Best of the decade?

As we say goodbye to 2009, I'm seeing all kinds of all-decade lists popping up all over the place (Best movies? Best songs? Best TV themes?)

It got me thinking: Who were the best fantasy players of the 2000s? It'd be awfully hard to narrow it down to an all-decade team. For instance, Peyton Manning's probably the obvious choice at QB, but how do you deny Tom Brady's record-busting 2007 season? Or how do you narrow it down to 1 or 2 running backs - say, LaDainian Tomlinson and Priest Holmes - and leave out a Brian Westbrook or Adrian Peterson or Marshall Faulk?

Jay Clemons of SI.com actually figured out a better approach, ranking the top 10 fantasy seasons of the decade. Here's what they came up with in a nutshell:

1. Tom Brady, 2007
2. LaDainian Tomlinson, 2006
3. Peyton Manning, 2004
4. Randy Moss, 2007
5. Shaun Alexander, 2005
6. Daunte Culpepper, 2004
7. LaDainian Tomlinson, 2003
8. Marvin Harrison, 2002
9. Tony Gonzalez, 2004
10. Drew Brees, 2008

A few things jump out at me:

- How does Holmes not make the list? It's easy to forget that near the start of the decade he was every bit as dominating as Tomlinson in his prime and single-handedly won many leagues in the early 2000s. A tight end makes the list and Priest doesn't?

- Brady may have had the single most impressive fantasy season of the '00s, but as SI points out, the rest of his career belongs simply in the "good" category, from a fantasy standpoint.

- It's almost unfathomable that Culpepper, who can't even stay on the field for the Detroit Lions nowadays, was once the game's best fantasy QB. I owned him in 2004, his incredible 39-TD season, and loved every minute of it. I also drafted him the following year, the start of his long downward career spiral, and still haven't forgiven him.

Photo by The Associated Press

The rise and fall of Shaun Alexander

Shaun Alexander, once a fantasy stalwart, was cut by the Seahawks on Tuesday. The 2005 MVP has seen a steep decline in performance the past two years, and now that Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett are in Seattle's backfield, the writing was on the wall for the 30-year-old Alexander.

He started showing cracks (literally) in the first game of the 2006 season when he bruised his foot and later broke it. Alexander ran for a career-low 716 yards last season and has incurred the wrath of Seahawks fans and fantasy players everywhere for his mediocre output (3.5 yards a carry) and what sometimes seemed like a lack of passion for playing.

Was it just a bad combination of injuries and the toll of 2,176 NFL carries that have made Alexander a shell of what he once was? Or perhaps the Madden Curse had something to do with it? Hard to say. But I'm not counting Alexander out yet. Let's see if the guy can land another job ... In the right situation, I think he can still be a productive player, although it would have to be in some kind of timeshare situation. The days of him being a No. 1 back (he was going in the top 10 of many drafts this past season) are over.

As for Seattle's situation, the bulk of the carries are now sure to go to Jones, signed in the offseason from the Cowboys. He's got much more tread on his tires than Alexander, and although he's taken a backseat to touchdown-maker Marion Barber in recent years, he's proven himself to be at least a capable starting RB. I suspect the Seahawks might try to mimic what the Cowboys did with Jones and Barber, using Duckett as the short-yardage/red-zone guy, but I'm not going there until I see some results. I've seen too many people get burned chasing Duckett the past few years. For now, consider Jones as a low-end No. 1 and Duckett simply as someone to take a flier on.

Beware of the dud

I was going to do a Week 14 recap, but why live in the past? If you're reading this, odds are your fantasy team is in the playoffs this week, so I'll do everything I can to get you prepared.

The following guys are setting off my dud radar, and I’d give serious thought to benching them unless I’m really stuck:




• Donovan McNabb is usually hurt around this time of year, so you can understand if he’s a little rusty against the Dallas Cowboys. It’s been a rough year for his Philadelphia Eagles.

• Kurt Warner has produced since taking over as the Arizona Cardinals’ starter, but do you really trust him with your fantasy life? Sure, he threw three TDs last week, but he was also picked off five times.

• Kansas City Chiefs rookie Kolby Smith rushed 13 times for 12 yards against the Denver Broncos, who can’t stop anybody. What makes you think he’ll fare better against the Tennessee Titans?

• Shaun Alexander’s been good for about 60 rushing yards a game this season. Start him if that’s what you’re into, but don’t expect anything special.

• I’ve seen enough touchdown-free games by Vince Young this year – six to be exact. Don’t let that happen to you this week. Start Cleo Lemon if you have to.

