Recently by Andrew Tomlinson

It seemed like the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim had everything going their way when the playoffs started, but their luck may have just run out, as they now have to face the red hot New York Yankees.

Carrying the burden of their fallen teammate, Nick Adenhart, the Angels blew past the Boston Red Sox. Many had eliminated LAA before the series had even started. It was for a good reason too, since the Angels have not been able to advance past Boston in the playoffs in a long while.

While Boston is a good team, the Yankees are an entirely different beast. Not only do they have some of the best players in all of baseball, but they also play together like a team. It is been what has been missing from New York for several years.

Game 1 of the American League Championship Series was close for most of the team, but in the end it was C C Sabathia's eight strong innings that caused the Yankees to prevail. The pitching matchup's are interesting but it wills imply come down to offense.

Both teams have good pitching, but all of them can be hit if you have a strong hitting team. New York just has too many good hitters. Nick Swisher, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and of course Mark Teixeira are all part of a line up that has troubled some of the league's best pitchers.

If the Angels are going to have any chance of winning this series they must beat the Yankee's at their own game. Manufacturing runs and putting runners in motion will not be good enough. Every opportunity the red and white have to power the ball for an extra base hit must be taken advantage of.

Many say playoff games come down to one or two runs; apparently they haven't seen this Yankee's team before. The Angels are a good team and they can beat the "evil empire," they just have to change their game. Six runs or more is going to be required to topple New York.

Whether it is the Angels or Yankees winning the championship, one this is for sure it will be a long series with lots of scoring.

When it comes to this division there are really only two things to pay attention to, the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans.

1. Tennessee Titans

The Titans are the divisions defending champions and despite the loss of star DT Albert Haynesworth, they will repeat. With a strong running game centered around second year back Chris Johnson, the Titans offense will be able to put up a few points this year. As a result their loss of Haynesworth on defense will be made up with some offensive production.

2. Houston Texans

This year is supposed to be "the year" for the relatively new franchise. The offense will be strong with Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton, but don't look for them to put up a ton of points, as Matt Schaub may struggle under center. The important thing to watch out for is their defense. Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans will center what looks to be a defense that could be stingy when it comes to giving up points. I don't think this will be their year for the playoffs, but they will come pretty close.

3. Indianapolis Colts

I know what many of you are thinking, but this might be the year that the rose final falls off the bud for the Colts. Despite having perhaps the second best quarterback in the league, a lack luster receiving core and an aging safety will be their weakness. It wont take more than a year for the former Super Bowl champs to rebound though, providing they have a strong draft.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

There really isn't much to say about this team, other than the fact that their owner doesn't think any of their games will be on TV. If the owner isn't even optimistic what hope does this team have? They don't have an even remotely good receiving core and their only real offensive weapon is Maurice Jones-Drew. It may be a few years before this team is competing for the playoffs again.

I have talked about my Matthew Stafford love affair before, but today everything is official the future is now in Detroit.

Okay, well saying the future is now is a bit of an overstatement. That said, the announcement shows that the Detroit Lions organization has no fear and is not afraid to take risks. They are not bad, lets draft back to back to back to back wide receivers, decisions either. Starting Stafford shows not only confidence in the No. 1 pick but also in the offensive line.

Confidence and an act like you have been here before mentality will be fresh in Detroit. It has been over 50 years since the Lions were considered a successful franchise. Jim Schwartz's decision, whether made because of money or not, shows he is not afraid to push forward. Starting Daunte Culpepper is continuing the losing. It continues the culture of reactionary decisions, like the ones their defense made last year, which leads to mistakes.

By taking the bull by the horns the beloved honolulu blue and silver are saying enough is enough. They want to win and they want Stafford to take them there. So best of luck to you Matt and please pan out not only for the city, but also because you are my sleeper fantasy pick.

I don't know why so many pundits and journalists think the preseason is unimportant. Not only does it help determine NFL rosters, but it also means its time for fantasy football scouting. Sure, its not like we are trying to draft a team for the real Super Bowl, but to us postseason fantasy victory is our little Super Bowl.

With that said, over the next week I am going to be doing a series of articles focusing on who the big players are going to be in fantasy football this year, starting with the running backs.

It is no secret that drafting a good running back can make or break your season. The ground game is an important part to fantasy football because there is usually just one running back getting most the carries, unlike wide receivers who have the ball spread around. A back can pull in the upwards of 20-30 points in a week depending on the scoring style.

Top 5 Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson - This is the obvious number one overall pick in a fantasy draft. Peterson is the most explosive offensive player in the NFL and will put points on the board. It also helps his fantasy stock since the Vikings are a run oriented team. What team wouldn't be with this guy? There isn't much to be said about Peterson other than, if you have the first overall pick you better be taking him.

2. Michael Turner - While Turner had been around the league for the last few years, he really burst on to the scene last year with the Atlanta Falcons. The running game was key to Atlanta's success and they struck a good balance between running the football and throwing it. He is projected to go number two overall but don't be surprised if a flashy receiver like Larry Fitzgerald is taken over him. If you get Turner be ready for lots of touchdowns and be sure to get a secondary back that can get you the yards.

