As the saying goes, “once is an accident, twice is a coincidence and three times is a trend.” So though there was a lot to be learned by fantasy owners from the Week 2 tilts, it’s still too early to make any definitive judgments. For the most part, anyway. Because after examining the targets from the games on Sunday, you don’t need another week to proclaim that Jake Delhomme really, really likes going to Steve Smith (15 targets in Week 2, and an NFL-leading 28 overall). Delhomme isn’t the only quarterback with a heavy reliance on one receiver, however. Let’s take a look at some others who have been their signal-caller’s favorite go-to guy.

- Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh: Ben Roethlisberger looked for Holmes 14 times in the Steelers’ loss to Chicago on Sunday, and Big Ben has targeted the former Ohio State star 25 times on the year, which is the second-highest mark in the NFL. They only converted five times for 83 yards this week, but it speaks volumes that Holmes is getting the majority of the looks over veteran teammate Hines Ward.

- Johnny Knox, Chicago: In that same contest, Knox, the lightning-footed rookie from Abilene Christian, was targeted nine times by Jay Cutler, and they hooked up on six of those for 70 yards and a score. That was two more targets than Devin Hester received, and three more than tight end Greg Olsen. If Knox is available on your waiver wire, give some serious thought to picking him up.

- Brent Celek, Philadelphia: With so many weapons at the Eagles’ disposal, you would think that the tight end would be something of an afterthought in their offense, but that hasn’t been the case with Celek. He was targeted 11 times in Philly’s loss to the Saints, and came up with eight catches for 104 yards. He is 11th in the NFL this year with 18 total targets.

- Laurent Robinson, St. Louis: We mentioned his name to you last week, and will do so again, as he was targeted nine times in the Rams’ loss to Washington, and wound up with six catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. His 19 targets are ninth in the league, and with supposed No. 1 wideout Donnie Avery having a sudden case of the butter fingers this year, don’t look for Robinson’s role to decrease any time soon.

- Other Week 2 target numbers of interest: Mario Manningham, 13; Joey Galloway 12; Torry Holt, 11; Nate Burleson, Chris Chambers 10; Kevin Curtis, Donald Driver, Bobby Wade 9; Nate Washington, Brandon Stokley, Jermichael Finley 7; Malcolm Kelly 6.

There have been few times during the fantasy football era where you could draft almost any player from a team and expect him to provide you with good production.  The Dungy-Colts, the Moss-Carter Vikings, and the Greatest Show on Turf all had multiple players who I, personally, had no problem starting on gameday.  In 2009 I think another team will follow in the footsteps of those teams, but it might not be who you expect.  It’s not the Patriots, the Chargers, or the Saints…it’s actually the often-criticized offense of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The McNabb-Westbrook combination has been together longer than any other QB-RB combo in the league.  That means in a lot in terms of chemistry and instinctively reacting to the other player.  McNabb is in that second-tier of quarterbacks who will get you 3000+ passing yards and around 20 touchdowns.  But what gives McNabb a boost in terms of fantasy production is not his rushing yards, but his lack of interceptions.  Last year McNabb’s percentage of passing attempts that resulted in interceptions was 1.9, which was lower than Brees or Manning.  For his career he stands at 2.1% which is the best in NFL history for players with at least 1500 pass attempts.  With Westbrook, you know what you’re going to get, you just don’t know how many games you will get it for and with him turning 30 in September, his durability questions will get louder.  But he has help this year in a quartet of newcomers.  2nd rounder, LeSean McCoy, is similar to Westbrook in size and ability.  They both have good hands out of the backfield and prefer to run around you rather than through you.  He obviously won’t get the same number of touches as Westbrook, but there should not be a drop in production when he is on the field.  McCoy gains added value because he will be the designated “Wildcat QB” as he has experience running it from his days at the University of Pittsburgh.  Many people undervalue the role of a fullback in fantasy.  No I’m not saying go out and draft new Eagles FB Leonard Weaver, but he will upgrade an area of need for Philly.  Last year the Eagles used converted linebacker Dan Klecko and backup halfback Correll Buckhalter as the lead blocker for Westbrook.  Coincidentally or not, Westbrook responded with his lowest rushing average of his career.  Now Westbrook has a solid lead back and McNabb has another option out of the backfield in Weaver who was a tight end in college and led all fullbacks in receptions last year.

