Let's take a look at some of the biggest movers in free agency from a fantasy football perspective:

DONE DEALS
RB Reggie Bush (Lions) – Detroit is the perfect landing spot for Bush and his fantasy owners alike. The team promised him the “full-time” gig which means he’s likely to be the guy on all three downs. That doesn’t bode well for Mikel Leshoure, who along with his 3.7 ypc will now likely be reduced to short-yardage and goal line work. Bush’s arrival should only help Matthew Stafford produce even bigger numbers at the quarterback position and also help to free up Calvin Johnson a bit in the offense.

RB Rashard Mendenhall (Cardinals) – Mendenhall reunites with Bruce Arians, who was the Steelers’ offensive coordinator during Mendenhall’s most productive seasons. At 25 and year fully removed from ACL surgery Mendenhall surely has room to return as a feature back. The Cardinals parted ways with Beanie Wells earlier so that leaves Mendenhall and former first-round pick Ryan Williams as the team’s top two options out of the backfield. Arians prefers a workhorse running back so expect one to emerge for the bulk of carries. Early on that bet is Mendenhall.

RB Shonn Greene (Titans) – The Titans struggled badly at the goal line a year ago and they’re hoping Greene can serve as a nice compliment to Chris Johnson. Greene is a sure bet to vulture TD’s from Johnson, who struggled to find the end zone as is. Hopefully it will also motivate Johnson and help him avoid the early-season struggles he’s become accustomed to.  Regardless of who is running the ball for Tennessee, the Titans will need better play. Johnson remains inside our top 15 (unchanged) at running back to whereas Greene will be a RB4 or RB5 at best.

WR Wes Welker (Broncos) – In one of the most surprising moves thus far Welker winds up in Denver with Peyton Manning. While I initially was prepared to drop Welker (currently No. 15 in wide receiver rankings) if he were unable to stick with the Patriots, this move makes me rethink the action. The Broncos already boast two stud wideouts on the outside, Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, and will now slide Welker into the slot to replace Brandon Stokley. The targets are likely to drop, but in the end Welker should wind up a solid WR2 with added value in PPR formats.

WR Danny Amendola (Patriots) – New England wasted no time in announcing Amendola as Welker’s replacement. Five years younger, Amendola has often been referred to in fantasy circles as a poor man’s Wes Welker. Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniel is familiar with Amendola from his days in St. Louis. It will be hard to imagine Amendola matching Welker’s production right out of the gate. The bigger concern for owners is his durability. Amendola has missed 22 games over the past four seasons, including 15 contests during the 2011 season and five a year ago. Consider him a WR3 worthy a mid-round pick in upcoming fantasy drafts.

WR Donnie Avery (Chiefs) – Avery is coming off his career-best season after catching 60 balls for 781 yards a year ago for the Colts. The problem is his catch efficiency.  To get to those 60 receptions it took 124 targets. The speedster has been criticized at times for his fundamentals, but he will help aid in the Chiefs’ offense as a deep threat. With Dwyane Bowe in the fold and Dexter McCluster and his versatility also in the mix, Andy Reid is going to have options for Alex Smith. Avery’s departure from Indy only enhances the value of young receiver TY Hilton.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Steven Jackson – Reports continue to suggest that the Packers and Jackson are nearing a deal, but each day that goes on it seems less likely. The Packers would be a great fit and Jackson would help Green Bay in both the running and passing game. The Falcons were originally expected to be hot and heavy on Jackson, but the news on Tony Gonzalez returning and his $7 million price tag likely hampered their chances.

RB Mike Goodson – Goodson visited the Bengals on Wednesday, but left town without a deal. He’s now reportedly on his way to New York to meet with the Jets. Goodson would be a nice compliment with BenJarvus Green-Ellis in Cincinnati and would split time with Bilal Powell in New York. In either case he would be worth a later pick in draft as a decent reserve option. He’s unlikely to get a gig where he would be the team’s primary ball carrier.

