Scott Engel reviews a range of topics related to fantasy sports, with a particular focus on Fantasy Football.

The Indianapolis Star confirmed that the Colts have signed Quinn Gray to a one-year deal, and the NFL Network has reported the team has also signed Jared Lorenzen. The addition of two quarterbacks raises some more questions about the status of Peyton Manning. Manning is still expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, and I wasn't too worried about the procedure when I first heard about it. The fact that the Colts have added insurance other than Jim Sorgi, though, makes me now hesitant to take Manning with a first-round pick, even though I still put him second at his position behind Tom Brady.

The Star also recently reported that Marvin Harrison has been cleared for training camp. Yet I wouldn't bank on him staying healthy or being as explosive as he used to be. Sure, he will still run good routes, but can he separate and get open like he used to? I'm still looking for a significant breakthrough season from Anthony Gonzalez.

The Denver Broncos released Mike Bell, which clears up the RB picture more in my eyes. Selvin Young is still the best fantasy draft choice on the team, but I don’t think he will be a consistent inside runner, and he may have to share carries with Andre Hall. If that pairing doesn't work, rookie Ryan Torain is going to get a prime opportunity to seize the starting job, and he's a superb late-round pick.

Jamaal Charles signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs, and he has already been openly backed by coach Herm Edwards. Kolby Smith is not the guaranteed handcuff to Larry Johnson. Charles is much more explosive than Smith, and he could conceivably jump to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart in his rookie year. If Charles has a good camp, his value will rise in yearly drafts that take place close to the beginning of the regular season.

The addition of Jason Taylor certainly improves the Washington defensive line, especially as he works on the same line with another pass-rushing force, Andre Carter. The unit is certainly moving towards more respectability but is not yet recommended as a regular starting fantasy unit. The secondary is still prone to giving up big plays, and it's concerning to see an overall lack of quality depth on the unit. The move out of Miami, however, means that Taylor should be freed up to do a lot of damage and will continue to play the run very effectively, making him one of the first defensive linemen off the board in individual defensive player (IDP) formats.

Mark Bradley has a knee problem that now makes him questionable early in training camp. Bradley is easily Chicago's best wide receiver when he is healthy, but he can't seem to steer clear of regular injuries. If the guy ever stays on the field for an extended period of time, he will be a quality free-agent addition.

The Boston Globe has reported that Wes Welker will open the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list with an undisclosed injury. It's too early to panic about his status though; Welker can still return to workouts at any time during camp, just as soon as he is cleared to return to action. I generally don't overreact to any player beginning camp on the PUP list, because you must evaluate each situation individually. New England is unlikely to let much information leak about Welker's condition, so I won't move him down on my cheat sheets unless more is reported. If the injury were a major one, we would likely have heard more about it, even from the Patriots.

The trade of Jeremy Shockey should only further help Eli Manning prove that last year's postseason success was no fluke. Manning will continue to thrive without Shockey, much as he did in Week 17 and during the playoffs. The Shockey move is another clear sign that the Giants are now Eli's team, and the organization has full confidence in him going forward. Manning will fully prove himself as a quality fantasy starter in 2008.

Someone please help me: Should I get Madden 09 for the PS3 or the Xbox 360? I'm not big on online play, because I don’t care for 13 year-olds trying to trash talk me at 1AM. It's more about the graphics and game play for me.

This week's Fantasy Football Magazine review, designed to make it easier to find the right magazine for your level of experience and expertise: If you're an experienced owner, then you should pick up the Footballguys.com 2008 Strategy Guide. For those who have been playing for years, the veteran analysts at Footballguys.com make you think outside what you may normally consider. They offer a lot more than just the basic cheat sheets and rankings, which heavily anchor other publications that are designed more for the casual fantasy player. There are interesting pieces on how you can win with a quarterback by committee approach, various storylines to watch for during the preseason, drafting in leagues with special rules, and my favorite article in the mag, interviews with beat reporters from every NFL team. The Footballguys.com staff members are deep thinkers, and it comes across in this fine drafting companion for the veteran fantasy player.

I haven't watched the Indy Racing League much lately, but the recent confrontation between Milka Duno and Danica Patrick only made me like Milka even more. Not only is she a hottie to begin with, but it was terrific to watch her go at Danica with no fear. You gotta love a girl who drives fast, looks great, and can kick some butt.

MAILBAG (From David Wild): I just saw your Fantasy Trade Association draft results, and I have to question taking both Tom Brady and Laurence Maroney. Doesn’t conventional wisdom say to not pick a quarterback and a running back from the same team?
On a separate note, I am in a three-player keeper league. I have decided to keep Clinton Portis and Tony Romo, but I can’t decide between Chad Johnson and Torry Holt for my final keeper.

ANGLE: Usually, I do not like to link my fantasy fortunes too much to one team at my key offensive positions, but the Patriots, obviously, are an exception. With other NFL teams, you can kill your fantasy outlook in a given week, if the ballclub you depend on has an offensive outage. Yet the electric Patriots didn't score less than 20 points in any regular season game last year, they return mostly the same cast, and I expect Maroney to be improved over a full season in 2008.
As for your third keeper, it's indeed a close call, but Johnson is two years younger than Holt, he plays in a more potent passing game with a better quarterback, and he has a great No. 2 WR as a complement. Yes, his ankle and attitude will be concerns for you, but the numbers should still be there in the end. You have to think further than just the present. Johnson should ultimately give you more mileage and better overall numbers moving forward.

Scott Engel was the Managing Editor of Fantasy Sports and a Senior Writer during his tenure at CBS SportsLine from 1996 to 2004. He was an Associate Editor and Fantasy Writer at ESPN.com from 2004 to 2008, and appeared as a featured fantasy analyst on Mike and Mike in the Morning. E-mail Scott at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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