With 255 more games to be played, I believe I'm still OK to post my playoff predictions for the 2008 NFL season. I'm on a couple of dark horse picks, and ultimately revised this list several times before settling on my 12-team field.

Here goes nothing. Feel free to pick me apart.

NFC East: Cowboys

NFC West: Cardinals

NFC South: Buccaneers

NFC North: Vikings

Wild Card 1: Giants

Wild Card 2: Panthers

AFC East: Patriots

AFC West: Chargers

AFC South: Colts

AFC North: Steelers

Wild Card 1: Jaguars

Wild Card 2: Jets

AFC Champ: Colts

NFC Champ: Cowboys

Super Bowl Winner: Colts

Join me tonight as I begin breaking down this weekend's match-ups and recap the horror of the 16-7 home victory for Eli Manning and the Giants.

You can call-in LIVE from 10:30pm PT - 11:30pm PT and have your say about the week ahead. Ask your lineup questions, recap your drafts, vent about the QB and RB quandaries that pervade your roster.

Come see what's rattling around "Inside The Swollen Dome."

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/FoxSport
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See ya then!

Fantasy owners have been tracking player news, depth chart changes and injury notes since the final gun sounded in Glendale last February. All the shuffling of positional rankings, the exhaustive research and snooze-fest preseason action has now come to an end.

Raise your coffee cups or beverage of choice to your fantasy brethren as we embark on another fabulous campaign. It’s time to make lineup decisions in games that count and review some of the injuries that may influence your decisions. The list will undoubtedly grow between now and the kickoffs of Sunday morning, so Roger Rotter, John Halpin and I will be working tirelessly through the weekend to get you the final news and notes as you begin your mission of fantasy dominance. I truly appreciate you joining me for the ride.

Let’s start in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars seek to unseat the Colts in the AFC South. They just might begin the campaign without two of their top receiving options.

<i> The Jacksonville Times </i> reports that receiver and red zone monster Reggie Williams spent Wednesday’s practice on a stationery bike. His availability for Sunday’s opener against Tennessee is now in doubt. Meanwhile, teammate Jerry Porter, who had missed extensive time because of a hamstring injury of his own, returned to practice. It now appears that Porter will be available to play this weekend.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> I suspect that the long layoff for Porter will keep him from making a significant impact in what is sure to be a hard-fought smash-mouth type of game. I sit him down until he proves healthy. It remains to be seen whether he can go through a full game of cuts and contact. The absence of Williams in the red zone opens opportunities for Marcedes Lewis, who stands as my super-sized fantasy sleeper of the week.

<i> The Houston Chronicle </I> advises that Texans tailback Ahman Green has fully participated in practice this week in advance of the Week 1 battle against Pittsburgh. Green reportedly ran well during drills, seemingly indicating that he’s adequately recovered from his groin injury.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> The lingering injury concern and the fact that Green touched the ball just once this preseason forces me to leave him on the bench, even if he’s declared the starter. We’ll certainly see a committee approach, with both Chris Taylor and Steve Slaton factoring into the mix. If forced to pick a player from this rotation, I’m rolling with dark horse sleeper candidate Slaton in the Flex slot.

According to <i> The Oakland Tribune </i>, off-season acquisition Javon Walker has been slowed by a hamstring injury this week and may miss the season opener on Monday against the division rival Broncos.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> Ronald Curry and Todd Watkins have been more consistent during camp, although I’m not optimistic that either player provides much of a boost for fantasy owners against the strong Denver corners. Look for the running game to be front and center (start McFadden and Fargas) with Zach Miller seeing a ton of work over the middle.

<i> The Carolina Observer </I> reports that Matt Moore that the original bone bruise diagnosis has been updated to reflect a fractured fibula. Moore was throwing on Wednesday when he felt a pop in the original area. He’s expected to miss 4-6 weeks at a minimum.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> The acquisition of Josh McCown gives the Panthers a veteran option should an injury befall Jake Delhomme while Moore, who played well in spurts last season, recovers from the injury. There’s no immediate change here save for the name on your watch list and a potential waiver option should Delhomme go down. 

