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As an avid dynasty fantasy footballer, I have run into many situations where I took the rookie in the “better” situation although I knew the player was not very talented.  Kevin Jones in Detroit, J.J. Arrington in Arizona, and Donald Brown in Indianapolis have bitten me plenty of times.  This has led to my strategy adjusting to best talent rather than just best situation.
QB:

1. Jake Locker

Physically and athletically talented in perfect situation.  Upside is huge, could become a future star.

1. Christian Ponder

Good offensive fit and talented player.  Ignore those that say he was a reach, pick him to pick up yards and TDs with his weapons.

1. Blaine Gabbert

Gabbert doesn’t have much to throw to and reminds me a bit of Alex Smith, so I am shying away.

1. Cam Newton

Huge upside for Cam, but he isn’t very polished.  Scared this is a bust in the making.

1. Colin Kaepernick

Harbaugh has developed mobile QBs before (Josh Johnson).  Reward could be big with Kaepernick under his tutelage.

1. Andy Dalton

Good system fit, but weak armed player who is fairly inaccurate.  Won’t develop into a starter.

1. Ryan Mallett

Big armed, talented player, but will he ever start?  High risk, low reward.

1. Ricky Stanzi

Could be developed into a starter in KC if Cassel doesn’t work out.  Handcuff for now.

1. TJ Yates

A poor man’s Matt Schaub to back him up.  Schaub has had injuries in the past, worth a stash.

1. Nate Enderle

A very poor man’s Jay Cutler.  Inconsistent, but could string together a few games.

1. Greg McElroy

More a 3rd QB than a back-up.  Not much upside.

1. Tyrod Taylor

Doesn’t quite have the tools to be a QB
UDFAs to watch for:

1. Josh Portis
2. Pat Devlin
3. Jeff Van Camp

RB:

1. Mark Ingram

Great vision and explosion, should get the primary role.  Target with #1 picks.

1. Mikel Leshoure

Big back who can catch, can be the #1 guy.  At the very least the Thomas Jones to Best’s Jamaal Charles.

1. Ryan Williams

Extraordinarly talented, #1 back potential.  Should take the job from Beanie Wells and Hightower immediately.

1. Daniel Thomas

Big, talented runner.  Can he stay healthy?  Will be the bell cow, but too risky for me

1. Kendall Hunter

A tad slower Ray Rice type.  Backing up an injury prone Frank Gore could pave the way for Kendall Hunter to take a starting job and not give it away.  Target him.

1. Roy Helu

Situation and talent meet.  Roy Helu is heavily underrated as a runner and in a PERFECT system fit.  If O-line develops, he could be a top 10 fantasy back one day.

1. Taiwan Jones

Most explosive player in the draft.  Brian Westbrook esque.  If McFadden goes down, expect big big games.

1. Jordan Todman

Drafted too late.  With Sproles out of town and Mathews being injury prone, this talented back could tout the rock a bit.

1. Jacquizz Rodgers

Good situation, but he has taken a lot of beatings.  Rodgers was very productive though and fits well in Atlanta.

1. Shane Vereen

Kevin Faulk type of role for the Patriots, though not even as quick.

1. Dion Lewis

Great fit for Andy Reid and has some excellent vision.  Could split with McCoy down the line.

1. Delone Carter

Big back who plays small.  A different type of runner for his system, but has had some big games, tough to bring down.

1. DeMarco Murray

Very talented pass catcher, but not much more.  Also in a black hole in Dallas, doesn’t make for a good fantasy bet.

1. Alex Green

Straight line player who was productive, but not overly talented.  Good situation though, but let someone else gamble.

1. Stevan Ridley

Bigger back for Sammy Morris role.  Overdrafted, a one trick pony, could produce TDs.

1. Jamie Harper

Big and slow is not a good combination.  Compliments Chris Johnson well, but I wonder if he can even win the #2 job.

1. Johnny White

A poor man’s version of CJ Spiller won’t see playing time over him and FJax.

1. Da’Rel Scott

Talented, fast runner with high character.  Should take #3 job with some higher potential down the line.  Good late round steal.

1. Evan Royster

Good situation, but terrible player.  Pass on him.

