NFL Insider -- ALL 32 Team Outlooks are Completed Here --- Give us your feed back!!!

This has been a very BIG PROJECT for us. Over the last several days we took a look at the outlook of all 32 NFL Teams. These outlooks are very thought out, informative for both the fan of football and also for you fantasy football buffs too. Look for your team of choice ( Teams are in reverse alphabetical order) and give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... We look forward to hearing from you all!!! 2008 Team Outlook: Washington As per Ben Standig, The Joe Gibbs era, part two, ended shortly after the Redskins scrambled late to reach the playoffs before bowing out in the wildcard round. While the team made the post season twice in four years under Gibbs, there were more downs then ups -- from questionable personnel decisions to system changes to baffling in-game moves, with the Sean Taylor tragedy looming largest of all. On the field, the Redskins have enough top flight starting talent to make a serious run in the playoffs, but their lack of depth and consistent plan from the top has made it hard to overcome injuries and other in-season developments that effect all NFL teams. First-time head coach Jim Zorn was elevated to the top spot in a roundabout way and he, along with the Redskins' front office, will be on the hot seat early on as they try and turn QB Jason Campbell into a West Coast Offense type passer. The strong armed Campbell showed promise last season, his first full year as a starter, but the fourth-year player will be asked to learn yet another system. Unfair as it may be to say, the Redskins' season will hinge on Campbell's development as a short passer and quick decision maker under the new regime. RB Clinton Portis put in a full season in 2007 and delivered throughout for the Redskins. He is expected to have an even larger role this year with Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright (who was a force as a kick returner) backing him up. The Redskins' running game will also benefit from the expected return of G Randy Thomas and T Jon Jansen, both of whom missed much of last season with injuries. They rejoin a veteran but aging line, anchored by Pro Bowl T Chris Samuels. The Redskins' wide receivers were among the least productive in the NFL and the team drafted big targets Devin Thomas and Malcom Kelly in the second round to play along side the quick, but diminutive, duo of Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. Rookie TE Fred Davis out of USC was a surprise pick, but his presence will allow Chris Cooley to turn into the Redskins' version of Dallas Clark as they line the veteran TE in different formations. K Shaun Suisham was a revelation for the Redskins after years of poor kickers, hitting on 29-of-35 field goal attempts. Solid but not spectacular, the Redskins' defense under then defensive coordinator Gregg Williams carried the the team for much of the season, but Williams has taken his blitz schemes to Jacksonville. How the Redskins adjust to new DC Greg Blache and deal with some late season injuries that could carryover into this campaign are the main questions heading into training camp. DE Andre Carter stepped up with 11 sacks, but the Redskins have few other pass rushing options and need more push in the middle from DT Cornelius Griffin. MLB London Fletcher was a rare free agent signing that paid immediate dividends for the Redskins, providing them with a sure fire tackler and emotional leader. Second-year LB Rocky McIntosh made the leap last year from neophyte to playmaker before he was cut down with a knee injury in Week 15. He is expected to be ready for training camp, which is key because the Redskins have little depth behind him besides fellow outside backer Marcus Washington. That is not the case with CB Carlos Rogers, who suffered a more severe knee injury last year that is likely to linger into the start of the season. The Redskins have solid starting options in the form of veteran CB's Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot (who was strong down the stretch last year) and S LaRon Landry (who was a heat-seeking missile throughout his rookie campaign). Reed Doughty (who took over for Taylor) was a surprise find last year and added another physical presence in the secondary. Lack of depth will show in nickel and dime coverages. In what was a very, very quiet off-season for this normally free-spending franchise - not one significant free agent was added - they hope that a full draft class will help fill in those gaps, especially at receiver. Little was done to address needs along both sides of the line, but the Redskins hope to get continued growth from younger players like DT 's Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston (along with offensive linemen Stephon Heyer and third round pick Chad Rinehart). Considering the Redskins claimed they liked the progress of the team under Gibbs, it seemed odd that they ultimately turned to someone outside the organization to be the head coach and Zorn will learn how to be the head man in the highly competitive NFC East. Add it all up and an 8-8 record for the Burgundy and Gold seems like the high water mark. With enough breaks, the Redskins could ride the wave and make back-to-back playoff appearances, but their first-year coach and second-year starting QB will need to keep their heads above water. QB Jason Campbell, WAS (QB - #13) - Gamble (high risk) As a first year starter, QB Jason Campbell flashed his rocket arm and showed poise in the pocket , enough to make the Redskins faithful believe in him as their long-term solution. However, the fourth-year QB will be asked to learn his third new offensive system, one that in many ways seems like trying to fit the proverbial square peg into a round hole. Campbell's strengths lie in the power of his right arm and his near flawless accuracy down the field. He was best on mid-to-deep passes and stood tall in the pocket even with a weakened offensive line in front of him. Only the Redskins' conservative play calling and fourth quarter miscues kept his numbers - 12 touchdowns and 2,700 yards in 13 games - in check. While Campbell still needs to improve on his end-of-game decision making - he threw several of his 11 interceptions in crunch time - his biggest weakness was in the short to intermediate passing attack. His long and slow delivery are not those of a prototypical west coast offense type passer, making the philosophical switch a risky one for the Redskins. New head coach Jim Zorn has helped the development of other quarterbacks and how quickly he gets Campbell up to speed will likely determine the Redskins' fate. Though backup Todd Collins played at a near Pro Bowl level down the stretch when Campbell went down with a dislocated knee cap - an injury is expected to be fully recovered from - there