Andy Samberg Opens The FIFA World Cup with EA Sports

Late last week, I had the opportunity to head over to the Universal Citywalk in Los Angeles for a soccer festival conducted by EA Sports. They loaded up crates of soccer balls, video monitors and connected US and UK fans through the “Balls to Brits” event. There was a huge monitor with a feed from London and a huge soccer display in LA, where smack-talking notes were sent back and forth via soccer ball boots.

Andy Samberg of “Saturday Night Live” opened the event and launched the opening salvo (three tries). I had a chance to chat with Samberg on his viral video brilliance, his work on SNL, his love of soccer and comedic inspiration. He was, as you’d expect, ready with a bevy of one-liners and wit.

I knew that the title would get your attention. There was an interesting article posted on the Freakonomics blog that took an interesting spin on the handling of pitching staffs. It’ll never fly, but it certain flips the script on what we’ve been watching all our lives.

It’s a good read over lunch. I promise.

Read it here .

Those hopeful Bills fans were eager to see what the 2010 NFL Draft would bring. They woke up early to get through a full day of work in order to be settled in front of a television at home or a local watering hole to help the team unwrap its latest presents.

You know that look you had when you received something functional (I don’t know – you fill in the blank) instead of a shiny, new gadget? Well, Bills fans expected the announcement that the trade had been picked or that a quarterback had been drafted. Jimmy Clausen was still there (I’ll get into his world in a future blog), but the team turned to game-changer C.J. Spiller, one of the most explosive players on the board.

It took a minute to sink in, as many had already penciled Spiller into the No. 10 slot for Jacksonville (why? I’m still not sure, but I digress).

Spiller offers the Bills a home run threat in the backfield, a player who can go from zero to end zone in grand fashion. The thing is, Spiller joins an already crowded backfield with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson, and that big, glaring need under center is still there. I know that Brian Brohm is there with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards, and I suppose that this move spoke volumes of what the coaching staff believes.

Still, how about grabbing some help for whichever quarterback is under center? Lee Evans remains on an island unless there’s huge belief in James Hardy or Shawn Nelson …

Don’t get me wrong. I love Spiller’s talent, and he’ll be fun to watch in his 6-8 touches per game. However, temper those expectations for a monster impact unless Marshawn Lynch is moved. Until then, ratchet up the Buffalo D/ST a couple notches.

More draft thoughts to come throughout the remainder of the week.

Fans will sit and criticize or laud the efforts of their respective GMs. Shrines will be built to the expected “saviors” of a franchise. You don’t think that more than a few sites have been built to welcome Sam Bradford to St. Louis? “Sam 1 Am” See. Instead of the I, we use the number one for him being the first pick ….

The Lions are building the “Unstoppable Ndamukong” or “Sweet Suh” or something of that ilk.

There are one million and one pitchmen in Denver trying to find the magical formula to get Tim Tebow onboard. I know it certainly sent the blogosphere and talk radio buzzing, and will captivate us through training camp as Tebow finds his role.

The Draftniks return to their basements to begin work on their 2011 masterpieces. Jake Locker, Andrew Luck and the other 2011 draft hopefuls are working on their games with anticipation of hearing their names called in primetime next year.

I’ll spend considerable time watching and analyzing the college game this fall on the Dome in addition to my usual vigilance on the NFL and MLB beats.

Over the next couple days, I’ll be breaking down the good, bad and ugly from the 2010 NFL Draft, including thoughts on the myriad trades that shook up the landscape.

Is the JaMarcus Russell era over in Oakland with Jason Campbell’s arrival (Campbell said flat-out that he expects to start)? Did Pete Carroll’s trade push the Seahawks back toward the top of the NFC West?

The time to break down our new heroes is at hand. Did your team do enough?

Look for new podcasts w/ special guests from around the league, Vlogs and a ton of blog posts to get you buzzing around the water cooler.

So, what do you think?
CJ Spiller as a Bill and Tim Tebow as a Bronco – do you love it, hate it? Are you surprised to see who’s still waiting to be selected and were you expecting to see Big Ben’s name come up?

Post your comments – we want to know what’s rolling around in your dome. I’ll be posting my thoughts along with the results of rounds 2 and 3 soon enough.
For now, the thoughts inside the dome belong to the fans! Dominate!

Who can make it happen?

