As a rookie, Avery caught 53 passes for 674 yards and three touchdowns. For a stretch in the middle of his rookie season, Avery was producing at a very high level. With Torry Holt no longer with the Rams, Avery is expected to be the team’s top wide receiver this year.

This injury really hammers Avery’s value. Even if he’s ready to go in a month, he’ll have missed the entirity of training camp and the exhibition schedule. He may miss up to six weeks, which means that Avery could miss the first few regular season contests.

Avery is still worth a pick in the middle of a redraft league based on his explosiveness and the fact that he’ll see a lot of passes thrown his way, but his standing as a trustworthy player for the 2009 fantasy football season took a serious hit.

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RB Tatum Bell, Denver Broncos
With Peyton Hillis now out for the season with a hamstring injury, Tatum Bell is the starting running back in Denver. He’s had some success in the past in this system and should be extra motivated knowing that this could very well be his last chance to earn a spot in the NFL. Start him if your other options are shaky.

WR Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams
Torry Holt has quietly gotten better over the last few weeks. He’s running better routes and is getting open more often. In the last four weeks, he has 17 receptions and has had at least 60 yards in all but one of those games. He’ll likely have a breakout game at some point before the end of the season and Week 15 against the Seahawks is a possibility.

TE Donald Lee, Green Bay Packers
In each of the last two games, Donald Lee has a touchdown. In the last four games, he has three touchdowns. While he’s not getting a whole lot of passes thrown his way, he’s a definite threat near the end zone. Going against a mediocre Jacksonville Jaguars defense in Week 15 makes Lee a good play.

Photo credit: Newscom

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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

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RB Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
Chris Johnson is quickly becoming one of the most feared running backs in all of the NFL. In Week 9, Johnson helped lead the Titans to victory with 89 rushing yards, 72 receiving yards and a touchdown. Although LenDale White steals some of his touchdowns, Johnson has become a must start each and every fantasy football week.

WR Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens
Coming off of a week where he only had three yards, many fantasy football owners were scared away from starting Derrick Mason in Week 9. Too bad for those owners because Mason was a fantasy football superstar in this game against the Cleveland Browns. He finished the contest with nine catches, 136 yards and a touchdown reception in the Ravens victory.

TE Owen Daniels, Houston Texans
A couple weeks ago, we said Owen Daniels was one of the most underrated fantasy football players in the NFL. We also said Daniels would be the best tight end this week. After his 11 catch, 133 yard performance in Week 9, Owens is no longer a secret in the world of fantasy football.

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RB Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
When healthy, is there a better fantasy football player to own than Brian Westbrook? He’s such a multidimensional force the he’s a threat on just about every play. This week he has a good matchup and should be good for 100+ yards and a touchdown — at the very least.

WR Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos
Brandon Marshall has cooled off as of late but this week against the Miami Dolphins he should rev it back up. Marshall has the perfect frame for a wide receiver and Jay Cutler loves throwing it to him. A touchdown and 100+ yards is very much a possibility.

TE Owen Daniels, Houston Texans
Owen Daniels continues to work himself up the tight end charts and this week he finds himself on the top. Against the Minnesota Vikings, you can expect the Texans to pass, pass and pass some more. With Andre Johnson getting a lot of the attention, Daniels should be able to roam free.

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Don’t sleep on Kolby Smith in Week 8.

QB Matt Cassel, New England Patriots
Last week, Matt Cassel finally looked like he was getting comfortable as a NFL quarterback. This week, Cassel will go up against the Rams and try to prove that last week wasn’t a fluke. While the Rams are actually playing well right now, Cassel remains a sleeper who could bust out in a big way in Week 8 fantasy football.

RB Kolby Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
With Larry Johnson being held out once against for the Kansas City Chiefs, Kolby Smith will get the start. Last week, in a similar situation, Smith played poorly. But it must be noted that Smith was going against the Titans, who happen to be the best defense in the NFL. Smith should do much better this week.

WR Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia Eagles
Don’t forget that last year with Kevin Curtis was healthy that he was a good fantasy football player. Curtis hasn’t been healthy much in the 2008 fantasy football season, however he is getting close to 100%. Look for him to have a breakout week soon.

TE Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars
Prior to Jacksonville’s bye week, Marcedes Lewis had put together back-to-back games with a touchdown. Lewis will try to make it three games in a row with a touchdown. With Matt Jones’ future in doubt, Lewis’ value is definitely on the rise and he’ll remain a sleeper for the time being.

Photo: Newscom

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RB Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints
With the news that Reggie Bush will miss at least a couple of weeks, Pierre Thomas now moves into a role where he’ll share carries with Deuce McAllister. While he may not get more than 10 to 12 carries per week, he’ll be a touchdown threat every week.

WR Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers
Chris Chambers is down injured and Malcom Floyd is doing a good Chambers impersonation. He’s using his long length to his advantage and is a great target in the end zone. As long as Chambers is out and Philip Rivers remains on fire, Floyd is a good start.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings
Since Gus Frerotte has taken over as quarterback of the Vikings, Vishanthe Shiancoe has emerged as a very good fantasy football tight end option. If he’s still available on your league’s waiver wire and you need a tight end, be sure to pick him up.

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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.

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RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers
Slowed by injuries early on, Ryan Grant has been a bust so far in the 2008 fantasy football season. But his schedule gets easier and he seems to be healthy, so he should become halfway decent soon.

WR Randy Moss, New England Patriots
Many fantasy owners have written off Randy Moss after the loss of Tom Brady. While his value certainly has suffered, expect him to step it up in forthcoming weeks as Matt Cassel adjusts.

TE Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts
In Week 1, Dallas Clark got injured. Combine that with a bye week and it seems like the fantasy world has forgotten about Clark. However, as Peyton Manning gets healthier, expect Clark to produce.

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RB Michael Pittman, Denver Broncos
For the third straight week Michael Pittman scored a touchdown. While the Broncos are using a three-headed monster at running back, Pittman is arguably the most valuable due to his goal line carries.

WR Brandon Lloyd, Chicago Bears
Although the Bears remain weak at wide receiver, Brandon Lloyd has emerged as their top wideout. He had a big week in Week 3 and should remain Chicago’s go-to guy.

TE Donald Lee, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers seems to be getting more comfortable with using his tight end, which is good news for Donald Lee. He’s not a spectacular starter at this point but he should be solid.

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