NFC SOUTH PRESEASON GRADES

ATLANTA FALCONS

QB-Matt Ryan (B), Chris Redman (F)

RB-Michael Turner (A), Jerious Norwood (C), Jason Snelling (D)

WR-Roddy White (B+), Michael Jenkins (C), Harry Douglas (D+), Brian Finneran (F)

TE-Tony Gonzalez (B+), Justin Peelle (D)

K-Jason Elam (B+)

OUTLOOK:  The Falcons are capable of scoring a lot  ot points this season with a full arsenal of weapons in a division full of porous defenses.  Add to that the fact that the Falcons own defense might be suspect, and shootouts could be the norm.  Look for Ryan to step up stat-wise this season.  Even though the Falcons are still a run-first squad (meaning Turner is still a Top 5 overall choice), the addition of Gonzalez should really grease the wheels of the passing game.  Norwood is a good guy for the later rounds; his big-play ability makes him a decent bye-week option, and his value would skyrocket if Turner got hurt.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

QB-Jake Delhomme (C), Josh McCown (F)

RB-DeAngelo Williams (B+), Jonathan Stewart (B), Mike Goodson (D)

WR-Steve Smith (B+), Mushin Muhammad (C), Dwayne Jarrett (D), Ryne Robinson (F)

TE-Jeff King (D+), Dante Rosario (D+)

K-John Kasay (B)

OUTLOOK:  Anyone who saw his playoff performance last year is likely running scared from Delhomme, and they have good reason.  He's been a good Fantasy QB for a while, but he's definitely QB2 material at this point.  Williams didn't get an A grade because a nagging suspicion persists that will make his magical run last season hard to duplicate.  Don't forget Stewart, who had his excellent rookie season despite some injury woes, will be snapping at his heels for carries.  Muhammad was solid again last season, but he's closer to 40 than 30, so buyer beware.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

QB-Drew Brees (A), Mark Brunell (D)

RB-Pierre Thomas (B), Reggie Bush (C+), Mike Bell (D)

WR-Marques Colston (B), Lance Moore (C+), Devery Henderson (D), Robert Meachem (D)

TE-Jeremy Shockey (C+), Billy Miller (C)

K-Garrett Hartley (C)

Brees is one of the surest things in the league.  If you draft him, you can forget about your QB position save for his bye week.  Look for Thomas to be a tad more valuable than Bush, although both should be Fantasy starters most weeks.  Bush needs to stay healthy for a change, because it's seems like an increasingly longer shot each year that he'll be around for the Fantasy playoffs.  Colston is primed for a bounce-back after an injury-plagued sophomore campaign.  Shockey should thrive in this offense, but you have to wonder if there's anything left in the tank.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

QB-Josh Freeman (D+), Luke McCown (D), Byron Leftwich (D)

RB-Derrick Ward (C+), Earnest Graham (C), Cadillac Williams (D+), Clifton Smith (F)

WR-Antonio Bryant (B), Michael Clayton (D+), Dexter Jackson (D), Maurice Stovall (D)

TE-Kellen Winslow (B), Jerramy Stevens (D)

K-Mike Nugent (D+)

OUTLOOK:  If you're going to go with a Bucs' QB, you might as well take a chance on the rookie Freeman, even if he doesn't begin the season as starter.  We've already seen what McCown and Leftwich can do, and it's nothing too earth-shaking.  Bryant will be hurt by the QB situation but helped by the addition of Winslow to take pressure away, so look for numbers similar to his comeback season in '08.  The running back situation looks muddled, but expect Ward to break out of the pack and take most of the carries by the end of the year.