The news: The Falcons acquired TE Tony Gonzalez from the Chiefs on Thursday in exchange for a 2010 second-round pick. Gonzalez, 33, ranks as the most prolific tight end of all time and has made 10 straight Pro Bowls. Last season, he had 96 catches for 1,058 yards and 10 TDs.

Fantasy impact: No longer happy in Kansas City, Gonzalez should be rejuvenated playing for a contending team in Atlanta. Clearly still at the top of his game, he'll get to play with one of the league's best young passers in Matt Ryan, which is an upgrade over the QBs that the Chiefs have trotted out over the past couple years. Lining up alongside a star receiver like Roddy White should help take defensive attention off the veteran tight end, and the presence of RB Michael Turner should free up room for Gonzalez to roam over the middle. Unfortunately for Gonzalez, while the Falcons' offense has the potential to be one of the most potent in the league, its abundance of talent might cause a statistical dip for the future Hall of Famer. Since he'll have to share targets with White and WR Michael Jenkins, Gonzalez isn't likely to catch upwards of 100 passes this season. And with a premier goal-line back in Turner, Atlanta probably will opt to run more in the red zone than throw to the tight end. All in all, Gonzalez should still have a very productive 2009 campaign, but he might not be the fantasy monster he was in K.C.

Thursday, April 2

Cutler's fantasy outlook cloudy in Chicago

The news: The Bears acquired QB Jay Cutler from the Broncos on Thursday in exchange for reportedly two first-round picks and QB Kyle Orton. Cutler, 25, made the Pro Bowl last season and led the AFC in passing yards with 4,526, throwing 25 TDs and 18 INTs.

Fantasy impact: Cutler wanted out of Denver, and now that he got his wish, he might not be too thrilled about it. Although he'll get to start fresh with a new coaching staff that truly will embrace him as its QB, the Bears offer him one of the weakest group of pass catchers in the entire league. Cutler will go from throwing to guys like Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal to now targeting Devin Hester and Earl Bennett - not exactly All-Pro wideouts. He also goes to a team that has been a run-first franchise for as long as anyone can remember, and that's not likely to drastically change just because Cutler is in town. RB Matt Forté is a budding star, and Chicago offensive coordinator Ron Turner will want to keep him heavily involved in the game plan. Now, even with these things going against him, Cutler remains a No. 1 fantasy QB. He proved last year that he can be dominant when he's on his game, and that was with opposing defenses thinking pass first. With the support of a strong running game now, defenses won't be able to sit back in coverage, giving him a bit more freedom and likely resulting in fewer picks. TE Greg Olsen is a very solid target who could become a favorite of Cutler's, and Hester has shown signs of being a legitimate receiver, so it's not like the cupboard is completely bare. Forté is also an accomplished receiver out of the backfield. Obviously, all Bears pass catchers deserve an immediate fantasy upgrade. And while Cutler might not post elite fantasy numbers playing in the Windy City, he should still be one of the first 10 QBs to come off the board in drafts.

Wednesday, March 11

L.T. still a Charger, but no longer a No. 1 RB

The news: The Chargers and RB LaDainian Tomlinson agreed to a restructured three-year deal on Tuesday night, keeping him in San Diego. Tomlinson, 29, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Chargers, making five Pro Bowls and rushing for more TDs (126) than any other active player.

Fantasy impact: For a while, it looked like L.T.'s time in San Diego was coming to an end, but everything was ultimately resolved, and both sides walk away at least fairly satisfied with the agreement. As 2008 showed, Tomlinson is not the consensus No. 1 fantasy player he used to be, but his numbers still weren't bad - he rushed for 1,110 yards and 11 TDs. However, it was his 3.8 yards per carry that's a concern going forward. Set to turn 30 this summer, it's unlikely that Tomlinson will be able to revert back to his form of a few years ago, so expectations should be kept in check if you're planning to target him in your draft. Also, Darren Sproles is certain to play a larger role in the offense in '09 after being named the Bolts' franchise player, which will further cut into L.T.'s production, especially on passing downs. If you're looking for a fairly safe, reliable No. 2 fantasy RB, Tomlinson probably has another decent year or two left in him. Just don't take him as your top back and expect him to carry you to a fantasy title like he used to.

Monday, March 9

Buffalo could be nice fit for T.O.

