Get instant notification when I post updates to my top fantasy football picks and rankings when you follow me at http://twitter.com/johnnynfl This was as of June, so you will need to do due diligence to evaluate injuries and such. Take a look and feel free to build your own cheat sheets from this. Be sure to sign up for my Free picks and tips at http://JohnnyNFL.com.

Baltimore Ravens

RB Ray Rice- Rice has now proven he can carry the load as a starting NFL running back, and has also shown he can be as valuable a receiver as he is rusher.  With a good offensive line and the acquisition of WR Anquan Boldin to improve the passing game, Rice should be one of the top fantasy players of 2010. Rice should be one of the top five players taken in all fantasy drafts this season.

WR Anquan Boldin-  The Ravens finally have a complement to WR Derrick Mason, and with QB Joe Flacco continuing to improve, Boldin could have a spectacular season. The Ravens have a running game to be wary of, which will open things up for the passing game. Boldin wll likely become an excellent red zone target and should help the Ravens move the chains consistently. Boldin is a player who should be considered a valuable starter for your 2010 fantasy team.

WR Derrick Mason- Mason always seems to be under-rated, and has been for the better part of the last decade. I have had him on a number of my championship teams over the last decade, and will likely slip him into my roster again ahead of some other WR’s that should not be ranked so highly.  Mason can be an outstanding 2nd or 3rd WR for your fantasy team, and has proven to be a very consistent force no matter who the Ravens have on their offense.

QB  Joe Flacco- Flacco has proven to be an excellent starting QB, and one that can lead your fantasy team to victory. You may not get the same kind of consistent production as Brees, Peyton Manning, Rodgers, or Brady, but Flacco should be one of the top 10 QB’s this season and can be an effective starter for your fantasy squad.

RB Willis McGahee- McGahee is still going to see some action and score some TD’s this season. While he may no longer warrant a high draft pick, he can be a nice pick late in the draft to solidify your RB position and can even become an occasional starter at the flex position.

TE Todd Heap- Heap is no longer among the league’s elite at the TE position, but can be a decent play on a matchup basis. Heap will likely lose some playing time to rookies Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, but can still be a good choice as a bye week replacement if the situation arises.

TE (R)Ed Dickson- Ditto for Dickson. While I wouldn’t rely on him as your starting TE, Dickson could present some value as a bye week replacement if the matchup is right.
Cincinnati Bengals

WR Chad Ochocinco- With Palmer now fully healthy again and Antonio Bryant on the other side as well as rookie Jermaine Gresham at TE, Ochocinco could have another excellent year for the Bengals. Ochocinco may not be as consistent as you would like, but he can still be a nice starting WR to have on your fantasy team.

RB Cedric Benson- Benson has done a good job since taking over as the Bengals starting RB, and he should do well again this season. I still don’t think the offensive line is going to be that good, so Benson’s production may not be as good as expected, but he can still be a valuable 2nd RB or flex player for your fantasy team.

QB Carson Palmer- Palmer now has help at TE in the form of rookie Jermaine Gresham, and with the addition of WR’s Antonio Bryant and rookie Jordan Shipley could again have a very good season. While Palmer may be just outside of the top 10 QB’s, he can be a good starter for your fantasy team as long as the rest of your team is solid.

WR Antonio Bryant- Bryant does have problems staying healthy, but can be a decent 3rd WR for your fantasy team if he is still available in the later rounds. I wouldn’t waste a mid round pick on him, because his production is just too much of a question mark, but if you can add him to your team without having to rely on him as a no.1 or no.2 starting WR, you will likely find that he can add some value to your fantasy team.

WR Andre Caldwell- Being a 3rd WR on the Bengals used to be like being a second WR on most other teams, and it may turn into that  again in 2010. Caldwell had a fine season in 2009, and should improve on those numbers in 2010. He may not be a reliable weekly starter, but he can add some depth to your bench as a 3rd WR or flex player if he is available late in the draft.

WR (R)Jordan Shipley- Shipley may not be worth a draft pick right now, but should anything happen to one of their top 3 WR’s, Shipley could warrant some interest as a flex player. Even as a number four WR he can be a little productive, but the more playing time he gets, the more valuable he will become as a fantasy player.

