FanHouse Michael Jenkins

Each Monday of the fantasy football season, we'll cut through the fantasy numbers put up by individuals and tell you what they really mean.

When peering ahead to the fantasy football draft of 2010, it's easy to envision getting the top pick and taking Adrian Peterson without a second thought. And if you had one, it would probably be Maurice Jones-Drew. After these past two weeks, though, I'm fully behind considering Chris Johnson the top fantasy football player heading into next season. In fact, I'll say it right now: Johnson will end the season with the most fantasy points among running backs and be the consensus No. 1 player on the board for 2010. Unbelievably, it seems to involve the presence of Vince Young.

Need a last-minute fill-in for this week? 4th and 26 is here to throw you a couple deep sleepers, guys available in at least 90 percent of Fleaflicker leagues that could give your fantasy football team a big boost.

We covered a full complement of fantasy sleepers in Wednesday's column, and I suggest perusing that article to try and find a replacement before delving into these deep sleepers, who are nothing more than wild cards.

Of course, some of you are sitting around with a dried-out free agent pool and not many options. If this describes your situation, read on, because I'm here to help you out.

Both the Miami Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons made huge strides in 2008. Both teams won 11 games, made the playoffs and Miami won the tough AFC East division. The Week 1 battle between these two teams was supposed to feature lots of Wildcat formations and many points on the board. The script was re-written.

The Falcons won the game 19-7, but the Dolphins should feel fortunate that it wasn't a complete blowout. An aggressive Falcons defense shut down Miami until late in the fourth quarter -- a few hiccups on the part of the Atlanta offense, though, kept the game within reach.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan underthrew Roddy White in the first series of the game after the receiver opened up a 5-yard cushion on the nearest Miami defender -- a play that should have been an easy touchdown for White.

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Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Atlanta's sudden rise to prominence in 2008 began rather suddenly when rookie Matt Ryan, on the first pass of his career, threw for a touchdown against the Lions. There were some bumps along the way, but no one could have envisioned the improvement the Falcons would make in Ryan's first season -- a wild-card berth and 11-5 record -- or just how poised and collected Ryan would play. Atlanta will have to repeat its 2008 show without the benefit of sneaking up on teams in 2009. A scary thought for the NFC South is the Falcons could be even better.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons head to Detroit to play the Lions this Saturday, August 15 for their first preseason game. The team has released a preseason depth chart to show an early glimpse at where players stand. You need to remember that the Falcons are less than two weeks into camp and the start of the regular season is still more then a month away. There are many things that can and will change between now and then.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Roddy White and his agent have been quiet during the first nine days of training camp, preferring not to comment publicly on negotiations. The holdout is over and on White's first day in camp, he's making noise.

"We'll have a lot of big, explosive plays this year out of our offense," White said after his first practice with the team.

As you can tell, White is excited to be back in camp, back with the team and back in the huddle. Head coach Mike Smith is just happy to have him back.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. --With Roddy White working out on his own in Alabama while holding out from training camp, the last thing the Falcons needed was an injury to a wide receiver. Unfortunately, that's just what happened to Harry Douglas today in one-on-one drills.

Douglas was bumped at the line by Chris Houston and, as the two fought to break free from one another, Douglas went down. And he stayed down for approximately five minutes before a cart drove onto the field and took him to the trainers' room.

Douglas, who was scheduled to be the Falcons' slot receiver this season and maybe even compete with Michael Jenkins for time at the No. 2 spot, was seen after practice leaving the facility on crutches, putting next to no weight on his left leg.

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 ...
2008 From worst to first sensation of the NFC South. The Falcons won 11 games and earned a wild card berth in 2008 thanks, in no small part, to a breakout campaign by running back Michael Turner and Offensive Rookie of the Year efforts from quarterback Matt Ryan. Not only are the key players back on offense, but the team added 10-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez to the mix. With the ground game sizzling and Ryan's growth set to continue in 2009, the addition of Gonzalez should boost the fantasy value of everyone around.

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Not sure if Michael Jenkins' development has anything to do with this, or maybe Jerry Jones just has a soft spot for stripper-lovin', can't-stay-out-of-trouble players, but either way, the Cowboys owner would gladly welcome "Adam" Pacman Jones back into the fold, assuming Commissar Goodell would let that happen.

Earlier this season, Mr. Pacman was suspended indefinitely after getting into a hotel bathroom cat fight with his team-appointed bodyguard. But according to the Dallas Morning News' Tim MacMahon, the suspension could be lifted as soon as next week.

And this makes Jerry very, very happy.

"Yes, if Adam does the kinds of things that the league has asked him to do and that he's doing, if he's done that and satisfied that criteria, then yes, we would," Jerry said.

Jerry said he's been in contact with Pacman, adding that the cornerback is spending weekdays at a rehab facility in Boston and weekends in the North Texas area. Pacman is expected to finish his stint at the rehab facility this week, although Jerry said Pacman might continue traveling around the country to meet with counselors.

Glad to hear Pacman is getting help. Not sure why he needs to travel "the country to meet with counselors" -- presumably, the Cowboys of the '90s employed plenty of Dallas-area detox specialists who got filthy rich thanks to the localized run on debauchery and hedonism. I can't imagine they'd voluntarily hop off that gravy train.

Whatever, Jerry doesn't begrudge Pacman for his mistakes, particularly since he's probably the best defensive back on the team.