several newcomers of Carolina Panthers' training camp

But that is why there is training camp, and that is why the Panthers play the games

The Panthers jerseys will have to overcome youth, but they may have a better team than many believe. The Panthers are definitely hoping that is the case.

The NFL is a game of field position, and returner Edwards has the ability to give the Panthers a boost like Devin Hester does for the Chicago Bears.

Moreover, the special teams should improve from last year. The Panthers added Wallace Wright, Marcus Hudson, Aaron Francisco and rookie Armanti Edwards this offseason.

The passing game was ranked No. 27, but the Panthers have Steve Smith jerseys. He is still a top 10 receiver in the NFL, and he is capable of having six or seven big games.

In addition, the Carolina running game and special teams should be able to carry the team until the passing game and defense catch up. There isn't a team in the league that has a better running game than Carolina.

There will be some young players hitting the rookie wall. But many of the Panthers' first-year starters are not rookies, so that logic doesn't apply.

Despite the lack of game experience, the Panthers have a lot to look forward too. When many teams peek during the middle of the season the Panthers' young players should have fresher legs at the end of the year.

But he is not the only player who has something to prove. Several first-time starters such as fullback Tony Fiammetta, strong safety Sherrod Martin, defensive tackle Tank Tyler and defensive end Charles Johnson will get tested like Moore.

The obvious example of this is new starting quarterback Matt Moore, who is 6-2 as a starter. He will have a chance to improve on that record in meaningful games.

That is normally not a big deal. Thus, the Panthers are different because most of the new starters have only played when the team was eliminated from the playoffs.

This training camp is more important than just getting in game shape, learning new plays and developing team chemistry. Fox and the rest of the coaching staff have to use this camp to get game ready more than ever. The Panthers are looking at as many as eight or nine new starters.

Now, Fox and the rest of the coaching staff have to coach at a much higher level than ever before. The veterans also have to lead and play at a higher level until the younger players learn the ropes.

Carolina doesn't have the luxury of a veteran heavy roster because many of the Panthers backups don't have a lot of game experience. In the past, the Panthers would let a young player such as receiver Dwayne Jarrett learn from a veteran like Muhsin Muhammad.

Those days are long gone.

In recent history, the Panthers have never depended on so many first-time starters. Four years ago, many sports publications and NFL experts believed the new Panthers jerseys

would win the Super Bowl. In 2008, the team went 12-5 and had a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Unlike previous years, the Panthers are traveling a different path to reach their goals.

Fox's faith has more to do with what happens on Sundays than what begins this week in South Carolina. But training camp has to go well if Carolina expects to have a successful season.

He knows winning games are what is important and that management will not remember training camp at the end of the season. Fox, who is in the final year of his contract, knows that losing games could push the front office into moving in another direction that may lead to more turnover than this past offseason.

This is why when Fox was asked on the last day of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) how comfortable he was with the Panthers heading to training camp, the coach said, "That is why we play the games."

Fox knows his answers will be based on how many games won this season, but training camp, which begins on Thursday in Spartanburg, is an excellent opportunity to prepare a young team to compete at a high level.

Carolina Panthers coach John Fox knows the questions concerning his young team will not get answered in training camp.

"injured" players to watch, along with our fantasy diagnosis

 Chaz Schilens, WR, Raiders jersey: Schilens endured his second foot surgery in as many offseasons at the conclusion of the 2009 campaign, but the Oakland Tribune reports that he's "ahead of schedule" in his return. He was able to participate in the Raiders' final round of OTAs, which is certainly very positive news for the veteran wide receiver.
Fantasy diagnosis: Schilens has some definite low-end sleeper appeal, especially with Jason Campbell now under center. He's worth a late-round flier in drafts.

Anthony Gonzalez, WR, new Colts jerseys: A preseason fantasy sleeper in 2009, Gonzalez ended up missing most of the regular season with a knee injury. He endured some setbacks in his return and was also slowed by a hamstring issue during the offseason, but Gonzalez is now reportedly back up to speed and ready to compete with Pierre Garcon for a starting role.
Fantasy diagnosis: Gonzalez is worth a late-round flier, but I don't see him starting ahead of Garcon. He'll have to compete with Austin Collie for work.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Seahawks: Houshmandzadeh endured a surgical procedure to repair a sports hernia during the offseason, and considered himself to be only about 85 percent in the middle of June. The veteran did take part in individual drills at the Seahawks' spring OTAs, however. He is expected to be back at full speed in time for training camp.
Fantasy diagnosis: Houshmandzadeh, 32, is clearly past his prime and shouldn't be expected to re-claim the form that once made him and elite fantasy option.

