THE FLASHUPDATE TEAM NOTES | WEEK ONE | 5 SEPTEMBER, 2001


ARIZONA CARDINALS
QUARTERBACK:
Jake Plummer should benefit greatly from an improved offensive line. ... Head coach Dave McGinnis is looking to establish the run, which should take some of the pressure off "The Snake," who has been going as the 21st QB taken around the country. Snag him if he falls that far in your draft, he could make a solid backup or even third QB in most leagues.

RUNNING BACK:
Thomas Jones will be the starter when Arizona comes off its opening week bye to face Washington in Week 2. He has a lot of talent but still needs to prove he has the toughness and durability needed. We believe Michael Pittman will come back from his one game league suspension and out perform Jones this year. However, it won't happen until Week 3 at the earliest. ...

WIDE RECEIVER:
David Boston looks like a different player this year. The former first-round draft pick has been flashing his newfound size and high-end speed throughout the preseason. ... In our opinion, Boston, who is currently the 16th wide receiver being taken in Fantasy drafts around the country, is on the verge of a top-ten season. ... If you can get him as your No. 2 receiver you'll be set.
Rob Moore, who has been rehabbing a torn ACL for over a year, strained his hamstring in Friday night's preseason game, but the veteran believes he took a significant step forward against the Chargers. ... The hamstring injury isn't considered serious and Moore played with more confidence than he did the week before when he saw his first action since last August. ... Plummer told reporters, "This week, I've seen a definite improvement in his practices, his routes, everything. ... He's getting better every day."

TIGHT END:
Tywan Mitchell, who pulled in three passes for 23 yards against the Chargers last weekend, had an impressive preseason. Starter Terry Hardy could see more of his opportunities taken away by Mitchell this year. However, neither should be a very productive fantasy TE.

PLACE-KICKER:
Bill Gramatica convincingly beat out veteran Cary Blanchard. The bad new for the Cardinals -- at least in terms of the salary cap -- is the fact that Blanchard needs surgery to repair a tendon in his big toe and the team may have to come up with an injury settlement -- or worse yet, place him on injured reserve (in which case Blanchard will still count against their salary cap).
Gramatica has been going as the 14th PK in drafts around the country -- so you could get him as an early backup kicker.


ATLANTA FALCONS
QUARTERBACK:
Chris Chandler has quietly put together one of the best preseasons of his career and No. 1 draft pick Michael Vick should benefit greatly working under the cagey veteran.
Now that Eric Zeier is no longer a factor, Vick is a lock to open the season as the No. 2 man in Atlanta. Look for the Falcons to use Vick in much the way Pittsburgh used Kordell Stewart early in his career as head coach Dan Reeves tries to find ways to take advantage of Vick's 4.27 speed.
One last note: Zeier's release means Doug Johnson will be the No. 3 quarterback.

RUNNING BACK:
Jamal Anderson is two years removed from reconstructive knee surgery and the veteran insists he feels better than he can ever remember. The former University of Utah standout is eager to see what he can accomplish working behind the team's younger, leaner offensive line. Denver has had great success with a smaller, quicker offensive line and the Falcons hope to do the same this year.
Maurice Smith and Rodney Thomas will handle backup duties with the slightly larger Smith, who is built more like Anderson, is currently listed as the No. 2 man, but Thomas would definitely see some reps if Anderson goes down.

WIDE RECEIVER:
As far as receivers go, Terance Mathis will produce again this year -- especially since it looks like Atlanta will establish a strong rushing attack behind Anderson. ... Shawn Jefferson, who is getting a little long in the tooth, led the team in 2000 with 60 receptions. ... Tony Martin re-joins the Falcons after spending the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Jefferson and Martin will split time at the No. 2 spot opposite Mathis.

TIGHT END:
Rookie Alge Crumpler has been a major surprise during camp this summer. ... Look for the youngster and third-year starter Reggie Kelly to give Atlanta a solid pair of receiving options at this position.

PLACE-KICKER:
In a surprise move, the Falcons waived favorite Jake Arians in favor of Jay Feely. ... Arians spent most of the summer nursing a series of nagging injuries while Feely obviously impressed coaches with his superior leg strength.


BALTIMORE RAVENS
QUARTERBACK:
Elvis Grbac is locked in as Baltimore's starter and the former Chief has been everything coaches expected this summer. ... In fact, team officials are convinced Grbac has the arm strength necessary to carry the offense in the wake of Jamal Lewis' recent season-ending knee injury. ...
According to Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun, head coach Brian Billick may still want to call second-year player Chris Redman his No. 2 quarterback, but the job belongs to veteran Randall Cunningham. Despite a strong showing in the last preseason game, Redman still committed rookie mistakes that didn't build any confidence in the coaching staff. Meanwhile, Cunningham still showed the poise and knowledge of the offense that Billick was looking for in a No. 2. Redman is No. 2 in terms of getting practice reps only. ...

RUNNING BACK:
Terry Allen still heads into the season opener as the starter with Jason Brookins serving as the No. 2 man, but the arrival of longtime Vikings backup Moe Williams on Tuesday could result in a shakeup.
Williams, who will reportedly be given an opportunity to compete for the starting job, is the fifth former Viking on the Ravens' current roster, joining Allen, Cunningham, receiver Qadry Ismail and fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo. Billick has ties with all those players from his days as Minnesota's offensive coordinator. ... The 6-1, 210-pound Williams passed a physical Tuesday morning and his familiarity with Billick's offense may allow him to play in Sunday's season opener against the Chicago Bears. ... "Moe knows our system, he knows our protection schemes and he is a solid special teams contributor," Billick said. The Ravens reportedly aren't concerned about the foot injury that sidelined him most of the preseason following a strong effort in Minnesota's exhibition finale against the Dolphins. "It's a little sore, which is just the healing process," Williams said of the foot on Tuesday. "But other than that, I'm ready to go. Once it gets warmed up, it's 100 percent."
Veteran Sam Gash will open the season as the No. 1 fullback, but No. 2 man Ayanbadejo will see significant playing time as the lone back in Baltimore's one-back, two-tight end sets. ...

WIDE RECEIVER:
Also according to Preston, "Qadry Ismail is expected to start at wide receiver after surviving a training camp battle with second-year player Travis Taylor. Ismail has better-than-average speed and can occasionally take control of games. He has no fear of going over the middle and runs fairly well after the catch. But he is also limited. He has been inconsistent catching the ball throughout his career and often can't get separation on any routes except slant-in.
"Ismail is a total team player, but he'll probably lose his starting job before the end of the season. Taylor is younger, bigger and has better and stronger hands."
Brandon Stokley is the starter opposite Ismail; Taylor opens the season as the No. 3 man and veteran speedster Patrick Johnson will work at the No. 4 spot. ... Return man Jermaine Lewis will serve as the fifth and last wide receiver on the roster. ...

TIGHT END:
Veteran starter Shannon Sharpe suffered a minor hand injury in Friday's preseason finale, but the injury shouldn't keep him from playing against the Bears this Sunday. ... "The guy kind of speared me at the end," Sharpe said of the hit that caused the injury. "He was lucky that I had a dislocated finger and I had to go off the field to get it reset. Other than that, I was going to give him an earful. There's no love lost between these two teams."
Look for rookie Todd Heap to see plenty of action in the team's two-tight end sets this season. The youngster has wowed coaches with his athletic ability this summer. ... Second-year man John Jones opens the season as the No. 3 man behind Sharpe and Heap. ...

PLACE-KICKER:
Matt Stover, who hit 3-of-3 field goal attempts this summer, has scored more than 100 points in each of the last two seasons. ... There's no reason to believe he won't do the same this year.


BUFFALO BILLS
QUARTERBACK:
Rob Johnson is not only struggling to learn the intricacies of the West Coast offense, he's still struggling to overcome one of his biggest problems: Holding onto the ball too long. As teammate Eric Moulds recently noted, "I'm not concerned about the preseason, but I'm concerned about it to the point that we don't want it to carry over to the regular season."
Shawn Bryson and Sammy Morris will also serve 
The coaching staff is demonstrating tremendous patience, but Fantasy owners are growing increasingly concerned.
Johnson has been the 17th QB selected in this summer according to our average draft figures, and we recommend waiting until as late as possible before drafting him.

RUNNING BACK:
Head coach Gregg Williams officially named Travis Henry his starter at running back, but noted Sammy Morris and Shawn Bryson will be expected to add backfield versatility along with fullback Larry Centers. 
However, the Bills won't take a committee approach at halfback and Henry is the guy you want to have if you must take a Bills back this season.
For what it's worth. ... Morris suffered a minor ankle sprain in the preseason finale, but coaches expect him to be ready to go this Sunday/

WIDE RECEIVER:
Eric Moulds has been impressive all summer and could be in for a huge season if Johnson can stay healthy. ... No. 2 man Peerless Price hasn't shown much this summer catching only one ball for three yards, but Williams likes him and Price certainly has the talent to emerge this year but we don't recommend taking him very high in your draft (he's been the 64th wide out selected this summer according to our average draft figures).
Jeremy McDaniel opens the regular season as the No. 3 man for the second year in a row.

TIGHT END:
Jay Riemersma must prove he can stay healthy before he reaches "elite" status. We believe he can do it this year. ...
We currently rank Riemersma as the No. 4 tight end in the league, while our average draft figures indicate he's the been the seventh tight end selected around the country this summer.

PLACE-KICKER:
The Bills brought in former Tennessee kicker Al Del Greco and Jon Hilbert, who was cut by the New Orleans Saints, for workouts Sunday. ... Neither was signed, but it's an indication that Steve Christie's job isn't incredibly secure after the veteran missed 7-of-11 field goal attempts this summer.


