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Fake football has its benefits as teams prepare for the upcoming season, but as we are reminded every year it has its dangers as well. The most devastating part of preseason football is the injuries to key players that affect the real games and can change a team’s season in an instant. An instant that counts for absolutely nothing.

The Chargers are the latest team to fall victim to the dreaded serious preseason injury as their starting Wide Receiver and a player many though could help fill the void left by departing free agent Vincent Jackson left the field on a cart. Vincent Brown (pictured above) suffered a broken ankle and after surgery will require at least eight weeks to recover. That timetable puts his return at no earlier than week 6. Brown was trending upward and was reaching WR3 status in some rankings. Now he’s little more than a late-round flier if your league allows for a player to go on IR or you have deep enough rosters to stash him.

Brown’s loss follows an injury to starting running back Ryan Mathews and leaves the Chargers in a precarious position offensively. Mathews is vowing a week one return, but Norv Turner will have to manage his touches until he’s fully healed.

August 18, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) looks to pass during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-US PRESSWIRE

Philip Rivers had a rough year last year and many are expecting a bounceback campaign, but who does he have to throw to now? It’s a vital question to answer because there is definitely value in the Chargers passing game. Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates have been solid fantasy plays the last few years, so who do we look to this year? Figure that out, and you’ve got a great sleeper pick.

Here’s my quick take on the Chargers receiving weapons:

Antonio Gates: Gates was already posed to have a great year and with the questions at wide-out he most likely will be the most targeted Charger especially early in the season. He’s solidly the number three TE behind Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. The injury to Brown helps him pull ahead of Jason Witten (dealing with his own injury issues) and the Davis boys (Fred and Vernon).

Aug 18, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers receiver Malcom Floyd (80) reacts during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers defeated the Cowboys 28-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Malcom Floyd: Floyd becomes a solid sleeper pick as a WR3. Many had him ranked in the mid-30s for WR before the injury and now he becomes the clear #1 target with Brown down. Floyd could easily be a top ten receiver in some weeks but may struggle with consistency even as Vincent Jackson did last season. Floyd has had some big games in the past including seven catches for 127 yards and a touchdown the final week of last year in Oakland. His limiting factor this far in his career has been nagging injuries that have forced him to miss games but he’s had an uneventful camp and has the rapport with Rivers from their previous season together. I’d be very happy to grab him as my third wide-out on draft day. I would make sure to have a solid fourth in case of injury, but Floyd has big upside and may be overlooked by some as a “boring” pick.

Robert Meachem: Through two games in preseason, Meachem has been targeted on three passes and none have been incomplete. Unfortunately for him and Rivers, two of them were caught by the other team. He’s just starting to work with Rivers and may need some time. He’s a WR4 in my opinion although some have him ranked ahead of Malcom Floyd. I wouldn’t reach for him as a third wide-out unless he has a breakout game the third week of preseason.

Eddie Royal: Royal is expected to start in the slot and is outside the top 200 on most big boards. Royal showed flashes with the Brocos but has been derailed by injury woes for much of his career. Vincent Brown was viewed by many as the insurance policy for the impending Royal injury, but Royal will now be counted on to carry more of the load in San Diego.

The Chargers other depth-chart receivers are Buffalo castoff Roscoe Parish and former Tampa Bay return-man Michael Spurlock. Neither is expected to have consistent fantasy value but if the run of injuries continues for the Chargers they may be pressed into bigger roles.

It’s somewhat ironic that the receiver that was the healthiest Chargers wide-out historically is the one that went down in preseason and it may be trouble ahead for San Diego if another receiver gets hurt.

I like Malcom Floyd to be the receiver you want this year in SD. I think if he can stay on the field he can easily get 1,000 yards this year with some solid TD numbers.Antonio Gates should once again be a top five TE now that his foot injuries are a thing of the past. In addition I expect Rivers to bounce back just fine and be a top seven QB.

Injuries continue to pile up throughout the preseason for all the NFL teams so visit FantasyCPR.com for all your draft coverage and follow us on twitter @FantasyCPR for the latest news and injury reports.

Jim Brown-US PRESSWIRE

The Hall of Fame game means it’s getting close to the most important night of your fantasy football year. It’s almost draft night! Fantasy CPR has a full draft kit of rankings, profiles, and team previews which is constantly growing and has all the info you need to plan your perfect draft and secure your championship. (At least that’s the plan).

