Jones-Drew not at team OTAs: Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey confirmed that Maurice Jones-Drew has decided to skip the team’s OTAs in order to land a new contract. The Florida Times-Union reports the Jags have had no contract discussions with MJD, who led the NFL in rushing and was a top-three fantasy runner in 2011. While I’m not concerned about this situation yet, it is something to monitor as the summer months arrive. If he decides to hold out of training camp, the man nicknamed “Pocket Hercules” would lose at least some of his fantasy luster.

Hillman could have value: A report in the Denver Post suggests that rookie Ronnie Hillman, not Knowshon Moreno, is second on the Broncos depth chart behind Willis McGahee at the running back position. Moreno, a disappointment for the Broncos and fantasy owners alike, is coming off major knee reconstruction and now appears to be falling out of favor. If Hillman does in fact back up McGahee, he could turn into a deep-league handcuff for the 30-year-old veteran.

More work for Law Firm: Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweeted that BenJarvus Green-Ellis appears to be the favorite to lead the Bengals in carries this season. While there have been reports of a committee situation with Bernard Scott, the Law Firm is still the better back in fantasy land — especially when you consider the likelihood that he’ll dominate goal-line work as well. He has 1,000-yard, eight-touchdown potential and could turn into a decent draft bargain in the middle rounds, while Scott is more of a middle to late round handcuff

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Reggie Bush has high hopes: Coming off his best fantasy season since his rookie campaign, Bush wants to take the next step and lead the NFL in rushing in 2012. The motivation is nice, but is there a running back who doesn’t want to win the rushing title? Bush’s stock certainly rose last season, and I like him as a borderline No. 2 or 3 fantasy runner moving forward. But am I ready to consider him a reliable, consistent option? Not at all. Remember that except for his rookie year, Bush hadn’t played in more than 10 games until the 2011 season. Personally, I need to see another full season of production to be confident in him. If you do land Bush in drafts, you would be wise to handcuff him with Daniel Thomas in the later rounds.

Tim Hightower to start for ‘Skins?: Mike Jones of the Washington Post has Hightower listed as the No. 1 running back on the team’s depth chart. That’s a surprise, because the veteran hasn’t even been cleared for football activities coming off an ACL reconstruction. Of course, this just adds fuel to the fire when it comes to drafting a member of Washington’s backfield — you shouldn’t expect any one of them to post consistently good fantasy numbers. I still see Roy Helu as the most valuable fantasy runner on the team heading into camp, but trying to figure out what coach Mike Shanahan will do with his backfield is close to impossible.

Mark Ingram’s stock is falling: Any fantasy owner expecting Ingram to make a major impact this season might need to take their foot off the pedal a bit. The Alabama product recently had arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to miss several weeks. In fact, as Saints beat writer Mike Triplett tweeted, Ingram is not expected to be 100 percent by the time training camp begins. While he’s still young, the fact that Ingram has endured three surgeries in the last three offseasons — including two on his left knee — is cause for concern. So is the continued presence of Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas in a crowded Saints backfield. If you do draft Ingram, it shouldn’t be as more than a potential flex starter in most formats.

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Britt could require surgery: One of the most talented young wideouts in the NFL, Kenny Britt was on pace to have a breakout season in 2011 before suffering a torn ACL. Feedback on his recovery seemed to be positive, at least until Titans coach Mike Munchak’s recent comment about Britt possibly needing a second surgery. “I think it always is (possible),” he told TitansInsider. “I don’t know if he will at some point, but I think that’s something that’s common with that injury.” If another procedure is required, it would likely be similar to an arthroscopic clean-up rather than a major operation. Still, fantasy owners need to keep tabs on this situation. Britt has the tools to be a No. 1 wideout in all formats, but coming off an ACL reconstruction and possibly a second surgery would make it tough to draft him as more than a No. 2 option.

McFadden looking healthy: The Oakland Tribune reports that Darren McFadden, who missed nine games last season with a serious foot sprain, “is on track to make a successful return to the field.” What’s more, running backs coach Kelly Skipper also said the talented runner is “making cuts at full speed.” That’s great news for McFadden’s 2012 fantasy value, but it’s still tough to overlook the fact that he hasn’t played a full season at the NFL level due to various ailments. So while he will be worth a second- or third- round pick as a No. 1 runner, McFadden is a huge risk-reward player. Taiwan Jones looks like his handcuff heading into camp.