CAROLINA PANTHERS
QUARTERBACK:
Chris Weinke gets the start and Jeff Lewis got the axe. ...
With Weinke, a 29-year-old rookie at the helm, the Panthers will rely on a condensed version of their playbook.
Weinke has shown plenty of promise, but he's hardly mastered the offense. The team will try to keep things as simple as possible at the start of the season and add more options as Weinke becomes more comfortable with the system. ...
Although it wasn't entirely unexpected, the team's decision to give up on Lewis is still surprising considering the overall lack of quality depth on a roster featuring Weinke, No. 2 man Dameyune Craig and No. 3 man Matt Lytle.
The Panthers wanted to get Ty Detmer from the Browns, but Detmer wound up in Detroit leaving the Panthers to continue their search for a quality veteran to back up Weinke this fall.

RUNNING BACK:
Things don't get much better at running back. ... The Panthers have been disappointed by Tim Biakabutuka's lackluster play this summer, but who else can they go to? Free agent acquisition Richard Huntley didn't take a single snap in anger this summer and the team's most effective ball carrier has been unheralded rookie Nick Goings.
Goings averaged 3.4 yards per carry while racking up119 yards on 35 preseason carries. ...
Huntley is reportedly optimistic about the possibility he'll be ready for the opener, but even if he's healthy enough to hit the field, he's not likely to make a major contribution since he still hasn't learned the team's offense.

WIDE RECEIVER:
The tenuous situation under center makes it hard to get incredibly excited about Carolina's receiving corps this fall. ... We have to imagine it will be difficult for Muhsin Muhammad to duplicate last year's numbers. Donald Hayes, the No. 2 man in Patrick Jeffers' absence, has a ton of potential, but this probably isn't the year he fulfills it.
According to reports out of Charlotte this week, Jeffers, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery late last month, has all but ruled out playing the season opener -- probably a wise choice considering the Panthers open the season on the carpeted concrete inside the Metrodome.
In fact, coaches might hold Jeffers out of the first three games because two of those will be played on artificial turf.
While Hayes is a capable replacement for Jeffers, running him as a starter diminishes the effectiveness of the team's multiple receiver sets. ... Isaac Byrd, the No. 3 man in Jeffers' absence, isn't the kind of deep threat that Hayes, Jeffers or Muhammad are.

TIGHT END:
Wesley Walls had three catches for 43 yards in the preseason finale against the Browns and the veteran appears to be ready to go after recovering from last year's torn ACL. ... If nothing else, Walls should provide Weinke with a reliable safety valve. ...


The Panthers will apparently keep three tight ends in addition to Walls this year; No. 2 man Kris Mangum, No. 3 man Luther Broughton and No. 4 man Casey Crawford.

PLACE-KICKER:
After missing a 40-yarder in the preseason closer, John Kasay wound up hitting 4-of-7 field goal attempts this summer. Kasay appears to be healthy after missing more than a year with a pair of knee injuries, but he clearly hasn't regained his pre-injury form yet.


CHICAGO BEARS
QUARTERBACK:
Shane Matthews will open the season as Chicago's starting quarterback while Jim Miller and Danny Wuerffel provide depth in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots respectively.

RUNNING BACK:
James Allen and Skip Hicks open the season as the top two running backs in Chicago following the release of Marlon Barnes over the weekend. ... Rookie Anthony Thomas (hyper-extended knee) reportedly returned to practice on Monday, but it's still questionable if Thomas will see any playing time against Baltimore this Sunday.

WIDE RECEIVER:
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Marcus Robinson practiced on Monday, but his status for Sunday's game against Baltimore will likely be a game-time decision. Robinson will have his back reevaluated on Tuesday to see if he can practice for the rest of the week. Robinson said that if the decision is his, he'll play but you'd be wise to look elsewhere for a starter this weekend. ...
The Sun-Times also reported that Dez White, who started all the preseason games, is expected to start the first regular season game for the Bears, along with Marty Booker. However, rookie David Terrell could see more playing time than White in the opener and Robinson will be back in the picture in the next couple of weeks.

TIGHT END:
Former Jet Fred Baxter will open the season as the Bears' starting tight end with former Viking and Buccaneer John Davis and Dustin Lyman providing depth. ... Lyman, who has been slow to recover from a sprained left ankle suffered Aug. 11 against Tennessee, participated in limited drills on Monday.

PLACE-KICKER:
Paul Edinger opens the season as Chicago's place-kicker after hitting a National League best 8-of-10 field goal attempts this summer.


CINCINNATI BENGALS
QUARTERBACK:
According to Chick Ludwig of the Dayton Daily News, the Bengals are "Jon Kitna's team now, and as the fourth new starting quarterback in four years, he must avoid the interceptions and fumbles that caused his exit in Seattle.
"Kitna has tailback Corey Dillon and wide receivers Darnay Scott, Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick to ease the pressure on him. Kitna needs to utilize the skills of all four extraordinary players in order for the Bengals to win.
"It's important for the passing game to shift into gear because defenses, starting with the Patriots, will stack eight players near the line of scrimmage in an attempt to stop the high-powered Dillon. Once the running game is established, look for Kitna to use plenty of play-action fakes in an attempt to freeze the linebackers so he can go down the field. "Kitna needs to show poise and patience in the pocket, take what the defense gives him and keep moving the chains. ...
"Akili Smith's bruised right shoulder has healed, and he'll back up Kitna in the opener. But Scott Mitchell's high left ankle sprain, which could sideline him for a month, caused the re-signing of Scott Covington. ..."
Just for the record. ... Smith threw for the first time in three weeks Sunday without experiencing any pain in his throwing shoulder. ...

RUNNING BACK:
Dillon has a new contract and what appears to be a new attitude, but team officials will be looking for the same old Dillon once the regular season opens. ... The former University of Washington standout averaged 1,223.5 rushing yards in his first four seasons and already ranks third on the team's career rushing list, but we're looking for more this year.
Brandon Bennett will open the season as the No. 2 man behind Dillon while second-year man Curtis Keaton and rookie Rudi Johnson will provide additional depth. ...
Lorenzo Neal is the lone fullback on the roster and he'll be looking to give Dillon the same kind of help he provided 1,000-yard runners Eddie George, Adrian Murrell and Warrick Dunn in previous NFL stops.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Johnson has emerged as one of the team's bright spots. He continues to show a special burst and acceleration, not just at the line of scrimmage, but when he gets the ball in his hands. He's a disciplined route runner but needs to show more concentration in traffic. ... The best thing about Johnson is that he wants the ball and knows what to do with it. He gets his shoulders square and blazes upfield.
Johnson opens the season as the No. 3 man behind starters Scott and Warrick, but he'll see plenty of action this fall because new offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski will rely heavily on multiple-receiver sets.
Scott is back and appears fully recovered from the broken leg that sidelined him all last year. Warrick is a year older and wiser, and his crisper routes reflect increased discipline. While Johnson and Scott are busy stretching defenses, Warrick should be even more dangerous in the slot.
Danny Farmer and Ron Dugans will enter the mix when the Bengals flood the field with receivers. ... Farmer has been bothered by a sore knee, but the former UCLA star was expected to resume workouts on Wednesday. ... Rookie T.J. Houshmandzadeh is questionable for the season opener with a bruised heel.

TIGHT END:
Tony McGee is solid at tight end, but depth could be a problem there. Marco Battaglia missed much of camp while recovering from knee surgery and Sean Brewer will miss his rookie season after being placed on the injured reserve list last weekend. ... Brad St. Louis opens the season as the No. 3 man in Brewer's absence. ...

PLACE-KICKER:
Neil Rackers beat out veteran Richie Cunningham by hitting 4-of-6 field goal attempts this summer. ... But don't get too excited about Rackers prospects until you get a feel for what the team's offense might be capable of with Bratkowski and Kitna running the show.


CLEVELAND BROWNS
QUARTERBACK:
Tim Couch was the offensive MVP of the Browns in the preseason and is currently throwing the ball better than he has at any other time since turning pro and his confidence level has never been higher.
According to those who follow the team closely, a great deal of the former first-round pick's preseason success can be attributed to the arrival of new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who installed the same kind of "pitch-and-catch" passing game that Couch ran at Kentucky.
Steve King of the Medina County Gazette reports there were several reasons why the team kept backup Kelly Holcomb over Ty Detmer, who was traded to Detroit. But the fact that Holcomb was hand picked by Arians, who was Holcomb's quarterbacks coach at Indianapolis, while Detmer was the handpicked backup of the team's previous regime, was probably the overriding factor. ... After trading Spergon Wynn to Minnesota, the Browns signed Josh Booty to a contract and the former Seahawk will open the regular season as Cleveland's No. 3 man.

RUNNING BACK:
The Browns' backfield has been one surprise after another with Ben Gay emerging from nowhere and last year's leading rusher, Travis Prentice, being traded to Minnesota. ...
Cleveland will open the season with rookie James Jackson as their starting halfback. Speedster Jamel White has nailed down the No. 2 spot and Gay heads into the regular season opener as the No. 3 man. ...
Look for the Browns to unleash a lot of new looks  -- many focusing around H-back Mike Sellers, in the opener against the Seahawks. Head coach Butch Davis has told reporters Sellers could catch 70 passes this year.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Second-year man Dennis Northcutt played in the final preseason game against the Panthers and even though he left that game with a bruised shoulder, the former University of Arizona star is quickly climbing up the depth chart. ...
In the meantime, Kevin Johnson and rookie Quincy Morgan will be the opening day starters this Sunday with Northcutt scheduled to come off the bench as the No. 3 man.
JuJuan Dawson (broken hand) is expected to practice at full speed this week and should be ready to play against the Seahawks.

