The MLB trade deadline is in two weeks, and there are a number of teams whose status as buyers or sellers is still in limbo as the second half of the season begins.

One such team is the Atlanta Braves. The Braves opened the second half with a 5-3 win over the slumping Mets last night, and they enter today six games back of the Phillies in the NL East and 5.5 back of the Giants in the NL wild-card standings.

Pitching has far and away been their strength thus far, with the Braves boasting one of the top team ERAs in the majors, and their staff stands to get even stronger with the return of Tim Hudson, which should happen sometime in the next month.

However, by the time Hudson returns, will the Braves still be in the hunt in the NL East wild-card races? And by the time Hudson returns, will the Braves have added to or subtracted from their roster before the trade deadline?

The Braves start the second half with back-to-back four-game series at home against the Mets and the Giants, and where they are after that stretch could determine what position the Braves take, if they elect to take a position at all, that is.

The Braves could be viewed as much more of a threat in the second half if they add another bat to the lineup, and a deal that has been mentioned involves Oakland A’s duo Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera coming to Atlanta with Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar going the other way.

You can find many an argument against this trade, and I hold the same opinion. Whether it’s the fact that Escobar’s been one of their top producers, Holliday’s struggles this season, or the high, high likelihood that neither acquisition would be on the Braves’ roster in 2010 (and if they were, it‘d come at a cost that outweighs the benefit), there’s a number of reasons for Braves GM Frank Wren not to pull the trigger on such a deal.

Besides, not a lot of good came from the last time they moved for an elite bat in an attempt to bolster their chances as a contender. In 2007, the Braves traded for Mark Teixeira, and in doing so, gave up some top prospects to do so. The end result of the season? An 84-78 record and a third-place finish in the NL East.

A year later, the Braves traded away Teixeira to the Angels, and even though Casey Kotchman can still turn out to be a key player in Atlanta, one has to wonder if trading for Teixeira was worth what they gave up.

With the Braves trading away more top prospects to get Javier Vazquez in the offseason and a few more to land Nate McLouth in June, it’s highly, highly unlikely that Wren would sacrifice more key pieces of the club’s present or future just to make a run that falls short. There’s a stopping point for the farm system fleecing, and you’d think that the Braves have reached it.

All the same, I don’t see the Braves doing anything to help someone else‘s bid to contend if it‘s not going to carry a major benefit for them, and by major, I mean immediate impact players or a batch of young prospects that will be able to contribute in the near future.

When it comes to the Braves as a seller, the primary name mentioned has been pitcher Vazquez. Vazquez is just the quality arm that a contender could be looking for, but it’d be all sorts of counterproductive for the Braves to part with him when he‘s been a big part of their success this season and will be key to their push for success next season.

If the Braves, or they were well behind in the NL East and already looking towards next year, then their position might be a lot more defined.

But as it stands, the Braves’ best bet is to keep the pieces that they have, and whether the season ends with or without the postseason, look to strengthen the lineup in the offseason, and go into 2010 with an excellent chance at finally reclaiming a once-familiar place atop the NL East.

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While many might be pondering what the acquisition of Pedro Martinez could do for the Philadelphia Phillies, where Roy Halladay is going to go, or what other top arms could make their way to contenders in the second half, there’s an arm already on a contender that could prove to have a significant say in what happens in the National League in the second half.

The San Francisco Giants have the reigning NL Cy Young winner, a future Hall of Famer, and a potential soon-to be Cy Young winner in their rotation, and their stable full of talented arms is a big reason why the Giants go into the second half of the season atop the NL‘s wild-card standings.

But it’s not Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson, or Matt Cain that I’m talking about, but the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of their rotation, Barry Zito.

Zito had an outstanding start in Oakland and won the AL Cy Young in only his second full season in the majors, going 23-5 with a 2.78 ERA in 2002.

After leaving Oakland after the 2006 season to ink a monster deal with the Giants, Zito has been a big disappointment as a Giant, to say the least. Zito is 26-39 in his two and a half seasons in San Francisco, and after going 10-17 with a 5.15 ERA in 2008, he’s 5-9 with a 5.01 ERA this season.

His time hasn’t been devoid of bright spots. When Zito’s on, he can be masterful. Against Florida on July 7, he pitched 8.1 shutout innings and allowed only four hits and one walk in a 3-0 win over the Marlins.

However, when he’s not on, it can often enough get very, very ugly. Giants pitching dominated San Diego’s putrid offense in the first three games last week, including Jonathan Sanchez’s surprise no-hitter last Friday, putting San Fran in position for a four-game sweep and the chance to finish the first half as one of only four teams with 50 wins.

But Zito, fresh off of his best outing of the season, had his worst outing against the league’s worst offense, giving up nine hits and 10 runs in 4.1 innings as the Giants fell 10-4. Even then he showed just how up and down he can be - allowing three runs in the first, none in the second, three in the third, none in the fourth, and then allowing three hits in the fifth before he was finally pulled.

Bruce Bochy stuck with Zito on Sunday even with things not going well, and that‘s been the case throughout his time in San Francisco. There was a demotion to the bullpen early last season, but even that didn’t last very long.

Is it optimism bordering on stubbornness? As I said, when he’s on, he’s on, and Bochy may be willing to take the bad that comes with the great.

Is it remembrance of the amount of money that’s invested in him? Zito’s going to be skipping to the bank whether he’s allowed no runs or nine runs the day before, and until or unless Zito can start proving he’s worth that fat contract, a $126 million cloud is going to be hanging over the franchise’s head.

Maybe we’ll never see the same Zito that was one of the game’s best young pitchers several years ago. But the Giants don’t need him to be a stud every time out for him to be successful - he just needs to be solid, which means less implosions and more quality starts.

