Projected Keepers

(note this is my opinion on who is keeping who. obviously i have no idea who people are really keeping yet. i'm using my forces of divination to figure out who i like best. then again, i didnt make the playoffs last year so what do i know right?)

Buffy
With Torry Holt, Rod Smith and David Boston, one could make a case for Buffy possessing three of the top five WRs in all of football. Add this in with the best running back in the game, Marshall Faulk, and Buffy has a dominant lineup. And not to overlook Rich Gannon, who is a top ten QB year in and year out. This team could sleep walk through a season and still end up with the best regular season record. Here's praying for major career threatening injuries. Buffy will be coming off a disappointing basketball season, looking to repay some debts and gather another championship. PROJECTED KEEPERS: R Gannon, M Faulk, T Holt, R Smith, D Boston [grade:A+]

Chunky Monkeys
The Monkeys are poised for dominance. Young RBs Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson are the bright young talents from last year. Combine super cool QB Peyton Manning and two good #1 WRs (Jimmy Smith and Joe Horn) and this team is looking great for years. PROJECTED KEEPERS: P Manning, S Alexander, L Tomlinson, J Smith, J Horn [grade:A]

Tiiite End Jammers
The expansion team from last year is now a second year behemoth. With super QB Kurt Warner and a whole stable of RBs (Ricky Williams, Priest Holmes, James Stewart, Terrell Davis), managment will have to decide which route to. Priest Holmes had a spectacular year to say the least, but he could be a one year wonder. And Ricky Williams is typically fragile. The WRs are a good, but question marked bunch. Underachieving Muhsin Muhammed, old and freshly injured Ed McCaffrey and maybe even mercurial Terry Glenn. Some tough choices will have to be made this offseason for the Jammers. PROJECTED KEEPERS: K Warner, R Williams, P Holmes, M Muhammed, E McCaffrey [grade:B+]

Battle Angels
Despite being a little long in the tooth, this team is well balanced. RBs Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis keep on chugging along and old hand Tim Brown combines with Randy Moss to form a dynamic duo on the receiving end. If QB Brian Griese can return to his previous consistent form, this team is a world beater. PROJECTED KEEPERS: B Griese, C Martin, J Bettis, R Moss, T Brown [grade:B+]

Flaming Shrapnel
The only team heading into the season without a QB, the Shrapnel are chock full of questions. RB Eddie George and Jamal Lewis are both coming off injuries, but the addition of rookie sensation Anthony Thomas means only of them has to return to pre-injury form. Look for Eddie George to become a top five back again. (Garrison Hearst could also replace Jamal Lewis' place on the roster) Dominant receiver Terrell Owens will pair with underachieving Eric Moulds to form what could potentially be the best young WR corps this side of Buffy. The Shrapnel could be ready to make a huge leap this season from the cellar to contender. PROJECTED KEEPERS: E George, A Thomas, J Lewis, T Owens, E Moulds [grade:B]

Skool
After a miraculous season, Skool will be hoping that young RB Deuce McAllister can step up and produce on the ground after the departure of Ricky Williams. The other RB position could be manned by versatile Tiki Barber, unless he is cut for a wide receiver. The WRs are a decent bunch (Isaac Bruce, Tony Gonzalez, Kevin Johnson) and quite solid. QB Daunte Culpepper might be in for a down year but then again, with his rushing-passing repertoire, he is still a top QB. PROJECTED KEEPERS: D Culpepper, D McAllister, T Barber, I Bruce, T Gonzalez [grade:B-]

TAGHeuer
TAG had a disappointing season last year. To say the least. Stephen Davis, Emmitt Smith and Keyshawn Johnson combined for less than five TDs the whole season. Emmitt will probably be cut do to age, providing room for Michael Bennett. QB Donovan McNabb is a world killer but he'll have to work hard to get his talented WRs (Keyshawn, Chris Chambers, Plaxico Burress) to produce. RB Stephen Davis is the rock in the backfield, but he had a horrid first half last season before re-establishing his numbers in the second half. PROJECTED KEEPERS: D McNabb, S Davis, M Bennett, Key Johnson, C Chambers [grade:B-]

DIRTeByRDeeZ
A young and proven RB core powers this team. Both Ahman Green and Corey Dillon are coming off career years and they hope to continue to pile up the numbers. Marvin Harrison is still a top WR and with any luck Johnnie Morton can become a top WR in Kansas City. QB Michael Vick has the starting job but nobody is sold on him as a #1 option. The Birds will look to ground it out this year, unless Morton and Vick can both emerge. PROJECTED KEEPERS: M Vick, A Green, C Dillon, M Harrison, J Morton [grade:C+]

Green Team
In a season when all of Green's early round prospects went bust (Trent Green, Duce Staley, Mike Anderson), the roster has been gutted and re-patched. A mid-season trade for QB Brett Favre was a life saver and he will serve as the franchise player. Troy Brown, Marty Booker and Darrell Jackson all had great years and could form a solid WR core. The backfield is in disarray however. Michael Pittman looks to be the likely lead back, unless Duce Staley is given another chance. Both backs could be kept if one of the young WRs are moved. The Green Team managed to recover from a horrid 2001 Draft by mining FAs. In fact, the whole team is composed of FA pickups, aside from Mr Favre. PROJECTED KEEPERS: B Favre, M Pittman, D Jackson, M Booker, Tr Brown [grade:C+]

Ante Up
Ante Up is a team full of holes and potential. Jeff Garcia has proven that he belongs as one of the top fantasy QBs, but everyone else is in doubt. RB Edgerrin James is coming off a torn ACL. Lamar Smith is in Carolina. Warrick Dunn is in Atlanta, Ante Up will have a hard time picking a second feature back to keep. The reciever corps is all a roll of the dice. Derrick Alexander is playing second fiddle to Randy Moss in Minnessota after a disappointing year. But he might be the standout from a pack consisting of P Price, D Mason and A Freeman. This team needs to unearth some quality prospects and hope for the Edge's healthy return. PROJECTED KEEPERS: J Garcia, E James, W Dunn, D Alexander, P Price [grade:C]