St. Louis is a no-go. The Rams are trying to fire up the fan base, and while his arrival would bring fanfare and attention, I don’t know that you want to build from there. Roethlisberger has an injury history and has absorbed a ton of hits in his six NFL seasons. Take Sam Bradford and look to the future.

Cleveland: It doesn’t seem like a Mike Holmgren kind of fit and it’s unlikely that the Steelers would trade him in-division. That, and the fact that Cleveland has a lot of other needs to address in addition to the quarterback position that was flipped this offseason.

Seattle: Pete Carroll is building things from scratch. However, he’s showing that he likes reclamation projects by signing receivers Mike Williams and Reggie Williams. Roethlisberger is only 28, while starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck turns 35 in September. Seattle certainly has ample early-round picks to consider a deal (6th, 14th and 40th overall selections).

Buffalo: They need something to get the train moving in the right direction. Bringing in a proven quarterback would be a nice start.

Jacksonville: Likewise, Jacksonville needs something to spark the squad. David Garrard has been a solid option, but hasn’t lived up to the big payday he received. Even with the thoughts of squashing character concerns in Jacksonville, wouldn’t a two-time Super Bowl champion be enticing and re-engage the fan base?

Oakland: Can Al Davis put aside the amount of money he’s spent on JaMarcus Russell and look to the future of his squad? A change of coasts might be a positive for Roethlisberger, although I know bad comics are already crafting their “of course he goes to Oakland!” takes.

Fantasy Take

Roethlisberger was ranked toward the back-end of the starters for 2010 prior to the suspension. Obviously, a minimum four-game suspension drops him toward the list a few spots. But, how far does he fall when you consider the 12 games (assuming you make the playoffs and a run into the fantasy title game) for which he’ll be eligible?

He slides behind the likes of Carson Palmer, Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan, but I can’t slip him past the aforementioned Garrard or second-year starter Matthew Stafford just yet.

As for the Pittsburgh squad, you’re looking at Dennis Dixon for the start of the season unless something shifts and he melts down to let Batch or Leftwich snag the job. That means more opportunities for Heath Miller (when healthy) and short routes for Hines Ward (PPR leagues rejoice). However, Roethlisberger’s absence hurts the prospects of Mike Wallace stepping into a dominant role. He’ll produce, but I’m less bullish right now

Finally, you’re looking at a HUGE workload for Rashard Mendenhall in his third year. Willie Parker is gone, and you can expect to see the Steelers return to the traditional smash-mouth formation.

Training Camp
The long road to training camp has begun. This weekend, I’ll be blogging, yelling and spewing off stats and analysis about the NFL Draft, the NFL schedule & one million other topics.

Each year, I hit the road and catch a number of practices, a stretch that always includes a trip to Pittsburgh. Last year’s visit occurred just after the Lake Tahoe news broke. I’m curious to see the vibe among the 10,000-12,000 fans come August.

The Steelers made a move ahead of the decision, bringing back veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich to compete for a role with Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch. Did the Steelers anticipate such a lengthy suspension? Perhaps not, there was a pretty good idea that Roethlisberger wasn’t getting a slap on the wrist when Goodell talked of the quarterback’s violation of the league’s policy during a radio appearance with Dan Patrick on Tuesday.

There’s a chance that Roethlisberger’s suspension can be reduced to four games if he reaches certain conditions and his counselor’s sign off. Interestingly, the Steelers have a Bye in Week 5 following a date with the division-rival Ravens. Conspiracy theorists are running wild.

The NFL fan base and society at large are divided on the issue, most certainly. On one hand, there’s the sentiment that since Roethlisberger was not convicted of a crime, that no suspension is warranted. Then, there are those who cite the preponderance of evidence that paints a very dismal, sad and horrifying picture of what happened in Georgia as cause to suspend Roethlisberger indefinitely.

I understand the outrage of those who look at the details of the allegations and point to a pattern of abhorrent behavior. I don’t understand the “no charges, no punishment” faction. Some separation between the barbarism and aggression on the field and the larger society must be maintained, right?

In the end, there’s a responsibility to the league, its fans and its partners that must be considered. There’s a lot at stake for everyone involved, from the owners to broadcast partners, fans who shell out hard-earned cash for tickets and merchandiser and the myriad producers of said merchandise. Roger Goodell is protecting the integrity of his brand while keeping this seemingly unstoppable force on course for continued growth.

Wouldn’t you expect your boss to do the same? Wouldn’t you fight to protect your business?