Does he need to be sent to the bullpen like Sanchez was? Does he need to be sent down to the minors like Florida did with Ricky Nolasco? Do they need to cut ties for once and for all?

Maybe the team needs to give him a wakeup call, and maybe he needs to give himself a wakeup call and tell himself what’s at stake for both he and the team, but it’s looking like now or never for Zito. There’s another talented young arm waiting in the wings in Ryan Sadowski, who will likely be recalled to the bigs in the near future, and if Sanchez can build off of his no-hitter in his next few fill-in starts for Randy Johnson, more struggles by Zito could see him be the odd man out.

Whatever happens with Zito will be key to their hopes of holding off their challengers for the NL wild card and perhaps even giving the Dodgers a serious challenge for the NL West title, more so than being able to get consistent run production to back up their other starters.

As it is, the Giants have a bright future, but if Zito can step up, it’ll help solidify the Giants’ merits as a serious contender right now, with a staff that no one will want to face in the second half and in October.

If he can’t, it could spell the end for Zito as a Giants’ starter for now or for good, because as much money as there is invested in him, and as good as he can be, taking a risk and hoping that you get Mr. Hyde instead of Dr. Jekyll every now and then isn’t - or shouldn’t be - worth jeopardizing their October hopes.

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The Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly offered 34-year old guard Allen Iverson $5.8 million to come play for them.

The signing would pair him with potential stars O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay. At the same time, it would possibly make slow-to-learn point guard Mike Conley Jr. the odd man out.

However, two things prevent this from happening.

First, Iverson seems to be interested in a team that offers him three things: money, a starting gig, and a chance at a title.

Though Iverson won’t be landing the latter—unless he magically gets over himself and accepts less money for a role off someone’e bench—he could still get the first two requirements.

The most interesting factor is that the Grizzlies would risk their youth movement on Iverson’s age and reputation. Slightly less interesting is how Iverson would even consider splitting up his production with two other blooming stars while possibly splitting minutes with Conley.

While the Grizzlies have the only reported offer for Iverson, the Miami Heat and Charlotte Bobcats appear to be the other two teams on AI’s list. The Chicago Bulls are a distant fourth team that could possibly be involved in a sign-and-trade deal.

The Heat are reportedly not willing to go over $2 million for the aging star, and Miami is also enamored with their back-court of Mario Chalmers and their superstar, Dwayne Wade.

However, if they want to entice Wade into re-signing, bringing in some kind of star-power or making some sort of bold move is completely necessary, even if it doesn’t work.

The Bobcats are interested, but aren’t actively pursuing Iverson.

Iverson has a strong relationship and solid history with Charlotte head coach Larry Brown. Despite philosophical differences in their past, both Iverson and Brown have appeared open to a reunion.

If Iverson is willing to take less money, he could wind up in Miami. Then again, if he’s willing to take a pay cut for them, why not for a team that has a chance to win right now?

He tried it in Denver and Detroit, and it didn’t work. He’s running out of possibilities, and quite frankly, he’s running out of answers.

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In last week’s MLB power rankings, the Los Angeles Dodgers took top spot from the Boston Red Sox, capitalizing on the Red Sox’ bullpen woes to nab top spot in my book.

Both teams had successful weeks last week, so the order at the top will remain the same as we hit the All-Star break. However, there are many changes throughout, thanks to a surprising result or two, a big week here and there, and a bad week here and there.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (56-32)

Enter the All-Star break on pace for the franchise’s first 100-win season since 1974, when they went 102-60.

2. Boston Red Sox (54-34)

What a difference three days can make, eh? The Red Sox’ loss to the Royals on Thursday dropped them into a tie for first in the AL East with the Yankees, but three wins against K.C. and three losses by the Yankees later, and Boston goes into the break three up in the division. That bullpen still worries me though.

3. Los Angeles Angels (49-37)

They’re where everyone expected them to be, and the sweep of the Yankees in which they thrice spotted New York leads before coming back for wins showed just what this team is capable of. Need to figure out how to beat the Rangers though, as they’re now 2-7 against Texas this season.

4. New York Yankees (51-37)

Missed opportunities, missed opportunities. They could have been tied for first or only a game back of the Red Sox, but they couldn’t hold leads in three straight games against the Angels and left on the wrong end of a sweep instead of with a series win.

5. San Francisco Giants (49-39)

Can they keep this up in the second half? If they can, the Dodgers can’t afford to get complacent, even if a seven-game lead looks comfortable.

6. Philadelphia Phillies (48-38)

The champs are finally playing like champs going into the break, winning nine of their last 10 to open up a four-game cushion over the Marlins. Best of all, that pre-break run came at home, so maybe those previous home woes are behind them.

7. St. Louis Cardinals (49-42)

Going 4-3 on the road at Milwaukee and Chicago is solid, especially when both teams post losing marks despite playing the entire week at home.

8. Detroit Tigers (48-39)

Did as they should’ve at home against the AL Central’s worst teams, though their 3.5 game lead over the White Sox could’ve been 4.5 if not for Joel Zumaya (third blown save in the span of five appearances) and Fernando Rodney not coughed up a lead on Tuesday against Kansas City.

9. Texas Rangers (48-39)

Dropping three of four at Seattle to fall 1.5 back of the Angels going into the second half is no doubt disappointing, but the Rangers have nothing to hang their heads about after exceeding expectations in the first half.

10. Tampa Bay Rays (48-41)

They enter the break well within striking distance in the AL East and in the wild-card race, but they should be kicking themselves after dropping two of three at home to Oakland. They can’t afford to drop too many series like that if they want to hang close.