TIGHT END:
Ricky Dudley closed out the preseason by pulling in three catches for 19 yards against the Panthers. .... The former Raider should be a regular target with Arians calling the plays this year. ... O.J. Santiago will open the season as the No. 2 tight end after Mark Campbell was placed on IR.

PLACE-KICKER:
Phil Dawson has secured the kicking duties once again for Cleveland now that rumors indicating Al Del Greco would be invited in for a look have died down.


DALLAS COWBOYS
QUARTERBACK:
Yes, Quincy Carter is set to line up as the starter against the Buccaneers this Sunday. ... Jerry Jones' pet project, Carter will start as long as he's physically capable.
Former Charger and Buccaneer Ryan Leaf cleared waivers Tuesday and was expected to sign with the Cowboys if he passed a physical.
Leaf arrived in town Tuesday night, the team's Web site reported.
Jones told The Dallas Morning News that Leaf would sign a two-year deal to be the third-stringer behind Carter and No. 2 man Anthony Wright.
"At this point, Ryan has realized he's going to be going into a situation as a third quarterback, just hoping to contribute in any way he can," Leaf's agent, David Dunn, said Tuesday.
"Anywhere he goes, he's going to be diligent, learn the system and improve his game."
To make room for Leaf, the Cowboys will cut quarterback Clint Stoerner and try to sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers

RUNNING BACK:
Emmitt Smith is chasing history this fall, but he's not likely to catch it -- at least not this year.
Needing 1,560 yards to eclipse the all-time career mark set by Walter Payton, Smith might as well consider the 2001 season a chance to make up a little ground on the late legend while opposing defenses stack up to shut down the run.
With Carter lobbing one duckball after another into the secondary, why bother defending the pass?
The O-line is decent, but it just won't matter. Troy Hambrick has been impressive this preseason and will open the season as the No. 2 man behind Smith. ... Starting fullback Robert Thomas is as likely to post significant Fantasy points as All-World guard Larry Allen is is.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Slowly brought along after knee surgery, both Raghib "Rocket" Ismail and Joey Galloway are fully recovered, tanned and rested. ... Big deal.
With Carter trying to find these two burners while running for his life, what might have been decent Fantasy numbers with Tony Banks under center, quickly go by the wayside.
No. 3 man Wane McGarity is the only receiver other than Galloway and Ismail remaining on the roster from last season.

TIGHT END:
Mike Lucky just recently returned to practice after spending months rehabbing his knee. The Cowboys believe that he will be able to get the job done for now - although the team could search for an upgrade at the position next offseason if Lucky doesn't live up to expectations. Dallas is going to rely on a run-oriented attack and needs a top blocker at the TE position.
Veteran Jackie Harris is an outstanding receiver, but he'll never be mistaken for a crushing run-blocker. Undersized No. 3 man James Whalen isn't likely to emerge as a force either.

PLACE-KICKER:
Tim Seder might be a productive Fantasy kicker -- on another team. We hate to beat it to death, but until Carter proves otherwise, we have a hard time getting excited about anybody depending on him for production.


DENVER BRONCOS
QUARTERBACK:
Brian Griese has looked outstanding this preseason with a QB rating of 124! The only question mark is weather he can stay healthy. Gus Frerotte will be Griese's backup with Steve Beuerlein recovering from offseason elbow surgery.

RUNNING BACK:
Terrell Davis played very well in last Friday's preseason closer against the 49ers, rushing for 42 yards on eight carries with one TD. That performance strengthened Davis' chances to be the starter Monday night against the Giants.
"I always expect to start," Davis said. "That's the way I think. I just think I'm a starter. Until someone tells me differently, that's how I'm going to think."
However, head coach Mike Shanahan won't officially announce his starter until kickoff. And even though we're convinced Shanahan will give Davis the start, that doesn't mean he won't share time with the Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson.
Remember: Davis still isn't in game shape yet.
FB Howard Griffith was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of the season. The veteran will be replaced by converted tight end Patrick Hape, who had two TD receptions this preseason.

WIDE RECEIVER:
The Broncos don't intend to fine or otherwise punish Eddie Kennison, who was arrested and charged with three misdemeanors Sunday morning after a dispute with a security guard at a Baton Rouge nightclub.
Kennison, who promises to tone down the off-field activities, is set to begin the year as Denver's No. 3 wide receiver.
Starting wide out Ed McCaffrey was back on the practice field Monday and feeling reasonably well, just days after being hospitalized because of debilitating headaches. According to reports out of Denver, McCaffrey was hospitalized for two days last week while doctors tried to pinpoint the cause of his migraine headaches using a CT scan, an MRI on his brain, and a spinal tap. Doctors concluded that McCaffrey had a mysterious virus that led to the constant migraines. ...
At this point there's reportedly no reason to believe McCaffrey won't line up as the starter opposite Rod Smith when the Broncos hit the field against the Giants Monday night.

TIGHT END:
Desmond Clark, who pulled in three passes for 53 yards against the Niners last weekend, is viewed as Denver's "pass catching" tight end. ... Clark might be No. 2 on the Broncos' depth chart -- behind starter Dwayne Carswell -- but he's No. 1 in the hearts of Fantasy owners.

PLACE-KICKER:
Jason Elam appears to be primed for another excellent season after hitting 2-of-3 preseason field goal attempts -- including a 50-yarder. His lone miss this summer was from 63-yards out.
The team's decision to keep punter Tom Rouen, who has been Elam's holder since 1993, only adds to our confidence in Elam this year.


DETROIT LIONS
QUARTERBACK:
According to Booth Newspapers reporter Tom Kowalski, after spending several months of trying to swing a deal -- and even closing down talks -- the Lions finally managed to get their man: Cleveland Browns quarterback Ty Detmer. The Lions shipped a fourth-round pick to Cleveland to bring in Detmer as the backup to Charlie Batch.
Jim Harbaugh was released to make room for Detmer.
While head coach Marty Mornhinweg continues to insist that he's the backup, Detmer has several years of experience in the West Coast offense and it's very likely that Mornhinweg will have a quicker hook with Batch now that Detmer is here. Rookie Mike McMahon opens the season as the No. 3 man.

RUNNING BACK:
James Stewart opens the regular season locked in as Detroit's starting halfback with veteran Lamont Warren serving as the No. 2 man.
Sedrick Irvin, in a battle for the No. 3 running back job, played very well in the final two preseason games and appeared to nail down the position. However, Irvin tore the ACL in his right knee in the second half of the final preseason game and will be out for the entire season. Reuben Droughns, the team's No. 3 pick last year, fills Irvin's spot, but the Lions will be looking to upgrade that position.

WIDE RECEIVER:
According to Curt Sylvester of the Detroit Free Press, Johnnie Morton and Germane Crowell are listed as the starters but we shouldn't be surprised if Herman Moore eases into a more productive role. He's still the Lions' most reliable receiver.
Until Larry Foster recovers from a sprained knee, Desmond Howard will be the No. 4 receiver. Rookie Scotty Anderson looked good early in camp, but dropped off badly in the final three weeks.

TIGHT END:
This also from Sylvester: "David Sloan is the key. He's big, runs well, catches well and is an adequate blocker. Pete Mitchell hasn't caught the ball as well as advertised and doesn't have the size to be an effective blocker. Brad Banta is the center on long snaps and emergency backup tight end."

PLACE-KICKER:
Jason Hanson is locked in for another season as the Lions' place-kicker after hitting 2-of-2 field goal attempts this summer. ...


GREEN BAY PACKERS
QUARTERBACK:
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, it appears Brett Favre won't have the weapons he needs to throw 30 touchdowns this year. He'll have to count on his running backs to carry a lot of the receiving load and hope tight ends Bubba Franks and David Martin can mature in a hurry.
Doug Pederson will open the season as the No. 2 man behind Favre; CFL refugee Henry Burris is the No. 3 man.

RUNNING BACK:
With starter Ahman Green still battling a sore groin, the Packers kept him out of Friday's preseason finale. However, the former Cornhusker participated in the Packers walk through practice on Monday and is expected to line up as the starter this Sunday.
Dorsey Levens is expected to play against the Lions, but the splint he'll wear to protect a broken left hand will limit his catching ability. Levens will have gotten in two weeks of practice by the opener, so he should be fairly sharp. He'll still be used on third downs, but the catches he makes will be safe ones. Levens and Green will see some time together in the backfield.
Levens and Rondell Mealey will serve as backup fullbacks now that Matt Snider has been cut.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Rookie wide receiver Robert Ferguson will open the season on the inactive list. He still doesn't have command of the playbook, and until he does he will remain behind Corey Bradford, Donald Driver and Charles Lee on the depth chart.
Antonio Freeman and Bill Schroeder are locked in as the starters with Bradford and Driver likely to split reps at the No. 3 spot. ...
Freeman participated in practice on Monday and will play in the season opener on Sunday. He should be fully recovered from his concussion and ready to go.

TIGHT END:
Franks opens the season as the starter with Martin officially listed as the No. 2 man. However, Martin suffered a separated shoulder in practice last Wednesday that caused him to miss Friday's preseason closer. ...
The Packers hope Martin will be ready for the opener, but. No. 3 man Bobby Collins is ready to pick up any slack if necessary. ...

PLACE-KICKER:
Ryan Longwell is good to go after hitting 7-of-7 field goal attempts this summer, including a preseason long 49-yarder. ...


INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
QUARTERBACK:
Mark Rypien played the final preseason game against Cincinnati while Peyton Manning rested his sprained knee.
"I didn't play very well tonight," Rypien said. "I'm going to be a sharp critic of myself. I had a chance to make some plays, and I made one." Rypien ended up completing 17-of-38 for 159 yards and played well enough for coaches to release Billy Joe Hobert.
Hopefully, that's the last we'll see of Rypien this year with Manning set to make his 49th consecutive regular-season start against the New York Jets this Sunday.