Click on the podcast tab to hear us yell.

Subscribe via iTunes – the yelling has just begun …

Seriously, I re-typed that title like 15 times before it sank in — and still the question mark seems appropriate.

I’d told everyone who would listen that I had no belief in those Oakland rumors. Regardless of whatever tag you might put on Mr. Davis, he’d already “invested” enough in his quarterback position to make the move. And, frankly, McNabb tossed out his own “no chance” comments late last week.

Now, it just seemed like something crazy was going to have to happen to move the veteran quarterback. I’d joked about the prospect of Daniel Snyder throwing a big trade value out there to friends in conversations. I believe I used the term “crazy-ass speculation …” — But, the in-division trade seemed to be nothing but a whimsical notion. And then, the line crept through on my mobile phone and left me scratching my head.

Second-round pick in 2010 and a 3rd or 4th in 2011.

It seems like a reasonable value for a quarterback in the final year of his deal. He’s missed some time (17 games in the past four years) and carries a big cost. As a result, few teams were realistic trading partners.

Enter Snyder and his deal. The Eagles needed to make a decision with Kolb and Michael Vick in the fold. Kolb showed us something in his brief run under center and Vick remains one of the game’s great question marks coming into year two of his return.

Kolb clearly has many weapons at his disposal, and I’ll bust out a full 1,000-world tribute to him in this venue soon enough. I’m doing my initial first to toss him in the back-end starter or very early No. 2 QB option.

As for McNabb, we’ve seen the Redskins fortify the running game by bringing on Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to complement Clinton Portis. Mike Shanahan has reclaimed the title of “The Devil” already, long before the first snap of mini-camps. Welcome to hell, fantasy owners.

Now, as much as you may like McNabb in and of himself, you basically are looking at two true receiving options and a lot of questions. Oh, and one of those receiving options, Chris Cooley, is coming back from a devastating injury — we’ll anxiously await his thoughts on his blog (I’ll be sure to link). Santana Moss is 30, but coming off of a 70-catch, 900-yard season (he’s note quite done yet).

You’re also still looking for the Redskins to fortify the offensive line, something that now leaps to the forefront of the draft strategy with the quarterback position built out (Rex Grossman was signed, and we’ll see what happens with Jason Campbell come draft-day …).

Jimmy Clausen is scheduled for a visit, but he doesn’t seem like a fit now unless one of the backups gets moved. Even then, wouldn’t you take the O-tackle to protect your investment in McNabb and try to make a run this year. Forget about the long-term with Shanahan at the helm. A move to bring McNabb in suggests that you think you can compete now — and let’s not make any mistake about it. They lost seven of their 12 games last year by six or fewer points. Is McNabb worth three points?

Perhaps from a W-L perspective – and we’ll tackle the real and fantasy worlds here on The Dome. From a fantasy perspective, I would expect the Redskins to rely on the ground game and exploit the three-headed monster currently residing in the backfield (sorry, folks). For now, McNabb probably takes a dive outside of the top 12 pending a demonstrated comfort zone with the young receivers (what about TO? Maybe not), but it’s not a precipitous fall.

We’ll begin breaking down teams here in written and podcast form in short order. Look for a bevy of guests and regular yelling by me, the “Freaks” and our friends from around the league.

Get it on.

Still, I’m calling on you to start building a picture for 2010. It’s an ever-growing puzzle, and more than a few pieces will change shape before we complete things coming into September. We’ll roll through the playoffs and Super Bowl and into the NFL Draft evaluation period. Before you know it, we’ll be back in the draft rooms and getting ourselves prepared for another wild ride.

As such, it’s time to start marinating the term “sleeper” and some of those players who might just fit the tab for 2010. Some received extended runs in the national spotlight (like Matt Moore), while others never received the opportunity to shine. Michael Crabtree and LeSean McCoy are known quantities and don’t count in this analysis. Let’s dig a little deeper.

James Davis, RB, CLE

Jerome Harrison claimed the top spot in Cleveland following Jamal Lewis’ injury and clearly comes into 2010 as the presumed starter. Eric Mangini spoke of being impressed with the fourth-year tailback’s efforts down the stretch and will have the opportunity to coach the Browns in 2010. Still, I can’t help but put Davis (and to a lesser extent, Chris Jennings) on the radar. Harrison had been an afterthought in the Cleveland offense for years when he wasn’t injured. Davis appeared to be the heir apparent behind Lewis before sustaining a controversial shoulder injury. We’ll watch this situation closely during the summer.