The news: The Bills signed WR Terrell Owens to a one-year, $6.5 million contract on Saturday. Owens, 35, has been in the league for 13 seasons and spent the past three in Dallas. He has made six Pro Bowls and is second all-time in TD receptions with 139.

Fantasy impact: After being abruptly cut by the Cowboys last week, it didn't take T.O. long to find a new home in Buffalo. It's a somewhat strange fit for both sides - the Bills rarely chase flashy players, and Owens has only played in big markets - but it's one that should instantly improve Buffalo's lackluster passing attack. QB Trent Edwards was merely average last season, but he had only one true receiving threat in Lee Evans. Adding Owens to the mix makes Edwards a much more attractive fantasy option, probably boosting him to a low-end No. 2 QB with sleeper potential. In addition, this move means that Evans finally will be relieved of facing constant double-teams and should be much more effective now. His targets will go down, but his production could very well go up now that he'll see less defensive attention. As for T.O.'s outlook, the controversial receiver likely will take some time to get adjusted to a new offense, but he is still an impact player who should get his stats. Although he probably won't be as prolific as he was in Dallas, Owens remains a decent No. 2 fantasy wideout who'll quickly become Edwards' favorite red-zone target.

Wednesday, March 4

The news: The Cardinals re-signed QB Kurt Warner to a two-year, $23 million contract on Wednesday. Warner, 37, is a two-time NFL MVP and four-time Pro Bowler. Last season, he threw for 4,583 yards with 30 TDs and 14 INTs in leading Arizona to an appearance in the Super Bowl.

Fantasy impact: For both real-life and fantasy purposes, Warner made the right choice returning to the Cards. He'll continue to play in an up-tempo, pass-first offense that fits his abilities perfectly and won't have to worry about learning a new scheme or meshing with different players in this late stage of his career. He'll also get to keep throwing to the best receiver in the game today, Larry Fitzgerald. On the other hand, Warner might be without his terrific No. 2 wideout next season, as Anquan Boldin hasn't wavered on his desire to leave the desert. Losing him would hurt, but the team has a very capable replacement in Steve Breaston, who was no slouch himself last season. And even though offensive coordinator Todd Haley bolted for Kansas City, the Cards' schemes won't change much, if at all, with head coach Ken Whisenhunt calling the plays. Warner will have trouble matching his off-the-charts stats from '08, but he remains a legitimate No. 1 fantasy QB who will perform admirably as long as he stays healthy.

The news: The Bengals signed WR Laveranues Coles to a four-year, $28 million deal on Wednesday. Coles, 31, had been a full-time starter for the Jets and Redskins for the past eight seasons, only missing four games during that span. He has had at least 845 receiving yards and five TDs in seven of those eight campaigns.

Fantasy impact: Although his playing style is different from that of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Coles effectively replaces Housh in Cincy's starting lineup. He should benefit from going to a more pass-heavy offense than he was used to in New York, and Carson Palmer is a significant upgrade over any QB he had previously played with. Coles isn't really an explosive threat, so his production probably won't be quite as high as Chad Ocho Cinco's in the team's vertical attack, but the nine-year vet should still see ample targets as the clear-cut No. 2. He has always been known as a decent, but not great, fantasy option, and that classification isn't likely to change in Cincinnati, especially now that he'll be constantly facing the tough defenses of the AFC North. However, Coles' durability is a definite asset, as you know he's going to take the field every single week. If all goes well for Coles in a Bengals uniform, his numbers should be similar, if not slightly better, than they were with the Jets in 2008: 70 catches for 850 yards and seven TDs.

Tuesday, March 3

RB Ward in line for healthy workload with Bucs

The news: The Buccaneers signed RB Derrick Ward to a four-year, $17 million contract late Monday night. Ward, 28, had spent his first five seasons in the league with the Giants. In 2008, he rushed for 1,025 yards and two TDs backing up Brandon Jacobs.

Fantasy impact: Ward, the best free-agent back to hit the open market, lands with a team in the Bucs that should give him the starting opportunity he was looking for. He was fantastic last season in a No. 2 capacity, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and chipping in with 41 catches for 384 yards receiving, and he should be in line to post career-best numbers now that he has an expanded role. Ward won't be a bell cow, as Earnest Graham still will get his share of touches, but Tampa should run the ball enough for both guys to still be effective fantasy players, especially with Warrick Dunn now out of the mix and Cadillac Williams sidelined with a knee injury. Ward projects to be the favorite for early-down and passing-down work, with Graham likely coming in for short-yardage and goal-line situations. And while the Bucs' O-line isn't quite as good as the Giants', it still should open up running lanes for Ward to explode through. He probably won't pile up many TDs, but Ward still looks like a solid No. 3 fantasy RB with definite upside.