WR Greg Jennings – The high price tag Jennings is requesting as slowed interest in him. The Packers had a $10 million/per year deal on the table, but the veteran was holding out hope for an even bigger payday and now is likely going to get less with the receiver market defining itself better with each passing day. He has a visit scheduled to Minnesota, who is one of the league’s thinnest teams at the position.  Jennings is on the decline and a move from Aaron Rodgers to Christian Ponder would not help his fantasy value.

WR Brandon Gibson – Gibson has several teams interested in his services. The Jets, Dolphins and Titans appear to be the teams competing for his services. Landing in Miami would likely be the best for his fantasy value. Regardless, Gibson is bench fodder at best.

QB Matt Cassel – While he’s still a member of the Chiefs it’s only a matter of time before Cassel is cut. In the weak quarterback market there will be suitors for Cassel. The Vikings make a ton of sense to ensure themselves with Ponder. Arizona and Buffalo also have a need.

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Let’s take a look at some of the biggest movers in free agency from a fantasy football perspective:

DONE DEALS
WR Mike Wallace (Dolphins): It didn’t take long for Wallace to find a new home and the Dolphins broke the bank to land the much-needed playmaker receiver. Wallace put up some eye-popping performances at time during Pittsburgh, but he’s still pretty much a one-dimensional receiver. He’ll also take a downgrade at quarterback going from Ben Roethlisberger to Ryan Tannehill.  Wallace will likely be overpriced in this summer’s fantasy drafts. He is a top 25 receiver, but mostly a low-end WR2/high-end WR3.

TE Martellus Bennett (Bears): Free agency started at 4PM Eastern and by 4:05 the news broke of Bennett reaching a deal with the Bears.  Bennett has always had the potential and finally started to show it last year, his only season with the Giants. Bennett reached career highs in 2012 as he finished with 626 yards and five touchdowns on 55 receptions. In Chicago, he could quickly become Jay Cutler’s No. 2 receiving target behind wide receiver Brandon Marshall. He remains a low TE1 candidate worthy of a mid-to-late round pick.

TE Jared Cook (Rams): With it looking more likely that the Rams will not retain neither Danny Amendola nor Brandon Gibson, the team moved quickly to find someone to work out the slot and stretch the field. Cook fits the bill. He has always had the potential to be great player, but was often underutilized by the Titans.  He will have plenty of chances to rack up targets from Sam Bradford in St. Louis. His fantasy value certainly goes up with the move, but owners should still view his as a high-end TE2 for now.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Steven Jackson – The biggest prize in free agency, at least from a fantasy standpoint, is running back Steven Jackson. Many reports on Tuesday suggested that the Packers are the front runners to land the veteran’s services. The Falcons and Broncos also have been reported as teams with interest. Jackson’s value is on the rise if he lands in any one of these spots.

RB Reggie Bush – Bush visited Detroit late Tuesday night and the Lions have made no secret of their interest in landing the free agent running back. In fact, rumors suggest that the Lions are dangling the “full time” running back job to him.  Bush would be a great fit for the Lions, but I was initially envisioning a 1-2 punch of him and Mikel Leshoure. Now it appears that Leshoure and incumbent Joique Bell will both take a hit in their 2013 fantasy value if Bush signs.

RB Rashard Mendenhall – While Miami seemed liked a logical spot a couple of days ago, it appears that the Broncos and Cardinals are now the front-runners to land Mendenhall. Given the right opportunity the 25-year old could still have some gas left in the tank to be productive.

WR Wes Welker – Welker and his agent have broken off their talks with the Patriots as the two sides remain far apart on money. The next step is going to be to test the free agent waters. The problem is that is a lukewarm market for a player that many around the league feel is more a product of the system rather than a premier talent. His fantasy stock will go down if he winds up anywhere that is not New England.

