Sidney Rice is expected miss about half of the regular season, however he's still worth drafting in most leagues and he could be a late-round steal.

With the start of the 2010 NFL season just around the corner, we’ve put together a list of players that have seen their fantasy stock fall during the preseason.

Sidney Rice MIN | WR

The good news is, Brett Favre is back, the bad news is, Rice had hip surgery and is expected miss about half of the regular season. The Vikings have placed him on the reserve physically unable to perform (PUP) list, which would make him eligible to return for Week 7. While a Week 7 return is far from certain, he’s still worth drafting in most leagues and if he can get back to 100 percent he could be a steal with a late-round pick.

Chaz Schilens OAK | WR

We had high hopes for Schilens, who is entering his third year in the NFL, which is usually a breakout season for receivers. Unfortunately, Schilens had knee surgery and is expected to miss three to six weeks. While the Raiders are optimistic that he’ll be ready for Week 1, he’s nothing more than a late-round sleeper pick with injury concerns.

Matt Leinart QB

Leinart lost the Cardinals starting QB job to Derek Anderson and has recently been released. The Cardinals tried to trade Leinart, but apparently received little interest. It may be worth monitoring where Leinart ends up, but at this point he has zero fantasy value and is not worth drafting in any league.

Larry Fitzgerald ARZ | WR

Fitzgerald is recovering from a knee injury he suffered in the first preseason game, but is on track to be ready for Week 1. We actually like the fact that Derek Anderson will be throwing him the ball instead of Matt Leinart, but he’s still a downgrade from Kurt Warner. Fitzgerald will still be a quality No. 1 fantasy WR and worth an early-round pick, but there are definitely a couple of lingering questions entering the season.

Montario Hardesty CLE | RB

Hardesty was placed on injured reserve with a torn left ACL, ending his season. We liked Hardesty heading into the season and he showed some promise as a power back to compliment Jerome Harrison. Hardesty should be ignored on draft day and/or dropped in seasonal leagues.

Kenny Britt TEN | WR

Britt had a great rookie year and we think he is the most talented wide receiver on the Titans, but his attitude could get in the way of him starting. If he gets his act together Britt could still have some value this year, but he has slipped in most drafts. We don’t think he is a bad gamble really late in the draft, but we wouldn’t use any kind of decent draft pick on him.

Vincent Jackson SD | WR

When playing Jackson is a top ten wide receiver, but there is no guarantee he plays this year. If he doesn’t sign with a team fast he will be suspended for the first 6 games of the season. If your draft is going well then we don’t mind taking a gamble on Jackson, but just be ready to stash him on your bench for a while.

Jamaal Charles KC | RB

A couple months ago we thought Charles could be a late first round pick, but things have definitely changed. There have been reports coming out of Kansas City that Thomas Jones has looked good, and we think there is a good chance he will steal a good amount of the carries. Jones was the 3rd leading rusher last year, and we think he might still have some left in the tank. Charles does still have a huge upside, but he is a high risk draft pick in our opinion.

Justin Forsett SEA | RB

Forsett was a big sleeper coming into the season, but it is far from a guarantee that he gets a majority of the carries. Leon Washington has looked good this preseason, and we think he might be the guy to own. Forsett might still end up starting but with Jones and Washington out there he will certainly be in some sort of timeshare.

Brandon Jacobs NYG | RB

Jacobs is coming off of a terrible year, and we are not expecting a bounce back. Bradshaw looked better last year, and he has looked better so far this preseason. All signs are pointing towards Jacobs having a much more limited roll this year, but don’t be surprised if he still gets a few goal lines. At this point Jacobs should be bumped way down your draft boards.

Michael Bush OAK | RB

Bush was the heavy favorite to get the bulk of the carries for the Raiders improved offense. Bush broke his thumb and could miss up to a month, this opens the door for McFadden to get a few starts. Bush is still worth a later round pick, but if McFadden plays well then Bush might not have a starting job waiting for him.

If you have any fantasy football questions about a handcuffs, sleepers, busts, or who to draft, feel free to post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

Austin Jackson is a decent source of runs and stolen bases and he should be owned and active in deeper mixed leagues.