Tim Hightower back in D.C.: Hightower announced on his Twitter page that he’ll be back with the Redskins for the 2012 campaign. He played well at the start of last season, but missed significant time after tearing his left ACL in Week 7. Now six months removed from the reconstructive procedure, Hightower will compete with Roy Helu and Evan Royster for backfield work. Considering how coach Mike Shanahan left fantasy owners scratching their heads last season, it’s going to be tough to trust any Redskins runner as more than a low-end No. 2 option. Even Helu, the most valuable fantasy back on the roster, is a risk in 2012 drafts.

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Happy “getaway” Friday everybody! Or maybe it’s just me who is getting away for a week. Yes, please try to contain your excitement. Let’s get to the fantasy.

Moss looking good: The 49ers had their first formal practice, and WR Randy Moss impressed with his “cut and quick feet” according to reports. He even hooked up with Alex Smith on a long touchdown bomb. I hate to do this, but here comes the wet blanket. (Oh wait, it’s the 49ers, I love to be the wet blanket.) It’s easy to look good when you’re running around in shorts and a jersey in the middle of May, so I would caution fantasy enthusiasts from reading too much into this. To me, it’s like when announcers say stuff like, “He was kicking 70-yarders in practice.” I mean, I hope he looks good in practice. And seriously, don’t make me link to the Allen Iverson practice rant.

Britt making cuts: Titans WR Kenny Britt is running at full speed and making cuts, and said “hopefully,” he’ll be ready for the upcoming season. “Hopefully” being a rather troubling word. Especially when you consider his knee still swells after workouts. But he’s got a couple of months to get back to full strength. And if he does, Britt could be a nice sleeper for some fantasy enthusiast.

Wilson signed with Giants: Love the new CBA, which compels players to sign quickly. I know I’ve written this before, but the talk around the league is we’ve seen the end of the August holdouts for rookies, which is great. The Giants were able to get David Wilson signed quickly, and he has the chance to be a flex option this season for the Giants. One of the big knocks on Wilson is his fumbling problem he had at Virginia Tech. But remember, Tom Coughlin helped Tiki Barber save his career by teaching him how to hold on to the football, so I look for this problem to be corrected for Wilson. I really like this move for the Giants, and having him already in the mix makes it better.

For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 40,000 followers, and Fabiano has 50,000. Me? Just 13. See, the odds are better that I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook. Also be sure to catch the latest “Dave Dameshek Football Program.”

Peterson’s status still unknown: Fantasy superstar Adrian Peterson is just 19 months removed from major knee reconstruction after suffering a torn ACL in Week 16 of the 2011 campaign. While all reports on his recovery are positive, Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman doesn’t know if A.D. will be back in time for Week 1. “I love Adrian,” Sugarman told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “But let’s make this clear: I’m still not going to be quoted as saying he’s going to play in the first game. That’s not fair. I don’t know that.” Peterson, who has already started to run on land again, has progressed to the point where he is trying to make cuts. Still, fantasy owners need to temper their expectations for the veteran runner. In most cases, it takes time for a back to regain mental and physical confidence after a major knee operation — the facts prove it. So if you do decide to draft Peterson, don’t do it before Round 3 as more than a No. 2 back. And make sure you also grab Toby Gerhart as insurance.

Charles at about 80 percent: Another runner coming off an ACL procedure is Jamaal Charles, who estimates that he’s about “80 percent” healthy. The talented back also expects to be the explosive playmaker we in fantasy land have come to know. “If you’re worried about me not being the same, just look for this year, look out for me and you’ll see,” he said. Because he was injured so early in the season (Week 2), I have a bit more faith in Charles to be closer to what he was than Peterson. But coming off major knee construction, not to mention the presence of Peyton Hillis, makes Charles more of a high-end No. 2 fantasy back heading into next season.

No worries for DeMarco Murray: Speaking at a Cowboys Fan Fest event, Murray said that he is “back 100 percent” from the ankle injury that cut his rookie season short. He’s been working with team strength and conditioning coach Mike Woicik during the offseason as he prepares for training camp. Remember, Murray missed most of camp and the preseason last year because of hamstring injuries. When he was on the field, Murray was electric — especially in a game against the St. Louis Rams where he rushed for a franchise-record 253 yards. While injuries are a concern, it’s going to be tough to pass on the Oklahoma product if he’s still on the board in Round 3 of most fantasy re-drafts. Consider him a prime breakout candidate in 2012.

