(Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com)

Fantasy football owners can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

In a move that was long overdue, the Cardinals have re-signed Kurt Warner to a two-year, $23 million contract. The deal guarantees that Warner will be back at the helm in 2009 and keeps him among the elite fantasy quarterbacks in the NFL.

Warner, who seems to have found the fountain of youth in the desert, has thrown for a combined 8,000 yards with 58 total touchdowns over the last two seasons. That includes a 2008 season that saw him record 4,583 passing yards with 30 touchdowns, not to mention an appearance in Super Bowl XLIII.

A surefire No. 1 fantasy quarterback, Warner will come off the board between Rounds 4 and 6 in most drafts.

The veteran’s presence under center also makes it much easier to draft Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, who remain two of the most valuable wideouts in fantasy football.

The top-rated wide receiver on NFL.com, Fitzgerald is coming off a season with 96 receptions, 1,431 yards and 12 touchdowns. Boldin missed four games due to injuries, but he was still able to finish with 89 receptions, 1,038 yards and a career-best 11 touchdowns.

Had Warner left the Cardinals, the team would have turned to Matt Leinart. That would have made Fitzgerald and Boldin at least somewhat less certain in fantasy circles, despite their individual talents.

Warner’s presence is also good news for Steve Breaston, who came out of nowhere to produce 1,000-plus yards in 2008.

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