Today in this post, I wanted to focus on three rookie receivers that I think are set up for a very successful rookie season. Rookie QB’s historically are a little dicey outside of the Cam Newton’s of the world and rookie RB’s are almost always in a time-share. On the other hand, Rookie receivers can make an instant impact if they have a solid QB in place and get the opportunity to shine.

Here’s three I think will do better than their current ADP would indicate.

Kendall Wright – Tennessee Titans

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Wright is being drafted deep in the 50s in WR taken in most drafts meaning in some shallower leagues you can grab him in the last couple rounds. He could have a huge season depending on what else happens with the Titans. There’s plenty of uncertainty in Tennessee so don’t go crazy and draft him extremely early, but he’s a nice sleeper pick to wait on and see how things play out.

The first factor that will drastically impact Wright is what happens with Kenny Britt. The volatile and oft-injured Titans #1 wideout has impressed when on the field but shown a shocking lack of ability to stay on it. If Britt misses time do to legal or physical problems, Wright could get a lot of playing time right away.

Another all-important factor for Wright is who is throwing the passes he’ll be trying to haul in. Jake Locker is much more adept at the vertical passing game which could open things up for Wright, especially out of the slot, to make big plays. If Matt Hasselbeck wins and keeps the starting job passes down-field will be more limited but it may allow Wright to develop screens and slants if he can earn the veteran’s trust.

Wright will definitely make an impact on special teams, so if your league throws you some bonus points for those yards or scored bump Wright up a few slots on your draft board.

I think Wright’s ceiling may be the highest of any rookie receiver if he can establish a rapport with his QB and earn playing time. There are a number of factors though that could easily derail his season so don’t go overly crazy, just watch for him in the late rounds.

Rueben Randle – New York Giants

Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Randle’s biggest challenge will come from getting enough looks to make him valuable in the Giants offense. With Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks already in the fold, Eli’s got weapons besides Randle.

However, Mario Manningham is gone and so is Jake Ballard who was the leading pass-catching TE for the Giants. The Giants throw the ball around a lot especially when they’re successful and I think Randle will get the chance to make some plays.

With defenses keying in on Nicks and Cruz, Randle will be in single-coverage which he should be able to dominate. He has the size to be a good red zone target as well and could grow very quickly into the G-men offense.

Randle right now is going in the mid-40′s of WR taken behind fellow-rookie Justin Blackmon and players like Titus Young, Sidney Rice, and the aforementioned Manningham. I think he’ll finish as a top 40 WR easily this year if he stays healthy and could be a great WR4 pick or work well as part of a platoon in your WR3 spot as well as a bye week fill-in.

He has the upside to be a huge value if Nicks injury lingers or Cruz misses games and he becomes one of Eli’s top targets for any length of time.

Mohamed Sanu – Cincinnati Bengals

Admittedly, Sanu is the deepest sleeper on this list. Many rankings have him outside the top 70 behind the likes of Steve Breaston, Davone Bess, Stephen Hill, and Braylon Edwards. Sanu is not a deep-ball target and doesn’t have burning speed, but he’s someone I’ll be looking for at the end of my drafts.

Why? Well, here’s one reason–Quick, name a WR not named A.J. Green on the Bengals. If you said Jerome Simpson (he of flipping into the end zone fame), I’m sorry we have a great goody bag for you on the way out but he plays for the Vikings now. If you said Jordan Shipley, good call but remember he’s coming off of major reconstructive knee surgery. Other WR on the Benglas depth chart are guys like Brandon Tate, Armon Binns, and Kashif Moore. All that to say, Sanu doesn’t have tons of competition for the passes not headed A.J. Green’s way this year.

Sanu could also have some value in some of the wildcat offenses or more exotic schemes dreamed up by Bengals O-coordinator Jay Gruden. Sanu showed incredible versatility at Rutgers and I think at some point this year Gruden will utilize that as he gameplans for a division with some tough defenses.

Sanu isn’t someone to target early. I hate it when guys pull out a “sleeper” pick in the second round. The point of effective sleepers is everybody else passes on them and you grab them late. Sanu has the potential if he can seize the #2 or even the #3 spot to be fantasy relevant and round out your receiving corps in the last few rounds.

