Fantasy football owners are trying to digest the news that Jay Cutler was traded to the Chicago Bears from the Denver Broncos. This news will affect many NFL players in the fantasy football world.

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (Image: Newscom)

First of all, Cutler himself probably sees his stock lower quite significantly. In Chicago, he joins a team with a mediocre receiving corps and a history of running the ball often. Logic suggests his stats will drop after spending his last few years in the wide open offense run in Denver.

For the Broncos, the wide receivers also see their stocks go south. Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal aren’t worth as much without Cutler delivering passes. However, whoever wins the running back battle for the Broncos could see their stock rise due to more carries.

In Chicago, the Bears receivers are now viable in the fantasy world. Devin Hester, the return specialist turned wide receiver, will be a popular sleeper pick during 2009 fantasy football drafts. If he enters the season as the number one wide receiver, Cutler could look for him early and often.

Tight end Greg Olson should also see his stock rise considerably following the acquisition of Cutler. He seems to have all the tools to be a star at the position and Cutler may be able to push him to the next level.

Also keep an eye to see on who will become the quarterback in Denver. With a new regime in town, the offensive tinkering may just have just begun.

QB Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears
Although Kyle Orton has only one touchdown pass since his return from injury, he’s once again healthy and has a good matchup this weekend against the Minnesota Vikings. With the Vikings capable of shutting down the run, expect Orton to pass early and pass often.

RB Justin Fargas, Oakland Raiders
Last week, Justin Fargas got over 100 yards against the Denver Broncos. This week, Fargas will go up against the Kansas City Chiefs, the owners of the worst rush defense in the NFL. There’s a great chance that Fargas will surprise and have one of his best games of the season.

WR Michael Jenkins, Atlanta Falcons
Michael Jenkins has a very good matchup this week against the San Diego Chargers. While Roddy White will get all the attention, Jenkins will be opened up to possibly make some big plays. Although he doesn’t have a touchdown in his last three games, he has 15 catches and is still a big part of the offense.

TE Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans Saints
While he’s struggled virtually all season with injuries, he’s as healthy right now as he’s been all season. In his last two games, Shockey has 11 catches. Although the Tampa Bay Buccaneers present a tough matchup, quarterback Drew Brees is playing very well and will likely target Shockey a whole lot in Week 13 of the 2008 fantasy football season.

Photo credit: Newscom

QB Gus Frerotte, Minnesota Vikings
Although not considered a top fantasy football quarterback in 2008 by any means, Gus Frerotte has certainly exceeded expectations. He has thrown for at least one touchdown pass in each of his starts except for one game. In his last three games, he has six touchdown passes. Going up against an overrated Jacksonville Jaguars defense, Frerotte should continue to produce.

RB Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills
Fred Jackson has emerged as one of the better backup running backs in the NFL in 2008. In Week 12, Jackson and the Bills take on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have played decently lately but they remain a horrid defensive team against the run. Look for Jackson to get plenty of touches and produce like a starter in Week 12.

WR Devin Hester, Chicago Bears
The St. Louis Rams have been horrible recently, especially when it comes to making tackles. With Devin Hester coming to town, that’s a bad combination. While Hester hasn’t had the amazing year many expected, he’s still a threat to break a long one — whether in the passing game or the return game. Week 12 may be his breakout game owners have been waiting for.

TE Kevin Boss, New York Giants
Last week, Kevin Boss was held without a catch. But that was against the Baltimore Ravens, one of the best defensive teams in the NFL. In the previous three weeks, Boss caught a touchdown pass in each. In Week 12, the Giants go up against the Arizona Cardinals and Boss should be able to get back into the swing of things.

RB Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
Although he’s officially listed as questionable, don’t plan on using Clinton Portis in your Week 11 fantasy football lineup. Even if he is able to play, which appears less and less likely by the hour, he’ll probably split carries with Ladell Bets and Shaun Alexander. For that reason alone, look for another running back to start in your fantasy lineup.