Each week our Fantasy Baseball experts will give fantasy owners their top choices for players to pick up for all leagues, as well as some players to consider in deeper leagues. If you have any Fantasy Baseball questions for our experts feel free to post them in post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

Austin Jackson DET | OF

Jackson’s season has been a roller coaster to this point. He had a terrible middle of the season, but as of late he has really got his swing going. In the last 2 weeks he has been batting well over .300 and you know his speed is always going to be there. (about 55% owned)

Jose Tabata PIT | OF

We are very confused why Tabata isn’t getting picked up in more leagues. He has batted for average his whole time in the bigs, and he has great speed with some power. There is a chance Tabata comes crashing back down to earth, but we think he is a great gamble. (about 25% owned)

Gregor Blanco KC | OF

Since getting traded to the Royals Blanco has shown some impressive speed. He has 9 bags in the last month, and he has shown the potential for batting for average. He is only worth adding in the deepest of leagues, but he should be someone you should add to your radar. (about 5% owned)

Stephen Drew ARI | SS

Drew has been one of the hottest shortstops in the league in the last month. He has been batting for power and average, and it looks like he could be a great pickup for the playoffs. If you need any help at shortstop we say add Drew if he is available. (about 70% owned)

Ryan Raburn Det | 1B/2B/OF

Raburn is currently one of our favorite waiver wire guys. He is still a younger player and he has the potential of putting up huge numbers. When you add his position eligibility into the mix we really like his value. (about 40% owned)

Max Scherzer DET | SP

We don’t really understand why Scherzer is still available in so many leagues. Since the all-star break he has been one of the hottest pitchers in baseball. During that time period he has a 1.98 ERA with almost a K per inning. We say he is a great pickup for the stretch run if he is still available in your league. (about 65% owned)

Hisanori Takahashi NYM | RP

Takahashi might not be the most desirable closer in fantasy land, but he should be owned in more than 30% of leagues. He should get a decent amount of save opportunities, and he has been pitching great in the last month. (about 30% owned)

Fernando Rodney LAA | RP

The Angels new closer is worth an add in almost all leagues. He has been pitching great as of late, and we think he could have good value down the stretch. (about 45% owned)

If you have any Fantasy Baseball questions feel free to post them in post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

Welker has returned to action much quicker than expected and it appears he'll be ready for the start of the season.

With the start of the 2010 NFL season just around the corner, we’ve put together a list of players that have seen their fantasy stock rise during the preseason.

Leon Washington SEA | RB

Washington has been working with the Seahawks’ first team in practice this week and we like his chances to earn more playing time and possibly open the regular season as the starter. He’ll be in some kind of backfield timeshare with Justin Forsett and Julius Jones, and while committee backfields can limit fantasy value, we still consider Washington a nice late-round sleeper pick.

Kareem Huggins TB | RB

Derrick Ward was the No. 2 tailback for the Bucs heading into training camp, but after two dreadful preseason games he’s on the hot seat and may not even make the team. Huggins has been promoted to the No. 2 spot on the Bucs’ depth chart and we like his chances to cut into Cadillac Williams’ touches during the season. Huggins is worth a late-round flier in all leagues at this point.

Arian Foster HOU | RB

Due to a season-ending injury to rookie Ben Tate, Foster is soaring up fantasy draft boards as he’s locked up the starting RB spot in Houston. Steve Slaton will still be in the mix, but he’ll likely do most of his damage in passing situations, with only marginal value in PPR leagues. We like Foster as a No. 3 fantasy RB with huge sleeper potential.

Wes Welker NE | WR

Welker has returned to action much quicker than expected and it appears he’ll be ready for the start of the season. Assuming he experiences no setbacks during the remainder of the preseason, Welker is a solid No. 2 fantasy WR and worth an early round pick, especially in PPR formats.

Terrell Owens CIN | WR

The Bengals released Antonio Bryant, which further solidifies Owens’ starting position opposite Chad Ochocinco. Owens’ fantasy value continues to rise as he has been Carson Palmer’s go-to receiver during the preseason. Owens is a decent No. 3 fantasy WR option and we like his chances of a rebound year in 2010.

