FanHouse ChrisHenry

In continuing with our three-part series on ADP analysis, today we look at the second method in which average draft position can be utilized to uncover values come draft day -- trend analysis.

This approach involves following a sequence of successive ADP charts over a span of time, usually a couple of months (or anteing up for a premium service that tracks more detailed mock draft data), and following the trends. Trends in ADP are great indicators of who is moving up or down on depth charts, which players have made breakthroughs in camp, and most of all, who got dinged up in camp -- information that can be daunting to follow on a player-by-player basis.

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With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.

Meet The ...
Team best known for self-destruction and felonies! Yes, only in America ... it's the Cincinnati Bengals. Honestly though, the troubled times seem to be in the past, as the Bengals are preaching team unity and singing a new tune heading into the upcoming season. Under the radar? Sleepers? Well, when was the last time we heard such chatter as it relates to the Bengals? Hold tight, let's watch this story develop. However, you heard it here first (sort of): The Bengals have some fantasy potential.

They possess one of the top quarterbacks in the league (when healthy), a stable of cast-off running backs, a troubled receiving corps with "rebound" potential and the capability to be an explosive offense, again. Will the line hold up to keep Carson healthy? Will Ochocinco snap back into circa 2005 form? A lot of questions, but you already know there is gonna be risk with these guys. However, this year they do offer a sliver of hope that they will indeed reward.

After saying that he and Carson Palmer "were like Brokeback Mountain," it only made sense that Chad Ochocinco would move in with the Bengals quarterback this summer. That was the plan (according to Mr. Ochocinco), anyway.

Palmer's wife -- and I'd assume Palmer, too -- had other ideas. The family just had twins, and even if they hadn't, I'm not sure they would be interested in introducing crazy into their home. Via the Dayton Daily News' Chick Ludwig:

First the huge news that HBO's "Hard Knocks" will be documenting the travails of the Cincinnati Bengals this summer, and now this: Chad Javon Ocho Cinco will be allowed to wear his NFL Network-given name on the back of his jersey. Finally.

Last September, Chad Johnson, who sports No. 85 for his day job, legally changed his name to "Ochocinco." Never mind that "Ocho Cinco" translated from Spanish means "Eight Five," or that Johnson wrote it as one word -- "Ochocinco" -- which translates to, well, "Ochocinco." What's important is that, according to the final judgment awarding him the name change, Johnson had no "ulterior purpose" for going with "Ochocinco."

There used to be a point, probably during the 2007 offseason, when I might've been surprised had the Bengals acquired another player with a criminal record. By that time, 10 Bengals had been arrested in the previous 14 months, and owner Mike Brown pledged to stock the team with solid citizens.

That didn't last long. The club released Chris Henry prior to the 2008 NFL draft only to re-sign him four months later (against head coach Marvin Lewis' better judgment, it should be noted). And today, their latest acquisition only seems fitting: Tank Johnson, ex-Cook County Jail resident and former Cowboys castoff is now a member of the Bengals. Of course he is.

On Monday, the Seahawks signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a five-year, $40 million deal. Great news for Seattle -- Matt Hasselbeck will finally have a legit pass-catching threat (a seldom-healthy Deion Branch doesn't count) -- but the Bengals were suddenly down to Chad Ocho Cinco in the reliable wide receiver department. (Yikes.)

Apparently, the thought of starting the season with Chris Henry, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell was enough to motivate historically cheap Bengals owner Mike Brown into action, presumably at the behest of head coach Marvin Lewis. Whatever the impetus, Cincy has a new-old Houshmandzadeh: Laveranues Coles. Via NFL.com's Adam Schefter, Coles signed a four-year, $28 million contract.

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It was a difficult weekend for the Denver Broncos. Their starting quarterback, Jay Cutler, is reportedly furious the team tried to trade him on Saturday. As if that wasn't enough, word came out late Sunday night that wide receiver Brandon Marshall was arrested in Atlanta on a disorderly conduct charge, as reported by ESPN.com.

This is the fourth arrest for Marshall since 2006, which I believe ties him for the league lead with Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

It could be argued that the Cincinnati Bengals did well to win four games in 2008. They were missing their star quarterback, Carson Palmer, for the majority of the season. That left the job to an overmatched Ryan Fitzpatrick, who did his best, but was saddled with a bad running game, worse offensive line and not much defense. The Bengals found a way to win three straight at the end of the season, finishing 4-11-1.

There are many areas for improvement as the Bengals make their way toward 2009 trying like crazy to avoid doing 2008 over again. Luckily, kicker is not one of those areas of need.

During his three tumultuous years in Chicago, Cedric Benson was labeled a malcontent, an underachiever, and a first-round bust. And that was before he was arrested for boating while intoxicated last summer.

The Bears released him shortly after the incident and Benson spent the first month of the NFL season on his couch waiting for the phone to ring. That's how long it took the Bengals to come to the realization that Chris Perry couldn't handle the starting gig.

In five games, Benson has managed just 3.7 yards per carry, but the bulk of his 241 yards came yesterday against the Jaguars. He racked up 104 yards on 24 carries, including his first touchdown of the season.

And while it's still not clear if he's the long-term answer for Cincinnati, Benson seems to have learned something from his experience in Chicago:

As we all eagerly await Ryan Fitzpatrick's encore performance, Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer will continue to rehab his sore throwing elbow.

But here's the thing: what if Cincinnati continues to play like a bunch of armless drunks, what should they do with Palmer? FOXSports.com's John Czarnecki pipes up:

The big news is that Carson Palmer and his tender throwing elbow is sitting this one out, and you have to wonder if the Bengals keep losing will they opt to sit Palmer permanently rather than risk further damage?

Um, it's only Week 6. Yeah, the Bengals are 0-5, but if Palmer's healthy, why wouldn't he play? Isn't shutting him down for the season with, say, eight weeks to go not the same as Palmer announcing he's quitting on his team? I mean, if Chad Javon Ocho Cinco decided to take the next four months to completely recover from his shoulder injury, he'd undoubtedly be labeled a selfish, loud mouth.

And that very well may be true, but he'd be no less a quitter than Palmer if that's what head coach Marvin Lewis decided to do with his franchise quarterback. Now, in terms of the postseason, it doesn't matter who's under center -- the Bengals aren't going anywhere come January -- but it's still important for Palmer to be on the field if he's able to go. For an organization full of distractions, Palmer is one of the few steadying influences.

And, frankly, Chris Henry needs a mentor.