TE (R)Jermaine Gresham- Gresham has all the tools to be a good starting TE in the NFL. While I wouldn’t rely on him as my starter, he could present some value as a bye week replacement when your TE has off.
Cleveland Browns

RB (R)Montario Hardesty- With RB Jerome Harrison still not signed, Hardesty may become the focal point of the Browns offense. Even with Harrison back, Hardesty should still see some playing time, and his value could increase as the season wears on. I would look for Hardesty somewhere in the middle rounds as someone who can be a nice flex player and even a good 2nd RB should he fall into the starting RB spot.

WR Mohamed Massaquoi- While Josh Cribbs is still their most dangerous weapon,  Massaquoi may again be their top WR. With no one else on the roster really showing any potential as a no. 1 WR, Massaquoi could be a decent 3rd WR for your fantasy squad, but at this point I wouldn’t count on anything more than that.

QB Seneca Wallace- Wallace has a good chance to beat out Jake Delhomme and rookie Colt McCoy for the starting nod, but I wouldn’t suggest drafting him as your fantasy starter. There are even other QB’s you can likely pick up as your backup, meaning Wallace should be considered nothing more than a possible bye week replacement if the matchup is right.
Pittsburgh Steelers

WR Hines Ward- Year after year, Ward just produces. He is especially effective in PPR leagues, but even in standard leagues can be a productive number 2 WR. Ward always seems to slip further than you would think in fantasy drafts, and can be a nice mid round pickup for your fantasy squad.

RB Rashard Mendenhall- Mendenhall is solidly entrenched as the starting RB now, and can be especially productive during the first six weeks while Roethlisberger is suspended.  The Steelers will likely want to run the ball a lot, and Mendenhall looks like he can take the pounding. Mendenhall can be a valuable starting RB for your fantasy team and will likely be a first or high second round fantasy pick.

WR Mike Wallace- Wallace had an outstanding rookie season, and is part of the reason the Steelers were able to trade Santonio Holmes to the Jets in the offseason.  Wallace’s numbers will likely get better once Big Ben returns to action, but even with Leftwich or Batch starting, Wallace has enough talent to garner a starting WR spot on your fantasy roster.

QB Ben Roethlisberger- With Ben suspended for the first six games of the season, his value will obviously take a hit. He can be a prime late round pick to add QB depth to your roster, however. While Roethlisberger may not present any kind of benefit until around mid-season as the Steelers have a bye in Week 5, he could prove to be a valuable commodity towards the middle and end of the season if you can get by the first seven weeks of the season with him on your bench.

TE Heath Miller- While not in the elite group of TE’s, Miller can still be a decent starter for your fantasy team.  Even with Roethlisberger out for the beginning of the season, Miller will likely put up some good numbers. Don’t expect Dallas Clark like performances, but Miller can present a decent choice in the late rounds if you still need a TE.

WR Antwan Randle-El- The ex-Steeler returns home and should pick up the 3rd WR role, which could lead to some production. While I wouldn’t count on Randle-El as a consistent starter, he could present some value as a bye week replacement when the matchup is right.

“What concerns me, I don’t want this to be something in Week 12, Week 13 or Week 14 that you are having issues with,” coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters Thursday. “If we feel Beanie has made enough progress by Sunday, he will play. If we don’t, like I said, I feel strongly about who we have at the position.”

Wells rushed for 793 yards and scored seven touchdowns last year.

Follow Yahoo! Sports Rumors on Twitter at @markjmill.

View full post on NFL – Scoop Du Jour – Yahoo! Sports

New York Jets
New England Patriots
San Diego Chargers
Oakland Raiders
Kansas City Chiefs
Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts

You may be surprised to see the Raiders and Chiefs included in my playoff contenders, especially since this may be the second or third worst division in football. The thing is the AFC West plays the NFC West this year, and other than the 49ers that division is pretty bad. Considering the AFC West has a pretty favorable schedule, don’t be surprised if these teams are in the mix for a playoff spot at the end of the season.

