Arizona Cardinals

QB: Kurt Warner was signed to be the Cardinals starting QB in 2005. He'll have better weapons than he had with the Giants last season, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to see Josh McCown on the field either. Entering camp Warner is "firmly" entrenched as Dennis Green's starter. Warner probably won't see many well disguised blitzes until the regular season starts, so it shouldn't be a surprise if he looks pretty good in the preseason. The same goes for McCown, who doesn't have nearly the same amount of pressure that he had last season as the expected starter. John Navarre holds the clipboard but will have to stave off a challenge from undrafted rookie Timmy Chang. Warner still has the same tools that made him an NFL MVP but he's been sacked one too many times, struggles with turnovers and he's playing behind an offensive line that has a lot to prove. It's probably a good idea to keep a watchful eye on McCown through the preseason. He's fallen short of expectations before, but he could still emerge as a fantasy commodity given the talent surrounding him.

RB: It's the world's worst kept secret. Dennis Green loves J.J. Arrington. Arrington is HIS guy. Nothing against Marcel Shipp, other than coming off a major knee injury and reportedly still running with a 'hitch in his gait' in the first days of camp, but Arrington is the kind of back the Cardinals need to open up the offense. He was clearly targeted by Green on draft day, too. Though undersized, Arrington is already showing that he has the ability to be an every down back for Cards. He catches the ball well and simply needs to continue doing what he's doing to supplant Shipp, who's likely to move into a secondary, change-of-pace role. Yet if the club's recent free agent moves are any indication Marcel Shipp may not be as healthy as the club hoped heading into camp. On the eve of camp they signed James Jackson and J.R. Redmond, which may not be a good sign for Shipp. Holdover Troy Hambrick's roster spot is in peril, too. They, along with Larry Croom, Josh Scobey and Damien Anderson are fighting for roster spots. Hambrick didn't do himself any favors by missing minicamps and could be on his way out. Keep an eye on who gets goal-line carries in the preseason. If Arrington is on the field near the goal line and on 3rd downs he'll be a strong #2 fantasy back. It would be unreasonable to expect anything more than 20 carries a game, but he could catch 25 to 30 balls easily. Shipp will get playing time and spell Arrington in an effort to keep both backs healthy and fresh. All eyes will be on the Cardinals offensive line, too. If they improve up front the Cardinals offense might finally be ready to make some noise.

WR: Anquan Boldin is back to 100% this year and claims he was never more than 80% a year ago after returning mid-season from knee surgery. Boldin is expected to see more time in the slot this year potentially reprising a role similar to the one he filled in his rookie season. Larry Fitzgerald vowed to improve upon his rookie season and figures to blossom into a Top 25. He might be the team's more featured red zone target. The Cardinals promise to move their talented WRs around more this year to gain favorable matchups. Third year WR Bryant Johnson will man the slot giving the Cardinals a formidable 1-2-3 punch in their passing attack. Charles Lee was signed to add depth but will be competing with holdovers Reggie Newhouse and Lawrence Hamilton for roster spots. Rookie Dan Sheldon could squeeze a roster spot because of his abilities as a return man.

TE: The Cardinals tight end picture is murky at best. Eric Edwards leads a group of undrafted players. Rookie Adam Bergen is a guy to watch. He was highly productive coming out of Lehigh and seems to have caught the coaching staff's eye in minicamps. He could emerge from a group that also consists of Bobby Blizzard, who flashed his wares in Europe, and Aaron Golliday. There's a chance none of these guys will make a difference this year, but one could emerge as a sleeper with some fantasy value during the season.

Defense: Dennis Green has always been known as an offensive coach, but under his guidance the Cardinals defense has made significant strides in a short period of time. They've added more key talent by signing DE Chike Okeafor to give them a pair of speedy pass rushers and help offenses from keying on Bertrand Berry. They spent their first round pick on CB Antrel Rolle, who should start right away and give the Cardinals a potential difference maker in the secondary. Robert Griffith should shore up the Cardinals run support, but at his age seems miscast as a free safety. The Cardinals LB corps is young and talented. Overall, the Cardinals defense has the look of an inexperienced group that could outperform expectations. Their front four figures to be quite active so expect an increase in sacks and with that usually comes a better chance at creating turnovers.

Special Teams: PK Neil Rackers improved significantly since his forgettable early years in Cincinnati. He's always had a strong leg and now also has decent accuracy. In minicamps he connected on several kicks from 65 yards. The Cardinals have not done well in the return game in recent years, so several new faces have a good chance at unseating the veterans. Rookie WRs Dan Sheldon and LeRon McCoy and FA RB J.R. Redmond will challenge RBs Josh Scobey and Larry Croom on kickoff returns. Sheldon and first-round pick CB Antrel Rolle will challenge WRs Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin on punt returns.

Cardinals Depth Chart
QB Kurt Warner, Josh McCown, John Navarre, Timmy Chang
RB J.J. Arrington, Marcel Shipp, Troy Hambrick, James Jackson, J.R. Redmond, Larry Croom (3RB), Josh Scobey (KR/3RB), Damien Anderson , Roger Robinson
FB James Hodgins (inj), Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Harold Morrow, Casey Moore
WR Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Bryant Johnson, Reggie Newhouse, Charles Lee, Lawrence Hamilton, Fabian Davis, LeRon McCoy, Dan Sheldon, Luke Powell, Carlyle Holiday
TE Eric Edwards, Bobby Blizzard, Adam Bergen, Aaron Golliday, John Bronson
K Neil Rackers
DE Bertrand Berry, Chike Okeafor, Peppi Zellner, Calvin Pace, Antonio Smith, Tyler King
DT Darnell Dockett, Russell Davis (NT), Kenny King, Ross Kolodziej, Tim Bulman
MLB Gerald Hayes, Lance Mitchell, Greg Carothers
OLB Karlos Dansby (S), Orlando Huff (W), James Darling (W), Darryl Blackstock (W/S), Eric Johnson, Isaac Keys (W), Isaiah Ekejiuba (S)
CB David Macklin, Antrel Rolle, Eric Green, Robert Tate, Rhett Nelson, Raymond Walls, Aaron Francisco, Jermaine Hardy
S Adrian Wilson (SS), Robert Griffith (FS), Ifeanyi Ohalete (FS), Quentin Harris (FS), Adrian Mayes (SS), Clarence Curry (FS), Ernest Shazor (SS)

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Atlanta Falcons

QB: Michael Vick is the face of the Falcons and he'll be counted on heavily in 2005 to improve as a passer and help take the Falcons offense to the next level. Specifically, Vick is working to improve his accuracy and patience in the pocket. He needs to let his receivers’ patterns develop a bit longer before improvising, but he also needs to do a better job of getting all of his weapons involved. Vick claims to be more comfortable in his 2nd season in Greg Knapp's offense but he'll need to develop chemistry with his young receiving corps before the Falcons offense really takes flight. Matt Schaub begins his 2nd season in the league as Vick's backup while veteran Ty Detmer is the clipboard holder. Schaub looked very good in exhibition games as a rookie, but it's hard to know what we might expect of him in real games if he's forced into action. His progress will be something to watch in the preseason.

RB: The Falcons had the league's best running attack in 2004. Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett will probably fill the same or similar roles as in previous seasons. Dunn should continue to get a lot of work between the 20s and especially on third downs and passing situations while Duckett is better suited near the goal line. Duckett could earn a larger role in the running game, but it's hard to discount Dunn despite his lack of size and amount of wear and tear he's taken over the years. Dunn remains amazingly resilient and is effective both as a runner and receiver in the Falcons offense. Duckett's biggest drawback, aside from splitting carries with Dunn, is Michael Vick hawking TDs though we might expect that to decline somewhat as Vick matures and develops as a passer. Rookie DeAndra Cobb adds a lot of speed to the backfield, but will most likely be used strictly as a return man where he shined at Michigan State. Jason Wright and undrafted rookie T.A. McClendon round out the group and will be fighting for the last roster spot.

WR: Second year WR Michael Jenkins appears poised for a breakout season. Entering camp he's supplanted Peerless Price in the starting lineup. Jenkins gained around 10 lbs. of muscle during the off-season and gives Michael Vick a big red zone target and someone the Falcons hope will stretch the field with his size/speed combination. He only caught seven passes as a rookie so he's got a lot to prove in the preseason. Price appears to be competing for a roster spot, but he could also slide into a role as the team's slot WR with either Dez White or Roddy White starting alongside Jenkins. White missed the first couple days of camp, but is now signed. Brian Finneran remains in the fold and he will be competing for one of the top four WR spots as well. Jenkins and White will be the two players to closely watch in the preseason. Even with the upgrade of talent at WR it's hard to envision anyone truly breaking out in a fantasy sense knowing the Falcons offensive tendencies and Michael Vick's limitations as a passer. If Vick makes progress, however, Jenkins could emerge as a starter with the potential for more.

TE: Alge Crumpler is coming off a Pro Bowl season and figures once again to be a key target on third downs and in the red zone. Dwayne Blakely and Eric Beverly provide depth, but Beverly is a converted offensive lineman and strictly a blocker. Blakely could emerge as a pass-catching TE if Crumpler goes down at some point, but he's inexperienced.

Defense: Assuming Brady Smith recovers from neck surgery in time for the start of the season, the Falcons should have a strong pass rush with Patrick Kerney, Rod Coleman and Smith anchoring the defensive line. Keith Brooking is the Falcons best LB but he'll get some help via free agency as the Falcons added former Raven Ed Hartwell, who will start in the middle. SLB Demorrio Williams will compete with newcomer Ike Reese for a starting job and safety Bryan Scott hopes to be back on the field by the third week of camp. If DeAngelo Hall progresses in his 2nd season at corner the Falcons defense will continue to be among the league's better units. As a fantasy D/ST they have the potential to be a solid option with a good pass rush and a potentially good run stuffing unit depending on how they Falcons interior DL pans out with Ed Jasper's departure.

Special Teams: Well-traveled free agent Todd Peterson joined the Falcons this offseason as their place kicker. He's hovered around 80% on FGs throughout his career. The team would like to spare him from kickoffs and have the punter handle them, but current punting candidates Toby Gowin, Ryan Flinn, and Michael Koenen have all struggled early. Atlanta re-signed return specialist CB Allen Rossum to a four-year contract this offseason. He returned every punt and all but three of the kickoffs last year. The preseason battle for backup roles will primarily feature rookie RB DeAndra Cobb, CB DeAngelo Hall, and possibly WR Michael Jenkins.