is no quarterback controversy in Washington. The uncertainty of how Campbell will react and progress in the new system makes him a high risk-high reward fantasy play. RB Ladell Betts, WAS (RB - #48) - Fantasy Handcuff Coming off his first career 1,000 yard season in 2006 (on the strength of a robust 4.7 yards per carry average) a lot was expected out of Betts last season, but he rarely got into a rhythm and fell back into his role as backup to Clinton Portis. The 5-11, 225 lb running back has the size to be a physical runner and soft hands to be a threat in the passing game, but he lacks the speed to be a home run threat. Betts remains one of the top backup options in the league and if Portis goes down with an injury, he immediately becomes a starting RB fantasy option. However, he cannot be viewed as anything more than a backup or deep bye week option for now. RB Clinton Portis, WAS (RB - #8) - Stud (low risk) Clinton Portis was a Joe Gibbs favorite and rebounded from injuries to be one of the top fantasy backs in 2007. Early indications are that he could have an even bigger role under new head coach Jim Zorn, making Portis a strong option in 2008. After missing half the '06 season with injuries, Portis managed to play in all 16 games last season and slashed his way to 11 touchdowns and over 1,600 total yards. Though inconsistent overall - strong at the start and the end of the season, but averaged over four yards per carry only once in a seven game stretch in the middle - Portis produced in all facets of the offense, including a career-high 47 receptions. Reports are that he has been an active participant in the Redskins' off-season workouts (which should help his conditioning and production throughout the year, as will a healthy offensive line, which the Redskins lacked last season). While top backup Ladell Betts remains on the roster, Portis is poised to be the every down back the Redskins envisioned him to be when they acquired him from the Broncos. Injuries have been an issue at times so make sure you have Betts as a handcuff, but otherwise Portis should be a favorite of his fantasy owners as well. WR Santana Moss, WAS (WR - #31) - Sleeper (undervalued) Injuries threatened to derail yet another season for Santana Moss, but the speedy wide receiver flashed his big play ability throughout the second half of the season. That late season burst and his past production gives the Redskins and fantasy owners reasons to be optimistic about Moss this season. With the Redskins in the hunt for a playoff berth, Moss picked up his game at the right time and hauled in 15 receptions for 261 yards and two scores during the final three weeks of the regular season. He still has the speed to beat most corners deep and despite his 5-10 frame, Moss is a willing option in the middle of the field. The Redskins added two tall rookie receivers that will help draw attention away from Moss and he will likely double his paltry three touchdowns overall last season. While he is at the back end of the WR2 options, there is upside with Moss in the 6th-7th rounds if you miss out on safer choices in the early rounds of the draft. WR Antwaan Randle El, WAS (WR - #52) - Quality Backup Randle El has not lived up to the lucrative contract and play-maker hype that followed when he signed with the Redskins in 2006, either as a receiver or punt returner. With the Redskins drafting two receivers early in the NFL draft, this could be his last chance to lay claim to a starting slot with the burgundy and gold. The quick and shifty Randle El started '07 with 100-yard receiving days in two of his first four games, but he leveled off the rest of the way and did not score his first touchdown until Week 16. With the Redskins switching to the West Coast offense, Randle El is expected to line up in the slot, a role that Bobby Engram had great success with in Seattle last year. His learning curve may be slowed by off-season arthroscopic knee surgery, though he is expected to be ready for training camp. The Redskins drafted two big targets in Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, but Randle El will likely remain a starter and should still find a lot of playing time when the team uses multiple receiver sets. Randle El could be an asset in the right matchups in PPR leagues, but his lack of scores and yards limits his upside. While the new offense offers promise and he adds value for leagues that count return yards, Randle El is little more than a low-end WR3 or backup in most leagues. WR Devin Thomas, WAS (WR - #47) - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential) Thomas was projected to be a mid-to-late first round pick in most mock drafts, but he slid to the second round where the Redskins grabbed him with the 34th pick. For those in keeper leagues, the Michigan State product is someone you will want to grab as well. The Redskins were looking for tall receiving targets (a major hole in their arsenal under Joe Gibbs) and they think the 6-2 Thomas and fellow second-round pick Malcolm Kelly will fill the bill. Along with his size, Thomas has speed to work down the field and should be a sneaky red-zone target this season. Thomas had limited collegiate experience, but with a solid training camp, he could sneak up fantasy draft boards if the Redskins view him as a an every down starter. He likely will start off in three-receiver sets, so for now consider Thomas a bye-week filler and late round flyer; he could be the Redskins' top wide receiver in short order. TE Chris Cooley, WAS (TE - #5) - Stud (low risk) Chris Cooley has been one of the most consistent TE options over the last three years and with a new passing attack in place, he could crack the top tier this season. The sure-handed Cooley found the end zone early and often last season, scoring half of his eight touchdowns over the first five games and piled up most of his 786 yards down the stretch. Cooley will likely line up all over the field in head coach Jim Zorn's system as the Redskins look to maximize Cooley's speed and deft route running. He and QB Jason Campbell have a good down field connection, but Campbell's inconsistencies in the short passing game hurt Cooley's overall numbers Put Mark Cooley down for at least 68 receptions, 750 yards and eight touchdowns. If Campbell makes the leap this year, Cooley's numbers should make a big leap as well. NFL Insider -- 2008 Team Outlook: Todays Team is : Tennessee Titans submitted by TheDean1 2 hours ago Over the next several days we will take a look at the outlook of the 32 NFL Teams. They will be informative for both the fan of football and also some have information for you fantasy football buffs too. Give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... 