Update: Following a trade on draft night that landed the Lions with the thirtieth overall pick, which they used on Cal running back Jahvid Best, impressing Detroit’s players and coaches with his breakaway speed and explosiveness. “I think he gives us something that we haven’t had in the last few years and that’s a little bit smaller of a back,” said tackle Jeff Backus. “He’s somebody that can cut on a dime, somebody that can hit a home run any time he touches the ball. I think the fans watching our games are going to be really excited to see him play because he’s got some special talents.” Said wide receiver Calvin Johnson, “We’ve got a lot of speed at the running back position (and) we’ve got a couple different styles of running backs, so that’s real good for us.” Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan did not try to ease Best through his transition into an NFL back, by giving him as much to learn and as much to handle as he could, to get Best ready for veteran practices. Best has handled it well though, saying of his his first practices with his veteran teammates, “The pace picked up. The playbook-the install-everything was kind of big. But once I got a grasp of it, everything started to slow down and now we’re just out there having fun.”

Fantasy Impact: Behind a revamped offensive line and expanded passing game, with Kevin Smith recovering from surgery and Maurice Morris being no more than a complementary back, a player of Best’s talents will get plenty of chances to shine in this offense. Ryan Mathews seems to be the rookie back with the most buzz, but the presence of Mike Tolbert and Darren Sproles scares me out of using too high of a pick on him, as does coming out of the WAC Conference with less than stellar skills in the passing game. Best has been fully groomed in the Pac-10 and will be a weapon for coordinator Scott Linehan to use at any and all points in the game, and is my preseason pick for 2010 Offensive Rookie of the Year. Make him your no. 2 rb.

Update: While appearing on NFL Total Access Tuesday, Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins was candid and blunt when asked by Rich Eisen what he would say to Jets fans about this offseason’s losses of veterans like Thomas Jones and Alan Faneca, the contract impasses that exist between the organization and core players Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, and David Harris, and the prospects of a possible Super Bowl run to follow up last season’s campaign that culminated in the AFC Championship Game. Jenkins responded, “If we win, then you get all of your dreams come true. If we lose, then you all get to do what you’ve been doing for a long time, which is talk about us until you basically run us out of the city. So, you’re going to get what you want either way. But we’re going for a Super Bowl, so sit back, enjoy the ride. We’re planning on doing it big. That’s how we’re doing this…We’re not here to play games…We have great guys who have come in to step up and fill the void of some of these big losses that we have had this [offseason]. Then, in some other cases, we have had some real men come in and step up for the women that we lost. So, we’re going to be OK. Don’t worry about it.”

Fantasy Impact: I basically like what I hear from Jenkins; he sounds motivated and focused. I didn’t like hearing that if they lose, he thinks people will just trash the Jets which he apparently feels is what people want; this reeks of self-pity and a guy who is convincing himself subconsciously that it’s okay to lose. What he said about “real men” replacing “the women that we lost” is an incendiary comment that was most likely directed at former Jets safety Kerry Rhodes, now with Arizona, but that might be taken differently by fellow newly departed Jets, Thomas Jones, Alan Faneca, and Leon Washington. Overall, I think it will be another great year for the Jet defense, but Jenkins just made the bull’s eye on their back that much bigger.

Update: In a live chat on NFL.com Friday, Seahawks coach Pete Carrol was asked point blank by a Seahawk fan who the leading candidate was to be Seattle's starting running back at the start of the season. "Julius Jones, Justin Forsett and Leon Washington," Carroll replied dully. "Those three guys are going to go to camp and fight it out."

Fantasy Impact: Sadly, no answers to proper draft status and lineup alignment were answered here. Stay tuned to training camp and especially preseason to see who's doing the most work with the first-team offense. If I had to give you one guy to take, if only as a third back, make it Washington. Jones has seen his best days as a 250+ carry back and has never been very adept at finding the end zone. Forsett has yet to show the durability and consistency of a top back and also struggles in the red zone, where as Washington is a home run hitter who can turn the game upside down from any point on the field, as a rusher, receiver, or returner (see the 9 TD's he scored in 2008 while only starting 2 games). If he looks 100% or close to it in training camp or preseason, take Leon and make him your flex starter.