Chris Cooley jerseys, TE, Redskins: Cooley finished last season on injured reserve due to an injured ankle, but he's already back to 100 percent and worked out with the team during the offseason. He even lined up as a wide receiver in some packages for coach Mike Shanahan during the Redskins' OTAs, so his health is no longer a concern for fantasy owners.
Fantasy diagnosis: Shanahan has always loved to use his tight ends on offense, so Cooley could turn into an absolute fantasy steal in the late rounds.

Antonio Bryant, WR, Bengals jerseys: A major fantasy sleeper in 2008, Bryant has since seen his value take a major fall. That's been due in large part to his nagging knee problems. Bryant missed a few games last season due to the ailment, and recent reports suggest his knee is still a problem heading into training camp. That's a major red flag for fantasy owners.
Fantasy diagnosis: If the Bengals sign Terrell Owens, it will be to the detriment of Bryant's draft value. As it stands, he's someone to avoid in a major role.

which QBs will make the most in 2010 NFL ?

Winning in the NFL isn't hard in theory, but it's tremendously difficult in execution. The easiest way to field a winner is to find yourself a franchise quarterback, a man capable of leading your team to victory week in and week out. Franchise quarterbacks are hard to come by, but the vast majority of the NFL is on a constant lookout for their next field general.

You'd be hard-pressed to name more than a handful of sure-fire franchise quarterbacks in today's new NFL jerseys; the fact that so many teams have young, unproven players (or washed-up veterans, as the case may be) at the quarterback position is indicative of a watered-down league full nearly to the brim with mediocre teams.

In that light, the vast majority of NFL teams will be fielding starting quarterbacks with plenty to prove this season. Finding the five players with the most to prove is a strenuous, highly subjective task, and should certainly spark a little debate. Great arguments can be made for a large number of quarterbacks that don't appear below, but no matter which way you slice it, these five players are under a lot of stress entering 2010.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys. You'll be hard-pressed to name three current NFL quarterbacks that are more accomplished on the field of play than Ben Roethlisberger is. In six seasons as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback, he's won 60 regular season games, eight post-season games, been responsible for 139 touchdowns, appeared in the Pro Bowl, and most importantly of all, he's got two Super Bowl rings. There's little doubt that purely from a football standpoint, Roethlisberger is one of the best quarterbacks playing the game today.

Things have to be really, really bad off the field if a player with Roethlisberger's talents and production is mentioned in the same galaxy as the word "trade." Needless to say, Roethlisberger's off-field actions of late can be described as "really, really bad," along with a laundry list of other adjectives.

Roethlisberger jersey was suspended for six games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this past April for violating the league's personal conduct policy. He was also ordered to undergo a "professional behavior evaluation," and could land himself in further treatment stemming from that activity. The punishment, of course, stems from two separate sexual assault allegations - one which occurred in 2008, and the other just this past March. If you somehow missed the details of that entire fiasco, this here StoryStream will catch you up just fine.

His behavior has been deplorable, and his public apologies need to stand the test of time before they mean anything. The Rooney family, widely regarded as some of the best owners in the business, were none too happy with their star quarterback, and reportedly briefly entertained the idea of trading new Roethlisberger jerseybefore ultimately deciding against it. The Rooneys will have Roethlisberger on a short leash, as will the court of public opinion. Big Ben doesn't have much to prove on the field, but more than enough to prove off it to not only put him atop this list, but to make fans seriously question how much longer he'll be a Steeler. He's got teammates, employers, and a city to win over; that might be harder to do than winning another ring.

Understand a couple of things about Sergio Kindle.

"I'm a confident person. Once I get the playbook down, I feel that I have the talent to go out and perform at a high level and help my team. So, as far as being Rookie of the Year, you have to start and play a whole lot to do so. If the time comes, and I get the playbook down, I'm pretty sure that I can make some type of impact for my team."