C.J. Spiller BUF | RB

Preseason injuries to Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch have vaulted Spiller up the Bills depth chart and he’s on track to enter the season as the Bills’ starting tailback. While his fantasy value will take a hit when Jackson and Lynch return, he could make a strong case for more touches if he plays well early in the season. We consider Spiller a No. 3 RB option with a great upside.

Mike Williams TB | WR

While we are not usually a big fan of rookie wide receivers, its hard to ignore what Williams has done this preseason. He has come out of nowhere to grab a starting job for the Bucs and has been working his way up fantasy draft boards. We like Williams as a decent late-round sleeper in deeper leagues, but his early-season production could suffer if Josh Freeman misses time due to a thumb injury.

Malcom Floyd SD | WR

It sounds like Vincent Jackson’s holdout is for real and all reports are saying that he will not play for the Chargers again. This leaves Floyd as the Chargers’ No. 1 receiver and Philip Rivers’ go-to guy downfield. Legedu Naanee will also see a bump in value, but Floyd will be a more reliable week-to-week WR3 option during the season.

Zach Miller OAK | TE

With Darrius Heyward-Bey only seeing limited action this preseason because of fatigue, and a knee injury to Chaz Schilens, Miller will likely be a popular target for new QB Jason Campbell, who liked to throw to Chris Cooley in Washington. Miller managed to put up decent numbers during the JaMarcus Russell era, so even the slightest upgrade at QB gives Miller a chance to crack the upper tier of fantasy tight ends.

Derek Anderson ARZ | QB

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt confirmed Tuesday that Derek Anderson will start the Cardinals’ final preseason game. Matt Leinart has not had a good preseason and his release remains a possibility. Anderson has not played much better, but he is the clear favorite to start Week 1. While neither of these players will be nothing more than a QB2 fantasy option, Anderson is the better option.

If you have any fantasy football questions about a handcuffs, sleepers, busts, or who to draft, feel free to post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

Manny Ramirez has only played in 66 games with the Dodgers this season, but a move to the AL and the hitter's park in Chicago could make him a nice add for the remainder of the season.

Each week our Fantasy Baseball experts will give fantasy owners their top choices for players to pick up for all leagues, as well as some players to consider in deeper leagues. If you have any Fantasy Baseball questions for our experts feel free to post them in post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

Carlos Ruiz PHI | C

We couldn’t believe that Ruiz is only owned in about half the leagues. In the last 30 days he is batting .340 with a decent amount of power. If your catcher is slumping you might want to pick up Ruiz and ride out this hot streak. (about 50% owned)

Chris Johnson HOU | 3B

This rookie third basemen has been nothing short of amazing since getting called up to the majors. Not only has he put up decent power numbers, but he is batting .342 for the year. You add in his third base eligibility and that makes Johnson a very intriguing player. (about 50% owned)

Coco Crisp OAK | OF

It has been some what of a roller coaster ride for Crisp since he came off the DL. He started out hot, then cooled off, but now he is back on fire. In the last month he is batting .330 with 11 SB’s. If you need any help with speed then Crisp is a great option. (about 35% owned)

Juan Pierre CWS | OF

Pierre has quietly put together a great season. He leads the league in stolen bases, and he is batting for a decent average as well. As of late Pierre has really found his stroke at the plate, in the last month he is batting over .360. (about 70% owned)

Jose Tabata PIT | OF

Tabata has been on fire since getting a shot in the big leagues. We doubt he will keep up this pace, but he is worth picking up just in case he does. In the last month he has hit over .350 with a little bit of speed mixed in. (about 20% owned)

Gordon Beckham CWS | 2B/3B

We are going to keep putting him on this list until he is owned in more then 75% of leagues. This guy has been playing great in the last 2 months and his position eligibility makes him almost a must add. If you need any help at 2B or 3B then please pick up Beckham. (about 65% owned)

