QB - This is a situation where one position constricts an entire offense. Quincy Carter has been named the starting signal caller in Dallas, because it is said he gives the team the best chance of winning. The best chance of wining five games again perhaps. He and Chad Hutchinson put up similar numbers with seven TD's and eight picks each, so no fantasy star is being held back. Carter has the most upside due to his mobility, but in his seven starts, he didn't run for a single touchdown, so that assumption holds as much water as a bottlecap.

Hutchinson has the better arm, but he lacks accuracy and mobility, but after reading Carter's running stats, you could bemoan the fact that "Hutch" is terrible at bumper pool and it would have the same relevance.

I would like to believe coach Parcells will try to stick with one guy at the position to avoid a carousel at the position. Because few people strike me as the type to dislike a carousel more than coach Parcells.

Prediction: Little, if any, value at this position, regardless of the player.

RB - Troy Hambrick hopes to become the next Joe Morris, O.J. Anderson and Curtis Martin under the guidance of Parcells. It's no secret that his teams like to run the ball, and Hambrick looks as if he is the front-runner. With the departure of Emmitt Smith, Hambrick will have his chance to shine. He will need to bring his A-game because the running back will see more guys in the box than Cool Hand Luke. The problem is that he showed up at camp overweight, not smart, and has shown little this pre-season to show his running skills are closer to Curtis Martin than Charles Martin. And if Adrian Murrell is brought in to serve as your competition, to quote Angelo Dundee, "You're blowin' it kid!!!"

Prediction: Average fantasy numbers, at best.

WR/TE - This is a weird one. The Cowboys has a pretty decent receiving group, but thanks to the QB's, they will be held back more than that soft-headed kid that was in your first grade class. Joey Galloway and Antonio Bryant were average last year. Galloway finished with 900 yards and six scores and might not be the game breaker anymore, but still has the speed to stretch the field. Bryant had a solid rookie campaign with 700 yards and six scores as well. I would like to be able and say those numbers are going to rise, but the receivers caught a combined 13 touchdowns last year. Terry Glenn decided to reunite with Parcells, but if two receivers can't get enough catches, how do they expect three to split them up? Add in Dan Campbell at tight end and there isn't enough offense to go around.

Prediction: The limitations of the offense and QB position make the odds that this crew will break out statistically only slightly higher than the odds of this crew breaking out of a federal prison.

K/D - This spot is pretty vague, bland and not very good. If I added too long you would think I'm talking about "Solaris." But, at least Natascha McElhone made that bearable to watch. Billy Cundiff is no Scotch beauty, but he will drive his owners to have a stiff drink. He kicked last year, but in six games he couldn't even get an attempt, and could only muster 61 points. It isn't that a replacement will be better, so just steer clear of Dallas in the kicker position.

The team unit is supposed to be on the rise, but statistically, that isn't going to be the case. The jewel here is safety Roy Williams. He had five interceptions, three fumbles recoveries and a pair of sacks in his rookie year. He is the best thing about the defense.

Prediction: Draft Williams as a playmaker, but avoid eye contact with the rest of the defense and special team players and slowly walk away.

Washington

QB - Coach Steve Spurrier wants to make his Fun-and-Gun work in the pro game. But he is going to have to swallow his pride and let quarterback Patrick Ramsey grow into the position. Mistakes are made when you are learning, and a constant yanking and reinsertion of Ramsey by Spurrier will be as shortsighted as Dustin Hoffman in "Papillion." Irreparable damage can be done if he isn't allowed to grow. It is Spurrier's call. Ramsey doesn't look to post huge numbers this year, but if he gets his chance, he might post decent numbers in the 20 TD and 3,200-yard range. In his favor is the fact Rob Johnson is the backup. The former Bills QB has shown little during his stint in the NFL, with his most memorable plays involving his head bouncing off the Rich Stadium turf like a jack ball.

Prediction: Ramsey has a decent year only if his coach is allowed to grow along with the pupil, and Rob Johnson will suffer from constant ringing in his ears.