1. Allen Bradford

Great blend of size and speed, but not very productive.  1-2 punch with Blount?

1. Bilal Powell

Not overly talented, over drafted, can he even make the roster?

1. Owen Marecic
2. Baron Batch
3. Stanley Havili
4. Anthony Sherman
5. Shaun Chapas
6. Jay Finley

UDFAs to watch for:

1. Derrick Locke
2. Mario Fannin
3. Graig Cooper
4. Darren Evans
5. Donal Buckram
6. Noel Devine
7. Damien Berry
8. John Clay

WR:

1. AJ Green

Hall of fame potential, no matter who the QB is.  Next Larry Fitzgerald.

1. Julio Jones

Hall of Fame potential, big upside, but a #2.  Good bet to produce WR2 or Wr3 numbers consistently.

1. Leonard Hankerson

Good situation, underdrafted, could steal the #1 spot and be a spot starter for you as a rookie.  Qb situation improves?  Slam dunk.

1. Torrey Smith

Fast, athletic, big player.  Good fit as down the field threat.  Not much in PPR.

1. Greg Little

Very talented, but still raw.  Can take #1 spot as a rookie however and outperform draft position.

1. Titus Young

Great vertical threat.  May not catch a lot of passes, but when he does, he will make it count.  Next Mike Wallace?

1. Jonathan Baldwin

Great situation, but is he ready to step up?  Effort concerns worry me, but one place he can succeed is KC.

1. Jerrel Jernigan

Jack of all trades, should play in slot immediately and add to return game.

1. Randall Cobb

Buried on depth chart, but eventual replacement for Driver makes him a nice dynasty play.

1. Edmond Gates

Big upside next to Marshall, could be a starter by year’s end.  Target him in drafts.

1. Vincent Brown

Good PPR target in an offense that needs slot help.  Won’t get in end zone much though.

1. Tandon Doss

Eventual Derrick Mason replacement.  Big, slot WR with work to do.

1. Niles Paul

Good situation, high upside, but he is pretty raw.  Maybe more that we saw from Devin Thomas.

1. Denarius Moore

Underdrafted, big vertical threat.  Good situation if DHB doesn’t workout.

1. Greg Salas

Slot guy, can he get his in this offense?  Not many TDs going his way, could be valuable with PPR.

1. Kris Durham

Underrated big, fast target.   Good situation, could develop into #2 guy.  Don’t sleep on him.

1. Ronald Johnson

Solid player who also returns.  Should end up in the slot.

1. Dwayne Harris

Dynamic player who can find his place into Dallas’ lineup before long.

1. Cecil Shorts

Developmental.  May not be as good as he is billed.

1. Austin Pettis

Mere redzone threat who will be buried on the depth chart.

1. Stephen Burton

Underrated player. If he makes the Vikings, keep an eye out.

1. Jeremy Kerley
2. Aldrick Robinson
3. Ryan Whalen
4. Kealoha Pilares
5. DeMarco Sampson
6. David Ausberry
7. Scotty McKnight

UDFAs to watch for:

1. Dane Sanzenbacher
2. Darvin Adams
3. Tori Gurley
4. Terrence Toliver
5. Armon Binns
6. DeAndre Brown
7. Jeff Maehl

TE:

1. Kyle Rudolph

John Carlson type, should beat Shiancoe, but will still lose catches to him.  Not a fantasy starter.

1. Lance Kendricks

Talented, should be the #1 guy.  Lots of balls to go around without a dynamic option on the Rams, not sure he is a Top 12 NFL TE ever.

1. Luke Stocker

Winslow will take most catches, but Stocker could be the man in a few years.  More of a blocker.

1. Julius Thomas

Longterm option for deep leagues. GREAT developmental guy who could become the next Jimmy Graham when developed.  Huge upside, may take awhile.

1. Jordan Cameron

Similar to Thomas.  Would be a longshot, but if he develops, could be a Top 7 fantasy TE.

1. DJ Williams

Very talented player, but upside could be slightly limited.  Don’t love fit either, not worth a pick.

1. Rob Housler

Good situation, talented, but still really raw.  Should develop into something, but not willing to risk it in dynasty.

