So, to start your reading entertainment for the week, we’ve again contacted Ryan Boser, a sports blogger and staff writer for Bruno Boys, for his thoughts on the end of the 2011 fantasy season and on what might happen in the year ahead.

We’re jumping the gun here, without a doubt, since the real playoffs just got underway and the draft and free agency are still several months away. But it’s never too early to start thinking about next year.

Here’s what Ryan had to say:

Zoneblitz: Michael Vick in 2011 became the most recent poster child for chasing one really good season in fantasy drafts. Whose 2011 stat lines will you not be chasing in 2012?

Ryan Boser: After spending his first five-plus years in the league as an injury-prone change-of-pace back, I’m still trying to figure out how Reggie Bush morphed into an every-down superstar in the second half of the season. He deserves plenty of credit, but I’m going to let someone else gamble on a repeat. Also, while I’m a big fan of both Victor Cruz and Jordy Nelson, Cruz’ 108.5 yards per game over the season’s final 14 contests screams “unsustainable.” As for Nelson, his league-leading, jaw-dropping 22% touchdown rate (touchdowns/receptions) is a number that simply can’t be replicated.

Zoneblitz: Who do you see as potential sleepers for the 2012 season?

Boser: This question will largely be shaped by the draft and free agency, but on the surface, one guy who’s due for a major bounce-back is Philip Rivers. He’s too good to have performed so poorly, and I’m convinced that he was playing hurt. He has top-three potential and he’ll come at a greatly reduced rate.

People will also be quick to write off Fred Jackson, as he’s aging and coming off injury (not to mention C.J. Spiller’s late success). However, he’s the engine of the Bills’ offense and should, as usual, be a very nice draft day value.

Other than that, you have to take a look at some of the youngsters who showed promise in limited duty and figure to see their roles increase—guys like Jake Locker, Kyle Rudolph, Kendall Hunter and Jacquizz Rodgers. I’d be intrigued to see what the lighting-fast Taiwan Jones could do if Michael Bush were to move on from Oakland (because it’s only a matter of time before DMC’s next injury). Jared Cook was a major disappointment this season, but we may have just been a year early on him, as he finished very strong. Finally, one of my early favorites is Golden Tate, who should be on everybody’s radar.

Zoneblitz: Tight ends used to be a fantasy football afterthought, but with the way the game is evolving do Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham sneak into the first round of 2012 drafts?

Boser: Without question. We’ve already seen wide receivers trending up in drafts over the last few years, and the drop off in top-level tight end production is much steeper.

Zoneblitz: Once you get past Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady, what do the rest of the quarterback rankings look like at this point?

Boser: For me, Rodgers and Brees are in a league of their own. After that, I think Brady, Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford need to be the next three quarterbacks taken, and each is worthy of the three-spot. You’ll want to be the fifth guy or gal to pluck a quarterback, because in my estimation there’s a bit of a drop-off to the next tier of Eli Manning, Matt Ryan and Tony Romo. After that, you’re looking at the risk/reward wild cards like Philip Rivers, Michael Vick, and depending on about a million different moving pieces, Peyton Manning. We’re really in uncharted territory with Manning, so there’s just no way of projecting him at this point.

Zoneblitz: Rookie quarterbacks often slump a bit heading into their second season. Does Cam Newton duplicate the success he had in 2011 going forward?

Boser: You’ve come to the wrong place if you’re looking for an objective Cam Newton opinion. However, at risk of violating my restraining order, I’ll take a crack. Rushing touchdowns from quarterbacks are typically hard to replicate or project (Michael Vick dropped from nine to one last season), but with Carolina using him as their preferred goal-line back, he could easily push double-digit rushing scores again. Still, while he’s unlikely to break the NFL record (14) two seasons in a row, there’s plenty of room for him to improve as a passer, and he’s shown the determination to take the next step. If offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinksi (who once put Derek Anderson in the Pro Bowl) indeed departs, this topic becomes dicier.

Zoneblitz: Same question for Andy Dalton?

Boser: Dalton has all the makings of a fine NFL quarterback, but his fantasy prospects aren’t as bright. He struggled down the stretch and he plays in a division that sports the top three fantasy pass defenses (Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Baltimore). He’s a middling fantasy QB2.

Zoneblitz: Chris Johnson was one of the biggest disappointments of the 2011 fantasy season. Was this a contract holdout-related aberration or has the wear and tear of his first few seasons made this the new normal for him?

Boser: I’m not worried about the miles at this point, but I think the holdout excuse is going to goad a lot of drafters into elevating him again come next August. Not me. I think the jig is up. He seemed to be a terrible fit for new offensive coordinator Chris Palmer’s zone blocking scheme (Tennessee used to block man-to-man). On several occasions last year, Johnson wasn’t even the best back on his own team. He played like an indecisive pig who didn’t want to grind out the tough yard, and he no longer has money to motivate him.  Even at his best, Johnson was a one-trick pony (blazing speed). He never moved the pile, and for a speed guy, he didn’t make a lot of guys miss in space. He simply found the seam and was off to the races. Once that was taken away, he was essentially useless.