Next week: We’ll look at some other underrated WR– Antonio Brown, Brandon Marshall, Demaryius Thomas, Greg Little, and Randall Cobb.

Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Running back is the position that many times wins or loses fantasy football leagues. Getting value at the position is always a top goal for owners during the draft. If you can get depth at the RB position, you can always work the trade market and get other pieces later in the year. I tend to fill up my bench with RBs and try to get at least a sleeper or two if possible.

Last week, we looked at some overrated running backs headed into fantasy football drafts after looking  at overrated and underrated QBs. Here’s four RBs that I think could emerge as great picks where they’re going in most drafts. These backs are not going in the top ten but easily could finish in the top 10 if things go their way this season.

James Starks – Green Bay Packers

Starks is ranked way down the list in many preseason rankings. ON ESPN he’s all the way down at 38. Starks was a bit of a disappointment last year as he ended up mired in a time-share with Ryan Grant and had only one TD before messing up his ankle in November.

He’ll get the opportunity though to step up this year. He’s in a great offense that will obviously put up points although most of them have come in recent years via the pass behind Aaron Rodgers. The Packers have (at this point) let Ryan Grant go and Alex Green is coming off an ACL injury leaving Starks as the main guy in the backfield. Fullback John Kuhn is still around to steal a few TDs, but Starks should be on the field most of the time.

He should be able to get some running room as defenses load up to stop Rodgers and also has been involved in the passing game in years past. Last year in limited time he caught 29 passes for 216 yards. He should be able to catch 50 passes if he’s healthy and find the end zone with more regularity than last season.

Starks has breakout potential and can be had late in drafts. Don’t go crazy and draft him over more sure things, but as RB depth Starks could be a top 15 back or a very valuable trade piece if you stack up your RBs.

Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills

July 27, 2012; Pittsford, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson (22) runs with the ball during a training camp practice at St. John Fisher College. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-US PRESSWIRE

Everyone seems to forget how good Jackson was before breaking his leg last year. I understand the major concern with him is his age at 31 years old. Last year though, he showed no signs of aging finishing third in rushing yards per game with 93.4. He looked to be a top-five fantasy back before going down injured.

After he went down, C.J. Spiller stepped in and played well. There will most likely be some kind of time-share which could actually be a great thing for Jackson as it keeps him fresh and helps him stay healthy all season. Jackson and Spiller could easily be this year’s version of multiple backs both worth owning especially if the Bills revamped defense can keep them in the game so that they don’t have to get pass happy like they did at times last season.

Jackson is available outside the top 10 RBs and could easily end the year in the top 8. If you can get him around the 15th back off the board noone will ooooo and aaahhhh over your pick, but you may just end up with one of the best backs week in and week out to build your team around.

Roy Helu Jr. – Washington Redskins

Mike Shanahan can never be trusted. That’s why you can get Helu around the 20th RB off the board in some drafts. Tim Hightower is the starter but he’s on his way back from a serious injury and hasn’t shown he can be a feature-back for a season.

Helu has three big games last year when he received 20+ carries. He showed his abilities as a playmaker both receiving and rushing last year and finished with three TDs and over 1,000 all-purpose yards. If he gets the opportunity, he could be the breakout player in this ‘Skins offense as he and RG3 set a nice foundation for them for the coming years.

Helu could be the steal of the draft. Take a shot on him if you can get him late, preferably with two solid backs on your roster already. If he has a big game or two, don’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a trade and get some good value before Shanahan moves on to the next back-of-the-week.

Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions

June 12, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best (44) during mini camp at Detroit Lions training facility. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

Best was great when healthy last year. He averaged 112.8 yards from scrimmage in six games last year. The problem with Best has always been his struggles to stay healthy. He  has inherited the “if he’s healthy” addendum to his name from Matthew Stafford. With the new NFL sensitivity to concussions there’s a possibility that Best won’t be able to get on the field much. He’s on the PUP list now and is being evaluated on a week-to-week basis.

Do all you can to not count on Best, but if you can add him as a extra back he could come up solid gold for you. If possible handcuff him in later rounds with Kevin Smith or Mikel Leshoure since they’ll be the ones getting the time in the solid Lions offense if Best is unable to stay or get on the field.

For full Fantasy Football draft coverage go to fantasycpr.com where you can find rankings, sleepers, and player profiles to help get your fantasy season off to the right start.

