INSIDE THE NUMBERS
There was a lot of talk about the season Alex Smith had, and how his career was revitalized. Heck, there was even chatter about Smith being a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback. But, in the NFC where the names Brees, Manning and Rodgers dominate, Smith does not belong beside those names. A closer look at his numbers reveals a QB who is nothing more than a backup fantasy QB. Yes, he threw for more than 3,100 yards last year (by far a career high), but a lot of those yards were meaningless from a fantasy perspective. In standard scoring systems, Smith only put up 20+ points one week last season and only threw for three TDs once all season. Compile that with very average or downright awful weeks nine times, and you have a QB who cannot carry your fantasy squad to a championship.

SCHEDULE
The 49ers have the 24th easiest schedule, according to Vegas. In fact, there’s few lockdown opponents lurking on the Niners schedule. Down the stretch, during the fantasy playoff weeksthey play the Rams, Dolphins, Patriots and Seahawks. That could be fantasy gold right when you need it. And it will certainly make the 49ers defense a top fantasy choice again this year.

STUD
Vernon Davis was an inconsistent fantasy tight end last year. He showed flashes of greatness like his two-touchdown performance in week five, and then just broke his fantasy owners’ hearts at other times like his one catch for 32 yard performance in Week 14. But, then in the NFL playoffs, Davis went off, and finished strong. He had back-to-back two-touchdown games in the postseason, which is reason to put Davis in the top 10 of fantasy tight ends. GSI rankings have him at #5 overall, which is about where he belongs. More playoff-like performances await Davis, than Week 14 performances.

DUD
A four-running back rotation in San Francisco will greatly diminish the value of Frank Gore. The Niners signed Brandon Jacobs in the offseason, drafted LaMichael James in the second round to add to Gore and Kendall Hunter. That might be great for the Niners as a whole, but spells fantasy doom for those expecting big things from Frank Gore. Once a stalwart of the first round, Gore cannot be counted on as anything more than a RB2 at this point. Jacobs will steal his TDs, James will knock down his pass-catching attempts and Hunter is always lurking too. There’s just too many players involved which spells diminished touches to his 282 carries last year. Expect that number to be way down this year, and thus, steer clear of Gore.

SLEEPER
The Niners receiving corps is as crowded as their backfield, so trying to find who will be the standout performer is a challenge. Mario Manningham seems like a logical choice. With attention being on Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and the newly signed Randy Moss, Manningham will have friendly assignments and is savvy enough to put up decent numbers. Manningham could be a solid WR3 and a nice little late-round find for your fantasy squad. Expect similar numbers to last year, where he was in a very similar situation with the Giants. Pencil Manningham down for about 40-50 catches and around five touchdowns, which will bebetter than Randy Moss gets.

NEW ADDITIONS
The Niners were busy in the offseason, rading the Giants of some of their talent and adding a future Hall of Famer in Randy Moss. As mentioned, Brandon Jacobs joins the team to serve a role similar to what he did last year for the Giants. At age 35, Moss is more of a name than a talent. He was always one dimensional, known mostly as a deep threat. Now older,Moss has a limited skill set, and the Niners coaching staff knows it. Look for a limited set of plays and packages for Moss, which means limited opportunities for him. Jacobs is a big, hulking back, who never seemed to know how big he was. In New York, Jacobs tried to run small, and was accused of being soft. If he can learn to be a pounder (and hold onto the ball), the Niners can exploit him as a short-yardage back.

POSITION BATTLE
Where isn’t there a position battle in the Bay area? The backfield is loaded with talent, and the receiving corps is full of veterans wanting the ball. The presence of Manningham and Moss will have a positive impact on Michael Crabtree. He led the team with 72 receptions last year. Some believe that Manningham and Moss will make that number go down, but it may actually drive Crabtree to raise his performance, and he may also learn from the two vets. It may also mean more single coverage for Crabtree which will greatly benefit his fantasy value.

BENCH BUILDER
LaMichael James has to earn his touches and playing time. It’s a crowded backfield situation. Niners running backs coach Tom Rathman, who knows a thing or two about performing in the NFL, believes the backfield by committee will sort itself in the preseason. So watch these games close to see how James performs. The rookie running back is dynamic. Playing time will be tough to come by, but with his specific skill set, James has tremendous upside. In dynasty/keeper leagues, James is worth a look as someone to stash on your bench. And, if/when Gore or Jacobs goes down hurt, be ready to pounce on the waiver wire for James.