11. Seattle Mariners (46-42)

Lost two of three at home to the Orioles, but quick redemption came in the form of winning three of four against the Rangers, and they enter the break just four back in the AL West. They might have been considered sellers previously, but could they be looking to add another arm or a big bat to help their hopes of making a run.

12. Colorado Rockies (47-41)

After their momentum was halted the previous week with consecutive series losses, it picked back up with a 5-2 week against the Nationals and Braves. Altogether, they’ve won 27 of 36 heading into the second half, which is pretty darn impressive.

13. Minnesota Twins (45-44)

Some teams just have your number, and in the Twins’ case, that’s the Yankees, who improved to 7-0 against Minnesota with a sweep last week. They’ll have to fare much better in a tough post-break stretch, as the second half of their season starts with a 10-game AL West road swing (Texas, Oakland, L.A. Angels) and then six at home against the White Sox and Angels.

14. Florida Marlins (46-44)

The Marlins are four games back of the Phillies in the NL East entering the second half, and as it happens, they have a four-game set at home against the Phillies to start the second half.

15. Chicago White Sox (45-43)

Pitching wasn’t on their side last week, as they gave up 44 runs in six games against the Indians and Twins. That’s not something they need to make a habit out of if they’re to catch the Tigers in the AL Central.

16. Houston Astros (44-44)

Quietly, the Astros have moved to .500 and within close distance of the Cardinals, but we’ll see if this team is a contender or a pretender very, very quickly. Their post-break slate starts with a four-game road set against the Dodgers, and it doesn’t get any easier. The worst team record-wise they have to face in their first 33 games of the second half is the Mets, if that tells you something about their schedule.

17. Milwaukee Brewers (45-43)

Since being at 33-23 on June 6, the Brewers are 12-20. They’re only 2.5 back of the Cards in the NL Central, but I’m not convinced that they’re going to be the team that challenges St. Louis in the long haul.

18. Chicago Cubs (43-43)

Despite their first-half underachievement, you’ve still got to consider the Cubs a dangerous team with all of the talent they have and the fact that they’re only 3.5 back in the NL Central with more than enough time to wake up.

19. Atlanta Braves (43-45)

The good: a 4-3 showing on the road against the Rockies and Cubs. The terrible: Two blown leads against the Rockies prevented them from a four-game sweep and being able to enter the second half on the right side of .500.

20. New York Mets (42-45)

Ended the first half on a positive note, taking two of three from the Reds. The Ryan Church-Jeff Francoeur trade paid more immediate dividends for the Mets than the Braves, as Frenchy went 4 for 9 in his first two games as a Met. The 6.5 games between the Mets and Phillies isn’t insurmountable, but the fact remains that the sooner they’re healthy, the better.

21. Toronto Blue Jays (44-46)

Roy Halladay says he wants to be pitching in October, but if he does, it won’t be with the Blue Jays, who are in free-fall mode now. Sure was fun while it lasted though, eh?

22. Cincinnati Reds (42-45)

Their 22-1 slaughtering at the hands of the Phillies set the tone for a bad week on the road for the Reds, as they lost five of seven to the Phillies and Mets to fall three games under .500 for the first time all season.

23. Baltimore Orioles (40-48)

A very good week for the Orioles, as they took two of three in Seattle and two of three at home against Toronto. A tip for fantasy owners: If you have Brad Bergesen floating around in your league, pick him up immediately. The rookie is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA in his last nine starts, with eight of those starts being quality starts.

24. Arizona Diamondbacks (38-51)

After a bad June and a poor start to July, the Diamondbacks go into the second half of the season with reason to feel good about themselves, having won seven of their last nine games.

25. Pittsburgh Pirates (38-50)

Take away a bad third inning on Friday, a bad ninth on Saturday, and a bad first on Sunday, and the Pirates could’ve swept the Phillies.

26. Oakland A’s (37-49)

Not a bad week for the A’s. Took one of three at Boston, but could’ve very well took the series, and they went one better at Tampa Bay, taking the last two after getting shut out in the opener.

27. Kansas City Royals (37-51)

Did score two wins and held their own against division leaders in Detroit and Boston. Not a lot else to be positive about though.

28. San Diego Padres (36-52)

The good news: They were part of the season’s first no-hitter. The bad news: They were on the wrong end of said no-hitter.

29. Cleveland Indians (35-54)

Will Eric Wedge be the next manager to go after Manny Acta? The Indians have lost 18 of 24 and have won only one of their last eight series, and if this continues, it’s going to be a matter of when, not if, for Wedge.

30. Washington Nationals (26-61)

Will the team see that much improvement with Jim Riggleman? His past record as a manager isn’t eye-popping, but he does have experience with working with bad teams, and maybe he can bring something out of them that Acta couldn’t.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have locked up quarterback Matt Cassel in a long-term deal today, according to the Kansas City Star.

ESPN senior football writer John Clayton reported that Cassel agreed to a six-yeal deal worth $63 million, with $28 million guaranteed and will earn over $10 million a season. He is expected to make $40.5 million over the first three years of his contract.

Cassel’s story of becoming a starting quarterback in the NFL is storybook-eqsue. After being a a backup at USC behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, he was picked by New England Patriots in the seventh round  in the 2005 NFL Draft.

However, his shining moment came last year after league MVP Tom Brady went down with a leg injury in the first game of the 2008 season. Cassel stayed under center for the rest of the season, throwing for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns while leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record.

Despite missing the post-season, the Patriots rewarded Cassel for his season by applying a one-year franchise tag worth $14.561 million. However, when the team felt Brady was healthy enough to be the starting quarterback next season, they traded him to the Chiefs with linebacker Mike Vrabel for a second-round draft pick.

