Fantasy Football Projections: NFC East

Fantasy football week is upon us once again. Each FanHouse NFL division writer used their keen insight to predict the top four fantasy football scorers at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.

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David Elfin covers the NFC East.

QUARTERBACKS

1. Tony Romo, Cowboys:

No question. Last season, Romo had 26 touchdowns, just nine interceptions and 4,483 yards, all tops in the division. Former Seattle and Cincinnati starter Jon Kitna is the backup.

2. Eli Manning, Giants:

Solid second choice. Manning's 2009 numbers were 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 4,021 yards. His supporting cast is solid, if not as spectacular as Romo's.

3. Donovan McNabb, Redskins:

McNabb, whose sprained ankle will keep him out of the final two preseason games, had 22 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 3,553 yards last year for Philadelphia and has lesser talent around him this season. He's not the runner he was a decade ago either. Former Chicago starter Rex Grossman is the backup and worked in coordinator Kyle Shanahan's offense last year in Houston.

4. Kevin Kolb, Eagles:

He passed for over 300 yards in his two starts in relief of McNabb in 2009 and has some weapons but is way too unproven to be anything other than your third-string quarterback. Though, for all the hype he received, backup Michael Vick had just 37 touches in 2009.

RUNNING BACKS

1. Marion Barber , Cowboys:

Not one NFC East back gained 1,000 yards in 2009 because of the multi-headed backfields so prevalent in today's NFL. Barber is the best bet because he remains the prime weapon near the goal line, having scored seven rushing touchdowns in 2009 to three apiece for younger backfield mates Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. Barber had more carries (214) than the two of them combined as well as more yards (932), catches (26) and receiving yards (221) than Jones (116 for 685, 19 for 119) or Choice (64 for 349, 15 for 132). Jones was Dallas' usual kickoff return specialist in 2009 but hasn't been used in that role this summer.

2. Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants:

The Giants seem to be tilting more towards Bradshaw, who had seven rushing touchdowns in 2009 to five for 2007-08 staple Brandon Jacobs. Bradshaw had two-thirds of Jacobs' carries (163 to 224). Neither is a big-time receiver, but Bradshaw had 21 catches and 207 yards to Jacobs' 18 for 184 and a touchdown. They split time this summer. Third-stringer D.J. Ware could see some time.

3. LeSean McCoy, Eagles:

The Eagles are the only NFC East team with a sure No. 1 back. That's McCoy, who led them with 637 yards and four touchdowns on 155 carries as a rookie in 2009 despite starting just four games. McCoy added 40 catches for 308 yards, both highs for backs in the division. Mike Bell had 654 yards and five touchdowns on 172 carries for New Orleans in 2009 but was banged-up during preseason and isn't a receiving threat unlike fellow backup J.J. Arrington. Fullback Leonard Weaver had 85 touches last year and scored four times.

4. Clinton Portis, Redskins:

Portis thrived in new coach Mike Shanahan's system in Denver. But that was in 2002-03. Portis will be 29 on Wednesday, making him the oldest of the division's starting backs. He also produced just 494 yards and a touchdown on 124 carries before suffering a season-ending concussion in Week 9. Portis' receiving numbers were down as well, but he could be more productive this year because of McNabb's presence and an improved offensive line. However, Washington has struggled on the ground this summer. Veteran backups Larry Johnson (178 carries for 581 yards for Kansas City and Cincinnati in 2009) and Willie Parker (98 for 389 with Pittsburgh) have seen better days, too. Each is older than Portis, isn't as good a receiver and bombed in his starting shot in preseason.

Bonus Top 10: 1: Barber; 2: Bradshaw; 3: McCoy; 4: Portis; 5: Jacobs; 6: Jones; 7: Bell; 8: Choice; 9: Johnson; 10: Weaver.


WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Miles Austin, Cowboys:

2. Steve Smith, Giants:

3. DeSean Jackson: Eagles:

Smith led the division in 2009 with 107 catches, 26 more than Austin, but the Cowboys' late bloomer had more yards (1,320 to 1,220) and touchdowns (11 to seven) so he's the NFC East's best fantasy pick. There's also Jackson who had 1,156 yards and nine touchdowns on just 62 catches while scoring twice on punt returns.

4. Santana Moss, Redskins:

After the top trio go with Moss, who remains his team's top threat (70 catches, 902 yards, three touchdowns in 2009) at 31 and seems to have good chemistry with McNabb. Since Jeremy Maclin (56, 773, four) is the clear No. 2 in Philadelphia ahead of Jason Avant (41, 587, three), he's next in line ahead of New York's Hakeem Nicks (47, 790, six) and Mario Manningham (57, 822, five), now a backup. Dez Bryant's ankle injury ruined the Dallas rookie's preseason making him a wild card behind Roy Williams (38, 596, seven). Don't go near a Redskins wide receivers except Moss.

Bonus Top 11: 1: Austin; 2: Smith; 3: Jackson; 4: Moss; 5: Maclin; 6: Nicks; 7: Manningham; 8: Williams; 9: Avant; 10: Bryant; 11: Crayton.


TIGHT ENDS

1. Brent Celek, Eagles:

2. Jason Witten, Cowboys:

As Romo's favorite target, the Cowboys' Jason Witten (94 catches, 1,030 yards) is the obvious pick, but he scored just two touchdowns in 2009. So the Eagles' Brent Celek (76 catches, 971 yards, eight touchdowns) is the choice, in part because Kolb will likely look often to a safety valve as he finds his way as a starter.

3. Chris Cooley, Redskins

Washington's Chris Cooley was having a down year in 2009 before breaking an ankle in Week 7. He averaged seven touchdowns during his first four years but scored just three times in 2008-09 despite catching 112 passes. Fred Davis took over when Cooley was hurt and caught 48 passes for 509 yards and six touchdowns. Shanahan loved using Shannon Sharpe in Denver and since the Redskins are so weak at receiver, the tight ends could see a lot of balls.

4. Kevin Boss, Giants:

The Giants' Kevin Boss (42 catches, 567 yards, five touchdowns) is a decent fantasy backup.