MONDAY NIGHT RECAP: MY FAIR BRADY

It was a peculiar offseason for the New England Patriots. How could you possibly let your Hall of Fame kicker and two starting receivers walk away when you're ten million dollars under the salary cap? It's not as though management in New England hasn't been questioned before. Star players such as Ty Law, Willie McGinnest, and Lawyer Milloy had once been members of the dynasty, but everyone is irreplaceable. Well not everyone.

There's been one mainstay throughout the last six years in New England. His name: Tom Brady. He'll never put up the numbers of a Peyton Manning. He'll never give you the dazzling highlight of Michael Vick. You'll never think of him like you do the gutty and gritty Brett Favre, but perhaps he's a collection of them all. Brady puts up superb passing numbers with the likes of Doug Gabriel and Reche Caldwell, rather than Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. He'll never make a dazzling throw on the run, but instead he makes the poised play in the pocket with pressure in his face. He goes down hard sometimes. Hits you could never picture yourself recovering from, but Brady gets up and laughs as though he was wrestling with his brother. When Tom Brady throws four touchdowns on the national stage like he did last night, you may recall his greatest quality. Brady's a winner, and he does it every way you could imagine.

Tom Brady- As mentioned above Tom Brady had an unbelievable four touchdown performance in a 31-7 rout of the Vikings on Monday. Knowing very well that Minnesota had the best rush defense in football, the Patriots looked to pass all game. The trust that Brady had with his starting wideouts from last year is now being shown in his young WRs this year, and he should be poised for great success for the rest of the season.

Laurence Maroney- The Patriots had no intentions of rushing the ball all night against the tough rush defense of the Vikings, as they only the ball twelve times all game. Of all their backs, Maroney was once again most impressive. He possesses the rare combination of speed and power that every coach dreams of. When he takes over full time next year, he will almost surely be a star.

Ben Watson- The most talented WR on the Patriots doesn't even play WR. It's their big TE Ben Watson out of Georgia that makes the plays. Brady loves throwing to his TEs, and it was shown by Watson's 7 catch 95 yard and 1 TD performance. The injury of Daniel Graham has given Watson much more looks, and he has become one of the more solid TEs in football.

Brad Johnson- The Patriots defense is famous for confusing rookies, but as shown Monday Night it can also baffle even the oldest of veterans. Johnson had a very hard time figuring out the Patriots defense and wound up throwing three interceptions before being pulled from the game. While his starting job is not in question at all, he doesn't put up the type of numbers to be a factor in fantasy.

Chester Taylor- Coming off back to back huge performances, Taylor was completely shut down by the New England defense. He finished with 10 carries for just 22 yards. Taylor left early in the game with a shoulder injury, but he was able to come back without any problems. He should have a bounce back performance next week against the 49ers.

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

Leon Washington- After a breakout game against Detroit, the rookie RB followed up that performance with a 15 carry 51 yard day. It was very disappointing against a weak Cleveland team, but big days cannot be expected week in and week out from Washington. He's a fine third RB for your squad.

Chad Johnson- Ocho Cinco finally found the endzone again on Sunday, but it appears likely that he will have to shave his head after suffering defeat on Sunday. Johnson finished with 6 catches for 78 yards and a TD. While this was an improvement over prior performances, we're still waiting for his breakout performance. From what the Bengals have shown so far this season, it just may not be Chad Johnson's year.

Rudi Johnson- After a very solid start to the season, Johnson had his first clunker of the season. He finished with a weak 12 carries for 46 yards, but he did throw in a TD to make his owners happy. The Bengals offensive line is a huge question mark to every one on offense, and until it regains its old form. Rudi has a tough stretch coming up, and he may not be as productive as he was the first half of the season.

Ben Roethlisberger- Are the Steelers really this bad? Faced with a must win game against the putrid Raiders, the Steelers could not pull off a victory. One of the main reasons was Big Ben, who three four interceptions. A change at QB is very unlikely for the Steelers because if you look at the rest of Roethlisberger's stats (25 for 37 and 301 yards) it wasn't that bad of an outing. The Steelers face off against Denver in a game for their season next week, and it appears bleak that they will actually pull of the upset.

Steve McNair- It was one of those old school classic performances for Steve McNair on Sunday. He was 17 for 23 with 159 yards and 3 total TDs. The Ravens tore up the upstart Saints defense, and McNair was the key reason for success. He is no longer a starting fantasy QB at this portion of his career, but he is the right fit for the Ravens offense.

Jamal Lewis- The former 2,000 yard running back had his first 100 yard performance of the year on Sunday. If he continues to have days like this, the cries for Musa Smith will silence. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to us Jamal Lewis has never been able to regain his once MVP form.

Kellen Winslow Jr.- The change of the offensive coordinator was very pleasing to Winslow who had major problems with way the offense was ran. In the following game, he had 7 catches for 76 yards and a TD. Winslow seems to be the go to guy for Charlie Frye this season, and he has become one of the more consistent TEs in football. The only question is if he will be able to play his first full season since college.

Peyton Manning- Facing the toughest defense he will see all season, Manning shredded it up for three touchdowns and 345 yards. There's really nothing so far that has shown that it is possible to stop the Colts offense which has rebounded nicely from the loss of Edgerrin James. With a 7-0 record and another great season, Peyton Manning is likely to once again become the MVP.

Reggie Wayne- In their game against Denver, Peyton Manning could have told the Broncos he was throwing to Wayne, and it wouldn't have mattered. When the game was on the line, Manning hooked up with Wayne several times and then the go ahead score. Wayne finished the day with 138 yards and 3 TDs in one of the best individual WR performances this season. He's off to a tremendous start and is a top 10 WR.

Dominic Rhodes/Joseph Addai- Realizing that this was their biggest game to date, the Colts relied on Addai in the running game. Rhodes finished with 0 yards on 3 three carries while Addai had a very impressive 17 carries for 93 yards. It would be nice if Addai was named the starting RB in Indy, but he should assume most of the carries as they go towards the playoffs.

David Garrard- The Jaguars QB managed the game very well against the tough Philadelphia defense making no mistakes. Despite unimpressive numbers (10 for 17 and 87 yards) Garrard never did anything to cost his team the game. He stopped the bleeding for Jacksonville, but Byron Leftwich will remain the team's starting QB.

Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew- The reason the Jaguars won on Sunday was their relentless running attack. Taylor finished with 15 carries for 103 yards and a TD, while Jones-Drew had 21 carries for 77 yards. The biggest news was that Taylor suffered his inevitable hamstring injury on Sunday. It'll be interesting to see what Jones-Drew can do in a starting role if Taylor is out.

Wali Lundy- The Texans could have started Lundy all year, but then they could have had a consistent running attack, and they obviously didn't want that because they passed on Reggie Bush. Lundy finished with 18 carries for 116 yards against the thin Tennessee defense. There's no reason Lundy won't start for the rest of the season, and with only two more tough defenses ahead of him, he's a great player to be owned.

David Carr- The Texans QB was atrocious on Sunday as he turned the ball over three times before being benched by Gary Kubiak. Sage Rosenfels took over and threw three TDs, but Carr will remain the team's QB. Carr, who started off the season on fire, has no fallen back into the realm of an average QB in this league.

Vince Young- The Titans franchise player didn't really throw the ball all day (7 for 15), but still managed to have two TDs. At this stage of his career, he's getting by with his athleticism, but once he get this first season under his belt, he should be on his way to a very good NFL career. He should one day have a season like Michael Vick is having now, but signs show that it will come sooner than his sixth season.

Travis Henry- One of the hottest players in the NFL, Travis Henry, cooled down on Sunday in a game against the Texans when he should have busted out again. Henry finished with a weak 15 carries for 29 carries. Henry should have better days than these, but it'll be hard to start him again as Lendale White will slowly be given carries to become their eventual starter.

Larry Johnson- The top performer of week 8 was Chiefs RB Larry Johnson. He finished with over 180 yards of total offense and count 'em four touchdowns. He and Tomlinson have been competing for the top RB spot all season, and more performances like these should come for Johnson who is historically better in the second half of the season. The Chiefs will continue to ride him all year long with their shaky QB situation.

LaDainian Tomlinson- Take that Johnson. Tomlinson countered LJ's performance with three TDs and over 230 total yards. LT has 11 touchdowns through 8 games this season, and is one of the sure bets in fantasy football. His next two games are against Cleveland and Cincinnati, where he should again post up huge numbers. Tomlinson is one of the few players that never faces a bad matchup.

Tatum Bell/Mike Bell- One Bell replaced another and a beat wasn't missed. Tatum Bell left early in the game with a toe injury, and Mike Bell took full advantage of the situation by rushing 15 times for 136 yards and two TDs. It looks like Tatum will miss at least 1 game, and Mike Bell should be owned in all leagues. Toe injuries are hard to recover from, so it wouldn't be a shock if Mike Bell started getting a great deal of work.

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

I apologize for not posting a "Countdown to Gametime" yesterday. The computers were once again down.