There is no doubt that he earned the right to start at quarterback for the Chiefs next season, but is he really worth a long-term deal?

Don’t let Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels fool you. One good season, where Randy Moss and Wes Welker are catching the ball, does not mean Cassel is a proven commodity yet.

Does the name Scott Mitchell ring a bell? Mitchell had spent his first two seasons with the Miami Dolphins holding a clipboard. After star quarterback Dan Marino went down with a season-ending injury during the 1993 season, Mitchell finished the year behind center with 1,773 passing yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Detroit Lions thought Mitchell was a star-in-the-making and inked him to a three-year deal worth $11 million, $5 million guaranteed. He did have one bright spot during the 1995 season, throwing for 4,338 yards and 32 touchdowns, but he struggled mightily the following season.

So, as a result, the Lions rewarded him with a new contract for $21 million over four-years, $8 million guaranteed. No joke. Instead of improving, Mitchell was eventually benched for quarterback Charlie Batch in the 1998 season.

Cassel might turn out to be better than Mitchell could ever dream of, and I think he will be. But, you just never know what the future brings. Cassel’s new contract is similar to a top ten draft pick making a ridiculous sum of money before stepping onto the field.

The Chiefs are taking a leap of faith by signing Cassel for his potential. For their sake, and Cassel’s, hopefully it works out.

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“After 12 years, I have seen it all and done it all,” Mason told jocklife.com. “Right now, I am content with the decision I am making. All good things come to an end, and I am ready to see what else life has to offer.”

This is especially interesting for two reasons.

First, the most logical explanation - the one many cheap-shot artists will acknowledge before all others: the contract issue.

Mason had been trying to get his contract re-worked all off-season, and until just recently, had never given any signs that he was finished with football.

In fact, Mason spent much of 2008 playing through pain after a shoulder injury, and wore a special harness all the way up until the Ravens’ AFC title game loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In regards to the supposed money issue, Mason said, “I have made enough money, more than enough money.”

Indeed, he has.

Which brings this writer to another thought, and quite possibly, his ultimate reason for not returning.

In an interview with ESPN on Monday, Mason admitted that he was not completely sure about his retirement announcement, saying that he was only “99% sure”, and that his family would have “97%” to do with his final decision.

The interview report also stated that any swaying from Baltimore would not change Mason’s mind.

So, if the family doesn’t have the complete say, and his team has no say, then what could explain this sudden change of heart from a guy who is only 35, and could still have another three solid years in the league?

Aside from the simple wear and tear of the NFL, it could be something as mundane as losing his long-time quarterback and friend, Steve McNair.

Perhaps the death of his friend reminded him of life’s treasures, the presence of time as being a luxury few of us have, and that spending that time with his family and friends is now more important to him that going after that elusive Super Bowl ring.

That’s not too outlandish, is it?

Mason was, like many, completely broken over McNair’s passing, and was visibly distraught at the former Titan’s funeral.

Regardless of his reason for leaving the game, it’s very arguable that he is leaving too early.

And if it’s impacted by a heavy heart, Baltimore - and the rest of us - could yet again see this remarkable man hit an NFL field.

But even if he doesn’t, we can still look back on all the games in which (much like McNair) Mason gave it everything he had.

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The Chicago Blackhawks just came off their best season in ages when they made it to the Western Conference Finals last year, losing to the Detroit Red Wings in five games.

Many will tell you the Hawks’ new found success is due to three things: their home games being on television, ownership changing hands to Rocky Wirtz after his father, the frugal Bill Wirtz, died in 2007, and General Manager Dale Tallon.

Despite the success, the Hawks made a stunning move Monday night when they fired Tallon, who had been part of the organization for 32 years.

The move, which was first reported by Comcast SportsNet Chicago and then the Chicago Tribune, means Assistant General Manager Stan Bowman is expected to be named General Manager today. Bowman is the son of legendary coach Scotty Bowman, who currently serves as the Hawks’ Senior Advisor of Hockey Operations.

Earlier today, the Hawks announced they will keep Tallon around by re-assigning him within the organization.

“I have been with this organization in several different capacities since coming over as a player in 1973 and although my position has changed, my goals have not,” Tallon said. “In my new role as Senior Advisor, Hockey Operations I will continue in any way that will help make this a better product on the ice. I’ve seen Stan come up through our ranks and I’m confident he is the right person to step in. This is what is best for the Chicago Blackhawks.”

Tallon played 10 years in the NHL, including five seasons with the Hawks, before he became the team’s radio and television analyst in 1980, teaming up with legendary play-by-play man Pat Foley for the next 16 seasons. After several stints in the front office Tallon was named GM  following the 2005 NHL lockout.

He helped turn the Hawks into a Stanley Cup contender by making some swift moves when the team was a perennial bottom feeder. During his time as GM, he signed some big name free agents like goalie Nikolai Khabibulin, forward Martin Havlat, defenseman Brian Campbell and, most recently, forward Marian Hossa.

Tallon was responsible for acquiring center Patrick Sharp and forward Kris Versteeg, who became a finalist for 2009 Calder Memorial Trophy. He also drafted rising stars in forwards Jonathan Toews and 2008 Calder Memorial Trophy winner Patrick Kane.

However, during the course of this offseason, Tallon failed to send qualifying offers to eight restricted free agents at the deadline set by the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Hawks signed all eight players, including Versteeg and defenseman Cam Barker, but in order to appease the Player’s Union, they had to overpay to keep them.

Versteeg and Barker both signed three-year deals worth $9.25 million. Had the deadline been met for qualifying offers, both could have earned a salary only 10 percent more than their salaries from last season. Barker earned a salary of $984,000 while Versteeg made $490,000 during the 2008-09 season.

Tallon took the fall for the embarrassment.