WR Danny Amendola – One of the hot names out there, Amendola is being mentioned as a possible fit with the Ravens, Titans, Vikings and even the Patriots. He reportedly had narrowed the list to two teams late Tuesday. Amendola has fantasy upside, especially in PPR formats, but he needs to prove he can stay healthy before he can be fully trusted.

OTHER HEADLINES
Gonzalez Delaying Retirement – Tony Gonzalez has informed the Falcons that he will come back for one more season. After catching 93 balls for 930 yards and eight scores a year ago, there’s no question that the future Hall of Famer has plenty left in the tank. Consider him a top-tier fantasy starting option in 2013. His return also spells good things for Matt Ryan and his continued development.

Bills Cut Fitzpartick – It came as little surprise that Buffalo released Ryan Fitzpatrick before paying him $3 million owed. It leaves Tavaris Jackson atop the team’s depth chart for now. Expect to Buffalo to add to the position in both April’s draft and perhaps before free agency comes to an end.

Raiders Release DHB – Former first-round pick Derrius Heyward-Bey was cut by the Raiders as free agency kicked off.  He’s shown some flashes over the past two seasons, but the production didn’t match the $10 million cap hit Oakland was due to take or his $7.7 million salary.  DHB could be a late-round filler for wide receiver depth if he finds a new home that makes sense, but his value remains low.

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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
I predicted here, last year on GetSportsInfo, that Reggie Bush would be a thousand yard rusher with the Dolphins. With 216 touches, Bush averaged 5 yards per carry, which is phenomenal. He ended with 1,086 rushing yards. Throw in 43 receptions for 296 yards, and Bush gains even more value in PPR leagues. Consider all of this occurred with rookie Daniel Thomas in the mix too and you have Bush emerging as the fantasy star of the Dolphins.

SCHEDULE
The Dolphins have the 18th easiest schedule, according to Vegas. And, because there’s always concern about warm weather teams having to play in cold weather locations, Miami usually has to worry about conference games in New York, Buffalo and New England. However, the road games in New York and Buffalo are in the fall, and all December games are warm weather-advantageous, except for week 17 at New England. With a schedule like that, there is little concern about the Dolphins schedule playing any role from a fantasy perspective.

STUD
As mentioned earlier, Reggie Bush, is the only fantasy stud on the Dolphins squad. He can be counted on as a RB2 again this year. The only concern, as always with Bush, is his injury history. Daniel Thomas would make an excellent handcuff for Bush, and should be considered a solid bye week and fill-in RB.

DUDS
The entire Dolphins receiving corps has little fantasy value. Look elsewhere than South Beach for your fantasy points. Legedu Naanee and Brian Hartline are high on the depth chart, but neither will be contributors for your fantasy squad, even for bye weeks.

SLEEPER
Since I must pick someone, I’m going to offer up Davone Bess as the best of the bunch. However, Bess comes with a caveat. He is best suited as a bye-week replacement and potential matchup play only. Bess had 51 receptions last year, but only scored 3 TDs. Those are very pedestrian numbers for a fantasy WR.

NEW ADDITIONS
It was much publicized that a certain #85 had signed with the Dolphins, but after legal troubles Chad Johnson was cut by the Dolphins. He was one of the few new additions to a team that lost its best receiver, Brandon Marshall, to free agency. David Garrard arrives to add competition at the quarterback position, which takes us to . . .

POSITION BATTLE
Matt Moore put up decent numbers, passing for more than 2,500 yards and completing more than 60% of his passes. Moore is not a fantasy stud, but would be considered an adequate bye-week fill in, except for the arrival of rookie, first-round pick Ryan Tannehill. The former Texas A&M QB comes in with the fan’s support and will get plenty of action in preseason, and will likely be given every chance to win the starting job. In keeper leagues, I like Tannehill as a long-term investment. This year, I would expect very little from him, even if he does win the starting job.

