No longer sideline material in non-PPR leagues, Bush hopes to burn in 2012.

Evidently ex-bed buddy Kim Kardashian's reportedly steamy relationship with hip-hop mogul Kanye West is fueling Reggie Bush.

The fleet-footed rusher, who finished inside the RB top-15 in a breakout campaign with the 'Fins last year, is setting a lofty, almost laughable goal for the 2012 season:  Winning the NFL rushing title. From the Sun-Sentinel:

There's a possibility Bush can contribute even more for the Dolphins this upcoming season because this west coast offense fits his skill set. Head coach Joe Philbin is excited about the tools in Bush's tool belt, and has a vision of how to better utilize his skill set, hinting that Bush might line up as a receiver more.

That might explain why Bush told WSVN's Sports Xtra on Sunday that his goal is to lead the NFL in rushing this season. …

"I want the rushing title," said Bush, who finished 11th in rushing last season. "This offseason I've been working towards that goal. Just being effective like I was this past season.

"Every time I rush the ball I want four yards," said Bush, who averaged 5.0 yards per carry in 2011. "I'm keeping my focus simple and small, but at same time helping my team progress."

Rrrriiiiggghhttt. And Tim Tebow will complete 85-percent of his passes this fall.

Miami's stout O-line and Bush's newfangled gusto between the tackles — he racked up 5.6 ypc in up-the-gut runs last year — would lead one to surmise the RB's claim, though ultra-confident, isn't overly exuberant. However, those are Miami's only positive takeaways on offense. Under new head coach Joe Philbin, this is a franchise in transition.  Rookie Ryan Tannehill, who started just 19 games at quarterback during his four-year career at Texas A&M, may begin the season under center. Davone Bess is the best returning receiver after Brandon Marshall blew north to the Windy City in March. And, most complicating for Reggie, local product Lamar Miller was plucked in the draft. The youngster and Daniel Thomas are expected to push Bush for touches when Dolphins training camp opens later this summer. Add it all up, and it appears he's drank too much Kool-Aid basking in the South Beach sun.

In an expanded role, Mathews should leave the competition in a haze in 2012. (US Presswire)

Letting go of the past is difficult.

Owners burned previously by a high draft pick often act like grumpy old men. The mere mention of said player boils the blood leading the enraged to embark on an endless rant of disgust. Most stubbornly, the hate harbored by these victims creates long-holding grudges. Even entertaining the idea of investing their heart and soul into the same steamy pile of worthlessness, no matter how ripe the situation, ranks alongside death by clown torture, a frightening proposition.

Sadly, this is how millions living in Fantasyland feel about Ryan Mathews.

Roughly two weeks ago in what some are deeming the "Suckiest Mock Team Ever Assembled," yours truly selected the controversial rusher with the fifth overall pick in a standard 14-team draft. Normally commenters beneath Arcade entries criticize small grammatical errors, attempt to start fruitless "Fire (Insert Author)" campaigns or ramble about senseless drivel simply because they have the space to do so. However, in last week's mock recap (See full draft results here), the gallery focused its attention almost exclusively on my idiotic devotion to the alleged unreliable back. A taste:

This guy does not stand alone in his affection for Rangers. (US Presswire)

Tonight, with the Angels/Rangers clash the backdrop, tag-team partners Brandon Funston and Brad Evans host the mother of all fantasy chats.

Due to the bevy of torn ACLs, busted bullpens and Josh Hamilton moonshots that have impacted Fantasyland, questions should be aplenty. If you have any pressing inquiries or are simply fed up hanging out with your family, sneak away and join the hour-long party. Anything MLB, NFL or hot moms-related (strongly encouraged) is fair game.

TOYOTA TUNDRA – PICKUPS OF THE WEEK

In addition to Monday's nine featured Pickups of the Week, Yahoo! Sports fantasy expert Brandon Funston offered a Wednesday update on five hitters on the rise that weren't profiled in Monday's POW. And on Friday, Brad Evans goes through the same drill for pitchers. The same criteria applies - players must be available in more than half of Yahoo! leagues.

Ignore superficial stats, A.J. a legit fantasy swashbuckler

A.J. Burnett (SP) Pittsburgh Pirates
Most owners would rather scale Mount Everest in shorts than audition a 6-plus ERA starting pitcher on an offensively inept team, but Burnett is classic example of how looks can be deceiving. Subtract his 12 earned run detonation May 2 at St. Louis and he’s posted a 1.71 ERA on the season. That combined with a sensational 10.27 K/9 and other strong peripherals (2.31 xFIP), and the righty is a hidden gem ripe for the taking.

• Y! % 15%
• L14 rank1268
• IP16.2
• ERA8.64
• WHIP1.74
• K20
• W0

The defending champs have their fans afrenzy yet again. (US Presswire)

The rich just got richer.