Tony Romo- It appears that Dallas should have been starting Romo all year. He's much more elusive at QB than Drew Bledsoe ever was, and he also possesses a very strong arm. He finished 24 for 36 with 270 yards 1 TD and 1 INT. He looked in command all day and established a good rhythm with Jason Witten and Terrell Owens, both of whom had big days. He's a fine fantasy backup QB, and he should be owned in all leagues.

Terrell Owens- T.O. appears to have taken off under new QB Tony Romo. He finished with a season high in both catches (9) and yards (107). The Dallas offense was much more consistent with Romo, and he looked at Owens often throughout the game. It was a shocking win over Carolina, and the Romo to Owens tandem should lead to more wins than originally expected.

Donovan McNabb- Once referred to as an MVP candidate, McNabb had an awful day Sunday as the Eagles suffered a devastating loss to Jacksonville. He finished 18 for 34 with 161 yards in the 13-6 loss. The Eagles are on of the more puzzling team in the NFL, and they face a must win after the bye week against Washington. Regardless of the team's record, McNabb should be started every week.

Donte' Stallworth- In his first game since week 4, Stallworth had 3 catches for 56 yards. The Jacksonville defense shut down the Eagles offense which had been close to unstoppable to first seven weeks. The offense should bounce back and play solid the rest of the season, which means don't take Stallworth out of your lineup.

Brian Westbrook- The Villanova graduate finished with over 100 total yards on Sunday, but the reason he is of note is that he sprained his ankle in the game. Westbrook has the bye to help him recover, but he'll probably be questionable for his week 10 game against Washington. If the Eagles do not run the ball more consistently, they will fail to ever be among the league's elite this season.

Vernand Morency- The Packers backup RB had a breakout game with 101 yards on 11 carries. It would appear that he would steal carries from Ahman Green for the rest of the season, but late in the game he suffered a lower back injury. The injury appears serious, and he should be sidelined for some time.

Ahman Green- Despite the impressive production from Morency, Ahman Green also had an impressive day. Green finished with 106 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. In the past two weeks he has 224 yards and 3 TDs. He appears back to his old form, and with Morency out he should get even more carries. He's a must start against Buffalo next week.

Rex Grossman- If you listened to me and did not over react following Grossman's Monday Night meltdown, you are very happy right now. Rex had a tremendous bounce back game going 23-29 for 252 yards and 3 TDs. Although it was against the 49ers, it was good to see that Grossman showed no ill effects from his game against Arizona.

Thomas Jones- Who didn't have a good game for the Bears on Sunday? Like many others on Chicago, Thomas Jones busted out for a 23 carry 111 yard performance with a TD. IT appears that Jones will hold off Cedric Benson for another year as the Bears starting RB. Ideally, Jones is a third fantasy RB, but with his easy schedule, he could perform well as a second RB.

Michael Vick- Six years later, a giant awoke. We've all been waiting for Vick to compliment his running with adequate passing. His passing has been far more than adequate this season, as yesterday he threw for 291 yards and 3 TDs. Three weeks ago he had never had more than two passing touchdowns in game, but now he has done it in back to back weeks. His next two games are against Detroit and Cleveland, and he should remain you starting QB for the rest of the year, unless he shows any signs of slowing down. If he continues to play this way, he is both one of the most dangerous players in the NFL and fantasy.

Reggie Bush- The rookie RB had his least productive game in the NFL, and it was no coincidence that the Saints lost as a result of this. Late in the game, Bush injured his ankle, but he should be fine for his game next week. One of the most dangerous players in the NFL, still cannot be a viable option for fantasy.

Marques Colston- The leading Rookie of the Year candidate had his best game of the season with 6 catches for 163 yards and 2 TDs. While he's a must start every week in fantasy (especially at TE), one sign of caution is that 3 of his 6 TDs this season, have come late in blowout games with the defense sagged off. He faces a tough matchup next week against Tampa Bay which held him to 3 three catches for 38 yards in their previous meeting.

Bruce Gradkowski- The Tampa Bay offense was completely shut down by both the swirling winds and the swarming Giants defense. Gradkowski showed why he cannot be considered in fantasy leagues as he finished 20 for 48 with 139 yards. His receivers did not help him at all as they dropped numerous balls, but Gradkowski is basically just managing the game at this point of his career.

Jake Delhomme- It was a very sloppy game by the Panthers on Sunday night, and Jake Delhomme's play was one of the main reasons they were upset at home. Delhomme finished with 149 yards, an INT, and a lost fumble. Everytime Carolina was trying to get back in the game they either dropped a pass, fumbled, or threw an interception. It wouldn't wise to start Delhomme until he shows that can put up consistent performances.

Seneca Wallace- The backup QB for Seattle performed about as well as expected. He finished 15 for 30 with 198 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs. He made several poor decisions, and if he played a smarter game, Seattle may have won. The Seahawks play a vastly underrated Oakland defense next week, and he's not really worth a roster spot.

Maurice Morris- Once upon a time, there were people on the Maurice Morris bandwagon who believed he was the best backup in the league. Well those people are very quiet now. Morris rushed for 25 yards on 12 carries. The Seahawks can't wait for Alexander to get back as they have virtually no running game currently.

Steven Jackson- All week long we heard that Steven Jackson would be getting more touches. While he didn't have a substantial rise in touches he did have a very good game going for 84 yards on the ground an a TD. The Rams offense is possibly the best in the NFC and all of their starters could bust out any week.

Frank Gore- It appeared that Gore would be in for a tough day against the Bears, but he finished with a very respectable 12 carries for 111 yards. He's become a top 10 fantasy RB in a 49ers offense that has vastly improved from last season.

Matt Leinart- After the performance on Monday Night against the Bears, Leinart appeared NFL ready, but after two lackluster performances that appears far from the case. Leinart was able to only throw for 157 yards and a TD against a Packers defense that gave up over 400 yards passing to Joey Harrington. Leinart should only be owned in deep fantasy leagues until he shows some signs of promise.

Edgerrin James- Edge had one of his most productive games of the season going for 84 yards on 24 carries and scoring a TD. This performance was his best in weeks, but does not appear to be a sign of him turning things around. Sadly, if you were looking to trade him, this could be his highest value all season.

NEWS & NOTES

Often injured Jets WR Laveranues Coles is once again listed as questionable for this Sunday's game against the Browns. He missed practice on Friday, and it appears he is less likely to play this week than he was others. Make sure to look for updates on Sunday.

Raiders RB Lamont Jordan "looked good" in their Friday practice, but no update was made on his status for Sunday. He appears to be a game-time decision.

It still appears that Ben Roethlisberger will start for the Steelers on Sunday. If it remains this way, he's a decent start against the Raiders.

It appears 50/50 whether Damon Huard will take the snaps on Sunday for the Chiefs. Regardless, him or Brodie Croyle, should not be used in fantasy leagues.

David Garrard will be the starting QB on Sunday for Jacksonville with Byron Leftwich out with an ankle injury. Since the decision was made Coach Del Rio and Leftwich have not been on speaking terms. This situation could get ugly if the Jaguars continue to lose.

It is very unlikely that Packers WR Greg Jennings will suit up on Sunday. The rookie has been off to a good start, but the ankle injury is too severe to allow him to play.

Despite reports that the reason Jason Campbell was getting first team reps over the bye week was because he would start on Sunday, it appears that was not the case. Apparently Brunell is nursing a rib injury, and the Redskins were being cautious with him.

Chris Henry is no longer being suspended, and he will play on Sunday. He's a much better option next week when he's back in the flow of the offense.

Donte' Stallworth will suit up on Sunday for the first time since week 4. Reggie Brown's value will take a hit as the Eagles now have an equally talented WR on the other side of the field.

DAUNTING DECISIONS

When you think your having a bad week or month consider the following: It was nothing compared to Dallas' WR Coach Todd Haley. Earlier this season he was torn into by Terrell Owens. Now he's filing a lawsuit against McDonalds because his wife found a dead rat in her salad. One may question why the McDonalds' employee who made this salad did not remove the dead rat, but then again there's a reason these people work at McDonalds. Moving on to Sit/Start.....

Leon Washington- It appears that the rookie out of FSU has taken over as the Jets main RB. Washington's talent has never been questioned, but his durability has. Until he shows any signs of injury continue to start him. He has a very favorable matchup against Cleveland on Sunday, and he should once again put up good numbers.

Travis Henry- Another RB on a hot streak has been Travis Henry. The Titans running game has been a revolving door since Eddie George left, but Henry has put up consistent production the last few weeks. He should play well against Houston on Sunday, but this could be his last hurrah with a tougher schedule on the horizon and the reemergence of LenDale White.

Philip Rivers- The Chargers seemed to know what they were doing by making Rivers their starter this season. He has gotten off to a solid start and each week the Chargers expand the offense a little more for him. The Rams pass defense has been shredded on recent weeks, and Rivers should have a big day.

Matt Leinart- Last week I thought he'd have a big game, and I was dead wrong. This week will be different as he goes against Green Bay. If you don't believe me, remember that Joey Harrington threw for 414 yards and 2 TDs against the Packers last week. Basically this means I could step in there and throw for 200 and a TD, so Leinart should have a bounce back week.

Rex Grossman- Another QB poised to get back on track is Rex Grossman. After his horrible, fantasy killing six turnover performance, he gets just what the doctor ordered: The 49ers! Expect that Bears offense that tore it up the first part of the season to return to its form this week.