The news: The Bengals re-signed RB Cedric Benson to a two-year, $7 million contract on Tuesday. Benson, 26, was picked up by Cincinnati last season after spending three years in Chicago. In 2008, he played in 12 games, starting 10, and rushed for 747 yards and two TDs.

Fantasy impact: It looked like his football career might have been over after three disastrous seasons with the Bears, but Benson re-emerged last year in Cincy and now has fantasy relevance once again. Benson's strong finish to '08 - 63 carries for 282 yards in the final two games - gave the Bengals enough confidence to retain him, and as of now he is their clear-cut No. 1 back. That might not last long, since the team likely will take a RB early in the draft or bring in another one through free agency, but either way Benson will be a part of the backfield mix in '09. Considering the Texas product has never scored more than six TDs in a season and has a career 3.7-yard average, he's not a guy with huge upside. But he's still young and will be supported by a much better passing attack in Cincy than he ever was in Chicago. Keep an eye on the Bengals' other moves this offseason, but if Benson enters next season as their featured back, he'll be a low-end No. 3 fantasy back with a good shot at reaching 1,000 yards.

Monday, March 2

Seattle won't be as kind to Houshmandzadeh

The news: The Seahawks signed WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a five-year, $40 million contract on Monday. Houshmandzadeh, 31, had spent his entire eight-year career with the Bengals and had at least 73 catches and 904 yards in each of the past five seasons, including a Pro Bowl appearance in 2007.

Fantasy impact: Houshmandzadeh was the most coveted receiver on the free-agent market, and he certainly got paid like it. A Southern California native and product of Oregon State, Housh returns to the West Coast to play for Seattle, a team that should be a more consistent contender than the Bengals were. Although Housh is finally a No. 1 WR for the first time in his career and no longer has to play in the shadow of Chad Ocho Cinco, his fantasy value takes a slight hit with this move. The Hawks won't throw anywhere near as much as Cincy did, and he won't be running many vertical routes in their West Coast scheme. Also, the play of QB Matt Hasselbeck seemed to decline with his numerous injuries in '08, and it's no guarantee that he'll return to form this season. One thing working on Housh's side is Seattle's lack of a rushing attack, which could force the club to throw more than it'd like. Regardless, at age 31 Houshmandzadeh's days as a No. 1 fantasy wideout appear to be over; he'll be a decent No. 2 in most leagues.

The news: The Titans signed WR Nate Washington to an undisclosed contract on Monday. Over the past three seasons with the Steelers, the 25-year-old receiver caught 104 passes for 1,705 yards and 12 TDs.

Fantasy impact: One of the more intriguing options on the free-agent market, Washington should finally be able to crack the starting lineup fulltime, something he wasn't given the opportunity to do during his four years in Pittsburgh. He instantly becomes Tennessee's most talented wideout, and he should start opposite Justin Gage from the get-go. Unfortunately for Washington, who is known for his skills as a deep threat and sports a 16.4-yard career average, Tennessee's offense isn't exactly "receiver friendly." The Titans haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2004, nor have they had a QB throw more than 18 TDs in a season since then. They have always been a run-first team under coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, and that's not likely to change with a terrific pair of backs in Chris Johnson and LenDale White and the aging Kerry Collins still under center. Washington might see his receptions go up slightly in a new uniform, but it's unlikely that his yardage or TD numbers will see much of a spike from 2008. He looks like a good No. 4 WR in standard fantasy leagues.

Saturday, Feb. 28

Chiefs provide QB Cassel chance to keep shining

The news: The Chiefs acquired QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel from the Patriots in exchange for their 2009 second-round pick on Saturday. Starting in place of the injured Tom Brady for virtually all of the '08 season, Cassel threw for 3,693 yards with 21 TDs and 11 INTs.

