The NFL preseason is in full swing, and how certain players perform in these games could have significant impact on the upcoming Fantasy season. The arrows indicate which way a player's stock is heading, but you'll have to read what we have to say to know whether a player's preseason performance will impact his draft status in Fantasy leagues.
Matt Leinart, QB, Arizona Leinart, who is coming off a broken collarbone in 2007 and had to watch Kurt Warner return as an elite Fantasy option, had a great preseason debut against New Orleans. Leinart was 7-of-8 passing for 91 yards and played well without Anquan Boldin (hamstring). You're going to draft Leinart as a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback with a late-round pick, but he has the potential to start for you by the end of the year. If he remains this efficient during the preseason, his value will continue to rise. As long as he can hold off Warner and get the ball to Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, Leinart has the chance for a big year.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle Hasselbeck was already taking a hit with Deion Branch (knee) out, and now Bobby Engram (shoulder) is out for about two months. That leaves Hasselbeck with Nate Burleson and little else. He should still be drafted as a No. 1 starting option, but he could be replaced during the year with this meager receiving corps. If you draft Hasselbeck, make sure you also take a solid backup option within the next two rounds. He had a career year in 2007, but this year could end up as one of his worst due to his lack of weapons.
Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Brown didn't have a dazzling preseason debut against Tampa Bay with only three carries for 4 yards, but the fact that he was in the game helped his value. Brown is coming off a torn ACL last year and said after the game his rehab is going well. He will lose playing time to Ricky Williams, who also played well against the Bucs with five carries for 31 yards, but if Brown is 100 percent to start the season then he could be worth drafting as a low-end No. 2 option. Right now, consider Brown a No. 3 Fantasy running back worth a pick around Round 5.
Ryan Grant RB, Green Bay Grant went from a Fantasy darling last season to a holdout, which kept him out of offseason workouts, to losing his star quarterback to now dealing with a hamstring injury. He is being drafted as a high-end No. 2 option, but Grant could end up as a bust this year. Without Brett Favre, Grant could now face plenty of eight-man fronts. And if his hamstring injury lingers, Grant could suffer. The safe bet is to let Grant fall to you in the middle of the second round or even the beginning of the third in all leagues. And you should plan on drafting Brandon Jackson as a No. 4 Fantasy running back for insurance.
Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Johnson's preseason debut against St. Louis is the kind of day you hope he has during the regular season. The rookie had six carries for 77 yards and a touchdown and caught one pass for 13 yards. The thought is Johnson is competing for playing time with LenDale White, but both running backs will probably share the field. Johnson will be used like Reggie Bush as a running back and receiver, and Johnson has speed to make plays. He's quickly becoming a preseason candidate for the best rookie this season, and he should be drafted as a No. 3 Fantasy option around Round 7 in all leagues.
Ahman Green, RB, Houston Green had one play in the preseason opener against Denver, and his 5-yard catch turned into a groin injury. It's not expected to keep him out for long, but any injury for a 31-year-old running back with an injury history is never a good thing. Green had the potential to return as a Fantasy reserve worth using on bye weeks or as an injury replacement, which could still happen, but the safe bet is to let Green fall to you with a late-round pick. Chris Brown and rookie Steve Slaton are now intriguing Fantasy options with the extra carries they will garner with Green out.
Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City Johnson helped a lot of owners in keeper leagues let out a sigh of relief when he ran for 18 yards and a touchdown on seven carries against Chicago in the preseason opener. Johnson is coming back from a broken foot and has issues at quarterback and the offensive line, but if he can run with authority and show he's healthy, that will help his value. Johnson isn't going to return to his prominence from 2006, but he can get back to being a starting Fantasy option. Continue to draft Johnson at the end of the first round or the beginning of the second round and hope he gets some help on offense and stay healthy.
Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore McGahee could miss up to a month following knee surgery, which means he might not be ready to start the regular season. With poor offensive line play and an inexperienced quarterback, that's a bad combination. McGahee got out of Buffalo because of a similar situation, but the scenario in Baltimore doesn't look much better at this point. The safe bet is to draft McGahee in the third or fourth round and hope he returns as a No. 2 Fantasy option during the season. With McGahee out, target rookie Ray Rice in all leagues.
Marvin Harrison, WR, Indianapolis Fantasy owners want to know what to expect from Harrison this year, and he gave them a glimpse in the preseason opener Carolina with three catches for 22 yards. Harrison isn't going to return to his previous dominance, but he does have potential to be a starting Fantasy option again. He has a stud quarterback in Peyton Manning and tremendous weapons around him with Reggie Wayne, Joseph Addai and Dallas Clark. Plan on drafting Harrison around Round 5 or 6 in all leagues and hope his injured knee from last year can hold up for a full 16 games again.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Stewart's toe injury was supposed to be a thing of the past, but it kept him out of the preseason opener against Indianapolis. Stewart has the chance to be the top rookie this year but not if he's hampered with the injury. With Stewart out, DeAngelo Williams took advantage and scored two touchdowns against the Colts. Stewart needs to get on the field and win the starting job otherwise his Fantasy value would suffer. For now, draft Stewart around the fourth round in all leagues and hope his toe injury doesn’t linger.
Do you have a player you're interested in finding out about from this preseason, or feel that we're missing someone from our Stockwatch? You can e-mail us at DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Stockwatch in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware we do not guarantee personal responses to all questions.
