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Marques Colston is sidelined with a broken collarbone, but do not expect the Saints’ potent offense to come to a halt. Drew Brees is too talented and he’ll make due with the weapons he has.
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Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem are more than capable of shouldering the load while Colston and Lance Moore (groin) are on the mend. They have been in the offense for years and that continuity should not go unnoticed.
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The injuries could almost be a blessing for Jimmy Graham as there are less mouths to feed in what is expected to be his breakout season. Graham has the speed-size-athleticism combo that today’s best tight ends possess. It makes them virtually unable to be covered by linebackers because of his speed and by safeties because of his size.
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Darren Sproles was every bit as good as advertised for the Saints. He should make the loss of Reggie Bush go unnoticed. He’s equally as dangerous in the return game and in the passing game as Bush, but is a better runner between the tackles.
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Speaking of runners, despite getting stuffed at the goal line, Ingram’s presence will provide enough balance to keep defenses from merely trying to take the pass away. If they go with a dime package to slow Brees, Ingram will make them pay.
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Don’t downgrade Brees. He’ll be just fine. Aside from Colston, all the Saints’ skill position players actually get an upgrade.
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Also check out:

• Week 1 Fantasy QB Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy RB Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy WR Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy TE Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy K Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy DEF Rankings
• Week 1 Fantasy IDP Rankings
• Week 1 Start/Sit
• Week 1 Sleepers

• 2011 Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings – PPR
• 2011 Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football DEF Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football IDP Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football K Rankings

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The NFC South is pretty loaded in the running back department.
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Atlanta’s Michael Turner leads the way. He ran for 1371 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. He gets a downgrade in PPR leagues as he only caught 12 passes for 85 yards last year, but he’s a solid RB1. Turner has averaged 91.7 rushing yards and 0.91 rushing touchdowns per game over the past three years. Jason Snelling is one of the game’s best handcuffs because the Falcons hardly missed a beat when he filled in for Turner in the past. If he is a restricted free agent, he could be back with the club. If he is unrestricted it could be hard for them to bring him back. The Falcons drafted Jacquizz Rodgers, but he’ll strictly be the third down back.
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Tampa Bay got a pleasant surprise from LeGarrette Blount, who ran for 1007 yards with six touchdowns. He did his damage in just 201 carries (5.0 ypc).  Cadillac Williams is a free agent, but has expressed his desire to return to the Bucs. Blount is expected to get the bulk of the carries while Cadillac would play in passing situations. Rookie Allen Bradford isn’t expected to steal too many carries.
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Jonathan Stewart (and his keeper league owners) are perhaps second only to DeAngelo Williams and his agent in interest in where D-Will lands next year. If J-Stew has the backfield to himself, he could easily produce top five numbers, though Cam Newton could steal some of his touchdown runs. If Williams returns, Stewart can still be a viable fantasy option. They can definitely coexist for the Panthers and fantasy owners alike. D-Will could also be an elite fantasy option this year if he lands in the right place. If he signs with the Broncos, he could replace Knowshon Moreno as the team’s lead back. D-Will is an important piece in determining next year’s fantasy running back landscape.
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Pierre Thomas looked to be in a great spot when the Saints signed him to a four-year extension. Then they went and drafted Mark Ingram. That move likely sealed the fate of Reggie Bush, who will be sent packing if he doesn’t take a large pay cut. Thomas will likely move to change of pace and third-down duty while Ingram would carry the bulk of the snaps. This is a messy situation that will cause fantasy owners some heartache. Ingram should be a solid RB2 while PT23 should be a solid RB3.
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Also check out:

• AFC East Running Back Situations
• AFC North Running Back Situations
• AFC South Running Back Situations
• AFC West Running Back Situations
• NFC East Running Back Situations
• NFC North Running Back Situations