”We were late filing, something we haven’t done in the past,” Tallon said last week. ”For a couple of reasons, we were a little late. We should have filed earlier. It’ll never happen again.”

The small mistake was not only embarrassing, but it could potentially make it difficult to resign Toews, Kane, and star defenseman Duncan Keith when they become free agents before the 2010-11 season. The salary cap, which dropped to around $56 million for the 2009-10 season, is expected to drop down to $50 million dollars that offseason.

The 36-year old Bowman is the ninth GM in Hawks’ history. Before becoming assistant general manager two years ago, he joined the organization in 2001 as the special assistant to the general manager.

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As with the receivers and quarterbacks, this list is here to split up the A’s from the B’s, and let you know where to draft guys, roughly.

Okay, so Adrian Peterson is your running back with the first pick. That was easy. Hell, Yahoo suggested it, right?

But now what?

The second round rolls around, and now you don’t know who is the better pick-Marion Barber or Brandon Jacobs.

Read on to find out.

Tier One (Rounds 1-2)

1. Adrian Peterson - Minnesota Vikings

AP, All-Day, whatever.

Call him anything you’d like, so long as you’re still calling him the best back in the game.

Through several mocks, I continue to see Turner being selected over Peterson far too many times. It’s a trend, folks. Don’t follow it.

2. Michael Turner - Atlanta Falcons

Turner was a beast last year, rushing for nearly 1,700 yards, while racking in 17 touchdowns.

With the addition of Tony Gonzalez and the maturity of Matt Ryan, Atlanta is likely to make their offense a little more balance, which will undoubtedly shrink those numbers.

Turner should still churn out 1,400 yards and 10 scores, but he’s not a better option than Adrian Peterson.

3. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jacksonville Jaguars

With Fred Taylor in New England, Jones-Drew finally has the backfield to himself.

However, if that offensive line isn’t leaps and bounds better than it was last year, I’m not sure that’s something Jones-Drew will be too happy about.

Still, the Jaguars know how to run the ball, and with the right places supposedly in place, MJD could be in for a huge season as the feature back.

4. Steven Jackson - St. Louis Rams

Usually Jackson would find himself as the third rated back, and maybe even the first two years ago. However, he’s barely been able to crack 1,000 yards the past two years, and he still plays for the Rams.

He is what makes that offense go, though, so he’s easily a top-5 fantasy back.

5. Frank Gore - San Francisco 49ers

Gore has put together two straight “down years” of 1,000-yards rushing, and arguably so, simply because of his remarkable talent.

The 49ers are once again determined to run the ball, and if the offense around him can develop some consistency, he could get back to his 2006 numbers.

Gore is too talented to put up mediocre stats for three straight seasons.

6. Brian Westbrook - Philadelphia Eagles

Westbrook’s untimely injury/surgery opens the door for rookie LeSean McCoy. Good, let your fantasy opponents worry about it. As for you, just draft the guy with the knowledge that when he plays (and he will), he’s pretty much the Eagles entire offense.

He’s not old and decrepit, like many experts would lead you to believe. He can still get you that elusive championship.

7. Ladainian Tomlinson - San Diego Chargers

Tomlinson’s toe is supposedly good to go, but let’s not forget, the guy is still going to be 30 at the end of June.

That doesn’t mean he can’t still be productive. In fact, with an ailing foot for most of last season, he still cracked 1,100 yards and 10 scores.

That was his version of a “down” year. I like that.

8. Matt Forte - Chicago Bears

Everyone is hyping up Matt Forte as this glorious “do-it-all” back, but they’re failing to realize a key element.

Now that Jay Cutler has arrived, this stagnant pass attack that Chicago was accustomed to just got some meat to it.

The Bears won’t be turning into gunslingers, not by any means, but to expect Forte to post Adrian Peterson or Michael Turner numbers is simply obscene.

9. DeAngelo Williams - Carolina Panthers

You can’t rate last season’s rushing touchdown leader outside of the top 10, can you? I don’t think so, either.

However, I don’t see Williams duplicating both the amount of yardage he has last year, nor the 18 scores.

Jonathan Stewart continues to impress, and should vie for more carries. I’d guess both backs crack 1,000 yards before suggesting Williams repeats his 2008 numbers.

10. Steve Slaton - Houston Texans

Slaton is a dual threat that should only improve with a stellar offense surrounding him. Pay no attention to a “lessened workload” rumor.

The Texans will do everything they can to keep Slaton involved in the games, ensuring a balanced attack.

Exceeding his rookie numbers of 1,600 total yards and 10 total touchdowns is very possible.

11. Clinton Portis - Washington Redskins

As long as Portis can stay healthy, he’s a RB1, and a great asset to any fantasy team.

Considering the Redskins are still knee-deep in the Jason Campbell experiment, Portis should see plenty of touches, as well as some receptions out of the backfield.

Don’t worry about this talk about Ladell Betts “looking great” in OTA’s. Everyone says that. Portis is their guy. Draft him with confidence.

12. Chris Johnson - Tennessee Titans

Johnson’s situation may work out a lot like Williams’ (above), but in the opposite way. He is clearly the future for Tennessee at running back, so his overall touches should only increase, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Jeff Fisher gave him some of LenDale White’s goal-line attempts.

Johnson has the physical running style to run into massive linemen, but has the speed and agility to bounce outside, as well.

If he can keep improving as a receiver, he could be even more dangerous.

13. Marion Barber - Dallas Cowboys

Barber’s value ultimately hangs on what happens with the Dallas offense. How much will Felix Jones and Tashard Choice be used, and when? Reports are leaning more towards Barber and Jones being on the field together much of the time, which could be either good or bad for Barber’s value.