RUNNING BACK:
Edgerrin James did not play in the final preseason game, but the third-year man looked just fine in his only preseason appearance two weeks ago. It's safe to assume James is locked and loaded for another outstanding performance this year.
Dominic Rhodes, an undrafted rookie, has earned a spot on the team as Edgerrin James' backup following the surprising release of Lennox Gordon.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Rookie Reggie Wayne missed the entire preseason with a high ankle sprain, but team officials are still optimistic about the youngster's chances of taking some of the heat off Marvin Harrison this year.
Coaches hope Wayne can return to the practice field on Monday, which might give him enough practice time for the Jets game, but he's far from a lock to hit the field this week.
Until Wayne gets going Jerome Pathon will work as the No. 2 man with Terrence Wilkins coming off the bench as the No. 3 man.
E. G. Green was released after missing all four preseason games with nagging injuries. ...
Indianapolis Star-News reporter Mike Chappell wrote this week, "Drew Haddad and Trevor Insley are carbon-copy wide receivers -- in the 6-0, 190-pound range, adequate (not great) speed and outstanding hands. Because they had solid preseasons, they have also made it tough on the coaching staff in terms of finalizing roster spots at the receiving position. Haddad was the team's leading receiver (16 receptions, 170 yards, one TD) while Insley was No. 2 (15 receptions, 177 yards, two TDs). Haddad averaged 23.7 yards on nine punt returns and returned two for touchdowns. Insley was the top punt returner in NFL Europe. All they did was make catches and move the chains during the preseason.
"Increasing their value to the offense is their willingness to work the middle of the field despite the lurking danger of safeties. Each took big hits during the preseason but got up and went back to the huddle. If defenses insist on focusing on Harrison and Pathon on the outside, Haddad and Insley could do pretty significant damage over the middle."

TIGHT END:
Ken Dilger and Marcus Pollard should continue to deliver solid Fantasy production this season, however, with both of them used so well, their Fantasy value can be somewhat diluted. ...
Although he sat out practice Monday with a sore left knee, Dilger was expected back on the practice field Wednesday.

PLACE-KICKER:
The decision to release kickoff specialist Danny Kight forces Mike Vanderjagt to resume kickoff duties this season. However, Fantasy owners shouldn't shy away from him because of the additional workload. ... Vanderjagt has an excellent chance of being in the top five at seasons end.


JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
QUARTERBACK:
Mark Brunell heads into Sunday's regular season opener against the Steelers locked into the No. 1 spot, but the Jags made some major changes behind him. ... Brunell seems to understand that his team's fortunes this year hinge on a handful of key offensive skill players getting the job done. ... "There are guys on this team who are designated play-makers and who have to make plays for the team to be successful, and I guess I'm one of those guys," Brunell said on Monday. "We know what our strengths are; who can make plays."
Unable to afford both men, the Jags decided to go with Jonathan Quinn as Brunell's back up this season. ... Veteran journeyman Jamie Martin was signed by the Rams almost immediately after the Jags released him. ... Former Saint Phil Stambaugh will serve as the team's No. 3 man for the time being.

RUNNING BACK
According to Florida Times-Union reporter Bart Hubbuch, Fred Taylor is frustrated after opposing defenses held him to just 64 yards on 27 preseason carries this summer. ... Worse yet, head coach Tom Coughlin told reporters No. 2 man Stacey Mack would handle the team's short-yardage and goal line work after Taylor failed to convert on a pair of third-and-inches situations against Kansas City two weeks ago. ...
Taylor only had three carries in the preseason finale against the Cowboys due to a bruised knee. ... The injury isn't serious - the Jaguars were just being cautious, especially in light of all the other injuries they've had.
Bottom line? If Taylor is healthy, anything is possible. ... Taylor rushed for 1,399 yards last season, and a repeat or better is definitely possible if he can somehow stay on the field. Mack and rookie free-agent Elvis Joseph had nice training camps and provide good depth. ... It remains to be seen how the team will use former Kansas City running back Frank Moreau, who signed with the Jags Monday. ...
Undrafted free agent Patrick Washington will open the regular season as the No. 1 fullback, but his lack of experience all but guarantees we'll see plenty of two-TE sets this season. ...

WIDE RECEIVER
Jimmy Smith seemed to answer his doubters -- and ease the Jaguars' minds -- against Kansas City two weeks ago when his first catch went for 27 yards and a touchdown. Smith, whose career appeared in doubt after three abdominal surgeries in the offseason, ended up leading the club with five catches on the night.
Fellow starter Keenan McCardell, who is trying to return from surgery to repair a hernia, would neither confirm nor deny his availability for Sunday's game on Monday, saying instead: "You must not know me. If I'm feeling the way I need to feel, I'll be out there. That's the only way I know; be in the mix."
"I could throw him three passes and we're back on," Brunell said of his rapport with McCardell, who did not play a down during the preseason. "He's probably one of the toughest guys I've ever played with," Brunell added. ... Coughlin told reporters on Monday, "Keenan is going to push as hard as he can, then we'll know more [as the week progresses]. ..."
Veteran Sean Dawkins will line up as the starter opposite Smith if McCardell can't go this week. ... Fourth-year speedster Alvis Whitted, who will serve as the No. 4 man once McCardell returns, will come off the bench as the No. 3 man until then. ...Rookie bust R. Jay Soward must sit out the first four games because of a league-mandated suspension.

TIGHT END
TE Kyle Brady is coming off a career-high 64 catches in 2000, but he may be asked to do more locking than receiving this year because of uncertainty at the FB position. ... However, the former Jet isn't a lock to start in the opener despite reports indicating he's making excellent progress from an unspecified infection in his leg. Brady missed all of last week while receiving heavy doses of antibiotics.
Look for Damon Jones to pick up any slack resulting from Brady's condition. ... Jones, who missed all of last year after suffering a torn ACL in September, is a more than adequate receiver. Brunell tends to look Jones' way in red zone situations. ... In fact, Jones caught a touchdown against the Chiefs two weeks ago in his first appearance of the preseason. ... There could be more where that came from depending on Brady's recovery. ...

PLACE-KICKER
Mike Hollis, who hit 8-of-10 preseason field goal attempts this summer, is one of the league's most accurate place-kickers. ... If the Jags' offense continues to have problems finding the end zone this fall, Hollis is in for a huge season.


KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
QUARTERBACK:
Trent Green is coming off a fine preseason in which he posted a passer of 99. It appears his knee is doing well after the slow recovery this spring. Green has been drafted as the ninth QB around the country thus far.
After acquiring former St. Louis backup Joe Germaine in a trade with the Rams on Monday, the Chiefs released veteran Bubby Brister. ... Todd Collins will open the regular season as the No. 2 man while Germaine serves as the No. 3.

RUNNING BACK:
The Chiefs' has been a disappointment this summer. ... It was spotty during the preseason, averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. Coaches were encouraged by their work in short-yardage situations as fullback Tony Richardson converted a number of third downs, but the offense failed to punch it in on two tries from the one-yard line in the final moments in Jacksonville, costing the Chiefs a victory. 
However, the Chiefs finally punched it in twice near the goal line in the preseason finale against the Rams for their only rushing touchdowns of the preseason.
Priest Holmes is locked in as the starting halfback, but Richardson, who was responsible for that touchdown run against the Rams, looks like a better Fantasy prospect to us. ... He's definitely a solid value pick in the middle to late rounds of your draft.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Derrick Mayes was handed the proverbial apple and a road map after rookie Marvin "Snoop" Minnis earned the starting spot opposite Derrick Alexander.
However, according to our average draft figures, Minnis, who has been 30th receiver drafted across the country even before Mayes was cut, is hardly a sleeper. ...

TIGHT END:
Tony Gonzalez is poised for another huge season -- perhaps even bigger than last year. ... And keep an eye on Mikhael Ricks, who could be an effective complement to Gonzalez when the team lines up in two-TE sets.

PLACE-KICKER:
Todd Peterson comes off a strong preseason in which he fended rookie challenger Lawrence Tynes while hitting 6-of-8 field goal attempts. ... If Kansas City's rushing attack continues to have a hard time in the red zone, Peterson could get a few more opportunities this season.


MIAMI DOLPHINS
QUARTERBACK:
Jay Fiedler comes off a solid preseason in which he clearly benefited from the presence of speedy wide outs James McKnight and rookie Chris Chambers. The additional speed on the outside should allow Fiedler to thrown the ball downfield more often this year. ... Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said of Fiedler, "He has a great deal of confidence right now, and he should. He's doing a great job. He has a great grasp of what we're trying to do. Last year, he didn't really have a preseason, not until the last game."
Our average draft figures indicate that Fiedler has been the 28th quarterback selected around the country -- making him an excellent value.
Head coach Dave Wannstedt told reporters this week that No. 2 man Ray Lucas, who strained his groin on a second-quarter scramble last Friday, is expected to play in the regular season opener at Tennessee this Sunday.
According to the Miami Herald, Cade McNown has had trouble throwing accurately in practice, even when there are no defensive players. ... "His confidence is probably shattered," Wannstedt said. "[Quarterbacks coach] Mike Shula is starting from scratch, building this kid up, saying, `Hey, this is a new offense. Let's get back to basics. Let's get the fundamentals going again.'" However, the Dolphins released Mike Quinn despite McNown's difficulties. ...

RUNNING BACK:
Lamar Smith is set to have just as good a year as 2000 or maybe even better! The veteran reported to camp this summer lighter and stronger than he was a year ago. Smith has reportedly worked diligently on his endurance in an attempt to make himself a tougher runner in the fourth quarter. ... The former Saint and Seahawk has averaged 5.5 yards per carry this summer. ...
With J.J. Johnson hobbled by a sprained MCL, rookie Travis Minor, who averaged 3.8 yards per carry this summer, will serve as Miami's third-down back until further notice.