Phil Sears-US PRESSWIRE

There are many ways to kill your fantasy football season, but few are as effective as swinging and missing in the first round or two on a big-name, low-output running back. Fantasy horror stories from the past few seasons include Ryan Grant’s broken leg in week one of 2010 and the disappearance of Chris Johnson last year.

What running backs are overrated this year? Sometimes there are absolutely no warning signs when a back is dropping in value. Injuries are unavoidable, but there are some players that I think are going way too early in many drafts. It’s not that these players are no good or are not worth drafting, but I think the risk you’re taking when you draft them in their current ranking is too high compared to other players who will most likely still be on the board.

Last week, we we looked at some overrated and underrated QBs. Here’s three running backs I’ll be avoiding this season unless they tumble and represent some serious value:

Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars

MJD ended up being a steal last year since he was around many drafts all the way to the end of the first round. He stepped up and contributed another great season last year despite playing in a poor offense and having to overcome knee concerns. He took home the rushing title and was one of the best backs in the game.

However, he also led the league in another category: rushing attempts. He carried 343 times and has more carries than anyone over the past three seasons. All that wear-and-tear is going to take it’s toll at some point. His decline is inevitable and if you take him as the fourth RB off the board you are banking your season that this year isn’t the year he steps back.

He’s just too risky for me to be one of my top eight running backs. If you do end up with “pocket hercules” make sure you pick up some serious insurance. MJD in Jacksonville is an icon and a legend, but don’t count on him too much this season or you may be left scrambling through the waiver wire.

Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs

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Charles potential is undebatable. When he’s been healthy, he’s looked like an absolute fantasy beast. In 2010, Charles fell just short of 1,500 yards and scored eight total TDs. Last year, Charles was highly drafted and went down with a knee injury week two after getting just 83 total rushing yards.

The main threat to Charles fantasy value though isn’t his injury woes. Charles should be able to be fully recovered and ready for camp, but it does sometimes take additional time for players to regain their previous form. The main reason why I won’t have Charles as high as others is the addition the Chiefs made of Peyton Hillis.

The Chiefs used a rotation after Charles went down to fill in last season, and new head coach Romeo Crennel is used to running back rotations from his Patriots’ days. It’s unclear at this point what part Charles will have in the rotation with Hillis. Depending on his form in the preseason and how the job plays out, by your draft day he may be a top 10 option. For me right now he’s a very high upside RB2 with quite a bit of risk.

Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons

Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Turner is no longer a top 15 RB option. Turner spent many years as a backup making him play a bit younger than his 30-year age. Last  year, he did get 1,340 yards but also took 301 carries. Much of his yardage came against the Bucs D in his 172 yard-2 TD game week 16 last year.

The other factor that may contribute to Turner’s slide this year is the presence of Jacquizz Rodgers. The Falcons have been pumping the second-year back from Oregon State and especially touting his abilities in the receiving game. Rodgers may be much more of the package this season pushing Turner (never much or a receiver) to the sidelines more often. Rodgers is a great sleeper; Turner will be other owners headache this year in my leagues.

June 12 2012; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) throws the ball during Redskins Minicamp at Redskins Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

There is no position that defines an NFL team like a quarterback does. In fantasy football, having a good QB is imperative to having a successful season. Years on the fantasy football calendar are remembered for emergent QBs. Last year was the year Cam Newton exploded on the scenes, the year before it was Michael Vick who came off waiver wires and brought people championships.

The top of the QB class is solid. Everyone pretty much agrees that Rodgers/Brees/Brady are the top three with Matthew Stafford and Cam Newton hanging just on the fringes of that power troika. The next level includes a number of QBs that make up one tier that runs from about #6-#12. However, there is almost guaranteed to be a top 10 QB that will rise from outside that group. In fact, there’s probably a top 10 QB that will be ranked outside the top 20 that will put together a good enough season to make him a solid start even in one QB leagues.

The trick is figuring out who that guy is this year. These are three QBs I see having a shot to finish in the top 10 who are not being ranked/picked there at this point in the preseason. Let me make sure I’m clear here. I wrote about overrated QBs, but I would not take any of these guys ahead of Eli Manning or Cam Newton. These are sleeper QBs that are going in the later rounds that I think will finish as a value at their draft position.

Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers

June 12, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws the ball during minicamp at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Big Ben is ranked outside the top 10 in almost every ranking I’ve seen. He struggled last year after sustaining the high-ankle sprain against the Browns. The problem with Roethlisberger (besides fitting his name in the box on your draft board) is his offensive line. They let Big Ben get hit and hurt way to often last year and the Steelers offense and eventually their season were ended because of it. There’s reason for concern there, to be sure, and that’s why his ranking is low.

The upside though is enormous and in my opinion he’s worth a later pick if you miss the elites or want a top-shelf backup in single-QB leagues. The Steelers running game may struggle with or without Rashard Mendenhall. That may hurt the Steelers, but it could be a huge boost for Ben’s value. With Todd Haley in as the Offensive Coordinator, the Steelers are expected to have a pass-heavy system. Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown lead a dynamic group of receivers provided Wallace gets a new deal and gets into camp.

Big Ben should have the opportunity and the weapons to be a top 10 QB once again this year as long as he can stay healthy behind the Steelers rebuilt O-line.

Robert Griffin III – Washington Redskins

Griffin’s contract situation has been resolved and he’ll be in camp from day one which is huge for a rookie. The Redskins have invested in every way possible to set up RG3 to succeed. They have a solid running game with Roy Helu Jr. coming off a breakout season. At wideout, the Redskins brought in Pierre Garcon to ge the #1 WR and added Josh Morgan to give them some added depth. Don’t forget about Leonard Hankerson either who looked good before getting injured last season.

Griffin’s weapons will be vastly superior to what the Colts have for his fellow first round pick Andrew Luck. RG3 should have more fantasy value than Luck at least short-term. Can Griffin be Cam Newton 2.0? Probably not, but he does have a more refined passing game and is joining a pretty good team.

I thought he would be drafted as a top QB but the rankings I’ve seen have him from 15-20. He is definitely worth a mid-round pick as a backup or second QB and he could easily finish in the top 10 if he can combine his running game and passing game into a Newton-esque first year int the league.

Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams

June 12, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) throws during minicamp at ContinuityX Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

It wasn’t long ago that Bradford was a sleeper darling of many fantasy football owners and experts. Coming into last year, some thought he was ready to make the leap to QB1 status. Unfortunately for Bradford, the only leaping he did was out of the way of the oncoming rush as the Rams line allowed him to get pummeled and he was forced to miss six games throughout the course of the season. He’s ranked around 20 on most pre-draft boards and with good reason after last year’s disappointment.

I think there’s a good chance that Bradford bounces back this year. While I don’t think he can reach to top 10, he can be a top-level backup or QB2 in double-quarterback leagues. Bradford had a new system with Jeff Fisher in place as his new head coach. Fisher made it clear when he took the job he had faith in Bradford and though he could develop him. For that to happen, Bradford will need to be able to stay upright an in the lineup so he can regain his confidence. Another important factor will be if any of the stash of young wide-receiving talent can emerge as a top WR for Bradford.

If he can stay healthy, I expect Bradford to finish in the top 15 of QBs as he turns things back around under Fisher and the Rams start to head in the right direction.

Jake Locker – Tennessee Titans

November 13, 2011; Charlotte, NC, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker (10) before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-US PRESSWIRE

Locker is the ultimate Wild Card right now. He may not even start to open the season since he has to compete with veteran Matt Hasselbeck. However, if it’s a true competition, I think Locker can win it. Even if he doesn’t, I expect him to be in the starting lineup before the end of the season.

The Titans offense is stacked with play-makers. Chris Johnson may not be CJ2K anymore but he should bounce back for about 1,200 yards and be a weapon defenses have to focus on. At Wide Receiver, the Titans have some great pieces in place with Kenny Britt, Nate Washington, and newly-drafted Kendall Wright. The WR corps seems to have a focus on stretching the field and more of a vertical passing game which plays to Locker’s strength.

In his three games last year with significant playing time, he threw 4 TDs and no INTs. His best game was against the Saints as he threw for 282 yards and almost led the Titans to a win. I’ll be targeting Locker in my drafts since he’s ranked 30 or higher and makes a good late-round gamble.

July 6, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) hits an RBI single against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Congratulations on a great first half of the fantasy baseball season if you had these guys on your team. Of all the players chosen in drafts, these players represent the best values and have joined the elite players at their positions. The AL Lineup can be found here.

