TCH’s sole purpose is to provide you with news and notes from around the league for you to process into your own rankings. If any of this news catapults you to your league championship, call me….maybe.

Arizona Cardinals

The news: Two quarterbacks means you have no quarterbacks.

The spin: The Cardinals are not working from a point of strength here. They have an overpaid quarterback in Kevin Kolb who can’t stay healthy and who they saw knocked out the first series of the first game of the preseason. He didn’t create much offense in the games he played, throwing nine touchdowns against eight INTs. On top of that, the team went 3-7. John Skelton threw more INTs than touchdowns (14 to 11), but the team went 5-2 with him leading. (It is hard to type those stats when you are holding your nose with one hand.)

The takeaway: The team seems doomed this season from a professional and fantasy standpoint. Skelton went 3 for 3 with a touchdown pass Friday, and Kolb was 3 for 6. This position should have a “Hazardous Material” logo on it. Stay away.

The news: Beanie has competition.

The spin: Beanie Wells had the finest season of his career last year, reaching the 1000-yard mark and scoring 10 times. He thrived last year because rookie Ryan Williams tore his patellar tendon in training camp, ending his season and opening things up for Wells.

The takeaway: Williams took advantage of Wells (knee) missing the exhibition game Friday. Williams looked shifty and strong, as he rushed for 25 yards on five carries and scored a touchdown. With the issues at the quarterback position, the running backs will be the main beneficiaries, and it looks like the Cardinals have some firepower at the position.

The news: Is poor Larry Fitzgerald doomed again?

The spin: It is unfortunate that one of the premier wide receivers in the league has to deal with this foolishness. He did just fine last year, with over 1,400 yards and eight scores, but he has to feel like an all-pro center with point guards who don’t know how to get him the ball. Just throw it anywhere near him, he will catch it.

The takeaway: Similar numbers are not out of the question, but his ceiling has become pretty low. Not unlike the passer ratings of his quarterbacks.

Atlanta Falcons

The news: Michael Turner’s days as an elite running back over.

The spin: With the instillation of a new offensive system and Turner's having passed the dreaded 30th birthday milestone, the Falcons believe it is time to start limiting his carries. Jason Snelling has been the primary backup for Turner in years past, but the team clearly wants Jacquizz Rodgers to add an explosive option to the run game. Snelling sat against the Bengals on Friday night, but Rodgers had 24 yards on four carries and 11 yards on three catches. So it's clear the team is trying to give Rodgers a role in the offense.

The takeaway: Rodgers will eventually take the No. 2 position with third-down responsibilities and bristle at being called small. The offensive seems to be more pass happy this year, but Turner will still be a workhorse in an offensive set that allowed Maurice Jones-Drew to lead the league in carries last year. Turner will see the lion’s share of the duties, but his numbers will decline slightly.

The news: Matt Ryan is ready to make the leap to elite quarterback status.

The spin: After his performance against the Bengals, the team might be ready to open the usually plodding offense up a bit. Ryan completed 18 of 21 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. It looks as though the front office has realized its grind-it-out style of play gets you wins in the regular season but gets you thumped in the postseason. A third viewing of last year's playoff loss might be enough to make Falcons fans restless.

The takeaway: An optimistic take on this would be that the security of the jobs of the coaching staff hinges on the offense opening up and becoming more explosive. I think they would settle for just explosive. Ryan has ample tools to work with, but at the end the day, will anything really change? I find it hard to believe he posts numbers much different from anything in his past, and he won't leapfrog anybody ahead of him of the “elite” list. He remains outside of this group of quarterbacks and continues to look in. Not in a creepy way though, more peering than leering.

The news: Julio Jones is ready to justify the fantasy love.

The spin: After a rookie campaign which saw hamstring injuries take four games from him, he still finished with almost 1,000 yards and eight scores. Jones’ health is going to be the deciding factor. He looks the part thus far with nine catches for 150 yards and a score this preseason.