WIDE RECEIVER:
The Dolphins couldn't be happier with McKnight and Chambers. Both have excellent speed, which is something that has been lacking in the Miami passing game. Oronde Gadsden is reportedly ready to go after a case of pneumonia sidelined him briefly this summer. ... Dedric Ward's injured foot will most likely keep him out of the season opener. Look for Ward to play in week two.
Veteran O.J. McDuffie won't be a factor this season after team officials placed him on the physically unable to perform list Sunday.

TIGHT END:
Jed Weaver continued to lead the Miami tight ends in receiving this preseason despite being the No. 2 man. Which of course, isn't surprising. Starter Hunter Goodwin is one of the best blocking tight ends in the league, but he's not much of a threat in the passing attack.
Alonzo Mayes, who underwent shoulder surgery in May, was placed on the physically unable to perform list Sunday. Acquired from Chicago last October, Mayes has yet to play in a regular season game for the Dolphins.

PLACE-KICKER:
Olindo Mare hit 8-of-13 field goal attempts this preseason, but two of the misses were from 50 yards or more. ... Mare's foot seems to be holding up well, but he is suffering from plantar fasciitis (inflammation in the tendon of his right foot). ... Those of you electing to go with Mare this fall definitely need to score a solid backup just in case.


MINNESOTA VIKINGS
QUARTERBACK:
Daunte Culpepper is locked in as the No. 1 man in Minnesota -- and on almost every cheatsheet this side of the Pecos. ...
Todd Bouman will back up Culpepper. ... Former Brown Spergon Wynn, acquired along with running back Travis Prentice in exchange for future picks in 2002 and 2003, will be the No. 3 quarterback, behind Culpepper and Bouman.

RUNNING BACK:
Rookie Michael Bennett appears to have the starting job nailed down, but he'll share the workload with backup Doug Chapman and fullback Jim Kleinsasser. ...
According to Bill Williamson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, head coach Dennis Green is about to make good on his threats to get the massive Kleinsasser more involved in the offense this season. ... Green believes the more the 6-3, 279-pound Kleinsasser is on the field, the better off his offense will be. The second-round pick in 1999 has been a great fit for the offense since switching from tight end to fullback full time last season. ... Kleinsasser is a devastating lead blocker, perhaps the best blocking fullback in the league. Watch for Kleinsasser to get more opportunities this season during short-yardage situations and in third-down passing situations.
Green believes Kleinsasser will play well enough to be known as the best overall fullback in the league by season's end.
Prentice will backup Bennett and Chapman at halfback following the release of Moe Williams.
Green said he hopes Prentice will advance enough so he can play Sunday. "I'm trying to learn the offense as fast as I can," Prentice said. "My mind is in a meltdown right now."
Green told reporters that the Vikings would not have released Williams if the Prentice trade had fallen through. Negotiations between Green and his son Jeremy, Cleveland's coordinator of pro personnel, went smoothly, however. "We felt we needed a bigger guy," Green said. "Moe was a great player for us, but he was going to be third team, and last year he was second team. ... When you are dealing with your son, you pretty much can be fair with him and you expect him to be fair with you."

WIDE RECEIVER:
Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Jake Reed are locked in as the top three receivers in Minnesota. ... Moss caught his fifth touchdown pass of the preseason in Friday night's win over Miami and based on the level of play we've seen so far this summer, twenty-plus touchdowns is not out of the question if he stays healthy.

TIGHT END:
According to Williamson, Byron Chamberlain will earn Pro Bowl consideration this year. ... The former Bronco was under used and under appreciated in Denver, but he'll serve as a perfect safety valve in Minnesota. When in trouble, quarterback Daunte Culpepper has already learned to dump it off to Chamberlain. Thus, he has a chance for 50-60 catches.
Andrew Jordan will open the season as the No. 2 man behind Chamberlain. ... Shonn Bell will serve as the No. 3 man.

PLACE-KICKER:
Gary Anderson only hit 1-of-2 field goal attempts this summer, but playing with this offense all but locks him in for top-ten production this year. ...


NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
QUARTERBACK:
This could be a tough year for the Patriots and Drew Bledsoe, who has been erratic for the most part this summer. However, the veteran did play well in last weekend's preseason closer against the Redskins, throwing for 126 yards while hitting 10-of-18 attempts.
However, the offensive line has not protected Bledsoe very well -- a necessity for Fantasy owners hoping for solid production from the former Washington State star this fall.
Tom Brady will open the season as the No. 2 man in New England after an impressive preseason in which he outplayed former Dolphin Damon Huard (now the No. 3 man) and Michael Bishop (now unemployed).

RUNNING BACK:
The Patriots gained 71 on 33 carries against the Redskins, a paltry 2.2 yards per carry. After the game head coach Bill Belichick told reporters, ''We'd like to average a little more than 2.2 yards a carry. And in Antowain Smith and J.R. Redmond we kind of feel like we have two starters there. Both guys will play and contribute."
The committee has been formed. Fantasy owners beware.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Out of all the chaos in New England the starters have emerged as Bert Emanuel and David Patten. However, Troy Brown will get significant playing time as usual. Brown is definitely one of Bledsoe's favorites.
Torrance Small and Charles Johnson will provide depth behind the top three. ... Small's size (6-3, 220-pounds) and the team's inability to acquire an experienced pass-catching tight end could be enough to earn the former Eagle a role in New England's red zone offense. ... 
However, New England's passing attack might be best described as a small pie divided into many pieces. Look for Brown to end up with the best numbers.

TIGHT END:
Rod Rutledge will open the season as the starter, but he's definitely more of a blocker than a receiver. ... The receiving role goes to Jermaine Wiggins, who pulled in two catches for 24 yards against the Redskins. Wiggins beat out veteran free agent Johnny McWilliams, who was released on Monday.

PLACE-KICKER:
Adam Vinatieri nailed an impressive 8-of-9 field goal attempts this summer while fending off a strong challenge by rookie Owen Pochman, who was quickly signed by the Giants following his release last weekend.


NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
QUARTERBACK:
Aaron Brooks is set to have an outstanding fantasy year. Brooks who has one the starting job is one heck of a scrambler adding extra yardage fantasy points. With a healthy Ricky Williams in the fold, Brooks can take his time and look for his receivers. A healthy Cam Cleeland should further bolster the team's passing stats...

RUNNING BACK:
Ricky Williams is in the best shape of his life and should be in store for a huge season. One plus that Williams has is running behind one of the NFL's best offensive lines. ESPN senior writer Len Pasquarelli wrote this week; "Playing behind one of the NFL's premier run-blocking offensive lines, a quintet of real road graders, Williams could put up huge numbers. Said offensive guard Wally Williams: 'No way he won't get 1,500 yards at least.'"
We agree. ... Those of you eager to see what rookie Deuce McAllister is capable of will have to pay close attention to his work as a return man this year. 

WIDE RECEIVER:
Barring an 11th-hour injury, the Saints are expected to be at full strength for their season opener Sunday against Buffalo, head coach Jim Haslett said Monday.
Wide receivers Joe Horn and Albert Connell both practiced during the Saints' two-hour workout Monday in the Superdome. Horn has been bothered by a sore ribcage while Connell has struggled to overcome a sore hamstring.
It should be noted, however, that Connell worked with the second-team Monday while Willie Jackson lined up as the starter opposite Horn.

TIGHT END:
With a healthy Cam Cleeland in the lineup, the Saints have a legitimate receiving threat. Cleeland has tremendous size speed ratio with a set of soft hands.
The only problem, of course, has been his inability to avoid injury. ... Should Cleeland go down again this year, Lamont Hall will be the first off the bench. Johnny Mitchell's attempt at a come back was put on hold when the Saints waived him last Sunday...


PLACE-KICKER:
John Carney locked up the Saints' place-kicking job this summer, but for some reason, the former Charger seems to be falling on our average draft list -- a hard trend to figure since he's not only dome kicker, he's a dome kicker on a team with a potent offense. Grab him late if he slips too far down in your draft.


NEW YORK GIANTS
QUARTERBACK:
Kerry Collins has looked very sharp in the preseason, and while he's not in the Daunte Culpepper-Kurt Warner class just yet, the former Penn State star looks like he'll produce satisfactory numbers this season.
We've got 15 QBs ahead of him, makings Collins a bottom-rung starter, but a top-of-the-line backup capable of carrying your team if need be.
Behind Collins is the cerebral, if not overwhelmingly talented, Jason Garrett. Don't confuse a decent preseason for any fantasy value. Should Collins go down, look elsewhere before looking at Garrett.
In fact, look for fourth-round draft pick Jesse Palmer to overtake Garrett for the No. 2 job by the end of the season.

RUNNING BACK:
Those of you concerned with Tiki Barber's broken left hand can rest easy. ...
Head coach Jim Fassel told reporters this week Barber will be available Monday night against the Broncos, playing his usual role and handling punts in the opener even after missing the most of the preseason. Barber, who has practiced the last few days with a plastic shield on his hand, told reporters, "I feel great. I feel fresh. I feel like when I come into training camp. [Normally] you go into camp as good as you feel all year, then get beat up in camp and try to get that feeling back all year."  
How much time he'll split with Ron Dayne might be a concern, however.
Dayne had eight carries for 40 yards against the Ravens last Friday and the second-year man has come a long way since the Super Bowl scratch last January.
Damon Washington will provide depth behind Barber and Dayne following the release of third-year man Sean Bennett. ... Starting fullback Greg Comella could play a role in the Giants' passing attack, but it won't be sufficient to warrant a draft selection.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Joe Jurevicius will open the season as the starter opposite Amani Toomer and Ron Dixon moves up to the No. 3 spot with Ike Hilliard still recovering from June 18 foot surgery. At this point, team officials aren't looking for Hilliard to make his presence felt until Week 3 or 4. ... 
Jurevicius told reporters he was "ready to play" Monday despite suffering a concussion against the Ravens Friday. Jurevicius has no memory of the events immediately after the first-quarter injury, but Fassel said the former Penn State star passed neurological tests on Sunday.