Making the playoffs is one thing, but being good enough to get to a Super Bowl is quite different. While the Jets continue to improve, I still think they will be a year away from being a serious Super Bowl contender. The Colts, Steelers, Ravens, and Chargers, even without Vincent Jackson, are all potential Super Bowl participants. Here are my bold and brazen final preseason predictions for the AFC in 2010.

AFC East

1.    New York Jets 14-2
2.    New England Patriots 7-9
3.    Buffalo Bills 4-12
4.    Miami Dolphins 3-13

AFC West

1.    San Diego Chargers 13-3
2.    Oakland Raiders 10-6
3.    Kansas City Chiefs 9-7
4.    Denver Broncos 2-14

AFC North

1.    Pittsburgh Steelers 14-2
2.    Baltimore Ravens 10-6
3.    Cincinnati Bengals 9-7
4.    Cleveland Browns 1-15

AFC South
1.    Indianapolis Colts 15-1
2.    Houston Texans 9-7
3.    Tennessee Titans 6-10
4.    Jacksonville Jaguars 2-14

WILD CARD

Raiders at Jets
Ravens at Chargers

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Ravens at Colts
Jets at Steelers

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Steelers at Colts

NFC Playoff Contenders

New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
San Francisco 49ers
Chicago Bears
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans Saints

As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Saints will have a huge target on their back. However, Sean Payton is a great coach and will not let this team rest on last years accomplishments. At this point I don’t think anyone can compete with the most potent offense in football and a defense that will likely also be a top 10 defense in 2010. The Packers have Aaron Rodgers, but their defense will not be as good as the Saints, especially with DL Johnny Jolly suspended for all of 2010. The Giants, Redskins, and Bears may be just as good defensively in 2010, but none of them have Drew Brees at QB or Pierre Thomas running the ball. The Vikings and Eagles will also be very good, but will need to improve in the secondary if they are to compete with the Saints. It looks like New Orleans has a great shot at winning back to back championships, but with the way injuries occur in the NFL, you never know what can happen. Here are my final preseason predictions for the NFC in 2010.

NFC East

1.    Philadelphia Eagles 13-3
2.    New York Giants 11-5
3.    Washington Redskins 9-7
4.    Dallas Cowboys 6-10

NFC West

1.    San Francisco 49ers 11-5
2.    Arizona Cardinals 7-9
3.    Saint Louis Rams 3-13
4.    Seattle Seahawks 0-16

NFC North

1.    Chicago Bears 13-3
2.    Green Bay Packers 11-5
3.    Minnesota Vikings 11-5
4.    Detroit Lions 1-15

NFC South

1.    New Orleans Saints 16-0
2.    Atlanta Falcons 10-6
3.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-10
4.    Carolina Panthers 1-15

WILD CARD

Vikings at Eagles
Packers at 49ers

DIVISIONAL ROUND

Packers at Saints
Eagles at Bears

NFC Championship

Bears at Saints

SUPER BOWL

Saints over Colts

I know, picking a rematch of last years Super Bowl may be a bit kooky, but I have to call it as I see it. The Colts will not be a shoe in, as the Ravens and Steelers will be a tough out, but I still think Manning  and a very good Colts defense will have enough to eek out another championship. However, I don’t see the same kind of competition coming from the NFC,  as the Saints may just be too good. If they can stay healthy and continue playing together, this Saints team has the potential to be one of the best teams of all time. Whether it is the Bears, Vikings, Packers, 49ers, Eagles, or someone else in the NFC Championship game, I just don’t see them challenging a fully loaded Saints squad. Hopefully they can find some competition in 2011.

Six Team Leagues

You have to remember that the smaller the size of the league, the more complicated it will be to dominate your league. The simple reason is because of the amount of players drafted. In a six-team league, there is only 96 players being drafted based on a 16 player roster. This means every roster will be full of top 100 players, meaning every team is going to be about equal. This also means the free agent pool is going to be full of players that will be able to be easily added to a roster once the season unfolds. Any truly competitive player would not want to play in a league like this, because it’s a league where lucky being better than good is more likely than playing in a more competitive league. This type of league should be restricted to people learning the game or just looking to have fun.