"That was the hardest part for me, basically knowing what everybody else is doing and that's going to influence exactly what I need to be doing, those open spaces that I need to be in," he said. "That's the hard part, but once I get that down, I feel like it will be a real simple transition from there.

For Kindle, the greatest challenge is learning the playbook, which is "about as thick as most textbooks you get in college and you've got to study it faithfully because if you don't, it's going to be like a foreign language out there." Given his natural aptitude as a pass rusher, he will devote the lion's share of his attention to pass coverage. Kindle has plenty to learn about pass drops, getting into throwing lanes, and occupying the proper zone.

"You can tell that they want us to get (the mental part down quickly), because they threw us (members of the rookie class) in the fire as soon as we got there," Kindle said. "They want us to try to learn it on the fly as soon as we can and see what we can do. And we did well, in my opinion. Once we get it down, then we really get to show our abilities. When everything slows down, that means we get to speed up."

The coaching staff certainly had that in mind during offseason workouts.

Of course, in order to go farther than they did last season, the divisional round of the playoffs, the Ravens must be a "total team." In order to do that, they need their defense to live up to its lofty reputation. That means Kindle and Cody must meet, or even exceed, the expectations that go with their draft status. It also means the majority -- if not all -- of the Ravens' remaining five picks will need to make an immediate impact, something many NFL observers are projecting.

With blossoming Joe Flacco jersey at quarterback and multi-talented Ray Rice jersey in the backfield, the Ravens could, in fact, easily become more of an offensive team.

Two newcomers at wide receiver, Anquan Boldin jersey and Donte' Stallworth, figure to do plenty to help in that regard. So should Derrick Mason, whose decision to stick around for another season gives the Ravens one of the best and deepest receiving corps in the league.

Yet, in only a short time with the Ravens, Kindle has a strong grasp of why his team enters training camp on Monday as a popular pick to win the AFC North and be a serious postseason contender.

Kindle also is well aware of what's going on around him. Sure, the Ravens made the former Texas outside linebacker/defensive end their top overall draft pick (in the second round) to enhance the side of the ball where they have a rich history of success. Sure, they did the same with their second overall pick (also in the second round), former Alabama tackle Terrence Cody.

He's confident. Not obnoxiously brash or unbearably cocky, but confident. Very confident. For instance, Kindle won't hesitate to tell you just how successful he thinks he can be with the Baltimore Ravens jerseys this season, his first in the NFL. He says, matter-of-factly, that his "plan is to be Rookie of the Year."

AFC preview

WEST

Best additions

DT Jamal Williams, Broncos: Denver needs him to be healthy for its defense to be better than in 2009.

S Eric Berry, Chiefs: He should be an impact player immediately in a defense desperately needing one.

LB Rolando McClain, Raiders: Some scouts worry he's just a two-down player, but the Raiders need all the help they can get.

Biggest losses

WR Brandon Marshall, Broncos: His substantial off-field baggage and legacy of three 100-catch seasons are now in Miami.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson jersey, Chargers: Former San Diego mainstay saw injuries increase and playing time decrease; now he's with the Jets.

CB Antonio Cromartie, Chargers: He's also hoping to push the Jets over the top.

The favorite

Chargers: They still have the best quarterback in the division in Philip Rivers.

Division breakdown

The Chargers' reign is threatened by age, infighting and a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation that includes doctors associated with the team as well as with the Padres. Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, a Northern Colorado graduate, will miss the first three games because of a league-mandated suspension. The Chiefs are younger and faster, but they need a huge year from QB new Matt Cassel jersey to get into the mix. The Broncos will need to be more physical on defense and find some pop on offense. The Raiders hope QB Jason Campbell can help them restore their reputation.

EAST

Best additions

WR Brandon Marshall, Dolphins: His hip problems are a concern, but if he recovers, he should be productive.

LB Karlos Dansby, Dolphins: He's expected to be a quality fit in the team's 3-4 defense.

RB C.J. Spiller, Bills: He is a dynamic player with elite speed and receiving skills and is elusive with the ball.