2008 Team Outlook: Tennessee As per Vin Sadicario, The Tennessee Titans do not have many good fantasy options for the upcoming 2008 season. It could be argued that the Titans have no skill position players that deserve to be starters on fantasy teams this season. The Titans offense is led by starting quarterback Vince Young. Young took a step backwards last season which impacted the entire Titans offense. If Young is able to vastly improve his numbers this season, a number of Titans can be fantasy sleepers. The Titans backfield is a crowded situation with LenDale White, Chris Henry, and Chris Johnson all likely to receive a portion of the teams carries. Unless the situation is settled during training camp and the preseason, which is unlikely, then all three of the Titans running backs will struggle to make significant fantasy impacts in 2008. The Titans wide receiver situation is also a mess heading into the 2008 season. The Titans hope that they can get decent production out of Justin Gage, Justin McCareins, Brandon Jones, and Roydell Williams. The Titans need at least two of these receivers to step up and have career years if Vince Young is to be successful. The most likely members of the Titans receiving corps to make fantasy impacts this season are Justin Gage and Brandon Jones. The Titans offense is rounded out by newly acquired tight end Alge Crumpler. The Titans hope that Crumpler can provide Vince Young with a good red zone target this season. He could be a top ten tight end if everything breaks right for him this season. QB Vince Young, TEN (QB - #21) - Bye Week Fill-in Vince Young enters the 2008 season as the Tennessee Titans starting quarterback. Vince Young took a step backwards last season, dropping his total touchdowns from 19 in 2006 to only 12 in 2007. Young also threw 17 interceptions in 15 games. Young will need to rebound if he hopes to be relevant in fantasy leagues this season. The Titans did nothing to significantly bolster their wide receivers in the off-season, leaving Vince Young with Justin McCareins, Justin Gage, and Roydell Williams as his top three receivers. Young's receivers will need to step up this season if Young is to have a bounce back season. Fantasy owners should not consider Vince Young a fantasy starter, but could be a good bye week fill-in. RB Chris Henry, TEN (RB - #62) - Deep-league Only Chris Henry enters the 2008 season as the Tennessee Titans backup running back, but could be overtaken by rookie Chris Johnson before the season begins. Henry was disappointing as a rookie in the Titans backfield, leading to the Titans spending a first round draft pick on Chris Johnson. If Henry does not come to training camp in great shape, he could be passed on the depth chart by Johnson before the season starts. Even if Henry holds onto his backup job in Tennessee, he will not receive enough touches to make him relevant in fantasy leagues this season. Henry should only be drafted in deep leagues. RB LenDale White, TEN (RB - #33) - Quality Backup LenDale White enters the 2008 season as the Tennessee Titans starting running back, but will face competition for his job from Chris Henry and rookie Chris Johnson. The Titans selected Chris Johnson in the first round of the draft, showing little confidence in White's ability to carry the full load in Tennessee. White rushed for more than 1100 yards last season and added seven touchdowns, but is unlikely to reach those numbers again this season while sharing carries with Chris Henry and Chris Johnson. The crowded backfield in Tennessee makes LenDale White no more than a quality backup in fantasy leagues this season. WR Justin Gage, TEN (WR - #66) - Sleeper (undervalued) Justin Gage enters the season atop the Tennessee Titans depth chart at wide receiver. Gage is coming off his best season as a pro, catching 55 passes for 750 yards and two touchdowns in 2007. Gage should continue to start in Tennessee, but could be held back by Vince Young's slow development. While Gage could put up decent yardage numbers again, touchdown catches will be hard to come by in Tennessee. Fantasy owners should look at Gage as someone who could make a big leap if Vince Young is able to take a big step forward this season. WR Brandon Jones, TEN (WR - #75) - Sleeper (undervalued) Brandon Jones enters the 2008 season with an opportunity to win a starting spot on the Tennessee Titans. Jones caught 21 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns last season in nine games for the Titans. Jones was on his way to career high numbers before injuries derailed his 2007 season and if he can stay healthy and win a starting spot this season, Jones could surprise and become a decent fantasy option. Fantasy owners should monitor the receivers situation in Tennessee throughout the preseason and if Jones wins a starting spot, it would be worth using a late round pick on him in fantasy drafts. WR Justin McCareins, TEN (WR - #123) - Deep-league Only After four disappointing seasons with the New York Jets, Justin McCareins returns to Tennessee where he enjoyed the best years of his career. McCareins has a good chance to return to the Titans' starting lineup this season due to the weakness of the Titans wide receivers. While McCareins may start, he is not in a good position to make an impact in fantasy leagues this season. McCareins caught seven touchdowns in his four year stint with the Jets and is unlikely to make a big enough improvement to be worth drafting in most leagues. Only consider drafting McCareins in the deepest of leagues. TE Alge Crumpler, TEN (TE - #15) - Quality Backup Alge Crumpler enters the 2008 season as the Tennessee Titans starting tight end. Crumpler experienced a major decrease in his numbers in 2007, but this was likely due to the quarterback situation in Atlanta, rather than a decrease in his ability. The Titans will look to Crumpler to revive their terrible red zone offense as he did with Michael Vick in Atlanta earlier in his career. While Crumpler should improve on his numbers from last season, he will not get back to the level he was once at in Atlanta. Crumpler should be a top 15 tight end this season with the potential to reach the top ten. NFL Insider -- 2008 Team Outlook: Todays Team is : Tampa Bay Bucs submitted by TheDean1 22 hours ago Over the next several days we will take a look at the outlook of the 32 NFL Teams. They will be informative for both the fan of football and also some have information for you fantasy football buffs too. Give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... 