Fantasy owners have come to view RB Willis McGahee with a serious degree of skepticism. Willis blew up in 2004 when we least expected it, finishing with 13 TDs and over 1,100 yards despite not starting the season as the go-to guy. He has 11 TDs since, in two full seasons as the Bills' feature back. What do we make of him now that he's in Baltimore? Well, considering the upgrade in talent around him and the move to a contending team, you have to like McGahee's opportunity. Clearly, he felt stuck in Buffalo, and their offensive line and immature passing game didn't allow him to maximize his ability. The Ravens' offense isn't world-beating, nor is their front five at this point, but they have a respectable passing game, and McGahee will have every chance to return to the elite form he demonstrated three seasons ago. His on-again-off-again motivation still makes him a risk, but one with enough upside to gamble on. 

The receiver position has been a source of frustration for Philadelphia for years, from Todd Pinkston to James Thrash to Terrell Owens. To that end, the Eagles moved to outbid at least two other WR-starved squads for the services of former Ram Kevin Curtis, and fantasy owners should take note. Curtis has been forced to play third fiddle in his career, thanks to the presence of potential Hall of Famers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. However, he'll play a much more prominent role as a No. 2 in Philly behind Reggie Brown, in a pass-heavy offense that suits his skills perfectly. His speed, run-after-the-catch ability, and dependable route-running will make him a regular target for Donovan McNabb and the Eagles' West Coast attack.

Two seasons ago when Bruce missed some time with an injury, Curtis set career highs with 60 catches, 801 yards and six scores. Assuming McNabb returns to health, Curtis is a lock to break those reception and yardage totals. It's early yet, but Curtis looks like a very viable threat as a solid No. 3 in fantasy play. 

Ladies and gents, we have a new fantasy QB to consider. Matt Schaub, the promising yet inexperienced caddy to Michael Vick for the past three seasons, finally has his own gig. His new contract makes it clear that he will be the unquestioned starter in Houston. Schaub has made two starts in his brief career — his first a 188-yard, two-INT outing vs. the Saints in '04 and his second a 298-yard, three-TD exploision vs. New England in '05. He has appeared in 16 other games in spot or emergency duty and has shown a very strong arm, poise in the pocket and an ability to read defenses.

Where does his fantasy value lie as the Texans' signalcaller? Not exceptionally high, despite a skill set that is intriguing. As explosive as WR Andre Johnson is, he's only one reliable target. Behind him, Schaub has only WRs Kevin Walter and Jerome Mathis and second-year TE Owen Daniels. The running game should be better with Ahman Green in tow, but the real problem is the same one David Carr had in Houston: no pass protection. Schaub isn't a statue, but neither was Carr. Without significant improvement up front (Levi Brown anyone?), Schaub's value is sufficiently limited. I'd simply call him a decent fantasy backup with upside in keeper formats. 

Every fantasy draft season, running backs fly off the board in a heartbeat. Backs often make up 80 percent of the first two rounds. Why? Because the RB position is often the thinnest, with true feature, workhorse backs disappearing faster than Pacman Jones' legal defense. With so many teams trending to a two-headed backfield, the pattern appeared destined to continue.

However, as we began the process of really diving headfirst into next year's draft board, I was shocked to see the changes the RB rankings had undergone since the end of the season. Several committee backfields, specifically Chicago, Indianapolis and New England, have disappeared. Other backs still stuck in committees have proven they can overcome them, namely Maurice Jones-Drew, Thomas Jones, Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister. Still others have landed in locales more favorable for their fantasy value, such as Travis Henry and Willis McGahee. 

It all adds up to what looks like as deep a fantasy RB class as I can remember. Of course, it's just April, and I'm certain RBs will still dominate the early rounds, but it's interesting and somewhat comforting to see backs like Thomas Jones, Chester Taylor and Ahman Green sitting just outside the top 20 backs on the board. Provided injuries and rookie additions don't rob us of this newfound depth, this may play a major role in draft strategy come August. Let's keep an eye on it.