Many of these regular starters in fantasy baseball now were once waiver wire fodder. Check out FantasyCPR’s extensive fantasy baseball coverage including sleeper central for a daily lineup of players worth considering for your lineup.

NL Starting Lineup

July 5, 2012; Flushing, NY, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz (51) walks to the dugout before the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

C- Carlos Ruiz – Phi: Ruiz leads all catchers with a .350 batting average and despite missing time due to injury has 13 home runs and 46 RBI for a Phillies team desperate for offense. Honorable Mention- Wilin Rosario (COL), A.J. Ellis (LAD), Yadier Molina (STL).

1B- Joey Votto – Cin: In a year with plenty of first-round disappointments, Votto has remained consistent. He leads all 1B with a .348 average and has 14 home runs and 48 RBI. He has an awesome 1.087 OPS to lead the Majors and 65 walks with just 64 strikeouts. Honorable Mention: Adam LaRoche (WAS), Freddie Freeman (ATL).

Jul. 4, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Aaron Hill (2) doubles to deep left against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE

2B- Aaron Hill – Ari: With his two cycles Hill’s grabbed headlines, but his fantasy owners have enjoyed his consistent production all year long. Hill enters the break hitting an even .300 with 11 home runs, 40 RBI, and seven stolen bases. Honorable Mention: Jose Altuve (HOU), Brandon Phillips (CIN), Neil Walker (PIT)

3B- David Wright – NYM: Wright leads all 3B with a .351 batting average while picking up 59 RBI and 11 home runs. He’s even added nine stolen bases and has an OPS of 1.004. Honorable Mention: Aramis Ramirez (MIL), David Freese (STL).

SS- Ian Desmond – Was: With 17 home runs, 51 RBI, and 24 2B, Desmond is comfortably out front of all MLB SS. On top of that he’s hitting .285 and has 11 SB. He has the inside track on being the first SS off the board next season. Honorable Mention: Jed Lowrie (HOU), Starlin Castro (CHC). 

CF- Andrew McCutchen -Pit: Leading the renaissance in Pittsburgh, McCutchen leads the Majors with a .362 average while adding 18 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 60 RBI for the NL Central leaders. His predicted breakout season has arrived and he’s become a central piece in the Bucs and fantasy owners lineups. Honorable Mention: Michael Bourn (ATL), Dexter Fowler (COL).

LF- Melky Cabrera – SF: Cabrera showed that last year’s production was no fluke with a big first-half for the Giants. He enters the break hitting .353 with 10 steals, 44 RBI, and eight HR. I give him the nod over Gonzalez and Braun because he was a much better draft day value since he could be had in much later rounds. Honorable Mention: Carlos Gonzalez (COL), Ryan Braun (MIL).

RF- Carlos Beltran – StL: One of the best free-agent signings of the off-season, Beltran leads NL RF with 20 home runs while hitting for a .296 average and driving in an NL-leading 65 runs. Honorable Mention: Jay Bruce (CIN), Jason Hayward (ATL), Tyler Colvin (COL), Giancarlo Stanton (MIA).

June 29, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Starting Pitchers- R.A. Dickey (NYM), Stephen Strasburg (WAS), Matt Cain (SF), Gio Gonzalez (WAS), Ryan Vogelsong (SF), Lance Lynn (STL), A.J. Burnett (PIT), Johnny Cueto (CIN), James MacDonald (PIT).

Relief Pitchers- Joel Hanrahan (Pit), Santiago Casilla (SF), Tyler Clippard (WAS), Kenley Jansen (LAD), Jason Grilli (Pit).

Check out FantasyCPR’s sleeper central for a daily lineup of players worth considering for your lineup and plenty more fantasy baseball coverage.

AL Starting Lineup

June 29, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (39) right is greeted at home plate by Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) after Saltalamacchia hit a two run home run against the against the Seattle Mariners during the 6th inning at Safeco Field. Boston defeated Seattle 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

C- Jarrod Saltalamacchia – Bos: Largely undrafted, Salty’s 17 home runs are the most for any catcher. He’s added 41 RBI while hitting .239 and solidifying the role formerly held by the captain for the Red Sox. Honorable Mention: AJ Pierzynski (CHW), Joe Mauer (MIN).