The takeaway: Roddy White creates an interesting situation. His presence as Ryan’s go-to receiver will prevent Jones from posting huge numbers, but he also draws each team’s top corner; so as coverage rolls to White’s side, Jones will be the main beneficiary of holes in the zone. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. Jones’ hamstrings in the end will decide how things play out, and, as always, I am voting for the tendons. Still, all signs point to a big year from Jones and my struggling to find “the tendons” on my ballot in November.

Baltimore Ravens

QB: With the media coverage of Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford after Thursday’s preseason battle with the Ravens, it was as if there was only one team on the field. I urge you to find more than a subtle peep discussing Flacco averaging 83.5 yards and 66.7% completion rate per half. Don’t be shy of Flacco this year if you miss out on the top QBs; he has a good shot at the Top 10.

WR/TE: Anquan Boldin is one my favorite receivers. He only had two catches Thursday night, but he is tough as nails. At the end of a 20-yard catch you can see him shoving off defenders after the play is over, because he’s just that amped up after a big catch even in a pointless exhibition game.

RB: Not much news for the RB portion of the Ravens and they didn’t show much of their hand Thursday. Ray Rice said earlier this year that the AFC Championship game isn’t good enough anymore and that anything short of the Superbowl is a disappointment. To that end, draft him with gusto my friends! He seems highly motivated to carry this team to victory.

Buffalo Bills

QB: After getting a way too large contract extension in the offseason, Ryan Fitzpatrick is firmly entrenched as the starting QB for the Buffalo Bills. However, in what is the biggest competition no one is talking about, Vince Young and Tyler Thigpen are neck-and-neck for the #2 spot. Personally, I can’t see the Bills keeping Thigpen over VY, but smart football decisions aren’t always the top priority in The City of Good Neighbors.

WR/TE: The Bills have a hard time getting started and run the risk of being buried under an insurmountable lead every game. A two-WR tandem may be exactly what this offense needs to start things early. David Nelson was exciting last year, Steve Johnson is a great talent, and T.J. Graham had an excellent coming out party in Week 2, but unless they can get two WRs firing at the same time alongside the much beloved TE Scott Chandler, it is going to be a long fantasy year for the Bills offense.

RB: Though it has been quiet all preseason, the constant battle between Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller should be interesting as it heats up once again. According to David Nelson, Spiller is “running around and making guys look silly” on the practice field.

Carolina Panthers

The news: Cam Newton looks to improve on last year.

The spin: Is that possible? Over 4,000 yards passing, 500 yards rushing and a NFL record with 14 rushing touchdowns without the luxury of a true offseason. Steve Smith is back, along with offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski. After an unspectacular first game, Newton looked sharp Friday, going 8 for 11 for 119 yards and a score.

The takeaway: I don’t think you can have that kind of statistical season two years in a row. However, Newton will still electrify the league...though he'll lose some of those rushing scores. Newton’s success leads to Chudzinski's getting his own NFL head coaching job.

The news: It’s now a three-headed monster at running back.

The spin: Mike Tolbert joins an already (over) crowded backfield to help around the goal line. His presence will take away from Newton’s numbers and skew DeAngelo Williams' and Jonathan Stewart’s numbers as well. The camaraderie between Williams and Stewart has always created an infectious and fun vibe. I wonder if that carries over this year.

The takeaway: The rushing touchdown totals go up for the running backs, but they are even more diluted. On Friday, Williams ran four times for 25 yards, Tolbert carried it three times for 15 yards, and Stewart rushed five times for eight yards with a score but left with a calf injury. It should make for an interesting year with one potential takeaway: Tolbert on a cart after a “mysterious” accident involving a safe or piano falling on him.

Chicago Bears

The news: Jay Cutler is back and healthy.

The spin: The team was just starting to peak last season, winning six of seven games, before Cutler broke his thumb in Week 11. His talent has never been the question. He usually leads the league in bad body language, but he seemed to have put some of that behind him last year. He looked feisty against the Redskins, going 7 of 13 for 122 yards, showing some nice touch.