Eight Team Leagues

Eight team leagues are a little more competitive because you are now drafting 128 players, but this still leads to many teams being equal and a limited chance to win. This is still more of a fun kind of league rather than truly competitive, and is one I wouldn’t suggest getting involved in if you are a serious competitor. You may have one or two teams that will be out of contention, but overall, even if you don’t know what you are doing, it won’t be hard to field a team that will be fighting for a playoff spot.

Ten Team Leagues

Ten team leagues are probably the most popular type of fantasy football league, likely due to the competitive nature and the ability to still have a good team. With the player pool reaching 160 players, free agents will be less limited and building a good team may take a little knowledge. It still isn’t to the point where you can’t be lucky rather than good, but it’s a lot harder than a six or eight team league.

Twelve Team Leagues

Now your league has up to 192 players, and it is likely you will need to know your fantasy football if you are going to have a competitive team, especially if you are in an early or late draft position and have to wait a long time in between picks. Twelve team leagues usually result in a limited number of good teams, maybe three or four, so if you love competition and want to prove your worth, you may want to sign up for a twelve team league.

While 10 and 12 team leagues are my favorite, I wouldn’t participate in a league that included any more than 12 teams, no matter how good you think you are. Here’s why:

In twelve and 10 team leagues, you can have a shot at building a good team no matter what your draft position is. It may be harder at the front or back end at times, but it can be done. Once it goes over 12 teams, the players get saturated more quickly and your likelihood of building a good team will be more determined by your draft position than it will by your actual fantasy knowledge. That is why I avoid any big leagues, because it just doesn’t seem fair that your fate will actually be decided on what draft position you are in, so be warned if you are participating in one of these larger drafts.

Guide Summary

6 team leagues/Recommended for amateurs looking for fun. 8 team leagues/For more competitive amateur fantasy players looking for a fun league 10 team leagues/Fun for all and competitive too. May be the best league for the more than casual football fan. 12 team leagues/Most competitive leagues for more serious fantasy football fanatics.

I hope this will be able to help in finding the right type of fantasy football league that might be best for you. Good luck in 2010 and have a fun and thrilling fantasy football season.

A source told FOX Sports that the team fears the injury to Avery’s right knee will keep him out the entire 2010 season. St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo called it a “significant knee injury.”

Avery led the team in receptions last year with 57. He had 53 as a rookie the year before. Thursday night, he had two catches for 48 yards before getting injured just before halftime.

Looks like fellow wide receivers Brandon Gibson and Mardy Gilyard will be getting more playing time.

Follow Yahoo! Sports Rumors on Twitter at @markjmill.

View full post on NFL – Scoop Du Jour – Yahoo! Sports

Research is the key

That’s right. Although this may come as a natural advice, but you might be surprised to find out that there are hundreds of bettors out there who place bets out of a whim. They just play with their gut feel. While this may net them a good win or two, it is a haphazard way to play and will surely end in losses in the long run. You must have a well-researched NFL Football pick to start with. Football is a science, statistics is a science so I believe it is equally imperative that you approach sports betting as a science, too. Here are a few things you must consider in your research:

1. Every good NFL Football pick is backed with reliable information. Stats if you would prefer to call it. Know everything that there is to know about the players and the teams. Keep this line in mind though, because I will stress more about the importance of getting these pieces of information later on.

2. Did your choice of players or teams played well last season? This is important because you can practically guess the outcome of the coming season based on their performances in the last outing. Players and teams can have winning streaks and it can continue well into the next season.

3. Are there injuries you will have to contend with? Did any of the major players incur serious injuries? You must also consider the health of the backup players because as they say, a winning team is only as good as its second bit players. It is vital in making your NFL Football pick that you are aware of and understand the general health and well-being of your players.

4. The last and probably the most intriguing tip that I can give to you is to not be ashamed to admit that you need help. Understanding all of these information such as the statistics, the injuries and the performances of all, and I emphasize the word all, of these teams and players is the single vital strategy in your NFL Football pick decisions.

