FanHouse Aaronstecker

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

Gregg Williams hasn't informed a free agent decision for New Orleans yet, hasn't hand-picked the inevitable defensive playmaker the Saints choose with their 14th-overall selection this year, hasn't installed a single scheme in a minicamp. Yet Williams' reputation has preceded him to the Crescent City, and his hiring as defensive coordinator is already considered one of the most important moves in team history.

After almost two decades of guaranteed defensive putridity, the last three of which have revolved around Gary Gibbs' lack of talent identification and bland scheming, the idea of Williams and his history of intelligent, hard-working, active, complex defenses coming to the Superdome is music to the ears. It also might finally push the Saints over the top.

FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled weekly by the staff in order to provide answers to possible lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

The Detroit Lions have allowed 17 rushing touchdowns this season. They are allowing an average of 5.1 yards per carry and 171.5 yards per game. The Carolina Panthers just embarrassed them with heavy doses of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Warrick Dunn is taking over duties for Earnest Graham, who was recently placed on the IR -- ending his season. With Cadillac Williams still not up to speed and no other overly talented options, Dunn is going to get over 20 touches this weekend in Detroit.

When you get that many touches against the Lions' sieve of a run defense, you are a top ten fantasy option. Get him active in all formats.

More notes after the rankings.

1. Adrian Peterson, at JAX
2. LaDanian Tomlinson, vs. IND
3. Marion Barber, vs. SF
4. Matt Forte, at StL
5. Marshawn Lynch, at KC

Reggie Bush is a very unique individual when it comes to his impact on an offense. Even when Tom Brady went down, the Patriots were plugging in a backup to the same position. Obviously, Matt Cassel isn't near the QB Brady is, so the ripples felt through the team and league were significant. The point is, though, that the offense didn't change.

With Bush going down, the entire offensive complexion of the Saints is forced to change, because the dynamic Bush impacts the game on every play. Even when he doesn't touch the ball, the defense must pay attention to him. That element is now going to be missing from the Saints offense for at least the next two games.

So what does Sean Payton do? Does he try to plug Aaron Stecker -- the most comparable player left on the roster -- into the Bush-role? The defense doesn't exactly jump to Stecker the way they would Bush. The other option is to run a traditional offense until Bush gets back. Deuce McAllister would jump into the feature back role, with Pierre Thomas available to spell him, and Stecker picking up third and long duties.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: Drew Brees is, to me, the third best quarterback in the league. And that's not just because I have a giant man-crush on him. Say what you will about your Tony Romos and Carson Palmers, but I'd take Brees over those two, especially as he appears to be in the prime of his career. All he's done since arriving in New Orleans is put up gaudy numbers through the air, but he plays a heady game based on quick (and good) decisions. He's also a good guy off the field and the unquestioned leader of the team. Mark Brunell was brought in as Brees' backup while project Tyler Palko continues to develop, and while you don't want to see the old lefty play at all, his arm looks good enough in camp to sustain for a couple of weeks if need be. Anything more than that, though, and the Saints are in trouble. Heat Index: 9

Running Back: Running back committees are a bitch for fantasy owners, but none have encountered a mess like this, where four backs are going to get a fair share of touches. Exactly how the carries shake out depends on Deuce McAllister's health; ditto for the productivity of the group. All four backs -- McAllister, Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, and Aaron Stecker -- are talented, but Deuce is the only pounder that can keep the running game glued together. If he's in the lineup, expect Bush to flourish, with Thomas making a solid impact as well. If he's not, Thomas takes on a larger role and, though he rolled up Chicago for over 200 yards from scrimmage in Week 17 last year, it remains to be seen whether he can be a full-time NFL back. Luckily, Deuce has looked healthy so far. Heat Index: 7

Hear that? It's the pitter-patter of fantasy football season approaching. Fantasy FanHouse is here to get you ready by previewing every team from a fantasy perspective.

Meet the ...
The Shootouts (it sounds nicer than the "Aints"). Not that New Orleans can't be good -- they can. And they're a nice unit for fantasy football teams, because, in theory, they have a ton of offense. But theorizing is fine until you end up burning through three top 50 picks, which is what Drew Brees, Marques Colston and Reggie Bush will cost you.

The Breakout
Perhaps I'm being old fashioned, but Deuce McAllister seems to me like the best possible "breakout" option on this team. Sure, he's gone through more ACL's than Alonzo Mourning has kidneys, but the Saints can't function without a strong between the tackles runner. Oh, and he "don't cost nuthin'!" Which, to me, is the ideal scenario for finding a breakout -- cheap, easy and late.

The Bust
I thought that people had stopped sweating Bush, but judging from his ADP (30), I guess not. Seriously, he's going 30th. (30!!!) It just goes to show how much potential, upside, etc can drive someone's fantasy value. Anywho, I wouldn't draft Reginald with your pick, personally. What justifies taking him? The 3.7 YPC last year or the 3.6 the year before? Granted, the 80+ catches per year are nice, and he's a nice RB2 in PPR leagues but let someone else fall prey.

NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.

