As is usually the case, we have to wait to see where Johnson lands. If a team signs him and makes him a starter, he’s at the very least someone worthy of a roster spot. He’s still young enough that he may be able to rekindle some of his past magic in a new system. With the Chiefs, he was trying to carry a sub par offensive unit on his back. On a better team, Johnson may be able to thrive.

That said, if he doesn’t end up on a team that will start him, it’s difficult to imagine Johnson having any value the rest of the way. His stats are poor and there’s a very real possibility that his best football is far behind him.

In Kansas City, the best fantasy football running back on their roster is Jamaal Charles. Charles is a big play speedster who is putting up good stats this season. If he gets 15-20 touches a game, he could turn into a top 15 fantasy running back.

Where will Larry Johnson end up? (Image: Zuma Press)

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In Kansas City, Cassel is all but assured of being the starter. With new management in town, the Chiefs wanted a proven signal caller to run their offense — and they got one.

The good news for Cassel is the fact that the Chiefs have some talent on that end of the field. Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is a big play threat and tight end Tony Gonzalez is still arguably the best player at his position in the NFL.

Cassel’s fantasy football value will be that of a top end backup quarterback heading into the 2009 fantasy football season. Some fantasy owners will roll the dice and hope that Cassel can have the success he had during the second half of the season with the Patriots. While that’s not overly likely, he is definitely a high-risk, high-reward type player.

As far as the Patriots are concerned, the trading of Cassel indicates that the team is happy with where Tom Brady is in his recovery. Brady has insisted that he’ll be ready to begin the 2009 fantasy football season and this move proves that the Patriots are confident in that happening.

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Last season, Johnson had his second consecutive disappointing fantasy season. In 2006, Johnson had 1789 yards and 17 touchdowns. However, over the last two season, Johnson has only been able to total less than 1400 yards and eight touchdowns.

Part of the problem for Johnson is that the Chiefs simply aren’t that good. They’ve gone through a youth movement and have lost most of their talented players on both sides of the ball. Their offensive line, specifically, has regressed drastically in the last two season.

Another possible reason for Johnson’s drop in production is the huge amount of carries he got in 2005 and 2006. In 2005, Johnson had 336 carries and then followed that up with 416 carries the next season. That is enough carries to make run down any level of running back.

At 29, Johnson could possibly have a year or two left of elite football, though it will depend on what team he ends up with. If he stays with the Chiefs, it’d be safe to expect at third consecutive underwhelming campaign.

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RB Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
When healthy, Brian Westbrook continues to be a beast. In Week 14, Westbrook had over 200 combined rushing and receiving yards and two touchdowns. More impressively, he did that damage against the New York Giants. The best news for Westbrook owners is that he looks healthy and should have a good finish to the season.

WR Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos
Brandon Marshall had been quiet lately but he stepped up in a big way in Week 14. The Broncos wide receiver had 91 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions. Once upon a time, Marshall was the best wide receiving going in 2008 fantasy football. After this performance, he once again has to be considered elite.

TE Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
As has been the case often this season, Tony Gonzalez was the best tight end in Week 14 of the 2008 fantasy football season. Gonzalez finished the week with 73 yards and a touchdown. He now has at least five receptions for eight consecutive weeks. During that time, he also has five touchdowns.

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RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Going up against the Detroit Lions, Adrian Peterson should be running early and often. The Lions are putrid defensively and the Vikings should easily be able to move the ball. The only thing that could stop Peterson in Week 14 is if it’s a blowout early and the the Vikings let him rest.

WR Randy Moss, New England Patriots
Last week, Randy Moss was relatively quiet. However, that wasn’t two surprising considering the Patriots were playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. In Week 14, the Patriots have a much easier matchup — the Seattle Seahawks. Expect Moss to be a big part of the game plan to run over the Seahawks.

TE Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
Tony Gonzalez is not only the best tight end at the moment in fantasy football, he’s going up against the weak defense of the Denver Broncos. He should be able to have a very good game. The Broncos aren’t a good pass defending team and Gonzalez is easily the number one option on the Chiefs on the offensive side of the ball.

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RB Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints
With Deuce McAllister suspended and Reggie Bush still slowed by injury, Pierre Thomas is a very important member of the Saints backfield right now. He’s the goal line back and should see around 15 touches in Week 14. If you need to pick up an emergency starter at running back, check to see if Thomas is available in your fantasy league.