Take for example the injuries of these players. Not only do you have to know the type of injuries they incurred, but you must understand the repercussions these can bring to your team or the players’ performances. Every injury is important because well obviously, an unhealthy player is virtually useless in a game. He can be great liability. You must also know if the injury will persist or if that player can recover in time to eventually have a good season performance.

Perhaps it is too daunting for you to amass and analyze of these information. That’s where a professional can help you. You will find the assistance of good sportsbooks, handicappers and other sports analysts vital in helping you to continuously win.

Sidney Rice is out after hip surgery. But Percy Harvin, who has been sidelined with serious migraines since Aug. 19, needs to have one more test to be cleared to play against Seattle in a preseason home opener Saturday, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Favre and Harvin connected 60 times last year for 790 yards and six touchdowns.

It’s a “long shot” that he’ll play in this weekend’s preseason game, but Harvin did catch a few passes on Wednesday in practice before sitting out Thursday’s drills, the paper reports.

Follow Yahoo! Sports Rumors on Twitter at @markjmill.

View full post on NFL – Scoop Du Jour – Yahoo! Sports

Fantasy football player rankings

Everyone has always been very keen when it comes to the rankings of the fantasy football players. As they say, this will distinguish the professionals from the amateurs, because real men will do whatever it takes to score high in a game. During the first few weeks of the season, you will see others that make a huge effort in making a name right from the start. Also, some start not that good but manage to standout during the middle towards the end of the season. It is still anybody’s game until the season ends.

Fantasy football statistics

Just like the rankings, the statistics of each player is vital for the team. If the team is able to have more power players, then it is safe to say that they have a fairly bigger chance of making it to the top. However, some would try to compliment the weaknesses of the other person and turn it upside down. It can be risky at times but the rewards are far greater. The owners would have to be cautious on who to put in the field and when to put them to play.

Overall persona of the player

Although the rankings and the statistics are two very important things when it comes to fantasy football picks, still people should have a feel of the personality of the player. He should be able to represent the team and the owner depending on what they value. Oftentimes, players think this is unnecessary but it is not. They are the ones building their name and the name of their team. It is but natural for them to keep their reputation and the team’s reputation clean.

These three things are only a few of the fantasy football tips that one has to consider before they move on to the fantasy football picks. You can always go online or ask some friends about other things when it comes to this kind of sport. Since almost everything is found on the Internet, then you should make use of this in such a way that you too will benefit from it. It does not matter whether you are an ordinary person or a shareholder of a team. The point here is that you keep an eye on your favorite player and hope that he does his best at the start until the end of the season. This gives him a fairly better chance of ranking higher and getting a higher projection for the following year.

Drafting in IDP leagues is a bit tricky, because you have to make sure you build a good offensive unit as well. Since Cushing is suspended for four games, Willis should be the first IDP player drafted, which should be somewhere around the sixth or seventh round. I would recommend drafting at least your starting RB’s, QB, and at least 2 WR’s before drafting any defensive player. This is because the point differential of the best defensive players at their position compared to the number 12 player at the position is not as dramatic as the offensive players when making the same comparison. That’s not to say that you don’t want to draft the best defensive players, it’s just that I wouldn’t recommend spending a top draft pick on one and losing out on an offensive starter.