Also in Carolina, longtime fantasy sleeper D.J. Hackett returned to practice this week after missing several weeks because of a toe injury. Hackett is expected to see significant time alongside Muhsin Muhammad while the team plays out Steve Smith’s suspension.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> John Fox noted after Wednesday’s practice that he doesn’t anticipate that Hackett’s absence from the four preseason games would limit his contribution in Week 1 against Buffalo. Hackett warrants consideration in deeper leagues as a solid second option for Delhomme.

I don’t know that I’ll ever get used to typing it, but Chad Ocho Cinco is set to start Week 1 against the hard-hitting Ravens. Ocho Cinco has appeared at practice this week and is confident that he’ll post numbers immediately.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> The Ravens will play without Ed Reed, which leaves them susceptible to plays downfield. That assumes, of course, that the Cincinnati O-Line can stop the pass rush and protect Carson Palmer. Regardless, play Ocho Cinco while you can in your No. 3 slot.

<i> The Cleveland Plain Dealer </i> reports that Jamal Lewis returned to practice on Wednesday and ran well in limited work. Lewis is expected to get the starting nod, although running room may be sparse against the tough Dallas defense.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> Barring a late change (keep it locked onto FOXSports.com for the latest information), Lewis is still worthy of a start as a RB2 or Flex play. Derek Anderson has recovered sufficiently from his concussion and will lead a passing parade that will try to keep pace with the Dallas juggernaut. However, Lewis is still there for the touchdown glory.

<p> Also in Cleveland, linebacker Antwan Peek was lost for the year on Wednesday with a ruptured patellar tendon. Shantee Orr was re-signed by the squad and will split time with rookie Alex Hall.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> There’s absolutely no rational being who would be tempted to start the Browns this weekend. Even the most ardent Browns supporters couldn’t be swayed (unless you have a scoring system that makes Josh Cribbs, who is also injured, a fantasy legend in return yardage).

 According to sources in Philadelphia, receiver Reggie Brown didn't participate in Thursday's practice. Brown remains sidelined by a hamstring issue. His availability for Sunday's tilt with the Rams is in jeopardy.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> It's time to push DeSean Jackson and L.J. Smith up your rankings sheets for Week 1. I've already written at length about each player and how they ultimately present tremendous targets for Donovan McNabb (Hank Baskett will see a few more looks, too), but that also assumed Brown's presence. You have to like them even more against a St. Louis team that will be tested on both sides of the ball. I suspect that the Philadelphia defense generates several turnovers from Jim Johnson's blitz packages, giving McNabb quick-strike capabilities.

<i> The Seattle Times </i> reports that Deion Branch appeared at practice in full uniform on Wednesday. I caution against getting overly optimistic here, as he’s now just seven months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL and reportedly spent most of his time catching balls off of the Juggs gun. Branch told reporters that he’s been running, but was non-committal to a question about running routes. I don’t believe that we’ll see Branch until after the Week 4 Bye.

<b><i> Impact: </i></b> As Branch and Bobby Engram (shoulder) shelved with injuries, you’re looking at Nate Burleson, John Carlson and Courtney Taylor as the top options for Matt Hasselbeck. Burleson will see a high target number against the Bills, although his ability to produce as a No. 1 receiver remains a huge question mark. Carlson is a nice sleeper candidate this weekend, while Taylor and my deep, deep sleeper Jordan Kent will make modest dents in the box score.

Keep it locked onto the pages of FOXSports.com for all of the breaking news and injury updates as we countdown to the glory of fantasy football 2008.

We’ve watched countless hours of film, driven thousands of miles to see players and teams up close and personal and scoured rosters and statistics to get to this point. Rosters are now set and the topsy-turvy, often maddening preseason has come to an end. At least any further injuries sustained by your favorite team will come under the guise of trying to secure a victory that counts.