Michael Bush, RB, OAK

The Raiders came into 2009 with a three-headed backfield. I don’t know that the contestants necessarily change for 2010, although I do suspect that Bush showed enough to warrant a bigger role. We know what Justin Fargas is all about. He runs hard, shows promise and gets hurt … every single year. Darren McFadden appears better suited to take on a Reggie Bush-like role and be pushed out wide as a receiver. But Michael Bush demonstrated great power and burst when given an opportunity to take on a bigger workload. He’s a darkhorse candidate for a breakthrough 2010.

Justin Forsett, RB, SEA

The Seahawks fired Jim Mora after one year as the head coach, and the new boss will inherit some huge question marks. Is Matt Hasselbeck the right quarterback? Which receivers will pair with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and John Carlson in the new world order? How much money will the Seahawks spend on offensive linemen in free agency, and how many new pieces will be drafted?

I could do this all day.

There’s also a question mark in the backfield, as Mora turned to veteran Julius Jones for a heavy workload down the stretch. As such, we’re not quite sure what to expect from Forsett. He’s clearly an explosive option if he gets to the edge (5.4 yards per carry) and demonstrated the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield (41 receptions). I don’t believe Forsett’s a 20-carry back for a full season, but he holds significant Fantasy value if he sees 10-12 touches per game.

Chad Henne, QB, MIA

Henne assumed the starting role following Chad Pennington’s injury and demonstrated a big arm in leading the Dolphins into the playoff chase. He averaged 205.6 passing yards in 14 appearances, including three 300-yard games in his final five starts. The running game remains front and center in Miami, but Henne certainly displayed an ability and willingness to air it out. He averaged 32.2 pass attempts per game while completing 60.8 percent of his attempts.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, BUF

Trent Edwards appeared on this list for 2009, but now he’ll need to battle for his job in 2010. Is Fitzpatrick necessarily a big-time weekly producer? No, I’m not going to say that by any stretch. However, he proved to be a solid plug-in contributor to fantasy lineups down the stretch. Like Henne above, Fitzpatrick exhibited a willingness to throw downfield to Terrell Owens and Lee Evans. He takes his chances, but that was the major strike against Edwards in many eyes. Edwards was famously tabbed “Captain Check Down” by a frequent caller on our FOX Fantasy Football show this season. There are obviously changes afoot in Buffalo, with a new coach set to be named and Owens possibly (likely?) skipping out of town.

Matt Moore, QB, CAR

Moore certainly put his best foot forward when Jake Delhomme was sidelined by an injury. It could be argued that he should’ve been inserted into the lineup earlier in the season to stop the turnover barrage, but that’s neither here nor there. Moore threw eight touchdowns with no interceptions in his final four appearances. He averaged 207.3 passing yards, completed 61.3 percent of his attempts and demonstrated a willingness to throw the ball downfield, connecting frequently with Steve Smith prior to his injury, but wasn’t reckless.

Devin Thomas, WR, WAS

Thomas had started to assume a larger role in the Washington offense down the stretch before sustaining an ankle injury that sidelined him for the final two games. The second-year receiver averaged 3.6 receptions and 50.8 yards in the five games prior to getting injured. New coach Mike Shanahan will evaluate all personnel and adjust the offense accordingly. It has to get better in 2010 by default, doesn’t it? Thomas, a former second-round pick, will likely assume a much more prevalent role in the new world order.

Brandon Gibson, WR, STL

Gibson came over to the Rams in the midseason trade that sent Will Witherspoon to the Eagles. Injuries moved him into the starting lineup quickly, and he performed quite well alongside Donnie Avery. He caught multiple passes in each of the final eight games of the year, including four games of at least five receptions. He was also learning on the fly after coming over from Philadelphia, and there were multiple opportunities where timing issues came into play (and a few dropped passes along the way). Those should get ironed out this offseason.

Obviously, there are numerous pieces in play for the St. Louis offense in 2010. The quarterback position is the biggest question mark, as the Rams will need to decide whether Kyle Boller or Keith Null can reasonably begin the year as the starter. Also, Gibson’s initial value depends on the availability of Laurent Robinson, who showed promise before sustaining a season-ending injury. Gibson’s last-round or waiver wire fodder to start, but depending on the changes in St. Louis, he could become a valued addition.