1. Defensive Tackle/Linebacker/Cornerback. I know this reeks of a cop-out, and I guess you're right. But every time I think that the Saints need one of these positions over the others, I change my mind. On one hand you've got defensive tackle, where Hollis Thomas, the only true nose tackle, is 34 and playing year-to-year. He's consistent against the run and pass, but can't play a full game anymore. The rest of the tackles are just adequate, and starting 3-tech Brian Young's a free agent who probably won't be back. Then there's linebacker, which features just two players, because middle linebacker Mark Simoneau has no impact whatsoever. Scott Shanle ain't no prize, neither. Finally, there's cornerback. The crew, outside of Mike McKenzie, is terrible (admittedly, with faint hints of promise). And McKenzie's torn ACL should keep him out until October at earliest. So you decide which is worse off.

I don't expect the Saints to go after any of the marquee free agents at these positions, but I wouldn't be surprised to see under-the-radar signings like Corey Williams or Drayton Florence. Most of the improvement will come in the draft. I'm all for Sedrick Ellis in the first, even if the Saints have to move up a few spots from 10 to get him. This is a deep draft for linebackers, which is helpful, and good young corners like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will be available after the first round.

After tearing his second ACL in three years, Deuce McAllister vows he'll be back for Saints' training camp. That's pretty great news, his absence this year both on the field and in the locker room was painfully obvious. But it does cause a problem -- too much talent in the backfield.

Assuming McAllister is able to offer anything, the team will bring him back. McAllister's career and altruism have forever earned him that respect, and you don't save nearly enough by cutting him to justify it. And it's obvious Reggie Bush isn't going anywhere.

There are only enough carries for three backs. Aaron Stecker took over for Bush and ran remarkably well. He's a great locker room guy and excels on special teams. But he's a free agent and his performance this year could raise his price tag enough that the Saints, with so many needs, won't pay out.

Especially because of Pierre Thomas. Some are unsure if he can hold up over a season, but his ability to survive training camp, make the active roster, get into a game, succeed on special teams, run the ball, and run as the workhorse for a game were doubted, and he did all of those really, really well. So I'm not betting against him.

My personal theory: as Deuce slowly works his way back, Bush and Thomas split carries equally (with more Bush in the pass game). All the while, Stecker is under new employment. It's a quandary, sure, but not a terrible one.

To get you ready for week 17, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the New Orleans Saints/Chicago Bears preview.

2007 Records:

New Orleans Saints: 7-8 (2nd in NFC South)
Chicago Bears: 6-9 (4th in NFC North)

Last Week:

Eagles 38, Saints 23
Bears 35, Packers 7

When the Saints have the ball: If the Saints want to keep their slim playoff hopes alive they'll need to win Sunday and then get help from the Broncos and Cowboys. If they want to win, they'll need to throw the ball early and often. While Aaron Stecker has done a fair job of filling in for Deuce McCallister and a better job than Reggie Bush, the Bears are most vulnerable through the air. Mark Anderson and Nathan Vasher are both on IR, limiting Chicago's pass rush and their coverage, and the Saints have shown that they can spread the ball around when Sean Payton looks beyond his predilection for screen passes. The weather looks like it will cooperate this week, Mother Nature was the 12th man in Chicago's performance last weekend, which will make it that much tougher for them to hang with the Saints offense. New Orleans will need to account for Brian Urlacher, however. After a middling season, Urlacher's played his best two games in the last two weeks and would love to spoil New Orleans' season.

To get you ready for Week 16, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is your New Orleans Saints/Philadelphia Eagles preview.

2007 Records:

Philadelphia Eagles: 6-8 (4th in NFC East)
New Orleans Saints: 7-7 (2nd in NFC South)

Last Week:

Eagles 10, Cowboys 6
Saints 31, Cardinals 24

Why We Care: These two teams played two great games last year under different circumstances. The first was an early matchup of conference heavyweights, the second a second-round playoff game. Both ended 27-24 in favor of the Saints. This year, New Orleans needs to win out with help just to make the playoffs and the Eagles are out. Still, as a byproduct of three games in two years, the teams have developed a nice little snarl, and the Eagles still have something to play for -- instilling the same misery they're feeling into other teams.

This is what happens when you've got a high-profile, $60+ million superstar running back -- injuries, poor performance, plague, whatever ... said team feels pressured to get him on the field whenever conceivable.

Reggie Bush has endured two of those three, and, though he faced the reality of a torn PCL just two games ago, is trying to get back on the field this week against Philadelphia. Even more absurd is that it looks like Sean Payton might let him.

"He's a little bit ahead of schedule. That's been encouraging," Payton said during his weekly Monday press conference. "I think he's feeling a lot stronger on it. He's obviously moving around a lot better on it."

I'm hoping (and have a sneaking suspicion) that this is just a smoke screen to keep the Eagles off-guard this week. Bush playing this early just doesn't make any sense.

For one, running on a PCL that's not completely healed puts a strain on the other ligaments in the knee, and I doubt the Saints want to risk Bush tearing his ACL so late in the season, affecting his status for 2008. For another, the Saints have been much better without Bush. They've finally established balance on offense, and Aaron Stecker has 295 yards on the ground in two games. Bush? 581 yards in 13 games.

Now, just like it wasn't entirely Bush's fault that the Saints couldn't run, it's not entirely Stecker's doing that they all of a sudden can. Still, why mess with something that's clearly working when a playoff spot hangs in the balance?