Now, it’s time to file those papers back into their appropriate resting places or to the recycling bin. Instead, we’re going to harness the lessons learned and gaze into the crystal ball. It’s time for a short list of predictions for the season ahead. I’ll post my playoff and Super Bowl picks in my blog on Thursday.

Let’s start in Cincinnati.

I’ll sell short if I was a Chad Ocho Cinco owner. Offer to toss in a customized jersey or a trading card with that, um, surname affixed to it. Don’t worry, you won’t see much more than a “Ch – line” in his autograph, so you won’t have to pay a premium. He’ll attempt to play through the pain and post one or two big games before heading to Dr. Andrews. Ocho Cinco is usually good for receptions, yardage and a couple multi-touchdown games each year. I think the risk is too high for where he’s being selected. I’m out.

Likewise, I love Shawne Merriman and that Chargers defense, but if you forced me to be the first guy to take a defense, I’m swinging with the Vikings. Give me Jared Allen and a run-stuffing unit that creates third-and-long opportunities against inexperienced QBs in the NFC North (and the normally turnover-afflicted Jon Kitna).

Brett Favre adapts to big city life better than most expect. The new team captain makes full use of his downfield weapons and a strong offensive line. Favre throws 30 touchdown passes, but still drives you insane with 15 interceptions. He leads the Jets to the sixth and final playoff slot.

I’ve agonized over the ranking of Adrian Peterson all summer. LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook topped my running back rankings, but Peterson in the three hole left me uneasy. After all, we’re not playing Rotisserie baseball and adding up his season-long efforts. He’s going to have a handful of those monster games that represent the bulk of his statistical contributions, a few games where he’s invisible (remember the end of last season?) and I suspect that he misses time due to injury. The loss of Bryant McKinnie for four games isn’t helping things. But, I guess I still take him before Steven Jackson (injury issues of his own in the past and a crumbling offensive line), Joseph Addai (either all-world or invisible in 2007) and the remaining backs. I’m going to regret not just vacating that slot.

Notice that the draft stock of Ryan Grant has dipped in the latter part of the summer. Grant missed OTA’s and then got hurt in camp, leaving me and many other fantasy owners a tad worried. Add the fact that opposing defenses are going to stuff the box until Aaron Rodgers proves himself, and it results in a tough, tough start for Grant. He needs Week 16 and 17 to eclipse his 2007 totals as Brandon Jackson cuts into his workload.

Speaking of Rodgers, I’m not convinced that he makes it through a full 16-game slate. Now, that’s not much of a prediction, as only a handful of quarterbacks complete a full season. With that said, I expect rookie Matt Flynn to find himself under center for several games before this season ends.

That logic follows directly to the huddle in Arizona. Although Kurt Warner opens the year as the starter and will presumably match his high level of performance from 2007 given the options available to him, there’s nobody thinking he’ll make it through 16 games. Historical markers are just too strong.

Despite the lovefest in San Francisco with J.T. O’Sullivan, I believe that Shaun Hill is lining up under center by October 1st.

Before the season ends, as many as 10 rookie running backs will play significant roles in offenses across the NFL. One player flying under the radar is bulldozer Tim Hightower in Arizona. He’s thrilled coaches with his ability to move piles and bounce off of would-be tacklers for the all-important YAC yards. Hightower ascends to a prominent “vulture” role and scores eight touchdowns as the complement to Edgerrin James.

Who put the “fun” into dysfunctional, the Lions or Bengals? Rudi Johnson morphs into a different type of cat with his arrival in Detroit, and I actually like him better in this offense. Of course, I’m also putting my faith in Jim Colletto being a man of his word and actually balancing the offensive distribution in Detroit. The Kevin Smith-Johnson duo just might be the thing to make Jon Kitna less turnover prone in the red zone.

On a related note, former Lions back Tatum Bell is being sought by Detroit fans who claim that he stole more than just Johnson’s bags.

Moving on.