Devin Aromashodu, WR, CHI

Aromashodu performed well during the 2009 preseason, but an injury kept him from cracking the receiver rotation. He finally started to see the field in the second half of the year and flourished down the stretch, catching 22 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns in the final four games. Standing 6-foot-2 with an ability to stretch the field and willingness to fight for balls (a key ingredient to a Cutler-led offense), Aromashodu should challenge for a starting role in 2010.

Chaz Schilens, WR, OAK

Schilens impressed everyone during training camp and started to creep into the final “flier” rounds of drafts in 2009. A broken bone in his foot and the trials and tribulations of JaMarcus Russell made his midseason return an afterthought. He performed well following his return, though, averaging 3.6 receptions and 45.6 yards per game. He finished the season with a 99-yard effort against the Ravens in the Raiders’ near upset bid. The Oakland offense is certainly in flux, and the race to be the next starting quarterback has begun. Will Tom Cable, or whomever occupies the spot, be forced to start Russell, or will a new signal caller take over?

Zach Miller, TE, JAC

Marcedes Lewis was expected to become a big-time pass-catching receiver in the Jacksonville system and has appeared on this list in the past. Now Miller, a sixth-round pick in 2009, has risen up to challenge Lewis for the role. Miller caught 10 passes for 81 yards in the final two games of the season and scored twice in the disappointing season-ending loss to Cleveland. At 6-foot-4, he has the ability to become a red zone target at a minimum. Let’s face it, there’s not much in this receiving corps beyond Mike Sims-Walker in 2010.

Brandon Pettigrew, TE, DET

Pettigrew had started to assert himself and become a fixture in the Detroit offense when he sustained a season-ending knee injury. We’ll obviously monitor his progress and reports out of Detroit, but I remain enamored with the potential of this 6-foot-5 red zone monster. He’d caught multiple passes in eight of the 11 games in which he appeared while averaging 34.6 yards per game. He scored in two of his final four games before leaving the Thanksgiving Day game against Green Bay.

We entered the year with grand expectations at tailback, and conventional wisdom kept the draft board running back-heavy in the opening rounds.

That age-old strategy just might fall to the wayside in 2010 given the number of pass-happy attacks and the proliferation of two and three-back-systems throughout the NFL.

I’ll give you two statistical nuggets to start your valuation process for 2010.

• 10 quarterbacks passed for at least 4,000 yards.

• Only 15 running backs reached 1,000 yards.

In this installment of my 2009 review, I’m raising a toast to the top-notch performers of 2009. It was certainly a topsy-turvy campaign, but some players gave owners consistent efforts throughout the year and others emerged to vault them into title contention.

I’ll forgo the analysis of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, as they gave owners the strong performances we anticipated (we’ll save the Week 16 and 17 sit-downs for the blogosphere).

Let’s start in Minnesota, where Brett Favre produced a masterful season.

Quarterback: Brett Favre, Minnesota

I can’t write about the top players of the year and not doff my cap to the incomparable, ageless wonder. Depending on when leagues were drafted, Favre was a late-round flier on the whispers of his comeback or a top-15 quarterback selection.

He certainly paid off for those owners who gambled on draft day that the Vikings would rely more on Favre’s arm than the legs of Adrian Peterson. Favre finished second in the NFL with 33 touchdowns (his most since 1997) and 4,202 passing yards (his most since 1998). He also threw only seven interceptions in 531 attempts, six fewer than any of his previous full seasons in the NFL. Favre also posted the best passer rating of his career.

I know. Some of you are less than enamored with him for his Week 15 effort against the Panthers. I have to look at the full body of work and just marvel at what he was able to accomplish following the summer waffling.

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay

Not to be outdone by his Minnesota counterpart, Rodgers effectively utilized his deep receiver corps to great heights. Rodgers averaged 277.1 passing yards and rolled up 11 multi-touchdown efforts (30 overall with 11 turnovers). While Rodgers wasn’t able to replicate his long-distance connections with Greg Jennings from 2008, his decision-making improved (six fewer interceptions) and he spread the ball around brilliantly. He was a top-five quarterback for me in 2009 and will be right on the heels of the leaders for 2010.

Quarterback: Matt Schaub, Houston

Fantasy owners were undecided about Schaub coming into 2009. They were obviously enamored with his connection with Andre Johnson and his big arm, but Schaub’s inability to finish a season was definitely scrutinized. Schaub had played in only 11 games in back-to-back seasons coming into 2009.