The takeaway: A more mature Cutler finally proves his critics wrong, limits his turnovers, shows leadership and takes the Bears to the playoffs. Or he melts down like a petulant child, undermines his coaches authority and selfishly augers the team into the ground. And you can tell that a guy is a real piece of work when he won’t even share the auger.

The news: Matt Forte is back and healthy.

The spin: The NFL’s leader in yards from scrimmage last year after the first 13 weeks, Forte suffered a knee sprain and was shut down for the remainder of the season. After an unpleasant contract negotiation, he is back in the fold and on the field. For all the yards he racked up in 2011, he found the end zone only four times through 13 games. The addition of power back Michael Bush does little to make you think that he will see that much action around the goal line.

The takeaway: Expect Forte to be the workhorse and rack up over 1,700 total yards. Then watch Bush stroll into the game and punch it in from close range. Bush’s two scores against the Redskins only seem to confirm that.

The news:Brandon Marshall is there to finally shore up the receiving corps.

The spin: The talented and explosive (interpret that any way you want) Marshall reunited with Cutler and gives the Bears something they haven’t had in years, a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver. He racked up 1,200 yards and six scores on a pretty crummy Miami team last year. The Bears also acquired the potential for Marshall to crack up at any given moment. Tick, tick, tick…

The takeaway: Marshall and Cutler showed what they have in store for the league in their game against Washington. On the first series the two connected twice for 61 yards. They will make an effort to bring out the best in each other, or ruin the team in the process.

The news: Rookie wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is turning heads in camp.

The spin: He was one of the few bright spots in the team’s preseason loss to Denver, according to Coach Lovie Smith. Against the Redskins he picked up where he left off by leading the team with 62 yards on three catches.

The takeaway: Nobody knows what to expect from the offense, but Jeffery is putting himself in a position to succeed. Offensive coordinator Mike Tice does like to throw it down the field, so Jeffrey might be someone to keep an eye on.

Cincinnati Bengals

QB: Andy Dalton’s deep passes in his second preseason game have started to turn heads around the NFL. Cincinnati.com reports, “Andy Dalton… showed a national television audience that the doubts about his arm strength might need to be shelved.” Dalton is a mild fantasy prospect himself this year, but this is really news regarding those receiving the ball.

WR/TE: Speak of the devil! The primary benefactor of any deep passes attempted by Dalton should be A.J. Green, who caught his first TD of the year to the tune of 50 yards. A.J. Green should be a major player in fantasy this year and he’s lucky he’s got a solid QB like Dalton to get him down the field. TE Jermaine Gresham left Thursday’s game with a knee injury, which is being described as “a sprain”. Expect him to miss 1-2 weeks. WR Jordan Shipley as been released.

RB: BJGE isn’t the greatest rusher of all time, but he is consistent and the best hope the Bengals have of a NFL-ready running back this year. He missed the second preseason game with a foot injury but is expected to play next week. Bernard Scott may have the chance to shine early on, but has never been able to cash in on similar opportunities. It appears to be BJGE or bust for the running game, and it may be bust anyway.

Cleveland Browns

QB: Hey, remember that time when Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy were coming out of college and they were going to absolutely light the league on fire? Turns out to the media hype is going to have to give you a raincheck on that one. However, the Browns are certain their new savior Brandon Weeden will bring them to prominence and the Bleacher Report agrees, stating, “Brandon Weeden will be a rookie of the year candidate.”

WR/TE: Similar to the Titans, the Browns really only have one wide receiver to speak of: Greg Little. Massaquoi has been touted as NFL-ready but has never shown up for any significant value. Draft Greg Little if you feel he’s the best WR talent available, but no news is bad news in fantasy and that’s exactly what the Browns have. Rookie Josh Gordon is strugging thusfar, running the wrong routes. "I talked to him before the game, during the game and after the game about certain things I see I think he can do," Weeden said after practice Friday. "I'm not a receivers coach, so I don't know how to tell him to run a route, but (I told him) what I'm thinking as far as when I'm going to pull the trigger. I think that's the main thing — the timing of that route. TE Ben Watson has returned to practice after missing the majority of camp.