1. Charles Clay

Polished, good after the catch, may be a decent bye week fill-in downt he line.

1. Virgil Green

High upside, but I don’t love the downside.  Poor man’s Jared Cook, that’s not good.

1. Daniel Hardy
2. Richard Gordon
3. Ryan Taylor
4. Lee Smith

UDFAs to Watch:

1. Schuylar Oordt
2. Weslye Saunders

In the AFC, it seems fairly straightforward as everyone unanimously likes the New England Patriots. With Tom Brady having an MVP-like season, the team peaking at the right time and the other three remaining teams in the conference being teams that the Pats have already defeated, they are the shoe-in favorite to win the conference.

But in the NFC, it’s wide open.

The defending Super Bowl champs lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the opening round and the No. 3 seeded Philadelphia Eagles also fell at home to the Green Bay Packers. The Seattle Seahawks, who are the No. 4 seed in the conference and the first division winner to qualify for the postseason with a 7-9 record, might actually end up hosting the Championship Game if they can knock off the Chicago Bears for the second time this season at Soldier Field and the Packers can upend the Falcons.

Speaking of the latter matchup, the top seeded Atlanta Falcons host the Packers but they aren’t exactly a big home favorite. A lot of experts think that the Packers can spring another upset and head to the NFC Championship Game.

The Packers have been playing what amounts to be playoff football for the last month as they had to win their final two games of the regular season just to qualify for the playoffs and then they upended the Eagles last weekend.

With an offense that entails the best receiving corps in the NFL and has suddenly found a ground game with rookie James Starks, there is suddenly balance. And when you look at their defense, which ranked No. 1 in the NFL throughout the regular season in scoring defense, the Packers
might just be the team to be in the NFC – even if they have to win three road games to win the NFC.

So what’s our Super Bowl prediction? Expect to see the Patriots and Packers meet up in Dallas at Super Bowl XLV on February 6th.

Here are picks for some of the more intriguing matchups to keep an eye on for NFL betting fans as we start heading down the stretch run in America’s most popular sports league:

Houston at New York Jets, 1 pm ET Sunday-

The Jets are favored by 7 going into this one, and Houston’s psyche is a big question after last week’s stunning hail mary loss to the Jaguars. But the Jets haven’t been blowing teams away lately and Houston is due for a better performance on defense.

NFL picks week 11 winner: Houston (+7)

Indianapolis at New England, 4:15 pm-

The Patriots are 3 ½-point favorites in what should be another well-played shootout between these two teams. The difference in this one will be New England’s burgeoning run game behind BenJarvis Green-Ellis and Tom Brady’s passing against a banged-up secondary.

Pick: New England (-3 ½)

Oakland at Pittsburgh, 1 pm ET

The Steelers are 7-point favorites against a pesky Raiders team that has been playing decent ball finally. As long as Pittsburgh’s offensive line gives Ben Roethlisberger a little time to throw, Pittsburgh will win this one with their defense and in the field position game before pulling away late.

Pickr: Pittsburgh (-7)

Buffalo at Cincinnati, 1 pm ET

The Bills have a little confidence coming off their first win of the season, but the Bengals are a decent home team. As long as Carson Palmer has time to throw he is capable of having big games and Buffalo’s pass rush isn’t much to worry about.

NFL picks week 11 winner: Cincinnati (-5 ½).

That’s right, after serving a four game suspension for off the field problems, Roethlisberger is back in action. Although he has yet to play in 2010, we all know what “Big Ben,” is capable of, as he’s led the Steelers to two Super Bowl wins.

Luckily for Roethlisberger, he won’t have to do things alone, thanks to one of the fact that Pittsburgh is maybe the most balanced team in the NFL. They can run the ball, and their defense is second to none.

Starting with the running game, back Rashard Mendenhall has done an excellent job asserting himself through four games. The third year player out of Illinois has rushed for 411 yards and four touchdowns on the season, and has had two 100 yard rushing games. Defensively, the Steelers have their usual “Steel Curtain,” defense up, as they rank in the No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing just 12.5 points per game. Even better is the No. 1 ranked rushing defense, which allows just 62 yards on the ground per game.