Falcons Depth Chart
QB Michael Vick, Matt Schaub, Ty Detmer, Bryan Randall
RB Warrick Dunn (3RB), T.J. Duckett (SD), Jason Wright, Deandra Cobb (KR), T.A. McClendon
FB Justin Griffith, Fred McCrary, Carey Davis, Kevin Dudley
WR Michael Jenkins, Dez White, Peerless Price, Brian Finneran, Roddy White, Kendrick Mosley, Romby Bryant, Lawrence Bady, Cole Magner, Kerry Johnson
TE Alge Crumpler, Dwayne Blakely, Eric Beverly, Mark Anelli, Steve Cucci
K Todd Peterson, Ryan Rossner
DE Patrick Kerney, Brady Smith, Brandon Mitchell (DT), Junior Glymph, Chauncey Davis, Khaleed Vaughn, Erik Flowers, Gabe Nyenhuis, Anthony Herron
DT Rod Coleman, Chad Lavalais (NT), Jonathan Babineaux, Antwan Lake, Darrell Shropshire
MLB Edgerton Hartwell, Jordan Beck
OLB Keith Brooking (W), Demorrio Williams (S), Ike Reese (S/W), Michael Boley, Jordan Kramer (W), Adrian Archie (W), John Leake (S), Michael Brown (S), Derrick Tinsley, Hannibal Thomas
CB Jason Webster, DeAngelo Hall, Kevin Mathis, Allen Rossum (KR), Christian Morton, Byron Jones
S Bryan Scott (FS/SS), Ronnie Heard (SS/FS), Rich Coady (FS), Keion Carpenter (FS), Kevin McAdam (FS), Ettric Pruitt (FS), Shawn Mayer (FS)

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Baltimore Ravens

QB: Kyle Boller heads into the 2005 season with a lot of expectations. The Ravens have invested heavily in Boller giving him two major upgrades at WR by signing Derrick Mason as a free agent and drafting Mark Clayton in the first round. They've also hired Rick Neuheisel as his QB coach and Jim Fassel moves into the role of offensive coordinator. Boller has the tools to succeed; now it's just a matter of getting there. Boller will have no shortage of red zone weapons, a strong running game and a stellar defense to support him. What he does in the preseason could be a great indicator for what to expect when the games mean something. Boller can be drafted among the lower third of starting NFL QBs in most leagues, which means he has the potential to be a difference maker if he can put it all together in his third season. Backing up Boller is veteran Anthony Wright, who missed last season due to injury. Wright has shown flashes of potential in game duty but doesn't pose a threat to Boller as the starter. Derek Anderson was drafted to fill the role of 3rd QB and the team will bring him along slowly. He's got great size and inherent playmaking ability, but if anything, he'll be a player to watch in preseason games who should get plenty of action to see what he can do.

RB: Somewhat unexpectedly the Ravens matched a contract offer to backup RB Chester Taylor for $3 million. Taylor will begin camp running with the first team, but not because he's supplanting Jamal Lewis. Lewis won't be available for the start of camp as he completes his sentence that stemmed from his guilty plea this past year for assisting in a cocaine deal. Lewis is unquestionably the Ravens feature back, but he returns to the fold with some questions. How focused will he be following his experience in prison? Will his ankle or past knee injuries eventually catch up to him - can he stay healthy? The Ravens didn't take any chances matching Taylor's offer sheet. That shows the level of confidence the team has in him. Taylor played well starting in four games in 2004 while Lewis was sidelined and is probably a better receiver out of the backfield than Lewis. That alone should get him on the field frequently for obvious passing situations and third down duty, while Lewis will remain the primary runner otherwise. The Ravens offensive line has a couple new faces, but appears to be a formidable group once again. Backed by a stout defense, Lewis and Taylor figure to get an abundance of work in 2005 as the Ravens plan on opening up the offense to utilize their new weapons. Musa Smith returns from a major knee injury, so don't expect much from him right away. B.J. Sams is likely to make the team primarily as a playmaker in the return game. His speed sets him apart from the rest of the backs trying to make the roster.

WR: Derrick Mason is the newcomer and very likely the guy who will lead the Ravens in receptions and pass targets in 2005. He's a skilled route runner who can be effective as a possession receiver and also in the red zone. He's deceptive downfield, too. Mason's presence should greatly improve the Ravens’ ability to convert on third downs and keep drives alive giving Boller a reliable target with good hands and veteran savvy. Opposite Mason we'll probably see rookie Mark Clayton emerge at some point. Entering camp it looks like Randy Hymes and Clarence Moore have the early edge, but Clayton's separation skills, quickness and hands are sure to make a difference and long-term he figures to be the team's best receiver. Moore's excellent size and good hands make him a natural target in the red zone. He caught 4 TDs as a rookie (twice catching 2 TDs in a game). Hymes is a converted QB who made progress as a player last year and could be the dark horse to start the season for the Ravens while Clayton catches on. Hymes could also fit right in as the team's slot receiver giving them some size and another good target for Boller. Devard Darling returns after missing his entire rookie season because of injury. He's considered a project, but he's got plenty of physical talent and could make some plays against 2nd/3rd string defenses in exhibition duty.

TE: Todd Heap is another player returning from injury having two off-season surgeries on his ankle and shoulder. He's not expected to play until the 2nd preseason game, so he may start the season slowly as he gets healthy. But there should be no long term concerns about his health, as the team committed to a long-term extension in June despite Heap’s aforementioned surgeries. Terry Jones, Daniel Wilcox, Darnell Dinkins and Trent Smith form a 4-way battle for probably 2 roster spots. All have their strengths, but whoever performs best in camp will strengthen their chances of making the team and playing behind a guy who's struggled to stay healthy. In other words watch how these guys do on the field because one could be a deep sleeper if Heap misses more games in '05.

Defense: The Ravens say goodbye to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and promote Rex Ryan, the son of legendary Buddy Ryan - the creator of the infamous '46' defense. The Ravens are switching from a 3-4 scheme used the past couple of seasons to the '46' which means that Ray Lewis will return to being a true MLB, Terrell Suggs will move from OLB to DE, and Will Demps will play more of a hybrid LB/S safety role often joining the front seven to create the look of an eight man front. The 46 defense thrives on creative blitzing, stunting and generally creating havoc for QBs who are often forced to make quick decisions - and hopefully turnovers. With Ed Reed as the primary ball hawk and the addition of Samari Rolle opposite Chris McAlister the Ravens secondary should once again be among the league's best. Deion Sanders and Dale Carter hope to fill the nickel and dime roles giving the Ravens two veteran players who, if healthy, could really stifle opposing teams in the passing game. Any time a team implements a new defensive scheme you can expect a few growing pains. The Ravens may start slowly at first, but they have the talent to be the top D/ST unit in the league, if not the most aggressive.

Special Teams: One of the more accurate kickers in the NFL, Matt Stover heads into 2005 looking to extend two streaks: he has hit at least 84% on FGs the last six years and he hasn't missed an extra point since 1996.  Rookie PK Rhys Lloyd and punter Jesse Ohliger will compete for kickoff duties during the preseason. Lloyd needs to win to keep a roster spot. B.J. Sams, last year's top ranked fantasy returner in the NFL, will again handle both kickoff and punt returns. The Ravens already know what they have in backup returners RB Chester Taylor, newly acquired WR Derrick Mason, and unretired and formerly electrifying Deion Sanders. First round pick WR Mark Clayton has also been practicing punt returns.

Ravens Depth Chart
QB Kyle Boller, Anthony Wright, Derek Anderson
RB Jamal Lewis, Chester Taylor (3RB), Musa Smith (inj), B.J. Sams (KR/PR), Tellis Redmon, Keith Burnell, Alex Haynes
FB Alan Ricard, Ovie Mughelli, Justin Green
WR Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Clarence Moore, Randy Hymes, Devard Darling, Patrick Johnson, Derek Abney, Fred Stamps, Curtis Williams
TE Todd Heap, Terry Jones, Daniel Wilcox, Darnell Dinkins, Trent Smith
K Matt Stover
DE Anthony Weaver, Terrell Suggs, Jarrett Johnson, Roderick Green
DT Kelly Gregg, Dwan Edwards, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Aubrayo Franklin, Matt Zielinski, Cedric Hilliard
MLB Ray Lewis, Bart Scot, Jim Nelson, Mike Smith, Matt Sinclair
OLB Adalius Thomas (S), Tommy Polley (W), Dan Cody (S/DE)
CB Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle, Deion Sanders, Dale Carter, Calvin Carlyle, Zach Norton, Jamaine Winborne
S Ed Reed (SS), Will Demps (FS), Chad Williams (SS), Jarvis Johnson (FS), Chris Kelley

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Buffalo Bills

QB: There are a lot of questions surrounding the Bills offense heading into 2005, but none bigger than 2nd year QB J.P. Losman. How will the Bills young starting QB handle his first season behind center in the NFL? The Bills offensive line isn't among the best pass protecting units in the league but he will be aided by a strong running game and a talented defense. Perhaps that will relieve some of the pressure that comes with being a first year starter. Losman’s development will be one of the primary focuses in preseason games. He'll probably get a little more work than most starters as the Bills really want to get him ready for the season. He's mobile and reportedly has been impressive in offseason workouts and minicamps. WR Eric Moulds touts him as being a good presence in the huddle and says he's displayed a good handle and grasp of the offense. The coaching staff will be working extra with him to make sure he's making the right progressions and reads. If Losman is up to the task, the Bills should return to the playoffs in 2005, but that's a tall order for a first year starter at the most important position in the NFL. If Losman struggles or gets hurt, Kelly Holcomb will start. Holcomb was signed as a free agent and he provides the team with a veteran insurance policy. He's been productive in stretches for the Browns, but doesn't figure to play unless Losman really flops or goes down. Holcomb is a player who could emerge mid-season as a solid waiver wire pickup in that circumstance.

