Weekly rankings take into account opponent, injuries and other incidental factors.

QUARTERBACKS

Ryan Boser highlights one quarterback who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

Alex Smith (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Seattle
Lost in a career chock-full of disappointment is the fact that Alex Smith is actually pretty good against Seattle... Click here to read the rest of the breakdown at Bruno Boys.

Sam Bradford (St. Louis Rams) vs. Philadelphia
Sam Bradford’s impressive rookie season, coupled with the addition of pass-happy Josh McDaniels, has fantasy football owners drooling over the sophomore’s potential this season... Click here to read the rest of the breakdown at Bruno Boys.

RUNNING BACKS

Joey Cavalier highlights one running back who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts) at Houston
With Peyton Manning sidelined for Week 1 (and who knows how much longer), the Colts will simplify their offense and lean heavily on the multi-faceted talents of Joseph Addai. Believe it or not, Addai will be the Colts’ weapon of choice as they sift through the ashes of their post-apocalyptic life without Manning. From short passes to increased carries, Addai will see a lot of action in week one against the pedestrian defense of the Houston Matadors… whoops… I meant Texans.

Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) vs. New Orleans
There are plenty of fantasy owners who will be counting on Grant to perform as a starting back for their squad in Week 1. It’s too bad for those owners that Grant will be up against the stronger-than-ever front seven of the New Orleans Saints, now anchored by Aubrayo Franklin. Combine that with James Starks creeping closely and two pass-happy offenses going at it tit-for-tat, and Grant will produce like a fantasy RB3/4. You probably have better options for Week 1.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Brian Dezelske highlights one wide receiver who will "POP," and one who will "FLOP."

Plaxico Burress (New York Jets) vs. Dallas
There’s a lot of talk about how good the Dallas Cowboys could be this year, and while there is something to that, don’t expect to see right out of the gate. The Cowboys starting corners, Mike Jenkins and Terrance Newman, didn’t play a snap during the preseason—and they’re on the road in hostile territory. While it’s looking like Jenkins will suit up, Newman may not dress for this game, which is actually a great thing for Newman, since Burress used to embarrass him twice a year back in his N.Y. Giants days. I could easily see Burress with 80 yards and a red zone score.

Marques Colston (

New Orleans Saints

) at Green Bay

Is it just me, or does Marques Colston always disappoint his fantasy owners? The word you’re looking for is yes. Let’s break this down together, shall we? Colston is the No. 1 receiver on a team with roughly eight legit options that Drew Brees can choose from—and he uses them all. Now throw on top of that the fact that Colston’s going to see a heavy dose of Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams. You see where I’m going with this? If you have other options at the receiver position, I would strongly suggest looking at their matchups before committing to a receiver that has to face off against that Green Bay Packer defense.

TIGHT ENDS

The Death of the $7.99 Fantasy Football Magazine

For some, the fantasy football season is right around the corner. For others, like myself, it never really ends. I started jotting notes for the 2010 season about halfway through the 2009 season. As the fantasy football monster continues to grow, managers are getting savvier, stakes are getting higher, and leagues are becoming more cutthroat. My goal with this entry is to provide a comprehensive collection of fantasy resources that you may not have previously considered. Think of it as your guide to cheaper, better information. Because if you're showing up to a draft in late August with a $7.99 fantasy magazine, you're not only donating your entry fee, you're donating your pride.

Fantasy football happens in real time. Values are changing right now. And now. And now. Herein lies the obvious problem with fantasy magazines. Sure, they have their place. They can be fine as a refresher on last season's stats and offseason roster moves. However, it's imperative you understand that your shiny new magazine will be outdated by the time you swipe the Visa. In fact, it was outdated on the shelf long before you even smudged it up. My buddies have chided me for years about my Brad Childress-esque color coded cheat sheet that I bring to my drafts. It's a custom report tacked to an old-school clipboard; the summation of months of researching my most trusted sources, participating in countless mock drafts, and weighing my own gut instincts. What it lacks in gloss, it makes up for in year-end payouts. Nothing on my final draft day printout comes from a magazine. My best advice to you: Don't let a magazine sabotage your draft and turn you into your league's favorite punch line. Fantasy football has evolved, and you need to keep pace.