Zoneblitz: Injuries have affected both Andre Johnson and Antonio Gates each of the last couple seasons to the point where both are nearing “do not draft” status on my lists. How far do they drop in your rankings?

Boser: They’re two very different guys to me. Johnson still looks the part of a top-tier performer anytime he’s on the field, while Gates runs routes like Delmon Young with a pulled groin. Really, he looks horrible, and he’s never healthy anymore (foot), so he probably falls outside the top-five tight ends for me going forward. Johnson, however, is still a top-five wide receiver in my book.

Zoneblitz: How does Adrian Peterson’s knee injury alter the running back landscape?

Boser: He was one of the five surefire guys (along with Arian Foster, Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy and Maurice Jones-Drew). Not anymore. Clearly, we’re in wait and see mode. At this point, I think his best-case (fantasy) scenario would be to rank amongst the second-tier guys like Ryan Mathews, Matt Forte and Marshawn Lynch.

Zoneblitz: As of now how many running backs do you put at the top of your fantasy football rankings and how far do you go into a draft before thinking about “doing the opposite”?

Boser: After Foster, Rice and McCoy, I think it’s time to start looking at Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Calvin Johnson and Rob Gronkowski.

Zoneblitz: Julio Jones or Roddy White and why?

Boser: It’s still Roddy. Julio came into the league with injury and consistency concerns, and despite his freakish athleticism, he did nothing to dispel them. Over the past three seasons, Roddy leads the league in targets (523) and ranks second in receptions (300, behind Wes Welker’s 331). Moreover, he’s never missed a game in his entire seven-year career.

Zoneblitz: Mike Wallace or Antonio Brown and why?

Boser: It’s closer than most think, but I’m sticking with Wallace, who might be the fastest player in the league. While Brown outperformed him in the second half, it was due to defenses selling out to shut down Wallace. This is a league of adjustments, and now that Brown has proven himself a capable complement, I doubt that defenses will continue to let him roam free, so I see the balance of value shifting back to the more talented player (Wallace). While Wallace would be my pick, I definitely think Brown will provide more bang for your auction buck (what I mean is that the gap in their production will likely be smaller than their gap in draft position).

Zoneblitz: I debated the subject of taking defenses with a friend after one draft last fall. What is the earliest you would take a defense?

Boser: Kicker and defense are typically my last two picks. That’s not to say defenses don’t have game-changing value, but they’re completely unpredictable from year-to-year. Case in point: this year the Giants and Steelers fell outside the top ten, and the Eagles and Packers outside the top five. Meanwhile, the 49ers, Lions and Seahawks were all top-five units. I’d rather take a late-round flier on an upside running back and play the weekly matchups with my defenses.

Basically, you pick a full team (2 QB, 3 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 Kicker, 1 Def/ST, 1 Wild Card), but you must select one (and only one) from each team in the playoffs–and any person in the league can choose the same guy (ie, everyone would presumably want Drew Brees).

Let’s assume a standard scoring for this (6 pts/TD, 4 pts/passing TD, 1 pt/10 yards rushing/receiving, 1 pt/25 yards passing, etc).

Here’s the lineup I came up with:

Let us know who you have in the comments…

But in the meantime:

Locks:

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay vs Atlanta — Rodgers skewered Atlanta at the Georgia Dome in the playoffs last year and he appears to be taking his play up even another level this season. Fantasy owners will be pleased with another 300-yard, multi-score performance Sunday night.

Running back: Arian Foster, Houston vs Oakland — With Andre Johnson out, Foster will play an even bigger role in Houston’s offense than normal. Oakland does not stop the run well either. While the Raiders will play with emotion following the death of owner Al Davis, and may sneak out an upset, Foster will get his numbers this week.

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia vs Buffalo and Fred Jackson, Buffalo vs Philadelphia — The way to attack both of these teams is on the ground. This could be a quick game with McCoy and Jackson grinding along to triple digit yardage and one or more scores each.

Wide receiver: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona vs Minnesota — Antoine Winfield looks to miss the game with a neck injury, further depleting an already crappy Vikings pass defense. Fitzgerald comes back home to Minneapolis and puts on a dominant show in front of friends and family.

Sleepers:

Running back: Jackie Battle, Kansas City vs Indianapolis — The Chiefs have to run the ball and the Colts are vulnerable to the run. Kansas City coaches have come out saying Battle will get more chances starting this week. He was the guy getting carries at the end of their win over Minnesota last week. Look for him to score.

