Coming soon to a fantasy team near you – Guys to keep an eye on

Quarterbacks
Jason Campbell
Campbell may not be a stud QB right out of the gates, but the future is bright for this former Auburn Tiger. Once Joe Gibbs finally pulls Mark Brunell, Campbell will come in and most likely he will struggle. The key to Campbell’s fantasy value is to come in this season, take his lumps and become a better player for it. Next year is the real year to keep your eye on Campbell.

Bruce Gradkowski
Gradkowski is actually slightly ahead of Campbell, in that he is taking his lumps now so that next year he should lead this Bucs offense back to respectability. Gradkowski has already shown that he has a lot of talent and poise and if he continues to evolve and get better, next season he could be a surprise for many fantasy owners.

Alex Smith
Smith, last season’s first overall pick was terrible last season. This season, he has been a pleasant surprise and was used in bye weeks. While this season his value might be limited, his value in the future continues to grow. If the Niners can add a playmaker via the draft or free agency (WR Calvin Johnson comes to mind), Smith could turn out to be pretty good and have good weapons as well.

Matt Leinart
The rookie out of USC has looked impressive at times this season, but with Larry Fitzgerald injured, Leinart has not really had his full compliment of weapons. Leinart still does not have a real offensive line either, so if the Cardinals can acquire legitimate NFL caliber O-linemen, Leinart will have defenses worrying about Edgerrin James as well as his ridiculous receivers and his stock goes through the roof. Leinart has great keeper value.

DeAngelo Williams
When you only average 3.8 yards per carry, and have only scored 2 TDs, you’re not going to stay in the good graces of the coaching staff for very long. Soon to be saying goodbye, DeShaun Foster, enter DeAngelo Williams. Williams is a first round pick that has been sidelined with an injury for the past few weeks. Foster has done nothing to convince John Fox to not have an all-out competition in next season’s training camp. Look for Williams to wage war with Foster next season and beat him in the battle.


Wide Receivers
Deion Branch
Branch is likely to be active in a lot of fantasy leagues out there so his inclusion in this section may be a little bit confusing. The reason he is included, is that Branch will only get better. With Darrell Jackson a potential free agent at the end of the season, Branch is spending this season learning the offense and next season look for him to put up numbers bigger than D-Jax would normally put up. This is due to Branch’s propensity to not drop every third pass thrown his way and to take a short play and break it. Branch is sort of a poor man’s Steve Smith; small, shifty, quick, with big play potential.


Tight Ends
David Martin
Martin has really come on as of late and is quickly becoming what Bubba Franks never really could live up to. Martin already has surpassed Franks as the statistical leader at TE with 7 more catches, 63 more yards, and 2 more touchdowns then Franks. With Franks becoming more and more of an afterthought for Brett Favre, Martin’s role continues to grow. He has at least 2 catches in three straight games and 4 catches in each of his last 2. Martin can still be used this season if needed, but look for Martin to really show his worth next season as long as Brett Favre sticks around.


Avoid them at all cost – players you just don’t want

Quarterbacks
Drew Bledsoe
When Bledsoe played he was often ineffective and now that he is benched, he has no value at all. Cut him loose and unless he catches on as a starter of a struggling team next season, just go ahead and forget his name until Hall of Fame nominations come around in a few years.

Brad Johnson
Johnson is one of the best at managing a game, controlling the clock, taking advantage of a solid run game, and winning. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, none of that translates into fantasy championships. The Vikings have been terrible this season offensively and with Chester Taylor struggling, the Vikings are beginning to fall apart. Johnson should be pushed next season by Tarvaris Jackson who has the lively arm that Vikings fans have grown to love.

Kurt Warner
Warner had great potential on fantasy football draft day. I fell prey to him myself, burning what is a 7th round pick on him. Warner made great use of his weapons in week 1, but after that he fell into a downward spiral. Enter Matt Leinart. Leinart may not have taken the league by storm since taking Warner’s starting job, but he has brought what Warner lacked, the ability to move out of the way. Even if Leinart gets hurt this season and Warner is asked to step in, it is unlikely that Warner will be productive for the same reasons he was pulled. It’s a shameful way to end what was a very productive, but short, career.


Running Backs
Reggie Bush
Ok, so this might be jumping the gun, and clearly letting Bush go is not a decision for a keeper league, but for this season, Bush should be on your bench. Bush has been terrible this season (2.5 yards per carry), except for a few moments of genius, of which I believe only one came after week 1. Bush is extremely valuable as a decoy on the Saints, forcing defenses to pay extra attention to him, but in fantasy circles, that just wont fly. While Bush is still the explosive runner he has always been, the competition he faces is faster than ever. Bush may be best served as a wideout this season, and perhaps even throughout his career. Bush is too talented to not figure things out for next season, but for the rest of the year. Deuce is the runner of choice in New Orleans.

Edgerrin James
Edge is not totally worthless and therefore should not be cut. I am merely putting him on this list here due to the fact that he has cost many fantasy owners their seasons because they relied so heavily on him and drafted him in the first round. Keep him around, but consider him nothing more than a low No. 2, high No. 3 RB.


Wide Receivers
All receivers you would think not to play, probably shouldn’t be played. Basically it is any of the Vikings receivers, any of the Falcons receivers, Michael Clayton, Antwaan Randle El, and all receivers not named Antonio Bryant on the 49ers. They just all suck.


Tight Ends
Bubba Franks
Franks is good proof that all tight ends that come from the ‘U’ are not superstars… or maybe he is the exception.