RB: Now that the Bills have finally unloaded Travis Henry to the Titans the pressure is squarely on Willis McGahee to stay healthy and live up to the vast expectations created by his own stellar play in 2004. McGahee proved he was up to the task after returning from a horrific knee injury suffered during his last game at the University of Miami playing for the national championship. McGahee appears to be no worse for the wear, but if he's like other backs coming off major knee injuries, he promises to be even more explosive and confident this season. McGahee finished with 13 TDs and 1,128 yards rushing despite not starting a full season. If McGahee falls victim to injury again the team will need Shaud Williams, Lionel Gates or ReShard Lee step up. Williams got some playing time at the end of '04 but seems more destined to be a third down back given his lack of size and inside running ability. Lee is a major load between the tackles, but isn't refined as a blocker or receiver, and could be limited if he can't improve in both capacities. Gates is a rookie with great potential as a receiver and all-purpose back, though he lacks pure speed and might have to earn a role on the team as a special teams player.

WR: Eric Moulds is surely the veteran presence amongst the Bills skilled offensive players. He will be heavily counted on during Losman's first season. Moulds is a great target as a possession receiver and still a guy who can make big plays down the field with his speed and strength off the line. But he might not be the team's best receiver for the first time in years. 2nd year WR Lee Evans scored seven TDs in his last seven games as a rookie displaying game-breaking ability and exceptional speed and separation skills. The duo gives potential Losman owners a definite reason to be optimistic. The Bills have improved depth, too. Josh Reed never developed into the playmaker they were hoping for but he's capable in the slot or as the team's 4th WR. He'll need to stave off competition from rookie Roscoe Parrish, the team's first pick in this year's draft. Parrish is also undersized, but quick in and out of his cuts and a player who could make contributions immediately in the slot and as a return man. Parrish could beat Reed out as the slot (3rd) WR and this will be one of the best battles to watch in Bills camp. Sam Aiken likely rounds out the squad.

TE: The picture at tight end is a bit cloudy especially after rookie Kevin Everett tore his ACL in minicamp. Once again it will be an open competition between Mark Campbell and Tim Euhus, both of which are coming off injuries themselves. Ryan Neufeld is also in the mix, but not likely to have a significant role. Euhus showed some pass-catching ability as a rookie before getting hurt and he could push Campbell for the starting job in camp.

Defense: The Bills return with most of their defensive talent intact from a year ago. Most noticeable perhaps is the loss of DT Pat Williams, a true run stuffer who may be sorely missed. Ron Edwards and Tim Anderson will fight for his starting spot and if they can give the Bills a strong presence against the run like Williams did, there should be little to no fall off in the Bills defensive play in '05. The linebacking corps is among the best in the AFC led by WLB Takeo Spikes. The defensive tackle play will be key to his game as his talents are predicated on speed and quickness. If he's forced to deal with more offensive linemen getting into his grill, that could spell trouble. But don't count on it. Fletcher, Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey all do their jobs extremely well and provide a great balance for defending the run, rushing the passer and covering backs and tight ends. The Bills secondary is among the best in the league.

Special Teams: PK Rian Lindell could use a solid preseason to solidify his job.  His overall 2004 numbers looked good, but the fact he was 1 of 3 in kicks over 40 yards promoted the idea the team had no confidence his range. Rumors indicate that the Bills contacted both Doug Brien and Paul Edinger when they were on the market. Special teams coach Bobby April did however recently state that Lindell is already looking significantly better this year. The Bills were the top return team in 2004, led by CB Terrance McGee on kickoff returns and by CB Nate Clements on punt returns. Despite being half of that top tandem, Clements could lose his job to rookie WR Roscoe Parrish, who is already showing enough potential to win the job.

Bills Depth Chart
QB J.P. Losman, Kelly Holcomb, Shane Matthews, Kevin Thompson, Troy Woodbury
RB Willis McGahee, Shaud Williams (3RB), Lionel Gates (3RB), ReShard Lee
FB Damien Shelton, Joe Burns
WR Eric Moulds, Lee Evans, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Sam Aiken, Jonathan Smith, Drew Haddad, Kahlil Hill, George Wilson
TE Mark Campbell, Tim Euhus, Ryan Neufeld, Kevin Everett (inj), Rod Trafford, Brad Cieslak
K Rian Lindell, Owen Pochman
DT Sam Adams, Ron Edwards, Tim Anderson, Lauvale Sape
DE Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay, Ryan Denney, Constantin Ritzmann, Uyi Osunde, George Gause
MLB London Fletcher, Mario Haggan (W), Daryl Towns, Liam Ezekial
OLB Takeo Spikes (W), Jeff Posey (S), Josh Stamer (S), Angelo Crowell (W), Kellen Brantley (S)
CB Nate Clements (PR), Terrence McGee (KR), Kevin Thomas, Jabari Greer, Eric King
S Lawyer Milloy (SS), Troy Vincent (FS), Rashad Baker (FS), Coy Wire (SS)

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Carolina Panthers

QB: Jake Delhomme enters his third season as the Panthers QB and is firmly entrenched as the starter and leader in the huddle. Delhomme was quite productive throwing for 3,886 yards and 29 TDs against only 15 INTs a year ago, but that was largely due to poor defensive play and a struggling running game. The Panthers figure to rebound in both areas this year which means it's difficult to expect Delhomme to match his production from 2004, especially after losing Muhsin Muhammad to free agency. Delhomme lacks great arm strength, but there's no doubting his leadership and confidence. Though it hurts, losing Muhammad shouldn't make too much of an impact because the Panthers get Steve Smith back, Keary Colber should continue to progress and they just obtained Rod Gardner from the Redskins.  If Delhomme goes down to injury the Panthers might be in real trouble. Chris Weinke is the backup now that Rodney Peete is on the Best Damn Sports Show Period. Weinke hasn't played since 2002 and doesn't inspire much confidence judging from his previous experience as a starter. Rookie Stefan Lefors seems like a Delhomme clone. He also hails from Louisiana and Delhomme is taking an active role in helping develop him. Lefors has good mobility and can throw well on the run. It wouldn't be a stretch to see Lefors on the field, and not Weinke, if Delhomme is forced to miss any stretch of games this year. Watch Lefors in the preseason to see how he responds to the NFL game.

RB: The Panthers love to run the ball first and foremost. They struggled to do so last year because of the onslaught of injuries and some lackluster play from the offensive line. They moved to shore up that problem signing G Mike Wahle from the Packers as a free agent. That should help DeShaun Foster's chances of making an impact in his first (but perhaps final) real shot at the Panthers starting gig - if he can just stay healthy. Foster is the clear cut starter entering camp, but he's only played in 18 of 48 regular season games and the Panthers have no shortage of competition from rookie Eric Shelton, Nick Goings and Stephen Davis who claims to be close to returning from his micro fracture knee surgery in the off-season. The curious thing about Foster is he turned down the club's overtures for a contract extension. What gives? Foster wants to prove his ability on the field and cash in on a new contract for 2006. Someone, perhaps Drew Rosenhaus, might want to remind him of the difficult market conditions that even the best RBs, like Edgerrin James and Shaun Alexander met this year. Nick Goings performed well down the stretch as the team's starter, but he returns to his role as a fullback and backup. Knowing how well Goings played would seem to point toward good things for Foster, who certainly has more upside as a runner than Goings, but there's a good chance he won't last a full season giving Shelton ample opportunity to earn a significant role either as a goal line runner or perhaps even as the Panthers featured back. It's hard to expect anything out of Davis. He's been injury-prone the past few years and is clearly on the downside of his career; and he starts camp on the PUP list. The big thing to watch will be Foster's health and production in the preseason. If he's okay then he could be a huge bargain on draft day, or perhaps just as likely, Eric Shelton could be a tremendous middle to late round steal if Foster isn't up to the task.

WR: Muhsin Muhammad is gone after finishing the 2004 season as the #1 fantasy WR in the land, but don't fret because WR Steve Smith returns from his broken foot/ankle that sidelined him for all but the first game of the 2004 season. He's appears to be back at 100% and flashing the speed and game-breaking ability that made him one of the top young WRs emerging in the NFL at the end of 2003. He figures to be the Panthers #1 WR. The Panthers have talked about throwing him a lot of short screen passes as well the more traditional intermediate and deep passing routes. Opposite Smith will be either 2nd year WR Keary Colbert or newcomer via trade WR Rod Gardner. Colbert flashed plenty of potential and promise as a big play WR and deep threat as a rookie averaging an impressive 16 yards per catch. He displayed good hands and a veteran-like presence despite his lack of experience. He enters camp as the starter though with Rod Gardner joining the team he could be pushed and face more competition for his job than originally anticipated. Colbert should be fine though, but just in case we'll keep you updated if his grip on the job loosens. With Muhammad gone, Gardner’s size will be an asset and he could become a factor on third downs and in the red zone, but only if he can shake the inconsistency that led to his exodus from the Redskins. Veteran Ricky Proehl is like a Timex. He's still ticking and continues to report to camp in great shape. Despite his age, he still has a fair amount of speed. Proehl won't likely be anything more than the team's 4th receiver, but he's a proven guy who's always had a knack for catching TDs when the weather gets colder. 2nd year WR Drew Carter is almost like a rookie having missed his first year to injury. He adds good size and exceptional speed to the mix. He was in the running for the 3rd WR job before Gardner was acquired so look for him, Gardner and Proehl to compete for those jobs as the 3rd and 4th receivers in camp. Carter is a guy to watch in the box scores. Don't be surprised if he produces some 40+ yard TDs this August and put him on your list of deep sleepers who could emerge mid-season or down the road in dynasty leagues.

TE:  Panthers signed veteran free agent Freddie Jones to improve their production. He's on the downside of his career, but he's been a capable receiver in the past and can be an effective, but not great blocker. Ultimately, the Panthers would like to see Mike Seidman emerge as the starter. He might give them the best overall combination of skills at the position, but he's young and needs to continue improving before he'll get that chance. Kris Mangum was the starter last year and was somewhat effective as a receiver. He's a tenacious blocker, but will probably serve as a backup barring any surprises in camp.

