QB Joe Flacco’s options aren’t terribly exciting. This prompted speculation that the Ravens would make a play for disgruntled Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall. That is just one of many juicy receiver rumors floating around the NFL as teams get back to work. Marshall has had an assortment of off-field issues. He is seeking a big new contract and has expressed unhappiness in Denver. The Broncos aren’t shopping him aggressively, but that team would entertain trade proposals. The Browns and Bears are other teams that could develop an interest in Marshall.

Each summer, fantasy stocks rise and fall as NHL teams shuffle their rosters. The usual number of big-name players changed places during this busy off-season. Some moved into better statistical situations – with better teams and/or a bigger role -- while others made lateral moves or landed in worse situations.

Quarterback intrigue abounds as NFL teams head to training camp. Past, present and future fantasy heroes find themselves in sticky situations.

Patriots fans are anxiously monitoring Tom Brady's comeback from major knee surgery. Will he lose mobility? Did his lengthy absence allow rust to collect? He was back in action during the mini-camps, albeit in non-contact situations. His upgraded supporting cast ought to help him feel more like his old self. Brady certainly has a lot to prove to fantasy GMs this summer. Here are some other familiar names in the same position,

The NHL season is rolling into the All-Star Break. Real-life general managers will assess their teams before the stretch run starts and fantasy GMs will have to do the same. Here are 10 story lines to follow as league catches its breath this weekend.

Many, many established NHL veterans failed to produce at their anticipated rate during the first half of this season. The heartache spread from coast to coast.

Here are 10 of the bigger disappointments.

As always, the first half of the NHL season generated the usual number of statistical breakthroughs. Although the statistical leader board mostly read like a who’s who list, numerous late-round draft picks and waiver-wire refugees had big impacts in fantasy leagues.

The final week of the NFL season is always weird, since some playoff-bound teams rest regulars and some also-rans take a look at next year’s players. But for fantasy GMs owning players on teams playing must-win games, Week 17 was golden. Just ask Donovan McNabb, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third score during Philadelphia’s 44-6 demolition of the Cowboys.

This has been a difficult statistical season for NHL defensemen. Injuries eradicated some all-star caliber performers. Others were traded from great situations into unfavorable ones.

And some former statistical stalwarts suffered through the more typical problems: Nagging injuries, lost playing time and the struggle of their team’s power play.

You could see it coming, couldn’t you? Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was fading. His team hasn’t been good on the road this season. The Patriots had much at stake Sunday. The weather outside was frightful – which was not good news for Warner, given his history of hand injuries and his lack of mobility.

The midseason arrival of Mats Sundin will add one additional impact player to the fantasy hockey scene – and make a number of Vancouver Canucks more valuable for the second half of the season.

Sundin signed with the Canucks as a free agent. He won’t start practicing with the team until after Christmas and he isn’t likely to play until January. But the wait will be worth it for all those involved.

Colts tight end Dallas Clark has always been one of Peyton Manning’s favorites. He isn’t a consistently big threat in the Indy offense, but he tends to pay off over the long haul. And the payoff Sunday was enormous. He caught 12 passes for 142 yards and a TD against the hapless Lions – and dropped another sure touchdown pass in the end zone.