RB: Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal tweeted, “HC Pat Shurmur said RB Trent Richardson has made good progress & might be ahead of schedule in rehab from left knee surgery.” To me, this means that Richardson is still draftable but always beware of drafting talented guys on awful teams: they don’t always get to showcase their stuff.

Dallas Cowboys

The news: Tony Romo runs for his life and the running game sputters in a victory over the Raiders. Is this what we can expect?

The spin: The team thinks the offensive line is just trying to get its sea legs, so it is too early to get excited right now. Or they might try, “Hey look it’s Bigfoot!” I think they would say anything to divert attention from a trouble area from last year that has already re-emerged.

The takeaway: Legitimate concerns abound in Big D if that troublesome line doesn’t shape up. Romo had more time in the pocket against the Chargers, got into a rhythm, and didn’t get sacked, which has to be seen as a victory. It will be hard to scapegoat Romo for all the Cowboys' problems if he is in traction. Although, it would spare us all the tiresome stories about what a great golfer he is.

The news: With the ruptured spleen suffered by tight end Jason Witten, what will happen to the passing game?

The spin: Witten plans to be ready for Week 1. He is expected to be out for eight to ten days. John Phillips looks to fill that void. He had 15 catches last year for one touchdown but is already nursing an ankle injury suffered early in camp. He didn’t play in the San Diego game.

The takeaway: Nobody on the team wants to see Witten standing on the sideline in street clothes during any games this season. That is true not only because he is Romo’s security blanket, but also because of his usual fashion faux pas. “Those shoes are so 2009…”

The news: Will DeMarco Murray become the man?

The spin: Murray showed flashes of greatness last year, rushing for almost 900 yards and a pair of scores before breaking his ankle in Week 14. But his offense has yet to click so far this preseason, and he was hoping to see more action against the Chargers. He was involved in five of the first six plays, three carries for 12 yards on the ground and 18 yards on a pair of catches. His potential is always there.

The takeaway: Murray's potential for injury is also always there. The previously noted issues on the offensive line doesn’t help his precarious value. Felix Jones will also see some carries, but the team would love to see Murray thrive. He is a potential game-breaker or leg-breaker. Your choice. Buyer beware.

Denver Broncos

QB: The ever-popular, Peyton Manning failed to deliver on Saturday, but you won’t hear about it in the media. The NFL’s most beloved son tossed 177 yards total, which is good, threw no touchdowns, which is bad, and threw two INTs, which is really bad. I’m not saying Manning wouldn’t have won the game had he played the full 60 minutes, but I was not entirely impressed by Saturday’s performance. His game was described as “so-so” and “a mixed bag” by USA Today.

WR/TE: Stokley, Decker, and Thomas each brought in 28-41 yards and split targets fairly evenly. I don’t believe that Stokley has the staying power to be a force all year long, which leaves Eric Decker and Bay-Bay Thomas as his primary receivers.

RB: Admittedly, I have never been a Willis McGahee fan. However, this is his job and he provided evidence for it staying that way on Saturday. He did exactly what he is expected to do, 3.X yards per carry and a one-yard touchdown when the opportunity presented itself. This would’ve been a passable fantasy day for McGahee, and he only carried in the first half. RB Ronnie Hillman (hamstring) missed the Broncos second preseason game and aggravated his injury during practice on Tuesday.

Detroit Lions

The news: Injuries at the running back position.

The spin: The inability of Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure to stay healthy has been troubling for many within the Lions organization. Best remains on the PUP list with lingering effects from a concussion that put him out for the final 10 games of last year. He has been a talent, posting over 1,000 combined yards his rookie season and six scores since he entered the league. However, his college career was also cut short by concussions, and this story doesn’t look like it’s going to have a happy ending. Leshoure was drafted in 2011 to provide a power-back option to the Lions offense. However, a torn ACL caused him to miss all of last year. Hamstring issues have kept him off the field thus far this year. More troubling were two marijuana-related arrests during the offseason, which still haven’t been cleared by the commissioner’s office. The surprise in camp has been Joique Bell.

