1. Randy Moss
2. Braylon Edwards
3. Andre Johnson
4. Terrell Owens
5. Reggie Wayne
6. Larry Fitzgerald

7. Calvin Johnson
8. Marques Colston
9. Brandon Marshall
10. Steve Smith
11. Plaxico Burress
12. Santonio Holmes
13. Anquan Boldin
14. Roddy White
15. T.J. Houshmandzadeh
16. Greg Jennings
17. Jerricho Cotchery
18. Torry Holt
19. Roy Williams
20. Chad Johnson
21. Wes Welker

22. Lee Evans
23. Dwayne Bowe
24. Nate Burleson
25. Marvin Harrison
26. Chris Chambers
27. Laveranues Coles
28. Santana Moss
29. Anthony Gonzalez
30. Hines Ward
31. Vincent Jackson
32. Donald Driver
33. Patrick Crayton
34. Reggie Brown
35. Joey Galloway

36. Reggie Williams
37. Sidney Rice
38. Ted Ginn
39. Ronald Curry
40. Chris Henry
41. Bernard Berrian
42. Donte Stallworth
43. Robert Meachem
44. Bryant Johnson
45. Jerry Porter

Another edition of Risers & Fallers.

By Dalton Del Don

I’m pretty dumbfounded where Thomas Jones has been going in my drafts. Last year’s 1,119 rushing yards don’t look bad as an end result, but that was because he received the fifth most carries in the league, and on a week-to-week basis, he was literally unusable, especially since he’s so uninvolved in the passing game. Maybe he’ll bounce back at the goal line (1-for-17 last year) and become a viable option, and Brett Favre’s addition does bring optimism. However, he averaged 3.6 YPC last season and is now a year older. He’s on the wrong side of 30 and has carried a big workload over the past three years. I’d draft teammate Jerricho Cotchery ahead of Jones eight days a week.

The more I think about it, the more I’m considering Marion Barber as the No. 1 overall pick. First of all, he’s awesome. Also, he’s in one of the best offensive systems in football, is extremely durable, catches passes, is fresh as a runner and gets all the goal-line work. No one else can say the same. The guy has scored 28 touchdowns over the past two seasons without ever starting a game. Felix Jones will probably get similar carries to every other backup in the league. The only player I’d take over Barber is Adrian Peterson, and that’s mostly because of the huge discrepancy in Week 14-16 schedules.

I tried to talk myself into Julius Jones after he signed in Seattle, but apparently I momentarily forgot how much he sucks. Not that Maurice Morris is some budding star, but at least he knows the system well and is solid. Jones can’t catch or break a tackle. It’s a coin flip on whom I’d rather have, but the fact MoMo typically goes 5-10 rounds later makes it a no-brainer.

I’m surprisingly hooked on HBO’s “Hard Knocks.” Some quick, general observations: Wade Phillips is clueless, Jerry Jones is insane, Pacman Jones is rusty, Martellus Bennett is a punk, Tony Romo is extremely unassuming, and Terrell Owens is the man.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer Steve Slaton, but Chris Taylor seems to be getting overlooked in Houston’s backfield. Ahman Green and Chris Brown are done, just forget about them and move on. So after Slaton, who else does that leave? Darius Walker isn’t even getting preseason carries, whereas Taylor is getting preseason starts. His YPC hasn’t impressed, but the Houston beat writers have raved about this guy for years. Maybe he best projects at fullback, but the opportunity for much more appears to be there. The Texans’ offense should be very good.

If I’m drafting a Bronco running back, it’s Andre Hall. For one, he’ll cost much cheaper. Also, which is somehow being overlooked, he’s currently the team’s goal-line runner. He can catch the ball, is fast and averaged 4.9 YPC last season. Rookie Ryan Clady looks like a dominant franchise left tackle, and only Young is really competing for touches right now.

During the NFL Draft, ESPN frequently cut to camera crews inside the homes of Chad Henne and Brian Brohm as they fell down the draft board. Since I’m not a big college football watcher, I decided to predict who would be the better pro based on my scientific reasoning that was body language. I concluded Henne in a landslide. There’s really no point to this, other than to say so far I look very, very good. Of course, I could have been just as right flipping a coin, but still.

I’ve seen Willie Parker go as high as the second round recently. Huh? Not only is his touchdown potential limited since he’ll get taken out at the goal line, but he also doesn’t catch the ball – two pretty crucial aspects to the value of fantasy backs. So what if Rashard Mendenhall has struggled a bit over the first few weeks of his pro career; he still looms large. Parker’s YPC has dropped four straight seasons, as his workload has increased significantly. Plus, he’s coming off a broken leg. All the Fred Taylor comparisons are apt.

Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express were both good, not amazing. The best part of each: Tropic Thunder’s opening fake trailers, which killed me, and Pineapple Express’ Amber Heard.

If you are set on drafting an Arizona running back, make it Tim Hightower and not Edgerrin James. Not only will he come much cheaper, but he’s also got a higher ceiling at this point in their respective careers. James is coming off five straight 300-carry seasons and is approaching 3,000 career rushes, which is astronomical for a running back. He also hasn’t averaged better than 3.8 YPC since leaving Indy. Hightower, meanwhile, has impressed and will at worst get 10 carries a game, including all the goal-line work. But there’s likely to be much, much more.

Peyton Manning’s mysterious injury status is of utter importance, since it not only affects a top-3 QB but also a top-5 pick, three draftable wide receivers and a tight end. I think he should be fine long-term, but the repercussions here could be devastating if not.

Darren McFadden has ended up on far too many of my teams this year. He’s not even the starter, led college football in fumbles last year, could lose goal-line work to Michael Bush and plays on a team that figures to struggle in the passing game. Naturally, I view Run-DMC as a top-15 back. No, he’s not going to go all Adrian Peterson on the league his rookie year, and I do worry about his ability to break tackles, but Oakland’s running system is top-3 in the league, and Tom Cable’s run blocking unit only improved over the offseason. The team will be very ground heavy, so there will be plenty of carries to go around, and McFadden should be active as a receiver. The defense should improve, and Oakland’s coaches are quietly ecstatic that McFadden fell to them after watching him through training camp. Additionally, Bush doesn’t look the same as he did before the broken leg, and Fargas is quite injury-prone.

I actually enjoyed the Olympics a good deal. But seriously, how can so many world records go down? Evolution is going into overdrive, apparently. Speaking of which, I thought this WSJ article on the world’s greatest athlete was ridiculous at the time, but it looks even worse after their No. 1 finished in sixth place at his event in the Olympics.

To the RotoScoop faithful, let me first apologize for not cranking out as much material as usual. Been a real busy time of year, featuring me in far too many fantasy football drafts. Anyway, that all changes starting this week, when I’ll start busting out numerous articles, including NFL division previews, more rankings and advice that will make you feel guilty for reading for free. Stay tuned, and thank you for your continued support of RotoScoop.

Here are the results from a recent industry draft I participated in. It’s the third year I represented RotoWire in this league, and it consists of some pretty good competition. The big difference here is that it’s PPR. My sixth round pick made RotoWorld’s Gregg Rosenthal “shudder,” and I don’t think that was a compliment.

Check out this week’s version of Risers & Fallers.