The remainder of the quartet could actually be considered a quintet if you include G Shawn Andrews who only played 2 games last year.  His return, along with his brother, RT Stacy, and LT Jason Peters mean the Eagles now have the heaviest offensive line which traditionally means wider holes for the backs to run through.  But the line is still nimble enough to ward off pass rushers as Philadelphia had the seventh fewest sacks allowed last season and Jason Peters is renowned as one of the best pass blockers in the game.  All these changes remind me of another team last year who had a 30 year old running back post the best rushing numbers of his career-the New York Jets.  In 2008 the Jets added a Hall of Fame quarterback (Favre), a 4-time pro bowl fullback (Richardson), a 7-time pro bowl guard (Faneca), and a two-time Super Bowl champion tackle (Woody).  All these seemingly minor additions helped Thomas Jones net a career high 15 touchdowns and put him in his first pro bowl.  Westbrook’s receiving totals may not jump much from last year but as long as he stays relatively healthy, then he should easily get back to over 1000 yards rushing and improve upon his 4.0 rushing average.

The Eagles wide receivers may lack the star power that other teams possess, but they make up for it with quality depth.  Rookie Jeremy Maclin is similar to 2008 rookie DeSean Jackson in terms of versatility, but because of the depth of the Eagles receiving core, he may not be called upon as much as Jackson was last year.  As is the case with most rookies, expect inconsistency with some big plays intermittingly.  Kevin Curtis was the Eagles best receiver in 2007 but struggled last year with a hernia injury.  However, he did finish strong and showed off his speed in the NFC championship game with gains of 47 and 50 yards.  He may not score many touchdowns but if you need receiving yards and are in a point-per-reception league, then he could be a late round steal.  Since none of those three receivers are over six feet tall, Hank Baskett becomes the de facto red zone threat among receivers.  But he’s more than just a big possession receiver as he has had receptions of 87, 89, and 90 yards in his three year career.  Baskett has all the tools to be an effective fantasy WR2 but his lack of consistent playing time makes him a boom-or-bust player.  The last fantasy-worthy Eagles player is TE Brent Celek who replaces the fragile L.J. Smith.  Kyle Smith detailed Celek’s potential impact in his blog and I’ll add on that unlike college receiver-turned-NFL tight end, L.J. Smith, Celek is a natural tight end who will provide some YAC which will boost not only his fantasy value, but McNabb’s as well.

I believe the additions of all these players spells nothing but good news for McNabb and his fantasy owners.  Last season was labeled his “rebirth” but I think he will surpass his performance from 2008 and put up his best numbers since the 2004 Super Bowl season.  Westbrook will also be more productive with the backfield additions easing some of his burden.  At the receiver position Jackson will provide the yards, Curtis the receptions, and Baskett the touchdowns with Celek emerging as a sleeper.  Be careful with the rookies though as most don’t usually have a fantasy impact right away, especially when coming off the bench as McCoy and Maclin will be.  But if you are in a keeper league, then it may be worth it to draft either of those two in the later rounds as Philly did not draft them on the first day to be career benchwarmers.

This may be the “last dance” for the Reid-McNabb-Westbrook triumvirate so bank on them turning out their best performances in years.  With an assortment of new offensive weapons and an inspired defense that will be playing in honor of Jim Johnson, 2009 could finally be the year for the Philadelphia Eagles.

We went over the Top-25 Quarterbacks and the Top-50 Running backs, so what do you say we check out the wide receivers?

1. Larry Fitzgerald: If you need a reason why, you don’t watch much football, and probably shouldn’t waste your time and money in fantasy.