The takeaway: Kevin Smith is the incumbent for the moment, but his injury history must keep the Lions brass up at night. Bell is taking advantage of his opportunity and looked great Friday with five carries for 35 and three catches for 44 yards. Sadly, both Best and Leshoure will probably miss time this year due to brain-related incidents. Only Best has a legitimate excuse.

The news: After Calvin Johnson, who will catch the share of Matthew Stafford’s passes?

The spin: If you take away the 100 or so passes Megatron will catch this year, you can speculate that Stafford will still complete roughly 200 additional passes. Nate Burleson and Titus Young will look to battle for the high-end table scraps. They offer two different styles. Burleson is more of the possession receiver, which will help in PPR leagues. Young is there to stretch the field. And let’s not forget Brandon Pettigrew, either, who was second on the team in catches last year with 83 and could easily increase his five touchdowns.

The takeaway: You don’t throw for 5,000 yards without the offense thinking about getting to 5,100. Young has looked good in camp and pulled down a 24-yard touchdown with his only catch on Friday. I think he will emerge as the big winner, followed by Pettigrew. Burleson will get his share, and will still manage to keep his feet inbounds and secure the first down in the process.

Green Bay Packers

The news: What running game?
The spin: If you had Aaron Rodgers, how much would you run? Last year the Packers' top two backs, Ryan Grant and James Starks, combined for 1,100 yards and three scores. With Grant let go, it looked like Starks’ job. However, the signing of Cedric Benson now makes owners wonder what sort of impact either back might have. Even Coach Mike McCarthy isn’t talking about Benson's role yet. He was held out of their game against the Browns Thursday, adding more mystery to the proceedings. Alex Green, recovering from an ACL tear from last year, has seen some action in the preseason and has yet to turn any heads.

The takeaway: It is hard to fault a potent offense, but this system isn’t going to produce a game changer out of the backfield. Against the Browns, the team rushed only 18 times, with quarterbacks accounting for five of those carries. A dozen rushing touchdowns will probably be the total, with Rodgers getting half of them. Benson, Starks and John Kuhn will fight it out to be window dressing and lead the team with five scores.

The news: Is there a chance Randall Cobb emerges as a fantasy star?

The spin: Greg Jennings might be No. 1 on the depth chart, but Jordy Nelson now seems like the man in Green Bay, with James Jones and Donald Driver following suit. Cobb is the name getting a great deal of fantasy buzz this offseason, but he has a long ladder to climb before he makes it into the rotation.

The takeaway: There is no shortage of talented weapons for Rodgers to play with. The list above doesn’t even include his tight ends, which magnifies the problem for Cobb. Plus, Cobb's fumble against the Browns does little to enhance his value. He will remain as a special teams contributor and a great tease, but barring injury or surprise cuts, owners should look elsewhere for their sleeper pick.

Houston Texans

QB: Matt Schaub has proven over weeks one and two that he is exactly as advertised - mediocre in game one and excellent in game two. A large portion of that has to do with having his favorite weapon and injury-table companion Andre Johnson back for week two. If these two could ever make it together for a full season, the Texans just might have a shot at the Superbowl.

WR/TE: When you are a super stud wide receiving talent and you have no competition with a top-rate QB, you ought to be a no-brainer first round draft pick right? Calvin Johnson says yes, Andre Johnson says no. As mentioned above, AJ cannot stay healthy and therefore cannot dominate up to his potential. However, the Houston Chronicle says, “he looked like the Andre of old and not an old Andre.” So maybe he’ll surprise us this year.

RB: There hasn’t been much news on the running back front from the Houston Texans. Arian Foster is the man and there isn’t much barring injury that could change that. For what it’s worth, Cantor Gaming did release this week that Arian Foster is the favorite to win the rushing title with 7:2 odds this year.