Defense: The Panthers biggest problem last year was the long list of injuries they suffered across the board, but particularly on defense. DT Kris Jenkins hopes to return to his Pro Bowl form and anchor the team's run defense, which slipped badly without him in the lineup last year. His return should also free DE Mike Rucker up as a pass rusher and also give Pro Bowler Julius Peppers more room to wreck havoc. Jenkins, not Peppers, is the key to everything the Panthers do defensively. If he's back to 100% the Panthers D/ST figure to be a top 10 unit again with a strong pass rush, solid run defense and an improved secondary. That was their weakest spot a year ago. Chris Gamble will be better in his 2nd season and Ken Lucas was signed as a free agent to give them a formidable pair of corners with solid depth in Ricky Manning and Dante Wesley behind them. Mike Minter returns as the captain of the secondary, so to speak, but his role is likely to change also with the addition of first round pick Thomas Davis. Davis could move Minter to free safety, or he could play linebacker. Depending on his role Minter will either stay at SS or slide over to FS. Dan Morgan and Will Witherspoon anchor the LB corps giving them great speed from sideline to sideline and the ability to cover. Like any other team if this unit stays healthy they could be very productive from a fantasy perspective.

Special Teams: When healthy (something which has not always the case), PK John Kasay is one of the better kickers, averaging around 85% on FGs in recent years. Fantasy owners of Kasay should be hoping that Jason Baker beats out Tom Rouen in the preseason battle for punter. Baker would likely relieve Kasay of kickoff duties, whereas Rouen would not. Aging kickers often improve in the FG department when they no longer have to handle kickoffs. The Panthers will have both their top return men back after they missed most of 2004 with injuries: RB Rod Smart on kickoffs and WR Steve Smith on punts. The primary question heading into the year is whether the team will risk using Smith on punts or just keep him on offense. That may well depend on how effective the two alternatives look in camp.

Panthers Depth Chart
QB Jake Delhomme, Chris Weinke, Stefan LeFors, Rod Rutherford
RB DeShaun Foster, Stephen Davis (inj), Eric Shelton, Nick Goings (FB), Rod Smart (KR), Jamal Robertson, Nick Maddox
FB Brad Hoover, Casey Cramer
WR Steve Smith (PR), Keary Colbert, Rod Gardner, Ricky Proehl, Drew Carter, Karl Hankton, Micah Ross, J.R. Tolver, Eugene Baker, Taylor Stubblefield, Aaron Boone, Efrem Hill
TE Freddie Jones, Kris Mangum, Mike Seidman, Michael Gaines, Dan Curley
K John Kasay
DE Julius Peppers, Mike Rucker, Al Wallace, Isaac Hilton, Jovan Haye, Kemp Rasmussen
DT Kris Jenkins, Brentson Buckner, Kindal Moorehead, Atiyyah Ellison, Jordan Carstens, Omari Jordan, Charles Hill, Eddie Freeman
MLB Dan Morgan, Vinny Ciurciu (W/M), Adam Seward
OLB Will Witherspoon (W/M), Brandon Short (S/M), Chris Draft (S/M), Bryan Knight (W), Marcus Lawrence
CB Ken Lucas, Chris Gamble, Ricky Manning, Dante Wesley, Eddie Jackson, Lornell McPherson
S Mike Minter (SS), Colin Branch (FS), Thomas Davis (SS), Idrees Bashir (FS), Marlon McCree (FS), James Whitley (FS), William Hampton, Ben Emanuel (FS)

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Chicago Bears

QB: Rex Grossman is probably the number one player to watch in the Bears preseason and training camp. He's yet to finish the season healthy in his first two years in the league, but appears to be right on track this time around. His knee isn't an issue now and Lovie Smith says he's looking very good in practice and showing a great command of the offense and his presence in the huddle is encouraging. Grossman will benefit from what the Bears hope to be an improved offensive line and the addition of #1 WR Muhsin Muhammad. If the Bears can establish a steady running game Grossman will have a better chance of success and the Bears added Cedric Benson with the 4th pick in the draft to help ensure that will happen. Grossman certainly has a better chance of producing this year. The Bears offense was the worst in the NFL a year ago so there's only one way to go and that's up. Just how much they improve will depend to a large degree on how well they come together in the preseason. Grossman needs to develop chemistry with Muhammad and hope that either Bernard Berrian or Justin Gage emerge as a legitimate #2 WR. If Grossman's durability is a problem again the Bears brought back Chad Hutchinson to serve as the backup. He was only 1-4 in his five starts last year, but he has the potential to be a decent backup QB at least until the Bears see what they have in rookie Kyle Orton. Orton is a developmental player having played his collegiate career in a spread offense operating out of the shotgun. He's got a long delivery, but was a prolific passer at Purdue. He'll have competition for the 3rd QB job from Kurt Kittner. Kittner is familiar with new offensive coordinator Ron Turner having played under him at Illinois. So, don't discount Kittner completely. The competition for the 3rd QB job will be worth watching in camp, but Orton figures to be the favorite.

RB: The Bears drafted Cedric Benson fourth overall to help them establish the kind of power running attack they'd like to achieve in Ron Turner's offense after miserably failing in Terry Shea's offense a year ago. Thomas Jones was brought in as a free agent and seemed to be a great fit in the previous scheme, but now that the Bears are moving to a more conservative attack, it seems like only a matter of time before Benson takes over as the lead back. Jones is not without talent though. He performed admirably on a horrific offensive team last year managing to rush for 948 yards and lead the team with 56 catches while scoring 7 TDs. He may lose the starting gig to Benson at some point, but entering camp he's the guy with the job while Benson remains involved in contract talks. If Benson wants to make an immediate impact he needs to get under contract and into camp. Let's hope this situation doesn't become prolonged. Jones will almost certainly be the team's 3rd down back and get enough carries to warrant fantasy consideration as a 3rd or 4th RB. If Benson struggles picking up blitzes and blocking assignments then Jones could get even more playing time while Benson adjusts to the NFL and some of the duties he didn't have to deal with at Texas. Benson's preseason performance will be a focus for all of us in the fantasy world. If he hits the ground running, Jones could be phased out of the running game quicker than most would expect. The Bears signed Fred Miller to play left tackle prompting most of us to expect improvement in the offensive line play. Miller along with John Tait and center Olin Kreutz form the nucleus of what should be a solid line. As far as depth goes, Adrian Peterson leads Fred Russell and Zack Abron in the competition for the last roster spot(s).

WR: The signing of “Moose” Muhammad should be a big help to the Bears passing attack. Muhammad gives Grossman a good route runner and a guy with good hands who he can trust to be where he's supposed to be on the field. It remains to be seen how long it will take for these two to develop chemistry. That will be a key to the Bears preseason.  Perhaps just as important is who will start opposite Moose. Justin Gage appears to be the leader entering camp. His size and relative experience seem to be working in his favor so far, but Bernard Berrian is the guy who could emerge as the starter during the season. Berrian has looked explosive, apparently regaining the burst he was lacking following a knee injury in college. He's probably the team's best runner after the catch and could be the Rex Grossman's favorite deep threat judging by his comments recently on the NFL Network. Gage and Berrian will have a battle royal during camp. Gage has the size advantage and presents a much bigger target, but Berrian is just plain fast and explosive. Both will end up getting a lot of playing time this year. Bobby Wade will also be a factor into the competition, though he seems ideally suited for the slot. Wade is smaller, but quicker and arguably with better hands. The winner promises to be a solid fantasy sleeper for those paying attention. Also competing for playing time are rookies Mark Bradley (2nd round pick) and Airese Currie (5th round pick). Neither are likely to have much of an impact this year, but keep an eye on their performance in exhibition games as they could grow into larger roles in the future. Bradley, in particular, raised some eyebrows when the Bears selected him in the 2nd round - a reach according to some draftniks. Yet Bradley has the tangibles to develop into a frontline player in a year or two. He's got nice hops and 4.43 speed, but lacks game experience with just 34 career catches at Oklahoma (bear in mind 9 went for TDs!).

TE: Desmond Clark will face stiff competition from his former teammate at Wake Forest Dustin Lyman. Neither have been able to stay healthy since joining the Bears, but both have flashed promise as pass-catching TEs. It's possible one of these two could be cut if they don't play well in camp or can't stay healthy. Behind them on the depth chart is converted WR Ron Johnson, who's largely a project and no guarantee to make the roster, along with John Gilmore and John Owens - both of which are more blockers than receivers.

Defense: The Bears defense is truly one of the team’s strengths. Led by LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, DEs Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye and 2nd year DT Tommie Harris they have a great nucleus of playmakers in their front seven. If Harris continues to develop and Tank Johnson or Ian Scott provide strong play to shore up the interior of their defensive line this group could be among the elite defensive teams in the league in 2005. Charles Tillman and Jerry Azumah form a solid tandem at corner with Nathan Vasher a capable playmaker as the nickel corner. Safeties Mike Green and Mike Brown remain as starters though Brown returns from a season-ending Achilles injury. He was the leader of the secondary and if he's 100% then this unit gets a definite boost and another playmaker added to the mix. The primary loss was R.W. McQuarters who return skills will probably be missed more than anything else.

Special Teams: Despite his occasional meltdowns, the PK job appears to be Doug Brien's to lose. He's been accurate so far this offseason, and has demonstrated better distance on kickoffs than departed Paul Edinger. He does not have the job locked up however, since rookie Nick Novak has been just as effective in camp. CB Jerry Azumah will once again be the primary kickoff returner. The top punt returner spot vacated by R.W. McQuarters will be a competition with numerous contenders. Current frontrunner WR Bernard Berrian is being closely challenged by WR Bobby Wade and CB Nathan Vasher. Azumah, CB Rashied Davis, and WR Mark Bradley have also been practicing at the position.

