RB Chris Wells UP

Ryan Williams is done for the season. This is excellent news for Wells. The pick of Williams in the 2^nd round did two things for Chris Wells. It got rid of Tim Hightower, who stole a lot of carries from Wells last year. It also motivated him as he’s reportedly in the best shape of his career. LaRod Stephens-Howling will come in on obvious passing downs, but Wells is going to get the lion’s share of the carries for the Cardinals. Provided he stays healthy, the former first round pick could finish the season as a top 15 or even top 10 running back.

WR Chad Ochocinco UP

Brady targeted Ochocinco 5 times in 19 throws in his 2^nd preseason game, his first start. Ochocinco only caught 2, though he did score. However, it’s very nice to see that the Patriots see Ochocinco as a big part of their offense. They could have the best offense in the league again which means a lot of yards and touchdowns for Ochocinco.

RB LeGarrette Blount DOWN

So much for Blount as the every down back. Earnest Graham will now come into the game on obvious passing downs. However, Graham’s last decent season was 2007 and he’s 31. They still have next to nothing behind Blount on the depth chart and show no interest in signing anyone. Blount could still get close to 300 carries with Cadillac Williams gone.

RB DeAngelo Williams UP

Cam Newton is going to start week 1 for the Panthers. It’s not official, but the Panthers made him their starter for their 2^nd preseason game after another stinkbomb from Clausen in their first preseason game. This change should be official, which is good news for Williams. Just ask LeSean McCoy and Chris Johnson what playing alongside a mobile quarterback did for their YPC. Williams is expected to get a 2-1 split of the carries this season over Jonathan Stewart. If he can stay healthy, he should be poised for another huge year.

RB Jonathan Stewart UP

Stewart won’t get as many carries as he’s used to unless Williams gets hurt (still definitely a possibility). However, his YPC will be helped by playing alongside Cam Newton when he is in the game.

QB Peyton Manning DOWN

Colts Owner Jim Irsay says that the team is preparing for the possibility that Manning misses week 1. My money’s still on him starting, but this hurts his fantasy stock. He could have a slow start to his season.

WR Reggie Wayne DOWN

Any stock down for Manning is a stock down for his receivers.

TE Dallas Clark DOWN

Any stock down for Manning is a stock down for his receivers.

WR Austin Collie DOWN

Any stock down for Manning is a stock down for his receivers.

RB Ryan Grant UP

James Starks is hurt. He shouldn’t miss any games, but, in his absence, Grant has cemented himself as the lead back. He looks very good in games and also in practice, reportedly. He might not finish the season as the starter, but he’ll start the season as the starter, a very good thing considering how explosive this Packers offense is.

RB James Starks DOWN

Starks appears to have lost the lead back role to Ryan Grant. He’ll still see the field as a backup, but not as much as he could have had he had a strong preseason.

 

QB Colt McCoy UP

Colt McCoy looks like the real deal in the preseason. The injuries that slowed him down late last season appear to all be gone and he looks primed for a breakout 2^nd season. He could be this year’s Josh Freeman. I don’t know if I trust him to be a starter, but if I miss out on an elite quarterback and need a high upside backup, McCoy is someone I’d strongly consider.

WR Greg Little UP

McCoy’s favorite target is 2^nd round rookie Greg Little in the preseason. McCoy looks great and if he’s this year’s Josh Freeman, Little could be his Mike Williams. Tons of upside here.

TE Benjamin Watson UP

Any stock up for McCoy is a stock is up for Watson, who was his favorite target last season. Little and Watson seem to be his best two targets by far so both have fantasy value.

QB Joe Flacco DOWN

I should have done this update a while ago, but Flacco has lost two reliable targets in Derrick Mason and Todd Heap. Anquan Boldin is on the decline (30 catches for 353 yards and 3 touchdowns in his last 10 games last season, including playoffs) and Flacco never has looked comfortable throwing to Boldin. Mason was always the one he was comfortable throwing to and he’s gone. Lee Evans is in, but he won’t have a lot of time to learn the offense and both of his tight ends are inexperienced. He also has two rookie receivers hurt by the lockout. This will hurt his stats a bit.

WR Lee Evans UP

Flacco was always more comfortable throwing to Mason than Boldin. Evans doesn’t have a lot of time to learn the playbook, which limits him, but Flacco looked comfortable throwing to him in their first preseason game, which makes sense as he’s a similar type player to Mason. I don’t think he gets Mason’s stats from 2010 (61 catches for 802 yards and 7 touchdowns), but I think he’ll be close.

WR Nate Burleson UP

Consider this an omission, but a healthy Matt Stafford is very good for Burleson, the Lions #2 receiver. Burleson and Stafford had good chemistry last season in their limited time together.

WR Danny Amendola UP

St. Louis’ wide receiver situation is probably the most confusing in the league. Whichever two start should be valuable fantasy players with Sam Bradford at quarterback and Josh McDaniels at offensive coordinator. Brandon Gibson, Mike Sims Walker, Danario Alexander, Donnie Avery, and Danny Amendola are all battling for those spots. Only one thing seems to be for sure, Amendola is going to have a big part in the offense. He’s reportedly “head and shoulders” above all wide receivers out there and will probably line up in the slot, the same place he lined up in last year when he caught 85 passes for 689 yards and 3 touchdowns. McDaniels uses a lot of 3 wide sets so Amendola will see plenty of the field and could even be a starter. He is extremely valuable in PPR.

WR Brandon Gibson UP

For what it’s worth, Gibson has started the last two games for the Rams. Of course, Sims Walker missed one of those with an injury and many in the know expect Danario Alexander and/or Donnie Avery to overtake Gibson before the season, but he’s a nice name to keep in the back of your head late or in deep leagues.

WR Danario Alexander DOWN

Alexander has still not moved up to first string and unlike Mike Sims-Walker, you can’t blame injuries here. It’s looking like it’ll be MSW, Gibson, and Amendola as the 3 receivers for the Rams. He might still be worth a roster spot in deep leagues on upside if he does sneak into the starting lineup.

WR Donnie Avery DOWN

Like Alexander, Avery looks like he could be on the outside looking in. Unlike Alexander, there isn’t a lot of upside here. Avery was probably battling Amendola for the slot receiver role. I don’t think he can win that battle given what I’m hearing out of Rams camp.

RB Fred Jackson DOWN

CJ Spiller got the start at running back for the Bills in their 2^nd preseason game roughly 3 weeks after Chan Gailey said he wasn’t satisfied enough with Spiller’s blocking to make him the starter. Apparently that’s changed. Jackson still got action (Spiller got 6 carries with the first team, Jackson got 4) and Jackson was more productive with his carries (34 yards to 10), but I’m moving Jackson down because Spillers looks like he’s going to be more of a factor.

RB CJ Spiller UP

Spiller got the start for the Bills in their 2^nd preseason game. Jackson ran better, but it’s still worth noting that Spiller got the start. He looks like he’s going to be more of a factor than I originally thought this season.

RB Reggie Bush UP

Bush is expected to start for the Dolphins this season and will be given a chance to be a legitimate feature back. Daniel Thomas is still expected to get the goal line looks, but the rookie has struggled this preseason and will be simply a chance of pace back.

RB Daniel Thomas DOWN

Reggie Bush is expected to start in Miami. Thomas will still see some action and get the goal line carries, but Miami’s offense sucks. There won’t be a lot of goal line carries. Also, Thomas had two tries at goal line carries in their 2^nd preseason game and failed on both. He was removed for Lex Hillard, who did punch it in. Thomas is going to be way over-drafted in your league.