Indianapolis Colts

QB: Andrew Luck’s stellar week one performance was not followed up by the same numbers in his second, but the yardage was comparable, the 2 INTs were both faults of the receivers, he drove them all the way to the one yard and ran in for the score on fourth down, and I would argue that he was even more impressive. Luck is the only rookie this year I don’t have questions about, in fact when he’s playing it doesn’t even seem like he’s a rookie. Don’t let this guy languish on the waiver wire.

WR/TE: In addition, against the much-touted Steelers D, Reggie Wayne was a TD catch away from one of his best fantasy days in a while with 6 catches for 74 yards. Even more impressive, he had 9 targets in the half. Reggie Wayne could end up being one of the steals of this year’s fantasy football season.

RB: Finally, Donald Brown did some of his best rushing against a tough defense with 30 yards and a TD on only 6 carries - 21 of those yards came on one rush, but Brown still stands to have his best fantasy season yet with ex-Pittsburgh O-Coordinator Bruce Aryans.


Jacksonville Jaguars

QB: Blaine Gabbert looked more in control on Thursday as he threw two TDs in limited time. Gabbert’s biggest knock last year was that he was afraid to stand in the pocket and make throws with pressure in his face. At least in the preseason, he seems to have kicked that habit. DB Rashean Mathis on Blaine Gabbert, “It’s night and day from last year.”

WR/TE: It appears that if Gabbert can find his man, then Justin Blackmon could be a force to be reckoned with. Blackmon was an all-star in college and has great size and skill. If the team can perform as a unit, Blackmon can serve well as arguably the best wide receiver in the state of Florida. Gabbert added, “He’s going to play a huge role on this offense.”

RB: Rashad Jennings looked passable in the absence of MJD. 5.6 yards per carry is nothing to sneeze at even in the preseason against vanilla defenses. He is no superstar, but the touchdown potential should make him worthwhile as a late-round draft pick. RBs that miss training camp are always a high risk for hamstring and ankle injuries so watch for Jennings to get play time all year long as the MJD holds out continues.

Kansas City Chiefs

QB: There is one lynch pin to the success of the Kansas City Chiefs possibly explosive offense – Matt Cassel. In a very Joe Flacco-esque motif, Matt Cassel has thrown 209 yards and a TD with 75% accuracy in less than one full game’s time. As far as the offensive game goes, the Cassel-led Chiefs are actually far more capable than they receive credit for.

WR/TE: Dwayne Bowe signed his franchise tender offer but didn’t play in the game on Saturday night. He’ll need to get up to speed on Brian Daboll’s offense. If he can catch up, his yardage is virtually unchangeable regardless of QB. “We’re happy he’s back too. He looked good to me, even showed us his abs to prove he’d stayed in shape,” said fellow wide receiver Dexter McCluster. This should be a good season for Bowe if he can master the offense. Speaking of McCluster, he is getting virtually all offensive snaps from the slot at wide receiver.

RB: Jamaal Charles has averaged 5.7 yards per carry and a phenomenal 9 yards per catch, but with only 5 total touches. He looks like the Charles of old. If things go as projected, JC will come out to average about 20 touches per game and the rest will be taken care of by Peyton Hillis, ala JC and Thomas Jones. If they can keep it all balanced, the Chiefs seem primed for Cassel, Bowe, and J-Mail to have great seasons each.

Miami Dolphins

QB: Preseason darling Ryan Tannehill wasn’t quite as stellar as fans or prospective fantasy owners would have hoped, but he did throw a touchdown and eclipsed 100 yards in a half. If he could average 200 yards and 2 TD average per game this year, that would make him a fantasy star. Don’t count on it though, as the Miami Herald reports, “Miami Dolphins’ negatives outweigh Ryan Tannehill’s positives.”

WR/TE: Chad Johnson was cut from the Dolphins last week as he, “wasn’t a good fit.” I’m curious as to what didn’t fit more though, was it that Chad didn’t fit the Dolphins culture by headbutting his reality TV wife of 41 days? Or was it that he didn’t fit the receiving corps of no names as someone who used to be pretty good? Regardless, Brian Hartline is the best thing they’ve got talent wise and that is certainly damning with faint praise. Legedu Naanee and Davone Bess are number three possession-type receivers and have no chance to take over as number ones.

