As fantasy football writers, it’s very difficult to navigate through the countless amounts of starving headlines that are designed to be supplemental stories rather than actual advice that fans can actually use.

It’s not our fault, have you seen the price of ground meat  lately?

Ergo, it is up to us writers to really nitpick what we hear and read about before presenting it all to you; such as the recent speculation that Carson Palmer still has a place in the 2011 NFL season, and his potential to be reunited with Pete Carroll in Seattle.

I know, it’s a very enticing consideration to think that Palmer might actually play again this year, and yes, if he were to be traded, I can safely assume the majority of fantasy football writers would be lining up for their seat on the “breaking news” meat wagon concerning a situation that has been speculated over since April—yeah that’s right, it’s been THAT long.

But whether it will happen before Tuesday’s trade deadline is a totally different beast.

NFL.com’s Gil Brandt suggest a trade scenario that would send Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin to Cincinnati for Palmer which would satisfy both sides, giving Seattle the veteran quarterback that Tarvaris Jackson is NOT, while supplying the Bengals with another young receiver for the future.

*Cough!*

Conversely, however, Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer speculated about a possible trade involving Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry for Palmer, and suggested it wasn’t going to happen.

Shortly after the fact, Curry was traded to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a seventh-round pick in 2012 and a conditional mid-round pick in 2013, leaving the speculative Palmer trade wide open.

See what I mean?

The underlying issue at hand, though, is that it’s also widely accepted that Bengals owner and GM Mike Brown doesn’t want to set a precedent for unhappy players to dictate their own will; an act that would leave the ownership’s credibility in question.

So what does this all mean for fantasy owners who are trying to keep their finger on the pulse of the Carson Palmer situation?

Well, for one, it means everyone has roughly one week before they find out if Carson Palmer is yet again a viable fantasy football option off of the waiver wire.

But unless you are completely devoid of a QB2, and assuming that the suspected trade does in fact happen, Palmer’s actual fantasy value will not be felt for a few weeks afterwards.

Yes, Palmer has been working since August, but that “work” only means his own conditioning and approach which is vastly different from working with an actual playbook—Donovan McNabb anyone?

• Would Palmer be an upgrade over current quarterback Tarvaris Jackson? Yes. But again, the trade idea has been perpetually stuck in speculation mode since what…forever, and we don’t even know if the Seahawks would just rip Jackson out of the starting role unless he royally screws up over the next week or so.
• Would the presence of Palmer finally provide some legitimate fantasy value to the Seahawks receivers like Sidney Rice and Ben Obomanu? The potential is certainly there, but it will take a few weeks to really decide whether or not it is worth using the pooper-scooper to grab him.
• Would Palmer under center add value to Marshawn Lynch since Palmer is more threatening of a quarterback than Jackson? No, Lynch was washed up two years ago, and if you are still riding that horse you may want to put him out to pasture and contemporize, man!

In the end, this story might be more fodder for starving writers than actual news we all can latch onto, but in the same vein, it’s intriguing enough to stay abreast of the situation in regard to fantasy football.

Remember, unexpected options that come traipsing along can sometimes be that shot-in-the-arm particular fantasy football teams are in search of, and this situation would certainly suggest such a shot.

For more specific fantasy football advice, be sure to check out our Week 6 Rankings and Week 6 IDP Rankings.

Antonio Gates Injured?

UPDATED – 5:00 pm, Friday, September 23rd: All updates will be done in RED.

The Week 3 injury report is growing at an exponential rate (Antonio Gates and Beanie Wells were just added this AM), with players seemingly being added by the minute so I’m going to cut to the chase here.

In total, there are roughly 25 players or so most will be interested and listed here today, but if there is a player I left out, just imply ask about him below.

I’ll separate the players listed as “probable” from everyone else, but I recommend reading the analysis provided.

KEY: Q – questionable / D – Doubtful / UN – uncertain / D₂D – Day to Day / GTD – Game time decision

The Probables:

• Brandon Lloyd, Kenny Britt, Santonio Holmes and Stevie Johnson have all been upgraded to full practice, and are clear to play on Sunday. These receivers are worthy of WR 2 and 3 status and hold a lot of value coming into this week.
• Percy Harvin and Darrius Hewyward-Bey were also upgraded to full practice and cleared for this week. Harvin and Heyward-Bey seemed slower than usual, and will probably show the after effects of their respective injuries. They are more risky than the other four receivers mentioned above.
• Cam Newton’s foot injury won’t prevent him from starting this week.
• Doctors now say that Tony Romo’s lung has completely healed. Romo missed Friday’s practice due to pain. The official word on Romo won’t come until Saturday due to the Cowboys playing Monday night, but it isn’t looking to favorable right now.
• Barring any setbacks, Michael Vick will play this week against the woeful Giants.
• Last but not least, Chargers’ RB Mike Tolbert will start this week.

