by John Tuvey
#1) Knowshon Moreno RB Ht: 5-11 Wt: 217 Drafted 1.12 by the Denver Broncos
Moreno finally signed his contract, moved right into the starting lineup in Denver, then rushed for 18 yards before tweaking his knee in the Broncos’ first preseason game. It sounds like he’ll be down for one-two weeks, which could mean we won’t see him again until the final preseason game—or even the regular season opener. Meanwhile, the likes of LaMont Jordan, Correll Buckhalter, and Peyton Hillis will have an opportunity to stake their own claim(s) for the Broncos’ feature back role. Unfortunately, this is shaping up more and more like the dreaded committee fantasy fans had hoped left the Mile High City with Mike Shanahan.
#2) Chris “Beanie” Wells RB Ht: 6-1 Wt: 235 Drafted 1.31 by the Cardinals
#3) Donald Brown RB Ht: 5-10 Wt: 210 Drafted 1.27 by the Colts
#4) LeShon McCoy RB Ht: 5-10 Wt: 198 Drafted 2.21 by the Eagles
#5) Michael Crabtree WR Ht: 6-1 Wt: 215 Drafted 1.10 by the 49ers
#6) Mark Sanchez QB Ht: 6-2 Wt: 227 Drafted 1.5 by the Jets
Sanchez was everything the Jets had hoped for in his NFL debut, directing a nine-play, 93-yard touchdown drive in Gang Green’s preseason opener. The drive included a 48-yard completion on Sanchez’s first pass attempt and saw him finish 3-of-4 for 88 yards. He is slated to start the Jets’ second preseason game, a Monday night affair against the Baltimore Ravens, and barring a complete collapse against Jets coach Rex Ryan’s former defense all indications are that the fifth overall selection will open the regular season under center.
#7) Matthew Stafford QB Ht: 6-2 Wt: 225 Drafted 1.1 by the Lions
Maybe Daunte Culpepper has Keary Colbert on payroll; after all, had Colbert not dropped three Stafford passes in the rookie’s preseason debut his 7-14-144-1-1 stat line would have looked a whole lot more impressive. Daunte wasn’t bad, and if the Lions prefer the Carson Palmer method of developing their quarterback (letting him sit a year and watch a veteran play) as opposed to the Tim Couch/David Carr/Joey Harrington approach Culpepper gives them that option. But the Lions are paying Stafford a boatload of money, and if he’s matching Culpepper throw for throw it will be tough to make a case for keeping him out of the lineup.
#8) Brandon Pettigrew TE Ht: 6-5 Wt: 263 Drafted 1.20 by the Lions
#9) Jeremy Maclin WR Ht: 6-0 Wt: 198 Drafted 1.19 by the Eagles
#10) Percy Harvin WR Ht: 5-11 Wt: 192 Drafted 1.22 by the Vikings
#11) Shonn Green RB Ht: 5-11 Wt: 227 Drafted 3.1 by the Jets
#12) Hakeem Nicks WR Ht: 6-1 Wt: 212 Drafted 1.29 by the Giants
#13) Andre Brown RB Ht: 6-0 Wt: 224 Drafted 4.29 by the Giants
It was over before it began for Brown, who ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in practice and didn’t even make it to the Giants’ first preseason game. While Brown is out for the year, dynasty leaguers shouldn’t be too quick to write him off; he was in serious contention to take third-down looks away from Ahmad Bradshaw, and if he’s able to bounce back from the injury he could be battling for that role as early as next training camp.
#14) Brian Robiskie WR Ht: 6-3 Wt: 209 Drafted 2.4 by the Browns
#15) Josh Freeman QB Ht: 6-6 Wt: 248 Drafted 1.17 by the Buccaneers
#16) Glen Coffee RB Ht: 6-0 Wt: 209 Drafted 3.10 by the 49ers
#17) Austin Collie WR Ht: 6-1 Wt: 200 Drafted 4.27 by the Colts
#18) Chase Coffman TE Ht: 6-6 Wt: 244 Drafted 3.34 by the Bengals
#19) Jarrett Dillard WR Ht: 5-10 Wt: 191 Drafted 5.8 by the Jaguars
#20) Rashad Jennings RB Ht: 6-1 Wt: 231 Drafted 7.41 by the Jaguars
#21) Juaquin Iglesias WR Ht: 6-1 Wt: 210 Drafted 3.35 by the Bears
#22) Shawn Nelson TE Ht: 6-5 Wt: 240 Drafted 4.21 by the Bills
#23) James Davis RB Ht: 5-11 Wt: 218 Drafted 6.22 by the Browns
#24) Ramses Barden WR Ht: 6-6 Wt: 229 Drafted 3.21 by the Giants
#25) Bernard Scott RB Ht: 5-10 Wt: 200 Drafted 6.36 by the Bengals
#26) Mike Thomas WR Ht: 5-8 Wt: 195 Drafted 4.7 by the Jaguars
#27) Pat White QB Ht: 6-0 Wt: 197 Drafted 2.12 by the Dolphins
#28) Travis Beckum TE Ht: 6-3 Wt: 243 Drafted 3.36 by the Giants
#29) Kenny Britt WR Ht: 6-3 Wt: 218 Drafted 1.30 by the Titans
Britt took his own sweet time getting to the playing field—but when he arrived, he wasted no time making an impact. Britt worked with the Titans’ starters as their third receiver and caught a pass from Kerry Collins, then moved into an outside role with Vince Young at the helm and finished his first preseason game with five grabs for 89 yards and a touchdown. It appears as if worst-case he’ll be Tennessee’s third receiver and best-case he’ll push his way past Justin Gage into the starting lineup. Temper your expectations, as this is still a run-first offense, but don’t forget that also means defenses creeping defenders into the box and more opportunities for Britt to take a catch the distance.