1. LB Brian Cushing/Houston Texans(Suspended 4 games)
2. LB Patrick Willis/San Francisco 49ers
3. CB Charles Woodson/Green Bay Packers
4. CB Leon Hall/Cincinnati Bengals
5. LB David Harris/New York Jets
6. LB Barrett Ruud/Tampa Bay Bucs
7. LB James Laurinaitis/Saint Louis Rams
8. LB David Hawthorne/Seattle Seahawks
9. CB Darrelle Revis/New York Jets
10. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie/Arizona Cardinals
11. DE Elvis Dumervil/Denver Broncos
12. S Brandon Meriweather/New England Patriots
13. LB James Harrison/Pittsburgh Steelers
14. LB Ray Lewis/Baltimore Ravens
15. LB DeMarcus Ware/Dallas Cowboys
16. LB James Farrior/Pittsburgh Steelers
17. LB London Fletcher/Washington Redskins
18. LB Chad Greenway/Minnesota Vikings
19. LB Lawrence Timmons/Pittsburgh Steelers
20. LB Paul Posluszny/Buffalo Bills
21. LB Jon Beason/Carolina Panthers
22. LB Curtis Lofton/Atlanta Falcons
23. LB Mike Peterson/Atlanta Falcons
24. LB Lamarr Woodley/Pittsburgh Steelers
25. LB Daryl Smith/Jacksonville Jaguars
26. CB Brandon Flowers/Kansas City Chiefs
27. DE/LB Brian Orakpo/Washington Redskins
28. DE Jared Allen/Minnesota Vikings
29. CB Jonathon Joseph/Cincinnati Bengals
30. S Brian Dawkins/Denver Broncos
31. S Bernard Pollard/Houston Texans
32. LB Clay Matthews/Green Bay Packers
33. LB Lance Briggs/Chicago Bears
34. LB Shaun Phillips/San Diego Chargers
35. LB Geno Hayes/Tampa Bay Bucs
36. LB Stephen Cooper/San Diego Chargers
37. LB Bradie James/Dallas Cowboys
38. LB D.J.Williams/Denver Broncos
39. LB Kirk Morrison/Jacksonville Jaguars
40. LB Justin Durant/Jacksonville Jaguars
41. DE Julius Peppers/Chicago Bears
42. DE Will Smith/New Orleans Saints
43. S Troy Polamalu/Pittsburgh Steelers
44. S Darren Sharper/New Orleans Saints
45. S Adrian Wilson/Arizona Cardinals
46. S Louis Delmas/Detroit Lions
47. S Antoine Bethea/Indianapolis Colts
48. S Tanard Jackson/Tampa Bay Buc
49. S Yeremiah Bell/Miami Dolphins
50. S Dashon Goldson/San Francisco 49ers
51. LB Karlos Dansby/Miami Dolphins
52. LB Demeco Ryans/Houstion Texans
53. CB Charles Tillman/Chicago Bears
54. LB Brian Urlacher/Chicago Bears
55. LB Jerrod Mayo/New England Patriots
56. LB Jonathon Vilma/New Orleans Saints
57. S Tyvon Branch/Oakland Raiders
58. S Erik Coleman/Atlanta Falcons
59. CB Leigh Bodden/New England Patriots
60. CB Asante Samuel/Philadelphia Eagles
61. CB Champ Bailey/Washington Redskins
62. CB Aqib Talib/Tampa Bay Bucs
63. CB Sheldon Brown/Cleveland Browns
64. CB Tracy Porter/New Orleans Saints
65. CB Terrence Newman/Dallas Cowboys
66. LB Julian Peterson/Detroit Lions
67. LB Gary Brackett/Indianapolis Colts
68. LB Rocky McIntosh/Washington Redskins
69. LB Anthony Spencer/Dallas Cowboys
70. DE/LB Tamba Hali/Kansas City Chiefs
71. LB Will Witherspoon/Tennessee Titans
72. LB DeAndre Levy/Detroit Lions
73. LB Clint Session/Indianapolis Colts
74. CB Zachary Bowman/Chicago Bears
