Week 12 edition.

By Dalton Del Don

Another fantastic Thursday night game, hopefully all of you have NFL Network. The Jets still don’t have an extremely impressive win on their resume, but this team has improved as the season has progressed, which makes sense with all the new additions. Brett Favre is playing better, but this team is interesting thanks to their play in the trenches on both sides of the ball…Sammy Morris didn’t do much in his first game back, but he’s the favorite for carries in New England’s backfield from here on out. He can’t be unowned in any fantasy league…Jerricho Cotchery has fantastic hands and is one of the more underrated receivers in the league. He needs to get the ball more…What a game from Matt Cassel. He’s making himself an awful lot of money.

I have no clue where that defensive performance came from by the Broncos and on the road no less. All those injuries might be a blessing in disguise. They are a solid start at home against the Raiders this week…Imagine what Jay Cutler’s numbers would look like if his receivers didn’t lead the NFL in drops this season…I still don’t view Peyton Hillis as a worthy fantasy commodity…Matt Ryan didn’t play too poorly Sunday, but that one interception showed he’s still a rookie.

Maybe the most underrated stat in the NFL this year is the Colts allowing just two touchdown passes all season. They have recorded 10 interceptions…As much as it pains me, it sounds like it’s safe to go ahead and drop my boy Matt Schaub. I’ll still recommend him next year, but since he can’t be trusted to stay healthy, he’s definitely a QB2 and nothing more…Joseph Addai made a couple horrible drops Sunday, and yet he still produced a big game. With that upcoming schedule and the offense clicking, Addai may go from biggest bust over the first half of the season to one of the most valuable commodities over the second half of the year.

At times, JaMarcus Russell can look competent. I’d like to see him play with some receivers around him….It’s official, Ted Ginn is not going to be a bust…The Raiders have no offensive touchdowns in 13 quarters. 13! If the rumors are true about Al Davis using more resources to make sure Lane Kiffin doesn’t get the Tennessee job than he is on his own Raiders franchise, the state of affairs is even sadder than I thought in Oaktown.

The Giants currently have the best rushing offense in the history of the NFL. Period. Baltimore’s 29-game streak without allowing a 100-yard rusher has now become a fraud…Derrick Mason is one of those aging vets I wrote off a couple of years ago yet continues to remain relevant…Brandon Jacobs is an absolute beast, but this knee injury seems a little more serious than the Giants are letting on. Remember, he was extremely prone to injury last year. Run, don’t walk to pick up Ahmad Bradshaw if available. He’s easily the No. 1 waiver priority this week.

If Calvin Johnson ever gets even an average quarterback on his side, he’ll immediately become a top-three fantasy receiver. Daunte Culpepper does not qualify…I wouldn’t go overboard praising Julius Peppers. It’s nice he’s back producing, but his numbers need to be placed in context, as he’s padded his stats with five sacks over the last two weeks against Kwame Harris and Detroit…Luckily the Panthers’ running game is playing at an elite level, because Jake Delhomme has been brutal recently…Kevin Smith lacks big play ability, but he looks like a serviceable fantasy back from here on out.

This headline killed me. Anyone who has this Eagles team in the top-5 in their power rankings simply hasn’t watched them play this year. I know I’m beating a dead horse, but Donovan McNabb not knowing that ties existed in the NFL is hilarious. Forget the statement itself, what I found more interesting was his delivery and demeanor, or what about his questioning of what happens in the playoffs? Let’s just say McNabb and Andy Reid were absolutely made for each other. And if I hear the term “kissing your sister” one more time, I’m gonna puke (Puke! That’s a funny word).

Where has that been all season, Ryan Grant? From completely shutting down Tennessee’s running game to allowing 200 rushing yards versus a Green Bay squad that hasn’t been able to run all year – the Bears are a little inconsistent…Once again, this Packers team is dangerous. I’d actually rank them ahead of the Panthers and as the NFC’s second best team right now.

Despite the outcome, I still say taking 4.5 points and KC last week was one of the best bets of the season. Two stops at the goal line were just killer, one of which came on a horrible call by the refs. Call me crazy, but when three feet away from the end zone, why throw the ball 30 yards through the air? Then again, it’s my own fault for not taking the Herm Edwards factor into greater consideration…Whatever, I’m a glutton for continued punishment. Why in the world is Buffalo, who is traveling during a short week, 3-point favorites in Arrowhead this week?…Pierre Thomas is another must-own in fantasy leagues. Deuce McAllister is done, and Reggie Bush is no guarantee to be healthy anytime soon.

How does Adrian Peterson have zero touches on offense in the fourth quarter? Even for the incompetent Brad Childress, that seemed unconscionable…It’s nice that it appears Carnell Williams’ career will continue, but I wouldn’t bother rostering him this season, even with Earnest Graham out for the year.

The Rams have trailed by a combined score of 75-3 at halftime over their last two games…Marc Bulger is officially one of the five worst quarterbacks in the NFL…Mike Singletary has no clue when dealing with the media, but if nothing else, he has San Francisco playing hard…Make sure Antonio Pittman is not available in your league. Little should be expected of Steven Jackson over the rest of the season…Shaun Hill can definitely be used in the right matchup, and he has a few of those coming up during crunch time.