RB: The usually news-worthy Reggie Bush has been absolutely silent thus far this preseason. Even off the field, Reggie has totally dropped off the tabloids, not to mention the preseason hype of Daniel Thomas from a year ago has simply been erased from memory. Reggie said early this year that he wants to be the NFL’s leading rusher, which is nearly impossible, but don’t be surprised if he racks up another 1,000 yards. Especially with the passing game in the awful quagmire it’s in, look for the running game to provide some solid fantasy points this year.

Minnesota Vikings

The news: Adrian Peterson is back on the field.

The spin: One of the biggest fantasy stories of this preseason is what to expect from AP. After tearing his ACL, MCL and meniscus during Week 12, he has already returned to practice. Coach Leslie Frazier has told his defensive players to not touch the running back during practices. Fortunately, the defense had plenty of practice not touching running backs during games last season.

The takeaway: Until Peterson is actually hit by another player, it is hard to gauge much of anything right now. However, he is still AP, and any owner worth his salt will be casually checking his status. If there is one player who could kill the most drafts this year, it might be Peterson.

The news: Christian Ponder is ready to prove his critics wrong.

The spin: After a rookie year in which he seemed to regress as the year went on, questions abound regarding Ponder. He was labeled as injury-prone during the draft process, and then he proceeded to get a concussion and a hip injury that ended his rookie season. Hard to convince anyone differently after that kind of season. The team wasn’t very good last year, Ponder didn’t have the luxury of OTAs and training camp, and he had to watch Donovan McNabb “quarterback” five games. Nobody wins in any of those scenarios. A full offseason to learn the playbook and a fortified offensive line with top pick Matt Kalil hopefully gives him some time to throw. What he does with the ball in his hand is up to him.

The takeaway: Ponder has looked good so far this preseason, Friday night he went 10 of 13 for 136 yards and a score and the Vikings kicked field goals on two of the three drives he directed. He might be ready to tell his critics they were wrong, but hopefully it won’t happen as he is being slid into a MRI tube.

The news: Tight end Kyle Rudolph has fantasy potential.

The spin: Rudolph has quickly become Ponder’s favorite target during preseason camp. Rudolph didn’t set the world on fire last year, however, with 26 catches for 249 yards and three scores. But the team is lacking weapons (Percy Harvin, a suspended Jerome Simpson, and..?), so the possibility for him to make some kind of impact isn’t far-fetched.

The takeaway: It isn’t near-fetched either. He had one catch for seven yards Friday. If Ponder continues his improvement, Randolph will ride his coattails, which hopefully have wheels of some kind on them.

New England Patriots

QB: A common thread among fantasy advice columns this year is that Tom Brady stands to be one of the top 3 if not the #1 QB this year. Of course, any QB throwing for that many yards and touchdowns must have some receivers catching them right? It appears that the New England coaching staff believes that those receivers are Rob Gronkowski and Brandon Lloyd, as a clandestine practice time was arranged on a separate field for just those three last week.

WR/TE: Specifically, the status of many Patriots pass catchers was in question last week. Gronkowski sat out Sunday through Tuesday while Brandon Lloyd and Aaron Hernandez sat out Monday and Tuesday. It is unclear on if this was routine rest or hinting at something more, but there were certainly no signs from the coaching staff that anything terrible is looming.

RB: Steven Ridley has looked good this preseason and Shane Vereen’s arrow has started to turn north. Both backs seem to have the talent and poise to help keep opposing defenses honest. Temper your hopes for more than that though, as Coach Bellichick had this to say about “bellcow” RBs: “Corey Dillon was good enough to do it. If the Corey Dillon of 2004 was on this roster, I’m sure he’d get it 300 times too. I haven’t seen Corey out there lately.” Encouraging, right?

New Orleans Saints