TIGHT END:
Dan Campbell has looked good running with the first team while Howard Cross recovers from a sprained knee and coaches believe he could be on the verge of a breakout season -- as long as he continues to catch the ball like he has during recent workouts.
"That's what is holding him back from being a top-quality tight end," position coach Mike Pope said last week. "He's a very top-quality blocker. He's done exceptionally well. He's big enough and strong enough and his technique has really come on. He's bought into the philosophy and the techniques that we're teaching and he's seeing the results from it.
"He's gaining ground on being an accomplished receiver."
All of which sounds great, except Cross is expected to play Monday night at Denver.

PLACE-KICKER:
After Jaret Holmes and John Markham blew preseason-long auditions, the Giants signed the legendary Morten Andersen to a contract last week.
It's worth noting, however, that Andersen missed practice because of a sore knee. And even though team officials expect him to be ready for Monday night's game, they claimed rookie Owen Pochman off waivers Tuesday, just in case.


NEW YORK JETS
QUARTERBACK:
Vinny Testaverde, who finished the preseason without throwing any interceptions, appears to be fairly comfortable with the team's new West Coast offense. However, don't be surprised if Vinny and/or the Jets hit some rough spots early in the season.

RUNNING BACK:
We are excited to see LaMont Jordan backing up Curtis Martin this year. Offensive coordinator Paul Hackett intends to use Jordan to spell Martin in the first half of games this fall in an attempt to take advantage of the veteran workhorse in the fourth quarter. ... Recently acquired Chad Morton could see a lot of action on passing downs.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Laveranues Coles has played well enough this summer to win the starting job opposite Wayne Chrebet. According to our average draft figures, Coles can be a steal in your draft as he has been going very late in most fantasy drafts - well past the 60th wide out selected for the most part. ...
"I think he had a great camp and I think he is going to have a tremendous career here and have a great season," head coach Herman Edwards said of Coles this week and you'd be well advised to listen to him.
Matthew Hatchette has been bothered by a sprained ankle and will open the season as the team's No. 3 receiver. The former Viking will have a hard time overtaking Coles at this point. ...

TIGHT END:
The jury is still out on Anthony Becht but the potential is very good in the West Coast offense. Scott Slutzker was cut leaving James Dearth as Becht's backup.

PLACE-KICKER:
John Hall continues his comeback form a disastrous 2000 season. Hall hit field goals of 33, 59, 47 and 41 against the Eagles in the final preseason game. His only blemish was a 50-yard miss.


OAKLAND RAIDERS
QUARTERBACK:
Rich Gannon comes off a fine camp in which he worked very closely with Jerry Rice. They seem to really have their timing down together. ... We're looking for Gannon to continue providing Fantasy owners with above-average production.
Bobby Hoying opens the regular season as the No. 2 man behind Gannon and rookie Marques Tuiasosopo beat out Rodney Peete for the No. 3 QB spot.

RUNNING BACK:
Head coach Jon Gruden is expected to use five running backs -- Tyrone Wheatley, Charlie Garner, Randy Jordan, Terry Kirby and No. 1 fullback Jon Ritchie -- on a regular basis this season, both running and catching the ball. And he'll do so using a variety of formations and combinations. 
Garner has been pushing for more playing time this summer, but Wheatley's excellent performance in the preseason finale may have strengthened his grip on the No. 1 job. ...Wheatley, who ripped off a 49-yard TD run last week, goes in with an edge, but don't look for Gruden to yank Garner if the former Eagle gets a hot hand on any given Sunday this fall.
Jordan was able to practice Sunday after leaving Friday night's game with a sprained ankle. ... Kirby left the game early with a groin injury and his status for Sunday's regular season opener remains in question.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Jerry Rice has reportedly been working harder than he has in years, no mean feat for a workout freak like Rice and some observers believe he's looked better than Tim Brown during practice sessions this summer. Nonetheless, the Brown-Rice tandem should be more effective than last year's Brown-Andre Rison duo. ...
Jerry Porter was having an excellent camp until he separated his shoulder in week two of the preseason against the 49ers. He missed the rest of preseason but the second-year man will start to see more opportunities this year.
First-year wide man Marcus Knight made the team based on his sterling performance during training camp and in exhibition games. He finished with 17 receptions and proved to be a capable blocker as well. Of course, he'll have a heck of a time finding playing time buried beneath Brown, Rice, James Jett, Porter and David Dunn on the depth chart.

TIGHT END:
The Raiders are very happy with former Rams Roland Williams who had one catch for 10 yards in the preseason finale against the Packers. ... Mondriel Fulcher will open the season as the No. 2 man with Jeremy Brigham locked in as the No. 3 man following the release of veteran Andrew Glover.

PLACE-KICKER:
Sebastian Janikowski hit 5-of-7 field goal attempts this summer and appears to be locked in for a solid sophomore season after an up-and-down rookie season.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
QUARTERBACK:
With a more athletic cast of receivers around him this season, Donovan McNabb has the chance to throw for 25-30 TDs in 2001. The return of Duce Staley will make it very difficult for opposing defenses to key on McNabb the way they did last year. ...
Remember, however, McNabb is just now getting used to throwing the ball to guys like James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, Freddie Mitchell and Na Brown. Look for continuing progress early this season.
Koy Detmer has the No. 2 spot behind McNabb wrapped up.

RUNNING BACK:
Staley certainly appears to be fully recovered from last year's season-ending foot surgery and is worth an early round draft pick. His recovery and return to the NFL is the first of its kind. Staley has been roughly the 14th back selected in drafts around the country, going around the same time as the James Stewart's and Lamar Smith's of the Fantasy world. Rookie Correll Buckhalter is the No. 2 man behind Staley. ... Cecil Martin is locked in as the starting fullback.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Make no mistake about it: The 2001 Eagles aren't likely to be mistaken for last year's model. James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, Na Brown and rookie Freddie Mitchell will allow this offense to attack opponents with the one thing they've lacked the last couple of years - speed. 
Mitchell has not picked up the West Coast offense as quickly as the team had hoped, and will start the season as the No. 4 receiver behind Thrash, Pinkston and Brown, who opens the year as the No. 3 man.
According to Trenton Times reporter Mark Eckel, Pinkston has the speed that separates him from the rest of the receivers on the team. However, the slender youngster needs to separate from cornerbacks in order to use that speed to his advantage. Eckel believes the second-year man has shown more toughness and physical play in the preseason than he did through most of his rookie season, and has developed a good relationship with McNabb.
Eckel went on to write, "Pinkston's height, 6-3, and speed will always be his strength as a receiver. He also has better than average hands. But his slight build, he packs about 170 pounds on that 6-3 frame, will always be a detriment. He has to show when the games start for real that he can beat tough press coverage and get off the jams at the line of scrimmage."

TIGHT END:
Chad Lewis proved last year that serving as Donovan McNabb's security blanket has some perks. Which in Lewis' case included a trip to the Pro Bowl. ... Jeff Thomason opens the season as the No. 2 man behind Lewis, but rookie Tony Stewart is reportedly already pushing the former Packer for playing time. ... 

PLACE-KICKER:
David Akers, who would have become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2001 season, was signed to a six-year contract extension last week that will keep him with the Eagles through the 2006 season. Akers is going to be one of the better kickers out there, so grab him early if you want him.


PITTSBURGH STEELERS
QUARTERBACK:
Kordell Stewart completed 27-of-38 passes in the Steelers' last three preseason games and those numbers would have been even better if it weren't for some dropped passes by his receivers. ... Those who follow the team closely believe new offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is getting along with Stewart much better his predecessor, the very unpopular Kevin Gilbride. ...
According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, head coach Bill Cowher told Tommy Maddox on Monday that he'll back up Kordell Stewart in the regular-season opener at Jacksonville this Sunday -- and Maddox took snaps as such in practice.
"I think I feel younger at 30 than I did when I was 24," Maddox told Bouchette, recalling the last time he made an NFL roster, "just because I feel I have a new lease on life. I'm enjoying it a lot more, I know that."
With Maddox holding down the No. 2 spot, Tee Martin will remain at No. 3 and conduct the scout team in practices, the same job he held as a rookie last season. The Steelers thought Martin was ready to step up to No. 2 before training camp, but Maddox outplayed him to the point they feel more comfortable with him behind Stewart. Martin, a fifth-round draft choice from Tennessee, said he was disappointed but will continue to practice as if he has a chance to move up at some point during the season. ... "That was one of my goals before the season, and it will continue to be one of my goals throughout the season," Martin said on Monday.

RUNNING BACK:
Jerome Bettis was the only healthy starter kept out of the preseason finale and the consensus among those who follow the team closely says this has been the former Notre Dame star's best camp ever as a Steeler. ... Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Amos Zereoue are both expected to come off the bench in relief of Bettis this season; Fuamatu-Ma'afala should get the nod on passing downs while the elusive Zereoue will work as the change-of-pace man.
Fullback Dan Kreider has not practiced with the team since the start of camp, but he might be ready for the season opener. However, he's not expected to line up as the starter early on, giving way instead to last year's starter, Jon Witman. ... That is, if Witman, who re-injured his back two weeks ago and did not play in the final two preseason games, is ready to go. Converted tight end Matt Cushing has been starting at fullback and it's conceivable he could begin the season there.