Despite myriad issues in the running game and injuries to Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels, Schaub took his game to another level in 2009. Schaub led the NFL with 4,770 passing yards and nearly doubled his touchdown total over his 2008 total. He still committed some egregious errors in judgment – something Houston fans take issue with – and tossed 15 interceptions. Schaub averaged 298.1 yards per game and played in all 16 contests.

Running back: Chris Johnson, Tennessee

Johnson was drafted toward the end of the first round in most leagues, as owners contemplated the role to be played by the slimmed-down version of 2008 vulture back LenDale White. He gave owners weekly brilliance and topped 100 yards in 11 straight games to close the year (12 100-yard efforts overall with a 97-yard game for good measure).

When you review the game logs, Johnson actually started the season slowly. He’d only scored two of his 14 touchdowns before Week 8 while averaging just shy of 100 rushing yards. Once the Titans turned to Vince Young in Week 8, things clicked and his race to 2,000 yards began. Johnson lost a 62-yard touchdown sprint to a holding penalty in Week 17.

Running back: Thomas Jones, New York Jets

Cedric Benson gets an honorable mention here for his huge year in Cincinnati. However, Jones’ huge touchdown total and the Jets’ reliance on the veteran back put him in this slot. Fantasy owners dismissed Jones on draft day because of fears about his yearly workload, Shonn Greene’s arrival and problems to be faced with Mark Sanchez under center.

Jones responded by carrying the ball 331 times, his fifth year with at least 290 carries. He amassed 1,402 rushing yards to finish third in the league and established a new career mark with 14 rushing touchdowns. Jones scored or rushed for 100 yards in 12 of his final 14 games of the year.

Running back: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota

Peterson racked up 180 yards and three touchdowns against the Browns. The chatter in the blogosphere gravitated to Peterson’s pursuit of a 2,000-yard season. While AD didn’t reach that stratosphere, he still produced a phenomenal season for fantasy owners. He scored in 12 of 16 games (18 overall), including six in the final four games of the year.

He did have several games with smallish rushing efforts, much to the chagrin of expectant fantasy owners. In fact, Peterson topped 100 yards only twice after the first week and had four games with fewer than 60 rushing yards. Peterson may not have flirted with history, but he still delivered routine trips to the end zone and gave owners a strong weekly baseline. As such, I’ll go against the grain and not chastise this year’s overwhelming choice at No. 1 overall.

Running back: Jamaal Charles, Kansas City

I felt that I needed to give a nod to Charles’ brilliance in the second half of the season. He produced an amazing run in the final month of the season with four consecutive 100-yard game. He capped the Week 17 scoring with a 56-yard sprint to the end zone. He finished the game with 25 carries for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Charles averaged 111.6 rushing yards per game over his final nine appearances.

Wide receiver: Andre Johnson, Houston

Johnson has been the model of consistency for fantasy receivers in the past four years. He started the season with a pedestrian effort against “MasterLock,” Darrelle Revis. Johnson turned things up in Week 2 with 10 catches and two touchdowns and went on to record his third 100-reception season in the past four years. He finished with 1,569 receiving yards.

Despite myriad issues in the running game, the Texans’ passing game couldn’t be denied. Johnson was particularly brilliant down the stretch, give fantasy owners back-to-back 190-yard days in Weeks 15 and 16 with a touchdown grab in Week 16. He’ll own the top spot in wide receiver rankings for 2010.

Wide receiver: Steve Smith, New York Giants

Smith experienced somewhat of a breakthrough in 2008 as a PPR threat. Plaxico Burress’ incarceration established him as Eli Manning’s No. 1 target for the 2009 campaign. The third-year receiver from USC finished the year with a 10-catch day against the Vikings to give him 107 for the year, second in the NFL to Wes Welker.

He caught four or more passes in 15 of the Giants’ games (three in the 16th), and averaged 76.2 receiving yards per game (60 or more in 13 of them). Smith scored seven touchdowns, including pivotal back-to-back weeks in the fantasy playoffs.

Wide receiver: Miles Austin, Dallas

What else can you say about Austin? For the first quarter of the season, he was a non-factor for the Cowboys. He amassed just five receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown prior to that monster performance against the Chiefs in Week 5.