Miguel Montero ARI | C

In our opinion Montero is a top 5 catcher and we can’t believe how many leagues he is still available in. He was one of our favorite catchers coming into the season, and he should finish the season strong. (about 70% owned)

Manny Ramirez LAD | OF

It looks like Manny is going to a new team, and all signs are pointing towards the White Sox. When healthy Manny can still put up numbers, and now he doesn’t have to play in the field. Fielding was never Manny’s strong point anyway. He could have good value for the rest of the season. (about 80% owned)

Brandon Lyon HOU | RP

Lyon took over the closer role in Houston when Lindstrom was placed on the DL, and we aren’t sold that Lindstrom will be given his job back right away. Lyon has been very impressive since taking over, and he may have made a strong enough case for him to keep that job. (about 35% owned)

Anibal Sanchez FLA | SP

For the most part Sanchez has been a consistent pitcher this year, and recently he has been pitching amazing. In his last 5 starts he has over a K per inning and an ERA of 1.64. This young pitcher has a big upside and we think he is worth taking a gamble on. (about 45% owned)

Ted Lilly LAD | SP

Few pitchers in the league have been has hot as Lilly in the last month. During that time he has a 5-0 record with a 1.57 ERA. He may be old, but he still has something left in the tank. (about 75% owned)

If you have any Fantasy Baseball questions feel free to post them in post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

If you have any fantasy football questions feel free to post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

Ray Rice will be a first-round pick in all leagues and will again be the featured back in the Ravens offense. (photo by Keith Allison)

As a majority of NFL teams continue to employ a RBBC (Running Back By Committee) system, handcuffing an elite running back has become an increasingly popular fantasy football draft strategy. If you are unfamiliar with the term, handcuffing is selecting a top running back and their backup. By drafting both players, you reduce the risk of being down a starting back in the event your top pick gets injured or benched. Think of a handcuff as an insurance policy.

While handcuffing your stud running back is far from a new or unique concept, it can be effective in deep leagues where starters are at a premium and it helps put owners at ease knowing they have a “security blanket” player on their bench. While this strategy does help provide some damage control if you lose a star player to injury, it also can limit a team’s overall upside by occupying a roster spot with a player that has very little value unless your stud gets hurt.

Here are a few questions and guidelines to keep in mind if you are considering the handcuff strategy.

How deep is your league?

Simply put, in a league with 10 teams or less, we’d recommend against it. In smaller leagues you should be able to draft enough depth at the running back position in the early rounds to be able to use your late-round draft picks to take chances on high-upside players. In shallower leagues, diversifying your team and maximizing upside is more important than using up a roster spot to stash a player that will only have value if another player gets hurt.

On the other hand, if you are in a deeper league with 12 or more teams with 20+ roster spots, its not a bad idea to protect your early-round investment with a late-round insurance pick. It is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain running back depth in deeper leagues and often times a reliable backup filling in for an injured starter could be a better option than anyone available on the waiver wire.

Is the running back a “true” starter?

It is obviously not necessary to handcuff each running back on your team. Handcuffing should be reserved for teams that still rely on one primary back for the bulk of the rushing workload. Below is a list of teams that feature a workhorse back and their backups, who would likely have fantasy value in the event that the starter gets injured or benched.

Atlanta Falcons – Starter: Michael Turner | Handcuff: Jason Snelling
Baltimore Ravens – Starter: Ray Rice | Handcuff: Willis McGahee
Cincinnati Bengals – Starter: Cedric Benson | Handcuff: Bernard Scott
Green Bay Packers – Starter: Ryan Grant | Handcuff: Brandon Jackson
Jacksonville Jaguars – Starter: Maurice Jones-Drew | Handcuff: Rashad Jennings
Minnesota Vikings – Starter: Adrian Peterson | Handcuff: Toby Gerhart
Philadelphia Eagles – Starter: LeSean McCoy | Handcuff: Mike Bell
Pittsburgh Steelers – Starter: Rashard Mendenhall | Handcuff: Mewelde Moore
San Diego Chargers – Starter: Ryan Mathews | Handcuff: Darren Sproles
San Francisco 49ers – Starter: Frank Gore | Handcuff: Brian Westbrook
St. Louis Rams – Starter: Steven Jackson | Handcuff: Chris Ogbonnaya
Tennessee Titans – Starter: Chris Johnson | Handcuff: Javon Ringer

Is the running back in a committee situation?