WIDE RECEIVER:
According to reports out of Pittsburgh this week, Plaxico Burress was consistently Stewart's first read during the final preseason game. The second-year man was the target on three of Stewart's first four passes -- and seven of his first 14. ...
The Post Gazette, citing several teammates and coaches, recently reported that Burress has made tremendous strides with his worth ethic this summer.
Hines Ward is locked in as the starter opposite Burress heading into Sunday's regular season opener and Troy Edwards will open the year as the No. 3 man with Bobby Shaw, who worked as the slot man last year, coming off a lackluster preseason. ... Will Blackwell rounds out the team's receiving corps, but he'll get most of his touches as a return man rather than as the team's fifth receiver. ...

TIGHT END:
Mularkey wants the Steelers to use the tight end more this season and starter Mark Bruener had six catches for 56 yards in the final three preseason games. Bruener's summer production might not sound like much until you consider that he's had just 17 and 16 catches in the past two seasons.
Bottom line? Don't be surprised if Bruener winds up getting enough looks to make him a legitimate Fantasy prospect this year.
Jerame Tuman will open the regular season as the No. 2 man behind Bruener while Matt Cushing, who is also working at fullback, serves as the No. 3 man.

PLACE-KICKER:
Kris Brown, who nailed 6-of-7 field goal attempts this summer, told reporters this week that kicking the ball at Heinz Field is easier than it was at Three Rivers Stadium. "In Three Rivers, it was hard to tell because the flags would be saying one way, but down the field it would be another way," Brown said. "So it was really different." However, after one game at Heinz Field and its open end to the south, Brown found the wind to be less tricky. "The wind was blowing pretty true to what the flags were showing, it was blowing from the south," Brown said. "It was pretty definite."


ST. LOUIS RAMS
QUARTERBACK:
The quest for Joe Germaine to take over for Trent Green as Kurt Warner's backup this year is over.
The Rams traded the struggling youngster to Kansas City for a sixth round draft choice and signed former Jaguar Jamie Martin became available, the Rams decided to pull the trigger on the Germaine deal.
Martin is viewed by the Rams as very "heady" and able to pickup the complicated nuances of the Rams offense. Marc Bulger will be the number two quarterback until Martin is ready.
What does this all mean?
It means that Kurt Warner better stay healthy until Martin becomes game ready.

RUNNING BACK:
Marshall Faulk is coming off his best season as a pro. The former Colts broke Emmitt Smith's NFL record for touchdowns with 26, became the only player in NFL history to score four touchdowns in a game three times in one season and joined Jim Brown as the only NFL players to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage in three consecutive seasons.
And he accomplished all that despite missing two games due to knee surgery. ...
Of course, his recent spate of knee problems -- Faulk underwent further surgery on his right knee over the offseason -- has caused considerable concern. However, we suspect he'll have all the all the usual skills at his disposal this fall.
In the meantime, second-year man Trung Canidate stayed healthy long enough this summer to show that he has the potential to be a dynamic change-of-pace man this fall. ... Robert Holcombe, who opens the season as the No. 3 halfback, probably merits some consideration as the Rams goal line man.

WIDE RECEIVER:
It's hard to go wrong here. ... Starters Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt combined for 3,106 receiving yards -- the most by any tandem in NFL history -- last season. Bruce is nine touchdowns away from breaking the club record for TDs in a career held by Eric Dickerson with 58. Holt is coming off a breakout season in which he led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,635. No. 3 man Az-Zahir Hakim is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He set a career-high in receptions with 53 and receiving yards with 734 last season. And No. 4 man Ricky Proehl is still one of best clutch receivers in the game. Of his 31 receptions last year, 26 resulted in first downs.

TIGHT END:
Ernie Conwell, who suffered a devastating knee injury more than two years ago, has regained his starting job and he's a player you'll want to watch for late in your draft. ... Conwell is a strong blocker, but he's also a remarkably sure-handed receiver with deceptive speed and freakish agility. ...
Rookie Brandon Manumaleuna, a fourth-round draft pick from Arizona, has shown good strength, competitiveness and a strong work ethic. At 288 pounds, he's a load as a blocker and according to coaches, he's a much better receiver than expected.
Former defensive lineman Jeff Robinson will continue to make an impact -- primarily as a blocker -- but in this offense, everybody is a threat to score.

PLACE-KICKER:
Jeff Wilkins, if he stays healthy, should be among the league leaders at place kickers. The Rams are really efficient in the red-zone, which drops Wilkins value. But the case can be made that Wilkins will add consistent extra-points because the Rams will score a lot of touchdowns.


SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
QUARTERBACK:
Watching him play, it's hard to believe that Doug Flutie is 39 years old. If he's not the perfect match for San Diego's offense, his scrambling style certainly leaves him well suited to working behind the team's woeful offensive line.
Moving in to the No. 2 spot will be rookie Drew Brees. In fact, Brees' game is similar to starter Flutie. Brees is just bigger, stronger and has to learn about what it takes to be a NFL signal caller.

RUNNING BACK:
Look for rookie LaDainian Tomlinson to get quite a bit more work against Washington this Sunday than he did in his pro debut against the Cardinals last weekend when he carried the ball five times for 14 yards before sitting down. He obviously had trouble finding his rhythm, as did third-down back Terrell Fletcher, who had missed most of camp following hernia surgery.
The team is down to three halfbacks following the release of Jermaine Fazande: Tomlinson, Fletcher and Ronney Jenkins, who was remarkably effective as the starter this summer. ...
According to Nick Canepa of the San Diego Union-Tribune, offensive coordinator Norv Turner is a fan of Fletcher, even though Turner hasn't had a chance to see the veteran much this summer.
Fletcher is especially valuable on passing situations, not just because he can catch, but he is one of the finest blitz blocking backs in the league.
A year ago, Fletcher led the team in rushing practically by default when little production was garnered from Fazande. With Tomlinson around, Fletcher can go back to what he does best, catching passes out of the backfield and serving as a change-of-pace back.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Starters Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway along with No. 3 man Tim Dwight will be the three players contributing the most on the outside.
Conway and Dwight give the world class speed while the dependable Graham serves as the possession receiver.

TIGHT END:
Freddie Jones missed the entire preseason after undergoing surgery to repair a hernia early last month, but he practiced all last week and it looks like he'll be ready to hit the field against Washington this Sunday. ... Look for Jones to emerge as one of Flutie's favorite targets as the season wears on.

PLACE-KICKER:
Wade Richey hit a less-than-impressive 4-of-7 field goal attempts this summer. Team officials aren't necessarily satisfied with that 57 percent success rate, but they love his kickoffs.


SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
QUARTERBACK:
Jeff Garcia will be able to prove to doubters that he still can be an exceptional producer even without the services of Jerry Rice and Charlie Garner. Garner was such an effective receiver from the backfield that his numbers may be harder to replace than the aging Rice. 
The Niners waived veteran backup Rick Mirer on Tuesday. "It was a very emotional decision," GM Terry Donahue said. "He's extremely well-liked and respected and appreciated. We just felt the need to create some cap space as a contingency for what might happen this season. When you looked at our team, there were only really two or three options."
Tim Rattay, who had a better exhibition season than Mirer, moves into the No. 2 spot behind Garcia and the team was expected to sign Kevin Daft, who will serve as the No. 3 man, as early as Wednesday.

RUNNING BACK:
Garrison Hearst, who officially signed the deal restructuring his contract early this week, has been named the starter for Sunday's season opener against the Falcons. However, rookie Kevan Barlow will see significant playing time
"Right now, the plan is to start Garrison and use Kevan Barlow quite a bit because we're committed to developing him as a tailback," head coach Steve Mariucci said. "They'll share that duty. We're going to see a little running back by committee and we'll find out if it's worth a darn."
That committee is also likely to include Paul Smith, Jonas Lewis and Terry Jackson.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Terrell Owens is the main option in the passing attack for the 49ers. The biggest question is who will emerge as the most viable option at the No. 2 spot opposite Owens. Injuries to J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets (hamstrings) have resulted in less than impressive preseason playing time. In fact, it is time for Stokes to step and secure the No. 2 spot. ... Stokes was able to participate in his first full practice since injuring his hamstring early in training camp on Monday and coaches expect him to be at full speed for the opener against the Falcons.

TIGHT END:
Greg Clark, who missed all of training camp after surgery on his hamstrings, was removed from the physically unable to perform list Monday. However, the veteran isn't expected to hit the field for at least three weeks.
Justin Swift will line up as the starter in Clark's absence, but rookie Eric Johnson, a converted WR with the speed necessary to get down the field, is the guy to watch here. ...

PLACE-KICKER:
The release of Jamie Rheem means Jose Cortez wins this job by default. The best kicker in the XFL, Cortez should get plenty of opportunities in San Francisco -- unless he blows it. It's safe to assume team officials are keeping a close eye on the list of available free agents in case Cortez struggles.


SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
QUARTERBACK:
After tossing five TD passes in his last two preseason starts, Matt Hasselbeck did nothing to tarnish his "Mr. August" reputation.
Now all he has to do is carry over his performance into the regular season.
That sounds easy enough, but it won't be a cakewalk given the Seahawks' overall lack of experience at wide out. ... Hasselbeck has been the 20th quarterback selected according to our average draft figures, but we currently list him slightly lower. The former Packer clearly has the potential to post big totals, but we're not sure this is the year he'll achieve as expected.