Update: After disappointing fans and the front office for the better part of five seasons, Roscoe Parrish might finally be ready to emerge as a playmaker for the Bills, as he feels ready to be a force in Chan Gailey’s offense, according to buffalobills.com. “One of the main things I had to overcome last year was to just not get down on myself,” said Parrish. “I just continued to work hard during the season last year and just prayed and hoped the best would come. This offseason with Chan Gailey and a new coaching staff, it just made everything better.” Gailey is known for his ability to exploit mismatches and will likely have a package in his playbook designed to take advantage of Parrish’s abilities. “Roscoe has shown up big time this offseason,” said backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Parrish is studying all the receiver positions for the sake of his own versatility but playing the slot gives him an opportunity to release inside or outside, which with his ability to gain separation as fast as anyone in the NFL, makes him potentially lethal.

Fantasy Impact: With T.O. having departed, Marshawn Lynch falling further and further out of favor with the organization, and rookie C.J. Spiller seemingly likely to fall behind in his acclimation to Chan Gailey’s offense through a contract squabble, Parrish could be the Bills’ most explosive offensive player, which means Gailey will find a way to get the ball in his hands and with refreshed focus and determination, he will take advantage of these opportunities. What’s also refreshing is that, after playing under defensive-minded head coaches like Dick Jauron and Perry Fewell for the past four years who prefer sticking to the ground game and not risking turnovers, Gailey’s specialty is taking advantage of explosive, offensive threats. If this team can improve its offensive line, particularly the pass protection from the left tackle position, a quarterback with an arm like Trent Edwards and a wr with Parrish’s feet could make life hell for defensive coordinators. Take a flier on Parrish as your third or fourth wideout.

Update: In a chat on NFL.com Monday, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was asked which offensive teammate of his did he believe would surprise the league this upcoming season. The two-time Pro Bowler responded, “FB/RB Michael Tolbert is going to surprise some people and continue to help us offensively”.

Fantasy Impact: Okay, I understand that wasn’t the most buzzworthy quote, but Rivers did make special mention of Tolbert when he could have of any other Charger skill position player. Furthermore, the organization realizes that they must improve upon the 31st-ranked running game they achieved last season if they are going to orchestrate the kind of balanced attack needed to take them farther into the playoffs, and the departure of LaDainian Tomlinson leaves the door open for new faces to emerge out of the backfield. Darren Sproles has flashed explosiveness and game-breaking ability but not the durability or consistency to be a featured back. Ryan Mathews comes with a lot of sizzle and pop after being drafted twelfth overall following an outstanding career at Fresno State but is, after all, just a rookie. Lastly, Tolbert did average 5.9 yards per carry last season and scored 4 TD’s on just 42 touches. Take him as your no. 3 rb. You won’t be sorry.

Update: In a chat on NFL.com Monday, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was asked which offensive teammate of his did he believe would surprise the league this upcoming season. The two-time Pro Bowler responded, “FB/RB Michael Tolbert is going to surprise some people and continue to help us offensively”.

Fantasy Impact: Okay, I understand that wasn’t the most buzzworthy quote, but Rivers did make special mention of Tolbert when he could have of any other Charger skill position player. Furthermore, the organization realizes that they must improve upon the 31st-ranked running game they achieved last season if they are going to orchestrate the kind of balanced attack needed to take them farther into the playoffs, and the departure of LaDainian Tomlinson leaves the door open for new faces to emerge out of the backfield. Darren Sproles has flashed explosiveness and game-breaking ability but not the durability or consistency to be a featured back. Ryan Mathews comes with a lot of sizzle and pop after being drafted twelfth overall following an outstanding career at Fresno State but is, after all, just a rookie. Lastly, Tolbert did average 5.9 yards per carry last season and scored 4 TD’s on just 42 touches. Take him as your no. 3 rb. You won’t be sorry.

Update: ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported via his Twitter account that the Titans are moving up a portion of running back Chris Johnson’s $2.5 million escalator, which will avoid any holdout on the part of the league’s rushing champion and allow him to report to training camp on time.

