Randy Moss has been traded from the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings, the team that drafted him, for a 3rd round draftpick on Wednesday.  The Patriots receiver has verbalized recently that he has felt unwanted in New England when they refused to extend his contract that ends at the end of this season. 

Fantasy wise, this puts the values of Moss up significantly, considering that Moss will be the only reliable  receiver on the struggling Vikings pass offense until Sidney Rice comes back from a hip injury that is supposed to keep him out until at least week 6, probably longer. 

This also raises the value of Brett Favre, who has disappointed fantasy owners thus far with only TE Visanthe Shiancoe as the Vikes only pass catcher who has proved reliable in the first 3 games of the Vikings season.  Having Moss to throw to figures to make Favre’s numbers much better.  This goes up even more when Rice returns.

On the New England side, WR Brandon Tate, who has wowed everyone with his extraordinary soecial teams play has a major increase in his value as well, as he reportedly will become the Pats #1 receiver.  Tate should be added in every league, and he is probably available as of this writing at almost 10 am Wednesday.  Get him if you can.  He may not be what we expect, or he may save your season.

My top 10 TE’s for fantasy football.  In my opinion, this is how the season’s TE’s should shake out in terms of fantasy scoring.

1. Antonio Gates – SD

2. Dallas Clark – IND

3. Brent Celek – PHI

4. Jason Witten – DAL

5.Vernon Davis - SF

6. Owen Daniels - HOU

7. Jermichael Findley - GB

8. Tony Gonzalez - ATL

9. Visanthe Shiancoe -MIN

10. Zach Miller – OAK

My top 10 QB’s for fantasy football.  In my opinion, this is how the season’s QB’s should shake out in terms of fantasy scoring.

1. Drew Brees -NO

2. Aaron Rodgers – GB

3. Peyton Manning – IND 

4. Matt Schaub- HOU

5. Tony Romo – DAL

6. Tom Brady – NE

7. Philip Rivers – SD

8. Kevin Kolb – PHI

9. Joe Flacco – BAL

10. Brett Favre – MIN

As off-season camps start wrapping up and the pre-season just around the corner, fantasy drafts everywhere are getting ready to take place. I am here to offer 5 players who’s stock is falling in fantasy drafts. These are in no particular order, and I’m not saying not to draft these players, I’m saying be careful where you draft them.

1. Kenny Britt WR (Titans): Britt was in my 5 fantasy players on the rise just over a month ago, as his promise was evident late last season. Word from Titans camp that he has been dealing with numerous small injuries and is having a pretty bad camp, however lands him on this list today. I’d stay away from Britt until at least the 7th or 8th round.

2. Rashard Mendenhall RB (Steelers): T Willie Colon is out for the season with a torn achilles and that spells trouble for an already uncertain offensive line. The Steelers hope that rookie C/G Maurkice Pouncey can become the player they need him to be – and fast! With the O-Line’s best player out of the fold and an uncertainty in the passing game while Ben Roethlisberger is out, that means less and smaller holes for Mendenhall. The Steelers RB is going in rounds 2-3 in most mock drafts and I’m telling you that is much too high. Take a pass on him unless you get him at a great bargain.

3. LeSean McCoy RB (Eagles): Brian Westbrook he is not and he didn’t show much last year to suggest that he can handle the starter role. Perhaps more importantly is the Eagles’ penchant for using too many RB’s, especially near the goal line. This offseason, the Eagles signed RB Mike Bell who played with the Saints last year and vultured many a TD from Pierre Thomas.

He figures to do the same this season as reports are saying that Bell has the #2 RB spot locked up. He’ll steal touches and TD’s from McCoy, especially at the goal line, and the Eagles also employed FB Leonard Weaver last season at RB many times who also took some TD’s. With such a committee in the Eagles’ offensive system, McCoy will be lucky to have 800 yds and 6 TD’s. Respectable, but not what you’d want from a #1 or #2 RB in a 10 team league.

4. Kevin Walter WR (Texans): Not that he was going to be a top 100 guy anyway after doing nothing last year, but Walter is also being pressed hard for his #2 WR spot on the team thanks to Jacoby Jones showing flashes of being a very good receiver last season. Walter had a very good season in 2008, but those days are gone.