I still feel that Marion Barber hasn’t played his best football, and if everything goes according to plan, he could be looking at 1,300 yards and 12 scores.

It should be noted that nothing ever goes according to plan.

14. Brandon Jacobs - New York Giants

Just to help with the usual wear and tear Jacobs endures through the season, the Giants will continue to give him breathers with Ahmad Bradshaw.

Considering Jacobs has missed 8 games in the past two years, that’s probably a good move.

Still, that flaw in Jacobs’ game is almost a strong suit, because it reveals his production in limited action.

In 25 games with New York as the starter, Jacobs has over 2,100 rushing yards and has scored 19 touchdowns.

The only question is, do you get 2007’s four-touchdown Jacobs, or the paydirt machine (15 TD) from last season?

Tier Two (Rounds 3-5)

15. Marshawn Lynch - Buffalo Bills

Lynch has shown glimpses of being a truly exceptional back, while having games where he’s practically invisible as an offensive presence.

Since he won’t be playing with Buffalo for the first three games, his stock obviously drops a bit. If you can take missing one of your stud running backs for the first three game (I hope you can), then he’d be a good steal if you can get him past the third round.

16. Willie Parker - Pittsburgh Steelers

Does anyone remember how awesome this guy was in the first two weeks of the season?

Parker isn’t even 30 and it seems everyone wants to push him out, despite still performing at a high level.

As long as he gets the majority of the touches, Parker is a premier back, and a return to his 2006 numbers wouldn’t be out of the question.

17. Reggie Bush - New Orleans Saints

We get it. Reggie Bush isn’t a feature back. He can’t run well inside the tackles. He’ll never reach his full potential.

Whatever.

That doesn’t matter. Bush is a fantasy God.

When healthy, he can dominate for you in three ways, as he’s used for about 10 carries as a runner, fields at least 5 catches a game, and also returns punts.

Bush has fielded at last 800+ combined yards and 6 scores in every season he’s been in the league, while going over 1,000 combined yards in his first two seasons.

The downside is he has missed 10 games in the past two years, so his knee has become a cause for concern.

But since recent mocks have him falling all the way to round five or six, he’s worth the risk.

18. Lendale White - Tennessee Titans

White will continue to battle Chris Johnson for carries, while his touchdowns should drop a bit.

He’ll still be their third down and goal-line back, but the Titans are all about Chris Johnson.

If Johnson can improve his inside running, he could soon render White obsolete.

19. Joseph Addai - Indianapolis Colts

Don’t believe the Donald Brown hype or the rumors that the Colts ownership is down on Addai.

He’s still the best running back on the team, and there’s no way Indy is dumping him after one poor season.

His two seasons before 2008 beg of you to make him a third round pick.

20. Thomas Jones - New York Jets

Will he be as effective without a quality quarterback? It doesn’t look good.

He had over 1,000 yards while playing behind Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens in 2007, but only managed one rushing touchdown.

With Favre on board, he ran for 13.

Jones is getting older, too, and will likely lose more carries to both Leon Washington and Shonn Greene.

21. Ronnie Brown - Miami Dolphins

When healthy, Brown is at times a fantasy stud, and his value is worth that of a high RB1.

However, with last year’s Wildcat formation fully installed, Brown doesn’t control the carries, and has to share with Ricky Williams and others.

Still, 1,200 combined yards and 10 touchdowns say he’s worth a mid-rounder.

22. Ryan Grant - Green Bay Packers

Grant’s yards per carry were way down last year, and many wondered if it was the poor line play, or him not being as good as everyone thought he was.

His four touchdowns may not entice you, but his carries and yardage will. With 312 carries and over 1,200 yards, it’s clear that Green Bay runs the ball, and will continue to make that a focal point of their offense.

Even if Grant isn’t as successful as he was in 2007, he’s still going to be touching the ball over 300 times.

23. Larry Johnson - Kansas City Chiefs

Any contract disputes are gone, at least for now, and Johnson and the Chiefs appear to be on the same page.

Johnson was actually having a terrific start to the season, but with a team suspension and attitude problems, he went on to miss four games.

His 800+ yards and 5 touchdowns are a solid output, considering his time off the field.

Johnson could easily emerge as a 1,500-yard rusher, while operating behind an improved pass attack.

Tier Three (Rounds 6-8)

24. Knowshon Moreno - Denver Broncos

Moreno is great, don’t get me wrong. But he’s a rookie, and he’s playing in a New England system.

Josh McDaniels isn’t going to run Moreno to death in his first season-you can count on that. The plan is to use 3-4 backs, divide the touches, and keep the runners legs’ fresh.

Moreno could easily have a huge rookie season, based on his talent alone, but it may not be as explosive as many feel.

25. Kevin Smith - Detroit Lions

Smith and the rest of Detroit would like to forget their 0-16 2008 season. I say don’t. At least not where Kevin Smith comes into play.

With over 1,100 total yards and 9 scores, Smith churned out a solid season, overall.

If the passing game and pick up the slack a bit, and the new o-line additions can help, Smith could shoot for 1,200 yards and some more scores.

He’s talented enough to be a feature back. He just needs better blocking ahead of him.

26. Derrick Ward - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ward put up 1,000 yards as a back-up in New York, and jetted to Tampa Bay to cash in and secure a starting job.

He’s down here at 26 because he’s going to be 29, and he’s only had one good season.

Still, it’s hard to ignore that gaudy 5.6 yards per carry.

27. Pierre Thomas - New Orleans Saints

The big question is, will he get the bulk of the carries?

That all depends on Reggie Bush, really. But with over 600 yards, a 4.8 yards per carry average, and 9 touchdowns last season, it’s clear that Thomas is ready.