Colts RBs- If you've been relying on the Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai tandem this season, you probably aren't doing too well. This week try to avoid it completely because Indy plays the stout Denver defense that only gives up touchdowns when Jake Plummer throws and interception inside his own 30.

Fred Taylor- The Jaguars RB has been a surprise this season. Not because of the solid stats he's putting up, but because he's still healthy. He won't put up solid stats and may not stay healthy against an aggressive Philadelphia defense who usually plays the run well.

Frank Gore- I've never been as high on Gore as other people have this season, but regardless of how I feel, it's a bad idea to start Gore against the Bears this week. He still has injury and fumbling issues and should be largely unproductive all day long.

Seahawks WRs- The loss of Matt Hasselbeck hurts the value of Deion Branch, Darrell Jackson, and the rest of the deep Seattle WR core. Seneca Wallace is a much better runner than he is a passer and was almost converted to WR. He should rely on Jerremy Stevens when he passes, scramble often, and handoff the football even more.

Cadillac Williams- Williams had a decent day against Philadelphia and should do the same or worse against a stronger Giants defense that had eliminated the run since their bye in week 4. The Giants defense is a bit banged up, but Williams should be largely unproductive all day long.

STOCK TIPS: BUY LOW/SELL HIGH

One of the main things to look at when accessing the value of your players is the schedule they have played and who they play the rest season. Many players statistics are either inflated or down because of these reasons. At this time of year bye weeks are reaching their end, and you will have to put a consistent lineup out there. The best case scenario is to get players on the upswing not on the downslide.

BUY LOW

Jason Witten- If you watched the Monday Night game last week, you noticed that once Tony Romo entered the game, Jason Witten emerged from the dead. Romo tended to look for Witten when he was in trouble, and with a poor offensive line, this should continue as long as he plays QB. He should come close to his 2005 form with the quarterback switch.

Jake Delhomme- Delhomme has just been average so far this season which simply is not enough for his owners. It was expected that with the WR tandem of Keyshawn Johnson and Steve Smith, Delhomme's numbers would go through the roof. There is still a chance for this as Delhomme has always been a very good second half player. Expect him to pick up his game as the season continues.

Derek Mason- The Ravens newly acquired WR has been one of the biggest disappointments at his position. Through six games he has just 310 yards. He has received a lot of looks and should have had at least one touchdown last week, that went to Mark Clayton on a fluke play. He's never had less than five touchdowns with McNair as his QB, so expect a rise in his points the rest of the season.

Willis McGahee- The Bills star RB hasn't topped 80 yards the last four weeks and with a bye this week his owners should be restless. Willis is one of those players that has a favorable schedule for the rest of the season. He should put up impressive numbers and finish as at least a top 10 RB.

SELL HIGH

Michael Vick- If you had the guts to play Vick last week against Pittsburgh's defense, I'm sure you've been happy since Sunday. Now have the guts to trade him. Vick's four touchdown games are as rare in his career as the Lions winning a game. He's an improved QB over last season, but he's clearly not the elite passer you saw on Sunday. The Falcons are a running team, and pass first offense will not last.

Terry Glenn- The second WR for Dallas has gotten off to a decent start, but his numbers are sure to suffer without his biggest fan, Drew Bledsoe, behind center. Romo did not look often to Glenn in the second half, and the young QB will feel the pressure to get the ball into the hands of T.O. Glenn was once an every week start, but if you can't trade him he's lost his value.

Reggie Brown- A budding star in this league would surely have been a top 10 WR if it were not for the late trade for Donte' Stallworth. The numbers that Brown put up in Stallworth's absence won't be as consistent once he comes back. The first few weeks of the season Stallworth was Brown's favorite target. Expect it to vary week to week who plays better.

FANTASY MD

Here's the midweek status of several key injuries in the NFL:

Donte' Stallworth- The explosive WR was supposed to play last week, but right before the team left for Tampa Bay, they decided he would not play. This week it appears more likely that he will play. He participated in a walk-through Wednesday morning, but nothing can be decided till he fully practices.

Greg Jennings- After suffering an ankle injury on Sunday, Jennings has been listed as a doubtful in the team's injury report. It appears he will be out for at least his week, and Ruvell Martin will start in his place.

DeAngelo Williams- The rookie RB has made a lot of improvement recovering from an ankle injury the last few weeks. He was upgraded to questionable and has practiced a little, but it is far more likely that he will return after the team's bye and play week 10.

Matt Hasselbeck- After suffering what he calls an intentional injury, Hasselbeck will be out for the upcoming three or four weeks. This is a huge blow to fantasy owners because the Seahawks were approaching a very favorable schedule. Seneca Wallace should be picked up in all leagues because of this schedule, and if he plays well this Sunday, you can think about starting him against Oakland the following week if you really need QB help.

Shaun Alexander- Although Alexander thought he would play this week, Coach Holmgrem has said that he will be sidelined once again. He should realistically be back week nine against Oakland. He may struggle early because teams will play the run with Hasselbeck out.

Steve McNair- After suffering a concussion two weeks ago, McNair will be back behind center in week 8 versus New Orleans. It's unclear how well he will play and the Saints defense is vastly improved, so if at all possible, wait a week to start him.

Ben Roethlisberger- Despite suffering a concussion last week, Big Ben will start Sunday against Oakland. The move is a tad surprising because since he is their franchise QB who has been battered all year long, it would make sense to have him backup in a game they should win against the Raiders to ensure he is healthy for bigger games. It'll be interesting to see how healthy he is this Sunday.

Byron Leftwich- Once hyped as the best team in the AFC following a week three Monday night victory, the Jaguars have now taken a sudden nosedive. Leftwich needs to prove that his ankle is healthy to be able to play Sunday, and he will split reps with David Garrad all week in practice. Neither QB should be counted on in fantasy for Sunday.

Matt Jones- Once again the often injured WR is questionable for Sunday with his hamstring injury. Realistically, he'll probable be a game-time decision again and isn't a very good play in the first place possibly playing without Leftwich against the Eagles.

Jerry Porter- Not injured but exiled, Porter has been reinstated by the team. It will probably be several weeks till he sees the field, if he ever does. Don't count on him this season, and don't expect him to be a Raider next season.

Lamont Jordan- The Raiders RB angered his fantasy owners greatly as he sat out Sunday after having a back injury flare up during pregame warmpus. That same back problem has him listed as questionable for next week, and he will most likely be a game-time decision.

Trent Green and Larry Fitzgerald are still a while from returning and updates will be given as they become closer to action.

MONDAY NIGHT RECAP: ONE GIANT LEAP

A quiet superstar. Do we have many in this league? The Giants versus Cowboys game was full of great players, most notably Tiki Barber and Terrell Owens. There has never been a contrast greater between two players. Tiki is quiet, focused, and seen as a leader. Terrell is loud, opinionated, and disruptive.

The two stepped on the field together to play for the division lead. While one ran almost with no effort at all picking up chunk after chunk of yardage, the other paced and brewed as his team fell behind. Obviously upset with the quarterback play, the WR and his coach embraced a change at QB. Things began to change, and the loud player became excited. He was catching passes and even found the endzone. While the Cowboys crept back, the quiet RB went about his business, picking up first downs and taking hit after hit. Suddenly the game had reached a crucial point. The Cowboys had a 4th and 2 with only a few minutes left, needing to convert. Their loud WR was wide open in the flat; it was a guaranteed first down. The ball screamed off the finger tips of the young QB, pounded into the hands of the loud WR, and thudded onto the ground as the stadium hushed. The loud WR was now quiet.

Tiki Barber- The Giants soon to be retired RB became the first player all year to top 100 yards on the ground against Dallas. Tiki has done everything possible for the Giants except put the ball in the endzone. Brandon Jacobs has become the NFL's new short yardage force, and he is racking up the TDs that Tiki leaves for him. The Giants will ride Tiki for the rest of the year because they won't worry about wearing him down for the rest of his career. While Jacobs looks like a stud next year in fantasy, the loss of Tiki will hurt Jacobs. The Giants should look to add a change of pace back.

Plaxico Burress- The other outspoken WR on the field had a very nice day finishing with 94 yards and a TD. When the Giants get him involved early, he usually has big games. However, if they do not, he appears to lose focus and not play as hard as he should. He is still a top 15 fantasy WR regardless of his attitude.

Drew Bledsoe/Tony Romo- The Bledsoe era ended as he threw another interception at his opponent's goalline. Romo came on in relief, and it would be a real surprise if he did not start the rest of the season. Although he should be a decent QB later in the season, don't feel inclined to start him now for any reason because he is still basically a rookie QB getting his feet wet. He seemed to rely on Jason Witten as a safety valve under pressure, so the Cowboys' TE gets a boost.

Terrell Owens- The big day that Owens had was clearly overshadowed by the huge drop on fourth down late in the game. However, from here on out Owens fantasy value will continue to rise. He did not have a good relationship with Drew Bledsoe, and Tony Romo is more similar to a McNabb type QB with which Owens had his best season. Expect Owens to become more involved in the offense, and if he doesn't he will surely explode.