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I’m already on record as saying that I think Browns rookie running back Trent Richardson will finish in the top 10 in fantasy points at his position this season. Some believe he’s being over-hyped, however. That’s due in large part to the negative statistical trend of the first runner taken in recent NFL drafts. And I’ll admit, it’s a pretty ugly trend.

In 2011, Mark Ingram finished just 45th among running backs. C.J. Spiller was a non-factor in 2010, but Knowshown Moreno did finish in the top 20 in fantasy points at his position in 2009. The first runner drafted in 2008 was Darren McFadden, and we all know how that turned out (not good). Adrian Peterson had a nice rookie year in 2007, rushing for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns. Clearly, at least for the most part, A.D. has been the exception to the rule.

Here’s my rebuttal to this trend:

Ingram was mired in a backfield committee and missed time due to injuries. Spiller flat-out failed to pass Fred Jackson on the depth chart in Buffalo. Moreno had a respectable rookie campaign, but he lost work to Correll Buckhalter and LaMont Jordan. Last, McFadden dealt with injuries and the presence of both Justin Fargas and Michael Bush in his first pro season.

Tell me, if you can, who is going to take carries away from Richardson in Cleveland? Montario Hardesty? Brandon Jackson? Chris Ogbonnaya? I think not. And for those of you worried about Richardson playing in the formidable AFC North, well, there was a guy by the name of Peyton Hillis who absolutely shredded that entire division just two short years ago.

Also take into consideration that Richardson will be a true featured back. He’s not coming out of the game for a third-down replacement. He’ll be in the backfield on passing downs. Furthermore, he’s been called the best runner to come out of college since, you guessed it, Peterson in 2007.

Now I will admit, taking a rookie to be your top fantasy back is a risk. But in this case, and entering a season where the running back position is loaded with injuries and committees, I think Richardson is well-worth the gamble in the second round of seasonal leagues.

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Happy Monday everybody. What a weekend we just had. “The Avengers” set all sorts of records, and will even get this DC-loving comic enthusiast to see a Marvel movie. Albert Pujols hit his first home run of the season. The Los Angeles Kings swept the Blues (we’re waiting for St. Louis to honor its obligation in a civic bet to send over its football team). And we got our first glimpse of some of the newest NFL stars. There is so much going on, let’s take a look at some of the top fantasy storylines.

An end to Shanahanigans? Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan wasted little time as he installed Robert Griffin III as the team’s starting quarterback. “Obviously any time you pick a player with the second pick in the draft and you give up two No. 1s and a No. 2 to move up four spots, you’ve got a game plan in mind,” Shanahan said at the conclusion of this weekend’s rookie minicamp. “We’re going to put him with the first team, when we come back.

“He’s the starter, period.”

Yes, that kind of stuff is obvious to most NFL coaches, but not Shanahan. So please, forgive us if we were a little bit skeptical. That said, it still wouldn’t surprise me to see RG3 benched at some point. (Oh, and be sure to check out the Gridiron Breakdown Hulk vs. RG3.)

Addai to the New England Patriots: New England is expected to sign veteran RB Joey Addai, as the Patriots continue to hold veterans in high esteem. At first blush, this would seem to nuke the sleeper appeal of Stevan Ridley, but I’m not going to give up so quickly. Addai will likely only see the field as a third-down specialist, so expect Ridley to be in the mix in the early downs and be the Patriots running back to target in the coming weeks.

Seattle Seahawks slow to select starting QB: If you followed Pete Carroll at USC (as I did), then you know he likes to stress competition at every position. So it should come as little surprise he’s going to let the debate wage between QBs Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson, who took the first snap in minicamp this week. But I don’t expect there to be much to stand in the way for Flynn to be the starting quarterback this week. Flynn is even a pretty decent sleeper when you look at the success the Packers have had turning out backups into starting QBs — Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner to select just a few.

For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 40,000 followers, and Fabiano has 50,000. Me? Just 13. See, the odds are better that I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook. Also be sure to catch the latest “Dave Dameshek Football Program.”