2008 Team Outlook: Tampa Bay As per George Bissell, Tampa Bay is a club that consists of mainly aging veterans on offense over the age of 30, with a young offensive line, and a strong defense that carried them to a surprising regular season championship in the NFC South. The main additions for the Buccaneers this offseason are RB Warrick Dunn, WR Antonio Bryant, TE Ben Troupe, S Eugene Wilson, as well as adding CB Aqib Talib in the 1st round of the NFL Draft and snagging WR Dexter Jackson in the 2nd round, The age of the core group on offense is a major concern for fantasy owners, but the solid bet on offense for Tampa Bay in 2008 will be RB Earnest Graham who broke out last season when he took over the starting job after injuries decimated the clubs other options at the position. QB Jeff Garcia is in a contract year, so that should provide plenty of incentive to perform in 2008. Wide receiver Joey Galloway remains a solid option, while the other receivers (including Michael Clayton, Ike Hilliard, Dexter Jackson, and Antonio Bryant) have little value fantasy wise next season. The biggest keys for Tampa Bay to repeat as Division Champions in 2008 will be the health and consistent play of Jeff Garcia and Earnest Graham on offense, as well as the defense continuing to force turnovers and stall opponents' offenses. If Tampa Bay can stay healthy, they have the veteran experience to repeat as well as give fantasy owners plenty of bang for their buck in 2008. QB Jeff Garcia, TB (QB - #22) - Over the Hill (decreased production) Jeff Garcia is in the final year of his contract and at age 38, you have to figure that this is Garcia's last season as a starting QB in the NFL. Garcia still has the legs to avoid the pressure, but a lack of talent at the skill positions around him limits Garcia's fantasy value. Earnest Graham is an excellent receiver out of the backfield, but other than Joey Galloway, no other Bucs receiver is going to scare opposing defenses in 2008. Garcia will be motivated to earn a new contract from Tampa Bay, so I would expect him to put up respectable numbers from a fantasy perspective which will make him worth drafting late as a quality back-up or as a bye week fill-in. Don't be surprised if Garcia's age, combined with poor protection (or even the Bucs' alternatives at the position) catch up to him at some point in 2008. Gruden has been known to flip-flop his starting QB, so don't rule out a takeover by Luke McCown or Brian Griese. RB Warrick Dunn, TB (RB - #58) - Over the Hill (decreased production) Warrick Dunn was released by the Atlanta Falcons after a disappointing 2007 season in which he rushed for just 720 yards and 4 TD's as the starting running back. Dunn is now 33 and at his age (combined with a lengthy injury history), his durability is questionable. Tampa Bay signed the 11 year veteran on March 10th to be a back-up to starter Earnest Graham, as well as serve as an effective third down/change of pace type back. Dunn spent his first 5 seasons in the NFL in Tampa Bay and will be familiar with their offensive schemes -- which will be a bonus in 2008. Dunn is worth drafting as a handcuff to Earnest Graham in deeper leagues, but he will have similar fantasy value to a guy like Kevin Faulk -- where he will get occasional carries and catch a couple of passes per game (giving him some value, but just not enough to be worthy of a spot on most fantasy rosters). I would expect Dunn to rush for around 300 yards and score 1 TD, plus about 25-30 catches for 300 yards and 1 TD. Dunn is a nice backup in deeper leagues, but isn't worth selecting until the later rounds of 08 fantasy drafts. RB Earnest Graham, TB (RB - #16) - Solid/Safe Pick Following injuries to starters Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman, Earnest Graham was thrust into the starting role for Tampa Bay in Week 6 and went on to start 10 of the season's final 11 games. Graham was excellent and was a wavier wire wonder for many fantasy owners in the second half of last season. Graham ended the season with 898 yards and 10 TD's on just 222 carries, also showing great skill as a receiver catching 49 passes for 324 yards. With no apparent challengers for the starting job entering training camp, Graham should put up solid numbers again in 2008 -- making him a late #1 or solid #2 fantasy option at running back worthy of a selection as high as the second round of fantasy drafts in 2008. I would expect Graham to be the focal point of the Buccaneers' offense in 2008, in which he should top 1,200 yards and 12 TD's as well as catch over 50 passes for 500 yards and a couple of TD's (giving him added value in a league that gives points per reception). RB Carnell Williams, TB (RB - #68) - Gamble (high risk) Stay as far away from this guy as possible on draft day, because you might pull a muscle yourself if you reach for him any higher than the last couple rounds. Williams is obviously a very talented running back (nobody doubts that), but his constant injuries have decimated his fantasy value from a 1st round stud to a late round back-up in just two seasons. Williams had an excellent rookie season (1,178 yards and 6 TD's), but was plagued by injuries in his second year in which he recorded pedestrian numbers (798 yards and 1 TD). Williams injured his back in the pre-season, then missed the final three games of the season with a foot injury. This past season Williams ran for 208 yards and 3 TD in four games before suffering a torn right patella tendon on September 30th versus Carolina. Until Williams shows that he can stay healthy, he has minimal fantasy value even as a backup to Earnest Graham. I wouldn't recommend drafting "Cadillac" until very late (if at all) in any league in 2008. WR Michael Clayton, TB (WR - #102) - Deep-league Only Clayton burst onto the fantasy scene as a rookie in 2004, catching 80 passes for 1,193 yards and 7 TD's. Since then Clayton has been all but forgotten by Tampa Bay, having been targeted just 160 times since his rookie season in which he was targeted 120 times. Due to drops (as well as a lack of opportunities), Clayton has become a fantasy afterthought in recent years -- catching just 22 passes for 301 yards last season and he only has 1 TD in the past three seasons. Clayton enters the season as the #2 wide receiver on the Bucs' depth chart, meaning that he should see plenty of balls thrown his way in 2008; now will that translate into respectable fantasy numbers? In my opinion, no. Clayton has incredible size and athleticism at 6 foot 4, 215 pounds, but unless he starts getting more involved in Tampa Bays' offense then he's not worth drafting. Clayton is worth watching on your leagues' wavier wire and is worth picking up if he gets off to a hot start in 2008. WR Joey Galloway, TB (WR - #37) - Over the Hill (decreased production) Galloway continues to amaze fantasy owners with his consistency over the past couple of years despite his age. Galloway will be 37 entering the 2008 season and while I won't say he's going to be a bust, I believe we won't see 57 catches for 1,014 yards and 6 TD's like we did last season. Galloway is still the favorite target of QB Jeff Garcia and still the undisputed #1 wide out on the Buccaneers squad, making him a solid fantasy pick as a #3 or a solid #4 fantasy wide out next season. WR Ike Hilliard, TB (WR - #57) - Quality Backup Hilliard enters his 12th season in the NFL at age 32 as the Buccaneers' #3 wide receiver. Hilliard had a renaissance season last year in which he caught 62 passes for 722 yards and 1 TD for Tampa Bay. Hilliard is old, but he is a very reliable target for Jeff Garcia (who is no spring chicken either). Hilliard (as well as fellow veteran Joey Galloway) have been the pillars supporting Tampa's passing game the past few seasons, so I wouldn't expect that to change in 2008. Hilliard is worth drafting in the later rounds as a quality backup to your starting receivers because you know he's going to give you at least 50 catches for 700 yards with a couple scores in 2008. Hilliard may not be the flashiest name, but the results will speak for themselves when you get a steal in the later rounds by drafting Ike. TE Alex Smith, TB (TE - #22) - Bye Week Fill-in Alex Smith had a nice year last year in which he caught 32 passes for 385 yards and 3 TD's before spraining his ankle in Week 6, which hampered him for the remainder of the season. Free agent acquisition Ben Troupe from Tennessee will push Smith for the starting job and could steal some catches next season -- which will only hurt Smith's fantasy value. Troupe has always under-performed in Tennessee, so maybe a change of scenery is all he needs. Troupe is a decent sleeper at the position in 2008, while Alex Smith is nothing more than a bye week fill-in if he holds onto the job because he doesn't have as much upside as Troupe. Neither Smith or Troupe are worth drafting, but you should keep an eye on the situation in Tampa Bay next season. NFL Insider -- 2008 Team Outlook: Todays Team is : St. Louis Rams submitted by TheDean1 22 hours ago Over the next several days we will take a look at the outlook of the 32 NFL Teams. They will be informative for both the fan of football and also some have information for you fantasy football buffs too. Give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... 2008 Team Outlook: St. Louis As per Shawn Larabee, The Rams opened 2007 with extreme optimism. They entered the season boasting a dangerous vertical passing game, improving young defense, and one of the league's most dynamic running backs. They were also competing in a division that was looked at as being up for grabs. The future seemed bright. Then disaster hit. They lost their franchise left tackle to injury on opening day and never seemed to recover. Without a suitable replacement for Orlando Pace, the Rams' O-line was a mess and continued to be plagued by injuries and inconsistent play all season long. QB Marc Bulger was routinely battered and bruised thanks to poor pass protection and he rarely looked comfortable when dropping back to throw. Constantly under pressure, Rams QB's accounted for a league worst 28 interceptions. Poor offensive line play also seemed to factor into Stephen Jackson's disappointing and injury-shortened season. With the passing game hobbled, Rams opponents were able to stack the box and focus on stopping Jackson (who only managed 83.5 yards per game -- well off the fifth place mark of 95.5 he had posted in '06). Despite their offensive struggles, the Rams' defense showed considerable promise. They have a lot of young talent and showed their commitment to continuing their progress by drafting Chris Long with their first pick in the '08 draft. Coupled with Adam Carriker and supported by linebacker Will Witherspoon and O.J. Otogwe in the secondary, St. Louis looks to have the right pieces in place to field a truly imposing defense. Their success in '08 will hinge, once again, on the offensive line. Orlando Pace is expected to be back to full health by the start of the season and will be playing beside former Titan, Jacob Bell - who should be a significant upgrade over last year's starter, Mark Setterstrom. With an improved and healthy O-line, the Rams could be a completely different team in '08. QB Marc Bulger, STL (QB - #14) - Quality Backup 2007 was a season to forget for Marc Bulger (and most people in the St. Louis Rams organization). He missed four games due to injury and simply was not sharp for most of the season. Thanks to a drastic decline in TD:INT ratio, completion percentage and QB rating, Bulger will likely be looked at as nothing better than a second string fantasy QB, but he could still be a pleasant surprise to owners who draft him late. He still has plenty of weapons at his disposal and better O-line play this year could make a huge difference in his play -- provided his confidence isn't completely shattered by the disappointments of last year. RB Steven Jackson, STL (RB - #4) - Stud (low risk) Jackson didn't quite live up to the lofty expectations he faced in 2007. His rushing yards and attempts dipped somewhat, while his opportunities as a receiver almost dropped off entirely. He caught only 38 balls in '07 after posting an explosive 90 catch season in '06 and just didn't have the ball in his hands often enough to warrant his top billing as a fantasy superstar. Expect that to change in 2008. With Al Saunders as the new offensive coordinator, Jackson should again become the focal point of the St. Louis attack. Remember that Saunders spearheaded the Kansas City offense that made superstars of Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson and during his last stint in St. Louis in 2000, he orchestrated an offense that saw Marshall Faulk record almost 2,200 total yards and 26 TDs in only 14 games. We can safely predict that Jackson will surpass the paltry 5 rushing TDs he managed in 2007. RB Brian Leonard, STL (RB - #74) - Fantasy Handcuff Stephen Jackson owners will want some protection this season and while Brian Leonard is a great all-around back who did a serviceable job filling in for Jackson last season, he may not remain the #2 option in St. Louis. Rams coaches would like to have Leonard on the field more often, but as a fullback this year (which might mean that backup tail duties will fall to sophomore Antonio Pittman). Keep an eye on developments over the spring and summer to see who gets the majority of time spelling Jackson. While Leonard seems like the safer option for goal-line carries in the absence of Jackson, the coaching staff may have plans to use Pittman as tailback with Leonard lead-blocking. WR Donnie Avery, STL (WR - #80) - Deep-league Only "Rough," "unrefined," "project," "one-dimensional"... all terms that have been used by scouts to characterize Donnie Avery -- the Rams' second round pick in the 2008 draft. Avery possesses great speed and will, ideally, work out of the slot as a third receiver in a similar capacity to Kevin Curtis pre-2007. He'll also likely contribute some as a returner, though he'll probably have to earn the coaches' trust before they put the ball in his hands