Fantasy impact: Cassel was a fantasy revelation last season - especially in his back-to-back 400-yard, three-TD outings in Weeks 11 and 12 - and the fact that he'll be starting somewhere in '09 and not sitting behind Brady is obviously great for his fantasy value. New head coach Todd Haley's offense should cater to Cassel's strengths, as he figures to employ a wide-open spread attack that allows the QB to chuck it early and often. Learning how to play without a premier offensive line or top-flight receiving options might be a difficult adjustment, but Cassel can at least rely on underrated target Dwayne Bowe and, if he's back next season, Tony Gonzalez. Bowe looks to be a major beneficiary of this trade, as he'll now have an accurate passer throwing his way quite frequently; whoever emerges as the Chiefs' No. 2 wideout also should have some fantasy relevance. The guy who loses out most here is QB Tyler Thigpen, who now will be relegated to watching from the sideline as the club's backup. In most fantasy leagues, Cassel projects to be a low-end No. 1 QB or a solid No. 2.

Move to S.F. should benefit WR Jones

The news: The 49ers signed WR Brandon Jones to a five-year, $16.5 million deal on Saturday. Jones, 26, was a part-time starter in four seasons with the Titans, catching 112 passes for 1,380 yards and nine TDs.

Fantasy impact: With their receiver situation in flux, the Niners needed to bring in someone who could contribute right away, and Jones should be able to do just that. Even though his production wasn't great during his time in Tennessee, Jones never had much QB consistency there, so the numbers don't tell the whole story. The Oklahoma product has shown flashes of being a fantasy force before, and a move to San Fran should help him develop into a more reliable fantasy option. Assuming WR Isaac Bruce doesn't retire, Jones looks like the favorite to slide into the No. 2 slot, so playing time shouldn't be an issue, and QB Shaun Hill is a more fantasy-friendly passer than anyone Jones played with on the Titans. Although the Niners won't throw it as much as they did last season when Mike Martz was in charge, they don't necessarily have the personnel to be a run-heavy team, either. If Jones does indeed land a starting gig and has a dependable veteran like Hill throwing to him, the wideout should be a guy to target in the middle rounds of your draft as a fantasy reserve.

The news: The Lions signed WR Bryant Johnson to a three-year, $9 million contract on Saturday. Johnson, who will be 28 next week, spent five seasons with Arizona before spending the 2008 campaign with the 49ers. His most productive year came in '06, when he had 40 catches for 740 yards and four TDs.

Fantasy impact: Detroit wanted to take some pressure off star WR Calvin Johnson by bringing in some receiving help, and signing Bryant Johnson is a good start. Not really much of a deep threat, the former Cardinal and Niner is an effective short and intermediate option, especially out of the slot. With defenses committing so much attention to Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson should become a nice safety valve for likely starting QB Daunte Culpepper. Whether he winds up as the No. 2 or No. 3 wideout remains to be seen, though, as it's possible that the Lions will sign yet another player to bolster their receiving corps. But for now, Bryant Johnson looks like a starter, and with Detroit probably having to throw a lot this season, he should be a relatively frequent target. Consider him a decent mid- to late-round fantasy pick with some definite upside.

Friday, Feb. 27

The news: The Buccaneers acquired TE Kellen Winslow from the Browns on Friday in exchange for undisclosed draft picks. Tampa Bay is said to be in the process of negotiating a long-term deal with the tight end. In five years in Cleveland - only in three of which did he see significant playing time - Winslow had 219 catches for 2,459 yards and 11 TDs.

Fantasy impact: A move back to the state of Florida, where Winslow played his college ball, should help revive the 25-year-old's career, which sputtered a bit last season. He'll give the Bucs another top-flight receiving threat besides WR Antonio Bryant and can line up not only on the line of scrimmage but also out wide and in the slot. He should enjoy playing for new head coach Raheem Morris, who is young and has a passion for the game that is comparable to Winslow's. Health, especially knee issues, has always been a problem for the Miami product, but he'll at least enter the 2009 campaign healthy. The one roadblock for Winslow, who has averaged more than five receptions per game over the past three seasons, is Tampa's QB situation, as the inexperienced Luke McCown is the early favorite to be the club's starter. McCown and Winslow do know each other from their days in Cleveland, but it still could take them some time to get on the same page. Once they do, though, expect Winslow to quickly become the QB's favorite short and intermediate target. He remains a fantasy starter in all leagues and could be in line for his best season yet.

The news: RB Fred Taylor, cut by the Jaguars on Feb. 16, agreed to terms with the Patriots on Friday. Terms were undisclosed. Taylor, 33, had spent his entire 11-year career with Jacksonville, and his 11,271 rushing yards are the third-most among all active players.