BENCH BUILDER
Daniel Thomas is not a bad option for your fantasy squad. Even if you don’t handcuff him to Reggie Bush, Thomas can get enough touches, and potential goal line opportunities to warrant being drafted in the mid to late rounds of your draft. With the running back category being so thin, Thomas is definitely a nice bench builder.

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The same violations that already cost Reggie Bush his Heisman Trophy and kept Southern California from being bowl eligible in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, have now led to the Trojans being stripped of its 2004 national title by the Bowl Championship Series.

The BCS has been debating the move since the NCAA sanctioned USC last season, but the decision was delayed while USC appealed the ruling. That appeal was denied two weeks ago by the NCAA.

It marks the first time ever that a consensus major college football champion has been stripped of its title.

Furthermore, the BCS will leave the title vacated leaving them without a national champion for the 2004 season.

While some Auburn and Utah (both teams went undefeated) fans are clamoring that they should be crowned national champions, the whole situation seems like a moot point. The Trojans dominated Oklahoma in one of the worse thrashing in BCS history that year. For the players and fans of USC that night, that game and that season will live forever in their minds.  You can’t take away those memories.

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TOO MANY WEAPONS – New Orleans has seven different players with at least 35 receptions this season. That allows Drew Brees’ unmatched flexibility to make plays. He isn’t known for his big arm, but the Colts will have a tough time guarding all of the Saints’ players going out on routes.

SUPERIOR RUNNING GAME – I will take the trio of Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush and Mike Bell over the Colts’ combo of Addai and Donald Brown any day of the week. Thomas is a bruising runner that can catch the ball out of the backfield well. Bush is a one-of-a-kind weapon that gives the team great flexibility and Bell is great in short-yardage situations.

COLTS INJURIES – Much has been made this week of Dwight Freeney’s injury and though he’s expected to play, count on him being limited. The bigger concern for the Colts is in the secondary where the team has been banged up for weeks. Indy simply doesn’t have the personnel to match-up with the high-powered Saints’ attack.

BALL CONTROL – The running game and the Saints’ ability to hit quick screen passes will keep the chains moving and Manning on the sidelines. The key to victory for New Orleans is simple keep scoring and take as much time off the clock as you do it.

OPPORTUNISTIC DEFENSE – They gamble quite a bit and the Colts don’t make too many mistakes, but the Saints have gotten to this point by taking advantage of mistakes forced by their pressure and exotic coverage calls.  Expect them to win the turnover battle once again.

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The annual GSI Mock Draft is rolling right along. Don't miss our takes and explanations and offer your take too...

RECAPS: Round One | Round Two | Round Three

ROUND FOUR
37. BROERING - QB D. McNabb (PHI)
38. SIMON - WR B. Marshall (DEN)
39. DINSMORE - RB R. Brown (MIA)
40. BRYANT - WR W. Welker (NE)
41. WETZEL - QB A. Rodgers (GB)
42. SCHMITT - RB C. Benson (CIN)
43. SIMS - TE J. Witten (DAL)
44. MURDICO - WR R. Williams (DAL)
45. ANSELMO - RB K. Smith (DET)
46. CLASGENS - RB R. Bush (NO)
47. FISCHER - RB J. Stewart (CAR)
48. HUMBERT - QB P. Rivers (SD)

POSITION BREAKDOWN: RB (5), QB (3), WR (3), TE (1)

MY PICK: Like many others in the league, the time to get my RB2 came in Round 4. This league is not a PPR league, so Reggie Bush loses some of his luster. However, he is still a nice grab with the 46th overall pick and a steady RB2 option with upside. Injuries have been a problem, but he's worth the risk here. One look at his numbers through the first seven games (two rushing TD's, three receiving TD's, and 660 total yards) last season though so his potential to be a solid starting option.

BEST VALUE PICK: Aaron Rodgers will be valued much higher this season than last and rightfully so after he had 10 multiple-touchdown games in '08. I don't put him in the same ballpark as the top three quarterbacks, but he definitely is nice value 18 picks after Tom Brady went and 19 picks following Peyton Manning.