1B- Prince Fielder – Det: Although the Tigers have been a disappointment the same can’t be said of Prince’s numbers. He is first among 1B and fifth overall in the Majors with 63 RBI and has 15 home runs, and a .885 OPS. Honorable Mention: Paul Konerko (CHW), Mark Teixeira (NYY).

July 2, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano (24) prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

2B- Robinson Cano – NYY: Leading all 2B with a .314 average, 20 home runs, and 51 RBI, Cano hasn’t disappointed anyone who used an early pick on him. He’s become the most dangerous Yankee bat and dominates from a relatively thin-on-numbers position. Honorable Mention- Ian Kinsler (TEX), Jason Kipnis (CLE).

3B- Miguel Cabrera – Det: Barring injury or major slump, Cabrera will be the #1 overall selection in every draft next year after his first-half put to rest the Pujols/Cabrera debate. While his defense won’t win him any awards, he’s second in the Majors with 71 RBI while hitting .324 with 18 home runs. He leads the American League in hits, is third in doubles, and is sixth in batting average. Honorable Mention: Adrian Beltre (TEX), Mike Moustakas (KC), Will Middlebrooks (BOS)

SS- Asdrubel Cabrera – Cle: Cabrera is the most well-balanced American League SS and took a tumble in many drafts making him fairly affordable. He’s hitting .286 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI. Honorable Mention: Derek Jeter (NYY), Alcides Escobar (KC), Mike Aviles (BOS).

Jun 22, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton (32) smiles back to the dugout after he lost grip of his bat in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Rangers Ballpark. The Rangers beat the Rockies 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

CF- Josh Hamilton – Tex: Hamilton was seen as a health risk coming into the season, but has stayed healthy long enough to lead the Major Leagues in home runs and RBI. He’s hit .311 with 27 home runs and 75 RBI in just 79 games played. He’s solidified his place as one of the top hitters in the Bigs while leading a mashing Rangers lineup. Honorable Mention: Mike Trout (LAA), Austin Jackson (Det), Adam Jones (BAL), Curtis Granderson (NYY)

RF- Jose Bautista – Tor: Bautista shares the Major League home run lead with Hamilton with 27 and has 65 RBI. His average has been below his career average as he’s hitting just .244 but his splits have gotten better each month and he seems to be heating up for the second half. Honorable Mention: Josh Reddick (Oak), Alex Rios (CHW)

Jul 8, 2012; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo (44) bats in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Angel Stadium. The Angels defeated the Orioles 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

LF- Mark Trumbo – LAA: For the sake of this lineup we’ll swing Trumbo over to LF to get his 22 HR and 57 RBI in the lineup. His power-bat won’t hurt your average either with a .306 batting average and a .965 OPS. Positional questions and fear of a sophomore slump dropped him way down preseason draft boards. Honorable Mention: Josh Willingham (MIN)

DH- David Ortiz – Bos: Big Papi was left for done by fantasy owners, but has turned back the clock with 22 home runs, 56 RBI, and a .313 average. He’s played seven games at 1B and could regain eligibility there depending on interleague play in the second half. Papi’s in the top 10 in the AL in average, home runs, RBI, runs scored, walks, SLG, and OPS.  Honorable Mention: Edwin Encarnacion (TOR), Adam Dunn (CHW), Billy Butler (KC).

Starting Pitchers- Jered Weaver (LAA), Chris Sale (CHW), Jason Hammel (Bal), Jake Peavy (CHW), Jarrod Parker (OAK), David Price (TB), Yu Darvish (TB)

Relief Pitchers- Jim Johnson (Bal), Fernando Rodney (TB), Jonathan Broxton (KC), Rafael Soriano (NYY), Vinnie Pestano (CLE), Joaquin Benoit (DET)

In the biggest move by a title-contender to date in the NBA offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers landed Steve Nash in a sign-and-trade with the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers immediately jumped to in many people’s minds to favorite status in the Western Conference. This year, their offense looks to be one of the best in the league on paper and should give the Thunder and the Spurs all they can handle through the regular season and into the playoffs barring injury.

