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College Football Challenge is a new player-based fantasy game with a format that's challenging yet flexible and user-friendly. You can play using all 120 FBS teams or compete within any of the 11 conferences. The points-based scoring system revolves around an eight-slot roster of quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, team kicking and team defense.

With 120 teams to work with, or within single-conference leagues, success will require delving deep into the large player pool. I'll be with you every week to highlight the must-own performers, less-known sleepers and emerging stars, plus each week's favorable matchups and potential busts.

We'll kick it off with an advance look at some of 2009's key fantasy performers.

Top of the draft board

Quarterback: Case Keenum, Houston. He threw for more than 5,000 yards and 44 touchdowns as a sophomore, and that was in the first year of coach Kevin Sumlin's system.

Running back: Jahvid Best, California. Fifteen touchdowns and 1,580 yards are impressive, but Best's 8.1 yards per carry is the real indicator that he's a legitimate Heisman candidate in 2009.

Receiver: Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State. It will be hard to top last year's 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns, but the junior should land All-American honors for the second straight season.

Defense/special teams: Florida. Amazingly, the entire two-deep returns from last year's outstanding unit.

Kicking: Arizona State. Junior Thomas Weber hit 24 of 25 field goals to win the Groza Award in 2007, and booted 19 more 3-pointers last year.

Primed for a step up

Quarterback: Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP. He threw for 33 touchdowns and 3,274 yards last year, but in 2009 Vittatoe should really explode. He has a stellar receiving corps, a veteran offensive line and a soft schedule. Mike Price's offense managed only nine rushing touchdowns last year, so you know the ball will be in the air.

Running back: Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech. The junior should build on last year's 1,395-yard, 12-touchdown campaign in the second year in Paul Johnson's offense.

Receiver: Golden Tate, Notre Dame. Junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen finally gets to work behind a veteran offensive line, and the result will be a very potent passing attack that easily allows the talented Tate to eclipse his 1,080-yard, 10-touchdown performance of last year.

Defense/special teams: Oklahoma. With just five starters back last year, the Sooners posted some of the worst defensive numbers of the Bob Stoops era. This year, there are nine returnees, including All-American Gerald McCoy, 2008 Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year Travis Lewis and several all-conference honorees. The Oklahoma defense will return to its usual standards in 2009.

Kicking: UCLA. Kai Forbath is already one of the nation's top kickers, but a UCLA offense that returns nine starters and is in the second year of coordinator Norm Chow's system should provide him with far more chances than last year's anemic attack.

Likely to disappoint

Quarterback: Tim Hiller, Western Michigan. Hiller has put up some big numbers since he was MAC Freshman of the Year way back in 2005, including a 3,725-yard, 36-touchdown performance last year. This year, Hiller will have a hard time topping those marks, as he loses his top two wideouts, including All-American game-breaker Jamarko Simmons, plus the school's all-time tight end scoring leader.

Running back: Reggie Arnold, Arkansas State. Arnold has posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons, earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors twice. However, the Red Wolves' rebuilt offensive line returns fewer career starts than that of any other team in the country this season, and Arnold will find it tough to make it four 1,000-yard campaigns in a row.

Receiver: Naaman Roosevelt, Buffalo. Roosevelt's 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns made him a fantasy star last year, but without departed quarterback Drew Willy -- the school's all-time passing leader -- the Bulls' offense will lean more heavily on All-MAC senior tailback James Starks and the running game in 2009.

Defense/special teams: Cincinnati. The Bearcats have fielded strong defenses recently, first under Mark Dantonio and now Brian Kelly, but this year's unit returns just one 2008 starter and loses 11 of the top 13 tacklers from a year ago.

Kicking: Missouri. Not only does Missouri lose career scoring leader Jeff Wolfert -- who didn't miss a single kick in conference play for two seasons -- but the Tigers do not figure to be nearly as potent offensively, with most of 2008's key personnel now in the NFL.

New starters to watch

Quarterback: Ryan Mallett, Arkansas. Bobby Petrino turned Casey Dick into a 2,500-yard passer despite Dick's missing significant time with injuries. Michigan transfer Mallett was a blue-chip recruit who will be a perfect fit for Petrino's system.

Running back: John Clay, Wisconsin. Clay ran for 889 yards and nine touchdowns in relief of starter P.J. Hill last year. This year, he'll be the primary ball carrier in Wisconsin's power running attack.

Receiver: David Reed, Utah. The Utes are retooling their offense after losing quarterback Brian Johnson and 2008's top three receivers. Reed, a senior, could emerge as the main target in 2009. He was a highly regarded junior college transfer who averaged more than 17 yards per catch as a reserve last year and also earned all-conference honors as a punt returner.

Kicking: UTEP. The leading candidate to replace place-kicking star Jose Martinez is highly touted redshirt freshman Logan Barrett, who nailed a 72-yarder in the spring game. Mike Price, who coached Jason Hanson and Rian Lindell at Washington State, has a great eye for kickers and always places an emphasis on solid special teams.

Returning from injury

Quarterback: Jake Locker, Washington. The junior threw for more than 2,000 yards and ran for another 986 as a freshman, but played in only four games last season before going down with a severe thumb injury. He'll provide the bulk of the 2009 offense for new coach Steve Sarkisian's Huskies.

Running back: Andre Anderson, Tulane. Green Wave running back Matt Forte scored 23 touchdowns as the nation's leading rusher in 2007. Last year his replacement, Anderson, was on his way to a big season in Bob Toledo's offense when he suffered a season-ending injury in the seventh game. This year, Anderson could double his 2008 totals of 864 yards and seven touchdowns.

Receiver: Jeremy Williams, Tulane. Williams was another one of the Wave's many injury victims last year. He had 437 yards and five scores in just five games, and should have a 1,000-yard campaign as the team's primary receiving threat in 2009.

Will Harris is a college football analyst for ESPN.com.