Great “Dane-s”, and Marijuana, Batman! Most of you may already know that Cowboys receiver Miles Austin is expected to be sidelined until Week 6, but what you may not know is the recent news surrounding Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson. Simpson will be sat this week, and perhaps permanently, after the fuzz discovered 8.5 pounds of the smokey chiba at his house. Bengals receiver Andre Caldwell will step in and could become the next hot waiver wire option after this week.

And finally, Chicago Bears receiver Earl Bennet is now officially out of this week’s contest against the Packers with what is being labeled as a “torso” injury—rookie Dane Sanzenbacher will start in Bennet’s place. Sanzenbacher got everyone up in arms last week with his late game touchdown, but the fact is we’ll have to see more from him going forward in order to qualify him as a new fantasy starter.

If you are in a pinch and need a WR off the WW—especially in deeper formats—he could make for a nice flyer this week.

Stay Tuned, and be sure to check back at the end of the day for the final reports.

Late Day Injury Additions:

• Lee Evans – WR – OUT: Evans return is unknown right now, Tandon Doss may get the nod.
• Danny Amendola – WR – Return Week 6: He has his motion back, but the Rams will not rush his return which is schedule for after their Week 5 bye.
• Michael Crabtree – WR – Will Play: Crabtree will play against the Bengals, but doesn’t have a good matchup (Leon Hall) and is not 100 percent healthy…keep him benched.
• Sidney Rice – WR – Debuts Sunday! A big round of applause for Sidney Rice as news out of Seattle is he will in fact start, which is actually horrible news when you consider the current passing game in Seattle right now. Still he is worth a spot  on your watch list.
• Peyton Hillis – RB – Questionable: Out of the clear blue, Nate Ulrich on Twitter is reporting that Hillis is listed on the Browns injury report as Questionable with an illness. All other reports do, however, suggest he is likely to play but it could come as a time-share with Montario Hardesty.

After a strong Week-One performance against the Saints, Aaron Rodgers is our No. 1 fantasy quarterback this week.

Your usual fantasy guru Ray Tannock is taking a break from the rankings this week, so I am here to give you the lowdown on what’s going to go down in Week Two. We had a lot of surprises at quarterback in Week One. The biggest one, obviously, being Cam Newton’s breakout performance against the Cardinals. Things should settle down this weekend, but we could have a surprise or two that pop up out of nowhere.

Before I start, I would like to congratulate Ray for coming in first place in Fantasy Football Crystal Ball’s Week One Accuracy Score for Quarterbacks last week. Way to go RAY!!!!!!!

Below are my quarterback rankings going into Week Two.

TOP FIVE WEEK-TWO MATCHUPS (MUST START)

1. Aaron Rogers (GB) @ CAR: Is there any reason to not put Rodgers at No. 1 this week? I know Tom Brady had that huge game against Miami, but my money is on Rodgers to lead the charge against a Carolina Defense that gave up 309 yards and two scores against Kevin Kolb.

2. Tom Brady (NE) vs. SD: Putting Brady any lower than No. 2 would be ridiculous. The guy simply doesn’t stop at putting up big games. Hell, he even made Deion Branch look like a stud Monday night. The Chargers Defense will come back down to Earth after facing Donovan McNabb in Week One.

3. Michael Vick (PHI) @ ATL: Vick didn’t throw for very many yards (187) against the Rams, but his two passing touchdowns and 98 rushing yards made up for it. Vick showed he still has plenty left in the legs. He will need that in, what figures to be, a very emotional game against his old team the Falcons in their house.

4. Matthew Stafford (DET) vs. KC: Stafford had a huge Week One, throwing for three touchdowns against the Bucs. Kansas City didn’t have an answer for Ryan Fitzpatrick. And after losing Eric Berry to a torn ACL, Stafford should have his way with the Chiefs’ secondary.