That is bad news if you’re a Browns fan looking to wager on the NFL Sports Betting Line in this one. The Browns might have trouble moving the ball on this solid Steelers defense, especially since they like to run the ball so much. The star of this offense is running back Peyton Hillis, who has emerged from no where in his first year in Cleveland. So far he has rushed 350 yards on the season, and has had two 100
yard games in his last three contests. However, Hillis has a tough quad injury, and looks like he’ll be a game-time decision Sunday.

Still, what this game comes down to is the quarterbacks, and really, who knows what to expect from either. Roethlisberger hasn’t played a down in the 2010 regular season, and Cleveland’s Jake Delhomme is coming off the worst performance of his season. Last weekend he completed just 13 passes for 97 yards, and two interceptions.

Regardless, there’s only one team to back in this weekend’s NFL Sports Betting Lines. Take the Steelers.

Simply put, it’s hard to see this Browns offense being able to move the ball on this incredible Pittsburgh defense, one that has given up a touchdown or less in two of their four games. With the Browns scoring just 15 points per game, this line seems about right. It’s going to be a blowout.

In the end, it doesn’t matter whether Ben Roethlisberger or any of his backups were playing quarterback for the Steelers this weekend, Pittsburgh’s going to win big. Make the Steelers your NFL Sports Betting Pick today!

NFL Sports Betting Pick: Pittsburgh -13 ½

For the first week, no less than twelve of the 16 games that were played went under the posted total. The
lowest-scoring game took place on Monday night, as the Ravens beat the Jets 10-9. In a game between
two defensive-minded teams, that kind of thing was certainly expected by many, and in fact, it was the
lowest posted total of the week at 36.5 points. However, you probably couldn’t say the same thing about
the game between New Orleans and Minnesota, which NFL betting lines had the total at 51.5 points, but
where there were only 23 points put on the board (with the Saints won 14-9).

Home teams were also very strong in Week 1. They won twelve of 16 games straight-up, and also
chalked up a 10-5-1 record against the NFL betting line (we are counting the New Orleans-Minnesota
game as a push at five points). Home favorites had five pointspread wins, as did home underdogs. Road
favorites had three covers, and road dogs covered just twice. Those road underdogs were the Ravens
and the Detroit Lions, who take very consolation from that, I can assure you, as a bad call cost them a
Calvin Johnson touchdown at the end.

There were four teams who won straight-up on the road. Three of them – Green Bay, Arizona and Miami -
were all laying points and all of them covered against the NFL betting line. Baltimore, as mentioned, won
as an underdog.

All told, favorites covered eight games, with dogs covering seven. As for the biggest favorites of the
week, the Tennessee Titans romped at home against the Oakland Raiders (38-13), and covered the 6.5-
point NFL betting line. The Chicago Bears, giving up that same number, won by only five points (19-14).

There were twelve teams that made the playoffs last season. Seven of those teams lost in the opening
week – Minnesota, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Dallas, San Diego and the New York Jets. The
latter four teams lost straight-up as a favorite in the NFL betting line. There were only two games on the
schedule where an AFC team played against an NFC team. In Tampa, the Buccaneers won and covered
a 2.5-point spread against the Cleveland Browns, while the Pittsburgh Steelers needed overtime, but won
straight-up as an underdog against Atlanta.

Last week’s games carried an average total of 41.9 points on the NFL betting line, and the average score
on the week was just 36.6 points (nine games went under that average and seven went over). Okay, we
exaggerated a little when we said that the oddsmakers are recalibrating their totals for this week. Of the
games on which a total was posted as of Tuesday afternoon (the Carolina-Tampa Bay game was off the
board pending word on Matt Moore’s injury), the average was 41.5 points. We’ll be back next week with
results and running totals on how the NFL betting lines are coming down!

Career stats: O TD, 2 INT, 146 passing yards, 43.2 rating

Troy Smith (BAL)
The case: A Heisman trophy winner at Ohio State, many (myself included) doubted Smith’s ability to play quarterback in the NFL. Drafted by Baltimore and stuck behind a Pro Bowl quarterback, Joe Flacco, Smith has barely been off the bench in Baltimore. A dual-threat as a passer and a runner, Smith has the talent to help a NFL team. Given playing time to develop, Smith has the tools to be a long-term starter.