McFadden to be a “workhorse?”: New Raiders coach Dennis Allen told the San Jose Mercury News that he thinks Darren McFadden can be a workhorse running back in 2012. “Can he run the ball 25, 30 times? Absolutely,” said Allen. … “Does he have the ability to be the lead back? Absolutely and he will be.” That’s great news for McFadden’s fantasy appeal, as is the fact that the team hasn’t added a runner this offseason to replace Michael Bush. But when you consider how brittle McFadden has been — he’s never played a full NFL season — it’s tough to take him before the second round in fantasy drafts. What’s more, owners who draft him must also target Taiwan Jones as a handcuff to feel comfortable with the choice.

Lions to sign Ryan Grant?: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the Lions are “very interested” in signing Grant. With Jahvid Best, Mikel Leshoure and Kevin Smith on the roster, adding Grant seems a bit odd — unless, of course, the Lions are expecting Leshoure to be suspended for his off-field issues. Regardless, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that fantasy owners will be hard-pressed to trust any running back in a Lions uniform in 2012. In Green Bay, the projected loss of Grant makes James Starks the favorite to start. Of course, his value is limited to flex-starter status in an offense that didn’t run the ball much last season.

Jets sign Stephen Hill: The No. 43 overall pick in the draft, Hill has signed a four-year deal with the Men in Green. The Georgia Tech product is considered a raw albeit talented prospect, and he’s already expected to start opposite veteran Santonio Holmes. That gives him some seasonal fantasy value, though his prospects in what will be a run-based offense will be limited. In fact, Hill shouldn’t have his name called until the late rounds as a fantasy reserve at best.

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Happy Thursday everybody. What a strange Wednesday it was with two guys I enjoyed covering were in the news for entirely different reasons. I had the chance to talk to Junior Seau many times over his career and he was always a delightful person. I’m sadden by his passing and I will miss him. And I also had the chance to cover some of Jered Weaver‘s games at Long Beach State. I once saw him duel Ian Kennedy at Blair Field on Friday night, with Weaver opening the game with nine (maybe it was 10) consecutive strikeouts. And nobody from USC even touched the ball after the leadoff hitter foul-tipped the first pitch.

So yeah, it was a strange day, but let’s get on to the fantasy news.

Sign, sealed and delivered: New Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery signed his rookie deal already, which is great news for the team. Our Ian Rapoport writes August signings for rookies might be a thing of the past. Which is excellent. The Bears still need to make progress with running back Matt Forte, though. But the team does have some added insurance with Michael Bush. Even with all of those things considered, this has been a really good offseason for Jay Cutler. To find out more about that, be sure to check out the latest version of Like/dislike. BTW, we will have new fantasy rankings on Friday which will include all of the rookies, so be sure to check it out.

Carries on the decline: If you want a sneak peak of the rankings, I will tell you Frank Gore is tumbling fast. A recent report out of the Bay Area suggests Gore will see his carries decrease, which really isn’t hard to imagine given the considerable talent added to the team’s roster this offseason. I expect the 49ers to mix in players to keep Gore fresh for the playoffs. Gore carried the ball more than 20 times in five games last season, but it’s hard to imagine him doing that even once this year.

There is some bite in  this dog: Giants general manager Jerry Reese is on the defensive after picking running back David Wilson, which I don’t get. As I clearly stated in Like/dislike (I know, I’m getting pushy), this is a good thing for the Giants. Reese said Ahmad Bradshaw is still going to be the “lead dog” in a recent radio appearance (via Sports Radio Interviews). But you can’t expect Bradshaw to carry the ball 300 times. He’s just not durable enough. If the Giants didn’t have anybody capable behind Bradshaw, there was a chance he could have gotten injured or faded down the stretch. Now he’s going to have a better chance to stay healthy and continue to put up solid numbers. I don’t see is role changing much, considering he split time with Brandon Jacobs last year. He is going to be good.

For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 40,000 followers, and Fabiano has 50,000. Me? Just 13. See, the odds are better that I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook. Also be sure to catch the latest “Dave Dameshek Football Program.”

Happy Wednesday, everybody. The NFL has handed down the fines for Jonathan Vilma and others today (you can check that out here), and today we’re just going to focus on the fantasy implications for those caught in the wake.

Drew Brees: Alright, let’s start with the one guy we are really concerned about fantasy-wise. The last time the Saints missed the playoffs, Brees thew for 5,069 yards and 34 touchdowns. So wins and losses don’t really matter to the fantasy performance of Brees. What should concern you is he has not signed a deal yet and it needs to happen quickly.