WR Mark Bradley, Kansas City Chiefs
If Mark Bradley plays this week, consider him a definite sleeper for Week 14. Although he’s banged up and might miss the game against the Denver Broncos, he’ll be a weapon if he actually plays. The Chiefs have been able to move the ball and the Broncos have not been able to stop the ball. That’d be a good combination for Bradley.

TE Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens
Todd Heap had a horribly slow start to the 2008 fantasy football season but as of late he’s really started to pick it up. He has three touchdowns in his four games and while the Washington Redskins are a tough matchup, the Ravens will likely have to throw the ball more and that is good news for Heap.

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RB Thomas Jones, New York Jets
After a relatively slow start to the season, Thomas Jones has been on fire recently and now is atop the running back standings for 2008. In the last six weeks, he has scored at least one time in each week. He already has nearly 1100 yards and 13 total touchdowns on the season. His closest competitors on the season are Michael Turner and Brian Westbrook.

WR Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals
Although he missed a few weeks after taking a vicious hit and breaking bones in his face, Anquan Boldin has been a beast when healthy. He has far and away been the best fantasy football wide receiver in 2008. His closest competition is his own teammate Larry Fitzgerald.

TE Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
A lot of fantasy football owners got bored of labeling Tony Gonzalez as the best fantasy football tight end — but he’s atop the tight end rankings once again in 2008. Even though the Chiefs have used three different starting quarterbacks, Gonzalez has thrived no matter who has been throwing the passes. Gonzalez’s closest competition is Antonio Gates and Jason Witten.

Photo credit: Newscom

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RB DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
Earlier in the season, DeAngelo Williams was almost worthless due to his running back by committee situation. But he’s now thriving with the Panthers and had four touchdowns this weekend. He has to be considered a top ten fantasy running back at the moment.

WR Mark Clayton, Baltimore Ravens
Mark Clayton was all over the field for the Ravens on Sunday. Not only did he having a receiving touchdowns and plenty of receiving yards, he also threw a touchdown pass of his own. While he’s not a great start on a weekly basis, he could be worth the gamble in upcoming weeks after seeing what he’s capable of doing.

TE Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
Although he didn’t have a touchdown, Tony Gonzalez continues to prove he’s a fantasy football powerhouse right now. He’s undoubtedly the best fantasy tight end and should head into the 2009 fantasy football season as a top three tight end — even though he’s no longer a spring chicken.

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RB Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints
Reggie Bush keeps saying he’s coming back any second now. Even if he’s active in Week 13, it’d be best to avoid playing him right away. The Saints have a lot of options at the running back position and Bush is coming off of a somewhat severe injury. Stay away until he proves he’s back and is getting plenty of touches.

WR Chad Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
Chad Johnson or Chad Ocho Cinco or whatever he’s calling himself these days isn’t a good start in Week 13. He’s a big name but don’t let that fool you. He’s coming off of a suspension and he may not have as many passes thrown his way as usual. There’s even talk about limiting the amount of time he’s on the field. Look elsewhere in Week 13.

TE Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders
On paper, his matchup this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs looks like a good one. But Zach Miller is battling an injury and the Raiders will run, run and run some more against the Chiefs. Miller may get lucky and break a long one but if he doesn’t, he’s in for a very quiet day in Week 13 of the fantasy football season.

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RB Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons
In many fantasy football drafts this year, Michael Turner was a third rounder. Those fantasy owners who drafted him have to be very happy, especially in Week 12. He finished the week with 117 yards and four touchdowns. Turner has official established himself as one of the best running backs in the fantasy football world.

WR Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
Since Tony Romo broke his pinkie, Terrell Owens had been pretty quiet. But in Week 12, he exploded onto the scene. Against the San Francisco 49ers, Owens finished with seven catches for 213 yards and a touchdown. If you are an Owens owner, this was the game you have been waiting for.

TE Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
Tony Gonzalez is having another fantastic season. He continued that in Week 12 of the fantasy football season by catching 10 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. From now until the end of the year, it’d be impossible to bench Gonzalez. He’s just too good and although the Chiefs are struggling defensively, their offense looks surprisingly sharp.

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