Austin averaged 6.3 receptions and 103.3 receiving yards over the Cowboys’ final 12 games to help lead Dallas to the No. 3 seed in the NFC Playoffs. He also scored 10 touchdowns during this period. More importantly, he scored in eight of those 12 games and finished with 90 or more receiving yards in two of the remaining four contests.

Wide receiver: Sidney Rice, Minnesota

I put Rice on the radar for a breakthrough season with rumors of Favre’s arrival in Minnesota. Rice became one of the season’s biggest breakout stars as Favre’s go-to downfield receiver. His ability to leap up and over defensive backs was put on display while his willingness to fight through coverage for jump balls was one of the things that endeared him to Minnesota fans. He finished with 60 or more receiving yards in 10 different games and hauled down 83 passes.

Rice finished the season with eight touchdowns, three in the final two weeks of the year. As such, there’s still some room for growth provided that the Vikings can get Favre to commit for a second run. Rice finished the year with the fourth-most receiving yards in the NFL despite the myriad options available to Favre this season.

Tight end: Vernon Davis, San Francisco

The former top-five fantasy tight end experienced the resurgence of the ages. Davis was left on the wire in most leagues this season, as owners didn’t quite know how to evaluate his place in the offense or his relationship with Mike Singletary. Davis started the season quietly, then caught fire in Week 3. He scored in six of his final seven games to carry fantasy owners to the promised land.

Davis finished the season with 13 touchdowns, four more than he’d produced in his first three seasons in San Francisco. He narrowly missed reaching the 1,000-yard mark (965) and caught 78 passes. To put things in perspective, Davis had caught only 103 passes for 1,132 receiving yards. That’s fantasy gold, and a true example of a breakthrough campaign.

Tight end: Dallas Clark, Indianapolis

Clark was already a mainstay at the tight end position, but the injury to Anthony Gonzalez made him the true No. 2 receiver in Indianapolis for Peyton Manning. The seventh-year tight end out of Iowa established new career marks in receptions (100) and receiving yards (1,106 yards), his first career 1,000-yard campaign. Clark topped 60 receiving yards in nine games this season and caught three or more passes in 15 contests.

The 2009 season offered more twists and turns than any psychological thriller concocted in Hollywood. Fantasy owners and fans navigated through a myriad of injuries and varied circumstances, including, but not limited to, coaching changes, suspensions, trades, releases and frequent trips on the quarterback carousel.

Along the way, a number of surprising stat lines were achieved. I’m not talking about those single-week appearances on the fantasy radar accomplished by a number of receivers. I’m referring to those overall numbers or extended runs that helped propel fantasy owners to great heights or allowed them to overcome injuries or one of those issues listed above.

Let’s start in Baltimore, where a sophomore quarterback excelled despite a dearth of options.

Joe Flacco, QB, BAL

Flacco posted a strong rookie season, and we certainly anticipated an increase in his production in 2009 as we drifted into the offseason. However, we also believed the Ravens would make one or more additions to the receiving corps in support of him. When that didn’t happen, his stock in early-season fantasy drafts began to drop. With only Derrick Mason as a reliable wide receiver and frequent dump-off to Ray Rice out of the backfield, Flacco crushed his freshman totals and led the Ravens to another postseason appearance. He improved his passing yardage total by 18 percent (3,613 yards) and his touchdown total by 50 percent (from 14 to 21). Will they add another receiver in 2010? Will the late surge from Todd Heap continue into the new year?

Brett Favre, QB, MIN

I had great expectations for Favre upon his arrival in Minnesota, but I couldn’t have imagined he’d operate at such an efficient level. He finished second in the NFL with 33 touchdowns (his most since 1997) and 4,202 passing yards (his most since 1998). He also threw only seven interceptions in 531 attempts, six fewer than any of his previous full seasons in the NFL. That was the statistic that leaped off the page as you take the season in as a whole. The big collapse never happened, and he also posted the best passer rating of his career.

Alex Smith, QB, SF

Smith gave the San Francisco brass a lot to think about heading into the offseason. He started the season on the bench, but performed quite well down the stretch after assuming the reins from Shaun Hill. Smith averaged 213.6 yards per game in 11 appearances and tossed 18 touchdowns (six multi-touchdown games and only one shutout). He demonstrated a tremendous rapport with both Vernon Davis and rookie Michael Crabtree, perhaps something the 49ers will build on in 2010.