Bears Depth Chart
QB Rex Grossman, Chad Hutchinson, Kyle Orton, Ryan Dinwiddie, Kurt Kittner
RB Cedric Benson, Thomas Jones (3RB), Adrian Peterson, Fred Russell, Zack Abron
FB Bryan Johnson (inj), Marc Edwards, Jason McKie (inj), Thump Belton
WR Muhsin Muhammad, Justin Gage, Bobby Wade, Bernard Berrian (KR/PR), Mark Bradley, Eddie Berlin, Airese Currie, Carl Ford, Kareem Kelly
TE Desmond Clark, Dustin Lyman, John Gilmore, John Owens, Darnell Sanders, Ron Johnson, Gabe Reid
K Doug Brien, Nick Novak
DE Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown, Michael Haynes, Israel Idonije, Shurron Pierson, Alain  Kashama, Greg White, Jonathan Jackson
DT Tommie Harris, Ian Scott, Alfonso Boone, Terry Johnson, Darrell Campbell
MLB Brian Urlacher, Quinn Dorsey
OLB Lance Briggs (W), Hunter Hillenmeyer (S/M), Joe Odom (S), Marcus Reese (S), Jeremy Cain (W), Derrick Ballard (W), Levar Woods, Rod Wilson, Leon Joe
CB Charles Tillman, Jerry Azumah (KR), Nathan Vasher, Todd McMillon, Alfonso Marshall, Talib Wise, Rashied Davis, Leroy Smith
S Mike Brown (SS), Mike Green (FS), Todd Johnson (SS), Bobby Gray (SS), Jason Shivers (FS), Cameron Worrell (FS), Chris Harris, Jerrell Pippens, Brandon McGowan

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Cincinnati Bengals

QB: The Bengals have a solid 1-2 strategy going for them at QB. Entering his 3rd year in the league, 2nd as starter, the former top pick in the draft Carson Palmer appears to be on the verge of fulfilling his great potential. Palmer made big strides in 2004, starting slowly and inconsistently, but finishing strongly. He's got a great arm and he worked hard in the offseason to come to camp in better shape for this year. Playoff expectations abound in Cincinnati for the first time in a decade, but Palmer is clearly one player who can make those dreams become a reality. He threw 18 TDs against 18 INTs last year, but completed 60.9% of his passes. Palmer should continue to improve those numbers, especially if we look at his last four starts (11 TDs, 6 INTs and a 382 yd, 3 TD game against Baltimore). If Palmer gets hurt, the Bengals are in better shape than most teams thanks to Jon Kitna. Kitna could start for several teams in the league, including the cross-state Browns. Kitna has been a willing mentor to Palmer and gives the Bengals a quality, proven backup. When or if he's called upon, Kitna can deliver quality numbers and give the team solid play from the QB position. Casey Bramlet and former Buckeye Craig Krenzel will compete for the 3rd spot. Bengals’ fans pray that neither of these guys have to see the field except in the second half of exhibition games.

RBs: Rudi Johnson enters camp as the team's feature back. Last year Rudi was playing for a contract and he delivered just what the team was looking for and was rewarded with said contract. Johnson's primary drawback as a fantasy RB is his lack of playing time in passing situations. He doesn't catch a lot of footballs. That role fell to Kenny Watson last year, but will probably be filled by Chris Perry this year. Perry missed basically all of his rookie season with a sports hernia that continued to slow his recovery up until recent months. Perry has to be considered a moderate threat to Johnson, but only in the event that Johnson gets hurt and misses several games or a season. Perry is a hard runner with good receiving skills. Perry's got the spin moves and stiff arm, but he's got to prove he can be productive at this level and stay healthy. Johnson's done that and will continue to do it as long as he stays healthy. Johnson can simply wear down a defense. Having Perry as a change of pace could help the Bengals offense take the next step. Watson will probably stick with the team and provide depth. He's always been productive when called upon, but his receiving skills are what keep him in the hunt for playing time.

WR: Chad Johnson is already among the elite group of wide receivers in the NFL. Last year T.J. Houshmandzadeh made huge strides and emerged as a quality #2 WR opposite Johnson by catching 73 balls for 978 yards, giving Palmer the added confidence that he can be a trusted as a reliable possession WR. Those two guys are secure in their roles though Houshmandzadeh could conceivably lose some playing time if Peter Warrick returns to 100% or Kelley Washington, Chris Henry or Kevin Walker develop into a playmaking presence in 2005. Washington's development has been frustratingly slow. He's the prototypical big, fast WR, but the production simply hasn't been there. Warrick seems destined to return to the slot where he's proven to be an effective playmaker. If he's 100% healthy his quickness and elusiveness after the catch give him an edge against nickel and dime corners. Kevin Walter is a deep sleeper who has good size and seems to have improved under the Bengals tutelage as coaches were quick to point out his development in the offseason program. He bears watching in exhibition games and practices in camp. It wouldn't be a huge stretch to suggest that Walter's emergence could potentially lead to Washington's exit. A lot will be determined by how they perform in camp. Rookie Chris Henry will also be part of that competition. He's reportedly looked great in practices and minicamps and could have an inside track on the team's 4th WR spot. Assuming Warrick is in the slot that means Washington, Walter and Cliff Russell will be fighting for what might be only one roster spot. Henry's a nice dynasty prospect to watch. He had his share of problems, no doubt, at West Virginia, but if Chad Johnson takes him under his wing and he matures as a pro, he could develop into the long-term starter opposite Johnson and become a nice deep threat with his size and speed. Tab Perry is another rookie who could force his way onto the roster. There's no lack for competition or talent here, it will come down to a numbers game so all eyes will be watching Washington, Walter, Henry and Perry in camp. The whole situation bodes well for Carson Palmer though as he should have no shortage of weapons.

TE: This is perhaps the offense's weak link. Reggie Kelly is a strong blocker, but is essentially a non-factor in the passing game. Matt Schobel is a decent receiver, but not much help as a blocker. Tony Stewart is sometimes listed as the starter, and might be the most complete player of the three, but still isn't much of a factor in the passing game. Overall, there's not much fantasy gold to pan for here amongst the TEs, but they combine to fill their role effective for the team, which is mostly to help them run the football and occasionally catch a ball in the red zone.

Defense: The Bengals added some more new blood to their young and improving defense this offseason. Beginning up front they let DT Tony Williams go and arguably improved their run defense by signing DT Bryan Robinson. Also gone are LB Kevin Hardy and S Rogers Beckett. Hardy is replaced by first round pick SLB David Pollack, a converted DE and noted playmaker out of Georgia. Pollack seems to be making the transition well so far. He'll be a key to the Bengals defense this year so his progress bears watching in exhibition play. LB Odell Thurman was also drafted and he could emerge from training camp as the starting MLB. That means potentially starting two rookies at LB. That might usually be a bad sign, but in this case it's almost certainly a positive sign as long as both players perform reasonably well or up to their potential as rookies. The Bengals have had difficulty both generating a consistent pass rush and stopping the run. Adding Robinson, Pollack and Thurman should help along those lines. The Bengals hope their pass rush will improve with the emergence of Robert Geathers at DE opposite Justin Smith, not to mention Pollack's ability as an edge rusher as he'll almost certainly play a role in the Bengals nickel defense. The secondary remains a work in progress though Tory James is solid at corner and 2nd year free safety / corner Madieu Williams is an emerging star. If the Bengals can coax some strong play from Deltha O'Neal and safeties Anthony Mitchell or Kim Herring they could make significant improvement. The keys to camp will be improving the pass rush, finding a starter at SS, Pollack's progress and how well the interior of their line holds up to the run. New defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan simplified the defense to encourage more instinctive play befitting the team's speed, and less thinking and reacting.

Special Teams: The Bengals offense and PK Shayne Graham have both emerged over the last two years as viable fantasy options. Graham spent this offseason working on kickoffs, the one area where he could use some improvement. Heading into camp, the KR job belongs to WR Cliff Russell who improved towards the end of last year. He'll be pressed during preseason by rookie WR Tab Perry, who set the season kick return yardage record for UCLA. The dark horse candidate to watch is WR Jamall Broussard. CB Keiwan Ratliff will be the primary PR, although he could lose some touches if WR Peter Warrick ever returns to being healthy. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh and CB Deltha O'Neal are available as backups.

Bengals Depth Chart
QB Carson Palmer, John Kitna, Casey Bramlet, Craig Krenzel
RB Rudi Johnson, Chris Perry (3RB), Kenny Watson (3RB), Quincy Wilson
FB Jeremi Johnson, Doug Easlick
WR Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Kelley Washington, Peter Warrick, Chris Henry, Tab Perry, Cliff Russell (KR), Kevin Walter, Freddie Milons, Jamall Broussard, Matt Cherry
TE Reggie Kelly, Matt Schobel, Tony Stewart, Kori Dickerson, Ronnie Ghent, Lyonel Anderson
K Shayne Graham
DE Justin Smith, Robert Geathers, Duane Clemons, Carl Powell, Elton Patterson, Jonathan Fenene, Derrick Crawford
DT John Thornton, Bryan Robinson, Langston Moore, Matthias Askew, Shaun Smith, Greg Scott
MLB Nate Webster, Landon Johnson (W/M), Odell Thurman, Caleb Miller, Allen Augustin
OLB Brian Simmons (W/M), David Pollack (S/DE), Marcus Wilkins (S), Larry Stevens (W), Cedrick Sullivan (S)
CB Tory James, Deltha O'Neal (WR/PR), Keiwan Ratliff, Reggie Myles, Rashad Bauman, Terrell Roberts, Greg Brooks, Brandon Williams
S Madieu Williams (FS/CB), Kim Herring (SS), Kevin Kaesviharn (FS), Anthony Mitchell (SS), Siddeeq Shabazz (SS), Patrick Body (FS)

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Cleveland Browns

QB: The entire Browns organization underwent major changes this offseason starting in the front office with the arrival of GM Phil Savage (Ravens) and the hiring of new head coach Romeo Crennel (Patriots). On the field, gone are quarterbacks Jeff Garcia, Kelly Holcomb and Luke McCown. In their place, the Browns signed veteran Trent Dilfer to be the team's starter despite the fact he's not been a starter since 2000. The Browns also signed Doug Johnson as a backup and drafted the local collegiate star Charlie Frye (Akron). Dilfer's a decent caretaker for the position, but not much otherwise. Under Crennel the Browns will try become more of a running team with a strategy focused on ball-control and letting everything else fall into place after that. Dilfer won't be asked to carry the offense and throw 30 or 40 times a game. If it turns into that kind of a game the Browns are likely in trouble. Dilfer's not very mobile anymore and behind the Browns offensive line it's doubtful he lasts the full season without an injury or benching. The Browns line was improved during the offseason as they added a pair of guards and replaced Ross Verba with L.J. Shelton. Expect improvement up front, but just how much remains to be seen and will be a focus of training camp. If Dilfer goes down or gets benched it's quite possible the team will turn to rookie Charlie Frye, though Doug Johnson could also get the call. Johnson is merely a veteran backup and isn't viewed as a future starter by any stretch, while Frye could very well develop into that guy. Frye bears watching in camp. He was the MVP of the Senior Bowl and has the kind of leadership ability the team needs. Josh Harris could force his way onto the team, too. He's athletic and also played his collegiate ball locally at Bowling Green, but he lacks experience and might be practice squad fodder.