Philadelphia tight end L.J. Smith finds himself in a tremendous spot as the season opens. Injuries throughout the receiving corps make Smith a prime target for Donovan McNabb, provided that they can both stay healthy. Smith will finish the year as a top 10 tight end, offering a great target that can operate in space.

I’ve been off of the Derek Anderson bandwagon for some time. The talent available to him on this offense is impressive, but I fear that his late-season mediocrity and a tough schedule conspire to put him on the bench. Anderson is already reeling from a concussion sustained at the hands of Osi Umenyiora in his final act before heading to IR, and I believe that Brady Quinn will be under center by midseason. The schedule is brutal, and while Anderson will put up strong numbers, I’m not convinced that his efforts translate to wins. As such, the golden boy will be on display.

Jake Delhomme’s elbow stays sound and he finishes the year as a top-10 fantasy quarterback, wins “Comeback Player of the Year” honors and leads the Panthers to the playoffs. Of course, this only occurs if Steve Smith remains on his best behavior upon his return to the field.

Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden (with a little help from Michael Bush) team to place the Raiders inside the top 10 running games in the leagues once again. McFadden ultimately wins out in the final yardage tally as he stays healthy, but fantasy owners agonize over their Flex spot for several weeks (including Week 1 against Denver). Zach Miller leads Oakland in receptions.

Pony is launching a campaign to turn Randy Moss into a verb, as in “you got Mossed” when he’s dancing in the end zone after beating you on a corner route. In Olympic-like fashion, Moss makes a serious run to breaking his single-season touchdown record, set just last year.

Fans of the New York Giants will inundate our FOX Plaza offices with stacks of letters in a fashion similar to the climax of “Miracle on 34th Street,” begging retired defensive end Michael Strahan to don his No. 92 uniform once again. He ultimately stays on the Los Angeles lot to form one of the most potent defensive fronts ever alongside Howie Long. Curt Menefee doesn’t stand a chance.

We will go an entire regular season without a police run-in to discuss, and dust will gather on the chair opposite Roger Goodell. I can hope, can’t I?

By Week 9, a litany of injuries and inexplicable twists and turns of this NFL season will force me to descend into madness. I will begin donning a jersey with a “Mare” nameplate, pounding the desk with a fierceness and energy unmatched in broadcast journalism on any level.

Nothing matches the enthusiasm and excitement of an NFL Sunday.

Welcome back.

Greetings, all -

If you have questions about your upcoming drafts, log on to Blogtalkradio.com and come "Inside The Swollen Dome."

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/FoxSport
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I'll be online from 4-4:30 today, talking about the day's news and getting you ready to dominate your league. Your calls are always welcome.

- Harmon

On Sunday, August 3rd, the "FOX Sports Radio Fantasy Freaks" return to the airwaves.

I'll be working alongside Nate Lundy and Peter Burns to bring you all of the latest and greatest information around the gridiron each Sunday from 10am-12pm ET (7-9am PT).

We'll be rolling each weekend from now through the end of the regular season, so join us.

Send your questions via text messages to 66369 (ONFOX).

You can listen online at http://msn.foxsports.com/radio

Lock it up. It's time to dominate.

The All-Star Game has provided a number of memorable moments through the years. My mind immediately drifts to Pete Rose and Ray Fosse, but there have been others that stay at the front of my mind. I still get goosebumps when I think about the pageantry of Boston when the All-Century Team was unveiled and players surrounded Ted Williams.

Not to be outdone, the city of New York was on display with the pomp and circumstance to rival any sporting event (I know, soccer fans beat their chests for the FIFA World Cup, and the Super Bowl is a two-week festival that is rarely matched on the U.S. stage.). However, the city of New York, Major League Baseball and the Yankees put on a phenomenal event. The red carpet event down 6th avenue was magical, with Spike Lee and other celebrities showing their inner fandom.

