Surprise!!!

Surprise!!!
Every year a few players start out very hot and every year those players eventually cool off. As the month of May comes to a close, we have a few guys that are still hot and showing no signs of slowing down. A couple of them are no strangers to the spotlight and a couple are just beginning to take center stage. Let’s take a look at the 5 guys that are the biggest surprises thus far.
Lance Berkman
Berkman has been around the game for a while now and has made quite a name for himself, but this year he’s looking to set career highs across the board. He’s currently batting .384 with 17 HR, 47 RBI, 57 runs and 10 SB. His batting average is downright ridiculous and he’s already set a career high in stolen bases. If he can maintain his current pace, he’ll set new marks for HR and RBI and shatter his previous run total.
Chase Utley
Some would call Utley a rising star and others could make the case that he’s already a certified superstar. He’s doing everything in his power to make the latter true. Utley is right at his career pace for average, runs and stolen bases, but his power numbers are through the roof. He’s currently batting .310 with 17 HR, 46 RBI, 42 runs and 5 stolen bases. He’s on pace for 49 HR and 133 RBI, which would destroy his previous highs of 32 HR and 105 RBI.
Dan Uggla
The Marlin middle infielder doesn’t have the experience that some of the other guys, but he’s well on his way to stardom. Uggla is carrying a career high .307 average along with 16 HR, 38 RBI and 41 runs. At this rate, Uggla will set new career highs across the board with 51 HR, 120 RBI and 130 runs.
Josh Hamilton
Hamilton burst back onto the scene last year and showed why you never give up on talent. With his troubles in the past, Hamilton is looking to make up for lost time. He’s batting .324 with 13 HR, 58 RBI and 35 runs. He’s already set a career mark for RBI and is currently on pace for a whopping 174 this season. At this rate, he’ll hit 39 HR and cross the plate 105 times.
Joey Votto
It turns out that the only thing holding Votto back was Dusty Baker. Once Votto was given his fair shot, he took it and ran. He’s currently batting .294 with 10 HR, 29 RBI and 28 runs. He only played a handful of games last year so he’s already setting career highs. At the pace that he’s on, he’ll hit 30 HR while scoring 85 times and knocking in 90 RBI. The scary thing is that I think he can top those numbers. Not bad for a rookie that started the year behind Scott Hatteberg.

Take it Deep: www.letsgodeep.com

NFL 2008 - Top 20 Offensive Free Agents

NFL 2008 - Top 20 Offensive Free Agents

May 30th, 2008 JunkyardJake.Com 2007 Team 2008 Team

#1) Michael Turner
Turner becomes the overwhelming favorite for the bulk of carries in Atlanta, and also becomes a possible top-10 fantasy runningback if he can handle the challenge.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#2) Julius Jones
Jones ends up in a much better situation than Dallas, but could end up losing time to T.J. Duckett and/or Maurice Morris unless he seizes the opportunity quickly.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#3) Bryant Johnson
The Niners also signed Isaac Bruce, but Johnson instantly becomes San Francisco's best wide receiver, The key question of course is - can Alex Smith get the ball to anyone consistently ?
Fantasy Significance=

---

#4) Bernard Berrian
Berrian has the speed and hands to make an impact, but the Vikings conservative offense, combined with sporadic QB play could hold him back.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#5) Chris Brown
The Texans have a bunch of options at RB heading into the new season, but Brown can be very productive when healthy and could end up with a significant share of the carries if noone else steps up.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#6) D.J. Hackett
Hackett is expected to contend with fellow free agent signee Muhsin Muhammad for the #2 starting spot on the other side of Steve Smith. Hackett is younger (28), and faster than Muhammad (36), so he should win this assignment.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#7) Ernest Wilford
Wilford has the size (6'4", 220) that the Dolphins were seeking in a receiver to start opposite speedy Ted Ginn, and they committed to a healthy contract worth $13 million over 4 years to get him.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#8) Jerry Porter
Jerry Porter has been a perennial disappointment, but still has potential as a game-breaker. He gets another shot in a decent offense, so maybe he can finally put together a year that matches his talent.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#9) Musa Smith
Musa Smith, who has great size and decent speed, immediately becomes a dark horse candidate to get significant carries for the Jets. Smith has been injury prone, but incumbant starter Thomas Jones was simply awful last year.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#10) Marty Booker
Booker isn't flashy, but he is tough and reliable, and he returns to his original NFL home with the Bears this season where he is a favorite to replace last year's starter Bernard Berrian.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#11) Alge Crumpler
The Titans look to begin 2008 with a very shaky collection of wide recievers, so the sure-handed Crumpler is a welcome addition. He's had his share of injury breakdowns the past couple years, but is reportedly lighter, and looking good in the early stages of training camp.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#12) Javon Walker
Of course, a healthy Javon Walker should be ranked much higher, but the status of his surgically repaired knee is still in question. He is certainly the type of potential impact player to keep tabs on, because he could be a dynamic force in 2008 if his health cooperates.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#13) Darrell Jackson
There isn't any other way to describe Jackson's 2007 season in San Francisco, it was a disaster. However, Jackson wasn't the only player to implode last season for the Niners, and he gets a fresh start as the favorite #2 receiver in Denver, so a bounceback season is possible.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#14) Drew Carter
Carter has never proven to be a consistent contributor, but if his fellow new Raider, Javon Walker, continues to struggle with knee problems, Carter could be a decent sleeper this year.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#15) Donte Stallworth
Stallworth didn't deserve the 7 year $35 million deal that the Browns signed him to, but from a fantasy perspective he should be in line for more pass targets in Cleveland. Now it is up to Stallworth to show his talent for more than just 5 weeks per season.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#16) Isaac Bruce
At 35 years of age, Bruce is obviously past his prime, but he reunites with Mike Martz in San Francisco for 2008, and has little real competition for a starting spot opposite Bryant Johnson.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#17) Devard Darling
He never met expectations in Baltimore, but has decent size and speed. If he can hold off rookie Will Franklin and Jeff Webb, he could be valuable as the #2 receiver for the Chiefs.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#18) Josh McCown
McCown lends a veteran presence to Miami's QB equation, and could end up starting unless John Beck has a great training camp, or Chad Henne adapts to the offense very quickly.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#19) Ben Utecht
Utecht is a huge target, with good hands and surprising speed for his size. The Bengals are notorious for ignoring the TE in their offense, but Carson Palmer hasn't had a talented player like Utecht to work with.
Fantasy Significance=

---

#20) Michael Pittman
Michael Pittman has always had a habit of becoming relevant just when you count him out. Denver has a stable of RBs to use in 2008, but under Mike Shanahan, anything is possible.
Fantasy Significance=

---