Depth Charge

I go back to work today, so this should be my last post until the week 1 preview next Friday. Time take Dave's idea and continue it and expand on it. I'll rank teams depth at all the vital positions, factoring in total talent of the unit plus the strength on the bench. Hateful remarks can be registered in the comments section.

Quarterback

1. Naj Davenport's Poop
-It all starts with Peyton Manning. Byron Leftwich is a fine fill-in and a nice justincase.

2. Fresh Legs
-Carson Palmer is going to be the best QB in the world soon. Jake Delhomme led Stem to the Championship Game last year.

3. Father Abraham
-Donovan McNabb will be back on his Pro Bowl track and Ben Roethlisberger is as steady as can be.

4. Who Is Ron Mexico?
-Two very talented, but very erratic QBs in Eli Manning and Jake Plummer. Original Snake gets the week 1 nod.

5. Madd Skillz
-Matt Hasselbeck is a steady QB who has scores taken away by his RB. Drew Bledsoe's stock increases with TO, but drops because his coach loves Tony Romo. Philip Rivers was a low risk, big upside pick.

6. The Slumpbusters
-Consistency is the main thing with both Marc Bulger and Michael Vick. A tandem that can be played based on matchups. Matt Leinart is at least a year away.

7. ChamPeons
-Daunte Culpepper still has some health and effectiveness question marks, and Steve McNair's age and productivity are shaky too.

8. Cellar Dwellars
-Tom Brady is great and very reliable. Jon Kitna, not so much.

9. Tice's Partyboat
-Drew Brees is a big mystery, and Trent Green will miss his great offensive line more than the KC running game.

10. The Nihilist Marmot
-Kurt Warner has an injury rap following him around and Brett Farve is going to throw 37 interceptions this year. Awesome.

Running Back

1. Madd Skillz
-Larry Johnson, LaDanian Tomlinson and Rudi Johnson are the unquestioned top trio. Kevan Barlow gets touches as the Jets' starter. Good potential on the bench with Wali Lundy starting, plus TJ Duckett and Samkon Gado playing behind banged up backs. Brendan Jacobs' goal line looks give him value as well.

2. The Slumpbusters
-If Tiki Barber were still around, would have a shot at #1. Clinton Portis' injury shouldn't be a tremendous factor this season, while Willis McGahee is going to bounce back big. Steven Jackson will benefit from a more consistent game plan. Tatum Bell is a nice back to have in your pocket, and Vernand Morency should see touches every week. The Maurices (Jones-Drew and Morris) are longshots to play much, but good deep sleepers just in case.

3. Naj Davenport's Poop
-Mentioned earlier, no more sharing by Willie Parker and Ronnie Brown. Everyone's holding their breath on Mike Bell. Cedric Benson and Marion Barber are favorites of their respective coaching staffs, while Jerious Norwood is the next big thing in ATL. He'll get the goal line carries TJ Duckett left behind. Duce Staley is fat.

4. Fresh Legs
-Has both Ahman Green and Dominic Rhodes on the bench, a good indicator of depth. Brian Westbrook should be clear to be a true stud again this year. The big worries about this core is their roles at the end of the season, as Rhodes, Deuce McAllister and Thomas Jones have youngsters breathing down their necks.

5. ChamPeons
-Sort of the anti-Baron here, as his depth should shine through late in the year when Joseph Addai and Lawrence Maroney could be starting. Julius Jones, Frank Gore and Corey Dillon are a solid 1-3, but health concerns dog them all. Cedric Houston could play a role with the Jets before the year is over. Solid pickup there.

6. Cellar Dwellers
-Great 1-3 backs of Shaun Alexander, LaMont Jordan and Kevin Jones, but outside of that owns just LaBrandon Toefield and Lee Suggs. Cannot afford a major injury, as happened in the playoffs last season.

7. Tice's Partyboat
-Like CD, has longshots on the bench, but 1-3 isn't as talented. Edgerrin James, Warrick Dunn and Ruben Droughns are nothing if not consistent, but Michael Turner and JJ Arrington are not every game contributers. Got even shallower when Jeff Fisher flip flopped on Chris Brown.

8. The Nihilst Marmot
-Caddy Williams and Tiki Barber are in the running for top tandem in the league, but it's scarce after that. Mike Anderson may not even end up 2nd string in Baltimore, though Travis Henry could rise up to 1st in Tennessee. Ladell Betts' role is questionable with Duckett in town, but Fason and Buckhalter are well suited to their respective team's systems should someone go down.

9. Who is Ron Mexico?
-Will have two solid starters in DeShaun Foster and Chester Taylor, plus the unpredictable Reggie Bush. DeAngelo Williams was a good long-term pick, as was Chris Perry, though he may not play until week 7. Ron Dayne? Maybe he'll be traded.

