Sam Aiken

Aiken, who had eight catches for 101 yards for the Patriots in 2008, figures to reprise his role this season as a depth wideout/special teamer. Too many things stand between him and fantasy relevance, but he's a pretty safe bet to make the team.

Aiken, who signed a two-year contract with the Patriots, made a name for himself with the Bills as a strong special teams player. That's probably where he'll continue to make his mark now that he's with New England.

Aiken is a decent special teams player -- which will probably earn him a spot on the team again -- but there's really not much upside in his pass receiving role because Lee Evans, Roscoe Parrish, Peerless Price and Josh Reed are all bigger threats. He finished the 2006 season without a reception, so while his role may increase a bit, we'd continue to ignore him. Aiken has just 18 receptions in four NFL seasons.

Aiken has slowly risen the past two seasons after a disappointing rookie year in 2003, enough to become a special teams standout. With Eric Moulds leaving the Bills, Aiken will at least get a chance to compete for the #2 job with Peerless Price, Andre Davis, Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish. He'll really only have value if he wins that #2 spot or he inherits it through injury, and right now we're thinking Price or Davis are more in line for that starting role. Still, Aiken is improving and he's at least become a name to remember in the back of your brain.

Aiken, Buffalo's third-year receiver, enters camp with good vibes about nailing down the No. 3 or 4 receiving role. Eric Moulds and Lee Evans are locks for the first two spots, and then it'll be a three-way battle for the next two spots between Josh Reed, rookie Roscoe Parrish and Aiken, a fourth-round pick in 2003. Aiken hasn't done much at all yet, but did look decent with four catches for 52 yards in the 2004 season-finale against Pittsburgh. The coaching staff likes his size (6-2, 204) and will look to use him more in situations against smaller corners. If the Bills get sick of Reed, Aiken's status will be elevated, though it's important to note only the #1 and #2 spots have real fantasy value on a run-oriented team like the Bills.

Buffalo's fourth-round draft pick in the 2003 draft played in five games last season, mostly on special teams. He impressed coaches with good hands, speed and route running. He was beginning to push for a larger role on offense when his season got cut short by a knee injury. He has decent size, and could start to inch his way up the depth chart in 2004, though we're not expecting fantasy value for at least another season.

Buffalo's fourth-round draft pick in the 2003 draft played in five games last season, mostly on special teams. He impressed coaches with good hands, speed and route running. He was beginning to push for a larger role on offense when his season got cut short by a knee injury. He has decent size, and could start to inch his way up the depth chart in 2004, though we're not expecting fantasy value for at least another season.