Five Players That Changed the Fantasy Football Landscape in 2009

Chris Johnson - With a record breaking 2,509 yards from scrimmage and 14 total TD's, he's vaulted himself over Jones-Drew and Peterson as the number one RB in the league going into 2010.  Posting roughly 50 more fantasy points than number 2 (Peterson), he put up the best fantasy season since LT's '06 campaign. LenDale White's departure via free agency alleviates any lingering concerns over vultured touchdowns.  The system is the same, the personnel is the same, and there is zero competition for carries.  

Aaron Rodgers - For the first time since 2002, we're looking at the preseason number one QB being someone not named Brady, Manning, or Brees.  An argument can be made for Manning or Brees for sure, but for my money I'll take Rodgers' upside and his 300 rushing yards per season.  The skill positions in Green Bay are loaded and he's another year into the system.

Jamaal Charles - Out of nowere.  From bench fodder to a first round pick in 2010.  The same size as Chris Johnson with the same skill set, Charles put down an insane 1,126 yards from scrimmage and 8 total TD's in 8 games, with a 6 yards per carry average..  Double that for an entire season and he's the number one back in the league.  Obviously you can't just double it and call it a year, and 6 YPC isn't sustainable, but the simple fact that he did what he did with the same offensive line that Larry Johnson mustered less than 3 YPC with speaks for itself.

Miles Austin - In a similar vein to Jamaal Charles, Austin went from fantasy bench fodder to a unequivacle top 10 WR. Forced to rank him right now, I'll put him at #8 behind Johnson, Wayne, Fitz, V-Jax, Calvin, White, and Desean Jackson.  Considering the variables involved with Moss, Marshall, and Sidney Rice, he's a safe top 10 pick.

Ladainian Tomlinson - It's officially the end of an era.  Although he didn't let fantasy owners down as an RB2 with 900 yards and 12 TD's, he averaged a measely 3.3 yards per carry, which continued the 4 year slide from 5.2 to 4.7 to 3.8 to where he stands now.  LT is this years version of Shaun Alexander and Priest Holmes; former fantasy greats that went from stardom to the free agent pool in 2 calendar years.  Don't consider him more than a RB3 next year.