Wide receiver: Victor Cruz, New York Giants vs Seattle — If Cruz is in the right place and Mario Manningham is in the wrong place, it doesn’t matter which is number two and which is number three, Cruz is going to continue getting targets. Seattle is vulnerable and they play poorly on the road, particularly when traveling to the east coast. Eli Manning finds Cruz repeatedly Sunday.

Mike Williams, Tampa Bay vs San Francisco — The 49ers have started out as one of the league’s surprise teams in 2011 and they are playing top notch defense against the run. But they’re vulnerable through the air. Williams has been disappointing so far this season, even putting up negative yards in one start. But he has five catches in each of the last two games and I expect he’ll score his first touchdown Sunday since week one.

Busts:

Matt Schaub, Houston vs Oakland — Schaub could have a perfectly decent game today in leading the Texans to a win and not break 200 yards passing. Andre Johnson is out. Arian Foster appears to be back to something resembling full strength. The Raiders don’t defend the run well. Fantasy owners should find a different quarterback because all signs point toward Schaub being a statistically bit player in today’s game.

Wes Welker, New England vs New York Jets — It’d be awfully risky to bench Welker the way he’s playing so far. But it appears as though he is going to draw Darrelle Revis this week and Revis has shut down some of the league’s best already this season. Welker will get some catches but his yardage will be way down and I’ll be surprised if he scores.

In the meantime, if you read this post and you think there are ways this could be improved and actually provide something not provided elsewhere, please feel free to drop a comment… thanks.

Locks:

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay vs Denver — You should never bench Rodgers but that’s especially true today. The Broncos have improved their defense against the run this season but they are giving up the ninth most points to quarterbacks in standard fantasy scoring formats. And that has come against Jason Campbell, Andy Dalton and Matt Hasselbeck. Rodgers will eviscerate Denver’s pass defense, which may be sans Champ Bailey.

Running back: Darren McFadden, Oakland vs New England — I’m nervous about this play as it seems stunning that the Patriots would let running backs go off on them two weeks in a row. But McFadden is on fire right now, both on the ground and through the air. And New England looks vulnerable to running backs both on the ground and through the air. So feel safe playing McFadden, even with New England coming off their one annual wake-up call game.

Wide receivers: Jeremy Maclin (if he plays) and DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia vs San Francisco — The 49ers have been the toughest defense in the NFL against running backs so far, so temper your expectations for LeSean McCoy. But San Francisco can’t stop the pass. If Maclin plays this should be a nice day for Vick to play pitch and catch with his two stars, who to this point have been mostly underwhelming.

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona vs New York Giants — Most of the Giants’ defensive backs are on injured reserve at this point. Fitzgerald seems to be getting together with Kevin Kolb and this could be the real coming out party for this duo.

Sleepers:

Running back: Tim Hightower, Washington vs St. Louis — The Redskins have been surprisingly competent. St. Louis has been surprisingly disappointing. It’d be surprising if Hightower doesn’t get at least one score here and he could have a really big game in store.

LeGarratte Blount, Tampa Bay vs Indianapolis — Same story here. The Colts were alright against Rashard Mendenhall last week but for the most part running backs will be good plays against them all season. The Bucs rely on mixing the run and the pass and Blount will benefit Monday night.

Wide receiver: Plaxico Burress, New York Jets vs Baltimore — Santonio Holmes has been less than expected and he’s hurting this week. Baltimore is a bottom-10 team in the league against the pass. Burress could get double-digit targets and produce a number of points in this one.

Busts:

Running back: Mark Ingram, New Orleans vs Jacksonville — The Alabama rookie has been a disappointment to fantasy players so far with only 129 yards and one score to his credit. I expect his numbers will pick up as the season wears on but it won’t happen today against a Jaguars defense that has been surprisingly tough on running backs so far. The Saints will win, but they’ll continue to do so through the air.

Peyton Hillis, Cleveland vs Tennessee: Titans defense is playing well right now and Hillis, though fresh from a week off with strep throat, will have tougher sledding than some weeks. He’ll do alright, but will be pounded as much as he pounds in week four.

Locks:

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, Detroit vs Minnesota — For the second straight week Detroit gets a reeling team with a beat up and questionable secondary. Stafford will feast on the likes of Chris Cook and Cedric Griffin and if Calvin Johnson doesn’t have a big day (though I think he will) his counterparts in Titus Young, Nate Burleson and Brandon Pettigrew should. Stafford eclipses 300 yards with a minimum of two touchdowns, probably more.

Running back: Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh vs Indianapolis — Another second week in a row pick, Mendenhall should make quick and easy work of a weak Indianapolis run defense that has been so bad the Colts reportedly are one of two teams negotiating for the return of former Bill and Viking defensive tackle Pat Williams. Newsflash Colts brass — it’s too late.

Wide receiver: Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona vs Seattle — The Seahawks have done what to this point to make anyone believe they can shut down a top wide receiver with deceptive speed and a large body?