5. Kyle Orton QB (Broncos): WR Brandon Marshall is gone, leaving Orton with Eddie Royal, Jabbar Gaffney, or Demaryius Thomas as the #1 WR, and Brandon Stokely and Brandon Lloyd on the bench. Orton was a repectable QB last season for the Broncos, but the seemingly schizophrenic coach Josh McDaniels is coy when asked about his QB situation after drafting Tim Tebow in the 1st round and trading for Brady Quinn. McDaniels won’t even say who the starter will be when the season opens, and with this type of situation, even if Orton starts the first few weeks, if he performs in a manner that is less than stellar, McDaniels may yank him for one of his shiny new football throwing toys.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Chargers WR Vincent Jackson will be suspended for 3 games in 2010 for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Jackson pleaded guilty in February to driving while intoxicated. This is Jackson’s second conviction for the same charge.

No word on whether or not he will appeal.

By Bob Metz

Click for an updated version of my 2010 fantasy mock draft!

http://nfldraftmock.com/2010-nfl-fantasy-football-mock-draft/

2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT!! 

http://nfldraftmock.com/2010-nfl-fantasy-football-mock-draft/

By Bob Metz

With all of the drama surrounding Ben Roethlisberger this past offseason and his 4-6 game suspension to start the year, I thought I would take this opportunity to talk about what a lot of fantasy players are wondering: What impact will this have on my fantasy team?  While some of you may steer clear of Steelers WR’s and QB’s because of this, others are in keeper leagues and may already be locked into having Big Ben or Hines Ward on their teams. 

 I have 2 simple words for you: DON’T PANIC!  Why would I say this?  Simple.  The Steelers’ passing game probably won’t be as proficient this season, but it has nothing to do with Big Ben not being there for a few games.  The loss of Santonio Holmes has more fantasy impact than Ben’s suspension.  Even with Ben playing, the Steelers’ passing game would have taken a bit of a hit, although not very much.  Holmes proved 2 years ago that he is a viable #1 WR (at least in Pittsburgh.  Mark Sanchez is no Big Ben) and with this loss, the Steelers have chosen to – at least so far – go with what they have as opposed to signing a big free agent WR or acquiring one in a trade.  This leaves Mike Wallace, who did a great job as the #3 WR replacing Nate Washington to step up to the #2 slot opposite Hines Ward.  I don’t believe that Wallace will be a problem, but I don’t expect him to replace Holmes’ production. 

 Even with this, I still believe that Hines Ward will be a fine #1 WR this season and Wallace a viable #2.  Wallace is being tutored by Hines Ward to get better, and I can think of no better WR to take him under his wing.  Check out my 2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT, so you can see where I have them ranked.

  As for the QB situation, Byron Leftwich figures to be the favorite after he filled in pretty well when Ben and Charlie Batch were out 2 seasons ago.  There is no guarantee however because if Batch gets healthy he may get the start, or they could go with Dennis Dixon, who impressed last year in a game against Baltimore in a prime time game.  A game which Pittsburgh nearly won.  If the Steelers’ brass wants insurance long term, they may let Dixon get some more experience to ready him as the future backup or starter if Ben messes up again.  Either way, you’ll still be ok with Ben assuming he stays out of trouble the rest of the year if you can get him later as your #2 QB and keep him in your hip pocket.  A lot of owners may be rightfully leery of drafting him, and you might find yourself a bargain near rounds 7 or 8.  By then you should already have a #1 QB and Ben could be a great backup value pick in mid-to-late rounds. 

As for the QB filling in those first 4-6 games, I’d advise against drafting him unless you get him toward the end of your draft.  After all, there is no guarantee the same QB will start all 4-6 games, and after that, he’ll be worthless to have on your roster.  Don’t reach for him!  In leagues where you start 2 QB’s however, there may be some value in getting the guy to start the year.  Just don’t paint yourself into a corner and have to drop him in week 4 and then find yourself struggling to find a good backup from the waiver wire/free agent list.

 With all of this in mind, popular belief is that the Steelers are possibly going back to their smash-mouth roots and running the ball more.  Still, the NFL has become a passing league and you still have to pass the ball some to win, and the Steelers have to face the Bengals and Ravens, both of which aren’t easy to run against.  There’s no telling what will happen, but my message to you is not to press the red button on the Steelers’ fantasy value. 

Remember: It is a long season and barring the unforeseen, Ben should be starting 10-12 games this year.  Plenty of time to be worth a spot on your roster.