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Luke McCown, Tampa Bay – If McCown can win the starting gig in Tampa Bay he could put up decent numbers.  He has a couple of nice targets in Antonio Bryant and Kellen Winslow, Jr.  Unfortunately he doesn’t have any easy matchups during the bye weeks.  He faces New Orleans in Weeks 11 & 16, although it would be pretty ballsy to use him in the fantasy Super Bowl.  He could possibly be used with Matt Cassel as the Chiefs face Baltimore in Week 11.

Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins – Pennington could lose even more time to the Wildcat with the addition of Pat White.  Plus, Chad Henne could be breathing down his neck.  After an easy 2008 schedule, the Dolphins have a much more daunting task in ’09.  His best matchup is Week 7 vs. New Orleans.  Kyle Orton, Matt Hasselbeck, and David Garrard are on bye that week.

Shaun Hill, San Francisco 49ers – If Hill can hold off Alex Smith, he could have a solid year with Rookie Michael Crabree and Frank Gore.  Maybe this is the year Vernon Davis finally breaks out.  The Niners play Arizona in Week 1 & 14, St. Louis in Week 4, and Detroit in Week 16.  It would also take cojones to roll with Hill in the fantasy Super Bowl.  In Week 4 though, he could be used to spell Matt Ryan, Donovan McNabb, or Kurt Warner who are on bye. 

Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins – I give him credit for not pulling a Cutler and crying that his team wanted to trade him.  However, his team still wanted to trade him.  Not exactly the ringing endorsement I want for one of my fantasy QBs.  He has weapons in Santana Moss and Chris Cooley.  He has some decent matchups.  St. Louis and Detroit in Weeks 1 & 2, Kansas City in Week 6, Denver in Week 10, and New Orleans in Week 13.  He could fill in for Peyton or Romo in Week 6 or Eli or Schaub in Week 10.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens – I like the way he plays, but his thin arsenal took a hit when Derrick Mason retired.  If Todd Heap and L.J. Smith can stay healthy and Mark Clayton can step up, maybe he’ll be  a serviceable backup.  He faces Cleveland in Weeks 3 & 10, Cincy in Weeks 5 & 9, Denver in Week 8, and Detroit in Week 14.  He could fill in for Cutler, Rodgers, Brees, or Philips in Week 5 or Eli or Schaub in Week 10.  I don’t trust the Week 9 bye QBs to be #1 fantasy QBs.

Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams – I have moved on from think Bulger can do anything.  Still, he may get drafted in some leagues.  He faced Detroit in Week 8 and New Orleans in Week 10 so he could fill in for Palmer, Cassel, Brady, or Big Ben in Week 8 or Eli or Schaub in Week 10.

Kerry Collins, Tennessee Titans – Not much of an option, but he’s a starting QB for what that’s worth.  Arizona in Week 12 and St. Louis in Week 14.  Odds are you won’t use him.

JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders – He’s a Raider so I would avoid him, but if you must he faces the Chiefs in Week 2 & 10 (Eli or Schaub), Denver in Weeks 3 & 15, Cincy in Week 11, and Cleveland in Week 16.

Daunte Culpepper, Detroit Lions – He is throwing it to Calvin Johnson so he’s at least worth a mention.  Will likely cede the starting gig to Matthew Stafford at some point.  The face the Saints in Week 1, St. Louis in Week 8 (Palmer, Cassel, Brady, Big Ben), Cleveland in Week 11, Cincy in Week 13, and Arizona in Week 15.

Brady Quinn/Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns – I wouldn’t touch Quinn or DA, but if you must they face Denver in Week 2, Cincy in Week 4 (Matt Ryan, McNabb, Warner) & 12, Detroit in Week 11, and Kansas City in Week 15.

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets – I wouldn’t trust Sanchez either, but if you must they face New Orleans in Week 4 (Ryan, McNabb, Warner).  They have a pretty tough schedule.

The Dolphins completed an amazing turnaround improving for 1-15 to 11-5 and an AFC East title.  Chad Pennington got plenty of the credit, and deservingly so, for the turnaround.  I can’t help, but to be impressed with the way Ronnie Brown returned from his knee injury.  Ricky Williams was a solid compliment, but I expect RB to take the lion’s share of the carries with Ricky seeing less action in ’09.  Ted Ginn, Jr. made strides at WR last year, and I expect him to continue his progress as a third-year WR, which historically has been when wideout have had breakout seasons.  Davone Bess will likely start opposite of Ginn, Jr. with Greg Camarillo serving as the third WR (assuming his knee fully heals).  Anthony Fasano and David Martin formed a solid TE duo.  Re-signing RT Vernon Carey will be their top priority this offseason.  They don’t have too many holes on Offense, which is surprising from a team a year removed from a one-win season.  Bill Parcels will tinker I’m sure, but I don’t expect any major splashes.
 
LB Channing Crowder, the team’s #2 tackler with 113, will not likely return to the Dolphins so his hole will have to be filled.  The Dolphins have two key FA’s in their secondary:  CB Andre’ Goodman, who led the team with five INTs last year, and S Renaldo Hill, who was third on the team with 77 tackles and tied for second with 3 INTs.  They will both turn 31 later this year so that could be a factor in the decision to bring them back.  I expect both of them to test the free agency waters, meaning their secondary will be a key area of need this offseason.

KFFL Free Agent Tracker:

Few teams went through more of a turbulent offseason than the Miami Dolphins. They got a new Coach in Tony Sparano. They have a new QB in Chad Pennington. They are welcoming an old face back in Ricky Williams while the face of their franchise (Jason Taylor) was shipped out to the Nation’s Capital. His brother-in-law Zach Thomas left for Big D. Oh yeah, and The Tuna came to town.

Offensively Chad Pennington should give them stability if, and I repeat if, he can stay healthy.  While he doesn’t have a cannon for an arm, he is an accurate passer with the ability to lead.  Ernest Wilford was added to the mix and Ted Ginn, Jr. has a season under his belt.   The Offensive Line should be better with the addition of #1 pick Jake Long at Left Tackle.  They will employ a two-headed monster at RB with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, assuming they can both stay healthy and away from the sticky icky.

Defensively, they will have to establish a new identity with the departures of Taylor and Thomas.  They will need more production from Channing Crowder, Vonnie Holliday and Rookie Phillip Merling.  Joey Porter is dealing with back issues which will limit his availability and production.  They were 4th in the league against the pass last year, but that’s simply because they had the league’s worst run defense last year and were behind in games for most of the year.

My outlook isn’t pretty for the Dolphins, although compared to last year’s one win, it will be a dramatic improvement.  I’m putting them on 4-5 wins.  It will still land them an early draft pick, but at least it’s a start.

Fantasy-wise I see a few options for the Fins.  I think Ronnie Brown will be a serviceable RB as he recovers from that knee injury.  I’d rank him as a 3rd RB at best at this point.  Ricky WIlliams has been growing on me, and I think he makes a decent 3rd or 4th RB.  I like Ted Ginn, Jr. as well, especially if your team awards points for his work in the return game.  Other than that, I wouldn’t invest too heavily in Dolphins for your fantasy team.