Biggest losses

TE Ben Watson, Patriots: His departure is why New England grabbed two tight ends in the first four rounds of the draft.

G Alan Faneca, Jets: The nine-time Pro Bowl selection got caught up in New York's spending spree and was released.

The favorite

Jets: They have the postseason pedigree in that they finished No. 1 in rushing and on defense in 2009, but their biggest hurdle in holding off Tom Brady and Co. will be chemistry after their mix-and-match free-agency approach.

Division breakdown

The last time the Patriots didn't finish at least tied for the division title was in 2002. However, they continue to lose more impact players than they acquire, especially on defense, where they still haven't replaced the likes of Ty Law, Asante Samuel, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi. This is the high-spending Jets' chance. If QB Mark Sanchez can take the second-year leap and coach Rex Ryan can develop cohesiveness, it will be their year.

NORTH

Best additions

WR Anquan Boldin, Ravens: Gives QB Joe Flacco a reliable, productive and proven playmaker.

QB Jake Delhomme, Browns: Veteran doesn't have too much time left, but if he cuts down on his turnovers, he still can move an offense.

QB Byron Leftwich, Steelers: An nice insurance policy to cover Ben Roethlisberger's six-game suspension to open the season.

Biggest losses

DT Justin Bannan, Ravens: The Ravens couldn't afford to lose any bulk up front in a run-heavy division.

DE/OLB Kamerion Wimbley, Browns: Cleveland traded its defensive player who never quite lived up to his first-round draft status.

RB Willie Parker, Steelers: He gave an offense leaning more toward the passing game what little big-play pop it had in the running game.

The favorite

Ravens: They have the most stability, had the best approach in the draft and a have franchise QB in the making in Joe Flacco. The defense has some gray hair, but Baltimore bolstered some spots with quality backups.

Division breakdown

The Ravens have to like their chances. The key will be Flacco continuing to refine his play in the scoring zone. The Bengals have lapsed into off-field troubles with some offseason arrests to go with signing the troubled Pacman Jones. The Browns are rebuilding continuously, and the Steelers are facing Roethlisberger's suspension to go with a defense that could start as many as seven players at least 30 years old.

SOUTH

Best additions

K Neil Rackers, Texans: Veteran signed to compete with Kris Brown, who missed 11 field-goal attempts last season.

LB Kirk Morrison, Jaguars: The Raiders fooball jerseystraded him after drafting Rolando McClain, and Morrison should be an impact guy on the inside.

Biggest losses

CB Dunta Robinson, Texans: Houston will miss his ball skills in the secondary.

DT John Henderson, Jaguars: They released him, hoping they have timed it right in their belief he is sliding.

DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, Titans: The Titans elected not to pay the veteran, who has a high-motor play that will be missed.

The favorite

Colts: If it's the AFC South, it must be the Colts — Indy has six division titles and Tennessee two since the eight-division format began in 2002. The Colts have Peyton Manning at QB and enough weapons around him on offense.

Division breakdown

The Titans' ability to get into the mix will hinge on their ability to appease RB Chris Johnson's desire for a new contract. He has skipped the team's offseason work. The sides continue to try to work out a compromise.

The new Texans jerseys led the league in passing in 2009, but the run game was 30th, which kept them out of the playoffs and became the focal point of their offseason. The Jaguars continue to hope the investment they made in QB David Garrard will bear playoff fruit, but in the end, this is the Colts' show as long as Manning is on the field.

Blue-chip team: Super Bowl contender

Blue-chip teams

Indianapolis Colts: Last season, the Colts had eight victories in games decided by eight points or fewer. They had to fight and grind it out to win -- but their leadership and toughness always seemed to prevail. Can they be expected to do the same this year? As long as Peyton Manning jerseys stays healthy and the defense keeps improving, the Colts will be a high a seed come January. My concern is that they have contract problems running rampant in their locker room -- much like the Chargers -- and typically those issues seem to prevent teams from winning close games. Will these problems be enough to make them a candidate to get upset in the playoffs? Something tells me yes.