Julius Jones- The Cowboys RB was off to a nice start this season, but what shut down by the Giants impressive defense. Jones finished with 30 yards on the ground, but part of the reason was that they Cowboys were behind for most of the game. Expect him to have a better showing next week against Carolina, but not a breakout game.

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

Leon Washington- If you played Washington this Sunday against Detroit your probably feeling a great deal of joy right now. The rookie Jets RB went for 129 yards and 2 TDs while splitting carries with Kevan Barlow. Both times Washington has received 20+ carries, he has topped 100 yards. Being only 5'8" his question mark has been durability which shouldn't come into affect this year, but if he is the main back next season it'll be something to watch.

Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney- Both Patriots RBs split carries again on Sunday and barring significant injury, it should stay this way all season. Dillon had the better day fantasy wise with 47 yards 2 TDs compared to Maroney's 29 yards. Maroney was to have an X-ray on an undisclosed injury, and if he is hurt, Dillon would be a very solid starter.

Carson Palmer- The big question this week was, would the Bengals banged up offensive line be able to give Palmer enough time to throw the ball? The answer: yes. Carson had 240 yards in the air and 2 TDs. Things are looking up again for Palmer, and once Chad Johnson is found consistently in the endzone, Palmer will once again be unstoppable.

Charlie Frye- The Browns QB had an average day against the stout Denver defense, but why he makes headlines is that he left late in the game with a mild concussion in the fourth quarter. The second year QBs status is undetermined for next week, and if he is unable to go, Ken Dorsey will get the start. Frye has not reached his potential yet, but don't give up on him in keeper leagues because the Browns are starting to surround him with talent.

Ben Roethlisberger- The third of the injured QBs also left with a concussion on Sunday. Big Ben looked very woozy when he came out, but was seen standing on the sidelines later in the game. He was off to a very fine start, but the Steelers will be careful with him because of his past injuries. Expect Charlie Batch to start for the next couple weeks.

Hines Ward- As I said earlier in the week Ward was due to bust out, and he did to the tune of three touchdowns and 171 yards. Unfortunately, with the loss of Big Ben, his value once again goes down. The Steelers will look to run the ball more, which means more carries for Willie Parker and defenses putting eight in the box against him. Both players may take a hit for the next few weeks.

Peyton Manning- The most reliable player in fantasy history had one of those classic multiple touchdown games on Sunday. He finished with 342 yards and 4 TDs against the Redskins. The most promising sign was that he had established a rhythm with both Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison which was long overdue. Manning did suffer an apparent neck injury on a dirty tackle, but showed no ill effects after the play.

Dominic Rhodes/Joseph Addai- One of the more puzzling things going on in sports is why the Colts continue to give Dominic Rhodes carries. Once again Joseph Addai had a better day on the ground going for 85 yards on 11 carries compared to Rhodes' 13 carries for 26 yards. Addai is more explosive and looks like a better replacement for James, but if the Colts continue to win, no change will be made.

Wali Lundy- I think I've figured out the Texans RB plan. Their RB all along was Wali Lundy, but they didn't want him or anyone else to know. So they passed over Reggie Bush because he's no Lundy. Then they put a barely injured Domanick Davis on IR because they had Lundy. Then they played Lundy for two weeks, and then said he was done because they wanted everyone to forget about him. Then the Texans said this week Lundy would start, but boom! An hour before kickoff they say Samkon Gado was the starter. Finally, they put Wali in there and he goes for 97 yards and a TD. Their master plan to beat the Jaguars in week 7 was a success. Who said Houston didn't know what they were doing?
P.S. Wali Lundy should be owned in fantasy....for now.

Fred Taylor/Maurice Jones-Drew- The hit and miss RB Jones-Drew was a clear miss on Sunday totaling 10 yards on 8 carries. Fred Taylor remains the reliable fantasy RB as he 16 carries for 84 yards on Sunday. It was disappointing that neither got in the endzone against the weak Houston defense.

Larry Johnson- "Fantasy experts" around the country suggested that this would be a week to possibly bench Larry Johnson. I didn't, that's why you're reading this column. LJ busted out for 132 yards and two touchdowns against the tough Chargers defense. He's obviously an every week start, and he is at the beginning of a very impressive run just like last year this time.

Tony Gonzalez- Another Chief busting out on Sunday was their under-producing TE. It seems like years since he's had a 137 yard game like this. We'd love to see him get in the endzone, but fantasy owners can't be upset with his performance on Sunday regardless. Despite the big week, don't expect many like this.

Randy Moss- The troubled WR is finally hitting a nice groove catching a TD for the second straight week and catching 7 passes for 129 yards. Their QB, Andrew Walter, left the game with injury, and if he is injured for awhile Moss' value will be hurt. Also Aaron Brooks is on his way back, and Moss has a much greater chemistry with Walter than Brooks, so his value may again take a dip.

Lamont Jordan- Much to the dismay of fantasy owners, they were given no notice of Jordan's injury which apparently flared up during pregame warmpus. The injury was to his back and his status for next week is unclear. This is another bad event in a horrible season for Lamont Jordan.

Tatum Bell- Another great game for Tatum Bell as he had 115 yards on the ground and a TD. For the first time in years, fantasy owners love Mike Shanahan for picking a productive RB and sticking with him. Bell had 585 yards and 2 TDs this season and has become one of the best RBs in football. As long as he stays with the Broncos and remains healthy, he should have a tremendous career.

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

Mark Brunell- The finishing numbers don't look too bad (27 for 37 226 yards and 2 TDs), but the Redskins did not start throwing the ball till they were trailing 33-14. The big play capability does not seem to be there, and Brunell is real tentative to throw deep. Coach Gibbs said that Brunell will remain the starter, but if the Redskins don't turn this around, Jason Campbell will be in there soon enough.

Brian Westbrook- Although he's injured almost every week, Westbrook is probably the most consistent RB in the league so far. He showed no signs of injury on Sunday as he ran for 100, had 100 receiving, and scored a TD. The Eagles can't afford to play without him, so start to ignore his injury reports until Saturday.

Donovan McNabb- The Eagles QB had his worst game of the season, but still threw for 300 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for 76. He did though cost him team the game with two horrible interceptions for TDs to Ronde Barber. One bad sign was that McNabb was clearly fatigued, and he showed it by vomiting on the field. Luckily he won't be playing many other games in 100 degree heat the rest of his life, so he's still one of the most reliable fantasy QBs out there.

Santana Moss- The star Redskins WR had another poor display and left late in the game with a hamstring injury. His injury should not be of any concern considering he probably would have stayed in if the game was close, and the Redskins have a bye next week. What should be of concern is Brunell's poor play, which is clearly affecting Moss.

Chester Taylor- One of the best draft steals this year has been Vikings RB Chester Taylor. He topped 100 for the second straight week and scored his second touchdown of the season. He's become an every week start as the Vikings are committed to getting him the ball every week.

Jake Delhomme- The Panthers QB this season has been disappointing to both fantasy owners and his own team. With so many weapons, he was expected to have a monster season, but his stats so far are just pedestrian. Delhomme killed the Panthers on Sunday by forcing a throw into the endzone which was picked off, when the Panthers could have settled for a FG and the tie. Expect Delhomme to become more reliable, but he has been nothing more than average so far.

Michael Vick- Earlier this week, the run and gun QB told the Falcons coaches he would like to throw the ball more because he was a bit banged up. Aren't we glad the Falcons listened? Vick had his most productive game as a QB going 18 for 30 for 232 yards with 4 TDs and 2 INTs. He only ran 5 times for 40 yards, but can you really complain? This will be his best game all year, and part of it was being in great field position all day. It's good to see that Vick can do this against good defenses, but don't expect days like these too often.

Alge Crumpler- It was clear that Michael Vick had reunited with his favorite target on Sunday as Crumpler had 6 catches for 117 yards and 3 TDs. Alge is one of the better redzone threats in the whole league, and the better Vick gets the more valuable he'll become. Crumpler is an every week start, but always a question mark because next week the Falcons could decide to run for 250 yards.

Matt Hasselbeck- The biggest injury of week 7 was that to the knee of Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck. The loss of their QB is much greater to the Seahawks than that of Alexander because Hasselbeck was the team's leader on Sunday. Hasselbeck will miss a couple weeks because of the sprained knee and Seneca Wallace will be the team's starting QB. Wallace didn't look good on Sunday, but if he's available in your league, grab him because Seattle will play Kansas City, Oakland, and St. Louis the next three weeks.

Matt Leinart- Coming off his huge game against Chicago, Leinart was supposed to tear up the pathetic Oakland defense. Right? Wrong. Several owners around the country were banking on Leinart to fill the bye week void and were very upset by Leinart's 203 yards 0 TD 2 INT performance. While he may not show it every week, Leinart is in fact still a rookie and will have games like these from time to time.

Edgerrin James- Coming off a horrible game against Chicago, James was supposed to break out and tear up the pathetic Oakland defense. Right? Wrong. This performance showed that Edge is done in fantasy. He may in fact break out one day, but with poor play from week to week, it's time to stop guessing is this week and move on.