RB Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams
Steven Jackson’s situation is much clearer. Jackson will not being to play in Week 11. His thigh injury isn’t healing and the injury may be more severe than first diagnosed. In his place, the Rams will use Travis Minor and Antonio Pittman at running back. Since they will be splitting carries, neither one of them appears to be a good fantasy football start.

QB Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins
If you were planning to start Chad Pennington this weekend, you probably got a bit worried when you saw his name show up on the injury report recently. Since he’s listed as probably, expect him to play. But if he doesn’t, Chad Henne will be the quarterback for the Dolphins.

QB Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears
When he first got injured, Kyle Orton was said to be out for at least a month with a high ankle sprain. But a further examination showed that Orton didn’t have a high ankle sprain. After missing one week, Orton appears ready to play this weekend in Week 11. Although you might want to wait a week before starting him to make sure that ankle is alright, he should be decent enough in an emergency role for your fantasy football team.

Photo credit: Newscom

QB Rex Grossman, Chicago Bears
The Bears are going up against the best defensive team in the NFL when they take on the Tennessee Titans. On top of that, a number of their top wide receivers are struggling with injuries. All told, there really isn’t a good reason to start Rex Grossman this week, who’s filling in for the injured Kyle Orton.

RB Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks
Even though Julius Jones and the Seahawks seemingly have a decent matchup against the Miami Dolphins, don’t get suckered into starting him. Jones has slowly lost his grip on the running back job and is now simply a part time running back in a bad offense. He’s destined to get only about 40 yards with no touchdown this week.

WR Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts
Marvin Harrison has been a great fantasy football player for a long time. But his reign has a top receiver is finished. He has lost a step and is now a very average wideout option for Peyton Manning. He may get a few more touchdowns on the season and could have another big game but he’s a shadow of his former self. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers is a good time to sit him.

TE Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders
The Raiders are simply a mess right now. Avoid starting any of their players if you can. They got shutout last week and there’s no promise that another similar type performance isn’t going to happen this week. Zach Miller is talented but stay away until the Raiders show life.

QB Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears
Coming into the 2008 fantasy football season, many considered Kyle Orton to be too bad to even put on a roster. Now, after another good performance in Week 7, Orton is starting to look like a legitimate fantasy football starter. In Week 7, he put up 283 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings.

RB Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams
In fantasy football drafts, Steven Jackson was almost always a top five pick. Although he hadn’t lived up to that billing so far in 2008, his explosion in Week 7 was very impressive. He had three touchdowns to go with 160 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards. The bad news is that Jackson left the game late with an apparent injury.

WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
With Roy Williams now with the Dallas Cowboys, Calvin Johnson showed what he can do as a lead receiver. The former first round draft pick had 154 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 7. With most of the targets in Detroit heading his way now, Johnson is a player that could explode in any given week.

TE Owen Daniels, Houston Texans
Coming into Week 7, Owen Daniels didn’t have a touchdown. But the Texans tight end busted out in a big way with two touchdowns and 66 receiving yards this week. Daniels is quietly one of the better fantasy football tight ends in the NFL and he should continue to play better and better as the Texans offense improves.

QB Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears
Don’t look now but Kyle Orton is one of the hottest quarterbacks in the entire NFL. He started the season off slowly but he’s now put up four consecutive solid fantasy weeks. In Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons, he wasn’t fantastic but he did a good job fantasy wise. If he continues to get the green light in terms of throwing the ball, expect Orton to continue to be a decent fantasy football starter.

RB Michael Pittman, Denver Broncos
Although the Broncos have mostly used a running back committee for much of the season, it appears as if Pittman may be winning the battle to become the lead back. In Week 6, Pittman got all of the team’s carries and had a very good game. From here on out, Pittman could be a top notch back — as long as he remains the starter.