RB - Hopes are high for Trung Candidate. He comes from St. Louis' wide open offensive system and has game breaking skills. The problem is he moves off the turf and onto grass and he has a tendency to put the ball on the ground, regardless of the surface. Candidate has never been a featured back and has been as durable as a kayak made of paper mache during his stay with the Rams. Ladell Betts and Kenny Watson will be his backups and could easily cut into his numbers. These two shared time during Stephen Davis' injury last year. They hardly created impressive numbers, combining for 800 yards and two touchdowns.

Prediction: Trung has a decent year, but he doesn't get the numbers expected as he gets injured, allowing Betts to generate decent, unspectacular stats.

WR/TE - With the addition of Laveranues Coles to Rod Gardner, the 'Skins might have the makings of a decent receiving tandem for this passing game. These two need Ramsey to succeed in a big way. Coles might get the press after his big dollar contract and his 1,200-yard and five-touchdown season. He got a $13 million dollar signing bonus for a year like that? Every decent wide receiver around the league in a free agent year is going to try and go off against the 'Skins if Danny Widewallet is going to write checks like that.

Coles should have a good year, but Gardner's season of 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns looks more impressive. He has a year under his belt in the system and finished strong, scoring six times in the final nine games of the year. He seems to be the one to get off to a good start while Coles tries to figure out the system and tries to justify the big contract. There will be three receiver sets, so Taylor Jacobs will scrap for the third opening, but expect only scraps statistically from him. Zeron Flemister has a name only a mother could love, and the same can be said of his potential stats this year.

Prediction: Gardner has a better statistical campaign than his overpaid partner, Coles will have yards but not a lot of scores and the rest of the lot should be avoided unless you are in a 20 team league.

ST/D - The team only managed 81 points from both of their kickers last year. John Hall was signed to a big contract and might make a difference, but that doesn't seem likely. On the defensive side of the ball, Washington has done more recycling than an anal retentive environmentalist. Regan Upshaw, Bruce Smith and Brandon Noble aren't going to be the playmakers, unless eating cap space counts. Corners Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot seem to be the big play guys with LaVar Arrington being used as both a linebacker and an end. Don't get greedy guys, he can't be both. Choose.

Prediction: Hall is average but besides the two corners and the linebacker avoid the team unit, even though Chad Morton might score in the return game, but nothing is guaranteed. Besides Spurrier wearing that freakin' visor.

Philadelphia

QB - Before he broke his leg, Donovan McNabb was having a huge year. He threw 17 touchdowns and ran for six scores before he was injured, once again a victim of the Chunky Soup curse. There has been little sign that he has slowed down, but he proved he was mortal last year. The team cannot afford to see him get injured again. I'm not saying that he will stop running and limit his ground game, but if he gets injured again, this team is going to come tumbling back to mediocrity faster that Kevin Spacey. He is the heart and soul of the team, and they can substitute for him on the field, but if the team has plans of breaking through this year, they must protect him like their Super Bowl chances depend on it.

Prediction: He has a big year stat wise, but his running numbers might dip, but his passing figures may go up. I also predict he will let his 'fro grow out. That is the best head of hair since Oscar Gamble.

RB - Has any player in recent history overstated his importance more than Duce Staley. No offense Duce, but if Correll Buckhalter's performance warranted you ending your holdout, you might have overplayed your hand worse than Pete Gray after a doubleheader. Staley has been slightly above average, with 1,500 total yards and 8 touchdowns. Buckhalter might be slowed from an ACL injury in last preseason, but is back to full speed and will push Staley for playing time. The funny thing, I don't think either one of them will be that good this year. I know its not laugh out loud funny, but there isn't enough difference between the two, and that is hardly a compliment to either player.

Prediction: I don't believe Staley is going to be better than last year, but I think Buckhalter will steal some numbers from him.