Greg Jennings- The budding star WR left Sunday's game with injury, and there is no word on his status for week 8. The Packers did not seem affected by his loss, but he'll only be out for a game or two most likely. It seems like every week has become a question of, which WR will Favre lose now?

Ahman Green- In his first game back from injury, Green looked like he had regained his old form rushing for 118 yards on 18 carries and a TD. Green lost 9 carries to his backups, so running back by committee is far from realistic. Green Bay has a very easy schedule coming up, and if he stays healthy, Ahman Green is an every week start.

COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

There's about an hour till kickoff, and here are the headlines around the NFL.

Donte' Stallworth did not make the trip to Tampa Bay and obviously will not play on Sunday.

Byron Leftwich is active for this Sunday's game against Houston, and it was just announced by the team he will start on Sunday. Get him in your lineup immediately, he should have a good day. Beware though because he may not be able to play the whole game if he's feeling it.

ESPN's Chris Mortenson reports that it may not be long before Jay Cutler is starting in Denver. He could play if Jake Plummer struggles today, and Coach Shanahan said that if Plummer can't beat Indianapolis and Pittsburgh the following two weeks, a change could be made.

Laveranues Coles has avoided the inactive list again, and he will start against Detroit today. Get him in your lineup.

The word is: He plays. If you read this every week, you know I'm talking about Brian Westbrook. He should have an average day against the Tampa defense.

Samkon Gado, not Wali Lundy, is the starter for the Texans today at RB. If you're desperate for a RB, go grab him. This makes it official that you can drop Ron Dayne.

NEWS & NOTES

Byron Leftwich is questionable this week after hurting the same ankle he broke last season. It'd be wise to pick up David Garrad because Leftwich will most likely be a game-time decision and playing either QB against Houston would be smart.

Another Jaguar on the mend is WR Matt Jones. He will be out again this week as he is still recovering from his hamstring injury. He may be back next week.

A weekly member of News & Notes, Brian Westbrook missed a portion of practice again this week, but after practicing on Friday, he's apparently ready to start on Sunday.

Backup Bengals RB Chris Perry has been removed for the Physically Unable to Perform list and will be back on the field this Sunday. He should steal some touches from Rudi Johnson each week from this point on.

Ahman Green, who was questionable all week, was upgraded to probable in the team's injury report. He's likely to play, but will probably lose touches to his capable backup RBs.

Seahawks TE Jerramy Stevens will make his first appearance of the year on Sunday after hurting his knee in the offseason. He's still not a fantasy starter, but if you're getting killed by the bye weeks, you could play him on Sunday.

It appears that Mark Brunell's days as Redskins QB could be numbered as some Redskins officials have said a switch to Jason Campbell at QB could happen sooner than expected.

After practicing for an increased amount this week, Donte' Stallworth is expected to be back in the lineup for the first time since week 4. He should be started in all leagues if he truly is healthy.

After his brutal week 1 injury, Trent Green has been cleared to practice by doctors. He will most likely be back in the lineup for their week 9 game against St. Louis.

Colts kicker Adam Viniteiri will be kicking field goals for the first time in a month on Sunday.

DAUNTING DECISIONS

Lately I've had a poor track record with my start recommendations. While my sits were good calls, I'm looking to get everything on the right page this week. That being said I'm calling these picks locks this week.

Matt Leonard- There are two promising things that suggest to start him. The first is that Leonard did not look like a rookie at all Monday night against Chicago, as he did to them what no other quarterback could. The second is that the poor Oakland defense literally shutdown Jake plainer last, so it would seem a bit unlikely that a defense with so many holes could put up back to back solid performances. Leonard should throw multiple TDs in this high scoring affair.

Deshaun Foster- Lately RBs have been tearing up the Cincinnati defense. Foster will be the latest to continue this trend as he will top 100 yards and score this week. Since the loss of DeAngelo Williams, Foster has been at his best. He should once again get all the carries and be a focal point in the offense.

Santana Moss- The star WR busted out against Jacksonville in week 4 but has been relatively quiet since. Over the past few years, the Redskins seem to only play well when Moss plays well. The Redskins will give the Colts a surprisingly close game, and Moss will be one of the main reasons.

Warrick Dunn- He's the type of running back who racks up yards, but doesn't get touchdowns. Against Pittsburgh this week, he will get neither. The Steelers have bottled up elite RBs Tomlinson and LJ the last few weeks. Dunn has speed but not the strength to have a good day.

Caddillac Williams- Things have been improving for the struggling second year RB, but don't let that fool you into starting him. An angry Philadelphia defense has shut down the run for the majority of the year and will continue the trend this week in Tampa Bay. There are much better options at RB out there.

Julius Jones- The former Notre Dame RB has played well so far this season, but Parcells would love to lessen his load by giving more carries to Marion Barber III. Another negative for him this week is that the Giants defense has been improving by the week, and they usually do a good job against Jones.

STOCK TIPS: BUY LOW/SELL HIGH

There's most likely just one more month in your league before the trade deadline. If your team is generally solid, it still would be wise to add some depth because of injuries. Those who are not so fortunate probably are looking for one trade to put your team over the hump. Regardless, don't ever be content with your team because you can always get better.

BUY LOW

Ronnie Brown- It's really a tough situation for Brown owners. Most likely they are happy about Brown's best performance of the season, but they would still be willing to move him because of his lack of overall production this season. You could not get Brown dirt cheap, but he has a weak schedule ahead of him, and if you can get him, he'll be a very good RB 2 for your team.

Hines Ward- His early season struggles were a direct connection to that of Ben Roethlisberger's. Big Ben will eventually get back to his normal production this season, and once he does Ward will regain his top 20 WR form.

Edgerrin James- Last week was rock bottom for Edge. There's no way it could get worse. There's a chance you could acquire James for a backup RB, and I highly recommend you do. If you're not giving up much at all, there's no risk in adding him to your bench. He has several poor defense left on his schedule, and if he turns things around, you look like a genius.

Rex Grossman- A lot of Sexy Rexy owners will panic this week after one of the worst QB performances ever. The Bears play the Giants and Patriots in their final ten weeks. That's the extent of their tough games. Grossman should be a solid fantasy QB for the rest of the year, and if you can get hi, he's definitely worth it.

SELL HIGH

Kevin Jones- I'm going to give it to you straight here: Kevin Jones isn't good. How quickly we forget his 10 carry 8 yard performance after he topped 100 yards last week for the first time in a year. If that doesn't convince you, this will; Kevin Jones faces the Bears in week 16 which is the common fantasy football finals for most leagues. Try to find some one who doesn't know these things and get a more reliable RB for him.

Travis Henry- Congratulations, if you started Henry the last two weeks. Now trade him and get all you can. He plays Houston next week, so if you want to get his value at an all-time high, you should wait one more week. Then the Titans play six solid defenses in the final nine weeks. Also during this time, the Titans will try to get LenDale White carries.

FANTASY MD

Larry Fitzgerald- It appears that Fitzgerald will not play again this week. This is a big loss for fantasy owners because Arizona is going up against the weak Oakland defense. Bryant Johnson would be a fine replacement for him this week.

DeAngelo Williams- The promising young RB from Memphis will miss a month with his ankle injury. Deshaun Foster has become an every week RB 2 start because of the injury to his future replacement. The last thing Carolina needs is another injury prone RB on their roster, so hopefully Williams can stay healthy for the rest of his career.

Ahman Green- The often injured RB practiced on Monday following the Packers bye week. He apparently looked good in practice so barring injury, he should be all systems go on Sunday versus Miami. He should still lose some carries though to Noah Herron and Vernand Morency.

Shaun Alexander- Coach Holmgrem said that his MVP running back will miss another two weeks with his foot injury. He should be back in perfect time for fantasy owners: week 9 against Oakland. Maurice Morris will continue to carry the ball until then.

Steve McNair- The Ravens survived a scare after McNair was removed from the game with a concussion. Brian Billick says that following the team's bye this week, McNair should be their starting QB. Boller played decent in relief, but the Ravens feel much more comfortable with Air McNair behind center.

Trent Green- Once again Trent Green will not play this week for the Chiefs. He's most likely a week away from actually practicing. A realistic projection for him to start again would be week 9 @ St. Louis.

Curtis Martin- Here's a name you haven't heard in weeks. Martin was eligible to come off the Physically Unable to Perform list this week, but he will probably remain on there for a minimum of two more weeks. He can't be counted on for any sort of production at this point his career.

Donte' Stallworth- After missing the last couple of weeks due to injury, Stallworth's status is up in the air again. It appears unlikely that he will play this week, and the following game will be his return. However, just like you did with Brian Westbrook, search the inactives on Sunday just to be sure.

Matt Jones- The second year WR from Arkansas is doubtful this week following the Jaguars bye week. I'd like to take this moment to propose the ESPN Magazine Outakes with Dan Patrick curse. The last four issues have interviewed the following athletes: Scott Kazmir, Johan Santana, Nick Swisher, and Matt Jones. Kazmir and Jones were both hurt, and Santana was swept out of the playoffs by Swisher, who was then swept by the Tigers.