Wide receiver: Andre Johnson, Houston vs New Orleans — The Saints are at home and I think they win the game, but they’ve showed big-time vulnerability to the passing game. Houston will keep it close in part because Andre Johnson will prove to be too much for the Saints to stop.

Sleeper:

Running back: Marshawn Lynch, Seattle vs Arizona — I have Lynch in one league and I’m going against my own instincts here. I want to see something from him before I start him. Which probably means I should cut him. Because if you aren’t going to start Lynch at home against Arizona, who are you ever going to start him against? Not looking for him to hit the century mark, but he should put up decent yardage numbers and will probably score.

Wide receiver: Stevie Johnson, Buffalo vs New England — Many would bench all Bills against the Patriots, but New England has been human against the pass and Ryan Fitzpatrick looks good. He’ll face his stiffest test of 2011 this year and the numbers will come down a bit, but Johnson is too good to bench, even here. His numbers will be better than expected.

Busts:

Running back: Darren McFadden, Oakland vs New York Jets — I don’t have enough faith in the Raiders’ supporting cast to do enough against New York to take any attention away from McFadden. Denarius Moore might end up being a good wideout for the Raiders, but show me against the likes of Darrelle Revis and I’ll be a believer. Until then, Rex Ryan’s squad bottles up the run game and wins an ugly game by shutting down an ugly offense.

Running back: Cedric Benson, Cincinnati vs San Francisco — Benson will get plenty of opportunities, as Cincinnati will want to run the ball. But despite a mostly-putrid team, the 49ers have generally been pretty good against the run so far. Benson isn’t good enough to break that trend.

In the meantime, here’s Andy’s fantasy advice for week two.

Locks:

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, Detroit vs Kansas City – The Georgia slinger looked great in the preseason and carried that over in a week one performance against Tampa Bay. Kansas City, meanwhile, got torn apart by Ryan Fitzpatrick against Buffalo, losing safety Eric Berry in the process. Stafford should have another big game at home in leading the Lions to a 2-0 record for the first time since 1865.

Running back:
Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh vs Seattle – Start your Steelers with confidence this week. But especially start this guy. Pittsburgh should get out to a comfortable lead early which will give them plenty of opportunities to pound Mendenhall. He should eclipse 100 yards and hit pay dirt at least once, probably more.

LeShon McCoy, Philadelphia vs Atlanta – Last week the Falcons did a decent enough job holding Matt Forte in check when he was running the ball. But the Bears back had a couple breakaways in the passing game. While the Falcons are at home this week, I would argue that McCoy is a better combo back than Forte. If the Falcons don’t correct the issues that let Forte free in space, McCoy will put up similar numbers.

Wide receiver:
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona vs Washington – Hakeem Nicks did not dent the end zone against Washington last week, but he did catch seven passes for 122 yards. The Redskins pass defense has left something to be desired the last couple seasons. Fitzgerald was semi-invisible last week as Kevin Kolb targeted Early Doucet and let Beanie Wells run the ball. But he won’t want his superstar wide receiver getting disinterested. Look for Fitzgerald to bounce back in a big way this week.

Sleeper:
RB – LeGarrette Blount, TB vs Minnesota – Heading into the season I didn’t think Blount would qualify as a sleeper at this point. I thought he’d be a much bigger part of Tampa Bay’s offense last week and I think the coaching staff regrets that he wasn’t. Some fantasy owners were already dropping Blount after week one. Big mistake. They’ll get things ironed out in Tampa eventually. I say it starts this week. Minnesota is minus defensive tackle star Kevin Williams for one more week and his counterpart from seasons past, Pat Williams, is no longer on the team. I think the Vikings’ run defense will be further softened by Josh Freeman and a solid passing attack that will keep the offense balanced and Minnesota on its heels Sunday. Look for solid yardage and a touchdown from Blount.

RB – James Starks, GB vs Carolina – Green Bay is a passing team and Starks is in a timeshare so starting him or Ryan Grant is always going to be a risky play, no matter how strong an offense the Packers run. But the coaching staff acknowledged after last Thursday’s game with New Orleans that Starks probably should have had more touches. Carolina is soft against the run and Green Bay should be able to take command of this game relatively early. So Starks should have more opportunities than he would in a typical week. He’ll take advantage.

Bust:
RB – Maurice Jones Drew, Jacksonville vs New York Jets – The Jaguars are going to have to run the ball to have any chance of sticking with the Jets. But Luke McCown is not a threat via the pass. So the Jets will be able to focus on stopping Jones Drew in a game that could quickly become a blowout.