RB: Finally the Browns appear to be turning the corner on the floundering running game. Since rejoining the league the Browns have yet to manage a solid running attack. Yet there's reason to be optimistic this year. The Browns added two solid guards upgrading the middle of their line dramatically, especially if C Jeff Faine stays healthy and finally develops into the player they've hoped he'd become. With a better push up front the Browns could finally have something to work with now that they have appear to have two or three capable, if not talented backs on the roster. William Green has proven not to be the answer, but he remains in the fold and could still yet emerge at some point either via trade, injury or just pure luck; though we are doubtful. The story entering 2005 centers around Lee Suggs and Reuben Droughns. Suggs is the incumbent. He started last year and finally emerged at the end of the year as a viable threat. Suggs can run, catch and does just about everything pretty well, but he just needs to stay healthy. Suggs has more speed than Droughns, and while underrated as an inside runner, he doesn't have the size or ability to pound the defense that Droughns has. Suggs will likely enter the season as the starter, though it's possible Droughns could be the goal-line back, too. Suggs is better suited to third down duty, but Droughns is also capable in that area, having spent a couple years honing his craft as a fullback. Ultimately, both backs will probably get carries and fill their own roles. However, Suggs would appear to be the key. If he remains healthy he's more likely to produce big numbers and have a greater impact. If not, Droughns could once again emerge as a solid fantasy back. Sultan McCullough could earn the last roster spot and has good speed, but not much experience.

WR: The Browns invested the third overall pick in the draft on WR Braylon Edwards out of Michigan. Edwards appears to have the full package - size, speed, strength and maturity. Given the Browns recent luck with their top draft picks, it's anything but a given that Edwards will develop into an elite NFL WR. That said, Edwards is truly a specimen. He needs to continue to work on his concentration and occasional case of the drops, but Edwards stayed all four years in college and enters the league with a lot of experience in a pro-style offense. That should help him and the Browns as he's expected to be one of the starters on opening day. Edwards could immediately become the team's best red zone target. Starting opposite him will be either Andre Davis or Antonio Bryant. It's been long rumored the Browns are dangling Davis' name in trade talks to the Seahawks. So, don't be surprised if something happens during training camp that would open up the starting job for Bryant. Davis has elite speed, and if he could just stay healthy, would seem to be an outstanding player to start opposite Edwards. He can get by defenders and stretch the field. Bryant, on the other hand, started seven games for the Browns last year and would appear to have the inside track on the job. He also possesses big play ability and adds good size to the mix, but he's also inconsistent and simply doesn't appear to play up to his physical abilities or potential. Either one could emerge as a starter. Meanwhile, the consummate pro among the group is Dennis Northcutt. He should probably be considered a dark horse for a starting job, but he's clearly the team's best WR in the slot and he's also a dangerous return man (as is Davis). Northcutt is small but has excellent burst and quickness. Beyond those three are C.J. Jones, Frisman Jackson and Richard Alston. Lance Moore and Josh Cribbs will try to make the team as undrafted rookies.

TE: The tight end position will be manned by a committee of Aaron Shea and Steve Heiden. Keith Heinrich would also be part of that rotation if could stay healthy, but he tore his ACL in minicamp and is gone for the year. Shea and Heiden are more H-backs than traditional TEs, but both are solid in the red zone, have good hands, run good routes and do a decent job as blockers. But neither of them are Kellen Winslow. The oft-maligned 2nd year TE will miss the entire season following his infamous motorcycle crash. The Browns TEs combined for 8 TDs a year ago. So there's reason to keep an eye on Heiden and Shea, especially if one gets hurt. The other might become a legitimate fantasy TE and definite sleeper.

Defense: The Browns defense will undergo a complete overhaul in 2005. Their defensive line was basically sent to Denver for a bag of peanuts. They'll switch to a predominantly 3-4 scheme this year under Romeo Crennel. The Browns probably lack the personnel they need to pull off their switch but Crennel's defense will be a work in progress and it arguably can't get any worse than it's been. One of Phil Savage's first moves as the Browns GM was to raid his former team signing corner Gary Baxter to a free agent deal. Baxter replaces Anthony Henry in what appears to be an upgrade, but the truth is that both corners were among the leaders in big plays allowed to opposing WRs last season. Sean Jones missed his rookie year to a knee injury, but returns to start at strong safety while rookie Brodney Pool could push Brian Russell and Chris Crocker for the starting job at free safety. Overall, don't expect much from this group in 2005. Beyond that, maybe but right now there's just not a wealth of talent and changing schemes usually takes some time for players to get adjusted and get on the same page.

Special Teams: The Browns recently reaffirmed that Phil Dawson is their PK man by signing him to a fairly lucrative five year extension. Rookie Tyler Jones has a good shot at making the team as the kickoff specialist given his strength combined with Dawson's inconsistency in that area. WR Richard Alston led the team in KRs last year and is the front runner for 2005, although he'll get competition from WR Frisman Jackson, WR C.J. Jones, and possibly even RB Reuben Droughns. WR Dennis Northcutt is one of the better PRs in the NFL and should be the primary PR for the Browns once again. He might get more help than in the past since rookie CB Antonio Perkins had a very good punt return career at Oklahoma.

Browns Depth Chart
QB Trent Dilfer, Doug Johnson, Charlie Frye, Josh Harris
RB Lee Suggs, Reuben Droughns, William Green, Sultan McCullough
FB Terrelle Smith, Ben Miller, Corey McIntyre
WR Andre' Davis, Antonio Bryant, Braylon Edwards, Dennis Northcutt (PR), Frisman Jackson, Richard Alston (KR), C.J. Jones, Lance Moore, Josh Cribbs (WR/RB)
TE Aaron Shea (TE/HB), Steve Heiden, Keith Heinrich (IR), Kellen Winslow (IR)
K Phil Dawson, Nick Setta
DE Orpheus Roye, Alvin McKinley, Amon Gordon, Andrew Hoffman, Corey Jackson (W), Simon Fraser
NT Jason Fisk, Ellery Moore, Nick Eason, Larry Burt, J'Vonne Parker
ILB Andra Davis, Ben Taylor, Brant Boyer (W), Mason Unck, Jamal Brooks (S), Renauld Williams
OLB Kenard Lang (S), Chaun Thompson (W), Matt Stewart (S), David McMillan (W), Sherrod Coates (W), Nick Speegle (S), Justin Kurpeikis (S)
CB Daylon McCutcheon, Gary Baxter, Mike Lehan, Leigh Bodden, Antonio Perkins, Dyshod Carter
S Sean Jones (SS), Brodney Pool (FS), Brian Russell (FS), Chris Crocker (FS), Michael Jameson (SS), Antwaan Harris, Michael Grant (SS)

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Dallas Cowboys

QB: Drew Bledsoe is one of several prominent changes to the Cowboys team in 2005. Bill Parcells also worked to improve the team in the trenches signing Pro Bowl guard Marco Rivera to go with RG Larry Allen, RT Flozell Adams and C Al Johnson in what promises to be an improved offensive line. That is... if Rivera's back holds up. He hurt his back shortly after signing the dotted line and must recover from offseason back surgery. If the line isn't up to the task Bledsoe will be in trouble. He isn't the most agile or mobile QB. He wasn't when he was younger and certainly isn't now, but there's also plenty of reasons to think Bledsoe will rebound. He rejoins Parcells, who he had his most productive years with, and he's got some talent to work with though the Cowboys could certainly use an upgrade at WR. Bledsoe should be an improvement over Vinny Testaverde, but just how much remains to be seen. He struggled in Buffalo to avoid sacks and must try to reduce his turnovers as well. Parcells will try to help along those lines by emphasizing the ground game as much as possible. If Bledsoe gets hurt or flops, the Cowboys will turn to either Tony Romo or Drew Henson. Romo may be the better QB right now in terms of overall polish and knowing the playbook, but there's little question that Henson's the better overall talent and a guy who could still be the future starter in Dallas. Henson is mobile, has great size and arm strength, but very little experience in college or the NFL to dwell upon. He's a work in progress, but could show signs that he's turning the corner in the preseason.

RB: With improvements made to shore up the offensive line and the addition of veteran RB Anthony Thomas and rookie draft pick Marion Barber III to add depth to the backfield behind starter Julius Jones, the Cowboys appear to have the makings of a pretty solid running game. Jones will undoubtedly be the Cowboys featured back as long as he remains healthy. Though a bit undersized Jones showed he can be a bell cow last year carrying the rock 30+ times in three straight games. Just how long he'll last if he's asked to do that again is anyone's guess. Expect Parcells to use Anthony Thomas just enough to keep Jones healthy and fresh late in games. Jones will probably average 20+ carries a game, but that leaves plenty of room for Thomas to get around 10 touches a game. If Jones goes down, Thomas is a proven commodity. He can produce solid numbers, if not spectacular. The combination of Jones and Thomas should give the Cowboys a strong 1-2 punch not to mention having Marion Barber is in the hole. Barber is a strong inside runner with good all-around skills coming out of Minnesota. If pressed into action, Barber could also be a productive player. While Thomas will spell Jones at times, he probably won't be the team's third down back. Jones is a decent receiver and Parcells has mentioned he plans to get Jones the ball more this year in that area of the game. We'll watch this closely in the preseason to see how Parcells uses his backs in those situations. 

WR: Last year's starters all return to camp healthy this year (at least for now). Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn are pegged as the starters, while Quincy Morgan and Terrance Copper will compete for roles. Either one could emerge at some point if Glenn, in particular, doesn't stay healthy. Morgan is the most likely starter in that event, but he's been plagued by inconsistency, dropped passes and an apparent fear of going over the middle. For whatever reason, Morgan remains an enigma until proven otherwise. There's no second guessing his explosiveness in the open field and pure athletic talent and he'll be more knowledgeable with the offense now in his 2nd season, so it's possible he could still emerge somewhere down the line. Johnson remains a solid possession receiver, but he lacks the separation skills needed to be a big playmaker down the field or to be a consistent performer beyond the short and intermediate routes. He will probably be the team's second leading receiver behind TE Jason Witten.

TE: Witten had more receptions than any other Cowboy TE in history last year. He's coming off a Pro Bowl season and he's emerged as one of the elite pass-catching TEs in the league. He'll certainly be used to soften up defenses and keep them from stacking eight men against the run. If Witten, Johnson and Glenn all stay healthy then Bledsoe should be fine and have three reasonably good targets to work with, but there's room for improvement here. Backing up Witten is Dan Campbell and Sean Ryan. Campbell returns from a season-ending foot injury and he's better served in a blocking capacity. Ryan is still developing and is also a solid blocker.

