Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions
All indications point to Kevin Smith starting for the Lions at running back. Smith doesn’t have much competition — considering that Tatum Bell is his backup. He could be a big factor if he can stay healthy.

Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
Like Smith, Forte is also expected to be the starter. While Forte is arguably the more talented player, his situation doesn’t look as promising. He’s on a team with a bad offense and has more talent behind him at running back, including Kevin Jones and the other Adrian Peterson.

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are starting Willis McGahee at running back. However, many team insiders claim Ray Rice has looked better so far this season. If McGahee struggled, expect Rice to get plenty of time.

Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers
Although he has to share time with DeAngelo Williams, expect Jonathan Stewart to have a solid year. Williams is a finesse back, which should allow Stewart to get goal line carries.

Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers
Although he was picked in the first round, Mendenhall has his work cut out for him in terms of getting carries this season. Willie Parker is the starter and has a successful history with the Steelers. Mendenhall also had trouble with fumbles in the preseason.

Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals
With Edgerrin James likely slowing down in Arizona, Tim Hightower is a player who could be asked to add juice to an otherwise tepid ground game. Expect the Cardinals to give James more rest this season and give Hightower a chance to prove himself.

Here is a highlight reel video of Tim Hightower in action:

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What happened during the Bears busy offseason?

- Cedric Benson got arrested once. Cedric Benson got arrested again. Cedric Benson got released. The Bears drafted running back help. The Bears then signed running back help.

- Devin Hester held out but then got the contract he wanted.

- Brian Urlacher threatened to hold out but then got the contract he wanted.

While it was certainly a crazy offseason for the Bears, what if Brett Favre ends up with the Bears? The craziness would reach an all-time new high.

Here is the video of the Chicago Bears Training Camp:

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While the Bears’ defense is supposed to be the team’s strong point, a number a question marks remain on that side of the field as well. The main question mark is the status of star linebacker Brian Urlacher.

Urlacher has been upset all offseason about his contract. Chicago has reportedly made a few offers, however Urlacher turned those offers down. Now, with training camp right around the corner, it is unknown whether Urlacher will report on time. It is entirely possible that Urlacher sits out until he is satisfied by his contractual status.

However, Urlacher is also a major injury concern for the Bears. Even if he reports to camp, Urlacher has had neck and back injuries in recent years and may be reaching the end of his rope as a dominant defensive player. If Urlacher slips, expect the entire Bears’ defense to regress.

The Bears in recent years have been a sturdy group of warriors. This season, they look like they may not be nearly as good. In terms of fantasy football, be a bit weary of the Bears. Their offense doesn’t look too pretty and defensively, the Bears have a chance to be just average instead of very good.

Will Brian Urlacher remain a great linebacker?

Photo: Newscom

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With Jones in the fold, there should be a lot of competition for the starting running back job. In addition Jones, the Bears have rookie Matt Forte and returning veterans Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe. Right now, it appears as if Forte is the favorite to be named the starting running back.

While Forte is the favorite, Jones can’t be overlooked. He has had great success in his career at times and if it weren’t for a number of injuries, he’d likely be considered to be one of the best young running backs in the league. Keep an eye on Jones to see if he eventually wins the starting running back job. If he does, Jones will have very good fantasy football value.

Here is more Kevin Jones analysis:

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Jones is young enough and skilled enough that he should eventually land another job. While he won’t be a starter at first, if he can stay healthy there is no limit to what he can accomplish. It wasn’t too long ago that Jones was considered one of the best up-and-coming running backs in the NFL.

Here’s a Kevin Jones workout video that shows his mobility is still top notch:

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Benson was scheduled to start for the Bears in 2008, so this move has a big fantasy football impact. With Benson out of the picture, Chicago now has to find a new starter.

Who will start at running back for the Bears?

The leading option right now seems to be rookie second round draft pick Matt Forte. Even though he was drafted in the second round, the Bears are high on his potential. Other possible options include returning players Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe. Free agent running backs such as Shaun Alexander or Kevin Jones may also be looked at as possible solutions.

As far as Benson is concerned, he’ll likely be given another shot at some point in the NFL. Right now, it appears as if he first needs to get his life in order. Once he does return, he’ll likely have to serve a suspension due to his pair of arrests.

Photo: Newscom

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Jones, who played quite well last year when healthy, tore his ACL late in the year. In 2006, Jones suffered a season-ending foot injury late in the season. The Lions apparently thought that two season-ending injuries was one too many.

Jones is now a free agent and will likely be courted by a lot of teams. He’s looked like a superstar talent at different points in the last few seasons. He’s a strong runner who has good hands out of the backfield. He doesn’t have blazing speed but he’s a solid back.

He will sign with a team that will view him as insurance at the running back position. Due to his injury history, no team can afford penciling Jones into a major role in 2008. That said, Jones is on record as stating that he’s certain he’ll be ready for the start of camp.

While Jones should be able to land on his feet, this is a big blow to his fantasy worth. Jones was still the favorite to win the running back job in Detroit – all the way up to the point that he was released. Now he’s looking at a backup or third string job, depending on where he signs.

In Detroit, it appears that Tatum Bell is going to be given another shot to win the starting job. Bell was the opening day starter last season before giving way to Jones once he got healthy enough to play.