75. CB Brent Grimes/Atlanta Falcons
76. DE Trent Cole/Philadelphia Eagles
77. DE Aaron Schobel/Buffalo Bills
78. CB Mike Jenkins/Dallas Cowboys
79. CB Derek Cox/Jacksonville Jaguars
80. CB Quentin Jammer/San Diego Chargers
81. CB Jacob Lacey/Indianapolis Colts
82. CB Brandon Carr/Kansas City Chiefs
83. CB Terrell Thomas/New York Giants
84. S Jairus Byrd/Buffalo Bills
85. S Jim Leonhard/New York Jets
86. S Chris Hope/Tennessee Titans
87. S Antrell Rolle/New York Giants
88. S Kerry Rhodes/Arizona Cardinals
89. S Nick Collins/Green Bay Packers
90. S Sabby Piscitelli/Tampa Bay Bucs
91. S Thomas DeCoud/Atlanta Falcons
92. LB Bart Scott/New York Jets
93. LB Manny Lawson/San Francisco 49ers
94. LB Dhani Jones/Cincinnati Bengals
95. LB Aaron Curry/Seattle Seahawks
96. LB Nick Barnett/Green Bay Packers
97. LB Derrick Johnson/Kansas City Chiefs
98. LB Thomas Howard/Oakland Raiders
99. LB Keith Brooking/Dallas Cowboys
100. LB Calvin Pace/New York Jets
101. LB Stephen Tulloch/Tennessee Titans
102. LB Hunter Hillenmeyer/Chicago Bears
103. LB Akeem Jordan/Philadelphia Eagles
104. LB DeMorrio Williams/Kansas City Chiefs
105. LB D’Qwell Jackson/Cleveland Browns
106. S/LB Bryan Scott/Buffalo Bills
107. LB David Bowens/Cleveland Browns
108. LB Larry Foote/Pittsburgh Steelers
109. DE Robert Mathis/Indianapolis Colts
110. DE Justin Tuck/New York Giants
111. DE Andre Carter/Washington Redskins
112. DE/LB Jason Taylor/New York Jets
113. CB Richard Marshall/Carolina Panthers
114. CB Tramon Williams/Green Bay Packers
115. CB Dre’Bly/Detroit Lions
116. CB Malcolm Jenkins/New Orleans Saints
117. CB Chris Gamble/Carolina Panthers
118. CB Vontae Davis/Miami Dolphins
119. CB Andre Goodman/Denver Broncos
120. CB Jerraud Powers/Indianapolis Colts
121. CB/S Orlando Scandrick/Dallas Cowboys
122. CB Eric Wright/Cleveland Browns
123. CB Chris Johnson/Oakland Raiders
124. CB Cedric Griffin/Minnesota Vikings
125. S Ed Reed/Baltimore Ravens
126. S Eric Weddle/San Diego Chargers
127. S Danieal Manning/Chicago Bears
128. S Michael Griffin/Tennessee Titans
129. S Laron Landry/Washington Redskins
130. S Dawan Landry/Baltimore Ravens
131. S Brodney Pool/New York Jets
132. S O.J. Atogwe/Saint Louis Rams
133. S Michael Huff/Oakland Raiders
134. S Chine Ndukwe/Cincinnati Bengals
135. S Chris Harris/Chicago Bears
136. S Quinten Mikell/Philadelphia Eagles
137. S Jordan Babineaux/Seattle Seahawks
138. S James Butler/Saint Louis Rams
139. S Michael Lewis/San Francisco 49ers
140. S Deon Grant/New York Giants
141. LB Lofa Tatupu/Seattle Sehawks
142. LB A.J. Hawk/Green Bay Packers
143. LB Rey Maulauga/Cincinnati Bengals
144. LB Jarrett Johnson/Baltimore Ravens
145. LB Zac Diles/Houston Texans
146. LB (R)Sean Weatherspoon/Atlanta Falcons
147. LB Keith Rivers/Cincinnati Bengals
148. LB Quincy Black/Tampa Bay Bucs
149. LB (R)Josh Hull/Saint Louis Rams
150. LB Gary Guyton/New England Patriots

