Player Capsules and Sleepers

Pierre Thomas jerseys, NO. No, I didn't forget to take my medicine. Pierre is in the perfect situation to excel this season. Primary back in an massively effective offense. Loss of Mike Bell and lack of other veteran backs being brought in means that Thomas will receive plenty of carries and opportunities. His 5.4 yards per carry suggest so. The best thing in Pierre's favor this season was the Saints refusal to sign him to a long-term lucrative contract. He has to play for his supper, so to speak, and has a plenty big chip on his shoulder and plenty to prove. I wouldn't draft him this early, because he'll likely fall into your early third round, but backs like Thomas make it much easier to draft receivers and other positions early on draft day.

DeAngelo Williams, CAR. When healthy, Williams is the primary ball carrier for a team that knows how to grind out the rushing stats. Even if he somehow fell behind upstart Jonathan Stewart and became second fiddle, Williams would still produce over 1,000 yards and double-digit TDs. Stewart did just that in the RB2 role last year. Plus, I have a feeling the Panthers run Williams into the ground before losing him to free agency next year. Just a hunch.

Rashard Mendenhall, PIT. Young back who could become elite this season, he also has a lot of red flags attached to his fantasy value in 2010. Loss of Big Ben to suspension means that the offense will be feeding the ball a lot to Mendenhall … but it also means that defenses will be keying on him. Mendenhall had some inconsistency issues from week to week last season, although his final stats were impressive considering he wasn't starting for the first quarter of the regular season. Still, his potential tied with the Steelers return to run-first football is a combination worth taking a risk on.

Steven Jackson, STL. There is no reason to think that Jackson won't continue to produce despite the mediocrity around him. Like Barry Sanders, Jackson makes the most out of his situation and shines. The Rams will be spoon-feeding Sam Bradford as much as possible, meaning a heavy reliance on the running game once again.

Michael Turner jerseys, ATL. I am not a Turner aficionado from a fantasy standpoint, and this is not a PPR ranking, but it is hard to discount what Turner can do when focused and ready to prove his critics wrong. Reports state that Turner basically lived at the Falcons practice facility this off-season and is in excellent shape. This all combined with what I feel will be a very nice bounce-back season for Matt Ryan and the Atlanta passing game, and Turner shouldn't slip too far on your draft board.

Frank Gore, SF. Age and injuries seem to have a better handle on how to slow Gore than opposing defenses. When he plays, he is a homerun threat. The Niners have a cupcake schedule, and Gore will be used plenty throughout the season.

Adrian Peterson, MIN. Not sure why I feel so strongly that Peterson will see a drop in stats … but every time Peterson fumbled, especially in the playoffs, I kept having violent flashbacks to Steve Slaton fumbling away my 2009 fantasy hopes. Brett Favre's presence keeps defenses more honest, and Peterson is still worthy of a top pick. I just worry that the fumbles and his bruising style of running will eventuall catch up to him. That's why I suggested, in one post, to consider trading Adrian Peterson in dynasty leagues .

 Ray Rice jerseys, BAL. The key to Rice's coming-out party in 2009 was his excessively impressive off-season work habits. This off-season? The Ravens are saying he's done even more and is one of the best conditioned backs in the league. We high school football people know that good conditioning is the best way to avoid injury. Some question whether some of Rice's receptions will be lost to newcomer Anquan Boldin, but even if he loses some catches, his incredible 9.0 yards per reception and respectable 5.3 yards per carry will keep Rice at the top of the rankings for the foreseeable future.

 Chris Johnson jerseys, TEN. The Titans did nothing major to bring in another back to spell Johnson. In fact, they got rid of LenDale White and brought in an even more questionable commodity in rookie LaGarrett Blount. I still worry about him replicating even a part of his amazing 2009 stats, but the upside makes it hard to pass at him at this slot.

Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX. Seeing his workload increase from 197 carries to 312, and being the only focal point of a team lacking star power, Jones-Drew continues to produce consistently impressive numbers totally under the radar. Chris Johnson hasn't proven he can maintain the sick pace he showed us last season. Adrian Peterson has a knack for dropping the pigskin, and rookie Toby Gerhart will take every opportunity he can get to show that he's the reliable goal-line option when Peterson struggles with more dropsies.