on any sort of regular basis. Avery exhibited some game-breaking tools in college, so consider him worth watching but draftable only in deep leagues until he proves he can handle playing at the pro level. WR Drew Bennett, STL (WR - #69) - Bye Week Fill-in Most fantasy owners will discount this guy and they're probably right to do so. Bennett has only one solid season to his credit and it stands out starkly against 6 seasons of very mediocre stats. Still he showed with the Titans in 2004 (80 catches, 1,242 yards and 11 TDs) that he can be a viable and productive #1 option at wideout. Since then, he has played in more of a peripheral role, but will be asked to step up this season to fill the shoes of Isaac Bruce. Don't expect a repeat of 2004, but Bennett's numbers this season could be a pleasant surprise. WR Torry Holt, STL (WR - #14) - Solid/Safe Pick Since his rookie season 10 years ago, Torry Holt has been the measure of consistency. During his illustrious career with the Rams he has averaged almost 90 catches, over 1,300 receiving yards and almost 8 TDs per season. Even with the offensive downturn of '07, he still managed 93 catches for 1,189 yards and a respectable 7 TDs. At almost 32 years of age, he's shown few signs of slowing down and can still put up Pro-Bowl caliber numbers. If Marc Bulger stays healthy and the O-line improves from last season (an almost certainty, given their absolutely abysmal play in 2007), then Holt's numbers should rise which will make him a great value selection in fantasy drafts. TE Randy McMichael, STL (TE - #21) - Sleeper (undervalued) After basically being the primary option in Miami for the better part of his five years as a Dolphin, it was thought that McMichael would thrive in an offense where he wasn't the only weapon. This wasn't the case in his first year with the Rams. Problems with QB protection meant that he was asked to stay in and block more than he ever was with the Dolphins and, as a result, he recorded the fewest receptions since his rookie season. Blocking was never his strong point and the Rams would love to make better use of him in their passing game. Look for McMichael to rebound in 2008 as the offense finds more creative ways to get him involved. NFL Insider -- 2008 Team Outlook: Todays Team is : Seattle Seahawks submitted by TheDean1 22 hours ago Over the next several days we will take a look at the outlook of the 32 NFL Teams. They will be informative for both the fan of football and also some have information for you fantasy football buffs too. Give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... 2008 Team Outlook: Seattle As per Shawn Larabee, Seattle was, once again, the lone winning team in their division last season (and one of only 6 winning teams in the NFC). They have been the top of the class of the NFC West for the past four seasons and there's no reason to think that their divisional dominance will come to an end in 2008. Part of their consistency can be attributed to a steady core of long-time Seahawks, accented by free-agent acquisitions who have been able to match or even surpass the positional expectations of the departed players they were brought in to replace. When Grant Wistrom left after '06, Patrick Kerney more than picked up the slack. In 2007, Ken Hamlin's presence in the secondary was ably replaced by the free agent signings of Deion Grant and Brian Russell. Thus far, only LG Steve Hutchinson has proved irreplaceable and his departure marked the beginning of Shaun Alexander's demise. After a 2005 season in which they were third in the league in rushing yardage, the Hutchinson-less Seahawks plummeted to 14th in 2006 and a dismal 20th in 2007, while Alexander missed a total of 9 games over the two year span. In 2008, the charge of replacing the injury-plagued Alexander will fall to a combination of Maurice Morris (Alexander's long-time handcuff) and Julius Jones (who was signed from the Cowboys as an unrestricted free agent this off-season). T.J. Duckett will also factor into the mix, likely either as a goal-line and short yardage option or possibly as a converted fullback. The passing game should continue to thrive with Hasselbeck at the helm and a mixture of youth and experience in the receiving corps. Meanwhile, Seattle's defense has quietly become the envy of the league and features Pro Bowl players Patrick Kerney, Julian Peterson, Lofa Tatupu and Marcus Trufant. This is a well-rounded team that should continue to produce good fantasy players in 2008. QB Matt Hasselbeck, SEA (QB - #8) - Solid/Safe Pick After posting career bests in passing touchdowns, passing attempts, and passing yardage in 2007, Matt Hasselbeck looks like a legitimate top-flight fantasy quarterback. Some of his success in 2008 will hinge on the outcome of Bobby Engram's contract dispute and on Deion Branch's health, but he should benefit from the additional backfield options the Seahawks have brought in over the off-season. A solid running game will only help Hasselbeck's numbers as safeties will be forced to fill the box and anxious corners will be likelier to bite on play-action. As one of the most consistent and reliable pivots in the league, Hasselbeck should be drafted with confidence. RB Julius Jones, SEA (RB - #26) - Solid/Safe Pick With a crowded Seattle backfield and given Jones' injury history, he should be considered more of a Solid than a Safe pick. He's expected to get the bulk of the carries this season, but will certainly lose some to Maurice Morris(whose six years of experience in Mike Holmgren's offense shouldn't be overlooked). There is also T.J. Duckett to contend with when it comes to goal-line carries, so there's no guarantee Jones' status as the #1 back will necessarily make him a top fantasy producer. After factoring in the time-share and Jones' inability to stay healthy, fantasy owners in a typical 10-12 team league should consider drafting him as a second or even third option at the RB position. RB Maurice Morris, SEA (RB - #41) - Fantasy Handcuff Morris could be a forgotten commodity in upcoming fantasy drafts. He's spent so long hiding in Shaun Alexander's shadow that most people outside of the Pacific Northwest don't know about him. Though he's liable to be in a time-share with Julius Jones, he thrived as a backup and sometime replacement for the previous supposed starter, Alexander. While Julius Jones will likely garner the most fantasy attention, Morris is worth picking up with a mid or late-round draft pick, not just as insurance for Jones owners, but also due to the possibility that Morris might win the starting RB gig outright. He's displayed the skills in the past, has improved steadily in his time with the Seahawks and has much more experience in this offense than either Jones or Duckett. WR Deion Branch, SEA (WR - #23) - Gamble (high risk) In spite of all the hype -- and