Ex-Jaguars RB Fred Taylor

Fantasy impact: Taylor, a solid fantasy asset all the way until 2007, saw his play drop off steeply last season, when he rushed for just one TD and averaged only 3.9 yards per carry. As a member of the pass-first Pats, Taylor will be part of a committee that includes Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk and, if he isn't cut before the season, Laurence Maroney. He'll clearly be behind Morris in the pecking order, and Faulk likely will be the preferred option on third downs. That probably will make Taylor a change-of-pace back to spell Morris, so somewhere between eight and 10 carries a game looks reasonable. Since he won't be their goal-line option, Taylor won't have much fantasy value unless injuries befall New England's other backs. Unless something changes before Week One, he probably shouldn't be more than a late-round pick in most leagues.

WR Gaffney's role won't change much with Broncos

The news: The Broncos signed WR Jabar Gaffney to a four-year, $10 million contract on Friday. Gaffney, 28, acted as the No. 3 receiver for the Patriots during the past two seasons, catching 74 passes for 917 yards and seven TDs in that span.

Fantasy impact: Gaffney should benefit from being reunited with his Pats offensive coordinator and Broncos new head coach Josh McDaniels. With Denver expected to operate out of a pass-happy spread offense much like New England did, Gaffney's role shouldn't change a whole lot. The Broncos likely will use three- and four-receiver sets often, so he should see plenty of action whether he's the No. 3 or No. 4 wideout. He'll find himself competing for playing time with Brandon Stokley, the club's current slot receiver, but Gaffney might have the advantage because of his age and history with McDaniels. Even though Gaffney will clearly be behind Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal in the pass-catching pecking order, QB Jay Cutler should air it out enough for everyone to get his fair share of touches. Although Gaffney will never be a fantasy stud, he's a nice option to target in the later rounds of your draft.

The news: The Broncos have signed RBs Correll Buckhalter and J.J. Arrington to four-year contracts. Terms were undisclosed. Buckhalter, 30, had spent his entire eight-year career with the Eagles, serving mostly as a reserve. Arrington, meanwhile, had been with the Cardinals for four seasons, acting as a change-of-pace back and return specialist.

Fantasy impact: Even after dumping a slew of backs already this offseason, the Broncos still have a loaded backfield with the signing of these two veterans. Buckhalter, a career backup in Philly, might finally get a chance to start in Denver; it's probably between him and Ryan Torain. Injuries have killed Buckhalter time and again - he has missed three complete seasons due to injury - but he has managed to stay healthy over the past three years, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and scoring 11 times in that span. If he wins the Broncos' starting job, he'll be an intriguing fantasy option, even in new coach Josh McDaniels' spread offense. He might be limited to 10-12 touches per contest, but if he's the primary goal-line back, he'd certainly have value. Arrington, on the other hand, likely was signed more for his returning ability than his rushing skills. As he did with Arizona in 2007 and '08, he probably will see most of his action on third downs, acting more as a pass catcher than runner. However, Kevin Faulk managed to maintain value in this role with the Pats, so it's possible that Arrington could do the same. He looks like a late-round flier candidate.

The news: The Vikings acquired QB Sage Rosenfels from Houston on Friday in exchange for reportedly a fourth-round pick. Minnesota then signed Rosenfels, who will turn 31 next week, to a two-year, $9 million contract. In the past two seasons, he has played in 15 games, starting 10, and has thrown for 3,115 yards with 21 TDs and 22 INTs.

Fantasy impact: Considered one of the top backup QBs in the league, Rosenfels will finally get a legitimate shot at a starting job in Minnesota, where he's expected to compete with Tarvaris Jackson. Based on each one's body of work, Rosenfels certainly looks to have the edge in that battle. If he wins the job, he'll move into the top 20 in the QB rankings and will make for a solid No. 2 in most leagues. Although he likely won't air it out as much as he did in Houston, the Iowa State product should be good for at least 3,200 yards and 20 TDs as a full-time starter. Unfortunately, his sometimes-poor decision-making means he might toss 20 picks, as well. His arrival should only help WRs Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice, and with defenses having to now respect the pass, RB Adrian Peterson might find himself with a bit more room to roam. This was a savvy move by the Vikings that should lead to better offensive efficiency.