3. DeAngello Williams - Here is where I begin to differ from the experts. Many have Maurice Jones-Drew as the third top running back but I am not too sure. While Jones-Drew had 12 touchdowns on the ground, he only had 824 yards rushing. Williams, on the other hand, had 1515 yards on the ground and 18 touchdowns. He is a scoring machine and did all of it splitting carries with Jonathan Stewart. Jones-Drew does have more receiving yards but still has fewer total yards than Williams. With a inconsistent passing game in Carolina, don't be surprised if Williams isn't again at the the top of the fantasy world.

4. Maurice Jones-Drew - Even though Jones-Drew lost the third spot, he only dropped to number four on my list. It is his receiving yards that gives him value. He doesn't get a ton of yards on the ground, but has a enough receiving yards and goal line touchdowns to make it worth your while.

5. Matt Forte - What a rookie season for this kid last year. Chicago struggled moving the ball through the passing game all year, but Forte remained consistent. Expect much of the same this year as Jay Cutler seems to be unable to maintain a rhythm with his receivers. To go along with his rushing yards, expect Forte to have a ton of receiving yards, seeing as Cutler likes to check down often. He isn't a top pick over a some receivers and quarterbacks, but is a solid number one running back.

5 Surprises

1. Kevin Smith - I know I know, I am a Lions fan so it looks like I am just plugging the hometown kid. In reality though, he may have a very good year. New head coach Jim Schwartz has put an emphasis on running the football in Detroit. While Smith only had eight touchdowns last year, he was only 24 yards short of a 1,000 yard season. Provided that the defense can keep the Lions out of an early hole expect the Motor-City Kitties to run the ball.

2. Steve Slaton - Can we really call him a surprise for this year? Slaton had a fantastic season last year with almost 1,300 yards. It was his low number of touchdowns that keeps him out of the top five best. Slaton should be an important part to Houston's run to the playoffs. With the team searching for their first postseason birth, they will have to vary the run and pass game. Look for Slaton in the backfield as well as the flat.

3. Ray Rice - Mini-Ray, as many call him in Baltimore, has all but locked up the starting spot for the Ravens. Even though he may be small in frame, he certainly can turn on the speed. He is in a system that is characterized by their love of smash mouth football. As a result the Ravens will do two things: play defense and run the ball. Rice is poised to have a huge season and don't be surprised if he is towards the top of the AFC. His extra speed gear will certainly lead to some long touchdown runs.

4. Knowshon Moreno - Even though he hasn't practiced in two weeks, expect him back for the regular season Moreno is on a team that hasn't been able to the run the ball in a few years, but is also going to struggle in the passing game. Look for the Bronco's to run a lot this year. To go along with his abilities in the backfield he will be a safety blanket for who ever starts for Denver. His out routes and curls will provide easy completions for either Chris Simms or Kyle Orton.

5. Rashard Mendenhall - Lets be real here, while Ben Roethlisberger is a winner, he is not an amazing quarterback. As a result, the Steelers are successful in the run. In past years it has been "way fast" Willie Parker that has taken the snaps for Pittsburgh. But there are questions about his ability to stay healthy. I am not putting a lot of faith in Parker this year, thus I think he will be oft injured. Mendenhall will be able to step in and take the carries and gain the yards needed to be a solid number two back.

The top and the bottom of this division couldn't have been farther apart last year. That said however, this division could be up for grabs this year.

1. Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota won the division last year, and with their offseason moves are out in front again. Percy Harvin and Brett Favre will certainly improve the passing on a team that could never really rely on a quarterback last year. Oh yeah, and they also have the best player in the league Adrian Peterson.

While the offense may not be the best in the division, there is no question that there defense is. Minnesota returns the ever ominous Williams wall that will be sure to stop the run. To go along with their strong tackles they also have ever eccentric Jared Allen. Even though he may do some odd things on and off the field(see celebration rope the calf) there is no question that all quarterbacks fear him.

The strange thing about this team is that their best moves this year may also be their worst. Favre is older and no one knows what they will get out of him. There is a very good chance that his 40 year old body can't deal with the grind of the NFL. If that happens Vikings fans should worry, because when Favre is not at full strength he tends to make poor decisions and turn the ball over.

2. Green Bay Packers

From the team with Brett Favre to the one who got rid of him. Green Bay experienced some growing pains last year as they moved on to new quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The funny part about it though, is that it was the defense that had the problems. Sure, Ryan Grant struggled a bit but the Pack generally lost because they were outscored not out played.

There is hope in cheese head nation this year however, as the green and yellow drafted highly touted DT B.J. Raji. While he did hold out for most of training camp, the rookie should fit in nicely with the teams new defensive scheme. If the secondary can hold down the fort and just allow the offense to its thing, the Packers could easily take the division from the Vikings.

The other thing that fans should look out for is a more driven Rodgers. It was one thing last year to have your former spot holder in another Conference, now he is in the same division. Rodgers will have to show Packer nation that he was not a mistake and that he is better than Favre. The best way for him to do that, is to beat Favre at home and away.

