With fantasy semifinal weekend in the rear view mirror for most fantasy owners, a few more fantasy footballers will join the ranks of the multitude of others already thinking about next season. Good thing there are several players still available in some leagues who could help ease the sting of not playing for your fantasy league’s championship next weekend.

It is likely that not all of these players are on your league’s waiver wire, but some of these guys still are, surprisingly, floating on the open market. It is especially important for fantasy owners in keeper and/or dynasty leagues to get their hands on a few of these guys for 2009.

But the good news for fantasy owners still in contention this year, whether that means playing for a league title or trying to win back some pride in a consolation bracket, is that these players having been helping fantasy owners in 2008 as well.

The value of these players continues to escalate as the 2008 season wanes, meaning time is short to utilize each’s growing skill set. These are the players who will be all the talk of offseason fantasy hype machines, so the time is now to act if you play in a year-round league. And who knows, one of these guys could help you win that elusive fantasy championship during the next few weekends.

Quarterbacks

  • Tyler Thigpen, Chiefs: Herm Edwards found himself a quarterback. Thigpen, though raw, is breathing life into a once-lifeless offensive attack in KC. He is getting it done through the air but also on the ground, which is a nice little bonus for fantasy owners. The Chiefs offense is looking promising next season with Thigpen at the helm and a passing attack that includes Dwayne Bowe, Mark Bradley and Tony Gonzalez.
  • Shaun Hill, 49ers: It looks to me like San Francisco found its quarterback for 2009 as well. Though it remains to be seen if the 49ers will retain Mike Singletary as its head coach, Hill is playing extremely well, keeping this team competitive for what could have been a lost season. Working with offensive coordinator Mike Martz in the offseason with weapons like Frank Gore, Josh Morgan, Jason Hill and Vernon Davis could help make San Francisco’s offense one of the biggest surprises in 2009.

Running backs

  • Pierre Thomas, Saints: PT is pretty well known at this point, but a quick look around the waiver wire in all six of my leagues shows that — shockingly — Thomas still is available as a free agent. He is in the midst of becoming the fantasy playoffs most valuable player for some savvy owners and is earning his spot as the feature back in New Orleans’ offense next season.
  • Cedric Benson, Bengals: Until week 15, Benson’s stat lines have not been pretty. But he has been on the field for a bad team, staying out of trouble and holding onto the football. With the team in turmoil, Benson likely will be retained for 2009 as the starting running back heading into the season. Carson Palmer should return for the start of next season, meaning this offense will again be at full strength in what should be a better season for Cincinnati.

Wide receivers

  • Davone Bess, Dolphins: Even with Greg Camarillo back in the fold next year, Bess has carved out a spot as a pass catcher in the much-improved Dolphins’ offense. Whether he lines up on the outside or in the slot, Bess could have a very productive season in 2009. Not the biggest of wide receivers, but that never stopped Steve Smith and Santana Moss from becoming great NFL players.
  • Malcolm Floyd, Chargers: Floyd has been carving out a niche for himself in the Chargers’ dynamic offense all season and has emerged as Philip Rivers’ go-to guy on third downs. He is a tall, athletic receiver capable of going over any corner back or safety in the NFL and will continue to be the recipient of many a Rivers jump ball. Double-digit touchdowns and a receiving yardage total approaching 1,000 is a possibility for Floyd in 2009.
  • Devin Hester, Bears: There was so much hype for Hester as a wide receiver this year, but he failed to live up to the lofty expectations for the most part. However, he has been coming on of late and could be the most dangerous deep threat in the game next season. Another offseason working as a wide receiver with entrenched starting quarterback Kyle Orton will produce another summer full of hope, and could equate to a very explosive, productive 2009 season for Hester as a fantasy wide receiver.

Tight ends

  • John Carlson, Seahawks: Carlson is one of two rookie tight ends basking in the fantasy spotlight near the end of 2008. Despite all of the Seahawks problems on offense, including the lack of consistency at the quarterback position, Carlson has been coming on strong during the most crucial part of the season for fantasy owners. That production bodes well for his inclusion in the Seattle offense early next season, which could put his 2009 numbers easily in the top-10 — possibly top-5 — of all fantasy tight ends.
  • Dustin Keller, Jets: The second of the rookie tight ends having a solid season for fantasy owners, Keller emerged as a rosterable player a few weeks into the 2008 season. He has shown flashes of brilliance this season despite a little bit of inconsistency. Another offseason working with Brett Favre, if he sticks around for 2009, would do wonders for Keller’s fantasy value and reliability heading into next year.
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