• Laurence Maroney and Donte’ Stallworth look like afterthoughts in the New England Patriots’ juggernaut offense. They should be fantasy afterthoughts too, even though their team won’t hold any punches against the New York Jets.

• I enjoy Maurice Jones-Drew’s highlights as much as the next guy, but would a 30-yard, no-TD game shock you this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers?

• It’s been an awful season for Steve Smith and the Carolina Panthers. He hasn’t scored since Week 6. No reason to believe that'll change this week against Seattle.

• Sure, Jay Cutler's coming off a four-TD game. But he's also got three zero-TD games and six one-TD games this year.

• Kevin Jones has put some great games on this year's stat sheet, but there are also 1-yard and minus-4-yard games sprinkled in there. Be careful using him this week against the Chargers.

Photo by The Associated Press.

Week 1: The good, bad and unpredictable

The first week of NFL action is always the hardest to predict. We went into our season-opening fantasy matchups basing our expectations on four meaningless preseason games, head coaches' cryptic comments, rumors, hearsay and innuendo.

For instance, who knew Randy Moss' hamstring was so healthy? The dude didn't play all preseason, Bill Belichick was his usual tight-lipped self - and Moss goes nuts for 183 yards and a TD on Sunday. I'm still not sold he'll be a consistent producer in the New England Patriots' spread-the-ball offense, but it looks like you can safely insert Moss into your lineup this week against the San Diego Chargers and at least get something out of him.

Moss' tale is just one piece of good news fantasy owners received after seeing some games that count. We've also gotten some red flags, too, concerning players we had big hopes for. Here's what we've learned so far.

GOOD NEWS

• Minnesota Vikings rookie Adrian Peterson showed a flash of his potential Sunday (163 total yards, TD) while running mate Chester Taylor went down. Taylor (oblique) will be back, but Peterson's already proven he can carry the load. He's a decent option against the Detroit Lions this week.

• Shaun Alexander showed no signs of last year's broken foot, romping for 106 yards and a TD. There are a few caveats - he had a whopping 27 carries, and they came against the soft Tampa Bay Buccaneers - but consider the foot problem a non-issue.

• Another non-issue: Travis Henry's preseason knee problems. The Denver Broncos' offseason acquisition looked as nimble as ever (139 rushing yards, 44 receiving yards) against the Buffalo Bills and should be a productive No. 1 RB.

• LaMont Jordan's 15 carries for 70 yards and a TD don't automatically erase last season's "bust" label from his forehead . . . but his nine receptions for 89 yards certainly help his cause. If new Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin is willing to utilize Jordan's pass-catching skills, we're all for it.

BAD NEWS

• Brandon Jacobs' knee injury was in fact the worst news from Week 1. A sprained MCL may keep the New York Giants RB sidelined three to five weeks. Backup Derrick Ward (and not Reuben Droughns, as I've previously warned) is probably the guy you want to add if you're desperate.

• The injury bug also bit Giants QB Eli Manning, who had an encouraging 2007 debut (312 yards, four TDs) Sunday night before exiting with a banged-up shoulder. Young Eli is week-to-week, so go with Plan B - and hopefully that's not hefty Giants second-stringer Jared Lorenzen.

• Still reeling from a sub-60-yard performance by Steven Jackson, Frank Gore, Larry Johnson, Rudi Johnson, Thomas Jones, Cedric Benson or LaDainian Tomlinson? Relax. I'm confident all of these gentlemen have multiple 100-yard games in their futures.

• Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints didn't have the outing we've come to expect in their season opener at Indianapolis. But better days are ahead for every member of that offense, beginning Sunday in Tampa.

It's never too early ...

... to start planning for your 2007 football draft. I've put together an extremely early top-10 list. Keep in mind a lot can change (new coaching staffs, injuries, free agency, the draft) between now and August, but here's some help if you're in a keeper league, want to get a jump on the competition or, like me, have too much free time:

1. LaDainian Tomlinson
Pretty big no-brainer, right? It'd be foolish to expect another record-breaking season from our boy LT2 ... but I wouldn't put it past him either. The only worry I'd have is if he lands on the cover of Madden 2008, so start pulling hard for Drew Brees to make it.

2. Larry Johnson
If it wasn't for LT2's sick year we'd all be talking about LJ. Sure, Herm Edwards basically ran him into the ground, but his knees should be young enough to take some more abuse, and it's nice to know the head coach isn't shy about giving him the ball. If the Chiefs upgrade at QB and/or WR (and after that atrocious playoff performance, they desperately need to) it will only help Johnson next year.