5. Philip Rivers (SD) @ NE: The Chargers’ receivers were held in check by the Vikings, but Rivers still had a huge fantasy day, using both Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews in the passing game. If Chad Henne can look like a Pro Bowler against the Patriots D, Rivers should have a field day in Foxboro.

Kevin Kolb had an excellent regular-season debut.

Despite throwing for two scores in Week One against the Bengals, Colt McCoy is better off on your bench.

BEST OF THE REST:

THE BOTTOM FEEDERS:

I wish everyone the best of luck this week. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post below.

After the Titans backed up the money truck to Johnson's house, he moves right back up to the top 3 behind AD.

The top 40 list for running backs is now fully updated as of 9/3. This will be the last ranking of the preseason, unless there is major news regarding someone who is injured during the next. As of now, we still don’t have any official word on Arian Foster’s condition (day-to-day), so make sure to check back with the site to see if there have been any changes. These rankings are based on standard PPR leagues where all scoring touchdowns are six points.

Players in red italics have been updated with new outcomes since last week.

If you have any questions, concerns or see something that sticks out like a sore thumb, make sure you leave a comment below or email me at Greg@FantasyKnuckleheads.com.

Running Backs 1-10

Monterio Hardesty's knee woes have helped Peyton Hillis gain some of his fantasy value back.

Running Backs 11-20

With injuries aplenty in Dallas' backfield, Jones could be in store for a career season.

Best of the Rest 21-30

Mike Tolbert cracks the top-40 for the first time in the preseason. He could be a solid flex options.

Best of the Rest 31-40

FINAL UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2011

Well, this is it everyone. The WR rankings are final with a few additions and subtractions and some rank movement up and down the board.

There are, however, plenty of receivers who are not listed that will add incredible value to your team, so please ask any questions you may have about a player not listed.

As a final piece of advice, remember that the 2011 season will be a “quarterback year” meaning there will be a strong emphasis towards the passing game, putting even more value into the hands (no pun intended) of the receivers globally.

When you are done with this list, be sure to also re-review our sleepers and the rest of our rankings listed below, and as always, good luck this season!

QB rankings– RB rankings – TE rankings – IDP – Kickers – Team Defense

Also, if you still haven’t decided  on your team name yet, come check out my Top 50 Fantasy Football Teams Names for 2011.

The Current Top Echelon:

1. Calvin Johnson – Stafford will be healthy and playing with a chip on his shoulder, and Detroit is going to come out of the gate throwing as often as possible. No one was targeted more on 20+ yard plays (41) than the 6’5” 235 pounder, and that number could increase in 2011.

2. Andre Johnson – He put up 1,216 yards and 8 TDs on a bum ankle in 2010. Now he’s healthy…what do you think is going to happen?

3. Larry Fitzgerald – Fitz finished 5th in catches, 8th in yards and dropped just three balls out of 93 targets last year, and that was WITH a crappy QB situation. The Cardinals are expected to land Kevin Kolb, and if so, Fitz’s value skyrockets.

4. Hakeem Nicks – Nicks climbs two spots thanks to the new CBA agreement which allows four year veterans to become unrestricted free agents…meaning Steve Smith could hit the open market and if he does, Nicks’ value goes through the roof.

5. Roddy White – Julio Jones might steal some targets, but if he does, that means teams will have less double teams on White. Matt Ryan must be licking his chops right now.

6. Mike Wallace – Wallace falls two spots thanks to the promotion to Nicks, but don’t read too much into the red arrow, Wallace is still going to be a force to reckon with in 2011.

7. Greg Jennings – He plays in one of the most explosive offenses in the National Football League, and is poised to take over as the new number one guy in title town this year.

8. DeSean Jackson – Jackson is a bona-certified Top 10 receiver, but his maturity level in 2010 keeps his early ranking grounded. He’ll still be a force to be reckoned with in 2011, though, so don’t worry.

9. Jeremy Maclin –  Maclin was the leading RECEIVER on this team in 2010, and he is expected to have an expanded role this year.

10.Miles Austin – In the end, I believe with a healthy Romo, and a less conservative offensive approach, Miles Austin regains his Top 10 status right out of the gate.

Tier Two:
These receivers are currently considered just outside of the Top 10 for the varying reasons listed below.

11. Dwayne Bowe – Charlie Weis is no longer in town, and the Chiefs are due to face much stiffer completion in 2011. Bowe might be up and down, but you could do far worse.