Career stats: 48/89, 3 TD, 1 INT, 558 passing yards, 79.7 rating

Dennis Dixon (PIT)
The case: A Heisman candidate and star at the University of Oregon, Dixon looked like a high round draft pick until he tore his ACL late in the season. Dixon tried to play hurt two weeks later, but his knee eventually gave out and he was lost for the season. The professional version of a “Thursday All American”, Dixon has looked amazing during the preseason and could get his chance to start with Ben Roethlisberger being suspended for the first 6 games of the 2010 season.

Career stats: 1 TD, 1 INT, 148 passing yards, 62.0 rating

Brady Quinn (DEN)
The case: A golden boy, star quarterback at Notre Dame, Quinn has many fans and as many doubters. Possessing a strong arm and great leadership skills. A first-round draft pick in 2007, Quinn has seen very little playing time during 3 NFL seasons. A long hold out before his rookie season opened the door for Derek Anderson to start during 2007 and most of 2008. To date Quinn has only played in 14 NFL games.

Career stats: 184/353, 10 TD, 9 INT, 1902 passing yards, 66.8 rating

San Francisco 49ers
Head Coach: Mike Singletary

What to expect:
If the first two picks of this year’s draft are any indication, the formerly high-flying 49ers are officially ready to be molded in coach Singletary’s hard-hitting vision. Rather than use either of their first round picks on skill players to address potential long-term needs at quarterback or running back, or to continue to rebuild their WR corps, the team’s new GM acceded to Singletary’s wishes and got two maulers to shore up their leaky offensive line. trading up two spots to land tackle Anthony Davis, and then sidestepping the free-falling Jimmy Clausen to take the draft’s top-rated guard, Mike Iupati.

This should signal a return to more of a balanced offense for San Francisco this season. The Niners started 2009 with a “safety-first” passing game run by journeyman Shaun Hill and plans to ride RB Frank Gore heavily, but had to switch gears after an injury to Gore and the eventual appearance of Michael Crabtree put more emphasis on the passing game. Alex Smith took over at quarterback, and bent the playbook to a spread-friendly attack, leading the team to a 5-3 finish and 8-8 record overall.

The NFC West as a whole is leaning on the run like never before. The factor that sets San Francisco apart in the division is a ferociously effective run defense led by Patrick Willis, one of the very best defenders in football.

Up and Coming players:
QB Alex Smith had the beginnings of a breakout last season, looking comfortable in an NFL offense for the first time since he was drafted #1 overall six seasons ago. He has a chance to mature into an effective passer. If so, it means a potential big-time breakout for WR Michael Crabtree. On the defensive side of the ball, Patrick Willis may still be getting better, and should earn more recognition than he does. Playing regularly alongside Willis enabled Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson to have their most effective seasons to date, and DT/NT Aubrayo Franklin has emerged as an interior force.

Veterans over the hill:
The 49ers continued to struggle in the secondary, where CB Nate Clements still reigns as the team’s primary cover option and playmaker. Now 30 and having missed much of the 2009 season with a gruesome shoulder injury, Clements may be aging out of the Niners’ plans. At age 27, RB Frank Gore should be heading into his sunset years, but it may be a long and productive sunset a la Jerome Bettis, with a newly energized line blocking in front of him. LT Joe Staley is a mere 25, but needs to show more consistency and improvement at this crucial spot to keep the aging Barry Sims at bay.

Rookie Watch:
If early returns from camp are to be believed, both Iupati and Davis will earn starting jobs (or at least heavy rotation) on the offensive line. Strong Safety Taylor Mays, however, may have a steeper climb up Singletary’s defensive depth chart, though he is eventually expected to contribute. The biggest mover in preseason might just be power-running RB Anthony Davis, who is in line to become Gore’s primary backup after the surprise retirement of Glen Coffee.

