The Half-Hour Fantasy Football Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

This week is devoted to fantasy football. Let’s jump right in and analyze the top 12 picks of the draft since most leagues have a dozen teams.

1. LT. Superhero.

2. Steven Jackson. The bruising back totaled 2,334 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns last season. The Rams have said they want Jackson to catch fewer passes this season because they want to spread the ball to their receivers more. Some think he resembles another Jackson.

3. Joseph Addai. He shared time last year and surely
that’s still the plan. However, the Colts have not found anyone who can take carries away from Addai. That means this Super Bowl champ, if healthy, will add at least 500 yards to his totals last season.

4. Larry Johnson. We waited a while for him to report to camp. It’s a good thing he took the money now before his body breaks down. Johnson rushed for 752 times the past two seasons. The Chiefs have said they want to limit his carries and with an inexperienced quarterback set to start and an inferior offensive line, Johnson’s production will certainly drop by 200-300 yards and a handful of TDs.

5. Laurence Maroney. Can’t go wrong with having the No. 1 running back on the Super Bowl favorites. Come November and December when the weather gets cold, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPHDWokDNys
Maroney and his big body will run over defenses. The Patriots will have a balanced offense, which only means it will be very effective.

6. Frank Gore. The 49ers running back has a physical style mixed with surprising speed. Gore signed a huge contract in March just before the surge toward his prime. San Francisco is much improved, meaning Gore will have more scoring chances.

7. Shaun Alexander. He was injured last year after an MVP season that saw him break the single-season TD record. His foot injury is just a sign of his physical breakdown. He may have one more good season left as the primary back. But look for him to share more carries.

8. Willie Parker. Just like Maroney, Parker will get the ball come winter in Pittsburgh. Six of his seven 100-yard games came at home, including a pair of 200-yard outbursts. He’s good value with the No. 8 pick.

9. Reggie Bush. He might be a stretch this high because he shares time with the Deuce. But just to be able to watch him on Sundays perform for your team is worth the risk. He won’t carry it 20 times, but he will have 20-30 touches. So that means he’ll line up in the slot and return punts.

10. Rudi Johnson. The man from Petersburg is suppose to break down already. But he continues to grind out the yards. The Bengals drafted Kenny Irons in the second round to take some of the load off of Johnson. Not gonna happen. Irons blew out his knee.

11. Brian Westbrook. The best running back in the NFC East. Westbrook is a threat to take it home every time he touches the ball. He’s also the best receiving back in the league. Injuries are a concern, but if he’s on the field, there are few better ballers.

12. Peyton Manning. There’s no question that running backs win fantasy leagues. However, Manning is worthy of a first-round pick. The Colts used their top pick to draft a slot receiver. Tight end Dallas Clark keeps improving. Manning does not make mistakes and he’s good for at least 30-TD passes.

OUT AT HOME: You know you have a cool wife when she eagerly anticipates a special delivery all week. When that delivery comes, she can’t wait to show it to you. My wife bought my daughter a “HAIL TO THE REDSKINS” T-shirt. It’s AWESOME!!! The kid and I will be sporting our gear on Sundays.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK: You can’t possibly want another one. But hey, who I am to judge? A tribute to a great woman gone too soon.