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Here’s a list of players I just can’t see myself drafting in 2012 and why:

Peyton Manning (DEN) – Manning certainly has some potential and may be a surprise here on the list. He’s trying to come back from injury, but the greater concerns to me are his transition to a new team and his tough slate (including cold weather games). He’s definitely a QB1 I just think with all the hype surrounding him he’ll go earlier in drafts than I will be willing to invest.

Frank Gore (SF) – His role is going to decline this year, but the question is how much? With so many backs on the depth chart with some ability the touches are simply not going to be there. Throw in his subpar numbers a year ago (no 100-yard games over last 8 and 8 total TD’s on season) and I hope to do better for my RB2.

Jahvid Best (DET) – There’s no questioning his ability to make plays, but the concussion problems are the icing on the cake for his growing list of durability concerns. He has a current ADP of 80.42 as the 29th overall RB off the board. I favor some other names that surround him on the list such as Mark Ingram, Ben Tate, Willis McGahee and Peyton Hillis.

James Starks (GB) – Starks teased owners last year with the fast start and the promise of being the No. 1 RB in the Packers’ high-octane attack. Yet even with Ryan Grant no longer in the picture, there’s little to be excited about with Starks. You’re better off waiting around and taking a late stab at Alex Green, who could supplant Starks if his struggles continue.

Randy Moss (SF) – After not playing last season, Moss’ return to the league has been highly touted.  I am having a tough time envisioning him suddenly being fantasy relevant, something he hasn’t been since 2009. Alex Smith is not going to light up the world and consistency is going to be too tough to come by for the veteran.

Chad Johnson (MIA) – I am pretty sure I’ve got his name right. Ochocinco died in New England, where he struggled to learn the playbook. Winning a starting job in Miami might be in reach, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into fantasy success. At 34, Johnson no longer has the physical advantage he possessed a few years ago.

Kenny Britt (TEN) – Injuries, suspensions, and stupidity. Those are not great combinations for a player on your fantasy roster. Britt has all the talent in the world, but there are simply too many hurdles that will need to be cleared for him to be anything more than a roster stash in redraft leagues.

Jacksonville Jaguars – With Maurice Jones-Drew’s holdout going nowhere, even he’s not appealing to me. Throw in a ridiculous workload the past two seasons and a decline should be expected. The rest of the team is terrible and though there are talented players there, I just don’t want have to count on this offense period.

Kicker & Defense/ST – OK I guess my league rules require me to draft a kicker and a Team Defense/ST. However, I will not even think about either until the LAST TWO ROUNDS.  Do not waste a pick any earlier.

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QUARTERBACKS
Michael Vick (PHI) – Suffered a broken right hand; his status for Week 4 unclear
Kerry Collins (IND) – Forced from game with concussion; Days as starter could be over

RUNNING BACKS
Frank Gore (SF) – Limited by sprained ankle; severity of injury unclear
Darren McFadden (OAK) – Aggravated his hamstring, but didn’t appear to be major issue

WIDE RECEIVERS
Kenny Britt (SF) – Carted off with knee injury; could be an ACL – MRI on Monday
Jerry Maclin (PHI) – left loss to Giants with hamstring issue and did not return to game

TIGHT ENDS
Antonio Gates (SD) – Problems have resurfaced with plantar fascia that sidelined him last year

MORE PLAYER NEWS (KFFL.com)

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QB Game Ball - Kyle Orton, Denver - 22/34, 296 yards, 4 TD
At first glance, Orton's numbers on Sunday may only have been the third-best amongst QB's in the game against the Chiefs on Sunday. His opponent, Matt Cassel, also threw four scores and had 173 more passing yards - but most of that was against a soft-defense with a big lead. Orton's back-up and perhaps the future of the Broncos, Tim Tebow, also had a nice game with a TD pass and rushing TD. But it was Orton who started the charge for Denver and he's been putting up nice numbers all season long.

QB Honorable Mention - David Garrard, Jacksonville - 24/31, 342 yards, 2 TD, 7 carries, 35 yards (back-to-back solid performances.)

RB Game Ball - Fred Jackson, Buffalo - 25 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD, 6 catches, 37 yards, 1 TD
The Bills finally got a victory in 2010 thanks to the legs of Jackson. Sure, it was against the Lions but the Bills running back still deserves his due. Buffalo started the season with some big question marks at the position and now it looks as if Jackson will be the man the rest of the way. C.J. Spiller suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday and with the Bengals next on the schedule expect Jackson to perform well.

RB Honorable Mention - Frank Gore, San Francisco - 22 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD, 3 catches 67 yards (still putting up studly numbers on a struggling team.)

