RB Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts

2007 Stats: 1072 rushing yards, 364 receiving yards, 15 total TDs
Projected 2008 Stats: 1193 rushing yards, 401 receiving yards, 19 total TDs
Projected Fantasy Round: 1st Round
Running backs to be picked ahead of Joseph Addai: LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson

Fantasy Outlook:

Why you should draft Joseph Addai: In his two year career, Addai has averaged over 1075 rushing yards and nearly 12 total touchdowns per season.  Last season, Addai had at least 15 carries in 11 games, and he also eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards in four contests. 

Why you may want to stay away from drafting Joseph Addai: In 2007, Addai was held to less than 50 rushing yards six times, including the last four games.  Additionally, Addai was unable to dent the scoreboard with a rushing touchdown in six games, which is not on par with the elite fantasy running backs. 

Bottom Line: In Week 9, Addai showed his fantasy worth by rushing for 112 yards, while adding 114 yards in the receiving game.  Since the Colts have such a potent pass offense, sometimes Addai gets lost in the shuffle.  However, when they opt to utilize Addai, he wastes little time to show why he is a No.1 running back in fantasy.

WR Randy Moss, New England Patriots

2007 Stats: 98 receptions, 1493 receiving yards, 23 TDs
Projected 2008 Stats: 91 receptions, 1277 receiving yards, 18 TDs
Projected Fantasy Round: 1st Round
Wide Receivers to be picked ahead of Randy Moss: None

Fantasy Outlook:

Why you should draft Randy Moss: In 2007, Moss essentially had the most prolific fantasy year possible for a wide receiver. Moss hit the century mark in receiving yards nine times, and he had eight contests where he had multiple touchdown receptions.  He also had at least five receptions in a dozen games.

Why you may want to stay away from drafting Randy Moss: Moss found the fountain of youth in New England and had a stellar 2007 campaign.  However, in his two previous seasons, Moss averaged just 779 receiving yards and under six touchdowns.  The most plausible reason to pass on Moss is the fact that he has had some injury issues the previous few seasons, and if you want to draft him this year, it will likely cost you a late first round pick.  In other words, not only would you be taking a risk on Moss, you would also have to pass on some talented running backs in order to get him. 

Bottom Line: In Week 11, Moss torched the Bills with a blazing 10 receptions for 128 receiving yards and a scorching four touchdowns.  With that kind of ability, it is difficult to not want to play with fire and draft Moss.  Moss should be viewed as a high risk/high reward fantasy player for 2008. 

QB Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals

2007 Stats: 4131 passing yards, 26 total TDs, 20 INTs
Projected 2008 Stats: 4014 passing yards, 27 total TDs, 17 INTs
Projected Fantasy Round: 2nd Round
Quarterbacks to be picked ahead of Carson Palmer: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Tony Romo

Fantasy Outlook:

Why you should draft Carson Palmer: Over the last three seasons, Palmer has averaged 4000 passing yards and 39 total touchdowns.  He also has never missed a regular season game in that aforementioned span.  Last season, Palmer had five games where he eclipsed 300 passing yards, and he had seven contests where he threw multiple touchdowns.

Why you may want to stay away from drafting Carson Palmer: It remains to be seen if Chad Johnson will still be in a Bengals uniform in 2008, and Palmer no longer has Chris Henry at his disposal.  Even with those weapons in 2007, Palmer still had 20 interceptions and three games where he failed to throw a single touchdown pass.

Bottom Line: In Week 2 (2007), Palmer lit up the Browns to the tune of 401 passing yards and an eye-popping six touchdown tosses.  It is that kind of production that makes Palmer a highly coveted fantasy quarterback, and he will be gone by the second round of most fantasy drafts. 

QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

2007 Stats: 4040 passing yards, 34 total TDs, 14 INTs
Projected 2008 Stats: 3970 passing yards, 31 total TDs, 15 INTs
Projected Fantasy Round: 1st Round
Quarterbacks to be picked ahead of Peyton Manning: Tom Brady

Fantasy Outlook:

Why should you draft Peyton Manning: Manning is a reliable fantasy player that doesn’t miss any games, and he can be penciled in for at least 30 touchdowns every year.  Over the last four seasons, Manning has averaged 4185 passing yards and over 36 touchdowns.  He also has completed over 60 percent of his passes in every single season, except his rookie campaign.

Why you may want to stay away from drafting Peyton Manning: If you subscribe to the theory that you need to draft a running back in the first round, then you might opt to pass on Manning.  In addition, Manning threw more picks last season then he had since 2002, and with the injury concerns with Marvin Harrison, he could flirt with averaging one interception per game in 2008.

Bottom Line: With Larry Johnson and Steven Jackson having an unexpected down year in 2007, coupled with the fact LaDainian Tomlison is recovering from a serious knee injury, this could be the year to snag a safe pick like Manning in the first round.  Manning will likely be the second quarterback taken in most fantasy drafts towards the latter half of the first round. 

AFC East
*New England Patriots 14-2
New York Jets 8-8
Buffalo Bills 7-9
Miami Dolphins 5-11

AFC North
*Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5
**Cleveland Browns 10-6
Cincinnati Bengals 7-9
Baltimore Ravens 7-9

AFC South
*Jacksonville Jaguars 13-3
**Indianapolis Colts 12-4
Houston Texans 8-8
Tennessee Titans 6-10

AFC West
*San Diego Chargers 11-5
Denver Broncos 8-8
Oakland Raiders 7-9
Kansas City Chiefs 4-12

NFC East
*Dallas Cowboys 12-4
**Philadelphia Eagles 11-5
**New York Giants 10-6
Washington Redskins 7-9

NFC North
*Minnesota Vikings 10-6
Green Bay Packers 9-7
Detroit Lions 7-9
Chicago Bears 6-10

NFC South
*New Orleans Saints 11-5
Carolina Panthers 8-8
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-8
Atlanta Falcons 1-15

NFC West
*Seattle Seahawks 9-7
Arizona Cardinals 8-8
San Francisco 49ers 7-9
St. Louis Rams 5-11

Super Bowl
Dallas Cowboys-31
Jacksonville Jaguars-17

*Division Winner
**Wild Card