Coach Ken Whisenhunt loves idea of his players "earning" starting jobs, but Hightower handed over the keys to this backfield at Thanksgiving last year. Chris Wells averaged 13.6 carries per game over the final five weeks while Hightower's carries per week dropped from 10.3 to six.

That disparity will only increase with Wells improving his pass protection and receiving skills in his second season. Even if Hightower starts the game, Wells will dominate the backfield as the Cardinals shift to a run-heavy attack in the post-Kurt Warner era.

Holmes dusted his career-highs in receptions (79) and yardage (1,248) last year, but he's set to miss the first four games of the season while under suspension.

To make matters worse, he downgraded from one of the league's top five quarterbacks to a below-average passer in an offense heavily tilted to the ground game. While he and Hines Ward shared to the go-to role in Pittsburgh, he'll be battling Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller for passing-game scraps this year.

One of the league's finest offensive lines declined dramatically last year. It didn't help that a season-long knee injury kept Jacobs from running over defenders and breaking through arm tackles.

The Giants aren't giving him the benefit of the doubt now that he's healthy, though. After taking the majority of first-team camp reps, Ahmad Bradshaw also started the first preseason game. It's Bradshaw, not the behemoth Jacobs, who is expected to open the season as the feature back.

Jones laughed in the face of Father Time once again last year with 1,402 rushing yards and 14 touchdown. But he has averaged a league-high 307 carries during the past four years, which took a toll on his body last January. The Jets rode their horse into the ground, and they timed the breakup perfectly.

Jones' counting stats masked an average back who was force-fed during the regular season. While Shonn Greene boasted 20 tackles avoided or broken on 163 attempts, Jones managed just 16 on 377 attempts. He's running on fumes, and the contrast will be stark next to premier playmaker Jamaal Charles.

Though Mason has topped 1,000 yards in eight of the last nine seasons, he acknowledges that his role will be reduced at age 36. The Ravens managed to pull him out of retirement for a second straight year, but he's now playing second fiddle to Anquan Boldin.

The second/third receiver role suits Mason at this stage of his career. His receptions have dropped for three successive years, and his catch rate plummeted in 2009. The unsung Mason is no longer capable of holding down the go-to role for a contending offense.

McNabb isn't washed up at age 34, but he's now missed time due to injury in four of his last five seasons. Just as troubling, his situation just got a whole lot worse barring a Mike Shanahan miracle.

His offensive line nearly got him killed against the Ravens last week, his wideouts are major step down from DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, and his running game inspires no respect from opposing defenses.

The Bears offensive line couldn't pass block last year, and they can't block this year. Mad Mike Martz brought in Brandon Manunaleuna as a highly paid blocking specialist, and he won't be using nearly as many two-tight end sets as Ron Turner did.

If Olsen wants to play starter's snaps, he's going to have to dramatically improve his blocking. The best season ever posted by a Martz tight end was Ernie Conwell's 38/431/4 line in 2001, and 2009 Pro Bowler Vernon Davis was limited to 31/358/2 in the same scheme. The position has been unfailingly neglected at all of Martz's coaching stops

Rice injured his hip seven months ago in the NFC championship game, and he's still feeling pain. He originally opted against going under the knife despite the recommendation of two specialists. By Monday night, word had surfaced that Rice would indeed undergo surgery to fix the problem.

Though Rice has proven that he's a legitimate playmaker with a catch radius suited to Brett Favre's strengths, he's now in danger of missing half the season.

If you look close enough, Wayne sported some concerning trends last year. For starters, he managed only seven big plays (25+ yards), down from 16 as recently as 2007.

Perhaps more troubling, Wayne recorded just one game over 50 yards in the last six weeks of the regular season while posting his lowest yards per catch (12.6) since 2003. He was also outplayed by Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie throughout the playoffs. Not only are those three not going away, they're also joined by a healthy Anthony Gonzalez this year.

One of the most unique players in NFL history, Williams has essentially become the Earl Morrall of running backs. He's coming off arguably the best age-32 season ever, with Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, and Ottis Anderson as the only other 32-year-old backs in the last 25 years to reach 1,000 yards.

He has more than just the effects of age working against a repeat. Ronnie Brown has already been reinstalled as the starter, pushing Williams back into complementary role as opposed to a starring one.