I'm not one to get too excited by parades, but the sight of this veritable conga line of stars got me to sit on the edge of my seat. Great work by Jeannie Zelasko and Chris Rose to set the table, with Laura Okmin and Charissa Thompson out in the field. And, if you didn't enjoy Mark Grace's excitement while talking to Ernie Banks and Kosuke Fukudome (nice Japanese work, Mark) and the expression on his face as he talked to Willie Mays, then I don't know what to tell you.

For all of its trials and tribulations, baseball still reduces many of us to children. When a game is played as well as Tuesday night's was, all is right with the world. Dan Uggla had the hat trick of errors, although the official scorer was a bit harsh on the third one - that should have been a hit! All of the pitchers did their job (batters were 3-for-28 with runners in scoring position), and we saw defense, defense and more defense.

Did you expect to see sacrifice bunts and so many stolen base attempts?

Now, one of the best plays of the game, Nate McLouth's outfield assist to the plate was actually a missed call (according to the replays, Dioner Navarro slid in before the tag was applied). But, it doesn't matter. No fan could have turned off their television or walked out of the park unhappy.

I suppose Yankee fans would have liked to see somebody else win the MVP Award instead of Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew, but a win is a win.

The only folks who lost in this one (other than the NL stars who battled valiantly in this nearly five-hour marathon) were those who scheduled their DVRs to cut out at 9pm. They missed a full game worth of action.

Check out this upcoming podcast. I'll be joining Greg Kellogg, Cliff McConoughay, Carl Weatherford and John Carson to start previewing the 2008 season. On the board tonight is a discussion of running backs. Ahh, good times. It's never too early, is it?

http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/18062

The podcast will be active after the broadcast, so you can check it out anytime.

Post your proposed topics to the board here. We'll be rolling out some audio goodness in the near future, and your input is vital.

So, what did you think?

I sat down on Saturday night to watch CBS's foray into MMA. Was it representative of what you've come to expect from the UFC and its promotions (although I'd like to see a WWF-inspired name for each PPV instead of the numbering system). With that said, you can't dial up "Rage in the Cage" or "Hell in the Cell" because you're always there!

Anyway, the pacing of the show was disastrous. I enjoy listening to Gus Johnson's energy and passion, but he was forced to dance way too much.

There were a ton of background stories and the dual introductions were confusing and time-wasters. However, fans got what they tuned in for. The Gina Carano-Kaitlin Young bout was the best of the night. Carano had received a lot of press coming into the weekend and she lived up to the hype. She and Young traded blows early, and despite coming into the fight overweight (by 4 pounds, which forced a more equitable split of the purse with Young), she showed no ill effects. Carano's work with "American Gladiators" kept her from going full-tilt on her training, and she seemed genuinely disappointed that she hadn't fought better. This all despite winning by TKO. Great, great fight.

The Robbie Lawler-Scott Smith fight was also a gem. They battled into the third round, trading blows in a nice seesaw affair. Unfortunately, Lawler caught Smith in the eye as we backed toward the cage and the fight was ultimately called. It was a great battle and will definitely be revisited down the line.

And now ... for the main event.

The first thing you can say about "Colossus" and "Slice." Neither of these guys were well-conditioned and they were certainly winded. Slice was dominated on the ground, and there have been debates about whether the fight should have been stopped at the end of the second round. Whether Slice was mounting a defense as Thompson slammed down with elbows was certainly a judgment call.

The biggest thing you can say is that Slice lacks mat skills. Period. He looked out of place in the grapping phase of the contest and appears best suited for the MMA equivalent of golf driving contests. Maybe we can call his haymaker "Big Bertha?"

In the third, after landing some crushing blows earlier in the bout, Slice finally made his mark. Slice landed a big right hook and there came the blood. Thompson was dazed, and the fight was stopped. Should it have been? No, it probably shouldn't have been, but it was a network show. I can't say that I was surprised.

Kimbo displayed the power that everyone wanted to see and there's absolutely no denying his strength and he draws you in, to be sure. The crowd booed the end of the fight, and I certainly understand their frustration following the nearly 3-hour card.

The UFC fighters would have had their way with him, provided that they could avoid the big right hook. All of the pre-fight comments from the UFC camp echoed during Slice's struggles on the mat.