12. Vincent Jackson –V-Jax is back on the fantasy map and will play alongside fellow receivers Patrick Crayton, Malcom Floyd and Vincent Brown. I would have him higher, but with Antonio Gates also in the mix, the ball will be spread around quite a bit. don’t worry, he’s still money all day.

13. Brandon Marshall – MIA Marshall falls, but he will still be fantasy relevant. But I fear his glory days are now behind him

14. Percy Harvin – Again, preliminary scouting here suggests his health will always be a concern, and the Vikings have a ton of issues to settle at WR before anyone can begin reading into Harvin. I do see his rank rising as the summer progresses.

15. Austin Collie – Migraines and three concussions in one year is a red flag for sure, but if he remains healthy he should become the number one wide out in Indianapolis.

16. Reggie Wayne – 2010 was an up year in receptions and yards for Wayne, but a down year in TDs. Manning has plenty of other options to play with in 2011 and owners should forget about ever getting the 2007 version of Reggie Wayne…those days are long behind him, but he still makes for a fine WR2.

17. Wes Welker – I love Welker, but he is only valuable in PPR leagues.

18. Mike Williams (TB) – Most rookies come back down to earth in their Sophomore year, and I don’t see a repeat of last year.

19. Ochocinco – NE: Love it or hate it, the man is back and has one of the best quarterbacks in the league throwing to him. He should be good for double digit touchdown totals, and could wind up being the leading receiver on the Patriots by the end of the year.

20. Santonio Holmes – NYJ: He’ll provide fantasy owners some points, but not to their expectations.

Tier Three:

Colston will try playing his first season in the NFL without a missing a game due to injury. 21.  Marques Colston – 5 knee surgeries in five years is a cause for concern, and with Jimmy Graham in the mix, I would exercise caution with Colston. He might be a better suited high-upside WR2 right now.I’m not saying the guy isn’t going to produce this year, but one has to be significantly worried about the potential repercussions of five knee surgeries in one career—albeit a very young career. If it makes you feel better, he is currently impressing in camp and is practicing without issue. If I am wrong, but you still draft Colston low, we both win as I wind up right on the backend, and you get yourself a low-cost fantasy football gem. Here’s to hoping!

22. Dez Bryant – DAL: Bryant will be a valuable piece to this offense, and will also be a situational punt returner adding to his overall value.

23. Danny Amendola – STL: Amendola has completely separated himself in camp and is the clear cut WR1 in a pass friendly Josh McDaniels’ offense. He makes for a solid WR3/4 in fantasy football.

24. Malcom Floyd – SD: Floyd was re-signed to a two-years deal by SD. He’s right where he should be.

25. Brandon Lloyd – Even if Orton is the starter expect Lloyd to regress from last year’s totals.

26. Kenny Britt – Legal troubles, and immaturity keeps Britt down in the rankings, and he should be considered a liability for now. if he cleans things up, though, watch out!

27. Sidney Rice – SEA:Rice falls near to the third tier range which is about right.

28. James Jones – The Packers managed to keep Jones, but the kitchen is full of cooks which will hurt his 2011 potential.

29. Johnny Knox – CHI: Knox will be featured even more now that Williams showed himself to be a failed venture so early on.

30. Steve Johnson – Johnson came out of nowhere last year, and he is officially on a tentative watch right now in regard to his current rank. He will see more double teams this year, though, which is something he struggled with in 2010.

The Final Cut: The following are a list of receivers are currently valued only as a draftee in the back half of your draft (4th round or later). This is not to say that some of these receivers won’t perform or do your fantasy football team any good, just that you wouldn’t take any of these players over the Top 10, or second tire players.

31. Hines Ward – PITT

32. Mike Sims-Walker – STL: MSW will have one year to prove he is worth a long-term contract, whether it is with St.  Louis or someone else. You can bet he will make the best of it, which should benefit your fantasy team.

33. Nate Washington – TEN

34. Jordy Nelson – GB

35. Nate Burleson – DET

36. Steve Breaston – KC: will compete for snaps. His knee is also a huge concern.

37. Earl Bennet – CHI

38. Mario Mannigham – NYG

39. Anquan Boldin – BAL (final-ranking)

40. Steve Smith – CAR

41. Mike Thomas – JAX

42. Jacoby Ford – OAK:

43. Davone Bess – MIA

44. Julio Jones – ATL (great Dynasty draftee)

45. Steve Smith – PHI:His role in Philly will be limited, which puts a cap on his fantasy value once he’s healthy enough to play.