A split in carries is likely, but if Bush isn’t red-hot, the Saints could go to Thomas more.

28. Felix Jones - Dallas Cowboys

There are rumors that Jones will be sharing the backfield with Marion Barber, and even if they aren’t true, you still should draft him.

Jones is an electric player that can take it the distance any time, and would have been on more highlight reels last year, had he not bowed out to injury.

His value is in the middle rounds right now, but that could change very quickly.

Tier Four (Mid-Late Rounds)

29. Cedric Benson - Cincinnati Bengals

Which Cedric Benson do you trust; the one who was a bust, or the guy who tore it up in the final three weeks of 2008?

Considering he’s on the Bengals, had done nothing until the final three weeks, and is Cedric Benson, I’m leaning far away from him repeating the 2008 production.

If you get Benson, I suggest tag-teaming him with Brian Leonard.

30. Darren McFadden - Oakland Raiders

McFadden is one again a boom-or-bust pick, as he’s clearly in a muddled RBBC, yet also has the most talent of any rusher on his team.

If Oakland were smart, they’d trade Justin Fargas, and/or Michael Bush, and let their best running back start.

McFadden should be used even more as a receiver out of the backfield, and while he may not lead the team in carries, his touches should increase.

31. Leon Washington - New York Jets

With Thomas Jones and age, Washington is likely to be integrated more and more in the offense.

As always, if your league rewards points for return yards and scores, Washington is a great asset, and provides you with a dual threat at the running back spot.

Washington is also a deadly man in the open field after the catch, and whoever is the staring quarterback for New York will likely dump-off to him often.

32. Chris “Beanie” Wells - Arizona Cardinals

Tim Hightower was a fifth round pick, showed some flashes, and then disappeared.

Chris Wells is the first rounder that just cost Hightower his chance at starting.

Wells has a tough running style blended with rare speed for a man his size. His only main knock is playing through injuries-which is widely overblown.

It may take some time, but Wells will eventually be starting for Arizona in 2009.

33. Darren Sproles - San Diego Chargers

Ladainian Tomlinson is still the man, but the Chargers didn’t franchise Sproles for nothing. He will see more action as a receiver out of the backfield, and will be used more as a change-of-pace back.

Like Leon Washington, Sproles is a deadly weapon on returns, so feel free to draft him extra early if your league rewards return points.

34. Jonathan Stewart - Carolina Panthers

Stewart is guaranteed at least as many carries as he had in 2008, and he’ll probably get even more.

While DeAngelo Williams was the yardage and touchdown fiend last year, you can look for the yards to be a bit more evened out, while Stewart gets the first crack on goal-line carries.

Williams is a stud in his own right, but Stewart could put up better numbers if given more carries.

35. Le’Ron McClain - Baltimore Ravens

McClain is expected to take on more of a lead-blocking role, which should significantly reduce his carries.

He is expected to stay on goal-line duty for the most part, however, and should be called upon in most short-yardage situations.

McClain still has value, providing he is being used ahead of Willis McGahee.

36. Julius Jones - Seattle Seahawks

Jones may not look like much at times, but he’s the best back on Seattle’s team, and he’s starting.

He has decent speed and deceptive quickness, and still has the talent to be a solid back in the NFL.

Draft him as a low-end RB2, or as a quality back-up.

37. Chester Taylor - Minnesota Vikings

Anyone who can put up almost 800 yards as Adrian Pererson’s back-up definitely warrants some notice.

Taylor may not be a starter, but his production is way too good to be drafted below the likes of other back-ups, such as Ray Rice, or Rashard Mendenhall.

If AP went down, Taylor would easily be a top-10 back.

38. Jamal Lewis - Cleveland Browns

Lewis is still sludging around with his feet seemingly in mud, but he’s still the starter, and he gets the job done.

At least, fantasy-wise.

As long as Lewis is getting over 250 carries, he has value.

39. Ray Rice - Baltimore Ravens

Much like McCain, Rice is walking into a RBBC situation, and despite constant praise from coaches, he may not get the touches his selection would suggest.

Rice is being taken much too early in recent mocks, despite the fact that he’s not even the full-fledged starter.

If you can find him in the late rounds, bite. Just don’t burn a 5th rounder on him.

40. Rashard Mendenhall - Pittsburgh Steelers

As far as I’m concerned, Mendenhall is just Willie Parker’s back-up, and he’s an extra talented body at the position.

There is no need to split the carries when Parker is healthy, as he’s still the best rusher on his team.

Mendenhall is a fantastic pick for dynasty leagues, and is a good insurance picks if you are a Parker owner.

41. Willis McGahee - Baltimore Ravens

McGahee’s value isn’t much more than a handcuff to either Ray Rice or La’Ron McClain at this point.

He is still a good running back, but it seems the wear of the NFL has begun to chip away at his knees.

Have we seen the end of McGahee as an NFL starter?

42. Jerious Norwood - Atlanta Falcons

If the Falcons want to keep being successful, they’ll need to pass more, and run the ball less with Michael Turner.

They need more balance, both from the passing game, and the energy/health of their rush attack.

Norwood is an explosive option that can light up the field by running, catching, or returning kicks.

He should hover around 100 carries for the fourth straight year.

43. LeSean McCoy - Philadelphia Eagles

McCoy’s value rests solely on Brian Westbrook’s health. If Westbrook can play, McCoy will probably be used very little, or just late in blow-outs.

The other obstacle is the complexity of the Eagles offense. Even if Westbrook was out for the start of the season, it’s not a guarantee McCoy would be the starter. Likely, yes-but not a guarantee.

Still, considering Westbrook’s age, a recurrence of this injury or another injury is likely, so grabbing McCoy as insurance is recommended.