Fantasy Impact: Titans fans everywhere and people with the first overall pick in their fantasy drafts can now let out a collective sigh. He did not allow his business to get in the way of his hunger for an even better season in 2010, and news that Johnson will be in camp on time to go with his recent comments in which he indicated his goal of a “2,500 yard” rushing season, clears up the fantasy landscape. Chris Johnson should be the first overall pick in any and all-formatted leagues.

Update: NFL.com is reporting that Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, this year’s third overall pick, hinted at the possibility of showing up to training camp late or not at all Saturday night, noting that the timeliness of his arrival ultimately hinges on the progress in contract talks of his former Oklahoma Sooner teammate Sam Bradford. On his prospects of arriving on time, McCoy replied: “I would love to be there on time. But it’s also one of those situations where while an opportunity presents itself for you to get paid, you need to get as much as you can…It’s nothing like, ‘I’m worth this much.’ You get as much money as you can while it’s there because you never know what could happen.”

Fantasy Impact: To me, this is further proof of why Ndamukong Suh is better than Gerald McCoy. He was better and more consistent in college, he was drafted higher, and he’s even handling the progress of his contract negotiations with more grace. I don’t know that Suh doesn’t have a problem with his contract negotiations, but if he does, he’s doing the right thing and handling it in private. McCoy’s lack of collegiate consistency and apparent cockiness and sense of entitlement don’t seem to bode well for his future. Experience tells me that of the top 3 picks in almost every draft, there’s at least one bust and I just think Suh and Bradford are better players who bring more professionalism to their craft. My advice: don’t draft the Bucs’ defense, even in keeper leagues, thinking that they are going to build a ferocious unit around Gerald McCoy.

Update: Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle el, formerly of the Washington Redskins, had some less than flattering words for the owner of his former team, Dan Snyder, as he told the Northwest Indiana Times: “When Jim Zorn was there, he was hands-on. He had great potential, but Dan Snyder was too involved because he didn’t trust coach Zorn as much he did coach (Joe) Gibbs, and those were things that prevented us from success as a team.”

Fantasy Impact: My experiences tell me that when a player is close to the start of a season with a new team, and would rather talk about the problems with his past owner/coach/teammate than about what kind of season he will have upcoming, it is a bad sign for said player. It shows that they are more regretful about the opportunities they missed than they are optimistic about the ones that await them still. I mean you’re re-joining your original team, a team loaded with talent and potential on both sides of the ball, you have to play with an unfamiliar quarterback for the first 6 games and have to re-establish your chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger when he does return, you’ve turned supporters into doubters with your declining play over the past several seasons, and all you can talk about is Dan Snyder? Really? Please do yourself a favor and do not draft Randle el under any circumstances.

Update: Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill has been suspended for the 2010 season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Hill can participate in all preseason practices and games and his suspension will run from September 4-13. The suspension stems from Hill’s January 2009 arrest in Georgia for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Fantasy Impact: It’s only one game and I wouldn’t call it impossible for the Hawks to win even without Hill as they did beat the 49ers at home last year in a game where Hill didn’t exactly dominate. Still, this is an uphill climb for a team that has won just nine games over the past two seasons after enjoying a five-year run as a top-notch NFC team, which included a Super Bowl appearance. Pete Carroll needs as many good players as he can have for as many games as he can have them play for his re-acclimation to the NFL to be successful. This is not a good start.

Update: When asked about the possibility of signing Terrell Owens, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith gave a blunt answer when speaking with a reporter from the San Diego Union-Tribune: “We’re all set right now with our receivers. I don’t want to be involved. A lot of people have us targeted (with Owens), but they know I wouldn’t do it.”

Fantasy Impact: This offseason has been a tough, if not karmic, one for T.O. as his reputation as a divisive, disruptive figure has in many cases preceded him and the bridges he has burned with past head coaches, coordinators, and position coaches have further limited his opportunities. One thing that is a good sign is the focus and determination Owens seems to have when it comes to silencing his doubters; something Owens has excelled at since arriving in the league, building a Hall of Fame career as a former third-round pick and having a nine-catch, 122-yard performance in Super Bowl XXXIX just six weeks after breaking his leg. One thing you can be sure of is that whatever team does end up with T.O. will get every last drop of gas that he still has in the tank and I have not wavered from the position I took the last time I wrote about T.O.; take a chance on him as your third wideout, even if he doesn’t have a team when your draft occurs.