It's too early to tell if the Cowboys will regret acquiring Terrell Owens, but some fantasy players already are having second thoughts.

Sure, he'll rack up some big fantasy numbers, but only if his hamstring's better. And if his quarterback doesn't start hating him. And if he doesn't alienate his coaches. And if his team doesn't fire him. And so on.

Owens is the prime example of the player so talented you have to draft him, but who carries so many red flags that you just may end up uttering those four dreaded words: "What was I thinking?"

In fact, thanks to his volatile history and a preseason spent riding a stationary bike and sleeping through team functions, Owens has been named to the first team of the 2006 Preseason What Was I Thinking Team.

While this team was only invented to provide warning signs of potential busts, the inexplicable fantasy flop is real. Every year a handful of stars tank on opening day and go on to subpar seasons, and in hindsight there was usually good reason to steer clear of them.

How about Daunte Culpepper starting last year with three interceptions, two fumbles and zero touchdowns? Sure it was stunning, but at the same time he was playing without Randy Moss on his team for the first time in his career.

What about Jamal Lewis' big 48-yard opener last year? Kind of shocking then, but he also was coming off injury and playing in a bad offense. (Not to mention a little time behind bars.)

And don't forget Ahman Green's 58-yard debut in 2005. Surprising given his five 1,000-yard seasons before then, but in retrospect he was a high-mileage back on a bad, aging team.

Who will make you ask yourself what you were thinking this year? Of course it's impossible to say for certain, but it's always fun to take a wild guess.

So here are my top players who should be stars but who still make you worry just enough to make the 2006 Preseason What Was I Thinking Team:

<B>• Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals</B>. He's coming off a 32-touchdown season, is surrounded by weapons and looked like his same old self in his preseason debut. Then again, if his shredded knee twists or lands the wrong way just once you may find yourself starting Anthony Wright or worse.<B>• Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins. </B>He's logged three 1,500-yard seasons in four years and is in the same scheme Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson went nuts with in Kansas City. Then again, he may not return from his shoulder injury soon, may re-injure it or may lose coveted goal-line carries to human bowling ball T.J. Duckett.<B>• Edgerrin James, RB, Cardinals. </B>He's been a statistic machine his whole career, grinding out big yardage, getting the goal-line carries and catching a lot of passes. Then again, he's a long way from Indianapolis.<B>• Terrell Owens, WR, Cowboys</B>. In the five seasons before the Eagles fired him last year, he went over 1,000 yards and averaged 13 touchdowns. Then again, he's been hurt, has hardly practiced in his first non-West Coast offense and has a special gift for agitating those around him.<B>• Steve Smith, WR, Panthers.</B> Yes, I know it's blasphemous and maybe not too smart to question everyone's top-ranked receiver (including mine). But you do have to worry about the hammy and toe problems, considering he does have an injury history.

<B>• Daunte Culpepper, QB, Miami.</B> He's got a cannon for an arm and accounted for 98 touchdowns the three seasons before he got hurt last year. Then again, he tore three knee ligaments, won't be the running threat he once was and won't have the luxury of picking apart defenses triple-teaming Randy Moss.<B>• Willis McGahee, RB, Bills.</B> Overall his numbers the past two years are impressive, and he's looked great in the preseason. Then again, he didn't have a rushing TD in nine of his last 10 games in 2005 and defenses will collapse on him until a QB makes them stay honest.<B>• Chester Taylor, RB, Vikings.</B> He's the center of the Vikings offense, and some have even called him "Little Priest" because like Holmes he became a starter after years as a Ravens backup. Then again, it'd be nice to see him surpass 2.8 yards a carry in the preseason.<B>• Joey Galloway, WR, Buccaneers.</B> He was huge last year, with nearly 1,300 yards and 10 scores. Then again, he was mediocre or worse the six years before that. And he'll be 35 this year.<B>• Darrell Jackson, WR, Seahawks. </B>A lot of people remember him going over 1,000 yards three of the four seasons before missing most of last year. Then again, we haven't seen him this preseason and he leads a receiving corps once infamous for dropping the ball.

<B>• Eli Manning, QB, Giants.</B> Tons of upside, but sometimes struggles to find the broad side of a barn.<B>• Tiki Barber, RB, Giants; Warrick Dunn, RB, Falcons (tie).</B> Tiny 31-year-olds have no business putting up the stats these guys do.<B>n Reggie Bush, RB, Saints.</B> What if Deuce McAllister still has something left? What if Bush isn't so outlandishly fast against pros?<B>• Hines Ward, WR, Steelers. </B>He's got the bad hamstring, and he also has the odds-defying streak of five straight good receiving years in a run-first offense.<B>• Javon Walker, WR, Broncos.</B> A lot of people see him as this year's Steve Smith, but is he truly back from injury?To repeat the disclaimer, these players will more than likely be stars.The odds are, though, that in just a few short days at least a few will make you ask the dreaded question.