MOST LIKELY TO DISAPPOINT: Count me as somebody that is not buying into the Roy Williams being an automatic replacement for Terrell Owens in Dallas. Of the three receivers selected within this round, he by far has the best chance to be a bust. He had problems adjusting mid-season in Dallas and suffered a foot injury down the stretch. The potential is there, but at this point I can find somebody that had more than seven touchdown catches over the past two years.

FINAL TAKE: This round was predictable. We saw our first tight end go off the board in Jason Witten (nice pick), five teams go with RB2 and a few quarterbacks and wideouts. In general, waiting on quarterback didn't prove too badly for the three owners that took signal callers here.

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Saints’ running back Pierre Thomas emerged late season, helping fantasy owners in the critical stretch drive of the season.

When injuries took their toll on the Saints’ backfield last season, Thomas was given a chance to shine and he made the most of the opportunity.

The former Illinois’ product was limited as a rookie, carrying the ball just 52 times for 252 yards and a score in 2007.  His 4.8 yard per carry average that season left some around the team optimistic about his potential.

Thomas delivered on that potential during his sophomore campaign and has elevated his spot on not only the team’s depth chart, but his spot in fantasy rankings heading into the 2009 season.

Over his last six contests last season Thomas broke 100 total yards five times and scored nine touchdowns, including at least one each week.

In addition, Thomas proved to be a capable receiver out the backfield. He finished with 31 catches for 284 yards and three receiving touchdowns during his limited action.

FINAL TAKE: Thomas clearly has top 10 running back potential, but Reggie Bush is still a factor and assuming he stays healthy he will be the Saints’ No. 1 running back. However, Thomas is expected to serve as the more traditional running back and the short-yardage and goalline back while Bush is moved around the field in various packages.

That translates into double-digit touches on a weekly basis and makes him a solid starting fantasy option.

Thomas is a borderline fantasy RB1, but should more safely be looked at a RB2. Taking him in the middle of Round 2 is not a bad idea. If he slips to the third round of your draft don’t hesitate to pull trigger and enjoy having made one of the best value picks of the year.

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It’s never too early to start thinking about the fantasy season. Some have already started e-mailing me there questions. Let’s take a dip into the fantasy mailbag:

Question: Dan, who would you keep? I know it’s early but your opinion would help me decide. We can keep a player after the third round. I have it down to Chris Johnson in the 6th Round or Phillip Rivers in the 8th Round. Also, I have Thomas Jones in the 5th Round, DeSean Jackson in the 10th or Hightower last. Any help would be great. - Joe S.

My Take: You do have some nice options to consider. Rivers and Jones both provide nice value for you, but not enough for me to resist Chris Johnson for a sixth round pick. Despite having LenDale White cut into his touchdown total, Johnson shined as a rookie. His 1,468 total yards and 10 scores were solid numbers for a rookie and I expect Tennessee to work him into the offense even more during his sophomore campaign. Getting Johnson the ball in open space will greatly help his chances at producing big numbers. Johnson’s value goes up in PPR formats (43 receptions in ‘08). He could easily finish as a top 5 fantasy running back this season, making him a steal for a sixth-rounder.

Question:  I have to make a decision on which Saints running back is going to be more productive this year, Reggie Bush or Pierre Thomas? - Tommy R

My Take: You scoring format could go a long way towards answering this question. Bush is a one-of-a-kind player. His value goes way up in leagues where you get points for receptions, but I expect Thomas to be a better option in standard formats. He’s going to get more carries, particularly in the red zone and should emerge as a legitimate RB2 with great upside. Both make solid options for your team, but consistency will remain a question.

Question:  Can Matt Cassel be counted on as a weekly starting option at quarterback this year in Kansas City? - Lance G.