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The NFC South features three of the top quarterbacks in the league and a rookie that wants to become an icon.
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Drew Brees sets the bar for the NFC South, and you need a ladder to reach it. Brees topped 4000 yards for the fifth straight year, 4620 to be exact. His 33 touchdown passes marked his third straight year with at least 33. Brees is remarkably accurate, productive, and consistent. He’s a bona fide star and top tier QB1. It doesn’t seem to matter who is catching the ball for him.
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Matt Ryan made a nice jump into borderline QB1 territory last year. He threw for 3705  yards and 28 touchdowns. Roddy White is one of the most explosive receivers in the league. The Falcons traded the moon for rookie WR Julio Jones to compliment Roddy. I’m not sure Ryan can be much more productive than last year, given their commitment to Michael Turner and the running game, but he should be as good or slightly better. Ryan is a low-end QB1, high-end QB2.
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Josh Freeman quietly turned in a solid season, throwing for 3451 yards and 25 touchdowns. Perhaps as impressive was his INT total (6). He added another 364 yards on the ground. Given his size, I expect Freeman to record his first rushing touchdown next year. His numbers are a little bloated thanks to a five touchdown performance against a dismal Seahawks pass defense in Week 16, but he remains a terrific QB2. Freeman really developed a nice rapport with Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn is ahead of schedule on his ACL recovery and should be more effective in 2011.
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Then you have Cam Newton. He is an amazing athlete, capable of being very productive with his arm and his feet. The lockout could prevent Newton from becoming comfortable with the offense, but he will still have the instincts to make plays with his feet. He’s worth a look late in the draft as a QB2, but he could run hot and cold in 2011, especially if Steve Smith gets his wish and is dealt to a contender.
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Also check out:

• AFC East Quarterback Situations
• AFC North Quarterback Situations
• AFC South Quarterback Situations
• AFC West Quarterback Situations
• NFC East Quarterback Situations
• NFC North Quarterback Situations

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By Andy Boyum
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In July of 2010, after ten years and 1.35 million units, Chrysler Group discontinued production of the PT Cruiser. A mere three months later, the New Orleans Saints were considering ceasing production of their cruiser of a similar name.
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From ’07-’09, Pierre Thomas, a.k.a. PT Cruiser, was one of the most impressive backs on a per-play basis with 326 carries for 1669 yards – 5.12 ypc – and 16 touchdowns. The young and vibrant, yet undrafted back was surely in store for a breakout season in 2010 with plenty of, if you’ll excuse the poor pun, tread left on the tires.
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Before the season began, Thomas signed a one-year $1.684 million tender offer from the Saints in hopes of working out a long-term deal in the future. In Week 3 vs. Atlanta, Thomas injured his ankle in what would turn out to be one of the most frustrating injury predicaments to plague players, coaches and fantasy owners alike. What was supposed to be a minor tweak turned into a ten-week-long ordeal that even had Sean Payton and the powers that be pondering a possible trade to New England, and to eventually bring in Julius Jones.
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With an ADP of 33, fantasy owners had high-hopes for Thomas to propel himself into the upper echelon of fantasy backs. Following a two-and-a-half month layover and fantasy playoffs beginning many owners felt as though they could not in good faith insert Thomas into their lineups. That is, if they were lucky enough to make the playoffs at all. They would be proved correct. “PT-23” finished the season out with 122 yards rushing on 37 carries and a score.
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After sitting out Week 17, he completed his contract-year campaign with an abysmal 3.24 ypc and was designated to the IR in the week leading up to their wild-card matchup with the Seahawks. Suddenly, Who-Dat Nation was not the odds on favorite repeat as NFL Champion.

Written by Eric Stashin of www.rotoprofessor.com

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

Many people think that 2010 will finally be the year that Pierre Thomas fully breaks out and explodes onto the scene.  My question for those people is…  Why?

Don’t get me wrong, Thomas is a solid running back and could emerge as a Top 10-15 RB, but that’s about his upper limit in my mind.  However, he’s currently the 16th running back being drafted (with an ADP of 29.00 according to Mock Draft Central).

Basically, he’s being drafted about where I think his best-case scenario is.  I know, he’s likely to finally be the #1 running back in New Orleans, but there are a few reasons that I’m skeptical heading into the season.

First of all, the presence of Reggie Bush.  While Thomas may get the bulk of the carries, Bush has proven to be a dynamic third down/change of pace back.  He’s going to be in the game as a receiving option and a playmaker, but don’t discount his ability to run the ball as well.

Granted, the team is not likely to hand the ball off to him time and time again, in order to keep him healthy.  Still, this past weekend he proved just how dangerous he could be on the ground rushing seven times for 49 yards and a touchdown.