WR Game Ball - Mike Williams, Seattle - 11 catches, 145 yards
After a couple of bad seasons with the Lions and Titans, Williams has found a home in Seattle. He hooked up with Matt Hasselbeck often on Sunday to defeat the Cardinals. While he doesn't find the end-zone very often (just 1 TD this season) he has a good chance of finishing the season with 90+ receptions and 1,000+ yards. Not bad for a guy that's been bouncing around the league the last few years.

WR Honorable Mention - Dwayne Bowe - 13 catches, 186 yards, 2 TD (sure it all came late, but it still counts.)

TE Game Ball - Rob Gronkowski, New England - 5 catches, 72 yards, 3 TD
If you think the Patriots care about losing Randy Moss, well, they don't. The one thing about the Pats over the last ten years is that they play a system that works best for them regardless of who is on the field. And they ran that system quite well against the Steelers on Sunday night. Not only did the yound tight-end have a huge night, Wes Welker pulled in his typical 8 catches for 89 yards. Even veteran Deion Branch stepped it up with y grabs for 71 yards.

TE Honorable Mention - Anthony Fasano, Miami - 5 catches, 107 yards, 1 TD (was targeted by three different QBs.)

GAME-USED SOCK AWARD
Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota - 18/31, 170 yards, 1 TD, 3 Int
Really, that's the best you can do in Chicago? Sure, the Bears have a pretty good defense and they have certainly seen plenty of you over the last 18 years. But 170 yards passing? Fine, maybe your injuries are worse than your letting on. Then take a day off! And the running game never really got going and that's not really your fault is it? Or or you really ignoring the plays being called and making the decisions on your own? Hmmm. Chalk it up to another bad day in Chicago. Fine. But maybe it's time you hang it up. If not, you may have to enter the Hall of Fame wearing that pair of socks you wore against the Bears on Sunday.

Stinky Sock Honorable Mention - Peyton Manning, Indianapolis - 20/36, 185 yards, 0 TD ( guess you don't need to do much to beat the Bengals.)

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QB Game Ball - Michael Vick, Eagles - 17/31, 291 yards, 3 TD, 4 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD
If you haven't been following the Eagles this season, then it is important to note that Kerry Kolb is the future quarterback for the organization. But that isn't stopping Michael Vick from winning football games in the present. And Vick isn't just winning the games - he's leading the team to victories. Yes, he's still doing it with his legs as he ran for a score against the Jags on Sunday. But he is also staying in the pocket when he needs to and finding the open receivers. DeSean Jackson had another huge day with 153 yards and a TD. But for now the Eagles are all about Vick and until someone stops him, Kolb will remain in the future.

QB Honorable Mention - Matt Cassell, Chiefs - 16/27, 250 yards, 3 TD, 1 Int (solid running game and nice D make a QB look good.)

RB Game Ball - Adrian Peterson, Vikings - 23 carries, 160 yards, 2 TD, 5 catches, 30 yards
If I were a 40-year old NFL QB I sure hope I would have a good running game. Oh wait Brett Favre - you have one! The Vikings road the legs of AP against the Lions on Sunday. Half of the studs' yards came on one big TD run but hey, it all counts. And most importantly for the Vikes, they are finally in the win column. Just keep giving the ball to your stud and maybe you can pick up another.

RB Honorable Mention - Peyton Hillis, Browns - 22 carries, 144 yards, 1 TD, 7 catches, 36 yards (lone bright spot in three weeks for Cleveland.)

WR Game Ball - Austin Collie, Colts - 12 catches, 171 yards, 2 TD
Reggie Wayne is a stud WR. Dallas Clark is a stud TE. But right now Austin Collie is the stud for the Colts and Peyton Manning. Collie has scored in each game this season and now has 27 catches for 359 yards. Not too bad for a #2/#3 guy.

WR Honorable Mention - Lance Moore, Saints - 6 catches, 149 yards, 2 TD (just one more weapon for Drew Brees.)

Special T Game Ball - Leon Washington, Seahawks - 4 kickoff returns, 253 yards, 2 TD
Good teams win by executing in all aspects of the game. Not sure if Seattle is a good team yet, but Washington helps them big time in the return game.

