Imagine the regret by the fantasy owner who drafted Matt Forte, Steve Slaton, Steve Smith (the Carolina bust, not the Giants breakout star) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Jay Cutler. That lineup looked good heading into Week 1.

On the other hand, if you drafted Aaron Rodgers, Ray Rice, DeSean Jackson or Matt Schaub, you probably did all right. If you picked up Miles Austin at midseason, or took a flier on Cedric Benson, you got your money’s worth.

Unforeseen injuries aside, here’s a look at this season’s big surprises, and biggest busts this past season.

BIG STUDS

Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys

After a career day in Week 5 vs. the Chiefs (250 yards, two TDs), he became the go-to guy in the Dallas passing game. He averaged 103 yards over the last 12 games and scored 10 times. For keeper purposes, there’s no reason to believe he can’t continue his stellar production into next season.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Cowboys

The season-year standout excelled at big plays, so if your league awarded bonus points for long touchdowns, Jackson raked in the numbers. He topped 100 yards five times and scored in 10 different games.

Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals

He lost some steam late in the season, some of it injury related, but he was a monster the first nine weeks. His success was particularly surprising after his lackluster years in Chicago.

Ray Rice, RB, Ravens

Dual threat got it done rushing and receiving. Big-play ability was an added bonus. He could have posted a Marshall Faulk-type season had Willis McGahee not vultured some touches and touchdowns over the second half of the season.

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers

Easily the top-scoring fantasy QB. And he likely was the fourth or fifth QB drafted, and not until the fourth or fifth round.

Matt Schaub, QB, Texans

Had just two games in which he failed to throw for a score. Not bad for a guy taken in round 6 or 7.

BIG DUDS

Steve Slaton, RB, Texans

After a phenomenal rookie season, Slaton regularly was drafted in the late first to early second round in fantasy drafts. But he seldom resembled the big-play threat that became routine the previous season. The fact he was put on injured reserve after Week 12 with a shoulder injury doesn’t diminish his crushing decline in production.

Matt Forte, RB, Bears

Accounted for more of his team’s offensive production on 2008 than any other non-QB in the league. With addition of Jay Cutler, deep passing game was supposed to open running lanes. What happened? Forte looked slow, and the Bears run blocking left much to be desired. Falls on the “cut” side of the keeper scale.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, Giants

Had four 100-yard games and five games with multiple TDs in 2008. In 2009, zero 100-yard games, no multi-score games and just three touchdowns.

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers

By midseason, it was impossible to start Smitty with any confidence. Terrible quarterback play by Jake Delhomme ruined what is still a game-breaking receiver. Was better with backup QB Matt Moore, but still notched just one blockbuster game all season (Week 15 vs. Vikings).

Carson Palmer, QB, Bengals

Hard to believe Cincinnati has enjoyed such success this season with just modest production from Palmer, who had just one 300-yard game in the regular season. Remove a five-TD effort vs. the Bears in Week 7, and he threw just 16 TDs over the other 15 games, to go with 13 interceptions.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Seahawks

Was expected to shine after move to Seattle’s pass-happy offense. But never got in sync, becoming a one-digit wonder in terms of fantasy production. Went over 100 yards just twice, and scored just three times all season (and two of those came in Week 5 vs. the Jaguars).

BEST QB: Aaron Rodgers

BEST RB: Chris Johnson

BEST WR: Andre Johnson

BEST TE: Vernon Davis

BREAKOUT QB: Matt Schaub

BREAKOUT RB: Ray Rice

BREAKOUT WR: Miles Austin

BREAKOUT TE: Vernon Davis

BUST QB: Marc Bulger

BUST RB: Steve Slaton

BUST WR: T.J. Houshmandzadeh

BUST TE: Jason Witten

OVERALL BUST: Steve Slaton

BEST ROOKIE: Sidney Rice

OVERALL MVP: Chris Johnson