The 2010 NFL season is fast approaching. It's time to start rolling out the fantasy football previews for your viewing pleasure.

The top four: The battle for the No. 1 overall pick is on. Who should be at the top of your list?

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota -- There really isn't much to complain about when it comes to Peterson, especially when he wins you a championship, as was the case for me last season. Peterson plays on a very good offense behind a strong offensive line, and he scores plenty of touchdowns; 18 in 2009. On the flip side, Peterson's yards-per-carry average has regressed to 4.4 per since his 2007 rookie outburst when he averaged 5.6.

All in all, though, Peterson seems to be the safest choice. He has three years of elite historical statistics, and seems to be automatic inside the red-zone; two key components in determining the perfect top overall runner.

Chris Johnson, Tennessee -- Johnson is coming off a 2,000-yard season; one of six all-time but he's already talking about rushing for 2,500 in 2010. The last player to make these kinds of promises was Steven Jackson after totaling over 2,300 yards in 2006. In 2007 Jackson missed four games, rushed for 1,002 yards, and scored just six times.

That's not to say Johnson doesn't have the ability to rush for 2,000 again, because he does. However, no running back in NFL history has hit the historical mark in consecutive seasons, so the odds are definitely stacked against him.

Fantasy owners shouldn‘t be concerned, though. Johnson should still rush for over 1,500 yards, while catching plenty of passes and scoring plenty of touchdowns as the focal point of the Titans offense.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville -- A few weeks ago, I called Jones-Drew inconsistent. An apology came quickly when I discovered that MJD scored a touchdown in 10 of 16 games last season, and when he wasn't scoring touchdowns, he was a PPR (Points-Per-Reception) owner's dream. For the 2009 season Jones-Drew finished with 1391 rushing yards, 53 receptions for 374 yards through the air, and 16 total touchdowns.

What I should have said is that he's almost too good to be true in terms of fantasy. I still haven't figured out what it is that I don't like about the Jaguars star player, because really, there isn't anything not to like about him.

Ray Rice, Baltimore -- Last season was Rice's coming out party, and it was a wild one. Baltimore's latest find rushed for 1,339 yards and caught 78 passes for 702 yards as the Ravens' top option out of the backfield. At the same time, though, Rice found the end-zone just eight times while back-up Willis McGahee scored 14 times -- 11 of which came while the offense was inside the red-zone.

Overall, there is no doubt that Rice's yardage and reception statistics are exceptional, but I'm looking for a complete runner at No. 1 overall, and I'm just not sure if Rice carries all the attributes to be that complete runner every week.

Verdict -- Johnson.

He's the complete package, and has the confidence needed to be the top overall running back and fantasy player period.  Peterson comes in as a close second, while Jones-Drew is a few steps ahead of Ray Rice for third overall.

Absurd farces
There are a few well-known tips that I consider more ridiculous than selecting a kicker before the final round.

Don't listen to the bye week guru -- You know, the guy that will be the first to tell you that your two running backs or receivers are on the same bye week. Bye week blunders are old fantasy. If you want to win a championship focus on getting the best players no matter how their bye weeks line up with the rest of your team. Besides, having a few starters on the same bye week may be a good thing, as it decreases your odds of winning during just one week as opposed to three or four.

Please ignore the two stud running back theory enthusiasts -- Sure, the old school theory still works, but with running back by committees taking the NFL by storm it's next to impossible to get two running backs worth top value in the first two rounds without losing a ton of value at other positions like wide receiver. Plus, in most expert mock drafts I've seen at least nine wide receivers have been taken in rounds one and two.

Keep the change
Here are a few crucial fantasy tips that should help you get through your fantasy draft.

1. "You can either look at things in a brutal, truthful way that's depressing, or you can screw around and have fun." There are times to be serious, and there are times to have fun while drafting. I don't suggest being one way or the other, but do sprinkle in a little of each. In other words, don't just draft by your book or draft guide, but also don't just randomly select names.

2. "Here's the deal -- I'm the best there is. Plain and simple. I wake up in the morning and I piss excellence." Confidence is an important ingredient to being a successful fantasy owner. Express it while not going overboard, and keep your eyes on the prize.

3. "Look, I know I didn't finish school but that frickin' says 'Sa ntah ah nah!" Learn the exotic names like Devin Aromashodu and Mohamed Massaquoi. This way you won't feel like you can't select them due to fear of feeling like the dumb owner who can't pronounce the players he/she is drafting.

4. "That's what she said." Take this one line with you to every draft, and use it obsessively, especially when getting ridiculed. It's the only line that won't make you feel like a total ass every time you say it no matter what it's in response to. This way you can focus on what's important while shutting up the other owners without thinking too hard. 

5. "Beer, it's the best damn drink in the world." Amen Jack. Beer should be the only drink of choice at any fantasy draft, and there should be an unlimited supply. Just make sure it says Miller on the can or bottle. If and when you do run out, just call Windell.

Final Thoughts
A kindergarten teacher explains to her class that she is a Chicago Bears fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Bears fans too. Not really knowing what a Bears fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air.

There is, however, one exception. Little Johnny has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks him why he has decided to be different. "Because I'm not a Bears fan" he says.

"Then," asks the teacher," What are you?"

"I'm a Green Bay Packers fan," boasts the boy.

The teacher asks Johnny why he is a Packers fan.

"Well, my Dad and Mom are Packers fans, so I'm a Packers fan too," she responds.

"That's no reason," the teacher says. "What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was an idiot. What would you be then?"

Johnny smiles and says, "Then I'd be a Bears fan."

Improvisation. It's a word that every fantasy owner should oblige by. Little Johnny certainly did when the rest of the class decided to conform to the teacher's beliefs.

Every good owner constructs a good pre-draft plan, but it's what he/she does when things don't go as planned that define how good they truly are. This is where good improvisation comes in.

You may have a plan to take Hakeem Nicks in the fifth round as your second starting receiver, but what will you do when some over-excited owner takes him in the fourth right before your fourth round pick? Will you go off the deep end too? Or will you keep a level head?

You may think you're guaranteed to select Aaron Rodgers early in the second round, but what will you do "in the moment" if he‘s taken one pick ahead of you? Can you improvise on the go?

The point here is that if you want to become a sound fantasy owner you have to know how and when to improvise your draft plan in order to bring you peak success, and a smile to your face, much like Little Johnny did for so many Packer fans, including his less experienced classmates.