There hasn’t been a lot of good news for the Saints lately and they should give the best player in franchise history anything he wants at this point. The Saints did so well in the lockout season because Brees held them together. It’s even more important for him to hold the team together now. If Brees misses time in offseason workouts and even training camp, we could see a decrease in his production. The Saints should agree to terms with Brees today.

Saints defense: The Saints weren’t a great play to begin with, as the defense ranked 23rd in our initial rankings. The team has already made plans for the suspension by signing a host of linebackers in the offseason. The suspension hurts, but the Saints defense really wasn’t that great to begin with.

Jonathan Vilma: For those of you in IDP leagues, Vilma obviously has no value going forward. If you’re looking for the guy to pick up, go with Curtis Lofton who will take over at middle linebacker.

For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 40,000 followers, and Fabiano has 50,000. Me? Just 13. See, the odds are better that I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook. Also be sure to catch the latest “Dave Dameshek Football Program.”

NFL.com fantasy editor Michael Fabiano and Jason Smith break down the 2012 NFL Draft (heard on SiriusXM fantasy sports radio) and what it means for fantasy football next season. Which rookies will perform? Which rookies will be a bust? And why doesn’t Fabiano know who Justin Bieber or DMX are? All these questions and more will be answered.

Hour 1

Hour 2

Subscribe to NFL Fantasy Live on iTunes.

Gates “excited” for next season: Once considered the top tight end in fantasy football, Antonio Gates has seen his stock fall due to constant foot problems. However, the veteran told the U-T San Diego that he’s close to 100 percent and will “definitely” return to his previous All-Pro form. Gates has been a full participant in the Chargers’ voluntary workout program, and wants “to prove [he is] still one of the elite guys at this position.” While there is clearly some risk in drafting him this season, Gates will be pretty tough to pass in the fifth or sixth round on once the duo of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham is off the board.

Lewis the handcuff for McCoy: The Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News reports the Eagles are unlikely to add a veteran running back to their roster this offseason, making Dion Lewis the likely fantasy handcuff for star back LeSean McCoy in 2012. Seventh-round pick Bryce Brown and undrafted free agent Chris Polk will battle for the third spot on the depth chart. As Adam Rank mentioned on Monday, McCoy remains a top-four pick in re-drafts despite coach Andy Reid’s statement that he “overplayed” his running back during the 2011 campaign.

Graham to compete for No. 2 role: Rookie T.J. Graham might be just 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, but Bills coach Chan Gailey believes he can still be an outside receiver. “He can run by most everybody, I mean the guy can fly,” Gailey told the team’s official website. “I don’t know that we’ll (have him return kicks) off the bat. We’ll let him work at receiver and let him be proficient there.” Graham, who is likely to compete with Donald Jones for a starting role during training camp, could have some late-round flier value in deeper leagues if he wins the starting role.

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Happy Monday to all of you. I believe John Cena taught kids a valuable less last night at Extreme Rules: If people don’t like you, be willing to be bloodied by a UFC fighter and you’ll win them over.

(Sorry if you already saw me tweet that out.)

Reid overplayed McCoy: Eagles coach Andy Reid told reporters that he “overplayed” RB LeSean McCoy in 2011 and wants to limit his touches this season. Which, of course, should touch off a panic with fantasy enthusiasts everywhere. But don’t be too concerned about it. It’s not like Reid is going to turn into Mike Shanahan and go completely bat-crap crazy. McCoy will likely lose a touch or three every week, but he will still be on the field enough to be a top-three running back in 2012. I already had him pegged behind Arian Foster and Ray Rice, and fourth overall when you include Aaron Rodgers into the mix.

Stevie going in for surgery: Bills WR Stevie Johnson will have minor groin surgery, though I’m not sure such a thing as minor groin surgery exists. And this is noteworthy for a couple of reasons, as first, this will likely keep him out of offseason workouts. Which isn’t great. But most importantly, it gives me a chance to dig out this old clip from “Cheers.”

Feeling a draft: Well, the 2012 NFL Draft is over and our Michael Fabiano has his initial look at this year’s top rookies. As no surprise, Trent Richardson is the top guy. But from there, things get interesting. Michael has Robert Griffin III as the No. 2 guy. I would agree with him, but you know my feeling on Redskins players. And if you don’t, let me sum them up quickly in this video. If you ask me for the guy to watch from this year’s draft, it’s Colts TE Coby Fleener.

