Guarantees of the 2009 Season Sep 3, 2009 | More

1. Chad Ochocinco will return to a top-tier fantasy WR – the self-proclaimed Esteban will return to his old ways of dominating the field in 2009. A healthy Carson Palmer and a much improved offensive line should only enhance this fact. Not to mention fellow wideouts Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry providing help and ensuring that defenses won’t just double team Chad. You can expect double-digit TDs, over 1,200 receiving yards and an overabundance of the phrase “Child Please” throughout the season from Ocho as he will “Kiss da Baby” all year long! Draft him expecting a WR1 type campaign and you will not be disappointed.

2. Ray Rice will outperform Michael Turner – I know this one may be a little extreme, but I don’t see Turner coming close to last season’s numbers. He doesn’t have the greatest offensive line in the game and with QB Matt Ryan improving more and more, the Falcons will pass a little more often than in previous years. That being said, Turner will still get a ton of carries, but I see his yards per carry falling, and Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White stealing away a lot of the red zone opportunities from him. Rice, on the other hand, could be the 2009 version of Turner. He is a tough, fast runner with great cutting abilities and also has tremendous hands for a RB. Keep him on your radar and don’t be afraid to draft him in the fourth or fifth round.

3. Bills head coach Dick Jauron will be fired by Week 10 – I’m surprised he has lasted as long as he did in Buffalo. But the reality is, he just isn’t a good coach. T.O. will get his this year, but the team will struggle as a whole.

4. Draft any and everyone on the Eagles offense – if you’re looking for a team with a lot of firepower than look no farther because Philly will have some fantasy studs this season. QB Donovan McNabb is healthy and is going to resurrect his fantasy career in 2009. RB Brian Westbrook has dropped on draft boards this year, but I see him playing the whole season and putting up Top 10 RB numbers. Not to mention WR DeSean Jackson is going to have a breakout year and also be a Top 10 performer at his position. Rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin is a bit of a mystery right now, but don’t be surprised if he provides some long, exciting TDs as he gets accustomed to the NFL. And don’t sleep on Mr. Vick. He will make a few big plays this season for sure!

5. Terrell Owens will behave in 2009 and reward fantasy owners – T.O. has a track record of performing like a star in his first season with a new team (14 TDs with Philly, 13 with Dallas). He will follow the same trend this season for Buffalo, keeping his mouth shut and going about his business. As long as Trent Edwards can get him the ball, Owens will have over 1,000 yards receiving and 11 TDs. Next season may be a different story, but I fully expect T.O. to come out with something to prove in ’09.

6. Leon Washington will have multiple games this season where his total yardage exceeds the weight of his head coach – yes I am a huge Jets fan and I think Rex Ryan is a great fit in New York, but I still had to get some laughs in! The point is, Washington is an amazing talent and is probably the most dangerous player in the open field in the NFL. Now good old Rex is weighing in around 330 these days, but with Leon’s rushing, receiving and return skills, I can see him accomplishing this feat no problem. He still remains a low end RB2 right now, but at any given week he is capable of exploding for tons of fantasy points.

7. Adrian Peterson is the UMU and the clear No. 1 pick in all of fantasy football – in case any of you are wondering what UMU stands for, it means Ultimate Male of the Universe! And anyone that doesn’t pick Peterson first overall should have their head examined. Enough said.

8. Ryan Grant and Braylon Edwards will have strong ’09 campaigns after being ’08 busts – in 2008, both of these guys were Top 20 picks but put up numbers that barely qualified them for the Top 200. The past is the past. Grant and Edwards are both far too talented to let fantasy owners down again in 2009. Grant will be a strong RB2 this year that will certainly exceed the 1,000-yard mark and put up double-digit scores. Edwards, I truly believe, will have the sort of year he had in ’07. I know many will disagree, but I expect him to put up at least 1,100 yards and 11 TDs. These numbers would qualify him as a WR1 which is pretty good seeing that Edwards is slipping to the fifth or sixth round in drafts right now.

9. Dwayne Bowe will lead the league in TD receptions; Chris Johnson in rushing TDs – With a better QB in Kansas City and the departure of red zone vulture Tony Gonzalez, Bowe is poised to get all the targets he can handle this season. As long as he catches the ball, look for Bowe to score 13-15 TDs. Johnson is a freak athlete and probably the fastest player in the league. Now he has a year under his belt and is set to have an even better season than last because the Titans are getting sick and tired of goalline pig LenDale White. Johnson will steal away some of White’s TDs this season and will find paydirt at least 17 times.