3. Steven Jackson
Jackson only got stronger as the year wore on, establishing himself as a complete player and a bona fide fantasy stud. His game took a massive leap under new coach Scott Linehan, and at this rate, the 23-year-old will soon be putting up Marshall Faulk-type numbers.

4. Frank Gore
Gore is another well-rounded back who set a 49ers season rushing record last year with more than 1,600 yards but who also contributes in the passing game. And just like Gore, the Niners are a team on the rise, with a boatload of spending money (they'll be an estimated $40 million under next year's salary cap), a bunch of extra draft picks and an improving young QB in Alex Smith. These factors can only help Gore post a great season in '07.

5. Shaun Alexander
I know it was a down year for the big guy, due in large part to the infamous cracked bone in his foot. But even before the injury, he didn't quite look like his MVP self from a year earlier. I'm willing to chalk it up to a bad combination of the Madden Curse, a post-Super Bowl letdown for the Seahawks and the loss of Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson in free agency. Alexander showed glimpses of his past domination late in the year, and although he'll be 30 next season I still think there's a lot of production left in him.

6. Peyton Manning
I'm slotting Peyton in the middle of this list, but his true positioning depends on the type of scoring in your league. Move him up or down depending on how important QBs are in your scoring system, but know this: Manning is the most consistent player at his position and virtually the only lock among fantasy QBs from year to year.

7. Brian Westbrook
Westbrook's always been a tantalizing talent, mostly because of his skills as a pass-catcher. But this year he's also proven himself as a workhorse runner, and except for a brief scare with his knee early in the year, he was surprisingly healthy, too. Before 2006, he'd only twice carried more than 20 times in a game (both times cracking the 100-yard rushing barrier). This year he's had five 20-carry games (including last week's playoff win against the Giants), and each time he rushed for 100 or more. If the Eagles continue to be a balanced offensive team with coordinator Marty Morningweg calling the plays, and if Westbrook's knees remain intact, he can have a stellar 2007.

8. Willie Parker
Fast Willie's gone from no-name to Pro Bowler in two short years. He was severly underrated entering this season, his first as a full-time feature back, but he shut everyone up with a huge year that included two 200-yard games, nearly 1,500 yards on the ground and 13 TDs (even more astonishing when you consider he also had five fumbles on the goal line). It remains to be seen how the Stillers offense will operate under a new coaching regime, but a best-case scenario for Parker and his owners would be if offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt stays on with Pittsburgh either in that capacity or as head coach.

9. Maurice Jones-Drew
This is a little bit of a reach right now, but I'm slotting the little guy in here based on potential. You saw what he's capable of, and that was without carrying the full load. If the Jaguars decide to cut Fred Taylor this offseason, the sky's the limit for the man they call "Pinball."

10. Rudi Johnson
Although his yards-per-carry average dipped below 4.0 for the first time since becoming a starter, RJ scored 12 TDs for the third straight year. If there's one thing fantasy owners love, it's consistency. With Carson Palmer more than a year removed from that ghastly knee injury, the Bengals' offense should be another high-scoring unit, giving Johnson lots of opportunities and making him a safe fantasy pick. Of course, all of this gets thrown out of the window if he gets arrested in an effort to fit in with his teammates.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Joseph Addai could start approaching Edgerrin James territory as the Colts continue to phase out Dominic Rhodes. ... It might be a year late, but Ronnie Brown could have that breakout season we were all expecting in '06. He looked good after coming back from that hand injury, but there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding his team (new coach, instability at QB, plus the impending second return of Ricky Williams) ... Clinton Portis' value is a little hard to peg right now, given the injuries and emergence of Ladell Betts. I could see him doing anything from reclaiming the sole starting job and being a top-five back, entering the most annoying platoon ever, or maybe even getting traded. ... Palmer is the next best thing after Manning as far as QBs are concerned. I know Drew Brees gained a lot of believers out there, but Palmer has a slightly higher ceiling. ...

The Madden Curse LIVES!

So apparently Shaun Alexander has a broken bone in his foot and will miss a few weeks. Is anybody surprised by this? He wasn't exactly setting the world on fire the first few games of the season, he was already slowed by a bone bruise in his foot, and now all the sudden we find out about this injury ....

Nobody can be shocked by this when you consider Alexander was the cover boy on Madden 2007. It might not be as disastrous as, say Donovan McNabb last season or Barry Sanders the year he abruptly retired, but still, it's devastating for those who made Alexander the centerpiece of their team. And yet you couldn't blame anybody for taking him with one of the first three picks of their draft, even knowing he was on the cover. Think about it: he NEVER misses games, he was the freakin' MVP last year, and his team, the Super Bowl runner-up last year, is arguably BETTER this season. It was a no-brainer. And yet you had to have some nightmare scenario in the back of your mind because of that damn cover, and now it's coming true.