For the record, you can submit your fantasy questions to NFL Fantasy Live, Michael Fabiano or me on Twitter. But realize, NFL Fantasy Live has 40,000 followers, and Fabiano has 50,000. Me? Just 13. See, the odds are better that I will answer your question, so hit me up both via Twitter or via Facebook. Also be sure to catch the latest “Dave Dameshek Football Program.”

Colts will take Andrew Luck: Talk about the worst-kept secret in the NFL. The Colts announced earlier this week that Luck will be their choice with the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, but where will he land from a fantasy perspective? Well, he’s a surefire top-three selection in all dynasty leagues. If we’re talking seasonal formats, though, I don’t see the Stanford product coming off the board until the late rounds as a No. 2 fantasy quarterback and occasional matchup-based starter. Keep in mind that aside from Cam Newton, there hasn’t been a rookie signal-caller to emerge into a surefire fantasy starter, well, ever. And that includes guys like Dan Marino, Brett Favre and John Elway. Even Andy Dalton, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2011, finished just 15th in fantasy points at his position. Sure, Luck is the best prospect to come out of college in a long, long time, but even he’ll endure some NFL growing pains.

Garrard, Moore split reps: The Miami Herald reports that David Garrard and Matt Moore were “almost dead even” in taking reps at the Dolphins’ voluntary veteran minicamp on Tuesday. The two will likely continue to battle for the top spot on the depth chart into training camp, but neither is going to make a huge fantasy impact. In fact, the potential addition of Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the NFL draft could lead to an even more crowded situation. With few offensive weapons on the roster, it’s going to be tough to draft any Miami player (aside from Reggie Bush) in a highly prominent role heading into the 2012 campaign.

Vikings add Jerome Simpson: Best known for his full-body flip into the end zone last season, Simpson has traded in his Bengal stripes for the purple and yellow in Minnesota. The question is, can he make an impact in fantasy land with his new team? While I do think Simpson could turn into a viable No. 4 or 5 fantasy wideout, keep in mind that he’s also going to miss the first three games due to a league-imposed suspension. So unless you’re in a deeper league or have large rosters, he’s not even worth drafting. Once he returns, however, the veteran out of Coastal Carolina will be worth a look off the waiver wire as a potential fantasy reserve.

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Steven Jackson on the block? During an appearance on the B.S. Report with Bill Simmons, NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi said Steven Jackson wants a new contract with the St. Louis Rams. Whether or not the team is prepared to work with him — Jackson will be 29 in July — remains to be seen. In fact, there appears to be at least a slight chance that the Rams could draft Alabama’s Trent Richardson and look to deal Jackson this weekend. If the team did draft Richardson and couldn’t trade Jackson, it would be a disaster in fantasy land — think Jackson as a rookie in 2004 while Marshall Faulk was still in the backfield mix. Personally, I’d like to see Richardson land with the Cleveland Browns — but don’t be surprised if he’s off the board.

Concerns about Michael Floyd: The Notre Dame product is considered one of the two best wideouts in the 2012 draft class, but Lombardi left Floyd out of his recent top-20 mock draft because NFL teams have expressed some worries about his character. However, Lombardi does suggest that the Arizona Cardinals could take him if he’s still on the board at No. 13. That would be quite a coincidence, since Floyd is most notably compared to Larry Fitzgerald. Other teams that could have interest in Floyd include the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 7), Buffalo Bills (No. 10), Jets (No. 16), the Cincinnati Bengals (No. 17 and 21) and the Chicago Bears (No. 19). Floyd’s fantasy appeal in 2012 depends greatly on where he lands and the quarterback that will be throwing him the football, but for now I see him being worth a late-round look in seasonal formats.

Tim Tebow on special teams? Love him or hate him, Tebow is going to make a fantasy impact next season. Unfortunately, the impact will be felt in the devaluation of some of the players around him (Mark Sanchez, Shonn Greene) rather than Tebow scoring fantasy points himself — at least so long as he’s not the Jets’ No. 1 quarterback at some point. Regardless, there’s a new report that the Jets plan to use Tebow on special teams as a punt protector in addition to being used in the “Wildcat” formation and as a runner in short-yardage and goal-line sets. So maybe he will see somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 snaps per game. The problem is that not all of them will put him in a place to find fantasy success. In fact, I don’t even see Tebow as a draftable option in most standard formats while Sanchez is ahead of him on the depth chart.

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