Feb. 20, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash during game against the Washington Wizards at the US Airways Center. The Suns defeated the Wizards 104-88. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

I love the move for the Lakers in the short-term, but their championship window is as short as any team in the league. If they don’t get it done this year, maybe Magic will finally get the blow-up-the-team that he’s been calling for. Nash is 38 and by the end of the deal he’ll be 4o, two years older then Jason Kidd was this past season. If your a Lakers fan you’ve got to be excited though as your team is definitely “all in” headed into the coming season.

As the season approaches, there are sure to be more moves made heading into everyone’s annual fantasy basketball draft. Let’s take a look at who wins and loses from the move with the rosters as currently constituted. When other moves go down, check back at Fansided.com for more reaction and analysis.

Stock up

May 12, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) reacts after making a shot as time expires in the second quarter of game seven of the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Pau Gasol – Gasol is the current Laker whose game best matches up with what Nash has run in the past. Nash and Gasol on the pick-and-roll would be brutal for teams to defend. In Nash’s style of fluid ball movement offense, Gasol would be a natural fit and be able to utilize his passing skills and mid-range jumper to pick up plenty of points and assists. If Gasol stays put, he’s a solid second round pick in most 10 team leagues. I would take him ahead of Bynum simply because he’s more of a known commodity and there’s very little down-side unless he gets moved to a different team.

Steve Nash – Nash is not going to be relied on to score a large portion of the Lakers points, but that’s when he functions at his best. Don’t draft him for scoring, but do draft him highly. With the Suns last season, Nash averaged 10.7 assists and in February didn’t have less than nine in any of the 13 games he played. For one stretch of last season Nash had double-digit assists in 19 of 22 games. All of those numbers were while playing for a Suns team with less offensive talent than the Lakers will have coming into this season. If you want assists from your point guard, only Rajon Rondo can even be considered in the same class with Nash. The added rest of a regular-paced season will only enhance his number and I think he can easily average 13-15 assists and 10-15 points making him a late second or early third round pick.

Andrew Bynum – As he typically is, Bynum is the big wild card here. He could mesh with Nash and become Amare-in-his-good-years but hopefully with more desire to hit the boards. I could easily see him being the top center in the league this year (yes, DH12, we’re still waiting for you to make up your mind). The problem with Bynum is not his ability; any questions about the big man start with his motivation. He’s shown a tendency to disappear and play lax at times. If Nash can help solve that, Bynum is pure gold. If Bynum remains an enigma, he may not remain a Laker for long.

Opposing PG’s playing the Lakers – As good as the Lakers offense will be, their perimeter defense will leave much to be desired. Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Ty Lawson, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo, Tony Parker, and even Mike Conley have crushed the Lakers for big games over the past couple seasons, and it doesn’t look like the situation will be getting any more difficult for them. At this stage in his career, Nash lacks the quickness to stay with the more athletic point guards in the league which should lead to great games for all the above mentioned guards when they play the high-scoring Lakers.

Stock down

May 9, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks power forward Amare Stoudemire (1) before game five in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against he Miami Heat of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Kobe Bryant – I still think Kobe’s a first-round pick, don’t get me wrong. With the move, He fits at the end of the round at nine or ten as opposed to  five or six. His risk-level jumped quite a bit with this addition as well. If the Lakers offense works like it should though, his teammates should be taking some of the scoring load off of Bryant. Bryant needs to be fresh for the playoffs and for big games where LA needs a mammoth performance from him, that should be more possible than last year with Nash raising the game of the other players on the court. Getting Nash is a huge boost to Kobe’s chances at a ring, but probably a small knock on his final stats for the year.

Amare Stoudemire – The Knicks forward would have welcomed Steve Nash to New York  and put the band back together that earned him his Big Apple contract. Now, it looks like he’ll run with Jason Kidd and Jeremy Lin who are definitely good PG but definitely not Steve Nash. Stoudemire is still a solid pick if he can stay healthy, but I wouldn’t pick him until the 6th or 7th round which means some crazed Knicks-believer will have him way before me in most leagues.

Ramon Sessions – The outside chance that he would be the full-time starting point guard for the Lakers for a full season made him an intriguing selection in the draft this year. With the Nash acquisition, it looks like the PG carousel may end up with him in Dallas or possibly Houston. He’s still an interesting late-round pick if he’s getting starter’s minutes, but there’s no potential landing spot that would serve him as well as staying with LA would have.

Zach Thompson is a Fansided contributor and lead editor at FantasyCPR.com.