MONDAY NIGHT RECAP: BEARLY WINNING

It was a scene quite uncommon to the Arizona faithful. A Monday night game in their own stadium was a memory far in the past, but they were ready and so were the Cardinals. It was a sneak attack, a blitzkrieg, total shock. Before you could blink, Arizona had a 20-3 lead against the undefeated Bears. They put so much pressure on the Bears offense that Rex Grossman looked like Kyle Orton, and the Cardinals looked like the Bears. Matt Leinart was a hero. Dennis Green was off the hot seat. The Arizona Cardinals were different than they had ever been before.

It was a sight all to familiar for Cardinals fans. As the ball their beloved kicker Neil Rackers kicked fell just right of the goal post hearts sank and normality crept in. These were the Arizona Cardinals we all knew. How could a team create six turnovers and still lose? How could a team not allow an offensive touchdown and still lose? How could a team get up by fourteen points for the second week in a row and still lose? The Cardinals had all the answers. No one felt safe in that stadium even with such a large lead. They knew the game was over well before that kick by Rackers. As Devin Hester tiptoed into the endzone following his dazzling punt return, the bright future turned into familiar disappointment. New stadium, new quarterback, same Cardinals.

Rex Grossman- This was one of the worst quarterback performances I had ever seen in my life. Grossman appeared like he was trying to throw incomplete passes on every throw. He finished with four interception and two fumbles, but the Cardinals also dropped two would be interceptions in the first quarter. When he wasn't turning it over, he was throwing it fifty feet over his receivers' heads. This obviously will not happen every week, but it is a wake up call saying that Grossman isn't the next star QB in the league.

Bernard Berrian- The surprising WR ran some very impressive routes on Monday. He seems to be one of the fastest players in football, always being a step ahead of the defense. If Grossman was even semi-accurate, Berrian would have finished with a touchdown or two.

Matt Leinart- The most impressive offensive player on the field was the Cardinals rookie QB. He did to a Bears defense what no one else has done since Jake Delhomme in the NFC Divisional Playoffs last year. The Bears seemed like they were confused the entire first half, but part of this had to do with Arizona's great field position. Leinart also showed the poise to lead his team to the potential game winning field goal. Leinart is going to be a star in this league, and he is already a good fantasy QB that is worth starting.

Edgerrin James- The only player that was as pathetic as Grossman was Edge. The Cardinals run blocking is horrific, and it has really killed Edge's success. Yesterday he had 36 carries for 55 yards. That is the most carries ever for some one who averaged less than two yards a carry in a game. Edge is a talented RB but his success in Indianapolis was clearly a result of a great offensive line and playing with Peyton Manning. Edge can not be counted on in fantasy football until a dramatic improvement is shown.

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

Laveranues Coles- For most of the week it was uncertain if he would play or not, but Coles decided to play despite his calf injury. It was a great decision for the Jets and his fantasy owners. He had 5 catches for 106 yards and 2 TDs. It seemed at times as though no one was covering Coles during the game. He's having a superb bounceback season, and is on pace to easily break 1000 yards with 7-8 TDs.

Leon Washington/Kevan Barlow- Washinton looked good as the Jets starter totaling 11 carries for 58 yards. His competition Barlow had a decent 45 yards on 13 carries. Since neither RB separated themselves, they should continue to split carries. Barlow would appear likely to lose carries if Curtis Martin came back, as Washington is the clear RB of the future.

Joey Harrington- As a result of an inconsistent running game and playing from behind, Harrington has put up decent yardage in his two starts, but his 1 TD to 4 INT start is not promising. The bottom line is he's not a very good option for any team at QB. The Dolphins appear dead and a huge disappointment. He starts against Green Bay next week, and if you're desperate, he should get a TD or two.

Ronnie Brown- With his performances up until this week, it's hard to distinguish this as a breakout for Brown or just playing a poor Jets run defense. I'll take the chances that he's turning the corner, and it'd be smart to try to get him. After his 127 yard 1 TD performance, he will take on Green Bay which is another very favorable matchup.

Carson Palmer- The main reason Carson Palmer is not putting up monster numbers again this season is not his knee but instead his struggling offensive line. His best tackle, Levi Jones, is now out for a few weeks. Palmer has been sacked almost three times as much this season as last season, and if the Bengals can't get their line back to their old form, he will be a huge disappointment.

Chad Johnson- We're still waiting for that Chad Johnson breakout. He had a decent day on Sunday with 6 catches for 99 yards, but it appears he's clearly frustrated. Eventually, he will find the endzone again, and I'm sure he has a special celebration saved for us. From Carson to Chad to Chris Henry, some of the Bengals offensive stars have fell far short of their expectations.
Steve McNair/Kyle Boller- The biggest injury of week 6 was Steve McNair's concussion. It does appear that following their bye this week, he will be back on the field in week 8. Everyone seemed to make a huge deal that Boller was back and performed well, but he's nothing more than a decent backup in this league. Don't waste a roster spot on him.

Jamal Lewis/Mike Anderson/Musa Smith- The Ravens running game is a mess so let me give you everyone's breakdown from Sunday. Lewis had 9 carries for 41 yards. Anderson had 6 carries for 7 yards. Smith had 1 carry for 5 yards. Obviously neither RB separated themselves, but it was result of Baltimore passing for most of the game. It's likely that all three RBs will be rotated for the rest of the season.

Ben Roethlisberger- The old Big Ben was back going a Pittsburgh like 16 for 19 with 238 yards and 2 TDs. It was a very solid bounce back game, but nothing to go crazy about. Big Ben will have to continue to do this to be an option as a starting fantasy QB. The Steelers will most likely run the ball more in the upcoming weeks to take the pressure off Big Ben too.

David Carr- The former number one pick had his first poor performance of the year with only 128 yards and 2 INTs. This reminded us all that Carr is not yet at the level of other number one picks in the league. He still can be used as a fantasy backup, but he's probably played his best football this year. Lately, it seems that only Houston can make poor choices with the number one pick.

Ron Dayne/Samkon Gado- Neither RB should really ever start in a fantasy league, but if you had to, Dayne once again looked like the feature back. Dayne had 10 carries compared to Gado's 4 and 14 yards compared to Gado's 5. The Texans offense was a mess on Sunday, and if they can't establish a running game this season, it will be a mess all season.

Vince Young- It was really stunning that the Titans were able to go into Washington and win on Sunday. He has his best day of the season going 13 for 25 with 161 yards and a TD. The improvement is gradual, but by the end of the year he should be accustomed to the NFL. Next year could be a breakout year for the former Texas QB.

Travis Henry- With LenDale White not there to steal carries from him, Henry once again had a huge performance. He had 32 carries for 178 yards and a TD. It was really a huge showing from a promising RB who appears finally healthy. He seems to be a good RB 2 option for the rest of the year, however it'll be interesting to see how many carries a game White will take from him.

Jake Plummer- You can officially cut your ties with Plummer after his performance on Sunday night. All signs pointed for a breakout as Plummer was going against Oakland, but Denver was committed to the run, and when he did pass he was no effective. He finished with 102 passing yards and no TDs. If he's not going to throw a TD against Oakland, who will he throw one against.

Randy Moss- Sunday night was a promising game for Randy Moss. Going up against a tough Denver secondary he was able to have 5 catches for 86 yards. Andrew Walter looks for him more than Aaron Brooks did, and with a matchup against Arizona next week, I'm going to be the one to guarantee a TD and 100 plus yards.

Larry Johnson- Although Johnson had the worst day of his pro career with just 32 total yards, it's nothing to be ashamed of because the Steelers defense did the same to LaDainian Tomlinson just a week ago. Putting that fact aside, it has been a season fall short of expectations for LJ. He will get nowhere near what he had last season, but he should still be a solid RB 1 for the rest of the year.

LaDainian Tomlinson- The screams of joy you heard across the country came from Tomlinson owners. Four touchdowns is a rare feat in fantasy so savor it up. Tomlinson and McNabb are this season's fantasy MVPs so far. He's one of the few players I'd advise never trading no matter what the deal is.

Phillip Rivers- The happiest person on world is Antonio Gates who scored another touchdown on Sunday while watching his young QB show off his skills. Rivers had by far his best day as a pro going 29 for 39 with 334 yards and two TDs. San Diego has a very easy schedule in front of them, so it would not be such a crazy idea to begin starting Rivers in your fantasy league. If Rivers keeps this up, San Diego could be the AFC Super Bowl favorite.

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

I apologize for not posting on Sunday, October 15th. The internet was down and it was impossible to update the blog.

Tiki Barber- We saw another one of those huge rushing days for Tiki that we have become so accustomed to the last few seasons. It was very promising to see Tiki have 185 yards rushing against a very good Atlanta defense. It's very discouraging to owners that he does not have a TD this year, but he should finish with about 5 or 6, which means a strong second half.

Jeremy Shockey- This was a very unexpected performance for one of the league's best TEs. Shockey had the slowest start of his career and came into the game with several nagging injuries. Despite all this, he was able to have his first multi-TD game of his career. As long as he's healthy, he's always a must start.

Terrell Owens- This will probably be the quietest and happiest week in Dallas all year. With three TDs on Sunday, Owens officially broke out. He had only five catches for 45 yards, but three of them were TDs. This can't be expected every week because he's not playing Houston every week, but it appears like he may be at the start of a nice groove.