there's a lot of it -- Deion Branch really hasn't done much to earn top billing as a fantasy wideout. In six NFL seasons he has only played the full 16-game schedule once and he's never scored more than 5 TD's or recorded a 1,000 yard receiving campaign. And don't take his current injury concerns too lightly; Branch is recovering from an ACL tear. Barring a miracle, he's liable to miss at least the first few games and likely the whole first half of the season if he's placed on the PUP list. With no guarantee he'll be able to play at all in 2008, fantasy owners would be advised to look elsewhere for receiving help. WR Nate Burleson, SEA (WR - #53) - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential) With Deion Branch out for the foreseeable future, Nate Burleson looks to inherit a starting WR position opposite Bobby Engram. Burleson has twice caught 9 TD's in a season and has been dangerous not only as a receiver, but also as a returner. Burleson's last stint as a first stringer came in 2004 while he was with Minnesota and if he can hold on to his starting gig for a complete season in Seattle, he should easily surpass his previous career highs of 68 catches and 1006 yards receiving. Logan Payne, rookie Jordan Kent, or even Courtney Taylor could step up and fill-in if Burleson falters, so he'll need to stay sharp throughout pre-season. WR Bobby Engram, SEA (WR - #33) - Solid/Safe Pick Engram has come a long way. After 11 NFL seasons (6 with Seattle) he suddenly leaped into fantasy consciousness by posting 94 catches for 1,147 yards. This year, he assumes the role as Matt Hasselbeck's primary target thanks not only to his breakout 2007 season, but also to Deion Branch's ACL tear. Engram is currently hounding Seattle management over his contract, though, as a 35-year old with only one 1,000-yard season under his belt, he doesn't look to have much pull. Assuming he re-joins the team in time for training camp, Engram should be a steady fantasy producer in 2008. TE John Carlson, SEA (TE - #35) - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential) Jon Carlson was the second tight end chosen in the 2008 draft, but he has a better chance of starting this year than the Jets' first round choice, Justin Keller. While it's no guarantee he'll win the job, Carlson makes more sense (and has more fantasy potential) than his competitors, Will Heller or Jeb Putzier -- either of whom could be cut before the season starts. Carlson was a multi-sport star and a four-year starter at tight end for Notre Dame. He has great hands and is athletic enough to take advantage of linebackers and safeties in coverage. Definitely a player to watch. NFL Insider -- 2008 Team Outlook: Todays Team is : San Francisco 49ers submitted by TheDean1 22 hours ago Over the next several days we will take a look at the outlook of the 32 NFL Teams. They will be informative for both the fan of football and also some have information for you fantasy football buffs too. Give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... 2008 Team Outlook: San Francisco A fifth consecutive losing season. Last in total offense. In the lower tier in total defense (25th in yardage, 20th in points). Last in third down percentage. 30th of the 32 teams in takeaways vs. giveaways. Tied for the league lead in sacks surrendered. Second to last in defensive interceptions... As per Shawn Larabee, Unfortunately, the list goes on. As a team, there were very few positives for the 49ers last season and very few signs that this will make for a better fantasy football environment in 2008. Though the team has some young talent, they just don't yet have the personnel to compete against some of the star-ridden lineups of today's NFL. San Francisco remains in rebuilding mode this year and still has a way to go. They did draft smartly this off-season and made a much-needed coaching change, bringing in Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator. They were busy, once again, in free-agency, signing Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson, DeShaun Foster, Justin Smith and Dontarrious Thomas -- some of the biggest names available in this year's free-agent crop. Strangely, though, they have done very little to address their offensive line problems. The only significant addition was to select Chilo Rachal, a guard from USC, in the second round of the draft. They also went against most people's predictions by keeping Alex Smith, and have surprised many by failing to bring in new competition at QB. The battle for the starting job this season will be between Smith and 3rd year man Shaun Hill -- a virtual unknown who, nevertheless, played well in relief of Smith in 2007. As hard as it it for older football fans to accept, a culture of losing has developed in San Francisco and it might take some time to right the ship. The playoffs are likely out of reach. At this point, the goal of achieving a winning record will provide more than enough challenge for this franchise. QB Alex Smith, SF (QB - #24) - Gamble (high risk) 3 years in and Alex Smith is showing all the hallmarks of the first overall draft bust. Poor play, injuries, and strife with the coaching staff led to speculation that Smith might not be back in a 49ers uniform in 2008. Compounding Smith's problems is the fact that backup Shaun Hill did such an impressive job filling in when Smith was injured last season. Hill was re-signed to a 3-year contract and, while it looks like Smith will play out his contract, the recent rumor out of San Francisco is that the QB competition is "wide open." While Smith seems to be the safer, more skilled pick to run the 49er offense, it's worth noting that new offensive coordinator Mike Martz has no qualms about working with unheralded QB's and could chose to make Hill into one of his "projects." RB De'shaun Foster, SF (RB - #57) - Fantasy Handcuff With the DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart timeshare now underway in Carolina, Foster was cut loose into the waters of free agency and wound up as a 49er. Never an effective starter for the Panthers, Foster will serve as a solid plan B behind Frank Gore in San Francisco. Though Michael Robinson has shown considerable promise in the role, Foster is the more proven commodity and should get the first look. New offensive coordinator Mike Martz likes to make use of every weapon in his arsenal, so Foster should see some field time even with a healthy Gore. But his value will sky rocket should Gore go down again with an injury. RB Frank Gore, SF (RB - #6) - Stud (low risk) Gore fought off the pain of a lingering high ankle sprain and the ineptness of his 49er offensive teammates to cobble together a decent season in 2007. Though it was a large step back from his breakout in 2006, there were some hopeful signs in his ability to craft something out of nothing - specifically, through the passing game. Mike Martz has already stated that he would like the offense to center around his high profile RB, so it would be no surprise to see Gore even more involved as a receiver. While Gore is definitely worth an early selection in fantasy drafts, owners would breathe a collective sigh of relief if they could count on him notching 30 or more carries in at least one game this season -- something he failed to do in all of 2007. WR Arnaz Battle, SF (WR - #48) - Bye Week Fill-in There are all kinds of theories about wide receiver production in fantasy circles. Some say third-year players begin to hit their stride, others say it happens in year four... but there are very few examples to suggest that a player will suddenly put it all together in his sixth NFL season. Which is not to say Battle is doomed. Though he may not earn one of the two starting WR spots, he could still find productivity working out of the slot. Over the last decade, Mike Martz has worked with some of the best slot receivers in football. Battle's skill-set compares favorably with that of Ricky Proehl, Kevin Curtis, Mike Furrey, and Shaun McDonald. He may just find his niche in Martz's offense as a #3 receiver. WR Isaac Bruce, SF (WR - #60) - Over the Hill (decreased production) The wide receiver situation in San Francisco is one fantasy owners will want to steer clear of, if they can. By way of infusing new blood into the receiving corps, the 49ers brought in a 35 year-old veteran. Isaac Bruce still runs great routes and has excellent hands, but he's not the dynamic playmaker this team so badly needs. It's been 5 long years since the 49ers had a 1,000 yard receiver ( Terrell Owens in 2003) and, even as the likely starting flanker, Bruce is a long shot to surpass 1,000 yards with this offense. He's worth a later round selection as insurance behind more reliable receivers, but don't bank on him as a fantasy #1 or #2. WR Bryant Johnson, SF (WR - #71) - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential) While Arnaz Battle has more experience with this offense, Johnson seems like the better choice to open the season at split end. He's big, he's athletic and - get this Darrell Jackson fans - he can catch the football. Bryant looks like a decent fit opposite Isaac Bruce and could be a legitimate scoring threat if the 49ers can ever make it to the opposing team's red zone. Johnson and Bruce were the best options in a down year for free-agent wideouts. Call me a sceptic, but their presence won't be enough to turn around the passing game in San Francisco. Still, if you roll the dice with Johnson at the end of your draft, you might be pleasantly surprised. TE Vernon Davis, SF (TE - #11) - Solid/Safe Pick Everyone knows that Davis is insanely athletic. Whether he eventually lives up to his billing as the next Antonio Gates/Tony Gonzalez might be largely dependent on how his coaches see fit to use him. Some critics -- including, at one point, head coach Mike Nolan - felt that Davis was used too sparingly last season. But, one has to wonder what part he will play in Mike Martz's wide receiver-friendly, tight end-deficient offense. It's hard to imagine talent like Davis' going to waste, but this isn't yet a situation where we should expect him to make his move into the upper echelon of NFL tight ends. NFL Insider -- 2008 Team Outlook: Todays Team is : San Diego Chargers submitted by TheDean1 23 hours ago Over the next several days we will take a look at the outlook of the 32 NFL Teams. They will be informative for both the fan of football and also some have information for you fantasy football buffs too. Give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... 2008 Team Outlook: San Diego As per Jeb Gorham, Ladainian Tomlinson had another league leading season and Phillip Rivers was impressive with 21 TDs and just over 3,000 yards, but San Diego's 11-5 season in 2007 still ended in disappointment with their 21-12 loss to New England in the AFC Championship game. In the off-season San Diego Lost Michael Turner to Atlanta and released Lorenzo Neal. These two collaborated to spell and open lanes for LT respectively. This season Andrew Pinnock, who previously backed up Neal, will spell LT and the team will look to their 3rd round pick, Jacob Hester to play a hard-nosed FB. The question that most fantasy owners and fans in general are asking, is what will it take for San Diego to have a breakout season and make it to the Super Bowl? Rivers once again has a star cast surrounding him. It remains to be seen if LT, Gates, Chambers and Jackson can work with Rivers to bring SD up to the level they are capable of on paper. The AFC West should once again be an easy target for San Diego's high powered offense that picks apart defenses on the ground and through their air attack. The SD Defense is not shabby either. With both offensive and defensive guns blazing, San Diego is a force to be reckoned with. SD faces New England in Week 6, Pittsburgh in Week 11 and Indianapolis in Week 12, but the remainder of their schedule appears fairly tame. As far as I am concerned, the guys to watch in San Diego are Phillip Rivers, Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson. Rivers and his receiving core are going to be key to the team's success. Defensive opponents have had years to study Tomlinson and RBs can only have so many new tricks. I am not saying that LT will have a poor season, but just being honest. Rivers has some great experience now and should continue to grow into his role this season. I expect a lot out of Rivers this season and if he lives up to his abilities and capitalizes upon his supporting cast of characters, San Diego will be solid and maybe even great. QB Philip Rivers, SD (QB - #19) - Solid/Safe Pick Philip Rivers had a good season in 2007. Last year's campaign was not quite his 2006 season, but close. Rivers' ACL reconstruction went well and he says he is completely ready for camp. Rivers will need to really focus on utilizing his resources effectively and avoid the interceptions this year. Rivers is a solid QB for fantasy teams this season, but I also think that he is undervalued. This will be his 3rd season in the lead role and he should be working more into his comfort zone. His offense has been consistently solid with little turnover and when working efficiently, has sparks of greatest. I would anticipate Rivers having a 3,500 yard plus season with increased TD production with Chambers, Jackson and Gates as targets. RB Jacob Hester, SD - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential) I am going to go out on a limb and pick Jacob Hester as a guy who could prove a few things if given the chance. Hester, a 3rd round pick, will most likely fill the shoes of Lorenzo Neal (released) and maybe even aid Andrew Pinnock (handcuff) in spelling Tomlinson. Michael T