The defending World Champs, a team that lost its franchise face during the offseason, might be stronger offensively than it was a year ago. Carlos Beltran has turned back the clock. David Freese has elevated his game. And sparkplug Allen Craig has provided a major jolt in recent days. However, with Lance Berkman returning from the D.L. imminently, Mike Matheny has a good problem on his hands. Owners heavily invested in Redbirds hope he makes the right decision.

On tonight's gripping episode, Brandon Funston and Brad Evans sifted through the murky waters of the Mississippi to break down what Berkman's upcoming activation means to Craig's long-term value. Additionally, we decided whether Josh Hamilton is sell-high material, predicted when Anthony Rizzo will get the call, flew on the Saves Circus trapeze and determined whether we believe or make believe in Josh Beckett.

And don't worry fantasy footballers, we covered you too. Boss Man and the Big Noise spun their recent 14-team PPR mock. What were the top-five picks? Where did recovering rushers Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles go? Will Round 2 be loaded with discounted, reliable rushers?

Too busy shopping for mom? No problem. Listen to the replay below:

LISTEN TO PART I HERE (NFL)

LISTEN TO PART II HERE (MLB)

LISTEN TO PART III HERE (MLB)

Despite an inflated BABIP, LaHair is no one-month wonder. (US Presswire)

CRACK! SMASH!! CRASH!!!

That kerfuffle you just heard was Bryan LaHair busting through the Quad-A ceiling.

Up until 2012, the former farmhand in the Mariners and Cubs systems toiled in relative obscurity milking cows and crushing baseballs, waiting for a chance to prove he was no "Crash" Davis.

Every year, extraordinary minor league sluggers like LaHair are gifted a chance to plant firm roots as big league regulars. Some seize the moment (e.g. Matt Stairs, Ryan Ludwick and Nelson Cruz) while others flounder miserably, permanently banished to a frugal life of bus rides and cheap hotels (e.g. Dallas McPherson, Jake Fox and Brad Eldred).

But sheer determination and the right opportunity has helped LaHair live in statistical opulence.

For a rebuilding Cubs team, the feel-good story of the early season is one of the few positives on a club overrun with negatives. Ryan Dempster, despite owning a 1.02 ERA, has fewer wins than Baltimore's Chris Davis. Carlos Marmol, once one of the more dominant closers in the NL, would have a hard time finding the strike-zone even if his pitches were equipped with a laser guide. And bloated pile of Benjamins, Alfonso Soriano, who might be the game's most overpriced player, has yet to homer in nearly 100 at-bats and posted a strikeout-to-walk rate (23:4) worthy of a face-palm.

Arian Foster is one suave dude, and likely the first sticker placed on draft boards this year. (US Presswire)

When Mr. Irrelevant, Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish, had his name called in front of a smattering of inebriated stragglers at last week's NFL Draft, owners in Fantasyland were already debating the merits of another passer, Aaron Rodgers, as a top-five overall pick.

Mock season officially kicked off.

Over the next several weeks fantasy signal callers of various backgrounds will hone their draft skills in preparation for main events come August. During these intense drills, participants will experiment with new strategies/tactics, overwork braincells to ensure proper selections are made, blurt out expletives when desired players are poached just before their pick, self-proclaim complete domination post-draft then repeat to stay abreast of growing trends. After all, practice makes perfect. Allen Iversons devoted mocksters are not.

No different from the common folk, "experts" within the fantasy community, too, are partaking in the annual ritual. To the purveyors of print, May marks magazine season, a time when editors and writers work frantically to crank out volumes of then timely content that will inevitably be obsolete once it hits store shelves two months later.

Last week the Noise, cordially invited by the Rotowire crew to participate in a pair of 14-team snake drafts (Standard and PPR), lost his 2012 football draft virginity. Here are nine takeaways from the standard exercise:

Weaver throws a no-no and Phat Albert continues to wield a skinny bat. It's no wonder Halo fans are worked up. …

Carnage.

That's what Albert Pujols and seemingly every closer in baseball not named Fernando Rodney (Friggin' amazing) has triggered exactly one month into the season.

On this week's loaded program, Brad Evans and Scott Pianowski attempted to diagnose Phat Albert's skinny numbers and decided whether he's buy low, hold or salvage what you can material.

Additionally, saves circuses in baseball's biggest markets Chicago, Los Angeles and, sadly now with Mariano Rivera's season toast, New York, were dissected, providing owners with the very latest on who we feel will get the ball in the ninth. Pedro Alvarez's searing start is also on the docket. Is he must-add material in all formats? Could he actually outproduce Alex Rodriguez?

Meanwhile, on the virtual gridiron, the Piano Man and Noise revealed their teams and what picks raised an eyebrow in their first mock draft of the fantasy football offseason. Where did Trent Richardson go? How many quarterbacks were selected in Round 1? When did TE monoliths Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham fall off the draft board? What about Peyton Manning? We'll have all the gory details to get you amped up for mocking.

In too much shock after hearing the O's are considering re-signing Miguel Tejada (We are too)? Missed the show? Listen to the replay below:

LISTEN PART I HERE (NFL)

LISTEN TO PART II HERE (MLB)