WR/TE - McNabb hasn't had the best supporting cast to throw to. But James Thrash and Todd Pinkston have done just enough to make McNabb look good. Pinkston finished with 800 yards and seven scores while Thrash ended with 600 yards and eight total TD's. That might be enough, but Freddie Mitchell has been talked about as maybe a breakout candidate. When asked about this, coach Andy Reid said, "Who the hell is this? How did you get this number?" It might be wishful thinking, as the team doesn't have a third option since the departure of Antonio Freeman. Chad Lewis looked like he might have a great future a few years ago. He has made multiple Pro Bowls, but his three touchdown season follows a pattern where his stats are declining.

Prediction: The stats see a slight increase for the big two, with Mitchell seeing an improvement as well. Lewis hopefully stays put, because if his numbers dip again, he might get an endorsement deal from the Frito "Scoops" people.

ST/D - David Akers seems a lock to remain in the top three of kickers this year. He finished with 133 points and will have the luxury, hopefully, of McNabb running the offense for the whole year. The team unit has been one of the best in the game, as they love to come after the quarterback. The loss of personnel over the past few years is troubling however. Their ability to produce numbers like they used to couldn't be any tougher than if they were the original Solid Gold dancers. Bobby Taylor is the marquee name and his 5 INT's from last year look about right for this year.

Prediction: Akers will be a star, but the rest of the team taking a step back.

N.Y. Giants

QB - You might be able to get an accurate read on Kerry Collins finally. He will be good for a lot of yards, but not a lot of touchdowns, like all those Ram receivers. Last season Collins broke the 4,000-yard plateau, but only managed 19 touchdown passes. He has put up similar numbers the past few years. However, there is a chance he will be better this year. When coach Jim Fassel reassumed play calling duties on offense, the unit took off, with Collins throwing 14 scores in the final nine games. So his touchdown numbers could see an improvement, but he doesn't seem likely to throw more than 25.

Prediction: Collins' numbers rise slightly, like any television program announcing, "Tonight, a very special episode of…"

RB - Tiki Barber might have had his career year last year. He picked up 1,900 total yards, which wasn't a surprise, but his 11 touchdowns are what set the year apart from his others. But the big stink fantasy-wise was the signing of Dorsey Levens to take over short yardage duties from Ron Dayne. I would call Dayne a bust, but usually when something has that much padding, it doesn't break when it hits the ground. Amazingly, eight of Barber's touchdowns came from five yards and in last year. So you have to expect a decline in his scores this year. Levens might take some scores, but I don't see him adding much more than that.

Prediction: Barber will rack up plenty of all-purpose yards, but he won't match last year's scoring figures.

WR/TE - Amani Toomer also benefited when Fassel took over the play calling. He finished with 1,300 yards and scored seven times in his last eight ball games including a three touchdown, 200 yard performance against the Colts. He was beating them so bad, he even pulled the Globetrotters bucket-of-confetti trick on their d-backs. Good, clean fun for the whole family. People are predicting a decline in his numbers, but 1,200 yards and eight scores again are certainly within his range. Everyone is expecting Jeremy Shockey to be an amalgamation of Mike Ditka, Kellen Winslow and Mr. Wonderful Paul Orndorff. Those are big names and big expectations to live up to, especially if you can't find a fancy robe. Let's face facts; Shockey is riding a wave of hype that would make Madonna complain about saturation. He is a big talent, with a big ego and big mouth. One out three ain't bad. He will have a target on his back this year, but the bad thing he put the target on himself. He will have a better season than last year, because remember, teammate Ron Dixon had as many TD catches as he did.

Prediction: Toomer stays in the same neighborhood, with Shockey rising into the top three tight ends, not players, in the league.

ST/D - The team brought in Mike Hollis from Buffalo to handle the kicking duties. The team was clicking offensively last year, so Hollis has the potential to finish around the top ten in points scored. However, occupants of the borough of Queens are asked to refrain from yelling, "Hollis in the house!" every time he comes on the Meadowlands turf. The defense is solid, but not flashy. Michael Strahan is a threat to lead the league in sacks and you get the feeling he will be closer to 20 than the 10 he had last year.

Prediction: Hollis finishes tenth in scoring and Strahan has a big year in both sacks and tackles.