Jerome Harrison, RB, CLE

Harrison closed out the season with a bang and probably helped guide many fantasy owners to titles. He was a true workhorse in the final three games, racking up a total of 561 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 106 carries. He posted four 100-yard games in relief of outgoing tailback Jamal Lewis and made a strong case to be the featured back in 2010 for Mike Holmgren and whomever sits in the head coach’s office.

Cedric Benson, RB, CIN

I always surmised that the talent was there, but Benson certainly hadn’t shown us much in the dedication column prior to the final quarter of the 2008 season. That late-season surge didn’t lead fantasy owners to the bandwagon, and he was routinely drafted in the fifth round or later in 2009. He responded by accruing 1,251 yards in 13 games played this season (six games of at least 110 yards) and scored six touchdowns.

Fred Jackson, RB, BUF

Jackson was on the radar to open the season with Marshawn Lynch on the suspended list, and he did enough during those three games to remain part of a workload split before ultimately seizing the top slot down the stretch. He carried the ball 13 or more times in each of the Bills’ final six games and closed with a phenomenal 212-yard effort. He was one of only 15 running backs to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in 2009 and amassed 1,433 total yards.

Miles Austin, WR, DAL

For the first quarter of the season, Austin was a non-factor for the Cowboys. He amassed just five receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown prior to a monster performance against the Chiefs in Week 5. He averaged 6.3 receptions and 103.3 yards over the final 12 games to help lead Dallas to the No. 3 seed in the NFC. He also scored 10 touchdowns during this period. More importantly, he scored in eight of those 12 games and finished with 90 or more yards in two of the remaining four.

Pierre Garcon/Austin Collie, WR, IND

Colts fans and fantasy owners let out a collective gasp when Anthony Gonzalez was injured during the preseason. He was to assume the No. 2 role opposite Reggie Wayne following the departure of Marvin Harrison, and there was no obvious heir apparent. As such, fantasy owners had to pull back on some of their projections for Peyton Manning. But Manning more than compensated for Gonzalez’s absence and effectively integrated the tandem of Garcon and Collie into the offense. The pair combined for 107 receptions, 1,441 yards and 11 touchdowns. Collie warranted mention in the Rookie of the Year debates, and Garcon shone as a downfield weapon.

Mike Wallace, WR, PIT

I remember watching Wallace struggle during the early days of training camp, but he became a tremendous downfield option for Ben Roethlisberger as the season progressed. Wallace recorded multiple receptions in 14 of 16 games this season while averaging 19.4 yards per reception (nine of at least 25 yards). We got excited about Steve Breaston as the third member of the Arizona offense and drafted him accordingly. Wallace will be in that 10th or 11th-round range during 2010 drafts based on his big-play ability.

Robert Meachem, WR, NO

We wrote all preseason about the expected efficiency of the New Orleans offense and Drew Brees’ ability to spread the ball around. We couldn’t have anticipated which of the many receivers beyond Marques Colston would emerge as the second target. Lance Moore, the Saints’ breakout star of 2008, experienced a knee injury and was unable to answer the bell, thereby thrusting the second-year receiver from Tennessee into a prominent role. Meachem tied Colston for the team lead with nine touchdowns, including a string of five consecutive games with at least one score. He finished the season with 45 receptions for 722 yards.

Fred Davis, TE, WAS

Fantasy owners were despondent when top-tier tight end Chris Cooley went down for the season in Week 7. Little did those owners realize that a new tight end would emerge as a solid fantasy contributor from the same stagnant Washington offense. Davis caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in that first game against Philadelphia. He averaged 4.1 receptions and 46.4 yards per game over the final 10 games of the year. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s integrated into Mike Shanahan’s offense with Cooley returning in 2010.

Vernon Davis, TE, SF

Davis was left on the wire in most leagues this season, as owners didn’t quite know how to evaluate his place in the offense or his relationship with Mike Singletary. He earned the tag of captain, then lived up to the top-five fantasy expectations of years past. Sculpted of granite, he started the season quietly, but caught fire starting in Week 3, scoring in six of his final seven games to carry fantasy owners to the many titles. He finished the season with 13 touchdowns to lead all tight ends, four more than he’d produced in his first three seasons in San Francisco. He narrowly missed reaching the 1,000-yard mark (965) and caught 78 passes. To put things in perspective, he’d caught only 103 passes for 1,132 yards in three years.