Team Needs:
1 . A consistent season from Alex Smith, playing in his contract year. The 49ers do not have much of a fallback plan if Smith doesn’t succeed (the words no Niner fan wants to hear: “your starting quarterback, David Carr!”), nor any other serious long-term options at QB.
2 . A second receiver to emerge alongside Crabtree, whether Josh Morgan or Ted Ginn Jr. Isaac Bruce’s retirement leaves a large void in professional route-running.
3 . Any kind of return game on special teams. Ginn is expected to contribute here, long a trouble spot for San Francisco.
4 . The healthy return of Clements, to solidify their secondary.
5 . An eventual successor to Gore as their workhorse running back.

Predicted Record: 10-6

Arizona Cardinals
Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt

What to expect:
A combination of Whisenhunt’s offensive prowess, an elite receiver group and an amazing return to all-pro form by a quarterback thought to be broken down has turned the Cardinals from perennial laughing stock to offensive powerhouse. A defense that has slowly evolved from a weakness to at least a respectable unit has helped them win their division in consecutive years for the first time since the days of Don Coryell. While no reports are claiming that Whisenhunt has lost any of his ability to diagram plays, Arizona is looking at steps backwards at the QB, WR and LB positions. How will the team respond after the losses of Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin and Karlos Dansby? That is the question that will define the 2010 season.

All eyes will be on QB Matt Leinert, who has seldom looked comfortable in the glare of the NFL after living a charmed life at USC. He is the de facto starter and will have a very long leash, as no NFL team with anything like playoff aspirations can afford to play Derek Anderson at QB. Whisenhunt may lean on his Pittsburgh gameplan from Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie year, shifting to a run-heavy attack featuring Beanie Wells and air/land threat Tim Hightower. Helping him in this mission is former Steeler guard Alan Faneca, who was acquired from New York.

Stepping into Boldin’s shoes will be a combination of Steve Breaston and Early Doucet, both of whom were productive as third and fourth options, respectively. And rookie linebacker Daryl Washington is expected to climb quickly through a weak depth chart of inside linebackers to replace Dansby’s impact.

This will be a year of uncertainty for the Cardinals, who have very few key veteran performers to lean on outside of WR non pariel Larry Fitzgerald and DE Darnell Dockett.
And as ESPN’s Mike Sando notes, the Cardinals have only one offensive lineman returning to the same position he played a year ago, and only the Seahawks have seen more roster turnover this offseason.

Up and Coming players:
If he can stay healthy, Doucet’s physical style of play may give him a chance to supplant Breaston as the team’s primary WR2. Both are emerging players, the question is which of the two builds better chemistry with the erratic southpaw Leinert. Beanie Wells spent his first full offseason with the team, in preparation for expectations of earning a heavier workload. In the secondary, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie hopes to marshal his talent towards greater consistency, while continuing to create game-changing turnovers (3 FFs, 6 INTs in 2009).

Veterans over the hill:
Whispers about his decline started to surround Faneca in New York, culminating in his surprising release from a Jets team intent on building a powerhouse running attack. He will be trying to prove that he has something left in the tank. Likewise, outside linebacker Joey Porter arrives for his 12th season in the NFL trying to reverse a three-year slide in tackles, and hoping to get back to double-digit sack totals working opposite Dockett. Backup QB Derek Anderson’s “hill,” a surprise Pro Bowl 2007 season in Cleveland, is far in the rear view mirror.

Rookie watch:
NT Dan Williams has been immediately slotted into the team’s first-team defense, fitting for a first-round pick with the perception of having a very NFL-ready skillset, particularly against the run. Daryl Washington will have a strong chance to contribute at linebacker. The team’s other rookies of note, QB John Skelton and WR Andre Roberts, were seemingly picked up for long-term development more than immediate impact.

Team needs:
1 . Something positive from Matt Leinert, who has taken multiple steps back as a quarterback in his career and failed to throw a single touchdown pass despite extended playing time in a high-powered offense.
2 . A realistic backup plan if/when Leinert disappoints. Derek Anderson is not that, and Skelton is a strong-armed but raw project player who should be holding clipboards for at least a season or two.
3 . The continued development of Calais Campbell’s pass-rush skills. The 3-4 DE surprised many with 7 sacks in his second season. A strong pass rush will make up for a lot else on a defense that is beginning to gentrify from old to young.
4 . A more consistent year from Beanie Wells. The RB was fitfully effective last season, averaging better than 5.0 yards per carry in seven games, but held under 3.5 ypc in five contests. He only broke 100 yards once, and didn’t get more than 17 carries in a game.
5 . Fitzgerald’s leadership and performance to continue setting a standard of excellence for the team’s young receivers.

