PHILADELPHIA — Here are some position-by-position advice on assembling a champion fantasy team:

Larry Johnson gets the nod in these rankings because he's younger than LaDainian Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander, his new coach (Herm Edwards) loves to run the ball and Kyle Turley seems to be hanging in there as Willie Roaf's replacement at left tackle. Wish fullback Tony Richardson hadn't defected to Minnesota, though• Edgerrin James would be higher with a better offensive line• The Colts are happy with the way rookie Joseph Addai is picking up his blocking assignments. He's a good gamble as a second running back• Carolina's DeShaun Foster gets hurt too often and should be taken only as a No. 3 back — or as a No. 2 in leagues with 12 or more teams. That's why the Panthers used a first-round pick on DeAngelo Williams, who should be scooped up as a No. 3 or 4 back• Avoid Reuben Droughns. Cleveland's line is a mess and it has a three-game stretch in December at Pittsburgh, at Baltimore and home against Tampa Bay• After Atlanta traded T.J. Duckett, Warrick Dunn moves into the top 15.• Former Pitt star Kevan Barlow, traded last weekend to the Jets, likely will become their top back• Bill Parcells seems resigned to allowing Julius Jones and Marion Barber to share the ball• Chris Brown wants out of Tennessee. His departure will improve the stock of Travis Henry and LenDale White, the Titans' remaining backs.<B>Three sleepers:</B> Willie Parker, Pittsburgh; Chester Taylor, Minnesota; Frank Gore, San Francisco.

Losing Edgerrin James should mean the Colts rely even more on Peyton Manning in the red zone. He had 49 touchdown passes in 2004 and 28 last year. Figure on 35 in 2006 and then ask yourself whether that's more production than you might get out of, say, Tiki Barber or Steven Jackson• Carson Palmer will see his first preseason action Monday. Beware, though. Don't get sucked into a run on quarterbacks when Palmer gets picked. You're better off taking a second running back or some wide receivers and relying on a guy like Drew Brees in a later round than picking Tom Brady or Matt Hasselbeck in the third or fourth rounds• Granted, the roadside is littered with those who have avoided picking Brady, but this season his stock is down because of a suspect receiving corps (anyone seen Deion Branch?) and a running game that is in transition. That's enough to drop him into the Marc Bulgers of the world• Eli Manning and the Giants open against Dwight Freeney's Colts, the impressive Eagles and the Seahawks, who led the NFL in sacks last season• A sleeper is Detroit's Jon Kitna. With Mike Martz as offensive coordinator and receiver Roy Williams ready for a breakout, Kitna is worth a look as a second-stringer in most leagues and as a starter in 12-plus formats• Broncos coaches have raved about Jake Plummer's performance in camp• Trent Green is worth a look only as a backup. His touchdown passes dipped from 27 to 17 last year, mostly because of how well KC runs the ball in the red zone• If Michael Vick gets hurt, jump to get backup Matt Schaub, who always plays well when given the chance.<B>Three sleepers:</B> Kitna; Chris Simms, Tampa Bay; Schaub, Atlanta.

Fantasy football is the only place you can roll the dice and come up with an "8" and a "1." Sorry, but Terrell Owens is too volatile for an endorsement before the third round here. He's the prime example of why you should chart the first four rounds of your draft beforehand. If he's available at a spot you can afford the risk, by all means take him. But don't let this be a draft-day decision• Don't sweat Keyshawn Johnson's arrival; Steve Smith should be the first receiver taken• Marvin Harrison will be a steal. I'd rather have him than Owens• Hines Ward's hamstring is giving him trouble. Receivers with hamstring woes draw the red flag, like pitchers with a cranky elbow• Randy Moss' value is hurt by quarterback Aaron Brooks' sluggish play in the preseason. We all know how quickly Moss can lose interest, so handle with care• Expect a slow start for Javon Walker, who still is trying to get into playing shape. One thing in his favor is that the Broncos' last three games are at Arizona and home against Cincy and San Fran• Matt Jones is a fashionable sleeper pick simply because top receiver Jimmy Smith is no longer around. But Ernest Wilford is worth a roster spot in 10-plus team leagues.<B>Three sleepers:</B> Wilford; Michael Jenkins, Atlanta; Donte Stallworth, New Orleans.

Antonio Gates' value is actually enhanced by having novice quarterback Philip Rivers under center. After all, tight ends run the safest routes and are often a safety blanket for harried quarterbacks• Todd Heap's value increased when Baltimore signed Steve McNair, who has always been very kind to his tight ends• Ditto for Miami's Randy McMichael, who should see his touchdown total jump from the five he had last year to possibly eight• Tony Gonzalez' production was hurt because he was asked to stay in and block more frequently• Kellen Winslow says he's "ready to dominate" and he has looked good in camp. A real sleeper here, he could be a 70-catch guy provided he has tossed his motorcycle keys into Lake Erie.• Jerome Bettis' departure could mean a few more goal-line catches for Pittsburgh's Heath Miller.

Neil Rackers is getting top rankings just about everywhere you look based on last year. But with Edgerrin James in the Arizona backfield, there's no way the Cardinals settle for 45 field goals• Adam Vinatieri would be No. 1 here, but he has had an ankle injury and this position is too deep to risk taking a hurt guy. If his injury clears up, go ahead and take him ahead of Rackers• Avoid Dallas' Mike Vanderjagt. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells and kickers go together like sports writers and rocket science.

Chicago had the best defense a year ago and has the third-easiest schedule this season• Carolina led the league with 42 takeaways a year ago. Working against them from a special teams perspective, though, is that Steve Smith is unlikely to return punts unless in a pinch• Sure seems the Eagles have their snarl back. Though ranked in the middle of the pack, don't be afraid of homerism here. The pass rush is better, which will lead to better numbers across the board.<b><i>After today, Ed Barkowitz's fantasy football column will appear each Friday in the Eagle sports section.</i></b>