Miami Dolphins: Much has been happening in Miami in recent weeks, but what should not be lost in all the hysteria of the Heat adding LeBron James and Chris Bosh is that the Dolphins are a Super Bowl contender. Last season, they were one of the best teams in the league in terms of execution, but struggled playing 2-minute defense (30th overall) and failed to make explosive plays (gains of 20 yards or more). Miami is close, very close, to becoming a Super Bowl team -- in part due to its size, mental toughness and ability to consistently execute each week. If the Dolphins stop the big plays, make a few of their own, and find a way to close out games, J-Lo and Marc Anthony might have a stake in a Super team.

San Diego Chargers: Everyone realizes Norv Turner knows how to direct a good passing game, but he also loves having a big running back who can control the game and force teams to defend the box -- which he did not have last year. With the addition of RB Ryan Mathews, Turner has his man and will make the already explosive Chargers even more dynamic. The new Chargers jerseywere unable to run the ball last year, finishing 31st in the league. San Diego picked up four yards on the ground on first down yet the defenses still bit on every play-action fake. If the Chargers can work through some of their off-the-field problems, they can compete with anyone.

The defensive line rankings

Pittsburgh: With LaMarr Woodley jersey(notes)  and James Harrison(notes),  the Steelers have the best combination of accomplished pass rushers among 3-4 defenses in the NFL. In fact, it's not real close. The only team that could close the gap anytime soon is Dallas if Anthony Spencer(notes)  improves. When you add in inside linebackers James Farrior(notes)  and Lawrence Timmons(notes)  (seven sacks last season), you have the best overall linebacking corps in the league by a pretty good margin. Dallas is really good, but the Steelers are special.

Dallas: Critics of new DeMarcus Ware jersey(notes) like to point out that his sacks (11) dropped by nearly 50 percent last season from 2008 and that his total tackles also saw a precipitous lag, dropping all the way to a career-low 57. Unfortunately, those critics also don't draw up blocking schemes to deal with Ware, which is why he continues to be considered one of the most dynamic forces in the game. On the other side, Anthony Spencer made progress last season, collecting six sacks, mostly during an impressive run during the second half of the season. Inside linebackers Bradie James(notes) and Keith Brooking(notes) are solid, but the depth is untested.

Green Bay: Someday in the near future, NFL people will talk about how the Packers linebacking corps is like some four-headed nightmare. With Nick Barnett(notes), Clay Matthews(notes), Brad Jones and A.J. Hawk football jersey(notes) (who is almost an afterthought in this group), the Packers have the best combination of great tacklers against the run and potential pass-rush stars. Throw in the fact that Barnett is the only one older than 26 (he's 29), and you have the makings of something marvelous. Matthews was terrific all season, and Jones was a late-season revelation with all four of his sacks coming in the last five games.

San Francisco: If you like good run defense, this group is excellent. Starting with stud Patrick Willis(notes), the 49ers linebacking corps is very much in the image of coach Mike Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker, in his playing days. They don't miss a lot of tackles, and they play with great intensity. With Willis and fellow inside linebacker Takeo Spikes(notes) playing behind a line that does a nice job of holding the point against the run, the 49ers jerseysare very much a classic 1980s-style defense. Too bad it's 2010, and you have to play a lot more pass defense. That's where the 49ers need to get a lot more out of outside linebackers Manny Lawson(notes) (who had a career-high six and a half sacks last season) and Parys Haralson(notes) (five sacks). If Lawson can finally overcome the injuries he has suffered, this group can be very good. The depth is excellent.