My Take: Kansas City is not New England. Cassel has a ton to prove to me. While I believe there is upside in the former Patriot, particularly in Todd Haley’s system. Still, I am going to temper my expectations a bit until he proves he is ready. I look at him as a borderline fantasy starting QB heading into 2009.

SUBMIT YOUR FANTASY QUESTION

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The fantasy playoffs either started last week for you or are likely getting ready to kick off in Week 15. Either way a microscope gets place on decisions like at no other point of the season. My best advice, don't sweat it.

Really, the situation is out of your control and the best you can do is make an educated guess. However, all too often I see fantasy owners do things out of the oridnary as they look for any edge they can get. That's not a bad thing, but don't let it blind your judgment. Just last week I had a guy insisting inside one of our live chats that him starting J.P. Losman in a dome or Donovan McNabb against the Giants in 40 MPH winds.  Weather needs to be considered, but only as a deciding factor not the sole reason.

Here are some more interesting dilemmas you may be looking at this week...

SAINTS' OFFENSE IN THE WINDY CITY
Last week Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush both porved to be valuable for fantasy owners in a high-scoring affair inside the dome against the Falcons and Drew Brees and his stable of receivers always make logical plays. However, this week the Saints travel to Chicago for a Thursday night showdown with the Bears. We all remember the Saints' offense dismal showing in the NFC Championship game two years ago and something tells me their offense isn't built for a December game at Solider Field. At this point, there is only a 10% chance of snow but it is going to be cold. The Bears' D is actually better against the run than the pass and that could be good news for Drew Brees, who's still a must play regardless of his match-up at this point. Bush is likely to get some catches out of the backfield and Thomas could get a short-yardage score, but neither back will put up high rushing totals. Colston and Moore are always capable of putting some numbers, but neither is a lock and both could be sat for a better match-up.

STEELERS VS. RAVENS
Unless it's the defense I am staying clear of all players in this match-up. As good as the Steelers and Ravens have played this one is going to be a physical affair. Ben Roethlisberger doesn't look 100% to me and he'll struggle with the Ravens' pressure. No way does rookie Joe Flacco get the call in this enviroment with your playoff livelihood on the line. The Ravens' backfield is a mess, but LeRon McClain could be argued for a RB3. Pittsburhg's backfield is frustrating. Mewelde Moore is running the best, but Willie Parker is still getting carries and Gary Russell is coming in at the goalline. Stay away from the situation altogether at this point. Hines Ward, Santanio Holmes, and Derrick Mason have each had their moments this year, but rolling the dice on any of them producing in these circumstances is not recommended.

WILL THE REAL DOMINIC HIXON PLEASE STEP UP?
There is been so much hype surrounding Dominic Hixon since Plaxico Burress and this point the jury is still out on the Giants' wideout. I wasn't expecting much last week against Philly in blistery condiditions, but Hixon still was within inches of a huge catch. I like his upside and I am expecting the game in Dallas on Sunday night to have more offense than what we've been seeing. Hixon is a great WR3 and has great upside against a Cowboys' secondary that has a tendency to get beat deep. I am playing him in my PPR format as my FLEX player this week and recommend that you do the same.

CAN ROMO BOUNCE BACK, SHOULD BARBER START?
While on the topic of Sunday night's big game in Dallas, let's talk about the Cowboys. I hope you listened last week when I said sit Tony Romo. He was dreadful against Pittsburgh, finishing with just 1 TD and 4 turnovers. He's not going to blow it up this week, but I definitely expect a bounce back and consider him a solid starting option against the Giants. The G-Men have been tough on defense and have only allowed 13.2 points per game to fantasy QB's, but I look for the Cowboys to have much more success through the air this time around. The running game is a different situation altogether. Marion Barber is likely going to be a game-time decision again and even if he comes back he's battling a toe and calf injury and with the way rookie Tashard Choice has performed seeing the two split carries would not be hard to imagine. Should Barber be ruled out, Choice is a low-end RB2 option and worth a look as a flex. 

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