QB Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
Mark Sanchez is getting tons of press and is the darling of New York football at the moment. However, he doesn’t have very much value in fantasy football. Sell him high to get value out of him before the rest of the fantasy world catches on.

RB Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens
Early this season, Willis McGahee has been a touchdown machine. While he’s talented, it’s unlikely that he’ll keep up this pace — or stay healthy for the duration of the campaign. Go ahead and trade him now to maximize his value.

WR Mario Manningham, New York Giants
In Week 2, Mario Manningham was fantastic. But since then, he’s been average. With the Giants getting a number of wide receivers healthy once again, Manningham should see less and less action. Trade him now before the bottom falls out.

TE Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens
Even though Todd Heap is off to a very strong start, it’s difficult to believe that he’ll keep up his current pace. He wasn’t very good in the last two seasons and has a history of injury. If a team is desperate of a tight end and Heap is your backup, make a trade happen to sell high.

Don't be fooled by Mark Sanchez and his charm (Image: Zuma Press)

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Out – These players won’t play in Week 1.
Deion Branch, Seattle Seahawks
Kevin Curtis, Philadelphia Eagles
Bobby Engram, Seattle Seahawks
Jerry Porter, Jacksonville Jaguars
Ryan Torain, Denver Broncos

Doubt – These players likely won’t play in Week 1.
Reggie Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Benjamin Watson, New England Patriots

Questionable – These players are 50/50 to play in Week 1.
Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay Bucanners
Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns
Javon Walker, Oakland Raiders

Probable – These players will likely play in Week 1.
Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers
Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers
DJ Hackett – Carolina, Panthers
Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens

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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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1. Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys
2. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts
3. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
4. Willis McGahee, Baltimore Ravens
5. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers
6. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints
8. Braylon Edwards, Cleveland Browns
9. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
10. Andre Johnson, Houston Texas
11. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints
12. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Will Tony Romo concentrate on football or Jessica Simpson?

Photo: Newscom

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While arthroscopic surgeries are considered minor these days, McGahee’s injury past should ring a few alarms. He has had a major knee injury in the past, so any knee trouble is a very bad sign for the Ravens running back. If you are thinking about picking him in a fantasy football draft, you should realize that you are taking a gamble on his health.

That said, McGahee’s draft stock is low enough that he is a good value this year. If his surgery causes his draft stock to slip even further, McGahee would be well worth a gamble for 2008 fantasy football.

Here is a Willis McGahee highlight video to remind you what he is capable of when healthy:

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If Ogden retires, it will have deep fantasy football ramifications. Even at his age, Ogden was one of the better offensive linemen in the NFL. Without Ogden, the Ravens’ offense would struggle — even more than usual.

While none of the Ravens are rated too highly in fantasy football, it’s time to lower their stocks even more. Willis McGahee isn’t as valuable as he would be if Ogden stayed around. Kyle Boller is even less valuable than before. Wide receivers Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton and tight end Todd Heap are less appealing.

Earlier in the offseason, starting quarterback Steve McNair retired. Ogden retiring would have a similar negative affect on the offense.

Photo: Newscom

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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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