Top picks of 2010

      Adrian Peterson jersey (Vikings): “All Day” is right at the top of the list along with Chris Johnson. What makes AD the better choice? Quite simply the acquisition of Brett Favre will create the threat of a passing attack, something Minnesota has not had during Peterson’s time in the sun. This should open holes for him to push into the secondary when they can no longer stack the box. His numbers in 2009 were exceptional, over 1800 total yards from scrimmage and 18 rushing touchdowns and an improvement should be expected in 2010. A can’t miss. Chris Johnson (Titans): As mentioned he and Peterson are the top tier of fantasy running backs.
     Tennessee is a running team, and new Johnson jerseyhas shown the durability to be the feature back in that offense. Beyond that he has astonishing speed. His numbers in 2009 were quite simply unbelievable, 2006 rushing, 503 receiving and over the last two seasons he has scored 26 touchdowns. Without a legitimate passing threat, expect defenses to focus on him, but with a powerful rushing line and Johnson’s talent, he should produce similar numbers in 2010. Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars): Another run focused team without much of a passing attack, but Drew has similar talents to Johnson (without the amazing speed), has solid hands as a receiver with over 1750 total yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns.
    Drew is a workhorse and will carry the ball a lot. Frank Gore football jersey (49ers): Gore has taken a lot of punishment behind a sub-standard line for years, but he has proven able to be the focus of another run-heavy offense. In 2009 he rushed for better than 1000 yards and had more than 1400 yards from scrimmage. If you pick him up make sure you have a solid back-up as he misses a coupl of games a year with minor injuries. Drew Brees (Quarterback, Saints): Brees’ Super Bowl MVP season with a league-leading 34 touchdowns and among the top five in completions and yards has no reason why he is not going to match it again in 2010. A powerful offense returns nearly unchanged and will again drive Brees to superior fantasy productivity. Andre Johnson (Wide Receiver: Texans): Closest thing to a can’t miss receiver in 2010. Back-to-back 100+ receptions and 1500+ yard seasons and no reason why he shouldn’t at least duplicate that this year. He will get the ball a lot in a passing offense that will be behind in a lot of games Michael Turner (Falcons): San Diego should have held onto this guy, a powerful runner who can take punishment, should have another 1400 yard rushing season. Not much of a receiver, but he averages a touchdown a game like clockwork.
      Peyton Manning jersey(Quarterback, Colts): Manning remains the gold standard for fantasy quarterbacks. 4500 passing yards and 33 touchdowns (though an unusually high 18 interceptions) in 2009 should be duplicated in 2010 assuming his bursa problems don’t flare up again. Steven Jackson (Rams): The god-awful Rams do stellar Jackson no favors. He would most likely be a top tier back for any other team. Even with them he is consistently better than 1000 yards per season, averaging 100 yards per game. He doesn’t score much though because the Rams anemic offense doesn’t get him to the end zone. 10.  DeAngelo Williams (Panthers): Some injury concerns here for a run-focused team with only an average line, but he had almost 1400 total yards in 2009. He will share the ball with the capable Jonathan Stewart so might have trouble matching these numbers in 2010.

So there you have the top offensive fantasy football picks for 2010. Of course things change during the season; unexpected players will have breakout seasons and some expected high impact players will not perform, but the picks listed above are as close as can be to sure things. Good luck。

Should Frank Gore Be Your First-Round Fantasy Choice in 2010?

Frank Gore jersey is the player that the San Francisco 49ers offense revolves around. He is one of my personal favorites, and I hope he finishes out his career in SF.

So with Gore's long-term durability in mind, and the desire to build a more physical football team, the new 49ers jerseyshave added two bulls to their running back pen.

Glen Coffee has gained 15 pounds of muscle and hasn't slowed down at all, putting him at 6'0" and 225 pounds. Rookie Anthony Dixon is 6'1" and 233 pounds.

I will remind you that Frank Gore jerseyscored 10 rushing TDs last year. Gore scored from 80, 79, 64, and 14 yards, with six TD runs of six yards or less.

Let's assume that either Coffee or Dixon emerges as a safe bet for short-yardage touchdowns behind a blocking group revamped by Mike Iupati, Anthony Davis, Nate Byham or Delanie Walker, and a healthy Joe Staley.

Does it make sense to have Gore get these tough carries? For a TD that Dixon or Coffee could get for you?

I would speculate that if the offensive line and Byham live up to expectations, we may see more big TD runs from Gore. By the same token, if pass protection is improved, it may well equate to him catching more open field passes as a check down.

On the other hand, I could also see Coffee or Dixon getting the nod if the team is ahead comfortably. Four of Gore's short TD runs last season came with the 49ers comfortably ahead.

While Gore's yardage may remain high, I do expect his total TDs to drop.

By no means am I telling you to avoid Frank Gore in your fantasy draft!

Before you draft Gore in the first round, you may want to consider a player of similar potency who plays in a more ironed-out offensive system.

Breakout Players for the 2010 NFL Season

In addition, players can compound on recent success and cement themselves as true superstars.

