Rudi Resurfaces in Detroit

Cut loose by the Bengals over the weekend, Rudi Johnson landed in what may be the best possible destination for him Monday when he signed a one-year deal with the Lions. In a corresponding move Detroit released veteran disappointment Tatum Bell, meaning that Johnson immediately becomes the team's No. 2 back behind rookie third-round pick Kevin Smith.

While the Lions seem committed to Smith as the starter, if he struggles or wears down following a ridiculous college workload it's easy to see Johnson emerging with significant playing time. Of course, as awful as he looked last year there's no guarantee that he'd actually be a fantasy asset even with a bunch of snaps. For now he's a borderline RB3 who's worth stashing in nearly every league.

While Johnson hopes the Lions can do for his sagging career what the Browns did for Jamal Lewis last season, here are some other notes from around football .

* Thanks to Kyle Boller's shoulder injury, Troy Smith looked to be on the verge of claiming the Ravens' starting job before tonsillitis knocked him completely out of the picture. He was scratched from the team's final two preseason games and had to be hospitalized last week after struggling just to eat for several days. Not surprisingly, coach John Harbaugh named rookie Joe Flacco the starter Monday.

Flacco was the 19th overall pick in April's draft after the Ravens traded up to get him, but figures to be plenty rough around the edges due to playing against sub par collegiate competition at Delaware. His odds of thriving immediately are slim, so Smith may get another chance to grab hold of the job, but the illness couldn't possibly have come at a worse time and could have a huge impact on his career.

Flacco will make his debut on the road against the Bengals before back-to-back home games against the Jets and Cardinals. None of those three matchups are especially daunting, but Flacco should still be firmly planted on fantasy benches. He's an intriguing long-term prospect with a high ceiling and should learn plenty under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, but don't expect much this season.

* Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Willis McGahee will be taking handoffs from Flacco in Week 1. McGahee is making his way back from knee surgery and practiced Monday, but Harbaugh noted afterward that he "wouldn't say he's 100 percent just watching him run around out there." Healthy or not McGahee figured to lose touches to rookie Ray Rice, so the duo may be splitting snaps Sunday.

* Shortly after reports surfaced that he'll start the Dolphins' season opener over Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams agreed to a one-year contract extension that has a few interesting fantasy angles. A healthy and productive season from Williams could have set him up to potentially cash in big on the open market, which is why it's surprising that he agreed to a deal that apparently didn't include a bonus.

Instead he's said to be getting a significant jump in salary for this season, which while nice pales in comparison to guaranteed money for next year given that he hasn't been healthy and productive since 2003. Not only could he have possibly jumped ship for a big contract following the season, Williams could have found a team willing to hand him a clear-cut starting job.

Rather than playing the year out to maybe end up with a big deal and his own starting gig, he'll commit to Miami for relatively little money and keep fighting for snaps with Brown. All of which not only impacts Williams' future value, but also makes it increasingly difficult for Brown to reestablish himself as an every-down back. It's not great news for either player's fantasy value, but Miami did well.

And in far more interesting Ricky news . well, just read this. Seriously, read it.

Two-Minute Drill: Despite missing the entire preseason while holding out, coach Scott Linehan indicated Monday that Steven Jackson will get a full workload in Week 1 . General manager Phil Savage laid out the Browns' plan at running back Sunday, saying that Jason Wright will be the team's third-down back and Jerome Harrison will only see major action if Jamal Lewis gets hurt . For now at least, Derrick Ward is listed ahead of Ahmad Bradshaw on the Giants' running back depth chart behind starter Brandon Jacobs . Cut by the Patriots, former first-round pick Chad Jackson is scheduled for a tryout with the receiver-starved Raiders, who signed Ashley Lelie to a one-year deal Monday . Matt Flynn and not Brian Brohm will open the season as Aaron Rodgers' backup . Reports that rookie Devin Thomas has been slow to grasp the Redskins' playbook make it unlikely that the second rounder will be a fantasy factor before midseason . Not only did Andre Woodson fall to the sixth round after being projected by some as a first-round pick heading into last year, he cleared waivers after being cut loose by the Giants and has been added to the practice squad.

Red Zone:Chad Johnson returned to practice Monday and declared his injured shoulder "100 percent" healthy while babbling about various other things . Matt Hasselbeck (back) returned to practice Monday and announced that he's "ready to go" for Week 1 . Braylon Edwards (foot) and Derek Anderson (concussion) both practiced fully Monday and should be ready for a Week 1 shootout with the Cowboys . Despite lingering ankle concerns, Plaxico Burress is absent from the Giants' injury report and has a favorable matchup Thursday night against the Redskins . Jerry Porter (hamstring) practiced fully Monday, but coach Jack Del Rio shied away from saying whether or not he'll play in Week 1 . Despite weeks worth of speculation about his mysterious foot injury, Tom Brady said Monday that "there's no question" he'll start the Patriots' season opener . Following the decision to put off surgery to repair his separated shoulder, Isaiah Stanback will open the season as the Cowboys' third wide receiver . After sitting out practice Monday, James Jones (knee) looks unlikely to suit up this week.

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