RUNNING BACK
Head coach Mike Holmgren has the type of problem every coach in the league would love to have: finding enough playing time for two talented and versatile running backs capable of being every-down performers.
Veteran Ricky Watters continues to play at a Pro Bowl level. He has six consecutive seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards and has managed at least 40 receptions in eight of his nine NFL seasons. His yards-per-carry average of 4.5 last season was his highest since 1993.
Waiting in the wings is Shaun Alexander, the Seahawks' first-round pick in 1999 who averaged 4.9 yards per carry last season.
We have Watters ranked as the 17th best RB and Alexander as the 39th - and those rankings are in line with our average draft figures, which place them at 16th and 39th respectively. 
Third-round pick Heath Evans strengthens the FB position and is expected to challenge for the starting role by midseason. However, starter Mack Strong is coming off his best season as a pro and won't give up the job without a fight.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Clare Farnsworth wrote this week, "The addition of veteran receiver Bobby Engram last week came as a surprise, even to Holmgren. Just when he was thinking he wouldn't be able to add an experienced pair of hands to the passing game, the Chicago Bears released Engram -- who had an 88-catch season two years ago, but missed the final 13 games last year after tearing a ligament in his right knee.
"In addition to his experience and proven productivity, Engram also brings leadership that will benefit the club's young receivers -- an element Holmgren has been looking for since he lost out to the Raiders on signing Jerry Rice in June.
"Engram did not play in the preseason finale, but look for him to get extensive work as the slot receiver in the three-wide sets during the regular season. His ability to operate in the middle of the field will create move space for Darrell Jackson and rookie Koren Robinson, and give QB Matt Hasselbeck another option. ..."
By the way. ... Until Engram gets up to speed, Jackson -- a second-year man -- is Seattle's most experienced wide out. ...
Second-James Williams, who's working his way back from a tweaked hamstring, and converted RB Charlie Rogers (one of the best return men in the league) round out the team's receiving corps after the surprise release of Karsten Bailey on Monday.

TIGHT END:
Christian Fauria is a solid competitor who gives a lot of effort when blocking and has decent hands - but is injury prone and hasn't lived up to his second-round draft status since coming out of Colorado. Backup Itula Mili sees a lot of playing time and has more speed than Fauria, but he is not as good a blocker. Both of these guys are potential part time starters in deeper leagues and solid backups in just about any league.

PLACE-KICKER:
Rian Lindell, who yawned through the preseason -- he hit both of his field goal attempts this summer with a long of 27 yards, hit 15-of-17 field-goal attempts in 12 games last year and was particularly accurate from long range and in the clutch. Does that make him draft-worthy? The rest of the country thinks not - Lindell has been the 23rd kicker drafted on average. Which is precisely why we like him.


TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
QUARTERBACK:
According to Tampa Tribune reporter Roy Cummings, the Buccaneers' offense should be less predictable than it was in the past under new coordinator Clyde Christensen -- but it probably won't be a whole lot more explosive. Even though he has the ability to go deep, quarterback Brad Johnson is not a big risk taker -- and the Bucs don't want him to be. The goal offensively is to move the ball methodically downfield and wear down the opposing defense over time.
That style fits with Johnson's strength, which is checking off and making good use of outlet receivers. What that means, though, is that the offense will continue to rely heavily on the defense and special teams to set it up with good field position and, at times, score its points. ...
Cummings also pointed out that the team has never had more depth at quarterback. Should Johnson go down, coaches can turn to an improved and far more committed Shaun King, who still doesn't believe the acquisition of Johnson was necessary. Based on his performance this summer, the former Tulane star may have been right.
A wrist injury limited Ryan Leaf this season and the former Charger was waived Monday. ... Joe Hamilton opens the season as the No. 3 man with Leaf out of the picture.

RUNNING BACK:
Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott are locked in as the starters for this week's season opener, but Alstott, who missed most of camp with a strained hamstring, will need a few weeks to work his way back into football shape. ... The Bucs intend to rely on Jameel Cook to pick up any slack at fullback until Alstott is full speed.
Dunn set a team preseason record by rushing for 115 yards against New England two weeks ago before closing out the preseason with a two-carry, 30-yard effort against the Falcons. ...

WIDE RECEIVER:
Keyshawn Johnson and Jacquez Green should open the regular season as the starters with Reidel Anthony locked in as the No. 3 man. It's worth noting that Brad Johnson and Keyshawn finally looked like they were on the same page last week as Keyshawn pulled in three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown in about a quarter of action during the Bucs final preseason game. ... The Buccaneers claimed rookie Milton Wynn, the first of two fourth-round draft picks by the Rams in April, off waivers. ... The 6-2, 207-pound Winn -- a big, physical receiver with a good burst off the line -- will open the regular season behind No. 4 man Karl Williams and No. 5 man Frank Murphy.

TIGHT END:
The Bucs will continue to look for help at tight end after cutting three prospects Sunday. The team usually carries at least three tight ends because they run a lot of two-tight-end formations and must be prepared in case of injury. Their plan now is to use long-snapper Sean McDermott, who played tight end in college at Kansas, or Alstott to back up starter Dave Moore and No. 2 man Todd Yoder. ... In the meantime, team officials are reportedly scanning the waiver wire for a better fit than McDermott.

PLACE-KICKER:
Martin Gramatica heads into his third season as Tampa Bay's place-kicker after hitting 2-of-2 preseason attempts, including a 58-yarder.


TENNESSEE TITANS
QUARTERBACK:
Injuries have kept Steve McNair from becoming a high-end Fantasy prospect. McNair seems to go down annually, making backup Neil O'Donnell a must for those who draft the Tennessee starter.
McNair's most recent ailment was a freakish shoulder infection he suffered earlier this year. Gallons of water were used to flush the infection away in his shoulder. McNair now is experiencing no pain and is throwing with ease, but until he makes it through a full season without suffering any major -- or minor for that matter -- injuries, it's hard to get too excited about his prospects.

RUNNING BACK:
As Nashville Tennessean reporter Jeff Legwold wrote this week, "In moves that signal a shift in the offense, running backs Jonathan Linton and William Floyd -- both free-agent signings in the offseason -- were both released this weekend. 
"Linton, who was signed to a one-year deal in July, came to training camp with the expectation he would be Eddie George's backup when the season began -- especially after he had led the Bills in rushing in 1999 and had shown himself to be a capable receiver as well as a guy who could play both running back and fullback. 
"However, he injured a foot early in training camp and never rebounded. He struggled at running back -- albeit in limited duty -- and was then moved exclusively to fullback last week. 
"Floyd also played sparingly in the preseason and missed several practices to rest a knee he had severely injured in 1995. 
"And with the release of Linton and Floyd, the team is certainly moving toward a two-tight end look as their base offense again. 
"The hope is that a single-back look will keep opposing defenses out of the blitz some on early downs. The Titans were blitzed often when they used the two-back look last season, and they rarely threw out of the formation so they were also predictable at times. 
"The coaches also believe they ran more effectively out of a two-tight end look last season, and neither Floyd nor Linton had showed the blocking prowess of the departed Lorenzo Neal. 
"Both sides made a mistake in Neal's departure. He would have earned similar money -- he signed with the Bengals in free agency -- with a playoff contender had he waited for the Titans to clear some salary cap room to sign him. And the Titans, if they really wanted to use a fullback this season -- and it certainly appears they don't -- should have done a better job of stating their case. 
"In the end, however, George is going to get the ball a lot and the Titans will have to find a way to diversify their offense enough to keep teams out of eight- and nine-man fronts when they are in a single-back formation. 
"If they don't, George will take a pounding and the offense won't move the ball. ..."
All of which tells us Frank Wycheck will line up as an H-back on a regular basis this season.

WIDE RECEIVER:
The starters will be Derrick Mason and Chris Sanders however Kevin Dyson will figure heavily in the offense. Dyson has recovered from last year's season-ending knee injury much faster than expected and the former first-round pick could move into the starting lineup quickly. ...
The receiving corps now includes some youngsters who showed play-making ability during training camp. Fourth-round draft pick Justin McCareins has a presence and is not afraid to go up and get the ball, while fifth-rounder Eddie Berlin is shifty and slippery.

TIGHT END:
Wycheck has led the team in receiving for the last five seasons and he could easily make it six this year. Whatever the case, he's bound to finish the year as a top five fantasy prospects at the tight end position. Erron Kinney should also see copious action with the Titans choosing to go without a fullback this year.

PLACE-KICKER:
Joe Nedney has the leg strength that team officials love and he should be near the top of your draft list this year.


WASHINGTON REDKSINS
QUARTERBACK:
Jeff George is finally getting a feel for the team's new offense after missing most of camp with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder. One of the biggest questions facing the team is whether the much-traveled veteran can get his timing down with the receivers in the week before the opener at San Diego. His shoulder appears to be strong enough, and he threw some deep passes with decent velocity in the final preseason game. 
If George struggles, the team has a realistic alternative in Tony Banks, who was signed just a week after being cut by the Cowboys. In fact, some observers felt Banks might win the starting job after getting off to a fast start upon arrival in Washington, but head coach Marty Schottenheimer noted that Banks had more practice time and game action from his stint in Dallas than George had at the time.

RUNNING BACK:
The Redskins will rely on the power running of Stephen Davis whenever possible this season and according to those who follow the team closely, the goal is to get at least 1,500 yards rushing this season. Davis will get the bulk of the work, but No. 2 man Ki-Jana Carter will also figure into the mix.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Rookie Rod Garner will open the regular season as the starter opposite Michael Westbrook -- which is bad news for those who drafted free agent acquisition Kevin Lockett early this summer.
Of course, the former Chief will still play a significant role in Washington -- as the No. 3 man.

TIGHT END:
Stephen Alexander has struggled somewhat this summer. In fact, the veteran dropped two passes against the Patriots last weekend. The Redskins keep expecting Alexander to have a breakout season, but so far, he's been nothing more than average since turning pro. 
Walter Rasby opens the season as Alexander's backup with Zeron Flemister listed as the No. 3 man.

PLACE-KICKER:
Brett Conway started slowly but connected 4-of-6 field goals through the preseason. The Redskins don't appear to be clicking on all cylinders yet so don't expect a lot of production from Conway early in the season.
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