2. Andre Johnson: The second-best receiver in the game, but arguably the most explosive, he led the league with 115 receptions and 1,575 receiving yards last season.

3. Calvin Johnson: Think of what he could do if he played for a competent franchise.

4. Randy Moss: Will still be a monster, but don’t expect a repeat of his 2007 numbers.

5. Reggie Wayne: Wayne has been the No. 1 receiver in Indy the past couple years, and that continues in 2009.

6. Steve Smith: Jake Delhomme’s utter mediocrity hampers what he can really do, but he’s as consistent a big-play threat as there is in the league.

7. Greg Jennings: Aaron Rodgers’ favorite toy, and a down-field threat every snap.

8. Brandon Marshall: The Broncos did him no favors by getting rid of Jay Cutler and replacing him with Kyle Orton, but in new head coach Josh McDaniels’ system, he’ll be the go-to guy.

9. Marques Colston: Just one of numerous threats in the Saints’ offense, Colston is a terror to cover due to his size and strength.

10. Anquan Boldin: The single toughest wideout to try and tackle, and one of the few in the league who will run over defenders instead of go around them.

11. Roddy White: After a marginal start to his career, he busted out, and should continue to ascend as Matt Ryan gets even better.

12. Roy Williams: One of the most controversial players in fantasy, people either love him or hate him. Yet he’s easily the best target at wideout for Tony Romo, and he should get plenty of opportunities.

13. Vincent Jackson: Fantasy owners had been waiting for him to break out with a big season, and he finally did in 2008, as the graph displaying the top wideouts in terms of fantasy points shows.

14. Terrell Owens: Aging, but will instantly make the Bills offense a threat to score every time they line up.

15. Braylon Edwards: Stone hands killed him last season, and he was late to training camp this year before failing a physical. Lots of red flags, but still capable of big things.

16. Dwayne Bowe: Matt Cassel will depend heavily on him in his first season under center in K.C.

17. T.J. Houshmandzadeh: Solidifies a Seattle receiving corps that was ravaged by injuries a season ago.

18. Antonio Bryant: Can he repeat what he did last season with an unsettled quarterback situation? Unlikely.

19. Wes Welker: A dream if you have him in a PPR league.

20. Chad Ochocinco: Will bounce back with Carson Palmer back under
center.

21. Santana Moss: Inconsistent, but remains a dynamic threat.

22. Jerricho Cotchery: Because who else is there?

23. Santonio Holmes: The Super Bowl hero is an excellent candidate to have a breakout season.

24. Lee Evans: Should only benefit from having T.O. around.

25. DeSean Jackson: Explosive, but his game still needs a bit of refining.

26. Bernard Berrian: Berrian needs Sage Rosenfels to win the starting quarterback job. His numbers dropped off last season when Tarvaris Jackson was under center.

27. Anthony Gonzalez: Another big-time candidate to do break out, Gonzalez takes Marvin Harrison’s place in the starting lineup for Indy.

28. Hines Ward: Still going, he may cede some catches to Holmes this season, but he’ll still get his.

29. Donnie Avery: The Rams’ No. 1 wideout and first receiver chosen in the 2008 draft had an excellent rookie campaign and promises to get better.

30. Torry Holt: Underrated his whole career, he’s also being underrated this fantasy season. He’s got something left in that tank.

Best of the Rest

31. Lance Moore
32. Devin Hester
33. Donald Driver
34. Kevin Curtis
35. Laveranues Coles
36. Eddie Royal
37. Ted Ginn Jr.
38. Kevin Walter
39. Steve Breaston
40. Justin Gage
41. Patrick Crayton
42. Michael Crabtree
43. Domenik Hixon
44. Mark Clayton
45. Deion Branch
46. Michael Jenkins
47. Sidney Rice
48. Isaac Bruce
49. Bobby Engram
50. Muhsin Muhammad

With the NFL Draft now complete, analysts across the country will now put on their teacher’s hats and hand out grades to each team. We’re going to go a different way and take a look at some of the fantasy implications of the draft, along with some other thoughts. So, in the immortal words of the Joker, here … we … go:

 - Chris “Beanie” Wells: Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the second-to-last pick in the first round, Wells immediately becomes a RB2 for fantasy owners. Edgerrin James seems destined to get cut, and Tim Hightower did little to establish himself as anything more than a decent backup, despite his touchdown vulturing.