QB – Matt Ryan and WR – Roddy White, Atlanta vs Philadelphia – Maybe I’m not giving Chicago enough credit but something bugged me about the way Atlanta played last week against the Bears. There was something missing from that offense, even before Chicago started pounding the Falcons. It won’t get any easier this week when Philadelphia heads to the Georgia Dome. The best cornerback trio in the league will make it difficult for Ryan and Roddy to get on track. If the Falcons win this week it will have to be on the feet of Michael Turner and Jason Snelling.

Locks:

Quarterback: Philip Rivers, SD vs MN – Kevin Williams will miss the game for Minnesota, which will hamper the Vikings’ defense against the run and its pass rush. Meanwhile Minnesota’s secondary remains a work in progress, at best. Antoine Winfield will be solid, but the team needs a contribution from Chris Cook and Cedric Griffin at cornerback. Both are coming off knee injuries. And the safety position remains a concern. Expect Rivers to get out of the gate in 2011 with a big game.

Running back: Steven Jackson, St. L vs PHI – Philadelphia will debut its cornerback trio against an improving quarterback in Sam Bradford. But Bradford lacks any star power at wide receiver. And teams will have to run the ball against the Eagles to have any chance of making the passing game work. I don’t love Jackson’s prospects for the entire season but I think he gets off to a solid start in Sunday’s home opener, as the Rams try to live up to growing expectations in 2011.

Wide receiver: DeSean Jackson, PHI vs St. L – St. Louis is improving and I expect the Rams to win the NFC West in 2011. That said, the team lost free safety OJ Atogwe in the offseason. Quintin Mikell is an adequate replacement but he’s still picking things up. That will create some vulnerability in the secondary, allowing Jackson and Mike Vick will hit on at least one long TD.

Sleeper:

RB – Willis McGahee, DEN vs Oak – John Fox debuts as head coach in Denver, bringing with him his running philosophies from Carolina. Knowshon Moreno will get more carries, but McGahee will have an instrumental role in short yardage and at the goal line. Oakland gave up the eighth most fantasy points to running backs last season and I don’t see the defense getting a ton better right away. Expect McGahee to snipe one at the stripe.

Bust:

WR – Dwayne Bowe, KC vs BUF – Dwayne Bowe had an incredible 2010 season. And while Buffalo would look to be one of the easier games on the Chiefs’ schedule this year, the Bills were not half bad against the pass. Particularly if Tyler Palko is pressed into duty due to Matt Cassel’s ailing ribs, the Chiefs will rely on the running of Jamaal Charles, Thomas Jones and possibly Dexter McCluster to take it to Buffalo. It will be tough for Bowe to duplicate what he did a year ago as it is. With these factors working against him, his week one performance will be pedestrian at best.

Jones’ skills boosted the fantasy value of several of his new teammates and the wealth of talent around him puts him in a position to contribute right away.

So sure, like every year, there are a handful of skill players (see Mark Ingram, New Orleans) who were drafted that could leave early impressions on fantasy teams. But in my eyes the biggest beneficiaries from a fantasy perspective in this NFL draft were veteran skill position players whose teams addressed deficient offensive line play.

Take Matt Forte for instance. I am not a huge fan of the Chicago Bears running back. He does have some explosiveness and big play ability, but had largely been inept on short yardage through his first three years.

Forte has a chance to improve in that area with a better push from what had been a subpar offensive line. The Bears drafted Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin, a run-blocking factory, in a move that can only give the team’s backs a better chance for success in the red zone and on short yardage runs.

They have more needs on the offensive line, but this is a step in the right direction.

Seattle is another team that improved its skill players’ potential by adding offensive linemen. First rounder James Carpenter was seen as a reach by many draft experts. But he was also thought by others to be the top run-blocking tackle in the draft. Carimi’s teammate, guard John Moffitt, should team with Carpenter to boost the run game as well.

Many thought those two both went a round too early. But the Seahawks needed reinforcements on the offensive line and Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett likely are not complaining.

Kansas City and Oakland, both young, up-and-coming teams in the AFC West, added strong centers. The Chiefs will likely install Rodney Hudson from Florida State in the middle with 37-year-old Casey Wiegmann possibly ready to hang ‘em up.

The Raiders went with Stefen Wisniewski from Penn State in the second round and followed up with Joseph Barksdale, a 325-pound tackle from Louisiana State in the third. The Raiders did not receive high marks for their draft, but these two could earn immediate playing time in front of Jason Campbell, Darren McFadden and others in Oakland.

Though he’s been a superstar for years, I also like Peyton Manning more in 2011. The relatively immobile vet seemed to get hit a lot more in 2010 than in past years. And the team’s run game was largely terrible, forcing Manning to throw 679 passes – 88 more than in any other year of his career.

The first two picks of the Colts draft will help both of those spots. They started with Anthony Castonzo, a 305-pounder from Boston College, and then selected Ben Ijalana, a 317-pounder from Villanova.

