Fantasy Football on your cell phone
Yahoo
Yahoo! Inc. kicks off the fantasy football season with new game features, mobile access, and Cleveland Browns' wide receiver Braylon Edwards as Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football '08 cover athlete. This year's game gives fans new tools, including a new draft application with extensive player data and more personalization options. Fans will also have better access via Yahoo! Mobile, including the ability to manage their teams, receive player news and injury information, and make roster changes.

************************

If you have Chad Pennington on your team...you may not be out of luck
The Kansas City Star says they will "almost certainly" make a play for the former Jets QB.

As ESPN puts it: Pennington, of course, has prior history with coach Herm Edwards when both were with the Jets. Kansas City is interested in bringing him in to be Brodie Croyle's backup, which would likely bump Damon Huard out of a roster spot. However, if a team like Miami is offering Pennington a chance to be a starter, it's unlikely he would choose Kansas City over such an opportunity.

************************

Willie Parker owners can relax
ESPN
The Steelers haven't utilized a backfield featured both Parker and rookie Rashard Mendenhall much in training camp, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians expects the team to use the "Pony" backfield occasionally, but not as standard practice. If that holds true, then expect Parker to see the bulk of carries early in the season as Mendenhall learns the playbook.

************************

Grab Brian Westbrook early if you can
Despite a possibilty for a holdout, it appears that Eagles RB Brian Westbrook will be there come Game 1 and will be a points-getter. The Philadelphia Daily News reports that the Eagles and RB Brian Westbrook are close to terms on a contract extension, eliminating a possible rift between the club and their most valuable offensive weapon. Westbrook said earlier this week that he expects to play in the team's preseason game Friday at Pittsburgh.

************************

Running Back Positional Rankings for 2008
ESPN
Rank. Name Team
1 LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers
2 Adrian Peterson Vikings
3 Brian Westbrook Eagles
4 Joseph Addai Colts
5 Steven Jackson Rams
6 Frank Gore 49ers
7 Clinton Portis Redskins
8 Marshawn Lynch Bills
9 Marion Barber Cowboys
10 Larry Johnson Chiefs

************************

Don't draft Vince Young...unless you have to
CBS Sports
Vince Young broke your heart last year. It's OK to admit it. You sat there, waiting by your computer every game, hoping he would call with a big performance -- but it never happened. And it might not happen again this year. The safe bet is to leave Young on the waiver wire. Let him prove he can get off the scrap heap and then add him as a free agent. For his career, Young has 21 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 30 games, so he hasn't exactly been stellar to date.

I can't say I disagree with him...I was one of those fantasy owners who got burned by Young...as a backup though. I was one of the lucky ones in that regard.

************************

Mock Draft of the Day
ESPN

************************

Friday's Sleeper Pick
Anthony Gonzales - Indianapolis
There's been a lot of chatter about the decline of Marvin Harrison, and there's debate to be had on both sides of that coin. Most of the resulting discussion is about how Reggie Wayne is now the main recipient of all that is Peyton Manning, but not as much about the downstream benefit to Gonzalez. A-Gonz, as he'll undoubtedly be called if he isn't already, has all the tools to be a solid second receiver in that system, which means at worst he'll be a great WR3 for your team. He's being drafted far below that point right now, so scoop him up and enjoy.

************************

Tips on Drafting QB's in your fantasy draft
CBS Sports
Round 1:Two names are head and shoulders above the rest of the Fantasy quarterback class: Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, and for obvious reasons.

Round 2-3: If you pass on a stud running back in Round 1, you're probably going to have trouble finding one in Rounds 2 and 3. Miss on a quarterback, though, and you'll still find some very attractive options soon thereafter. Many Fantasy owners see a lot of value in nabbing Tony Romo (the consensus No. 3 Fantasy QB) and Drew Brees with a pick between 13th and 36th overall.

Round 4-7: Like any position in a Fantasy draft, the deeper you wait to pick, the less desirable the talent. That said, several quarterbacks who were picked at this point and beyond last year turned out to be steals. The quarterbacks in play at this point are Derek Anderson, Carson Palmer and Ben Roethlisberger, and all three carry more risk with less reward than the four previous passers.

Round 5-8: Four of the five names you'll see drafted next are familiar: Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselbeck, Eli Manning and Donovan McNabb. With all four, you have a pretty good idea of what you are getting and what the positives and negatives are.

Beyond Round 8: The last strategy worth considering is "punting" on the top Fantasy quarterbacks and drafting two (or even three) from the pool of No. 2 Fantasy quarterbacks, a pool that includes Jason Campbell, Jake Delhomme, David Garrard, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Schaub.

***********************

Second Round Draft Strategy: WR or RB?
Fox Sports
It's crucial you spend at least one of your first two picks on a running back. Yes, I realize all 32 NFL teams have "starters" you can choose from and two rounds of a standard draft only equals 24 picks. But more and more teams are beginning to utilize the two-back system without a clear-cut No. 1 back. If you wait around too long, you'll basically end up starting two half-RB1s at best every week. Lots of luck if you find yourself in that situation.

***********************

Larry Johnson not what he once was..but still a safe pick
Johnson should be in line for a bounce-back year. He won't return to the level he was at in 2006 when he was among the top rushers in the NFL, but Johnson is worth taking with a first-round pick in all leagues. If he falls to the second round, then consider drafting Johnson there a steal.

***********************

Submit fantasy football questions about your team in the FORUM section or email me.

************************