It is never too early to think about the next season, especially if you have keeper provisions in your league.

As usual, this season featured many breakout performances. Many late-round picks built fantasy value, as did some undrafted free agents.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall was a great example. Coming into this season, he looked and smelled like a draft bust. He hadn’t developed into the power runner Pittsburgh needed to blend with chance-of-pace RB Willie Parker. He played just four games as a rookie and rushed for a grand total of 58 yards.

After three weeks this season, he had just 45 yards rushing. He tested the patience of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and fantasy GMs weary of wasting a taxi squad spot on him.

But then came the belated breakout – 1,063 yards rushing and seven TDs during the final 13 weeks. Mendenhall also caught 24 passes for 248 yards and TD in that span. He evolved into a solid RB-1 for a team looking to pound the ball in 2010.

Here are nine other breakout players from the 2009 NFL season:

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens: Most fantasy experts predicted his ’09 breakout . . . and sure enough, Rice became a dynamic running/receiving threat. He followed his 454-yard rookie season with 1,339 rushing yards and nine TDs. After catching 33 passes as a rookie, he caught 78 last season for 702 yards and a TD. He transformed himself from a flex role to a top RB-1. He is a potential top five pick for next summer’s drafts.

Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys: Life without Terrell Owens was just fine in Dallas, as it turned out. Austin emerged as QB Tony Romo’s top target, catching 81 passes for 1,320 yards and 11 TDs. In his first two NFL season, Austin had a grand total of 18 catches. Was WR Roy Williams supposed to T.O.’s successor? Funny how things turn out. The Cowboys finished surprisingly well, raising expectations for next season.

Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs: When K.C. finally cast off enigmatic Larry Johnson, this speedster got the touches he needed to blossom. After rushing for just 152 yards during the first half of the season, the exploded for 968 yards in the second half to become a viable RB-1. In his last four games, Charles rushed for 658 yards with four TDs and a 7.0 yards-per-carry average. Overall, he caught 40 passes to boost his PPR value. He has become one of the league’s top big-play threats.

Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers: Fantasy GMs had him pegged for greatness coming out of college. But a mediocre second season (31 catches, 358 yards, two TDs) sunk his draft stock. San Francisco coach Mike Singletary had to slap him around. That crackdown worked. Davis finally fulfilled his destiny in Year 3, catching 13 touchdown passes in his 78-catch, 965-yard season. If WR Michael Crabtree develops next season, that will only open up more receiving room for him.

Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings: When Minnesota landed QB Brett Favre, all its targets gained fantasy value. But Rice remained a speculative fantasy pick in ’09 after catching just 15 passes for 141 yards in his second pro season. Those who bet on him got big payoffs. Rick clicked with Favre and caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards and eight TDs. In Week 17, he caught six passes for 112 yards and two TDs to put a bow on it. But what happens to his ’10 value if Favre retires again? What would he do with QB Tavaris Jackson?

Matt Schaub, QB, Texans: Most experts had him pegged as a second-tier QB-1 at best. All that changed after he led the NFL in passing yardage this season. His yardage climbed from 2,241 to 3,043 to 4,770 the last three years. His touchdown total soared from nine to 15 and 29. He finally played all 16 games and made the most of Houston WR Andre Johnson. As other QBs rested up for the playoffs, Schaub’s value soared higher.

Brent Celek, TE, Eagles: In his third NFL season, this former fifth-round pick finally became a primary target for QB Donovan McNabb. After catching 43 passes combined in his first two seasons, he caught 76 passes for 971 and eight TDs in ’09. In a good year for TEs across the league, he moved himself into the upper tier of production – right in behind guys like Antonio Gates and Greg Olsen.

Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals: After three disappointing seasons in Chicago and a so-so campaign in Cincinnati, Benson finally developed into a solid RB-2. In 13 games, he rushed for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns. He isn’t much of a receiver, though. Injuries and Cincinnati’s late-season addition of RB Larry Johnson kept from rising to RB-1 status.

Fred Jackson, RB, Bills: His season started well with Marshawn Lynch shelved by a NFL suspension. Jackson rushed for 163 yards in Week 2. And it finished well, new, as interim coach Perry Fewell benched Lynch made Jackson the undisputed No. 1 back. Jackson closed the season with a 212-yard outburst, giving him 1,062 rushing yards for the season. His 46 catches made him a viable RB-2 or flex player in PPR leagues. Fantasy GMs are eager to see how the next Buffalo coach plans to use him next season.