- Michael Crabtree: There really isn’t any reason that Crabtree shouldn’t be starting opposite Isaac Bruce in Week 1 for San Francisco. His diva attitude apparently turned a number of teams off prior to the draft, leading to him slipping to the  10th overall pick, but it worked out well for the 49ers and fantasy owners alike. Call him a legit WR3 to start the year, with the potential to do even more.

- Knowshon Moreno: We’re not entirely sure where Moreno fits with the Broncos in terms of playing time, not because of lack of talent, but because Denver has 11 running backs on it’s roster. That number will certainly come down before the season starts, but Moreno will still be sharing time with a number of veterans, and even if he does get his share of the carries,  it’s difficult to envision him as anything more than later-round depth for fantasy owners.

- Donald Brown: This was an interesting selection by the Colts, who certainly had other needs than a backup to Joseph Addai. Still, Addai was a killer for fantasy owners last season, as he had just four games that he averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry (not counting his one carry, four-yard performance in Week 17), and one contest where he gained 100 yards. All this for a guy who was undoubtedly a first-round selection in fantasy drafts. Due to that performance, Brown becomes an essential handcuff, but likely one you’ll have to select a bit earlier than you may truly want to.

- James Laurinaitis, Rey Maualuga: This is for the IDP owners out there. As the first two middle linebackers taken, Laurinaitis by the St. Louis Rams and Maualuga by the Cincinnati Bengals, each should become immediate starters. We think Laurinaitis could have the better overall value because he has the ability to play all three downs, whereas Maualuga is likely only a two-down ‘backer. But both will have value to IDP owners.

DRAFTS WE DIDN’T LIKE

Oakland Raiders - We’re as confused  as everyone else as to what the hell the Raiders are doing. The knock isn’t on the players they chose. It’s possible Darrius Heyward-Bey and Michael Mitchell become perennial All-Pros and Hall of Fame players. We guess. The issue is that they could have had each of these players later down the line. Especially Mitchell. If they felt that strongly about him, all accounts are they still could have gotten him in the fourth round - and though it would have still been called a reach, it would have been far less egregious.

Detroit Lions - I’ve been on record saying that I have little faith in Matthew Stafford, and greatly prefer Mark Sanchez. In time, we’ll see who develops into the better signal-caller. I dont’ quite understand the selection of tight end Brandon Pettigrew when the team  had such bigger needs elsewhere. They would have been wise to try and trade back and take one of the aforementioned middle linebackers in Laurinaitis or Maualuga.

DRAFTS WE LIKED

- Philadelphia Eagles: Getting Jeremy Maclin to line up alongside DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis gives the Eagles arguably the fastest trio of wideouts in the NFL. Taking running back LeSean McCoy - an underrated back in our estimation - to backup and eventually fill the shoes of Brian Westbrook was a great move, as were the fifth-round selections of tight end Cornelius Ingram and defensive back Victor “Macho” Harris.

- Chicago Bears:  Jarron Gilbert will only help fortify the Bears’ defensive line, as he is a great athlete for a defensive tackle who can get to the quarterback. Receiver Juaquin Iglesias brings a much-needed refined route runner to Chicago, and he was a player who very easily could have gone in the early portions of the second round. However, one of the steals of the draft came in the team’s selection of cornerback D.J. Moore from Vanderbilt. Only his relative lack of speed and height, at five-foot-nine, hurt him. He played offense, defense, and special teams at Vandy, and all he did was produce, with 13 interceptions in three seasons.