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By Guest Blogger, Ron Bishow

Almost all fantasy leagues have their championship games in Week 16 as to make the best chance for people to have the full complement of players. So for all of you reading this the sad fact is upon you, fantasy football is over.

For those of you lucky enough to be in the championship there was no shortage of wrenches thrown into the machinery. Willie Parker broke his leg on his only carry, a 1-yard loss, Willis McGahee put up ten yards before broken ribs forced him to the sidelines and Kevin Jones had just 15 yards on eight carries before suffering yet another knee injury. Marques Colston was actually coughing up blood on the sidelines after sustaining a chest injury in the second quarter, which is not something you see everyday.

That was not even all of it. Joey Galloway caught just one 29-yard pass before aggravating his sore shoulder, and Anthony Gonzalez, one of the most productive fantasy receivers the past few games, hurt his foot in the second quarter and did nothing. You could almost hear the collective groan of every Dallas Cowboy fan when Terrell Owens sprained his ankle Saturday night, but at least he scored a touchdown before he went down.

Unfortunately for me Colston and Galloway were both on one of my two teams in the championship round, which along with Brett Favre’s two points sealed my fate. Luckily I was able to win my other league, making it a very successful season of fantasy. Finishing 15-1 was something I had never accomplished, nor had I ever made it to the finals in two leagues in one season.

So now that 2007 is over it is never too early to look forward to 2008 and who the top players might be in the draft. There will no doubt be much debate about whether Adrian Peterson or LaDainian Tomlinson should be No. 1 overall. Tomlinson has only 17 TDs this season so far down from the 31 he had last year, but who wouldn’t take 17 TDs from a running back even with Peterson’s considerable upside?

Then there is the question of Tom Brady. Can he really repeat what he did this season next season? Will Randy Moss be back? Brady should be a lock for 4,000 passing yards and 30-plus TDs, but the year after setting the touchdown record Peyton Manning had only 28 TD passes and he hasn’t gone over 31 since.

And what do you do with players like Reggie Bush, Lawrence Maroney who had very odd and off seasons but are still supremely talented? And will Plaxico Burress ever reach his full potential with Eli Manning as his quarterback? Or will Earnest Graham and Ryan Grant repeat their fine performances from this season next year?

These are the types of questions you will be asking yourself in the coming months, and the questions that make fantasy football so great.

Ron Bishow has been reporting on the sports world for the past seven years for AOL, Tribune interactive and CO-ED Magazine among others. He is such a fantasy sports fanatic he plays fantasy NASCAR. He is currently a contributing writer and video producer at newyork.metromix.com.

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RB Kevin Jones, Detroit Lions
Jones has looked good this season whenever the Lions have decided to run the ball. But he suffered yet another devastating injury when he tore his ACL in Week 16. For a guy who was looking so good lately, this is a serious blow. There’s a chance that he won’t be ready to start next year and will instead be sidelined to begin the season – just as he was this year.

WR Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
Owens suffered a high ankle sprain that could seriously dampen the Cowboys championship hopes. Owens won’t play in Week 17 and there’s a chance he won’t be ready for the Cowboys’ first playoff game. If that’s the case, the Cowboys’ high octane offense could be derailed with just one twist of an ankle. The good news is that Owens has a history of recovering quickly, which might allow him to be 100% by the time the playoffs roll around for Dallas.

TE Quinn Sypniewski, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have had horrible luck regarding their tight ends this year. Todd Heap and Daniel Wilcox have struggled with injuries all year. Sypniewski has been decent when given playing time but now even he’s hurt. He suffered multiple injuries in Week 16 that should keep him out of action in Week 17. If he’s out, there’s no telling who will play tight end for the Ravens this coming week.

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Kevin Jones, Detroit Lions
Even though the Lions lost, Jones looks to be back on the right track. After a pair of horrible outings in his last two contests, Jones put together a nice game against the Green Bay Packers – one of the best defenses against the run. Jones finished with 120 total yards and a touchdown on 20 rushes and two receptions. Although the Lions have a tough upcoming schedule, Jones showed enough promise to send his stock back on the rise.

Kenton Keith, Indianapolis Colts
After Joseph Addai left with a neck injury in the first half, Keith against proved that he’s capable of carrying the load for the Colts. He ran for 74 yards on 17 carries, for a healthy average of 4.4 yards per rush. Although Addai returned to the game and later got a touchdown, Addai is proving to be less than durable. If he goes down injured, Keith becomes one of the most valuable players in fantasy football.

Here’s a look at two players whose stocks fell on Thanksgiving:

Kellen Clemens, New York Jets
A lot of people in the fantasy football world labeled Clemens as a sleeper for the stretch run of the season. Instead, Clemens looked inept against the mediocre pass defense of the Dallas Cowboys. He completed just 12-of-27 pass attempts for 142 yards and an interception. If Clemens can’t produce against the Cowboys, you might as well hold him out until he proves that he’s worth anything in fantasy football.

Roy Williams, Detroit Lions
Williams came into this NFL with many pundits predicting that this would be his breakout season. That doesn’t really look like it’s going to be the case. There are a multitude of problems that likely won’t allow Williams to become elite. First of all, the offense isn’t as high-powered as many thought it would be this season. Secondly, there are too many quality receivers, including the highly touted Calvin Johnson. And finally, it just doesn’t appear that Williams has the inner drive to be great. He could prove us wrong but for the time being, Williams doesn’t have the look of an top-notch wide receiver.

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