The Houston Texans jerseys are certainly no exception.

Although many have pegged the Texans as a sleeper pick for a few seasons, countless others are declaring 2010 the year for Houston.

Not only are the Texans likely (hopefully) to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, the roster is littered with players who are ready for prime time.

In fact, in order to make the jump from also-ran to playoff participant, the Texans will need big performances from some if not all of the players on this list.

We all know what Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, Mario Williams jersey, and new DeMeco Ryans jerseys will provide. Those stars will need help from some of their less-heralded teammates to play meaningful games in January.

Nobody would argue the Texans can't pass the ball. Led by Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub, the Texans can sling the ball around the field with the best of them.

But in order to go deep into the playoffs, the Texans must be able to run the ball.

Steve Slaton has shown in 2008 he can make plenty of plays in space and on the edge, but he struggled (as did the Texans) in picking up first downs on the ground. Enter Ben Tate.

Tate can run the ball and pick up tough yards. He can extend drives by adding balance to the offense.

Tate can also be used to ice games when the new Texans jerseysare ahead. He could be the biggest addition to the Texans in 2010 and is poised to be a big-time breakout star.

Winston is a very good player and his play is warranting mention around the league. Not only has Winston turned into a very good right tackle, he's turned into a better representative for the Texans.

Winston keeps his nose clean and only makes news in a positive way off the field.

On the field, Winston is able to keep edge rushers from harassing quarterback Matt Schaub and is also a road grader in the running game.

Matt Schaub is the answer to all three questions.

I hear you arguing that Schaub already had his breakout season in 2009. I'll grant you that he was nothing short of spectacular last season, but, quarterbacks are judged (perhaps unfairly) by success in the playoffs.

Schaub has shown he can make every thrown on the field and that he has complete control of his offense. But, he has to show what he can do in January.

six wonderful players for 2010 NFL

1. RB Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams: A top-three talent trapped on a mediocre offense. Jackson is a tremendous combination of power and speed who managed to gain 1,416 rushing yards (1,738 total yards) in 2009 despite playing against defenses geared to shut him down. The Rams offensive struggles have resulted in just 19 touchdowns the past three years. Jackson's physical style also makes him an injury risk as he has missed 10 games since 2007.
2. WR Randy Moss, New England Patriots jerseys: At 33 years old, Moss is beginning to show his age, but he is still a premier deep threat and red zone target. His sick 2007 numbers (98-1,493-23 TDs) will remain a distant memory but playing in the Pats' pass-happy offense, mark him down for 80+ catches, 1,200 yards and 10+ touchdowns.
3. WR Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts: Six consecutive 1,000 yard seasons, along with 100 catches and 10 TDs two of the past three years, and playing with Peyton Manning make Wayne one of the safest picks on the board. He lacks the upside of Miles Austin, Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, or Calvin Johnson, but mark him down for 90 catches, 1,200 yards and 8+ TDs.
4. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers jerseys: In just two years as a starter, Rodgers has established himself as one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in the league with consecutive 4,000 yard seasons. He is entering the prime of his career at just 26 years old giving him the most upside of any of the top quarterbacks. His ability to gain yards on the ground (316 yards and five TDs in 2009) inches him ahead of Mr. Consistent Peyton Manning and the gunslinger Drew Brees in the QB rankings.
5. QB new Drew Brees jerseys, New Orleans Saints: Brees has established himself as one of the fantasy elite after throwing for 4,388+ yards four consecutive years while increasing his touchdown passes from 26 to 34 during that span (34 TDs in back to back years). Most significantly he is the only quarterback to average 276+ yards per game each of the past three years.
6. WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions: The biggest hunch pick on the list. Megatron is coming off a disappointing 984 yard season yet earns a spot ahead of Manning, Fitzgerald, Miles Austin and a host of running backs? Simple, Johnson is a physical freak on the verge of a breakout year as he enters his prime at 24 years old. Matthew Stafford should take a big step in year two and the surrounding cast is improved (including WR Nate Burleson, RB Jahvid Best, and TE Tony Sheffler) the stage has been set. Don't forget Megatron had 1,331 yards and 12 TDs in 2008 with Jon Kitna throwing him the bal