TOP 5 NFL NEWS ITEMS FROM THURSDAY 8/26/10 TO SATURDAY 9/4/10

We have many great articles planned leading up to the 2010 Fantasy Football season including sleepers, busts, rookies, strategy, full player rankings and projections all wrapped up into a nifty draft kit to help you win your league next year. Below, we analyze the top fantasy football news items from the previous week.

Ask a question about your keepers in our FORUM. Leave a comment about this article down below.

5. Huggins, Kareem RB TB has impressed in the preseason

He was so good that Tampa cut Derrick Ward. Huggins should be expected to do what Ward was supposed to do. He'll likely play passing downs, amking him a decent late-round flier in PPR leagues, especially given Cadillac's checkered injury past.

4. Crayton, Patrick WR (DAL) was traded to SD

Crayton was decent when he found playing time with Dallas, but he's no Miles Austin. He could be decent if given targets for the Chargers, but he'll still be behind Floyd and Naanee. He's worth a flier late in deep leagues now, anyway.

3. Bush, Michael RB OAK will miss time

He's expected to be out 4-6 weeks with his thumb injury. He should be drafted late and stashed in deep leagues, as he should be a pretty good back from Week 8 on, at the least.

2. NE backfield is muddled

We'd avoid all Patriot running backs, as any one of them could completely go in the tank. We had liked Maroney, but he's fallen behind Taylor and Morris. Faulk is always just a late-round pick in deeper PPR leagues to be used as a flexin a week where pickings are slim.

1. Houshmandzadeh, T.J. WE SEA will be moved

It's not that he's no longer talented. In the right system, he could pile up catches (San Diego? Washington? Minnesota?). Draft him as more of a late-round lottery ticket, like Sidney Rice and Vincent Jackson, if your league allows 7-9 reserves. Despite his past failures, definitely draft T.J.'s SEA replacement in the line-up, Mike X. Williams. Williams has size and speed and has had a fantastic preseason.

ALSO

Ben Roethlisberger's suspension was officially reduced to four games, which is good news for Hines Ward and Rashard Mendenhall, especially since Byron Leftwich is hurt and the unproven Dennis Dixon (or maybe even Charlie Batch) will QB for the Steelers while Big Ben is out... Jason Campbell QB OAK will be ready for Week 1...MJD RB JAX says he'll be fine. However, if given the choice, we're taking Ray Rice before him. It's tough taking any sort of risk with such a high pick... LenDale White RB DEN and Montario Hardesty RB CLE will miss the 2010 season. Jerome Harrison RB CLE should pile up more stats now, but beware, as the risk of injury increases. Back-up Peyton Hillis becomes relevant in deeper PPR leagues, as he'll likely now split time running the ball with Harrison and probably see more carries at the goal line... Ladell Betts RB (NO) was released... Derrick Ward RB (TB) is signed with HOU. Ward stinks and is likely just depth behind Foster and Slaton... James Jones WR GB will begin the season ahead of Jordy Nelson on the depth chart, for those of you in deep leagues deciding which one to take with your last pick.

Again, ask a question about your keepers in our FORUM. Leave a comment about this article down below.