3. Chicago Bears

There is a big gap between the number two team in the division and number three. The Chicago Bears are sort of like a man without a country, they don't really know what they are. It wasn't that long ago that they were in the Super Bowl as a defensive powerhouse. Now they are running locomotive with Matt Forte, and in the offseason traded for a rocket arm in Jay Cutler.

If this franchise hopes to stay out of the bottom spot in the division they must do some soul searching this year. They won the Jay Cutler sweepstakes in the offseason but don't have any weapons around him. It is often said that a quarterback is only as good as his receivers, and lets just say Cutler doesn't have the best receivers.

In Denver last year, Cutler was throwing to Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. This year he is throwing to Devin Hester and Earl Bennett. Many will point to the difference in the two core's offensive stats, and while that is important it is the height difference that is going to be the problem. Marshall is 6'4'' and could go up and get the ball, while the tallest Bears receiver is only 6'.

On top of a lost offense, the teams defense is long worn out. Brian Urlacher is supposed to be the heart of the defense, but yet he hasn't put up the stats in nearly two years. Chicago should be looking to outscore opponents this year, instead of keeping them at bay.

4. Detroit Lions

Rounding out the NFC North is the Motor City Kitties. While they may be brining up the rear in preseason rankings, don't be surprised if they don't move up a spot or two in the division. I am not saying that they will be the Miami Dolphins of 2009 by any means, but they may surprise a few people.

After the historic overdeafted season Detroit had last year, the team has had a complete overhaul. To go along with a GM the team also has a new head coach in Jim Schwarz and has turned over at least half of the roster. Oh, and there is some new kid named Matt who might start at quarterback.

A beefed up defensive line and a revival at quarterback, coupled with a somewhat easy schedule, may be just the recipe the Lions need to turn the corner. While winning eight games is a long shot, don't be surprised if they don't pull out five wins. A new defensive scheme and a shored up linebacking core may allow for the team to pull out a few upset wins.

Final Thoughts

With many teams looking at question marks heading into the season, the division is far from decided. Every team took gambles in the offseason and some may prove more successful than others. In reality thought, while not a sure thing it is the Vikings division to lose. If the Favre experiment doesn't work out the team could be in trouble. On the other hand though, if it does, don't be surprised if you seem them playing meaningful football in January.

There are three things we can count on in life: death, taxes and the inevitable comeback of Brett Favre.

This year is no different as number 4 has returned from a six month retirement to play for the Minnesota Vikings. Even though it is total deja vu, something seems different about the situation. Favre adds something the men in purple haven't had in a long time, a successful quarterback, but does he really make this team better?

Sure, Favre has more credentials than Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson, but he is another year older. We all know about last year's injury and the question is whether or not it will return again this year. He says he feels much better than last year and is set to go, but no one will know how good he actually feels until the season starts.

On paper, the only thing that Favre seems to add to the Vikings are more turnovers.

Vikings signal callers only threw 17 interceptions last year and fumbled the ball a total of four times. Favre on the other hand, had 22 interceptions and five fumbles. While the turnover margin isn't big, it is still enough to question whether or not this move makes the Vikings better.

The argument can be made that Favre's numbers trailed off because of his arm injury. While it makes sense, stats from the past make it seem like it is just Favre's play style. He has had five season with more than 20 turnovers, the most recent being 2005.

Many would describe Favre as a "gunslinger." Many coaches see this as a good quality, as it means he attempts to make game changing plays. That said however, being a gunslinger also leads to poor decisions, something Brett is not foreign too. I think everyone remembers the overtime interceptions he has carelessly thrown in the playoffs.

Back to the original question though, does Favre make the Vikings better?

In my own personal opinion it is a high risk high, high reward situation. Number 4 will certainly throw the football, but will those extra passes put the Vikings over the top is yet to be seen. It is Adrian Peterson's team after all and thus is a run first offense. The quarterback is really only there to hand him the ball and run pass plays when the run isn't an option, which isn't often.

Any quarterback can really be plugged into that situation, especially considering that the team doesn't really have any major receivers to get the ball to. While the addition of Percy Harvin was nice, he is by no means a serious downfield threat. Favre is not going to be content just simply handing the rock off and thus may try to do too much when he does get the opportunity to pass. Often times that is a recipe for a turnover.

I still haven't answered the question though and that is because I don't think I can. We will have no idea how Favre will effect the Vikings until the season is over. Personally I think he may fail in Minnesota. The offense just simply doesn't need a liability like him under center. His turnovers aren't going to go away and I think Rosenfels could accomplish the bare minimum of what needs to be done by a quarterback.

After all, if we think back to last year it was the defense falling flat on its face(literally) during a Brian Westbrook screen that led to their first round exit; not the quarterback play.

The MLB Network, Baseball America's Aaron Fitt and ESPN are reporting that first overall pick Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals have agreed to a 4 year $15.67 million deal.

Talks between Strasburg and Washington went to the wire and many were unsure whether or not a deal would get done. The rookie is viewed as a future ace of the club and not signing him was going to be a major blow to the Nationals franchise.

This is the largest contract ever signed by a draft pick since the Cubs signed Mark Prior for $10.5 million in 2001.