The pair should provide better protection and give whoever wins the running back role a better shot at contributing. Castonzo is almost assuredly a starter from day one. “He’s in at left tackle,” Vice President Chris Polian told USA Today Sports Weekly. “That’s where he’s played. He’s played it well, successfully, and we feel confident about him being able to help us.”

Ijalana was projected by the team as a possible first round pick and he’s likely to slide in at guard or right tackle, according to media reports.

Manning put up great numbers in spite of the team’s protection and running problems. But for the sake of his health and longevity, it’d be better for the team – and for fantasy football players – if Manning’s pass attempts and hits absorbed go down in 2011 and beyond.

There will be skill players making a difference as rookies as well. In addition to Jones in Atlanta, Mark Ingram will likely be the lead back in New Orleans, if for no other reason than the team’s willingness to dip high into next year’s draft to trade up to get him.
I would guess he will share time but he is built like someone who could excel in short yardage and goal-line situations.

Detroit also added a couple interesting weapons in wide receiver Titus Young and running back Mikel LeShoure.

I think I heard one announcer compare Young to Desean Jackson in Philadelphia. That may be so, but I like the pick even if his biggest role in 2011 is taking coverage away from Calvin Johnson. He’s fast, so send him down the field and opponents will have to cover him. If he can take even just a little focus off of Megatron, I would draft the Lions’ superstar receiver with confidence in 2011.

Or when the league moves forward with their farcical plan for a two-hour special on NFL Network introducing the schedules for the season that may or may not be played.

The truth is even if the league and the players miraculously settle during forced negotiations this afternoon, the lockout has already gone on long enough to ensure that the quality of play on the field in 2011 will suffer.

Free agency has been postponed for more than a month, leaving teams unsure how they will fill holes from last season. Minicamps have been lost, especially hard for teams with new coaches and new systems. And at this point there is little indication the collective bargaining process will conclude by next week’s NFL draft, so rookies and other new entrants to the league are almost inevitably going to lose at least one and likely more opportunities for pre-training camp instruction with coaches.

That means we are also closing in on the point where, assuming football is played in 2011, the lockout will have a direct effect on fantasy football this season as well. What teams and players benefit from this situation? Will there still be rookies who are worth drafting for your teams in 2011? We at Zoneblitz feel continuity will be key this season but we contacted fantasy football writer Ryan Boser, who contributes to a number of fantasy sites, to see what he thinks.

Zoneblitz: With a shortened free agency period and minicamps already being canceled it would seem to us that continuity and lack of roster turnover will be key to success in 2011. Do you agree?

Ryan Boser: I do, not only on the field but on the sidelines. Teams with new coaching staffs trying to implement new systems are at a real disadvantage the longer this thing drags on. Chemistry is highly underrated. Once the Packers bought in to the program and gelled last season, they were unstoppable.

Zoneblitz: Are there players whose fantasy seasons could benefit from the lockout?

Boser: On the surface, I think it certainly favors veterans. For one, they’re not the guys who need the extra reps. What’s more, the longer the lockout stretches on, the less toll they’ll be putting on their bodies. Take LaDainian Tomlinson, for instance. He hit a wall around Week 6 last season. It’s conceivable that fantasy owners could have gotten two or three extra weeks of production out of him if he’d taken less of a beating prior to the season.

Zoneblitz: How will you project the performance of rookies for fantasy purposes given the likelihood that they are going to miss several minicamp opportunities to learn the systems their new teams will employ?

Boser: Rookies and younger unproven players are the obvious victims of the lockout. As a group, they’ll likely be slower out of the gate than usual as they attempt to process the nuances and speed of the NFL. Many prospects who’d ordinarily be Week 1 starters will begin the season on the bench, as they won’t have the requisite opportunities to earn playing time. That clock begins ticking the wrong way on May 1st.

Zoneblitz: Other than rookies and free agents, are there other players whose fantasy contributions will suffer due to the lockout?

Boser: As I alluded to earlier, anybody who is being forced to learn a new system/playbook is at a disadvantage. Admittedly, I may be over thinking this one, but I’m beginning to wonder how players who are launching themselves into new athletic ventures (boxing, MMA, track and field, soccer) will fare when they’re forced to refocus their efforts and training back on football.

BIO: As a member of Fantasy Sports Writers Association, Ryan Boser contributes writing and commentary to numerous fantasy football media and web outlets. Ryan is also the Minnesota Vikings’ Feature Columnist at Bleacher Report and runs his own website, Out of My League.

But true fantasy football players know they can’t be caught off guard. If the owners and players come to their senses, there will be football in 2011 – and if there is football in 2011, there will be fantasy football in 2011, as well.

Ryan Boser, who last year wrote for FantasyVictory.com and filled in no KFAN-AM 1130’s Fantasy Football Weekly program, took a few questions from Zoneblitz.com, filling us in on what he’ll be keeping an eye on in the months ahead.