1. Brian Cushing/Houston Texans- Keep in mind that Cushing is suspended for the first 4 games of the 2010 season. This will mean you will have to move him down in the rankings. How far is up to you. A lot depends on how many LB’s are required for your IDP league, but

I would suggest filling in your starters first and then grabbing Cushing if he is still available.
2. Patrick Willis/San Francisco 49ers
3. David Harris/New York Jets
4. Barrett Ruud/Tampa Bay Bucs
5. James Laurinaitis/Saint Louis Rams
6. David Hawthorne/Seattle Seahawks
7. James Harrison/Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Ray Lewis/Baltimore Ravens
9. Demarcus Ware/Dallas Cowboys
10. James Farrior/Pittsburgh Steelers
11. London Fletcher/Washington Redskins
12. Chad Greenway/Minnesota Vikings
13. Lawrence Timmons/Pittsburgh Steelers
14. Paul Posluszny/Buffalo Bills
15. Jon Beason/Carolina Panthers
16. Curtis Lofton/Atlanta Falcons
17. Mike Peterson/Atlanta Falcons
18. Lamarr Woodley/Pittsburgh Steelers
19. Daryl Smith/Jacksonville Jaguars
20. DE/LB Brian Orakpo/Washington Redskins
21. Clay Matthews/Green Bay Packers
22. Lance Briggs/Chicago Bears
23. Shaun Phillips/San Diego Chargers
24. Geno Hayes/Tampa Bay Bucs
25. Stephen Cooper/San Diego Chargers
26. Bradie James/Dallas Cowboys
27. D.J.Williams/Denver Broncos
28. Kirk Morrison/Jacksonville Jaguars
29. Justin Durant/Jacksonville Jaguars
30. Karlos Dansby/Miami Dolphins
31. Demeco Ryans/Houston Texans
32. Brian Urlacher/Chicago Bears
33. Jerrod Mayo/New England Patriots
34. Jonathon Vilma/New Orleans Saints
35. Julian Peterson/Detroit Lions
36. Gary Brackett/Indianapolis Colts
37. Rocky McIntosh/Washington Redskins
38. Anthony Spencer/Dallas Cowboys
39. DE/LB Tamba Hali/Kansas City Chiefs
40. Will Witherspoon/Tennessee Titans
41. Deandre Levy/Detroit Lions
42. Clint Session/Indianapolis Colts
43. Bart Scott/New York Jets
44. Manny Lawson/San Francisco 49ers
45. Dhani Jones/Cincinnati Bengals
46. Aaron Curry/Seattle Seahawks
47. Nick Barnett/Green Bay Packers
48. Derrick Johnson/Kansas City Chiefs
49. Thomas Howard/Oakland Raiders
50. Keith Brooking/Dallas Cowboys
51. Calvin Pace/New York Jets
52. Clark Haggans/Arizona Cardinals
53. Stephen Tulloch/Tennessee Titans
54. Hunter Hillenmeyer/Chicago Bears
55. Akeem Jordan/Philadelphia Eagles
56. DeMorrio Williams/Kansas City Chiefs
57. D’Qwell Jackson/Cleveland Browns
58. LB/S Bryan Scott/Buffalo Bills
59. David Bowens/Cleveland Browns
60. Larry Foote/Pittsburgh Steelers

3 LB’s To Watch
Lofa Tatupu/Seattle Seahawks
(R)Sean Weatherspoon/Atlanta Falcons
(R)Josh Hull/Saint Louis Rams

Here’s the thing about LB’s when it comes to your fantasy draft: Depending on how many you are required to start, they can make or break your fantasy team. However, the difference between the number 7 LB and the number 40 LB may only be about 2 to 3 points per game. As I said before, don’t sacrifice your offense for a defensive player unless it really makes sense.

Not only are LB’s responsible for the majority of tackles in the NFL, but they also get sacks, defend passes, force fumbles, and get interceptions. In leagues that only require only one or two IDP players, chances are they are going to be LB’s unless one of the top safeties or CB’s are available and the top five LB’s are off the board. In leagues that require more than two starting LB’s, grabbing three of the top 20 LB’s for your fantasy team can propel your team to a dominating season. I would still build my offense first, but when the player pool gets to the point that the top WR or RB left will be just as good as the next five, six, or seven WR’s and RB’s left on the board, you may want to start jumping on your LB’s.

I admit I didn’t have the opportunity to play in an IDP league last season, but in previous years my teams have been practically unbeatable. I won those leagues easily and had the highest weekly score on numerous occasions. The thing to keep in mind is although the scoring difference between the number 20 LB and the number 60 LB will likely be minimal, having three of the top 20 is going to to bring great results. Your team won’t be devastated or suffer greatly if you don’t manage to grab three of the top 20, but in the event you have the opportunity it can really put your team in a great position to win it all.

Stay on top of your game with my free fantasy football picks at http://johnnynfl.com. Follow me for instant notification when I post updates. http://twitter.com/johnnynfl