The Internet fueled Slice's rise to stardom. The ball's in his court to keep it.

Say what you will. There isn't a casual boxing, wrestling or MMA enthusiast who isn't interested in checking out the prime-time debut of Kimbo Slice.

His videos on YouTube are the stuff of legend. Face it. You've watched more than a few frames of Slice bringing down the hammer on his opponents.

Fans have listened to UFC heavyweights bashing his skillset, using the dreaded "tomato can" adjective to describe Slice's opponents. His story is captivating, and yes, his opponents don't have the pedigree of the finest fighting academies or the UFC's "Ultimate Fighter." However, we've watched Kimbo obliterate his opponents on that grainy video.

CBS is making a big bet that his story and persona can make ratings. Do they want a good fight and for Kimbo to take down "The Colossus?" Absolutely. But let's not kid ourselves. This is a bet on entertainment.

The network is banking that those people who can't shell out big dollars for a show in Las Vegas (the lowest-priced tickets on StubHub for Griffin versus Rampage are $174 each. Wanna sit ringside? You're looking at $2K!) will opt out of another rerun or bad reality show. They're betting that men have already seen "Iron Man"  or "Indiana Jones" and will pass on an invite to see "Sex and the City." They're betting that the cost of dinner and a round of drinks at the bar will lead to backyard BBQs and a cozy evening at home in front of the tube.

If that's not enough, those tuning in on Saturday also get to see "Crush" from "American Gladiators," Gina Carano, battle. Her father, Glenn, was a backup quarterback for the Cowboys for several years, so you get your football fix as well.

I'll be ready to watch this one on Saturday night. Do I expect technical brilliance and a throwback to the origins of wrestling? No. I do expect a great show called by Gus Johnson.

It'll whet your appetite for Jose Canseco versus Vai Sikahema down the line.

Enjoy!

The Yankees sent Ian Kennedy to the hill against the Rays on Thursday. It was the latest in a long string of tough outings for the highly-touted prospect. Joe Girardi continues to grapple with his rotation as the season progresses, and the Yankee faithful are looking forward to the return of Alex Rodriguez as a new beginning for this 2008 season. The Yankees are looking up at everyone save the Blue Jays in the AL East. That's right. The scrappy Rays and Orioles are currently sitting ahead of the Yankees in this final season of "The House That Ruth Built."

The image inserted above shows a picture of "The Sultan of Swat" from a new insert set issued by the Upper Deck company during the 2008 season. "Yankee Stadium Legacy" commemorates the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium, featuring the games and events of a long and storied past. You want numbers. Talk about a 6,661-card set. That's <i> Guiness Book of World Records </i> big.

We've all bought a pack of cards here and there through the years. Sure, we miss the gum from our youth, but pulling a jersey card, autograph or the rookie card of the next "can't miss" prospect still holds some luster.

This set is like a history lesson on cardboard. Love 'em or hate 'em, you can't deny the importance of baseball in the Bronx and its place in baseball history.

You'll find multiple cards of Maris, Ruth, Jeter and all of the usual suspects, but how about cards showing love to Wally Pipp or Earle Combs? Allie Reynolds? I couldn't believe when I pulled a card of Billy Martin.

That made me smile. Nobody who came to love baseball in the 70s and early 80s can forget Martin versus "Big Stein" and his famous beer commercials.

There are prizes involved for building out the collection, including a trip to Yankee Stadium.

Tired of all of the off-field issues and speculation about who did what, when and with whom? Do yourself a favor and take a trip down memory lane.

http://sports.upperdeck.com/baseball/yankeesta
dium/

The new rules for the NFL Draft ended day one after just two rounds. We watched innumerable trades and wore our erasers down to nubs, but man, it was fun.

I always call it "Christmas in April," and this weekend is no exception.

I had the great pleasure of attending the 2006 draft in NYC. I'm jonesing to get back.