10. Father Abraham
-Too much hurt to go around with Domanick Davis, Jamal Lewis and Fred Taylor. LenDale White is the guy to watch on the bench. Musa Smith is a decent deep sleeper. Maurice Hicks and Derrick Blaylock have shots to contribute as we go along as well.

Wide Receiver

1. The Slumpbusters
-Best starters in the league, plus a nice option at #4 with Nate Burleson. Roy Williams is about to be a superstar, while Torry Holt is and has been for 100 years. Santana Moss won't replicate last season, but will get great yardage and his fair share of TDs.

2. The Nihilist Marmot
-Relying on the Colts passing game is as safe a bet as you can make. Was kind of planning on Reggie Wayne become a free agent and leaving, but being stuck with him and Marvin Harrison on the same NFL team isn't too shabby either. Darrell Jackson's comeback makes this a top tier receiving group, and TJ Houshmanihatejr is just icing on the cake.

3. Madd Skillz
-Steve Smith and Chad Johnson put this team in a lofty place, though Smith will experience a small decline in numbers. Terry Glenn is an interesting #3 with Terrell Owens in town, but Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells know and like Glenn. Brandon Lloyd will benefit from being in an improved offense in Washington.

4. Cellar Dwellers
-Larry Fitzgerald is a monster, and Li'l Eli Manning loves Plaxico Burress. Derrick Mason is as boring and consistent a receiver the league has. Between Donte Stallworth, Keenan McCardell and Eric Moulds, will get at least one extra good receiving performance each week.

5. ChamPeons
-Terrell Owens getting back on the field makes CHM deep. Owens, Andre Johnson and Lee Evans all have tremendous big play potential. Eddie Kennison is steady, but the Chiefs passing game is ususally a gamble. The Raider coaching staff hates Jerry Porter, but at least he's talented.

6. Tice's Partyboat
-Randy Moss is set to reclaim his spot with the other elite receivers in the league, and Donald Driver is the only proven receiver in Green Bay. Keyshawn Johnson's height should earn him some looks in Carolina's red zone. Kevin Curtis, Marcus Robinson and Antwaan Randle El will all have a couple big weeks, but no one knows when.

7. Father Abraham
-Anquan Boldin should at least match last season's numbers, and should see a spike in TDs. An unquestioned top 10 receiver. Joe Horn has to play better, and is really the only option in New Orleans now. Joey Galloway gets along great with Chris Simms, but Drew Bennett doesn't have the same value now that Kerry Collins is taking the snaps for the Titans. Keep an eye on Troy Williamson.

8. Naj Davenport's Poop
-Fantastic up top, with Hines Ward's consistency and Javon Walker's potential. Joe Jurevicius won't have as many red zone jump balls in Cleveland as he did in Seattle. Matt Jones, Samie Parker and Greg Jennings are unproven, but any could break out.

9. Fresh Legs
-Chris Chambers is a beast. We've yet to see what Reggie Brown can do as a team's #1 receiver. Laverneus Coles is the man in New York, which is both good and frightening. Cedrick Wilson. Remember when Baron said that Jay Fiedler was a top 10 QB in the NFL not more than 2 years ago? That was hilarious.

10. Who is Ron Mexico?
-Muhsin Muhammed is an asshole. It's like he's stealing money from the Bears. Upside, but few proven track records here. Needs Deion Branch to find a team. The Claytons (Michael, Mark) and Braylon Edwards are all outstanding prospects. Ernest Wilford could emerge as Jacksonville's #1. David Givens is good, but old.

Tight End

1. The Slumpbusters
-Jeremy Shockey is an elite TE, and Ben Watson is about to be.

2. Fresh Legs
-Heath Miller and Dallas Clark both have tremendous potential. It will be tough to pick one every week.

3. Father Abraham
-Keeper Jason Witten is beloved in Dallas, and Jerramy Stevens is going to have a real good season as well.

4. ChamPeons
-Randy McMichael will also benefit from Miami's offensive rebirth, and Vernon Davis is going to get a lot of dump offs from a hurried and frantic Alex Smith.

5. Madd Skillz
-Antonio Gates is as good as they get, but Kellen Winslow's jackass quotient, coupled with his lack of playing football for 2 years drags the overall depth down.

6. The Nihilist Marmot
-Tony Gonzalez is pretty much a rotting corpse and will have to stay in and block more. Ben Troupe will probably be the starter on this team before the year is up.

7. Tice's Partboat
-Alge Crumpler is still one of Michael Vick's favorite targets, but Jermaine Wiggins is not an every week starter. He'll get the call because of injuries or byes.

8. Naj Davenport's Poop
-Todd Heap is great, but there's only one of him on this team.

9. Who Is Ron Mexico?
-Chris Cooley is also great, but not as good as Heap, and there is only one of him on this team.

10. Cellar Dwellers
-Neither of the Smiths (LJ, Alex) are as good as Heap or Cooley, but together make for a more than serviceable tandem.