Predicted Record: 8-8

Seattle Seahawks
Head Coach: Pete Carroll

What to expect:
While many Seahawks fans were hoping that 2008’s 4-12 season was an injury-caused aberration, 2009’s decisively bad 5-11 record washed away all doubt that this is a franchise in need of serious change. And change did come to the Pacific Northwest, in a big way. GM Tim Ruskell resigned, head coach Jim Zorn and his staff was fired, and nearly any player not nailed down has been churned off the roster. Dozens of transactions and multiple trades yielded a draft overflowing with picks, bringing in a horde of new faces to evaluate and try to pin hopes on.

The question facing the team, though, is “have they done enough?” The offense still revolves around the elder quarterback Matt Hasselbeck; aside from the rookie Golden Tate there are not many receivers with upside on the roster; the offensive line is still a work in progress (though many hope that the arrival of zone blocking guru Alex Gibbs can effect immediate imrovement); and the 26th-ranked pass rush appears unimproved.
Even within this weak division, there has been a gulf between the good teams and the bad (and a gulf between the bad teams and the Rams) for the last two seasons. Seattle has been on the wrong side of that gulf, and unless their triple-threat running game suddenly explodes, Seattle is likely looking at another long season.

Up and Coming players:
RB Justin Forsett is getting a lot of attention, especially among sleeper-loving fantasy heads, and with good reason. The shifty back appeared to be the best option out of the backfield, averaging 5.4 yards per carry, but only received about 40% of the workload. TE John Carlson appears to have untapped offensive potential, but may require a change in gameplan to get him more looks. Former backup DE Chris Clemons in Philadelphia will be given a long look in a starting D-line desperate for pass pressures. With 4 sacks and 12 pressures in very limited playing time, this still-young veteran could be ready to emerge. Finally, QB Charlie Whitehurst was acquired ostensibly to give the team a potentially low-cost “QB of the interim future” option; his contract is large enough, however, to draw speculation that his future may come as soon as the bye week.

Veterans over the hill
Umm, where to start? Matt Hasselbeck, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Lofa Tatupu (whose injury count is now nearly as long as his hair), Leroy Hill (reportedly on thin ice with the new coaches), Julius Jones, and the defensive backfield pairing of Jordan Babineaux and Lawyer Milloy are some of the higher-profile examples. Additionally, former Detroit “bust” WR Mike Williams attempts to rekindle his USC magic under coach Carroll. The roster churn in Seattle could continue well into the trading deadline.

Rookie watch
Free Safety Earl Thomas and LT Russell Okung, both first round picks, are expected to step right into the starting lineup and contribute right away. Likewise, WR Golden Tate is one of the few young skill players on the roster, and should get plenty of playing time if he can adjust quickly to NFL play.

Team needs:
1 . A continuation of the aggressive roster management that has taken place so far this offseason. Constant competition for jobs should keep players focused and on edge, and the roster still needs serious improvement – from inside and out.
2 . Pete Carroll to make a better adjustment to coaching in the pros than his recent NCAA peers. The list of college coaches flaming out in the NFL over the past decade is long and filled with many high-profile names, including Nick Saban, Bobby Petrino, Steve Spurrier, and Butch Davis. Carroll has to hope the second time is the charm.
3 . Their to draft picks Okung, Thomas and Tate to become legit pro players, and avoid the doubts now swirling around Aaron Curry. Rebuilding teams must be able to lean on their high draft picks.
4 . Someone to stand up and earn long-term trust at quarterback, whether it’s Hasselbeck or Whitehurst…
5 . … or a series of early losses bad enough to justify a complete tank job, preparing for first dibs at local hero Jake Locker in the draft.