The Game Used Sock Award

Frank Gore, RB, 49ers - 15 carries, 43 yards, 9 catches, 102 yards
Okay, before anyone in the bay area starts crying, yes with those receiving numbers that's a pretty solid day for any RB. But think about it. Gore managed just 43 yards on the ground versus the Chiefs. Two weeks ago he had just 38 rushing yards against the Seahawks. And the Niners are 0 and 3. Yes, Alex Smith is not playing well at the quarterback position and the defense isn't stopping anybody. But Gore is supposed to be a stud running back. Give him the ball and let him carry the team to victory. He can do it even having to wear last week's stanky, sweat-stained socks. Really. He can.

Stinky Sock Honorable Mention - Sebastian Janikowski, K, Raiders - two missed field goals including a 32-yard attempt to win the game.

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QB Game Ball - Tom Brady, New England - 25/35, 258 yards, 3 TD, 0 Int
It seems like there has not been much talk about the Patriots this pre-season. But after the hurt they put on the Bengals on Sunday, people may just start chatting again about the best team of the last decade. Brady certainly has not missed a beat as he tore apart what was an excellent Cincinnati defense a year ago. He hooked up with seven different receivers with Wes Welker emerging as the star.

QB Honorable Mention - Peyton Manning, Indianapolis - 40/57, 433 yards, 3 TD (great numbers except for the '1' in the loss column.)

RB Game Ball - Arian Foster, Houston - 33 carries, 233 yards, 3 TD
The Texans have had a revolving door at the running back position since their inception. This pre-season has not been an exception with Foster battling Steve Slaton for carries. But the second year back may have just secured his job for a while. This was a big win for Houston and a lot of it came on the shoulders, and legs, of Foster.

RB Honorable Mention - Matt Forte, Chicago - 17 carries, 50 yards, 7 catches, 151 yards, 2 TD (anyone remember what Marshall Faulk did when Mike Martz was his offensive coordinator?)

WR Game Ball - Mark Clayton, St. Louis - 10 catches, 119 yards
A week ago Clayton was traded from a contending team, the Ravens, to a team that won four games last year and is starting a rookie QB. So what does he do in his first game? He has a career day. The Rams may not actually win many more than the four games they won last year, but they are going to get better as the season progresses. And Clayton may just be the guy for the young Sam Bradford. He's sure to be on the 'most-added' list this week.

WR Honorable Mention - Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati - 12 catches, 159 yards, 1 TD (may need T.O. to put up similar numbers in same game for the Bengals to win.)

The Game Used Sock Award - Alex Smith, San Francisco - 26/45, 225 yards, 0 TD, 2 Int
The 49ers enter the season as one of the hot picks in the NFL. The NFC West seems to be weak and San Fran looks to be on the rise. Apparently no one told all of that to the Seahawks. Smith looked bad in Seattle on Sunday. Sure the running game never got going as Frank Gore had just 38 yards on 17 carries. But Smith runs the offense and this offense only mustered two field goals against a team that is supposedly rebuilding. Sure, it's only week one and Niners, and Smith, will rebound. But now he has to do it wearing nasty, sweaty game-worn socks.

Stinky Sock Honorable Mention - Michael Turner - 19 carries, 42 yards (sure, it was against the Steelers but still....)

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QB Game Ball - Jay Cutler, Chicago - 27/38, 236 yards, 2 TD

There were plenty of QBs who finished with better numbers than Cutler on Sunday, but none may have needed a good game more than Cutler. The Bears new QB bombed last week against the Packers and faced a tough opponent on Sunday in the Steelers. But he overcame his mistakes and led his team to a big win over the Superbowl champs.

QB Honorable Mention - Phillip Rivers, San Diego - 25/45, 436 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT (impressive stats especially against a team like the Ravens.)

RB Game Ball - Cedric Benson, Cincinnati - 29 carries, 141 yards

Everyone knows the Bengals can throw the football but now with Benson as the primary back, they can run it too. He had a nice game in week one against the Broncos and followed that up with a huge performance in Green Bay. If he can keep it up the Bengals may start turning some heads around the NFL.

RB Honorable Mentions - Frank Gore, San Francisco & Chris Johnson, Tennessee (530 total combined yards and 5 TDs between the two studs.)

WR Game Ball - Andre Johnson, Houston - 10 catches, 149 yards, 2 TD

After grabbing just four passes last week, Johnson proved his worth against the Titans on Sunday. It's those type of numbers owners can expect from one of the top receivers in the league. And a healthy Kevin Walker will make him, and the Texans offense, even better.

WR Honorable Mention - Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville - 6 catches, 106 yards, 1 TD (this weeks top waiver-wire pick-up!)

