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Fantasy football: News, notes and nuggets

What comes after 2,000?

What comes after 2,000?

Chris Johnson last year became the sixth player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Here's a look at how the previous five fared the next season.

Eric Dickerson: 2,105 in 1984, his 2nd season. Next season: age 25, 14 games 292 carries, 1234 yards, 20 receptions, 126 yards, 12 touchdowns

Jamal Lewis: 2,066 in 2003, his 3rd season. Next season: age 25, 12 games, 235 carries, 1006 yards, 10 receptions, 116 yards, 7 touchdowns

Barry Sanders: 2,053 in 1997, his 9th season> Next season: age 30, 16 games, 343 carries, 1491 yards, 37 receptions, 289 yards, 4 touchdowns

Terrell Davis: 2,008 in 1998, his 4th season. Next season: age 26, 4 games, 67 carries, 211 yards, 3 receptions, 26 yards, 2 touchdowns

O.J. Simpson: 2,003 in 1973, his 5th season. Next season, age 27, 14 games, 270 carries, 1125 yards, 15 receptions, 189 yards, 4 touchdowns

Notable: Dickerson's subsequent season was pretty good, but Marcus Allen (1,759 rushing yards, 14 TDs) was the running back to have in 1985 . . . Same with Sanders, who responded with a good 1998, but not nearly the numbers Terrell Davis had . . . Davis ripped up his knee in Week 4 the next season. He played a total of 17 games after his 2,000-yard season . . . As it relates to Simpson, the NFL regular season was 14 games until 1978.

YOU DON'T SAY

Looking at a few quotes picked up during training camp courtesy of Daily News wire services:

* Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace, on his elevation to starter in the wake of Santonio Holmes being traded to the Jets: "Not just the third guy, [or] the deep guy, but a guy they can depend on any down. I look forward to going against the No. 1 [cornerback]. They're going to try to press me and see if I can get off the jam. I'm stronger. I'm going to be ready for them."

* Coach Jim Caldwell on improving the Colts' stagnant running game, which ranked dead last in 2009 and 31st in 2008: "It's a point of emphasis. There is an old coaching adage that goes like this that says, 'You achieve what you emphasize.' That's one area that we are emphasizing. We need to get a little better in that area. That is something we've been working on for a couple years now. We are going to continue to progress."

* New Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz on quarterback Jay Cutler, who is coming off a 26-interception disaster in his first season in Chicago: "He has that Kurt Warner awareness, if you will. He has such a keen sense of where everybody's at . . . He's everything that I had hoped that he would be. Absolutely."

* Vikings coach Brad Childress absolving star running back Adrian Peterson of his problems with fumblitis (see charts elsewhere on this page): "I keep reminding people that Walter Payton had more fumbles on fewer carries in his first 3 years. Adrian is a tremendous football player. He has to be more mindful, but he's a violent, thrashing, extra-yard runner and we'll continue to work on that."

PRETTY SWEET

When talking about running back Adrian Peterson's problems with fumbling, Minnesota coach Brad Childress pointed out that Walter Payton had similar difficulty early in his career. So let's take a look at each player's first three seasons and some fumbling numbers from 2009:

Walter Payton: 1975-77; 41 games, 846 rushes, 3921 yards, 75 receptions, 631 yards, 921 total touches, 30 fumbles, 3.3 fumbles per 100

Adrian Peterson: 2007-09; 46 games, 915 rushes, 4484 yards, 83 receptions, 829 yards, 998 total touches, 20 fumbles, 2.0 fumbles per 100.

MOST FUMBLES LOST, 2009 RBS

Adrian Peterson, Vikings: 6 fumbles, 357 touches

Steve Slaton, Texans: 5 fumbles, 175 touches

Tim Hightower, Cardinals: 4 fumbles, 206 touches

Laurence Maroney, Patriots: 4 fumbles, 208 touches

Knowshon Moreno, Broncos: 4 fumbles, 275 touches

NO FUMBLES LOST, 2009 RBS (Minimum 200 touches)

Thomas Jones, Jets: 341

Cedric Benson, Bengals: 318

Cadillac Williams, Bucs: 239

Julius Jones, Seahawks: 212

Note: Jones now plays for the Chiefs. Eagles running back LeSean McCoy lost one fumble in 195 touches.

HIGH (AND LOW) FIVES

Best handcuff running backs: Donald Brown, Colts; Bernard Scott, Bengals; Chester Taylor, Bears; Javon Ringer, Titans; Brandon Jackson, Packers

Backup quarterbacks to know: Patrick Ramsey, Saints; Michael Vick, Eagles; Curtis Painter, Colts; Brian Hoyer, Patriots; Jon Kitna, Cowboys

Season-opening suspensions to remember: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers QB, six games; Brian Cushing, Texans LB, four games; Santonio Holmes, Jets WR, four games; LenDale White, Broncos RB, four games; Vincent Jackson, Chargers WR, three games

Veterans to avoid: Derrick Ward, Bucs RB; Carson Palmer, Bengals QB; Roy Williams, Cowboys WR; Lee Evans, Bills WR; Alge Crumpler, Patriots TE

Youngsters to watch: Arian Foster, Texans RB; Matthew Stafford, Lions QB; Jermichael Finley, Packers TE; Malcom Floyd, Chargers WR; Michael Crabtree, 49ers WR

Rookies to watch: Ryan Mathews, Chargers RB; Mike Williams, Bucs WR; Dez Bryant, Cowboys WR; C.J. Spiller, Bills RB; Toby Gerhart, Vikings RB