Predicted record: 5-11 (but could easily trend down)

Saint Louis Rams
Head Coach: Steve Spagnuolo

What to expect:
The Rams have been on a path toward becoming one of the worst teams in the NFL for a number of years, thanks to years of odious roster mismanagement and a collection of ill-fit coaches. A new leadership structure took place after the death of owner Georgia Frontiere, and last season the rebuild began in earnest as the team transitioned from one of the league’s oldest rosters to one of its youngest – and completed its free fall to the first overall draft pick. This year, the rebuild becomes a complete “reboot” around quarterback Sam Bradford.

The Rams believe they have the foundation pieces in place to at least keep him upright, investing heavily in the offensive line in the last few years, and getting rid of problem players like Alex Barron and Richie Incognito. However, if Minnesota’s gleeful welcoming party for Bradford is any indication – four sacks and multiple hits on 17 dropbacks in less than two quarters of preseason play – this may be prematurely wishful thinking.

Last season’s offense was so conservative that even Rush Limbaugh wanted to be part of the team (rimshot!), while the defense lacked enough pass-rushing talent to put Spagnuolo’s schemes to work. However, effort was there across the board, personified by Steven Jackson’s phenomenally difficult Pro Bowl season, earned against eight-and nine-man fronts. (More than two-thirds of his yards were gained after making first contact with a defender.) This team is still more than a few playmakers away from contention, but there are enough young and hungry players that some of those playmakers may arise from within this season, and help this team surprise.

Up and coming players:
Whoever the team’s top six receivers turn out to be, none is older than 25 or has more than four years’ experience in the league. One or more of Donnie Avery, Danny Amendola, Laurent Robinson (if healthy) or dark horse Keenan Burton have potential here. My money is on Amendola, who has looked incredibly focused in camp. DE Chris Long has been slow to break out of his shell, but the switch appeared to come on in the latter half of ’09, and #72 has been a force so far in preseason. MLB James Laurinaitis had a fine rookie season, and should show that he still has room for growth. Likewise, SS Craig Dahl excelled in run defense, and could earn the bulk of the playing time at the position.

Veterans over the hill:
The Rams had few players who fit this category after the ’09 season, so naturally they brought a fresh crop in during free agency. QB AJ Feeley (holding the reins for Bradford), DT Fred Robbins (starting, for now), DT Chris Hovan (already on IR), OL Hank Fraley (in the mix at center and guard) and LB Na’il Diggs (starting on the strong side) are all well on the downside of their careers, but are expected to provide “veteran leadership.” Additionally, DE James Hall and erstwhile starting SS James Butler belong on this list as well.

Rookie watch:
All eyes will be on Bradford, of course, but the surprise in camp is the effectiveness of second rounder Rodger Saffold. He made Barron expendable, and is challenging last year’s first round pick, Jason Smith, for playing time at the premier left tackle position. Physical CB Jerome Murphy and change-of-direction artist WR Mardy Gilyard will have ample opportunities to contribute. The steal of this draft might be 7th round DE George Selvie, who a year ago was considered a much better prospect than 1st round pick (and USF teammate) Jason Pierre-Paul. A healthy Selvie could provide immediate spark to the Rams’ nascent pass rush.

Team needs:
1 . Protection, protection, protection. After several breakdowns in the first week of live action, coach Spagnuolo strongly intimated that Bradford will not start until the offensive line gels. With AJ Feeley at QB in the interim, the “reboot” will not begin until that happens.
2 . Coach Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur need to get creative. Last year’s offensive playcalling made “vanilla” look like a new and exotic flavor, with an overall philosophy of risk avoidance and a huge chunk of the passing offense directed well short of the sticks. Both are young coaches who just finished their first years ever at their positions, and they need to demonstrate that they can be trusted to lead this rebuild.
3 . The healthy return of Steven Jackson from offseason back surgery – especially since there is no proven backup option on the roster. #39 still makes the offense run in St Louis, and will keep the defensive focus away from Bradford.
4 . A revamped pass rush will go a long way toward filling the cracks in this defense. The Rams appear to be much stouter against the run, but still have many holes in their secondary, even with the return of OJ Atogwe.
5 . Mistake-free and injury-free football is a must for this team to win games. The Rams killed themselves many times over with penalties and turnovers last year. Again. And they lost significant amounts of man-games to the trainer’s room. Again. This has to stop.

Predicted Record: 4-12

Follow Will Horton on Twitter @RamsHerd!