You’ll notice that a majority of teams are not on the list above as most teams employ at least a partial two-back system. When we talk about handcuffs, at least for this article, we’re talking about late-round insurance picks for top RBs on a featured-back team, not two players from the same team in a timeshare situation, such as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, where both players are likely to get a fair amount of work in the team’s offense and both have fantasy value independently of one another. Drafting backs in a committee system is a whole different conversation that we’ll reserve for another article.

Is the starter injury prone?

Of course it is impossible to predict injuries, but you have to take this into consideration if you choose to protect an early-round pick. Cedric Benson, for example, has never played a full 16-game season, and after coming off a year with 300+ touches, Benson owners may want to strongly consider grabbing Bernard Scott in the later rounds.

When should you draft a handcuff for your stud RB?

If you are considering drafting a handcuff, keep in mind that in many instances other managers will have little interest in selecting another team’s handcuff. A handcuff player has much more value to the manager who owns the starter than he does to anyone else. That being said, don’t get anxious and reach for those guys in the early rounds ahead of players with more upside. Wait until the late rounds to make your handcuff pick.

If you have any fantasy football questions about a handcuffs, sleepers, busts, or who to draft, feel free to post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

Miguel Montero's recent resurgence has put him back on the fantasy radar he should be starting in all leagues.

Each week our Fantasy Baseball experts will give fantasy owners their top choices for players to pick up for all leagues, as well as some players to consider in deeper leagues. If you have any Fantasy Baseball questions for our experts feel free to post them in post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.

Mike Stanton FLA | OF

This youngster has really found his power stroke lately. He has 8 HR’s in the last month, and he is batting over .300. Stanton has a huge upside and could be worth taking a gamble on. (about 50% owned)

Ryan Ludwick SD | OF

Ludwick’s numbers aren’t going to blow you away, but he will give you decent power with a good batting average. He has lost the privilege of batting in the same lineup as Pujols and Holliday, but San Diego is still a great team. He should still have plenty of RBI opportunities and we think he could have good value down the stretch. (about 70% owned)

Gordon Beckham CWS | 2B/3B

We are going to keep putting him on this list until he is owned in more then 75% of leagues. This guy has been playing great in the last 2 months and his position eligibility makes him almost a must add. If you need any help at 2B or 3B then please pick up Beckham. (about 65% owned)

Miguel Montero ARI | C

In our opinion Montero is a top 5 catcher and we can’t believe how many leagues he is still available in. He was one of our favorite catchers coming into the season, and he should finish the season strong. (about 70% owned)

Hisanori Takahashi NYM | RP

With K-Rod out fighting his father law, Takahashi is going to get a chance to pitch in the 9th for the Mets. We doubt he will have a great ERA but he could be a decent source of saves. (about 15% owned)

Chris Perez CLE | RP

Perez is another guy that we don’t understand why he isn’t owned in more leagues. He has a great ERA, he averages about a strikeout per inning, and he should be a decent source of saves for the rest of the season. If you are looking for help with saves then grab Perez if you can. (about 60% owned)

Jeremy Hellickson TB | SP

Hellickson had another great start last week and it looks like this guy is the real deal. With 3 starts in the books he is averaging about a K per inning, and he has only given up 3 earned runs. These numbers are hard to ignore and we think there is a decent chance he will continue to put up solid numbers. (about 45% owned)

Kevin Slowey MIN | SP

Everyone heard about Slowey and his bid for a no hitter a few days ago, but he was making noise even before that great start. In his last five starts he is 3-0 with good K counts and a great ERA. The stat that sticks out the most with Slowey is his lack of walks, he only averages about 1 walk per game. Slowey could be a sneaky pickup down the stretch this year. (about 65% owned)

If you have any Fantasy Baseball questions feel free to post them in post them in our Fantasy Sports Forum.