Zoneblitz: Now that the football season is over what should serious fantasy players be paying attention to in preparation for next year?

Boser: Everybody’s going to watch where skill position players like DeAngelo Williams end up, or where the A.J. Green’s of the draft land. I’m often more interested in offensive line developments and coaching changes. That’s where fantasy production all starts.

Zoneblitz: Will Michael Vick repeat his great season? Where would you draft him and how much in a $100 auction would you spend on him?

Boser: For the first time in five years, he’ll be going through a normal offseason preparing as a starting NFL quarterback. He’ll return to the same coaching system, surrounded by the same dynamic playmakers, so everything is in place for a repeat. People in the industry are really split on Vick right now. On one hand is the argument that you’re getting a two-for-one deal, as Vick essentially provides RB2 numbers in addition to his passing. On the other hand is the concern that his reputation as an injury-prone, mistake-prone quarterback began to catch up with him late in the season.

I’m in the camp that thinks his weekly upside makes him the No. 1 quarterback, and a top-five pick. There will be more than one person in your league who’s infatuated with him, so I think you’ll need to spend at least $26-28 to secure his services in an auction. Assuming Kevin Kolb remains in Philadelphia, which is no guarantee, you’ll want to consider the rare quarterback handcuff late in your draft to insure your investment.

Zoneblitz: It’s never too early for a fantasy football mock draft. In a standard scoring system what is your 2011 top 10?

Boser: It’s a very fluid list, but as of right now: (1) Arian Foster, (2) Adrian Peterson, (3) Michael Vick, (4) Jamaal Charles, (5) Chris Johnson, (6) LeSean McCoy, (7) Darren McFadden, (8) Aaron Rodgers, (9) Michael Turner, (10) Maurice Jones-Drew. Vick and McFadden jump out to me as high-risk, high-reward players due to their combination of elite talent and injury history. I’ll also be closely monitoring MoJo’s knee this summer.

Zoneblitz: Your breakdown for your top 10 is 8 RBs and 2 QBs. No WRs. Paul Charchian’s Do the Opposite strategy has leaned heavily on WRs along with QBs in round one. What do you think of the do the opposite theory? Is the trend flipping again?

Boser: I’ve always bought into the “Do the Opposite” theory, and it’s served me well. Look at this season — I could very well have landed Arian Foster in the fourth round after I’d loaded up on the (generally) more predictable passing game. I just think the top-end talent at the position will be a bit down next season. I’d take a long look at Andre Johnson, Roddy White, and Calvin Johnson at the end of the first round, but I don’t know if any of them have the Moss/Owens/Fitzgerald type 15-touchdown potential we’ve seen in past years.

Zoneblitz: Who were your top two or three positive surprises in 2010 and do they repeat their performance next season?

Boser: Steve Johnson began the season buried on the depth chart of a horrible passing team. By the end of the year, his numbers put him inside the top 10 fantasy receivers. Johnson has a good rapport with Ryan Fitzpatrick, who as of now will be the Bills’ starting quarterback. Johnson will also be in a contract year. He won’t take defenses by surprise this season, but I think he still has top-25 potential.

Journeyman Brandon Lloyd bucked conventional wisdom by coming out of nowhere to lead all receivers in yards and fantasy points in his 8th season. To me, it was the biggest shock of 2010. Unfortunately, a new coach/QB combination does not bode well for Lloyd, as John Fox loves to run and Tim Tebow is far from a polished passer. Still, Lloyd remained productive under Tebow late in the year, Nnamdi Asomugha will (likely) leave the division, and Lloyd’s talent as a pure pass-catcher is undeniable. A decline is inevitable, but I still rate him out as a solid WR2 next season.

Then of course, there was Peyton Hillis. We’ll get to him in a minute.

Zoneblitz: Who were your top two or three disappointments in 2010 and will they rebound in 2011?

Boser: I was sky-high on Shonn Greene into the season, but that was as much to do with my disbelief in LaDainian Tomlinson as it was an endorsement for Greene himself. We all saw L.T. steal the show for much of the season, but he faded down the stretch and may not return. Still, the Jets sound like they’ll be going with a committee approach whether L.T. returns or not. Greene should see an uptick in carries, but he’s nothing more than a high-end fantasy RB3 as of right now.

Randy Moss was a first round pick in most drafts last season. I’ll be surprised if he’s in the NFL in 2011.

Ryan Mathews never got his feet under him in his rookie year. Between nagging injuries, fumbling, and blown pass-blocking assignments, Mathews couldn’t stay on the field and Mike Tolbert emerged as the main man in the Chargers’ backfield. Mathews should improve in year two, but Tolbert seems to have locked down the goal line role at the very least, so I view Mathews’ ceiling as a low-end RB2.