46. Patrick Crayton – SD (final-ranking)

47. Emmanuel Sanders – PITT: There is little fantasy separation between Sanders and Brown, considering how close the two are, but the word is sanders has the slight edge over Brown. The only issue is that Sanders is still hampered by that foot injury, so he is likely to start the season slower than expected, which will initially add to Brown’s early value.

48. Michael Jenkins – MIN: He’ll likely gain value as the season goes on, but he needs to be treated with some caution.

49. Harry Douglas – ATL: Douglas makes the Top 50, and you can further read why Harry Douglas, and others, are great late-round steals.

50. Antonio Brown – PITT: The athletic receiver has shown that he is more than a situational receiver in Pittsburgh, and it is clear that they will utilize him as both a slot option and a deep-ball threat. You getting Brown at a significantly discounted price here.

Other receivers who should add some nice value to your team, or make for excellent waiver wire grabs:

Titus Young – Detroit Lions
A.J. Green – Cincinnati Bengals
Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers
Jason Avant – Philadelphia Eagles
Devin Aromashodu – Minnesota Vikings
Deion Branch – New England Patriots
Derrick Mason – New York Jets
Braylon Edwards – San Francisco 49ers
Jericho Cotchery – Pittsburgh Steelers
Greg Little – Cleveland Browns
Denarius Moore  – Oakland Raiders
Johnathan Baldwin – Kansas City Chiefs
Arrelious Benn – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints

With a third year receiver, the player in question simply becomes more valuable from a fantasy aspect.

But not all of the third year guys are bound for glory in the 2011 fantasy football season, so today I want to quickly run through the 10 best 3rd year receivers for you guys.

Let’s take a sneak peak, shall we?

The Fab Five

1. Hakeem Nicks – Giants: Arguably the best 3rd year receiver in the National Football League, Nicks is primed for his best fantasy football season yet in 2011.

Nicks is slated to be the number one guy in the Big Apple, and with four year receivers becoming unrestricted free agents (as expected from the CBA talks) that means teammate Steve Smith is bound for the open market, paving the way for a monster offensive focus on Nicks.

UPDATE 8/4: (Paul Dottino on Twitter is reporting that the Giants are in no rush to sign Smith because the impression is he will miss up to a month anyway as he recovers from microfracture surgery on his knee, meaning Nicks’ first four weeks of the fantasy season should definitely be huge).

I have him currently ranked 4th in my Early WR Rankings, but you can expect that rank to potentially rise this summer.

2. Percy Harvin – Vikings: Harvin’s situation is similar to Nicks in the sense that four year man Sidney Rice is scheduled to hit the open market as well, and head coach Leslie Frazier has already come out and said they will focus on Harvin more in the 2011 season.

I am putting him second over Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin, only because I believe Harvin will see slightly more targets than Maclin, with the Eagles flirting with running the ball more in 2011…tentatively.

Update 8/4:  (With Sidney Rice in Seattle, the Vikings were forced to run out and grab Devin Aromashodu (Bears) and Michael Jenkins (Atlanta) as replacements. Clearly, the Vikings haven’t found THAT guy to line up opposite of Harvin yet, but there will be enough weapons on the field for fantasy owners to enjoy a solid year from Harvin).

3. Jeremy Maclin – Eagles: Maclin was last year’s 13th overall fantasy receiver, but again, the Eagles are expected to run more in 2011, and I don’t see Maclin getting 70 receptions for two straight years.

Maclin is still a viable threat in the field, and it isn’t as if the Eagles can exclusively feature DeSean Jackson for 16 games, so expect Maclin to maintain a high WR2 value in most leagues.

4. Mike Wallace – Steelers: Wallace was the bona-certified deep ball threat in Steel-town last year putting up a sick six 100+ yards games and finished in the Top 10 in fantasy points (5th to be exact).

The issue with Wallace last year though was his lack of targets, which should take a dramatic turn for the better in 2011 barring any unforeseen issues.

5. Austin Collie – Colts: Collie had some injury issues in 2010, but when he did play, he was a fantasy monster.

Still, out of the entire third-year WR crop, he is easily in the Top 5, and if he can stay healthy, you can bet he will be a mid-round steal.

