What Fantasy Football Magazines Won’t Tell You On Draft Day (Part I)

1. The Ascent of Arian Foster - That ratty magazine you've been reading for a few weeks probably is dishing on Texans rookie RB Ben Tate, and how he could emerge from camp as the starting RB. Well, the only thing Tate left camp with was a fractured ankle that ended his 2010 season. That means that Arian Foster and Steve Slaton are the lone backs in Houston. With Slaton's benching and back injury in '09 fresh on fantasy minds, the news that Foster is the starter and Slaton the "change of pace" back means a pricey 4.10 Average Draft Position for Foster. While that may seem high for someone listed as one piece of a "murky" backfield in whatever print resources you have lying around, the starting back on a potent offense makes Foster an appealing selection. Tate is obviously undraftable, while Slaton is only a handcuff with some moderate PPR value.

2. The Return of Wes Welker - Your fantasy glossy will tell you that New England's reception monster is still hobbled by off-season knee surgery and may be placed on the PUP list, which would sideline him for six weeks. What anyone who relies on up-to the minute information knows is that Welker is already back in action giving opposing defenses fits. Welker's speedy recovery has a trickle-down effect on the whole offense, and means the value of receiving mate Randy Moss and QB Tom Brady remains a more sure-fire commodity. The only Patriot affected negatively is WR Julian Edelmann, who was to take Welker's slot role in the offense. Edelmann is only worth a late flier as an insurance policy, while Welker is currently going in the third round of 12-team leagues as a top 12 wide receiver selected.

3. Sidney Rice's Hip Injury - While your print supplement gushes about Rice's prospects after a breakout 2009 campaign, there probably isn't much written about the hip surgery that will sideline Brett Favre's deep threat for at least half of the 2010 season. There are no guarantees that he will return to full form or return at all. Rice is a risky pick, even in the latter rounds, where he is currently being selected. That's a big change from his early third-round ADP of a month ago. And the effects of his injury are reach far across the NFL. Teammate Bernard Berrian becomes Favre's defacto #1 wide receiver and is draftable in the middle rounds in any format. The Vikings also acquired WR Greg Camarillo from Miami and he should start opposite Berrian as Minnesota's primary deep threat receiver. Sophomore star Percy Harvin becomes an excellent WR #2 option for any team and should see an uptick in targets and is actually being drafted later than he was at the start of the summer. TE Visanthe Shiancoe should also benefit from Rice's absence while we think Brett Favre is the only person to suffer as a result. Remember that your print resources will be speculating on Favre's return and not any of the implications of Rice's injury.

4. Matt Leinart's Preseason Woes - Most fantasy rags will tell you that Matt Leinart is poised to take the reigns from Kurt Warner on a high-powered Cardinals offense. Well, Leinart is no longer the starter and is rumored to be on the trading block while the Arizona "O" looks anything but high-octane. The biggest fantasy impact is to uber-talented WR Larry Fitzgerald. With it likely that former Brown Derek Anderson will be starting the season under center, the QB position for the Cardinals is anything but certain. While Fitzgerald is on a very short list of the best in the game, the question marks surrounding him make him a very risky first WR selection. We feel that wideouts like Reggie Wayne and Roddy White are safer #1 selections for your team.

5. Chicago's Pass Protection - The news of Mike Martz arrival in Chicago is probably featured in most fantasy football publications. But what you won't read is this quote from Bears QB Jay Cutler from a week ago.