Again, it's not a total disaster yet - Seattle coach Mike Holmgren seemed to indicate it's not a very serious injury - but Alexander's not exactly easy to replace, and Maurice Morris is probably not the answer fantasy owners want to hear, especially with the Bears up next. Still, he might be the best option available out there barring a trade.

And another thing about the cover jinx, how come nothing bad ever happens to John Madden? He's been on the cover more than anyone, and yet you never hear about a serious Maddencruiser accident, a mishap on the set of an Ace hardware commercial, a nasty bout of food poisoning from the turducken, nothing. What gives?

WEEK 1 - Sunday Recap

- Tough loss for the Chiefs in their opener, and even more damaging is the loss of QB Trent Green with a head injury for the forseeable future. Eddie Kennison, Tony Gonzalez and even Larry Johnson have to be slightly downgraded while K.C. goes with Damon Huard (seriously, he's the backup? Seriously? Koy Detmer wasn't available?).

- Rams-Broncos was supposed to be a track meet but turned into a field goal festival. New St. Louis coach Scott Linehan and his coaching staff unveiled this radical new thing called "defense," intercepting Jake Plummer three times and officially beginning the Jay Cutler Watch. Now the Rams' offense just needs to perfect those things called "touchdowns" and they'll be all set.

- Are things any clearer in Denver's RB situation? Not really. Tatum Bell went over 100 yards but predictably fumbled, while Mike Bell gained 58 yards on just 10 carries but scored a TD. It's gonna be like this all year, folks.

- Um, who were those imposters playing defense for Tampa Bay and Carolina? Two top-5 Ds played like expansion teams. Very disappointing showings, but you have to believe things will be fixed soon.

-And the Bucs' offense was almost as embarrassing. I know it was against the Ravens, and I know two OL starters were out this week ... but 25 yards for Cadillac Williams? No catches for Joey Galloway? Three INTs by Chris Simms? I'd be concerned.

- Warrick Dunn (132 yards) was a pleasant surprise against the Panthers. He doesn't get the respect he deserves as a fantasy force. Start him against New Orleans next week.

- Could Michael Jenkins (three catches, 77 yards, TD) be the breakout Atlanta receiver we've been waiting for?

- Nice Eagles debut for WR Donte' Stallworth (141 yards, TD), but keep this important fact in mind: He was playing the Texans.

- Decent debut for Reggie Bush, but the Earth is still rotating on its axis. Too bad return yardage doesn't count. I still think Deuce McAllister will have slightly more fantasy value this year.

- Checking in on some murky RB situations: Lawrence Maroney (17 carries-86 yards-0 TDs) vs. Corey Dillon (16-73-0) in New England; Thomas Jones (21-63-0) vs. Cedric Benson (11-34-0) in Chicago; Dominic Rhodes (16-29-1) vs. Joseph Addai (7-26-0) in Indianapolis; Chris Brown (16-64-0) vs. Travis Henry (9-22-2) in Tennessee; Derrick Blaylock (19-36-0) vs. Kevan Barlow (11-35-1) with the New York Jets.

- More signs of the Tight End Renaissance: eight TEs (Jeremy Shockey, Alge Crumpler, Kellen Winslow, Tony Gonzalez, Vernon Davis, Dallas Clark, Chris Baker, Adam Bergen) caught TDs on Sunday.

- Byron Leftwich (237 yards, 1 TD rushing, 1 TD passing) is a viable fantasy QB. He's got some weapons and will give you points when he's healthy.

- Is it time to worry about Shaun Alexander (19 carries, 51 yards, two fumbles, no TDs)? Not yet - he had a similar game (14 for 73 yards, no TDs) in last year's opener, and that season turned out OK) - but the Madden Curse is a powerful thing.

- Sure, Eli Manning was outdone by big brother Peyton, but he's going to put up numbers this year. He's learning.

- Those Manning brothers could be big stars someday. If only their agents could get them in some commercials or something.

- Titans QB Kerry Collins might actually be a usable spot starter at some point this season. One of his two INTs wasn't his fault. Vince Young will see a little action, but he's in no condition to start at this point.

- Good to see signs of life from Ahman Green and Jamal Lewis. They'll come in handy on your studs' bye weeks. Unless they are your studs.

- An encouraging sign: Clinton Portis was cleared to play tonight, even if it's just a backup role. Watch him closely, and if all goes well he should start next week.