Zoneblitz: I was intrigued by your Moss comment. I did a post on him a few days ago — using six years as a jump off point is a bit random, I know, so it’s not perfect analysis, but I thought it was interesting given how the last year and change has played out. Do you really think he’s done?

Boser: I’m sure Moss could get a one-year “prove it” contract from a desperate owner looking to put butts in the seats. But he was essentially kicked off of three teams this season (he was completely phased out in Tennessee, he got just one target over the last month of the year). If he’s going to dog it for Tom Brady and Brett Favre, who is he going to actually play for? He’s more of a liability than an asset at this point in his career, and that has to be common knowledge around the league.

Zoneblitz: We loved watching Peyton Hillis this year but he appeared to wear down at the end. What will his fantasy status be heading into 2011?

Boser: I’m seeing Hillis go in the second round of early 2011 mocks. That’s too soon for me. He wore down badly late in the season, and struggled once defenses adjusted to him. Even more concerning is that bruiser Montario Hardesty, who the Browns invested a 2nd round pick on last year, will return from injury to share the load. I’m O.K. with Hillis as a RB2, but I’d have a hard time taking him before the fourth round, which means I probably won’t own him in many leagues.

Zoneblitz: Besides Vick, who is moving in on the top four quarterbacks, Brees, Brady, Manning and Rodgers, heading into 2011?

Boser: Philip Rivers, and he’s already there. He led the league in passing and notched 30 touchdowns despite missing his top two to three pass catchers for large chunks of the season. He seems to be one of the best values in drafts year in and year out. I expect that to finally change this season.

Top five is a major stretch, but I was high on Sam Bradford’s 2011 prospects even before the Josh McDaniels hire. If they get him a legitimate outside target, I think he ascends into the top ten.

Zoneblitz: You touch on Rivers, which makes sense – I see him and Roethlisberger as fifth and sixth. And you mention Bradford, who I also like. What do you think of Josh Freeman in Tampa? Was 2010 a sign of things to come or was he a fluke?

Boser: Freeman’s legit. He was consistently good-not-great all season, and you have to like the youthful core of skill position players developing around him. I think his intangibles and moxie make him a better real-life quarterback than fantasy quarterback — he’s not a big box score type of guy. He did finish second to Vick among quarterbacks in rushing yards, which helps. You could probably pair him with someone like Bradford if you choose to wait on drafting a quarterback, and then platoon the two successfully depending on the weekly matchups. I think both Freeman and Bradford have low-end QB1 potential for 2011.

Zoneblitz: Reggie Wayne caught a lot of passes but his yards per catch and touchdowns dropped. Is he on the way down? What is the hierarchy among Colts receivers at this point and are any others worthy of a high pick?

Boser: He’s 32, and he was uncharacteristically inconsistent last season, so yeah, I think he’s certainly trending the wrong way. He’s not going to fall off a cliff with Peyton Manning under center, but his days as a fantasy WR1 are beginning to dwindle. Wayne and a healthy TE Dallas Clark are options 1A and 1B, but after that you have to like Austin Collie. Unfortunately, his concussion issues will scare most people off from drafting him as a WR2.

Pierre Garcon can’t catch, which makes playing wide receiver in the NFL very difficult. However, he’s blazing fast, so if Manning doesn’t ice him out due to said unreliability, he should have enough “pop” games to give you WR3 production.

Zoneblitz:  What do an uncertain coaching situation and a potentially even worse quarterback situation in Tennessee do to Chris Johnson’s value?

Boser: Well, it’s not like Kerry Collins or Vince Young were exactly keeping defenses honest anyways. Johnson was bound to take a step back, and now that he did, I look for him to be a touch underrated into this season. I think we’ve seen both his ceiling and his basement, and I expect something in between this year. He’s a very capable receiver who can produce even when Tennessee is trailing. He’s certainly still a top-five talent.

Zoneblitz: Does Jamaal Charles start getting more touches and what do you see as his fantasy value right now?

Boser: If Jamaal Charles is outcarried by Thomas Jones again next season, Todd Haley’s going to be run out of Kansas City. Into 2010, I viewed Charles as a guy with Chris Johnson-like potential. As of right now, they are the exact same player in my eyes. Even with the time share, the Chiefs run more than any team in the league, and Charles slice of the pie should increase if Haley applies even an ounce of logic to his game plans next season.

Zoneblitz: What will you do if the NFL lockout stretches into the 2011 season?

Boser: Sleep more. Drink less. Spend quality time with my wife. Hmm… Doesn’t sound so bad after all!

BIO: Ryan Boser wrote for FantasyVictory.com last season, and was a fill-in for KFAN 1130′s Fantasy Football Weekly program. He’s also contributed content to The Football Girl, Ten Yards, and will be writing and podcasting for Fantasy Football Whiz this offseason. Ryan runs his own website, Out of My League, where he covers Minnesota sports and fantasy football.