If you're not tweeting, you're not trying. Say what you will about Twitter, but it's quickly become the premier source for up-to-the-second fantasy football information. It's here that you gain access to the "experts," and more importantly, the nerds. It's a place for informed debates and priceless links. Furthermore, it's by far your best bet for pre-game updates during the season. In my favorite Twitter moment of last season, I shamelessly asked Kurt Warner about his availability for the Week 13 Sunday night showdown with the Vikings, as he was listed as a "Game Time Decision" due to a concussion. To my surprise, he replied that he was playing, so I left him in my lineup (I'd added Leinart as an emergency play, of course). He proceeded to carve up the Purple for 285 and 3 TD's, and I was rewarded with a slim, playoff-clinching victory. Admittedly, Kurt Warner might have been the only honest, god-fearing man in the NFL. So get started with these guys, and cash in on more dependable information: http://tweepml.org/?t=40430.

Listen up. Podcasts are free and versatile. Listen at work. Listen in the yard. Listen in the car. There is no excuse not to get plugged in. There are two podcasts that are staples in my fantasy diet. I listen daily to ESPN's Fantasy Focus Football, where Matthew Berry and Nate Ravitz regularly fight like a married couple. Highlights of the show include the "Name Game" player vs. player debate, and Stephania Bell's top notch injury analysis. They're getting it warmed up already with a weekly show: http://tinyurl.com/6ehkh7. We're also very fortunate, in the MPLS/St. Paul area, to have the industry's best fantasy show in our own back yard. KFAN 1130's Fantasy Football Weekly airs Saturday mornings starting in late July, and is hosted by nationally regarded industry gurus Paul Charchian, John Tuvey, and Bo Mitchell. The show includes fantastic segments of caller questions and matchup breakdowns, as well as "Five Tough Questions," "Take a Chance on Me," "Lightning Round," and the "Todd Heap Memorial Injury Report." Nobody works harder to provide fact-based analysis and speculation than these guys. It's free money: http://tinyurl.com/yeby2qr.

Fake it 'til you make it. Mock drafts give you the insight into how the fantasy community is valuing players. They also prepare you for those unpredictable, sink-or-swim moments of your draft. With mocking, you'll become familiar with ADP's (Average Draft Positions). This could be the single most important piece of ammo for traditional drafts. It's the difference between reaching and value. If you haven't done a handful of mocks before your draft, you deserve the inevitable embarrassment that will ensue. ESPN's Mock Draft Lobby is great: http://tinyurl.com/d2jo7a. I also mix in mocks at www.mockdraftcentral.com and www.fantasyfootballcalculator.com.

Do the legwork. Get out and socialize with other members of the fantasy community. Don't be too proud to tag along to a pal's draft. Observe how certain players are perceived locally vs. nationally. Learn from others' mistakes. Find the smartest guy in the room (hint: he won't be thumbing through a magazine), and take note of his (or her) moves. Hit up the spread and snag a couple free beers. There's no hiding behind the computer; experiencing a live draft gets you dialed into reality, and more focused than ever. Another great opportunity for the MPLS/St. Paul crowd is the Fantasy Football Weekly crew's Fantasy Training Camp, held late summer at Treasure Island Casino in Red Wing. This is as "insider" as it gets. From slideshows of statistical gold, to an expert mock play-by-play, you will leave this event with a decided advantage over the rest of your league. And, like the rest of these new age fantasy tools, it's free.

Follow this advice, and you'll go from an ordinary fantasy participant to a feared power player in your league. Do you utilize other non-traditional resources? Feel free to share and discuss.