The NFL war rooms were back in business quite early on Sunday, and once again, the picks were flying off of the board.

Roger Rotter and I will be breaking down all of the winners and losers in the draft fallout on the pages of FOXSports.com this week. I can say one thing quickly out of the third round.

Herman Edwards and his staff have done a masterful job. The two offensive additions in the third round are phenomeal. You've got Brad Cottam, the 6-7 tight end and potential <i> red zone monster </i> from Tennessee. The Chiefs also snagged Jamaal Charles from Texas, who'll be great insurance for Larry Johnson. Kolby Smith played well in spurts last season, but I absolutely love this pick. After attending to the O-Line on Day One, the Chiefs found more firepower on day 2. Oh yeah, don't worry about Tony Gonzalez. He'll stick rack up receptions. Cottam might be a low-catch, high-touchdown type of player this season.

I'm stoked to watch things unfold on this Sunday, with the Talladega race on one window and the draft on the other.

Oh yeah. The Chiefs have another third-round pick in the offing.

Good times. I'll be back with a look-in later this afternoon.

As the second round began, there were a number of players who were expected to fly off of the board in the first round still sitting out there.

Think about it - you had Sweed, Brohm, Henne, Thomas, Merling and Kelly.

All of them would have to sweat it out on Saturday, but they finally heard their names called by Gene Washington.

Obviously, we were intrigued to see where Brohm and Henne would go, and they came off of the board in rapid succession and in good spots. Brohm goes to the Packers, where he becomes the backup to Aaron Rodgers (OK, maybe 3rd if the Culpepper thing happens). I thought he'd go to Green Bay at 30th (before all of the deals, of course), and they got him 26 spots later.

Henne goes to Miami, where he'll be in a great spot to learn ... and perhaps to play in the near future. If nothing else, he's very familiar with the No. 1 pick Jake Long, who'll be dominating on the line for the next decade.

The Steelers did a great job in finding a potential steal in Limas Sweed. At 6-foot-5, Sweed is a playmaker who could become an immediate red zone terror. I'm jotting him down as a deep sleeper.

I absolutely love what the Redskins were able to do. They snagged Devin Thomas, Fred Davis and Malcolm Kelly. It's the same thing as the Brohm pick above. I expected Kelly to be in a Washington uniform after this weekend, but he was a player I expected to hear called in the first round. These players immediately improve Jason Campbell's fantasy draft stock. Sure, they're raw and a work in progress, but that's an impressive trio.

The Bears found a bulldozer in Matt Forte, who rushed for over 2,000 yards last year. He hammers into the line, but has the speed to take it all the way. Forte will challenge for the starting slot immediately.

Baltimore drafted Ray Rice, the Rutgers star. He's a player who might see special teams time and spot duty behind McGahee, but doesn't stand out as an instant fantasy contributor.

The Cowboys quietly traded Anthony Fasano before the draft and replaced him with Martellus Bennett. At 6-foot-7, Bennett could become a red zone threat - although his opportunities will be limited with TO and Barber III on the radar.

Cal speedster DeSean Jackson heads to Philadelphia. He's a great downfield threat in the passing game and is a game-breaker in the return game. The Philadelphia defense rises on my draft board with his addition, as he's a threat to break one every time.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the first two rounds was the selection of Donnie Avery by the Rams. Avery has blazing speed and good hands, but he's a shocker special. Quick slants a la Wes Welker is all I can think of for the 2008 playbook to integrate him into the attack.

I'm going to take a deep breath and enjoy the analysis of my folks on <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/radio"> FOX Sports Radio </a>. Go listen to my man Ray Buchanan break it down. I'll be back tomorrow for the second round.

We'll be breaking down all of the picks and offer some thoughts on the impact that these selections make on teams all week on the pages of FOXSports.com. The 2008 Fantasy Football season is officially on. Let's light it up.