44. T.J. Duckett - Seattle Seahawks

Duckett is good for nothing but touchdowns.

He is still Seattle’s short yardage and goal-line king, so he does have some value.

45. Donald Brown - Indianapolis Colts

Contrary to popular belief, Brown will not be stealing Addai’s job away from it.

Brown is a great prospect with tons of talent, but unless Addai is hurt, his value isn’t very high.

46. Ladell Betts - Washington Redskins

Despite the off-season rumors that Betts was “looking great” and could stand to get “more carries”, I wouldn’t buy too much into it.

He’s a good, powerful back, but the Redskins like to keep Clinton Portis on the field.

And if Jim Zorn’s slow-to-learn offense is going to progress, that’s the way it will be.

47. Brandon Jackson - Green Bay Packers

Jackson has been used more and more in Green Bay’s offense, but a possible resurgence by Ryan Grant could render Jackson useless.

DeShawn Wynn could also steal some of Jackson’s carries.

Still, if Grant suffers an injury or gets off to another slow start like last year, Jackson could be a nice stash-away steal.

48. Fred Taylor - New England Patriots

The Patriots are likely to use 3-4 running backs in their ground attack; this is true. But they didn’t bring in a big-name back like Taylor for no reason.

They now have a little more fire power at the position, and they’ll use Taylor to the best of his and their abilities.

Anywhere from 600-800 yards is likely, while 1,000 isn’t unrealistic.

49. Ahmad Bradshaw - New York Giants

Bradshaw will continue to serve as a back-up to Brandon Jacobs, but with Derrick Ward out of the picture, he should see a significant increase in his carries.

As a change-of-pace back, Bradshaw could still put up solid enough numbers for some spot starts, and could even hold strong value as a starter if Jacobs went down.

50. Jamaal Charles - Kansas City Chiefs

With Larry Johnson’s checkered past with Kansas City, it’d be wise to keep tabs on both Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith.

With Smith still rehabbing an injury, however, Charles appears primed to take over the top back-up spot, and should be in for 100+ carries. An injury to Johnson would make Charles a solid feature back.

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ESPN’s NBA reporters are some of the best in the business, but even they tend to throw stuff at the wall to see if it sticks. It turns out the three-team trade involving the Chicago Bulls, Utah Jazz, and Portland Trail Blazers, which was reported yesterday by Marc Stein and Chad Ford, was nothing more than some fodder for the wall.

The rumored deal would have sent Jazz forward Carlos Boozer to the Bulls, Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich to the Blazers, and Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas to the Jazz with other players or draft picks being thrown in as well.

However, ESPN The Magazine writer Chris Broussard decided to delve into the story a little more. After talking with Blazers General Manager Kevin Pitchard, Broussard quoted Pritchard as saying the deal was “not going to happen.” Yahoo! Sports also reported the deal was false.

To cool trade talks even more, the Blazers extended an offer sheet to Paul Millsap for a reported four-year deal worth anywhere from $32-$36 million. The reason the Jazz were thinking about moving Boozer was so they could re-sign Millsap without pushing up toward the luxury-tax line. But, the offer sheet to Millsap would seem to take the Blazers out of any potential trade talks. This means the Jazz have to find a new way to unload Boozer just to match the Blazers’ offer to Millsap.

Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro also did not seem very impressed by the trade rumors either. Afterall, losing Hinrich after former Bulls guard Ben Gordon just walked to the Detroit Pistons would mean a decimated backcourt for the 2009-10 season.

“…with the loss of Ben [Gordon], [Hinrich will be] playing more minutes and more involved,” Del Negro told Brian Hanley of the Chicago Sun-times. “He made such a huge impact for us with his leadership on and off the court. He’s our best perimeter defender for sure, best defender overall, which is a huge factor. He has the versatility to help a young point guard develop. He also plays the two. He guarded a lot of guys. He’s a big positive for us. I expect him to have a great year.”

Seeing as general managers and coaches like to hold things close to the vest, there is a very small chance this trade still might be in the preliminary stages. More on the story if talks heat up again.

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And the first no-hitter of the MLB season belongs to…Jonathan Sanchez.

It’s no surprise that the first no-hitter of the season came from one of the San Francisco Giants’ hurlers, though you would’ve expected it to come from, say Tim Lincecum, who’s been building up towards one in his recent starts, allowing two, three, and three hits.

As it happens, Lincecum’s six innings of no-hit ball against the Padres last night must have given Sanchez quite the shot of confidence, as he went out and upstaged Lincecum by striking out 11, walking none, and missing out on an amazing perfect game by a solitary 8th inning error by Juan Uribe. But all the same, that’s something that can be easily forgiven, because if not for a leaping catch at the center field wall by highlight reel favorite Aaron Rowand to deny Edgar Gonzalez of a potential homer, Sanchez would’ve ended up two outs short of the no-no and a shutout.

Whatever the case, whether it was Lincecum’s outing or San Diego’s run production issues that buoyed him, there’s no better way to seize upon an opportunity than Sanchez did. Going into tonight, the 26-year-old was 2-8 with a 5.30 ERA and had been recently demoted to the bullpen, and he was only starting tonight because Randy Johnson went on the disabled list this week.

Time will tell whether this his a career turning point or a career high point for Sanchez, but as tonight shows, there’s no doubt that he has the stuff if he can control it (46 walks in 69.2 innings coming into tonight). He’ll be able to get a few more starts under his belt after the All-Star break while Johnson’s shoulder heals up, so the opportunity is there for him to prove that he’s got a big part to play in the Giants’ hopes of making the postseason.

Sanchez’s no-hitter was one of six shutouts tonight, so it was not a bad night for pitching all-around.

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