There are three things you can always count on in life.

Death, taxes, and Adrian Peterson.

Unfortunately, not all of us are going to get lucky enough to have a guy who has averaged 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns since entering the league on our fantasy team.

Despite common belief, fantasy leagues are usually won in the middle to late rounds of the draft, when people are more concerned whether or not “Taxi Cab Confessions” will be on HBO that night.

More important than who to actually choose for your pick, is who not to choose. Such ’09 busts including Ladainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Matt Cassel, and Antonio Bryant just to name a few.

I’m sure there are not many Joseph Addai owners out there that can describe the veterans meager 3.8 yards per carry ’09 total without using expletives.

So once a player single handedly costs you your twenty dollar buy-in from a fantasy league with some college buddies, does he stay in the doghouse forever?

Well sometimes yes (see Marc Bulger), and sometimes no (see Randy Moss).

Before you put a guy’s reputation out onto the street with the cans and bottles, let’s not forget which guys can still hang with the usual Sunday crowd. You might not be able to bare some of these guys’ names at this point, but these veterans can you hold a lot of value late in a fantasy draft.

Marion Barber – After coming off his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2007, Barber was beginning to emerge as one of the better backs in the NFL in ’08 until a week 13 toe-injury ultimately ended Barber’s season. At the time, Barber was the motor behind offensive coordinator Jason Garrett’s creative play-calling scheme that saw Barber become a major pass catching weapon as he was among the lead leaders in receptions at the running back position. Unfortunately for Barber, a nagging quadriceps injury combined with the emergence of Tashard Choice and Felix Jones, limited Barber’s touches. Even though Barber reached the 100-yard century-mark only once last season, he averaged a career-high 4.4 yards per carry, and was the Cowboy’s most consistent runner all season. There’s too much to like about this guy’s hard hitting and attacking run-style at 5’11 and 220 pounds not to waste a middle round pick on him. With the offseason departure of Terrell Owens to Cincinnati and Roy Williams’ career someone over the Atlantic Ocean at the moment, look for Barber to play an increased role in Dallas’ new offense. Romo likes to improvise in the pocket, and will rely on Barber’s pass catching abilities in the physical, ferocious pass rushing NFC East Division.

Steve Slaton – Talk about the epitome of the “sophomore slump”. After topping all rookies in the ’08 season with 1,282 yards on the ground, Slaton got the first-round treatment in nearly all fantasy drafts. To call Slaton a bust, would probably be the nicest way to describe his 2009 season, after the college All-American rushed for nearly three times less yardage than he did the previous year. Until he was shelved for the season in early December with a shoulder injury, Slaton had spent much of the season in Texans’ head coach Gary Kubiak’s doghouse as he continued to cough up the football. Most people criticized Slaton’s decision to bulk up nearly 20 pounds in the offseason, and blamed it on his supposed lack of explosiveness. Once Slaton lost his goal-line and short-yard situational carries to Chris Brown in the middle of the season, he was never the same, and failed to reach over 80 yards in a game all season. The only bright spot of Slaton’s disappointing ’09 campaign, was his increased role in quarterback Matt Schuab’s pass-happy offense, as Slaton caught 44 balls, for 417 yards. Don’t sleep on Slaton though, there’s no risk taking him with a late-round pick, and even though Kubiak has already named Arian Foster his starting running back this season, just ask yourself first, “Who the heck is Arian Foster”? Seeing Schuab’s throw for nearly 5,000 yards last season, Slaton should become one of the most dangerous pass-catching backs in the NFL.

Terrell Owens – Even though Owens’ statistics have declined the last couple seasons after he warmed out his welcome in Dallas, he still remains one of the most intriguing fantasy draft prospects this season. Much of the conversation has been put on the potential relationship with fellow lightning-rod-for-attention Chad Ochocinco, as many have questioned whether the two can coexist. Does it really matter? Do we really have to worry about whether or not Owens and Ochocinco will be hosting team Madden tournaments every Tuesday night? These two have trained in the offseason the last several years and clearly have developed a mutual bond with each other (albeit amongst two slightly deranged consciences). Owens has dabbled in dropping passes ever since he stepped foot in Dallas, there’s no denying that, but he is one of the best athletes in the league, even at the age 37. At 6-3, 227, Owens still remains one of the most difficult wide outs to cover in the NFL, playing with a quarterback with one of the strongest arms in the NFL. Even though Owens had only 55 receptions last season, he still lived up to his big-play reputation as he averaged 15.1 yards per catch; 0.2 yards higher than the future hall-of-famer’s lifetime average.

Jay Cutler – Cutler was walking down a red carpet when he arrived in Chicago last summer. Right now he’s walking on a tight rope above the Willis Tower. Cutler turned in one of the most disappointing 2009 seasons after his 26 interceptions lead the NFL, with a career-low 76.8 quarterback rating. Cutler’s top wide outs in Devin Hester, and Earl Bennett combined for only five touchdowns last season, and never offered the down-field threats that Cutler had in Denver. When you’re prepared to write off Cutler in 2010, don’t forget about Cutler’s new no. 1 wide out in Johnny Knox. The fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft made the unexpected transition from kick returner, to dependable slot receiver last season, and led the team in touchdowns. The 6’0, 180 pound speedster finally gets the chance to line up out wide, and should be one of the biggest sleepers this season, to Cutler’s delight. This kid can fly.

Beanie Wells – Wells was a popular mid-season acquisition last season in most fantasy leagues, but owners never saw Wells take the big step towards stardom that everyone was hoping he would. Playing in Arizona’s high flying offense with much concentration on screen play, Wells saw much of the backfield attention go to fellow back Tim Hightower. But as Warner’s retirement gives way to Matt Leinart, and with Anquan Boldin leaving for Baltimore, Arizona’s run game should be infused with between the tackle play-calling, with the 6-2, 230 pound Wells reaping the benefits. After losing in the NFC Divisional playoffs last season by 31 points to New Orleans, bet on Arizona to focus on ball-control and clock management more. Wells is about to have a huge season.