Make sure you check back regularly to learn how his health is doing in camp and what not.

UPDATE 8/4: (Colts.com is reporting that Collie has repoted to camp and is fully participating without regression or issue. Collie himself even said : “  “It’s good, it feels good,” said Collie.  “It feels good to be back with the guys and make sure that we’re all on the same page to get going…It was fun, just going through the plays and asking questions.  It feels good to be back with the team and be part of it again.” Be advised that Collie is rumored to possibly take over as the No1 receiver in Indianapolis with Reggie wayne slowing in his years, but his health will be a key factor in that).

Rounding Out the Top 10

Got a specific question? Leave it below. It’s never too early to ask.

San Francisco 49ers

• Head Coach Jim Harbaugh replaces Mike Singletary
• Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman replaces Mike Johnson

The signing of Harbaugh was supposed to breathe new life into Alex Smith, whose career has been lackluster so far, but Smith hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the new staff. The team used a fourth-round pick on Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick, but he is a bit too raw to take the starting job. However, Harbaugh has officially opened up the starting job and it was also revealed that the 49ers were courting, now Titans, Matt Hasselbeck. Not to mention the team had brought in  Daunte Culpepper in for a workout. So while Harbaugh had been able to use his magic on players like Andrew Luck and Buccaneers backup Josh Johnson, there might not be enough to make Smith a competant starter.

Frank Gore’s role doesn’t change with the coaching change. He will continue to be the bell cow in the backfield and should reach another 1000-1100 yard season, but health is always a factor. Harbaugh was able to turn Toby Gerhart into a top player, so he should be able to keep Gore alive as one of the league’s leading rushers. But, again, Gore has to remain healthy to do it.

The passing game was supposed to have improved, but Michael Crabtree has already gotten bit by the injury bug when he suffered a foot injury early in practice. The team, worried about Crabtree’s availability, signed former Jets receiver Braylon Edwards to a one year deal. Once Crabtree comes back, current No. 2 Josh Morgan could kick into the slot in three-receiver sets. Tight end Vernon Davis could easily lead the team in receptions in 2011.

Minnesota Vikings

• Interim Head Coach Leslie Frazier named head coach
• Offensive Coordinator Bill Musgrave replaces Darrell Bevell

After much speculation regarding the quarterback situation, the Vikings finally settled on former Eagles/Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb as the stopgap until rookie Christian Ponder is ready to take over the reigns. McNabb showed last year that he is clearly on the decline, but Musgrave will still use what arm strength he has left to stretch the field and make more down-field throws.

Just weeks after Frazier’s promotion, it wasn’t much of a surprise that he officially announced that the offense would run through Adrian Peterson. As the top back in the backfield, expect AD to flirt with 300 carries and close to 1300 rushing yards. And now that Musgrave is calling the offense, Peterson could start seeing an increase in receptions if he can show he can stay in on third downs, which AD has been lobbying for in training camp.

With Sidney Rice gone, Musgrave will use Percy Harvin a lot this year, moving him around in certain situations and creating mismatches. Unfortunately, outside of Harvin, this receiving unit is going to need to be coached up a lot in order to have any success. Bernard Berrian is pedestrian, Michael Jenkins is a better blocker than receiver and Greg Camarillo is just okay. Because of the lack of talent, Musgrave will use more two-tight end sets with Visanthe Shiancoe and rookie Kyle Rudolph. This will also help McNabb as he has shown in the past that he loves throwing to tight ends.

Carolina Panthers

• Head Coach Ron Rivera replaces John Fox in Carolina
• Offensive Coordinator Rob Chudzinski replaces Jeff Davidson

Rivera will have some work to do for an offense that had troubles at all the skill positions last year.

Starting with quarterback, it’s still a tossup as to who will start Week One between rookie Cam Newton and Jimmy Clausen. Neither has shown enough in the preseason that made one stick out from other other. As far as fantasy owners are concerned, Newton should only be owned in Dynasty leagues. Don’t expect this team to pass much in Rivera’s year one as the head coach.

Somehow the Panthers managed to bring back running back DeAngelo Williams, who was the hottest free agent on the market after the lockout ended. With Williams locked up, expect Rivera and Chud to use a lot of the ground game in 2011 to easy the passing game slowly into the fold as the season wears on.