Defense: Parcells is making the switch this year to the 3-4 alignment in lieu of the 4-3 the team has used traditionally. The Cowboys still might not have the right personnel to pull it off, and they'll probably play a bit of both during the season. Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has never coached this scheme either. The Cowboys did add some new blood to their defense by drafting DeMarcus Ware, Marcus Spears and Kevin Burnett. They also added corners Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn to improve their ability to cover. In the new defense it's expected that Roy Williams will be able to lineup in the box more as he switches back to a more formal SS role. This defense could go either way, depending on how well the players adjust to their new roles. For example, DE Greg Ellis is not a good fit as a 3-4 end. Jason Ferguson seems like a natural run stuffer and great fit at NT, but he's not played in this scheme and in his expected role before either. Terrance Newman must also play up to expectations after a poor 2nd year and the Cowboys don't yet have an answer at free safety - a huge factor in last year's drop in performance on the defensive side. Losing Darren Woodson hurt and either Izell Reese, Lynn Scott or Keith Davis must be up to the challenge.

Special Teams: Keep a close eye on PK Billy Cundiff this preseason. Bill Parcells will, and so will we. Parcells has expressed concern with Cundiff's range, and he fired long time Dallas kicking coach Steve Hoffman so that he can personally work with Cundiff. The challenger is rookie Brett Visintainer, who had a very successful career at Fresno State and hopes to be the next in the line of Cowboy kickers to emerge out of obscurity. WR Terrance Copper, CB Jacques Reeves, CB Aaron Glenn, and WR Ahmad Merritt could all compete for kickoff returns. CB Lance Frazier is the incumbent PR but could be pressed by CB Terence Newman, WR Patrick Crayton, and CB Aaron Glenn. FS Woodrow Dantzler and RB Tyson Thompson will also compete for both positions but are long shots to make the team.

Cowboys Depth Chart
QB Drew Bledsoe, Tony Romo, Drew Henson
RB Julius Jones (3RB), Anthony Thomas, Marion Barber, Erik Bickerstaff, Keylon Kincade, Woodrow Dantzler (KR), Tyson Thompson
FB Darian Barnes, Lousaka Polite
WR Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, Quincy Morgan, Terrance Copper, Patrick Crayton, Ahmad Merritt, Zuriel Smith, Reggie Harrell, Jamaica Rector
TE Jason Witten, Dan Campbell, Sean Ryan, Brett Pierce, Tony Curtis
K Billy Cundiff
DE Greg Ellis, Marcus Spears, Kenyon Coleman, Leonardo Carson, Chris Canty, Jay Ratliff
NT Jason Ferguson (NT), La'Roi Glover, Jermaine Brooks, Willie Blade, Chris Van Hoy
ILB Dat Nguyen, Al Singleton (S), Scott Shanle (S), Kalen Thornton (W), Keith O'Neil, Mike Goolsby, Roger Cooper, Joe Condo
OLB Bradie James (W), Demarcus Ware (S/DE), Kevin Burnett (W), Eric Ogbogu (S/DE), Ryan Fowler (W), Reggie Love
CB Terance Newman (PR), Anthony Henry, Aaron Glenn, Jacques Reeves, Lance Frazier, Bruce Thornton, Nathan Jones, Lenny Williams
S Roy Williams (SS), Keith Davis (FS/SS), Lynn Scott (SS), Izell Reese (FS), Justin Beriault (FS)

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Denver Broncos

QB: Jake Plummer produced career highs across the board last year and appears to be on the verge of being a top shelf fantasy QB. Unfortunately, there are still enough question marks to believe he's not quite there yet. Plummer is still plagued by the untimely interception and the penchant to kill drives or force the ball into coverage. He seems to be improving and his numbers are decidedly better since joining the Broncos and playing under Mike Shanahan. One of the key focuses for the Broncos in training camp will be improving on their red zone performance. Plummer will need to improve himself in that area if the team is to play up to its ability. Plummer is productive otherwise. He threw for 4,089 yards and 27 TDs, hardly numbers to scoff at so the key will be reducing the 20 interceptions he threw and showing more patience in the pocket. If Plummer falters or gets hurt the Broncos could be in a very bad way. Danny Kanell remains the backup for now while Matt Mauck and Bradlee Van Pelt look to improve their spot on the depth chart in their second seasons. None of these three will take the Broncos far if Plummer's not available, so it's crucial that he a) stays healthy and b) makes better decisions. Look for Shanahan to give Van Pelt and Mauck a lot of playing time in exhibition games to see if either one is capable of being the backup this year.

RB: The Broncos RB situation is the most talked about position in fantasy football year after year. It's not by mistake either. Mike Shanahan's ego is apparently so big that he doesn't blink an eye when it comes to getting rid of the team's leading rusher. He did it with Clinton Portis and again with Reuben Droughns. He's had great success with seemingly every back that's been put into the starting role. To that end Tatum Bell appears to be on the verge of great things. After all he's the highest drafted RB in Mike Shanahan's tenure. Bell proved his toughness playing through a separated shoulder during the last month of the season. He is probably the fastest RB that Shanahan's had, too. Bell enters camp behind Mike Anderson in the competition for the starting job. It's hard to believe that Bell won't earn the starting job at some point during camp, but this figures to be a heated competition and one that the veteran Anderson won't give up without a fight. The problem with Anderson is he's now 5 years removed from his one big season not to mention two knee injuries, a suspension and a position switch. That's not to suggest Anderson's not capable. He certainly is, but it's doubtful that he can withstand the competition from a younger, faster, more talented Tatum Bell. It's possible that Anderson, Maurice Clarett or Ron Dayne could earn a goal line or short yardage role, too. Bell needs to prove himself in the preseason and if he does that he could very well end up being a Top-5 or -10 fantasy back, but he faces competition and has to prove he's durable enough to handle the load. Also returning from injury is Quentin Griffin. He could re-enter the picture to some degree though it's hard to believe Shanahan would go back to him as a featured back. Maurice Clarett is said to be working hard and learning the system. He's a dark horse who could emerge mid-season if Bell and/or Anderson get hurt. After last year it's hard to discount any of the Broncos backs - fullbacks included - from achieving fantasy prominence. It's just rather unlikely. Ron Dayne is also in the mix, though to what extent is unclear at this point. Without a doubt this will be one of the most watched training camp battles, if not the most, in the NFL this year. Put your chips on Bell, but don't forget about the other guys.

WR: Once again, Rod Smith enters the season as the team's unquestioned go-to receiver. Ashley Lelie emerged last year as a viable deep threat averaging over 20 yards per catch, but he was mostly a non-factor in the red zone and on third downs. That's where Plummer simply locks onto Rod Smith. Lelie needs to develop into a better short and intermediate route runner. Smith can't continue to play at such a high level and it's almost a guarantee he won't match his 2004 production in 2005, but don't expect a dramatic decline either. It remains to be seen if his low production in 2003 was the anomaly or if last season's surge was the real indicator of things to come. The Broncos are slowly grooming 2nd year WR Darius Watts to be the heir apparent to Smith down the road. Watts has good size, speed and knows how to get open. He struggled a bit as a rookie, but still managed to show the coaching staff some nice flashes of his potential in last year's training camp. Watts seemed to have an inside track on the 3rd WR job, but Jerry Rice could possibly push him for the job along with Triandos Luke. It's just as like that Rice won't make the team. Watts is the most likely of the backups to breakthrough this year. If Smith or Lelie get hurt, Watts would be the guy who benefits. Nate Jackson is experimenting with the TE position, but that job is Jeb Putzier's all the way.  

Putzier emerged as a solid target for Plummer down the middle of the field and showed he's capable of stretching the field and breaking big plays as a pass-catching TE. Stephen Alexander was signed to add veteran depth while Patrick Hape can play FB, TE and H-back and provides depth and versatility. Dwayne Carswell moved back to playing tackle. Wesley Duke will be sure to draw some looks in camp as an undrafted rookie free agent. He played basketball in college and is trying to make the switch back to football. He could be practice squad material, but keep an eye on his progress in camp to see if he's able to pick up the game quickly. He's got some raw size and talent.

Defense: The most notable change to the Broncos defense is their defensive line, also dubbed the "Browncos". Making the move from Cleveland to Denver are Ebenezer Ekuban, Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren and Mike Meyers. Whether any of these four pan out, or if Warren and Brown can play up to their billing, remains to be seen. The Broncos biggest addition might simply be an old face. Trevor Pryce missed most of last season with back problems, but he says he's 100% again and feels as good as he did a few years ago. His presence dramatically improves the Broncos entire line, but just how much he can offer or how long he can stay healthy are serious question marks. The Broncos also acquired DE John Engelberger for DB Willie Middlebrooks in a trade before camp started. Elsewhere, OLB Ian Gold returns after a year away and a full year removed from a knee injury. Gold should be a great "addition" giving the Broncos one of the best LB corps in the league. Champ Bailey is the leader of the secondary along with safety John Lynch. Lenny Walls needs to stay healthy now that Kelly Herndon bolted, but the Broncos back filled in the draft selecting three corners to add depth. If the rebuilt defensive line is successful the Broncos could be a top 10 fantasy defense, but if it fails then there will be a lot of pressure on the linebackers and secondary to cover up what could be a glaring weakness. Aside from the running backs, the defensive line will be what everyone watches on the Broncos in the preseason. If they look like they're going to be solid and productive the Broncos will be playoff bound again.

Special Teams: PK Jason Elam heads into 2005 shooting for his ninth straight top ten finish in kicker scoring. Rookie Paul Ernster looked strong in minicamp and will probably make the final roster cut to handle kickoffs, so that Elam and punter Todd Sauerbrun can focus on their respective specialty. Rookie CB Darrent Williams of Oklahoma State has already been anointed the top KR and PR, which is one of the reasons the Broncos drafted him.  WR Triandos Luke and CB Roc Alexander should again handle backup roles for kickoff returns. Assuming Williams gets the job done on punt returns, the team will no longer be forced to use WR Rod Smith in that role. He'll still be available as a backup, along with Luke and CB Champ Bailey if needed.