TE Game Ball - Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta - 7 catches, 71 yards, 1 TD

Last week I gave Tony G an honorable mention. This week the award is all his. Many thought, inlcuding myself, that Gonzalez would just be a nice addition to the Falcons offense. It turns out he is becoming the main focus.

TE Honorable Mention - Chris Cooley Washington - 7 catches, 83 yards (just glad I didn't have to watch that 9-7 game.)

The Game Used Sock Award - Brady Quinn, Cleveland - 18/31, 0 TD, 1 Int

I always feel better when the Browns lose. and it is even nicer when they really stink it up. With Quinn at the helm that may be happening a lot this season. I'll admit I have him stashed away, deep on one of my fantasy teams that has unlimited roster spots. But I don't think I'll be starting him any time soon. For that matter, he may not be starting soon! Hey, look on the bright side - he finished with four rushing yards. And a couple of dirty socks.

Dirty Sock Honorable Mention - Tom Brady, New England - 23/47, 216 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int (no Wes Welker - whatever.)

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It's that time of the year again. The 6th Annual GetSportsInfo.com Mock Draft kicked off on Monday and the opening round provided some interesting insights...

ROUND ONE
1. HUMBERT - RB A Peterson (MIN)
2. FISCHER - RB M. Turner (ATL)
3. CLASGENS - RB M. Jones-Drew (JCK)
4. ANSELMO - QB D. Brees (NO)
5. MURDICO - RB M. Forte (CHI)
6. SIMS - RB L. Tomlinson (SD)
7. SCHMITT - RB F. Gore (SF)
8. WETZEL - RB D. Williams (CAR)
9. BRYANT - RB S. Jackson (STL)
10. DINSMORE - RB B. Westbrook (PHI)
11. SIMON - RB C. Johnson (TEN)
12. BROERING - RB M. Barber (DAL)

POSITION BREAKDOWNS: RB (11), QB (1)

MY PICK: This is not necessarily the year to pick third. With the difference between the No. 3 running back on my Cheat Sheet and the No. 10 running back in the rankings being so slim, I would have preferred to pick at the bottom of Round One in order to get an early pick in Round Two as the draft order snakes. Picking third I had to with a running back.  Maurice Jones-Drew is the flavor of the off-season for fantasy gurus everywhere. Why wouldn't he be? Fred Taylor has long stood in his way of being an elite fantasy runner. However, Taylor has fled to New England via free agency, leaving MJD is the man in J-Ville! In a limited role he's produced at least 1100 yards per season and at least nine touchdowns per year. With Taylor gone, he will get his chance at being the featured back. It's hard to imagine the 5-foot-7 running back getting more than 20 touches per game very often, but he will make the most of his chances.

BEST VALUE PICK: LaDainian Tomlinson battled a nagging turf toe injury last season and disappointed many owners that spent a top pick on him. With his age, career workload, and Darren Sproles all factors in projecting his stats there's no doubt that the days of 2,000 total yards are over. But LT appears healthy and will definitely be given the ball early and often in San Diego. I expect him to approach 1500 total yards and 15 touchdowns if he stays healthy. That makes him a steal at No. 7. Too many websites have him ranked way too low.

MOST LIKELY TO DISAPPOINT: It's hard to pick a player from this group as being a bust-candidate. In fact, none of them fall under that category in my mind. If I had to pick one that may disappoint though I'll go with Michael Turner. Let me be clear, I love the Falcons' offense and expect a very productive year from Turner. Yet, the team has already said they plan on reducing his workload to ensure that he stays fresh. Plus, the addition of Tony Gonzalez and another year of maturity for the Falcons' passing game leads me to believe fewer touchdown chances for Turner. Throw in a tougher slate of games this year and it's hard to imagine Turner eclipsing 2008's numbers.

FINAL TAKE: Overall, it was solid drafting for the opening round. Drew Brees was a bit of a surprise with the fourth overall selection, but at least you know you will get consistency and that is what wins. Getting a Tier 1 quarterback is HUGE this season and Anselmo may not have gotten one in the second round. I was a bit surprised to see Larry Fitzgerald go undrafted, but expect a big run on wideouts in Round Two.

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The 2008 fantasy season in the books and there are plenty of questions that need to be answered, but nonetheless here's the 1st edition of the 2009 GSI Fantasy Football Top 50 rankings:

TOP TEN PICKS
1. ADRIAN PETERSON (MIN) - The winner by default. A-Pete won the rushing title and 16 TD's is hard to beat. He may not be the best overall RB in the NFL, but he remains fantasy football's best. The fact he still has room for improvement is scary.