Reggie Brown- Speaking of Owens, his old teammate also busted out on Sunday. Reggie Brown, who was supposed to be the big play WR before Stallworth came, is finding that role again. He finished the game yesterday with 121 receiving yards and 2 total TDs. The Eagles clearly love throwing the ball, and he is becoming a WR 1 with production like this.

Kevin Jones- After having a very disappointing sophomore season, Jones is having a very solid bounce back year. He topped 100 for the first time all year yesterday and also scored a TD. Against a good defense, Jones will surely struggle, but if you rotate him in versus good matchups, he won't disappoint you.

Roy Williams- Another Lion who had a big game on Sunday was their star WR. He showed no ill effects from his neck injury as he totaled 10 catches for 161 yards and a TD. He claims he was only 75%, and if this is true, his owners can't wait till 100%. The Lions were 1/3 on 1st round WRs, and Roy has become a top 10 WR in the NFL.

Drew Brees- Lost in the addition of Reggie Bush is how important the addition of Drew Brees has been to the Saints. In six weeks he has 8 TDs and 3 INTs, while also having a terrific completion percentage. He performed well again on Sunday and finally established a rhythm with Joe Horn. The Saints face some tougher defenses coming up, but Brees should still be a solid starting QB. Watching Scott Rolen tail off at the end of the season could be a concern for Drew Brees owners because Role and Brees had similar shoulder injuries. If you can get good value for him do it, but don't push it.

Bruce Gradkowski- Numbers wise, it was not a too impressive game for the Bucs rookie QB. He finished just 25 for 44 with 184 yards, two TDs, and 1 INT. However, his leadership to lead the Bucs down field for the win was important to see. He doesn't appear to be a rookie the way he plays. He's far smarter than most rookies and shows a lot of poise. In fantasy terms, he's an average backup QB, but it appears he may push Chris Simms out of Tampa Bay.

Steve Smith- Wow. Smith declared before the game he was 100% for the first time all year and then tore apart the feared Ravens defense. He finished with 189 yards and a TD. If he can do this against Baltimore, imagine what he'll do against far inferior defenses. Smith and Torry Holt appear to be the league's best wideouts.

Jake Delhomme- Out of everyone on Carolina, Delhomme is the happiest to see that Steve Smith has returned. Delhomme threw an interception for the first time since week one, but his career high 365 yards overshadowed this fact. Delhomme should regain the status everyone projected as the season progresses. If you stuck with him, congratulate yourself.

Michael Vick- The offensive line gave their QB no time to throw all day, which resulted in a very lackluster performance from Vick. He should have had a much better day as Michael Jenkins and Roddy White both dropped would be touchdowns. The Giants defense had a great gameplan against Vick and Pittsburgh should follow their scheme. Vick is too inconsistent to be an every week start.

Marc Bulger- Everyone doubted Bulger after injuries and the departure of Mike Martz, but Bulger has really thrived under the offense of Scott Linehan. Bulger has ascended to a top 5 QB in fantasy. His schedule becomes harder the rest of the way, but there's no reason to believe that he won't finish with a career year.

Torry Holt- The Rams WR has exploded this year under Linehan and become the best WR in fantasy football. With three more touchdowns on Sunday, Holt has 7 though 6 weeks. His touchdown pace will most likely slow down, but the Rams looks like a pass first offense again which only bodes well for Holt's numbers. His catches yesterday were some of the most impressive in recent memory.

Alex Smith- One of the more surprising stories this season has been the terrific play of second year QB Alex Smith. It seems to be going relatively unnoticed, but Smith has been deadly accurate while throwing for eight touchdowns compared to four interceptions. After a horrible rookie season it appeared the Niners had made a mistake, but Smith and his small hands are off to a great start in a surprisingly high scoring Niners offense.

Matt Hasselbeck- With virtually no running game, Matt Hasselbeck was able to tear apart the Rams defense for 268 yards and three TDs. He doesn't even have all his weapons with Jeremy Stevens and Shaun Alexander out, but Hasselbeck looked dominant on Sunday. I projected that he would turn things around, and this is the beginning of a great rest of the season.

Deion Branch- The newly acquired WR had his first great performance of the year with 76 yards and two TDs. It appears that him and Hasselbeck are very comfortable with each other, and he should be productive for the rest of the season. With so many option on offense, he may not get yards or TDs every week though.

Maurice Morris- People have been high on Morris for some time now, but when given the chance to start he has not performed. He had 23 carries for 74 yards and a key fumble. The Seahawks don't seem very comfortable with him, and he's a better backup than he is a starter in this league.

NEWS & NOTES

Laveranues Coles is dealing with a hand injury in addition to his injured calf. He's currently listed as questionable for Sunday against Miami, but should still play. He's a risky start but should be adequate.

Larry Johnson completed another successful practice on Friday, and he will start this week coming off his neck injury.

Brian Westbrook did his usual annoying habit of not practicing on Friday. With Donte' Stallworth already out, the Eagles can't afford to not have Westbrook. Expect him to play, but keep a close watch on him.

Struggling second year WR Mark Clayton was added to the injury report as questionable with a neck injury. The Ravens have trouble getting him the ball, so you probably should not play him this week. Their TE Todd Heap was upgraded to probable, ending a long streak of game-time decisions.

Jeremy Shockey practiced all week for the Giants, and he is probable for their game against the Falcons. He has been quiet all season, and probably will stay that way since he is banged up and going against a tough defense.

After missing two practices for undetermined reasons, Roy Williams was back on Friday. He seems to be recovered from his neck injury, but it'd still be smart to make sure he's playing this Sunday.

Bobby Engram will not play this week for the Seahawks due to injury. Their TE, Jeremy Stevens will be back, and Deion Branch will start in Branch's place. Both players should see increased looks this week.

After coming off an impressive game, it appears that LenDale White will miss Sunday's game after not practicing because of the flu. Travis Henry should get all the carries, and this makes him a much safer play.

Drew Bennett looks like he will be back this week after suffering his ankle injury. The Titans passing game is very erratic now, so don't expect much from Bennett.

DAUNTING DECISIONS

For the first time in several years there will be six teams with byes this week. This is a reason why week six is one of the toughest weeks for fantasy owners. You will probably be playing players that you won't play for the rest of the year. It's important to know what matchups are favorable and what aren't before you set your lineup for this week.

Jake Plummer- The Snake has put up okay performances the last few weeks, but is yet to regain the form he had in 2005. This week he goes against a Raiders defense that has not been impressive so far this season. This should be a breakout game for Plummer, and could be one of his best performances all season.

Alge Crumpler- One of many disappointing TE's this year has been the Falcons' Crumpler. He has dropped an usual amount of passes this season, but still remains Vick's go-to guy in the passing game. The Giants have had some trouble covering the TE and Crumpler has burned them in the past. He should have good week against New York.

Bernard Berrian- I'm not going to be one of those guys who's going to claim that Berrian is the next great WR in the NFL because the truth is that he's not. However, this week he goes against a weak Arizona pass defense. Berrian is still unowned in many leagues, so he's a great plug and play this week.

Plaxico Burress- The Falcons are yet to allow a passing touchdown on defense this season so it may be a tough week for Giants' WRs. Plaxico will go up against one of the top three cornerbacks in the NFL, DeAngelo Hall. Burress will probably not find the endzone and be relatively ineffective on Sunday.

Frank Gore- The newest stud RB has racked up yards in games against lesser defenses, but in his one matchup versus a good run defense, Philadelphia, he was ineffective rushing for 52 yards on 16 carries. San Diego is the best rush defense he has faced all year and Gore should struggle. If you have other options at RB, definitely use them.

Keyshawn Johnson- After coming to Carolina this offseason, Keyshawn has benefited greatly from being Steve Smith's compliment WR. This week, though, Carolina is facing one of the few defenses in Baltimore that can double team Steve Smith and still have capable people to cover Keyshawn. It should be a quiet day from a talkative receiver.

STOCK TIPS: BUY LOW/SELL HIGH

Well, we've gone approximately one third through the fantasy season, and there is probably a lot of over reaction in your league. Yes, you've started a poor 1-4, but with eight to nine weeks left in your fantasy regular season, you have plenty of time to make up that ground. If you want to make that move up in the standings, it's very important that you are able to assess which players will help your team for the rest of the year, and which players' value has already peaked.

BUY LOW

Marvin Harrison/Reggie Wayne- While they are both putting up good yardage this season, both Colts' WRs have just a TD each. That probably isn't sitting well with fantasy owners who expect them to have close to 10 each. The Colts have a bye this week, so their lack of production will seem even longer to owners. Try to grab either if you can, because the Colts running game still is not good, and Peyton will pass as much as ever.

LaDainian Tomlinson- LT's value is never actually low, but you could get him now giving up less than you ever will be able to. Tomlinson has come off two poor performances against Baltimore and Pittsburgh. He also lost carries to Michael Turner in both these games. However, he has a very easy schedule ahead of him, and if you can get him, he'll be a stud the rest of the way.

