That said, his fantasy football value for the 2009 season drops after this news. The Panthers are secretive about their injuries so it’s never good to have one of their players on your fantasy team who has a nagging injury. Additionally, Smith has had a number of shoulder issues over the last couple of years.

If you decide to pick the 30-year-old wide receiver in your fantasy draft, it’d probably be a good idea to handcuff one of the other wideouts on the Panthers. Muhsin Muhammad is the logical choice, however Dwayne Jarrett could become a sleeper if Smith misses significant time.

This news about Smith also lowers the value of quarterback Jake Delhomme. Without Smith, Delhomme will be short of receiving options.

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The good news is that Delhomme is already practicing and the team expects him to be able to go once training camp starts. Delhomme will get a few extra days of rest along the way but the Panthers are confident he’ll make a full recovery.

If Delhomme can return to 100%, he could be a sleeper fantasy football quarterback. He got off to a very good start last year before hurting his elbow. His wide receiving corps is strong and his running back duo is explosive.

At wide receiver, the Panthers bring back Steve Smith to go along with the additions of DJ Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad. Smith is a superstar and Hackett and Muhammad both have the skillset to succeed near the endzone. At running back, DeAngelo Williams will be joined by rookie running back Jonathan Stewart.

Matt Moore is currently the backup quarterback and would start if Delhomme re-injures his elbow. Moore is a much, much less desirable fantasy quarterback.

Photo: Newscom

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QB Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers
After playing great to begin the season, Delhomme got hurt in the season’s third game against the Atlanta Falcons. Delhomme’s elbow injury eventually required surgery and he was out for the rest of the year. Although the sample size was small, his production in 2007 was great. He had eight touchdowns, one interception and a quarterback rating of more than 110. Delhomme should get a chance to start again in 2008 and could put up big stats.

RB Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins
When Ronnie Brown went out with a knee injury, he was one of the best running backs in all of fantasy football. As long as the Dolphins don’t draft Darren McFadden, there’s a good chance Brown will be the man to carry the ball in 2008. In 2007, he played in seven games and had seven touchdowns and yards per carry average over five.

WR Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts
The always dependable Marvin Harrison wasn’t dependable in 2007. In fact, his knee injury sidelined him from Week 8 all the way until the playoffs. Although Harrison is getting up there in age, he should bounce back with a solid 2008 fantasy football season if he can get healthy. With the chips on the line, Peyton Manning likely trusts Harrison more than any receiver on his squad.

TE Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens
Todd Heap was a huge disappointment in fantasy football last season. He had only one touchdown and less than 250 yards. The biggest culprit was injury. He battled a lingering hamstring issue that forced him to miss the last six games of the season. There’s no way that he does any worse in 2008.

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Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona Cardinals
With Matt Leinart out for an extended amount of time with a broken collarbone, the door is wide open for Warner to step through and post big numbers. He has two great receivers and an improved offensive line. Pickup Warner if he’s available. While he isn’t starting material right away, he could be very soon once he gets comfortable.

David Carr, QB, Carolina Panthers
Jake Delhomme is out for the season after opting for elbow surgery. That means Carr gets first crack at securing the job in Carolina. Carr hasn’t had a very impressive career, or season for that matter, but he has weapons on offense. Steve Smith alone makes giving Carr a shot in the fantasy world worth a shot.

Jason Wright, RB, Cleveland Browns
Wright is a decent pickup if you have the roster room. At this point, the severity of the injury to Jamal Lewis’ foot is unknown. If Lewis were to be down long-term, Wright is a very good acquisition. Even if Lewis is going to only miss one week, Wright could be worth a start in Week 6 against the Miami Dolphins. However, if Lewis isn’t going to miss any time, Wright should only be picked up by a Lewis owner looking to handcuff the backup.

Mewelde Moore, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Moore is currently the third string running back for the Vikings. The story here is that Moore could be traded to one of the many teams looking for depth at running back. Specifically, Tampa Bay has reportedly shown interest in Moore. If Moore gets traded to a situation where he’ll see a lot of playing time, he has a history of being a good fantasy player.

Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson, WR, Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have two big injuries to their wide receiving corps with Deion Branch and DJ Hackett both sidelined. Engram and Burleson both move up on the depth charts into starting positions. The one to really go after is Engram. If he isn’t there, Burleson is a good fall back option.

Dennis Northcutt, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have a mediocre passing game, at best. However, Northcutt has emerged as the team’s best wide receiver. He’s not a huge fantasy option at this point but he’s a pretty good third WR in an emergency situation. If he’s available, pick up Northcutt for depth, if nothing else.

Greg Olson, TE, Chicago Bears
Olson looked like a huge part of the Bears offense in their game this week. His stats don’t show it, but he Olson was obviously a player the Bears wanted to get involved early and often. If he’s available in your league, he’s a good backup TE who could eventually start for your team.

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