2. STEVEN JACKSON (STL) - When he played, Jackson was one of the best scorers in fantasy football. In fact he finished the year in the top 3 of fantasy points per game. The problem is he only played in 12 games and was less than 100% in half of those. New Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo says his offensive philosophy is to "to be able to run the football and protect the quarterback." That should spell success for the Rams' franchise back.

3. MATT FORTE (CHI) - Having a top five pick is not what it used to be, but you can't go wrong taking the Bears' newest weapon there. He has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and can break big plays. The Bears' offense will continue to focus on giving him opportunities.

4. MAURICE JONES-DREW (JCK) - Fred Taylor's days in Jacksonville appear to be over, leaving the bulk of the duty to MJD. He shined down the stretch with Taylor sidelined and now could have the chance to do so for the length of a season. He not only is rock solid at the goalline, but Jones-Drew also is one of the best receiving backs in the league.

5. CHRIS JOHNSON (TEN) - The rookie was sensational, picking up right where he left off in college at making explosive plays. If it weren't for the touchdown machine Lendale White stealing his chances at the stripe, Johnson would rival A-Pete for the #1 pick.

6. MICHAEL TURNER (ATL) - The best free-agent pickup during last year's off-season won't make it past Round 1 in 2009. He finished second in the league in rushing and put up four mutliple-TD games. Throw in a score in 7 of his last 8 games in '08 and his value is high. I am a bit worried about his 370 carries this year though as he could wear down.

7. LARRY FITZGERALD (ARZ) - Fitz has moved to the top of my list at receiver with his dominating playoff performance. He is as solid as they come and a safe bet to be near the top of the league again next year. Through three playoff games Fitzgerald is up to 419 receiving yards, 23 catches, and five touchdowns. That's following six scores in his last five regular season games. Pretty impressive. Getting quarterback Kurt Warner back could prove key though to him going this high.

8. FRANK GORE (SF) - I am still holding out for Gore to follow up on the 2006 campaign. To do so he's going to need to avoid all the bumps and bruises though. With Mike Singletary back and Mike Martz gone in San Fran, expect Gore to become the center of attention in the 49ers' attack (even more so than before).

9. DEANGELO WILLIAMS (CAR) - Even with Jonathan Stewart lurking, Williams was able to put up some amazing numbers this season in the high-powered Panthers' running attack.  He made 20 trips to the end zone and rushed for 1,518 yards. A repeat performance may be tough, but he's certainly worth top 10 recognition.

10. ANDRE JOHNSON (HOU) - Johnson makes my top 10 and is really 1A on my Cheat Sheet at receiver heading into next season.  It's pretty impressive to think about only six running backs had more yards than Johnson did through the air. That's enough for me to take him in late in the first round.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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I plan on working on my own 2009 Cheat Sheet and Top 50 Overall list this weekend, but I wanted to share the one from Rotoworld.com's Gregg Rosenthaul.  Of all the big media fantasy gurus, he's the one I most frequently agree with. However, I will promise you one thing, my list will be drastically different than his initial top 10:

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Maurice Jones-Drew
3. Matt Forte
4. Marion Barber
5. Steven Jackson
6. Chris Johnson
7. Brian Westbrook
8. Frank Gore
9. Andre Johnson
10. Calvin Johnson
11. Larry Fitzgerald
12. Brandon Jacobs

Just Missed, in no particular order: Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams, Clinton Portis, Steve Smith, LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, Marshawn Lynch, Jay Cutler

 
OTHER TAKES HE HAD AS THE SEASON ENDED...
--Fred Jackson ran for 136 yards against the Patriots in one of the most impressive displays I saw all season. New England stacked the box with eight and nine guys every play, and Jackson's vision and leg drive were remarkable. He carried defenders on his back. Jackson finishes with 888 efficient yards from scrimmage and 37 catches on the season. He averaged more yards-per-carry than Marshawn Lynch and is a better receiver. That's bad news for Lynch owners because Jackson has earned a spot as the lesser half of a committee long-term.

--I still need to watch the tape, but Cedric Benson's 462 yards in his last three games will get him some job offers this off-season. His best chance to start, by far, should be staying in Cincinnati.

--Tony Romo's poor finish to the season, against very difficult competition, should keep his price tag enticingly low in next year's drafts.

--LaDainian Tomlinson has undeniably looked fresher the last two weeks. He ran much harder against a collapsing Bucs defense and a terrible Broncos defense, but don't forget the first 14 mediocre weeks and how easy his schedule was. Two good weeks doesn't return him to top-five prominence next year.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

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