Matt Hasselbeck- Both Super Bowl quarterbacks have gotten off to poor starts this year, but it appears like Hasselbeck is much more likely to turn things around. One main reason is that all of Hasselbeck's weapons are getting healthy, including TE Jeremy Stevens, and he's been able to practice with Deion Branch for a few weeks now. Their offense should also be performing at its best because they have a ridiculously easy schedule ahead of them.

SELL HIGH

Marc Bulger- One of the most surprising starts in football has been that of Rams QB Marc Bulger. He's yet to throw an interception this season, and he's put up multiple touchdowns games the last few weeks. His schedule does get increasingly difficult now though, and since it is Marc Bulger, it's very likely his numbers will start to balance out to his career averages.

Keyshawn Johnson- The Panthers second WR is off to a hot start, but it appears that this may be his best stretch all season. The healthier Steve Smith gets, the less touches Keyshawn will see. Johnson is an aging WR who will be unlikely to stay healthy all season. He should be a decent WR 3 in your league, but since he is putting up WR 1 numbers right now, you'd be wise to see what you can get for him.

Maurice Jones-Drew- The Jaguars RB will eventually be a star in this league it seems like, but as long as Fred Taylor's around he'll be a hit or miss every week. Against Indy and the Jets this year he combined for 26 carries, 162 yards and three TDs. In all his other games combined, he has 7 carries for 15 yards and 1 TD. It'd be very wise to trade him after a big game since there's no guarantee he'll do it weekly. However, with an oft injured Fred Taylor ahead of him, make sure you are getting a great deal for Jones-Drew because he is an injury away from starting.

THE INJURY REPORT

DeAngelo Williams- The promising rookie RB for Carolina will miss at least this week for the Panthers. For as long as Williams is out, Deshaun Foster will be a great option for all fantasy owners.

Roy Williams- The star Lions is listed as doubtful for his week 6 matchup against Buffalo. He may be able to play the week after, but he'll probably be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. IF you're looking for a replacement in his absence, Az-Zahir Hakim should start in his place.

Ahman Green- After missing back-to-back games for the Packers, Green sat out practice again on Tuesday. The Packers have a bye this week, so Green should have plenty of time to get healthy. He'll most likely get the start when they play in week 7.

Shaun Alexander- The reigning MVP will be out again this Sunday with his cracked foot. All indications are that he will be back in week 7 though. Maurice Morris will start for him this week, and he is a very solid start going against a Rams defense that gave up 100 yards to Noah Herron last week.

Marty Booker- The Dolphins #2 WR will miss two weeks with a pectoral injury. That means it's top for one of my favorite players, Wes Welker, to jump into a starting role. He's been very productive so far this season, and Welker has even kicked before in an NFL game. Grab him if you need a WR.

Jeremy Shockey- The Giants TE is still listed as day-to-day in the injury report. Shockey is clearly hurt and far from 100%. He really needs a week off to recover from all his injuries, and don't be surprised if he gets it.

Larry Johnson- Despite being on the receiving end of a vicious facemask on Sunday and having to come off the field, it appears that Larry Johnson will play this week for the Chiefs. For all of you who picked up Dee Brown, it's okay you can drop him now.

Larry Fitzgerald- The receiver on the verge of stardom seems like he will be sidelined somewhere in the range of 2-5 weeks. If you're looking for a replacement for him, Bryant Johnson should assume his starting role. Johnson played well after Fitzgerlad went down on Sunday, and should put up decent numbers with Anquan Boldin now most likely to see double teams.

MONDAY NIGHT RECAP: MILE HIGH SALUTE

The Ravens came into Denver sporting one of the league's three undefeated records. For years the Ravens defense has been called top 3 in the league, if not the best. During that same time period Denver has always had a very strong but underrated defense. Denver was looking to prove that they deserved to have their defense in the same class as Baltimore, while the Ravens were out to show that although they had a soft schedule to this point, that they were for real.

The game opened up with defense, and it was a theme that never disappeared. Jake Plummer, who has more critics than about any other quarterback in the league, threw an interception early in the game, however Baltimore struggled to turn the turnovers into touchdowns. At the end of the first quarter Baltimore was completely dominating the game as they held Denver to a mere 9 yards of total offense. For the rest of the game, Denver stepped up their play and their relentless defense shined. The turning point of the contest was a third down for Baltimore at the Broncos four yard line in a 3-3 game with about one minute remaining in the first half. McNair threw a jump ball to the back of the endzone that was intercepted by Champ Bailey. Denver never looked back and cruised in the second half to a 13-3 victory. With a dominant second half performance by Al Wilson and crew, the Broncos, who have allowed one touchdown all season, showed that they had the best defense in the AFC.

Jake Plummer- The Broncos QB was off to another poor start and was getting booed early by the fans. However, Plummer turned it around for a very impressive second half, connecting with Rod Smith for the game's only touchdown. Plummer's numbers seem like they will only get better, and Jay Cutler should remain on the bench for the remainder of the season. Plummer has an excellent matchup against Oakland next Sunday night.

Tatum Bell- The running back got off to a horrible start fumbling a check down pass on one of his first touches of the game. After the first quarter, Bell tore up the tough Ravens defense finishing with 19 carries for 92 yards. Bell is one of the few players that can score on any touch. Even better news for Tatum Bell owners was that his counterpart Mike Bell did not get one carry. It seems like barring injury, Tatum will start all season.

Steve McNair- As said before, McNair was facing a very tough defense, but he did not look good all game. He tried to force passes to his wide receivers and never established a good rhythm. He was unlucky to have three interceptions because several of his passes were tipped, but he's still not a fantasy starting quarterback. He's a step up from Kyle Boller and good fit for the offense, but he probably is far removed from his days of big stats.

Derrick Mason- We're still waiting for that breakout game from one of the league's most consistent WRs. McNair and Mason have great chemistry, but Mason is still just putting up stats that an average WR would accumulate. Eventually Mason will get in the endzone, but don't expect more than 1100 yards and 4 TDs.

Jamal Lewis- The former 2000 yard rusher is far past his prime as a RB. He seems to be much more tentative and lacks any sort of explosiveness. He's getting rotated a lot with Mike Anderson and Musa Smith and last night was the least productive of the three. Lewis' days as a starting RB seem to be numbered, and one day Musa Smith will be the main man.

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

Joey Harrington/Daunte Culpepper- Joey Harrington wasn't too impressive on Sunday, but he did keep the Dolphins hanging around. Following the performance, Nick Saban said that Joey Harrington would start next Sunday. Neither QBs should be starting in fantasy, and there's really no reason to own the disappointing Culpepper anymore.

Leon Washington- Another rookie who looks impressive is the former Florida State running back. Washington totaled 102 yards on 23 carries. With Kevan Barlow unimpressive so far and Cedric Houston hurt, it would not be surprising to see Washington as the team's starter soon.

Dominic Rhodes/Joseph Addai- Score one for Dominic Rhodes this week. Addai had looked like he was on a fast track to becoming the starter, but this week Rhodes had 110 yards on 25 total touches. Addai finished with 15 touches and 62 yards on the ground. Both RBs were productive against the weak Titans rush defense, and it seems it's a tossup weekly on who will be better.

Maurice Jones-Drew- The Jaguars backup RB continued a very impressive rookie campaign by scoring twice on Sunday. He seems to be the real deal and Fred Taylor's eventual successor. Taylor has been very productive all season, but he always seems to be on the verge of injury, and therefore it's important to own Jones-Drew.

Vince Young- The highly touted rookie QB definitely improved on his first start with a decent performance against Indianapolis. He wasn't asked to do much as the Titans ran the ball basically the whole game, but Young finished going 10 for 21 with 63 yards passing and a rushing TD. By December, he should be much more comfortable, but he's not worthy of a roster spot right now.

Travis Henry/LenDale White- One thing we learned this week was play any RB against the Colts defense. Henry had a great day rushing for 123 yards on 19 carries. LenDale White was also very good rushing 8 times for 48 yards. It seems like this is the state of the Titans running game: Travis Henry will be the starter, LenDale White will get a lot of work and be the starter of the future, and Chris Brown is the odd man out.

Larry Johnson- Just when it seemed like Larry Johnson was on his way back to greatness, a potential injury has made his owners nervous again. Johnson was forced to leave after a dirty face mask by Antrel Rolle gave him a neck injury. It doesn't appear too serious, but he will have an MRI.

Randy Moss- For the second straight week Moss found the endzone. The Raiders offense is extremely inconsistent and Moss is a shaky play as a result. You have to start him because he's Randy Moss, but he's far removed from his top 5 WR form. A change of scenery would be the best scenario for him.

LaDainian Tomlinson- LT could not get anything going against the Steelers defense Sunday night. It was once of his worse games in recent memory. This will be LT's lowest value all season, and if there's anyway you can trade for him, you must do it. He should bounce back nicely against San Francisco. Michael Turner is beginning to steal a few carries, and it's worth watching.

Phillip Rivers/Antonio Gates- Surprisingly, the Chargers still won despite LT's struggles. The main reason for this was the Chargers coaching staff being able to trust Philip Rivers more. Rivers had a good game against a tough defense, and looks like an improving quarterback every week. Luckily for Gates owners, Rivers looked for Gates a lot more, especially in the redzone. Gates caught a TD and had 55 yards, and his value should be on he way up.