Broncos Depth Chart
QB Jake Plummer, Danny Kanell, Matt Mauck, Bradlee Van Pelt
RB Tatum Bell, Mike Anderson, Quentin Griffin, Ron Dayne, Maurice Clarett
FB Kyle Johnson, Brandon Miree, Cecil Sapp, Kris Briggs
WR Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie, Darius Watts, Triandos Luke (PR), Jerry Rice, Nate Jackson, Charlie Adams, B.J. Johnson, Todd Devoe
TE Jeb Putzier, Stephen Alexander, Patrick Hape (HB), Mike Pinkard, Wesley Duke
K Jason Elam, Paul Ernster
DE Trevor Pryce, Courtney Brown, Raylee Johnson, Marco Coleman, Ebenezer Ekuban, John Engelberger, Anton Palepoi, Randy Garner, Chukie Nwokorie, Aaron Hunt
DT Gerard Warren, Mario Fatafehi, Monsanto Pope, Michael Myers, Luther Elliss, Demetrin Veal, Dorsett Davis, D.J. Renteria
MLB Al Wilson, Keith Burns, Patrick Chukwurah
OLB Ian Gold (W), D.J. Williams (S), Jashon Sykes (W), Terry Pierce (S/M), Louis Green (W), Marcus Steele (S)
CB Champ Bailey, Lenny Walls, Jeremy LaSueur (FS), Darrent Williams, Karl Paymah, Roc Alexander (KR), Dominique Foxworth, Curome Cox, Jeff Shoate, Brandon Browner
S John Lynch (FS), Nick Ferguson (SS), Sam Brandon (FS), Chris Young (SS)

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Detroit Lions

QB: With the moves the Lions made this offseason there's no longer any room for error when it comes to Joey Harrington. The Lions QB needs to take this team to the next level, or risk losing his job. Steve Mariucci displayed a quick trigger at times last year. With Jeff Garcia aboard as the backup QB that hook might come even sooner this year. On the surface Harrington put up decent numbers last year. He improved across the board and seems to be headed generally in the right direction. But something just doesn't add up with Joey. He is quick to abort plays all too often. He's not as accurate as he should be or needs to be in the West coast offense. He doesn't throw particularly well when flushed out of the pocket or throwing on the run. He also has not done a great job of making crucial decisions on key plays to keep drives alive or finish them off in the red zone. The Lions won't hesitate to make a switch to Garcia if Harrington doesn't get off to a good start. Harrington could either emerge as a top 10 fantasy QB or get benched before the season starts and never get his job back. He's that risky. So, when it comes to having arguably the league’s most talented WR corps and a future Pro Bowl RB to help, for Harrington, it's either a blessing or the kiss of death. His margin for error is almost zero. The Lions drafted Dan Orlovsky in the 5th round to groom into a larger role down the road. Keep an eye on him in training camp to see if he quickly grasps the offense or show flashes of potential during the exhibition games.

RB: Kevin Jones led the NFL in rushing during the 2nd half of last season providing a glimpse of what's to come. The expectations for Jones are running rampant at this point, but with all of the surrounding talent and hope for improvement on the offensive line, many pundits expect he'll emerge as an elite fantasy back in '05. Count me among the believers. Throw out the stopwatches, folks. Forget what he did or didn't do at the Combine as a draft prospect. The bottom line here is that Jones is a threat to score anywhere on the field. He'll be more involved in the passing game this year and if he stays healthy, could be a 1,500+ yard rusher with 30-40 receptions and 10+ TDs. That's an optimistic outlook. Realistically, knowing the Lions, Jones will fall just short of those expectations, but other things will hold back his development and impending star status. Jones has no competition for the starting job and the only thing keeping him from being a solid #1 fantasy back is an injury. Shawn Bryson and Artose Pinner are the backups. Both are good receivers out of the backfield, but Bryson has served as the team's 3rd down back the past couple seasons. He could be used in that role again this year, to some degree, though it's expected Jones will get more of that playing time once he proves himself worthy as a blocker and add picking up blitzes. Pinner has good size and all-around skills, but lacks speed. Jamel White is also in the background. He's been around the league a while and has similar skills as the others. He's a good 3rd down back with a little wiggle but not cut out for being a featured back. One final note regarding the Lions running game. One of the more important camp battles will be at right tackle, departed by free agent Stockar McDougle. Kelly Butler and Victor Rogers are the two leading candidates, but neither player has a single start under their belt. Free agent Kyle Kosier joins the fray and has some past experience playing for Mooch in San Francisco. One of these three will need to fill this hole for the Lions running game to be as productive as most people are predicting and expecting it to be.

WR: The Lions suddenly have an embarrassment of riches at the WR position. Roy Williams emerged as one of the best WR talents in the game as a rookie last year, but couldn't stay healthy and was slowed most of the year by nagging leg/ankle injuries. He's healthy again and looking forward to an even bigger year in 2005 starting opposite Charles Rogers, who appears to be finally healthy again himself. Rogers broke his collarbone in two consecutive seasons raising major concerns over his durability. Team officials continue to stand by Rogers and they adamantly deny the drafting of Mike Williams was partially due to concerns with Rogers' health. If Rogers truly is healthy and remains that way, the Lions have arguably the two most talented, dangerous starting WRs in the league. At this point those two are living purely on talent and potential. Both have near elite speed and both are big targets. Williams is much more physical, but Rogers is also a dynamic playmaking deep threat. How Mike Williams figures into the mix remains to be seen and will be one of the primary focuses in Lions camp. Mike Williams should dramatically improve the Lions red zone offense having scored 30 TDs in two seasons at USC.

Adding veteran TE Marcus Pollard via free agency was a nice move. He'll instantly improve the Lions production at TE from a year ago. Pollard is well known for his ability to get open in the red zone and on third downs. Having Pollard, Mike Williams, Roy Williams and Charles Rogers along with Kevin Jones in the backfield means teams will have to pick their poison with the Lions for the first time in years. Veteran WR Kevin Johnson was also signed in the offseason to compete for the 4th WR job. The last roster spot among WRs is likely to go to the still unsigned Eddie Drummond, one of the elite return men in the NFL. Drummond doesn't offer much as a WR but he's lethal on punt and kick returns making his roster spot more secure than players like David Kircus who offers little on special teams. Backing up TE Marcus Pollard is Casey Fitzsimmons, an overachiever who enters his 3rd season with the Lions. He's an adequate player with some receiving skills. He could be worthwhile if injury strikes and he's forced into a bigger role. Undrafted rookie Jason Randall from Michigan State has drawn the eye of Steve Mariucci in minicamps. He adds great size to the mix and Mooch mentioned that he runs pretty well for a guy his size. He could earn a roster spot as the 3rd TE.

Defense: The Lions defense also has some new and old faces being added to the mix. Rookie Shaun Cody will add to the talent level of the defensive line. He can provide depth behind Dan Wilkinson but also move outside and play end if needed. OLB Boss Bailey returns after missing last year due to a knee surgery. Some question his durability but if he's healthy he could dramatically improve the Lions front seven. He joins 2nd year LB Ted Lehman and MLB Earl Holmes to form a strong LB corps further boosted by strong depth including James Davis, Alex Lewis and Donte' Curry. The Lions biggest improvements were made in the secondary. They signed SS Kenoy Kennedy from Denver and added R.W. McQuarters to provide depth and versatility. He can play corner or free safety. He'll give FS Terrence Holt strong competition in camp for the FS job, but at worst, also gives the Lions a solid playmaker capable of being a nickel or dime corner and contributing as a return man on special teams. If the Lions pass rush improves they could be a strong #2 fantasy defense. The team recently entertained Ty Law for a work out but no offer was made. That shows the Lions are still looking to improve their team and GM Matt Millen isn't afraid to use their remaining cap dollars to add another veteran during camp if the situation presents itself.

Special Teams: PK Jason Hanson should be solid as always. He'll be eagerly watching all the offensive talent in preseason, hoping that they can start providing him with more opportunities in 2005. Despite earlier claims he'd be in camp, KR/PR specialist extraordinaire Eddie Drummond is currently holding out upon the advice of his agent (yep, Rosenhaus). The Lions are not budging, perhaps because they earlier signed CB R.W. McQuarters, who can definitely handle punts and possibly kickoffs. Other potential backups include RB Artose Pinner and WR Scottie Vines on kickoffs, and CB Dre' Bly, WR Kevin Johnson, and Vines on punts.

Lions Depth Chart
QB Joey Harrington, Jeff Garcia, Dan Orlovsky
RB Kevin Jones, Shawn Bryson (3RB), Artose Pinner, Jamel White, Howard Jackson
FB Cory Schlesinger, Paul Smith, Will Matthews, Greg Hanoian
WR Roy Williams, Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, Kevin Johnson, Eddie Drummond (PR/KR), David Kircus, Scott Vines, Steve Savoy, Paris Hamilton
TE Marcus Pollard, Casey Fitzsimmons, Leonard Stephens, Jason Randall
K Jason Hanson
DE James Hall, Cory Redding (DT), Kalimba Edwards, Jared DeVries, Bill Swancutt
DT Shaun Rogers, Dan Wilkinson, Shaun Cody (DE), Marcus Bell, Brandon Kennedy
MLB Earl Holmes, Wali Rainer (W/M), Scott Genord
OLB Ted Lehman (W/S), Boss Bailey (S/W), James Davis (W), Alex Lewis (W), Donte' Curry (S), Jonathan Goddard (W), Andrew Battle (W)
CB Dre' Bly, Fernando Bryant, R.W. McQuarters (FS), Andre Goodman, Chris Cash, Keith Smith, Stanley Wilson, Jeff Sanchez, Mike Echols
S Kenoy Kennedy (SS), Terrence Holt (FS), Bracy Walker (SS), Vernon Fox (SS), Kentrell Curry (FS)

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Green Bay Packers

QB: Brett Favre returns for what many people think could be his final season as the Packers QB. The Packers offense returns largely intact aside from their two starting guards and a possible holdout of TE Bubba Franks. Favre reportedly re-committed himself during the offseason and worked harder to get back into top shape. Favre is the iron man of NFL quarterbacks so even though the Packers secured Aaron Rodgers with first round pick, there's very little chance he sees the field much if at all this year. That's not to say he won't get a tremendous amount of work in the preseason though. The Packers want to see how far along Rodgers is and how he does against NFL-level competition. Not knowing Favre's plans beyond this year makes it impor