WR Matt Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars usually don’t have very good fantasy football wide receivers, however Matt Jones is starting to look like a fantasy sleeper. He has easily been the most productive receiver on the Jaguars and he continues to improve week after week. He only has one touchdown so far this season, but with his size he could easily start become a weekly touchdown threat.

TE Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars
In the last two weeks, Marcedes Lewis has had touchdowns. He won’t get many looks on a weekly basis but Lewis is definitely a touchdown threat. With David Garrard getting more and more comfortable at the quarterback position, that bodes well for all his receiving targets.

QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Although the Cowboys had a tough loss against the Arizona Cardinals, quarterback Tony Romo had a good day fantasy football wise. He had 321 yards and three touchdowns, including a late 70-yard connection with running back Marion Barber III.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
Early in the game, Fred Taylor got shaken up and ended up missing most of the contest. Maurice Jones-Drew stepped in and filled in admirably, as he finished with 148 yards and two touchdowns. When given a healthy amount of touches, Jones-Drew is as deadly as any fantasy running back in the NFL.

WR Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
Andre Johnson is separating himself as one of the best wide receivers in the fantasy world. After a breakout game in Week 5, he backed that up with another great showing in Week 6. Johnson finished the game with 178 yards and a touchdown.

TE Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars
Even though Marcedes Lewis has had a very quiet season to date, many scouts continue to think he is a vastly talented tight end. He showed some of his potential in Week 6 with his 64 yards and a touchdown for the Jaguars.

K Jason Elam, Atlanta Falcons
When Jason Elam left the Denver Broncos for the Falcons, many fantasy football owners thought he’d be in for a tough 2008 campaign. However, Elam has been very good so far this year. In Week 6, he had five field goals including the game winner against the Chicago Bears.

QB Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals
After sitting out last week, Carson Palmer is listed as questionable for Week 5. However, the good news for fantasy football owners is that Palmer is expected to play in Week 5 despite his elbow injury.

QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Rodgers is listed officially as questionable and is being called a game-time decision. That said, it’s looking more and more likely that he’ll play.

RB Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
Westbrook was unable to play last week due to an ankle injury. This week he has practiced and very well could play.

RB Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens
McGahee is questionable and will be a gametime decision. Look elsewhere for a safe start.

WR Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals
Boldin is out for Week 5 after undergoing face surgery.

WR Brandon Lloyd, Chicago Bears
Due to a hip injury, Brandon Lloyd will be out in Week 5.

WR David Patten, New Orleans Saints
Patten has been ruled out for Week 5.

WR Deion Branch and Bobby Engram, Seattle Seahawks
Although neither wide receiver has played this season, both are expected to play in Week 5.

WR Justin Gage, Tennessee Titans
Gage is listed as doubtful and is expected to miss Week 5 of the fantasy football season.

WR Plaxico Burress, New York Giants
Burress will not play in Week 5 due to suspension.

TE LJ Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Although listed as questionable, the latest indications are that Smith should be able to play.

QB Kyle Orton, Chicago Bears
Kyle Orton pleased his fantasy football owners with a three touchdown performance in Week 4. In Week 5, Orton goes against the Detroit Lions, which makes him a nice waiver wire pickup.

RB Mewelde Moore, Pittsburgh Steelers
Willie Parker is hurt and Rashard Mendenhall is now also hurt and out for the season. That leaves the running back job in Pittsburgh to Mewelde Moore. He may be startable until Parker returns.

WR Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals
With Anquan Boldin getting injured in Week 4, Steve Breaston will likely move into a starting gig for as long as Boldin is out. In the high-powered Cardinals offense, that is a very good thing.

WR Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints
Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey are injured and David Patten isn’t 100%. Lance Moore has now emerged as one of the players who Drew Brees will feature in New Orleans.

TE Dustin Keller, New York Jets
For the second consecutive week, Dustin Keller scored a touchdown. Even though he’s headed into a bye week, Keller is a tight end to keep an eye on.