Name

Team

Pos.

Round

Comments

Steve McNair

Tenn.

QB

7+

Steve McNair will score in the passing categories and the rushing categories. With Eddie George healthy, opposing defenses will not know what to do. After he led the Titans to the playoffs two years in a row, last year was a disappointment. He spent the beginning of the year on the IR, but was amazing down the stretch. He is almost the same player as Donavon McNabb, but can go much later. In most drafts, the top 7 or 8 QBs will be taken in the first few rounds, and then other positions are taken. McNair is usually the 8^th or 9^th QB, and can go much later than he is ranked. He is right up there with the best QBs in the league, but can is never drafted there. He is a great guy for your fantasy team.

Kordell Stewart

Pit.

QB

10+

Kordell is usually drafted as a backup, but is good enough to be a starter. He can score in rushing categories, but throws for few interceptions. Many forget that he made the pro bowl last year, and led the Steelers to the playoffs. He showed great maturity and was decisive in the pocket, which is not what you'd expect from someone who can play runningback and receiver. If you are about to take a QB early and you don't have a good running back or receiver, wait on the quarterback and take Kordell in the late rounds.

Jake Plummer

Ariz.

QB

10+

This guy has tremendous arm strength and great maturity. He has David Boston to throw to and a talented running back this year. He is always among the league leaders in passing yards, but has gotten better each season. This should be a breakout season for him, and he makes a great backup QB. If you're not sure if Culpepper will get injured, take him anyway and pick Plummer as your backup. If Culpepper goes down again, you won't lose much with Plummer.

Brad Johnson

TB

QB

10+

Brad Johnson can be a starter or backup on your team. He got off to a slow start, but more than made up for it in the second half. With Keyshawn and Keenan as receivers, he has options. He has a strong arm, and is very accurate. He always gets a lot of yards, and with Gruden as the head coach, he has all the components for a breakout year.

Tim Couch

Cle

QB

10+

Couch was taken first overall for a reason. He is accurate and has great awareness. He has a great receiver to throw to (Kevin Johnson), experience in the NFL, and a much better team. This will be a great year for Couch and the Browns You can take him late, and possibly as a starter. Either way, he makes a great fantasy player.

Name

Team

Pos

Round

Comments

William Green

Cle.

RB

4+

Green should be a major contributor to Cleveland's young and explosive offense. In Green, Couch, and Johnson, the Browns have a great foundation to build their offense around. In every draft there are a few rookies who can put up big numbers, and it's looking like Green is that type of back. If you can get Faulk in the first round or James in the second or third with a quarterback in between, take Green sometime after that. He should get plenty of carries in Cleveland, and should have a monster year.

Thomas Jones

Ariz

RB

8+

The earliest round for Jones is the 8^th, but he will go much later. He is extremely talented and has looked great in training camp. Plummer has always been the center of the Arizona offense, but throwing Jones into the mix makes for a deadly combination. He makes a great third or fourth runningback on any fantasy team, and you can take him late. He will be one of the last players to emerge from the 00' draft, but he is right up there with Dayne, Lewis, and Williams.

Jamal Lewis

Bal.

RB

6+

The earliest Lewis will go in most drafts is the sixth round, but in some instances he will go later. He is better than anyone who's still available in the sixth round, but most people consider him injury prone, and forget about his rookie year. Consider these two players' second years: Edgerin James had a Lewis-like rookie year, and became on of the top five backs in the league his second.

Shaun Alexander spent most of his rookie year on the bench, but had a breakout year last season. The only direction these players can go is up, and Lewis can make a great impact on any fantasy team.

Anthony Thomas

Chi.

RB

3+

The A-Train had an outstanding rookie year, and is only going to get better. He will be the focus of Chicago's weak offense, and will get many carries. With a talented back like Thomas, a weak QB, and a year of experience under his belt, only good things can follow.

Fred Taylor

Jack

RB

6+

Taylor can be a great pick or a terrible pick. He has numerous injury problems, but if you look past that, this guy is something special. He is as quick as they come and can turn a dead carry up the middle outside for a big gain. It is too much of a risk to take him earlier than the sixth round, or as you first runningback, but you could be very sorry of you let him go any later.

Name

Team

Pos.

Round

Comments

Eric Moulds

Buf.

WR

4+

Moulds is due for a breakout year. With Bledsoe at QB, he should be seeing the ball more. Also, Peerless Price will relieve some of the pressure from Moulds, and he should be seeing a lot less double coverage. The fourth round is as early as he will be taken, but don’t let him slip much farther, or you'll be very sorry.

Kevin Johnson

Cle

WR

4+

Johnson won't go much earlier than the 4^th, but don't let him go much later. He is a quick receiver with great hands. He has a great QB and he should see the ball a lot. He scores a lot of touchdowns and has gotten better every year. If you forget to pick a receiver early, just take Johnson. He can be a first or second receiver, and should have a pro bowl year.

Chris Chambers

Mia

WR

5+

You shouldn’t take Chambers any earlier than the fifth. Anything earlier than that is too much of a risk. He showed us what he could do last year, and this year he will be spectacular. He should score a lot of TDs and has a quarterback who can get him the ball. He has outstanding potential, and he plays like Randy Moss. This guy is extremely talented and makes a solid second or third receiver on any team.

Ron Gardner

Was

WR

6+

Ron Gardner is talented, but doesn't have a great QB. He will still put up huge numbers this year. You shouldn't take him as your first receiver, but as a second or third.

J.J. Stokes

SF

WR

7+

J.J. is a great receiver. Earlier in his career, he was in the shadow of Owens and Rice. Last year he was good, but as a #2 receiver this year, and with the top QB in the NFL throwing to him he should be spectacular. While Owens is being doubled and Clark is up causing trouble up the middle, J.J. will be left all alone. Take him as a third or fourth receiver.