Along with Williams, the Panthers also managed to appease receiver Steve Smith to the point where his trade demands disappeared. As the lone wide receiver with any sort of legitimate talent, Smith is going to see a lot of defensive attention this year.

The biggest plus that Rob Chudzinski gives the offense is that the tight ends will be used a lot in the passing game. As a former tight end and a former tight ends coach at San Diego, Chud will make good use out of guys like Greg Olsen, who was mostly used as a blocker in Chicago. We already saw the tight ends make some noise in the first preseason game after Olsen and Gary Barnidge led the team with four targets a piece. And if Newton winds up being thrown to the wolves Week One, he will need the tight end safety net to make it through.

St. Louis Rams

• Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels replaces Pat Shurmur

With Pat Shurmur now in Cleveland as the new head coach, McDaniels brings his pass happy offense to St. Louis. This will be huge for the development of Sam Bradford, who had already grown leads and bounds in his rookie year. Bradford should easily match his passing numbers from 2010 and should see an uptick in passing touchdowns from the eighteen he threw last year.

Steven Jackson is Steven Jackson. A hard runner and one of the better pass-catching running backs in the league. The upside is that McDaniels will continue to use Jackson as the featured back in the running game. The bad news is that Jackson’s receptions might not be there this year. To find a running back who had more than 50 receptions in a year, you have to go all the way back to 2008 when Patriots running back Kevin Faulk had 58. Jackson is also starting to get a bit long in the tooth and is slowly breaking down, but he should squeeze out one more year of production.

St. Louis has a lot of receivers on the roster, but only a few of them possess enough talent to even be considered every-week starter. Newly-signed Mike Sims-Walker figures to end up landing one starting spot, but Brandon Gibson has really looked good in the preseason. The lone guy who I absolutely love is Danny Amendola. After 85 receptions in 2010, he reminds me a lot of a poor-man’s Wes Welker, who McDaniels had coached before going to Denver. If Bradford can continue to play well, Amendola will easily lead the team in receptions. Rookie tight end Lance Kendricks has the most upside of all the tight ends on the roster and will have a big role early.

Dallas Cowboys

• Interim Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett named head coach/offensive coordinator

Talking about Garrett and the Cowboys will be short and sweet. Expect Tony Romo to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2010. Felix Jones, if he can stay healthy, should enjoy his best season yet as a pro. Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten will all be huge assets in the passing game. Since Garrett called the plays near the end of last year, don’t expect his offensive philosophy to change.

Only difference between Garrett and Wade Phillips? Don’t expect the practices to be like eating a slice of blueberry pie. Garrett will push these guys to the limit unlike Phillips, whose practices were considered “creampuff.”

Seattle Seahawks

• Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell replaces Jeremy Bates

Bevell goes from Minnesota to Seattle with the same title and will take his West Coast offense with him. This offense looks good on paper, but head coach Pete Carroll’s affinity for sticking with Tarvaris Jackson as his starting quarterback is going to kill this entire offense. I beg of you Pete, PLEASE GIVE CHARLIE WHITEHURST A CHANCE!!!!!!!

Marshawn Lynch, an early sleeper of mind, will get most of the workload if he can find running room in Tom Cable’s zone blocking offensive line. But with Leon Washington expected to get an expanded role and Justin Forsett still lingering, this backfield could become a committee if Lynch doesn’t get going early in the season. And with the huge question mark at quarterback, defenses will be ready for the run.

In a perfect world, Sidney Rice will benefit the most as Seattle’s version of Percy Harvin. Newly-acquired tight end Zach Miller will see an expanded role in the passing game after John Carlson fell out of favor with the coaching staff in 2010. Unfortunately, I find it hard to believe Big Mike Williams will be able to improve his numbers from 2010.

Arizona Cardinals

• Offensive Coordinator Mike Miller replaces the OC vacancy

With Miller calling the offense, the passing game will be a major factor this year. The signing of Kevin Kolb finally gives the quarterback position some legitimacy is severely lacked last year. Larry Fitzgerald will be the center point, but there really isn’t anyone else who sticks out. Andre Roberts? Stephen Williams? Please.

Outside of Fitzgerald, the second highest passing option, in my opinion, will be Todd Heap, who finally gives this offense a talented option at tight end that it hasn’t seen under head coach Ken Whisenhunt’s tenure.