#30) Aaron Brown RB Ht: 6-1 Wt: 196 Drafted 6.19 by the Lions
Brown currently sits fourth on the Lions depth chart behind Maurice Morris and Aveion Cason, but after his display in the Lions’ first preseason game it will be tough to keep him off the field. Brown produced 145 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns on just 10 touches; his 32-yard touchdown run and 45-yard TD grab accounted for the Lions’ two biggest plays of the game. There’s little question Brown could slide quickly into the role of third-down back in Detroit, and after breaking off a 32-yard kickoff return he should have a solid grip on that role as well. If you think the Lions will find themselves in plenty of third-down and kickoff return (after opponents score) situations, then Brown should be blinking onto your fantasy radar.
#31) Patrick Turner WR Ht: 6-5 Wt: 223 Drafted 3.23 by the Dolphins
#32) Darrius Heyward-Bey WR Ht: 6-2 Wt: 210 Drafted 1.7 by the Raiders
#33) Cornelius Ingram TE Ht: 6-4 Wt: 245 Drafted 5.17 by the Eagles
Tough break for Ingram, who re-tore the same left ACL that cost him his senior season at the University of Florida. The talented tight end was a steal for Philly in the fifth round, though reports have surfaced that many teams took him off their draft board after checking his knee because they felt it would tear again. That said, if Ingram—who already had surgery to repair the injury—is willing to battle through another year of rehab the Eagles could still have their steal. If you’re in an extremely deep dynasty league, you could take the same gamble Philly took and stash him away hoping that he’s able to get healthy, stay healthy, and bring some of that tantalizing athleticism he demonstrated in camp to an actual NFL game.
#34) Mohamed Massaquoi WR Ht: 6-2 Wt: 210 Drafted 2.18 by the Browns
#35) Gartrell Johnson RB Ht: 5-10 Wt: 219 Drafted 4.34 by the Chargers
#36) Mike Wallace WR Ht: 6-0 Wt: 199 Drafted 3.20 by the Steelers
#37) Quinn Johnson RB Ht: 6-1 Wt: 246 Drafted 5.9 by the Packers
#38) Jared Cook TE Ht: 6-5 Wt: 246 Drafted 3.25 by the Titans
#39) Frank Summers RB Ht: 5-9 Wt: 241 Drafted 5.33 by the Steelers
#40) Brandon Tate WR Ht: 6-0 Wt: 183 Drafted 3.19 by the Patriots
#41) Javon Ringer RB Ht: 5-9 Wt: 205 Drafted 5.37 by the Titans
It’s unlikely Ringer will bump Chris Johnson or LenDale White for playing time, assuming both stay healthy. But after rushing for 51 yards, including a 36-yard TD run, in the Titans’ preseason opener he’s making a strong case to move Chris Henry and Quinton Ganther aside. Notable about the run is Ringer reading the defense’s blitz, expecting an audible, and then—with no play change forthcoming—sliding to the gap vacated by the blitzing linebacker and going the distance. Johnson ended last season on the sidelines with a bum ankle, so there’s certainly the potential for 2009 playing time for Ringer—in a run-first offense behind a solid offensive line, no less. And with White in the final year of his contract, maybe Ringer will replace LenDale in the Titans’ committee backfield as early as 2010.
#42) Sammie Stroughter WR Ht: 5-9 Wt: 189 Drafted 7.24 by the Buccaneers
#43) Jeremiah Johnson RB Ht: 5-9 Wt: 220 Undrafted; signed by the Texans
#44) Derrick Williams WR Ht: 6-0 Wt: 194 Drafted 3.18 by the Lions
#45) James Casey TE Ht: 6-3 Wt: 246 Drafted 5.16 by the Texans
#46) Deon Butler WR Ht: 5-10 Wt: 182 Drafted 3.27 by the Seahawks
#47) Richard Quinn TE Ht: 6-4 Wt: 264 Drafted 2.32 by the Broncos
#48) Nate Davis QB Ht: 6-1 Wt: 226 Drafted 5.35 by the 49ers
#49) Brooks Foster WR Ht: 6-1 Wt: 211 Drafted 5.24 by the Rams
#50) Mike Teel QB Ht: 6-0 Wt: 183 Drafted 6.5 by the Seahawks