After another deal put the Cowboys into the 25th slot (from Seattle), the next five begins with Houston, who select a huge tackle, Duane Brown from Virginia Tech. You're looking at a 6-foot-5, 315-pound behemoth who can make things happen at the line of scrimmage. He's demonstrated great athleticism as a former D-End and tight end. Oh yeah, this pick was made following a trade as well. The Seahawks traded out of this slot.

The Chargers came onto the scene and grabbed Antoine Cason with pick No. 27. Cason is another 2-position player, dominating in the cornerback world and has displayed good return skills. He's a consistent cover man (46 starts) with advanced technique.

The Seahawks were back on the clock following the earlier deal with Dallas. They selected Lawrence Jackson, a standout defensive end from USC. He's got a good motor off of the edge with great technique. Jackson stands nearly 6-foot-5 and could make his way onto the field right away. I thought you'd see an offensive addition, be it a tight end or wide receiver. Maybe a quarterback? Instead, Jackson is a pass rusher worth a look-see in IDP leagues. Jackson could pile up sacks as a specialist. I just think they could have found him in the second round.

The 49ers quickly make a selection. Literally, this took about 15 seconds! Kentwan Balmer from North Carolina joins the fray as San Francisco looks to reclaim past glory. I understand that they made veteran additions to Mike Martz's offense, but where's the young wide receiver? Balmer is a value pick here as defensive linemen have flown off of the board, but still, Martz needs more tools.

The Packers began the Aaron Rodgers era with ... a trade. The Jets traded up to the 30th slot and used the pick to snag tight end Dustin Keller from the Boilermakers. Keller is a great pass-catcher and a player who needs to be on the fantasy radar immediately. He knows how to find space in the zone and can make moves once in the open field. Keller compared quite favorably with Dallas Clark. He's brought in to help the quarterback situation.

There are obviously other needs to attend to, but a tight end is a growing quarterback's (Kellen Clemens) best friend.

The first round ends with the New York Giants, who were certainly looking to shore up their secondary as the day started. Hard-hitting safety Kenny Phillips from Miami is a strong pickup here. Phillips is a playmaker who will help the defending champions look for a return trip to the big game. He flies to the ball and will be integral in covering those sizable wide receivers of the NFC.

I love the pacing here. The shorter periods between picks are forcing teams to make up their minds. No paralysis by analysis here with a quick-ticking clock. I'll be back this evening to recap rounds 2 and 3 and set the stage for day two.

Yet another trade opens this set of players.

The Redskins must have decided that wide receivers wll be available down the road, so instead, they dealt the No. 21 pick to Atlanta. The Falcons make a solid addition in Sam Baker from USC. He's a decent prospect, but doesn't jump off of the page. 

The Cowboys had their choice between Illinois star Rashard Mendenhall and Arkansas back Felix Jones.  Naturally, since he couldn't get McFadden, Jones goes with ... Jones. C'mon. He had to get the guy from Arkansas. Jones becomes an immediate contender to pick up work in the return game, but he's also the No. 2 back to Marion Barber III now that Julius Jones is off in Seattle. It's a nice pickup for a tremendously talented offense. That's a lot of Joneses.

The Steelers welcomed a great back of their own when Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois fell into their lap. Mendenhall teams with Willie Parker to form a potent 1-2 punch. He stands 5-foot-11 and weight 225. He will not wear down and has the speed to go the distance once he gets into the defensive secondary. It stands to reason that he'll be the goal-line back for Mike Tomlin's squad in 2008. Mendenhall provides the bruising presence to soften things up for Speedy Willie to fly down the sideline. Great pickup.

The Titans then figured to make the first selection of a wide receiver, but instead opted for East Carolina tailback Chris Johnson. It's an interesting selection, given the team's other needs, particularly targets for Vince Young. In any event, Johnson is a tough inside runner who will enter the mix immediately.

After using their first first-round pick on offense, the Cowboys selected Mike Jenkins from South Florida. Jenkins has a good nose for the ball and great hands. He excelled as a return man and could become an immediate impact player in this system. I also like the way he throws his body into receivers. No fear - just what you need from a corner.

The Jets are on the clock.