By John Nemo

HOT BOX

Gotta get: Chris Brown, RB, Titans. I'm getting myself worked into a frenzy just writing this sentence, because Brown is looking more and more like the real deal. Say, anybody know a surefire way to prevent hamstring injuries? Stay away: Jamal Lewis, RB, Ravens. Is anybody else worried about his November trial on drug charges? Have you seen how slowly the legal system works? Are you prepared to lose Lewis for two, three, maybe even four games in the middle of the fantasy season? Worth watching: Justin Gage, WR, Chicago. Bears quarterback Rex Grossman has been talking up the chemistry he has with Gage, so it'll be worth watching the rest of the preseason to see if those two start hooking up regularly.

I had this theory: Leave my 12-team league's 2003 auction with the two best receivers on the planet - Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens. After all, who could be better than those two? Certainly not Randy Moss, who had a measly seven touchdowns the previous season. Torry Holt? All yardage, no scores. Hines Ward? Please. He was a one-year wonder.

So I spent almost half my salary cap to get Owens and Harrison, convinced I could dominate my league at a critical position. And everything was fine until the games started. Owens and Harrison both struggled out of the gate, and my team languished as I waited for this pair of supposed "sure things" to carry their weight. In the meantime, Moss was on his way to 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns. Holt managed a career-best 12 scores along with almost 1,700 yards. And Ward? All he did was match Harrison's stats by putting up 1,163 yards and 10 TDs. Needless to say, I probably could have bought Moss, Holt and Ward at my league auction for the same amount I spent on Owens and Harrison.

Thing is, you never know what you're going to get with wide receivers. Heading into the 2004 season, here's my best guess as to what to expect.

• First and foremost: Moss, Holt, Harrison.

The 27-year-old Moss comes off the best year of his career and is entering his prime. Holt's great chemistry with quarterback Marc Bulger and the ability to deliver great yardage makes him a solid No. 2, especially if he stays up in the double-digit touchdown range. Harrison is still Harrison, but he's 32, and the emergence of Indy's Reggie Wayne, Marcus Pollard, Dallas Clark and other young receivers means the days of Peyton Manning force-feeding Harrison on every passing down are long gone.

• Second-best: Owens, Ward, Derrick Mason.

The prospect of Owens hooking up with Donovan McNabb is enticing, but consider: Over the past three seasons, Owens' yardage and touchdown numbers have declined. He's 31, immature as ever, and he has to buck the historical trend of big-name receivers (Keyshawn Johnson, David Boston, Joey Galloway, etc.) struggling in their first season after changing teams. As for Ward, the 28-year-old has proven himself, averaging 11 scores the past two seasons. Mason will get his usual 1,150 yards receiving, but I'm also convinced this is the year he'll go for a career high in touchdowns, somewhere around 12-14.

• Third-rate: Chad Johnson, Joe Horn, Eric Moulds, Santana Moss, Darrell Jackson.

I'm a huge believer in the importance of QB-WR chemistry, and until Carson Palmer proves he has that with Chad Johnson, I'd stay away. Horn is getting old (32), but the Saints' schedule is softer than a jelly doughnut. When they're not talking about Willis McGahee, Moulds has been the story of Buffalo's training camp. He'll be back in a big way. Moss and Jackson are both young, talented and ready for even bigger things in 2004.

• Fourth fare: Javon Walker, Steve Smith, Andre Johnson, Laveranues Coles.

Green Bay's Walker looks more and more like the NFC's version of Ward. Smith has been ranting all preseason about how he needs to be better in 2004. His 2003 numbers (1,110 yards, seven touchdowns) weren't bad. Everybody is in love with the superstar potential of Andre Johnson. Coles is like vanilla ice cream - boring, but safe. He'll get another 1,200 yards receiving and five to seven TDs.

• Fifth stage: Chris Chambers, Peerless Price, Jimmy Smith, Charles Rogers.

With Miami losing its franchise running back (Ricky Williams) and second-best receiver (David Boston) for the season, you have to figure every defense will be geared toward stopping Chambers. Everyone is touting Price for a huge comeback, but I still think the guy is an overrated No. 2 receiver at best. Smith is 35, but it's obvious he remains Byron Leftwich's only real target. As I said earlier, it's all about the QB-WR chemistry, and Joey Harrington and Charles Rogers have something special going on in Detroit.

• You won't know until you find out: Koren Robinson, Donte Stallworth, Marty Booker, Jerry Porter, Amani Toomer, Reggie Wayne, Larry Fitzgerald, Keenan McCardell, Plaxico Burress.

This group has more potential talent than a movie starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Problem is, any of these guys also could fall flat on his face.

John Nemo can be reached at nemofreelance@yahoo.com.