I apologize for my Tim Hightower hype. The Cardinals really don’t run block all that well, and his 3.1 YPC mark can no longer be ignored or blamed on short-yardage usage. I’m not jumping ship, and there’s still plenty of TD potential, but J.J. Arrington’s emergence is worrisome. He’s definitely a bigger threat than Edgerrin James, that’s for sure…Matt Hasselbeck is clearly not right. Avoid at all costs. His post-game interview with the press was really bizarre…Words can’t truly explain just how well Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are playing. I honestly can’t think of a better tandem. Ever.

I still can’t wrap my mind around why Vegas had the Titans as only 3-point favorites against a bad Jacksonville team last week. This Tennessee defense is simply unstoppable in the second half of games…As much as I like him, any Kerry Collins MVP talk is ridiculous to the point of offensive.

What an interception by Troy Polamalu. Unreal…Pittsburgh’s defense has allowed the fewest YPC and YPA this season, which is almost unfathomable. This D deserves far more hype…Sunday’s game went from being the most gut wrenching loss ATS ever for those who backed SD (me), to later being the most gut wrenching loss ATS ever for those who backed Pitt. What an insane turn of events that had nothing to do with the game’s outcome. Just craziness. I left the bar thinking I had lost 17-10 when I saw the ref decline the penalty and throw his hands up and didn’t find out the true final score until later that night. My favorite part of all is ESPN being forced to acknowledge the situation yet only with a wink and nudge. High comedy.

Have you stopped taking Washington seriously yet? I know I have. The Lions have scored more touchdowns (19) this season than the Redskins (18)…Clinton Portis is one tough S.O.B…I know he’s been learning a new system and has played with Tony Romo just one game, but come on, where’s Roy Williams? Detroit ripped off Jerry Jones in that deal…I just love watching Marion Barber run. Dude is a punisher.

I’m no longer upset Cleveland has been scheduled in so many primetime games, because they always bring their A game in the spotlight, leading to entertaining contests like Monday night. Nice to see Brady Quinn acknowledge Braylon Edwards’ existence…Lee Evans owners: Gulp!…Suddenly, my Bills last place prediction looks spot on, which was insane one month ago…It’s safe to say Trent Edwards didn’t have a great first quarter Monday. What’s going on there?…I’m a big Fred Jackson fan, but Marshawn Lynch (finally) impressed against the Browns. He made defenders miss and was hard to bring down. I’ve never seen him play better, and hopefully it’s a sign of things to come.

Excellent Albert Pujols MVP pick voters. The rest of the order wasn’t any good, but I won’t nitpick. Then again, that one was a no-brainer…As for Cliff Lee for Cy Young, I would have voted Roy Halladay, but Lee is plenty deserving and a fine selection. Francisco Rodriguez finishing third is a joke but not worth getting up in arms over. As for Halladay, he allowed fewer base runners, had the superior K:BB ratio and threw 22.2 more innings than Lee. While he had the superior defense behind him, Halladay also faced the second highest opposing batters OPS in major league baseball, whereas Lee ranked 50th, so his schedule was significantly harder.

As for AL MVP, there really wasn’t a good choice this year, but I know there were a few better than Dustin Pedroia. Sure his defense at second base needs to be taken into account, but he finished 18th in OPS in the AL! Kevin Youkilis, Joe Mauer and Grady Sizemore would have all been better picks. Even Halladay or Lee would have been superior. Finally, I know this has been passed all around the Internet, but in case one of you hasn’t seen the world’s greatest MVP ballot, here it is. If this guy is able to keep his voting privileges next season, the system is even more broke than I thought it was.

By Dalton Del Don

Last week I went 8-6, bringing my season total to 75-64-5. My best bet record improved to 7-1-2 when the Titans covered, and most importantly, I’ve moved ahead of Chris Liss in the RotoWire Staff Picks column, which infuriates him to no end. This week, I’m not all that confident – taking way too many favorites. I originally had a Bengals feel, but in the end, Philly is a fraud who can’t hang with the good teams yet cherishes beating up the doormats…I had the hardest time with the Pitt/SD game…Two lines really jump out at me (Chiefs and Titans). Kansas City may be 1-8, but they’ve hardly played like that since Tyler Thigpen took over at quarterback. It’s worrisome how decimated the team is on defense, but they are at home, and the offense is actually good. The Saints are desperate for a win, but this is a soft team that has yet to win a single game on the road this season…I really have no clue what Vegas is thinking when it comes to Tennessee this year. They are undefeated, yet barely favored over a bad Jaguars team? Huh? This line is so bizarre, it screams trap, but the same could be said last week when the Titans laid just a field goal against a Rex Grossman led team, so I’ll once again happily back Tennessee.

Jets +3 at Patriots

Broncos +6.5 at Falcons

Lions +14.5 at Panthers

Bears +4 at Packers

Texans +9 at Colts

Saints -5.5 at Chiefs (best bet)

Raiders +11 at Dolphins

Ravens +7 at Giants

Vikings +3.5 at Buccaneers

Eagles -9 at Bengals

Rams +6.5 at 49ers

Cardinals -3 at Seahawks

Titans -3 at Jaguars

Chargers +5 at Steelers

Cowboys -1 at Redskins

Browns +5 at Bills

By Dalton Del Don

Quarterbacks

1. Kurt Warner
2. Drew Brees
3. Jay Cutler
4. Peyton Manning

5. Tony Romo
6. Matt Ryan
7. Jake Delhomme
8. Donovan McNabb
9. Aaron Rodgers
10. Philip Rivers
11. Ben Roethlisberger
12. Tyler Thigpen

13. Shaun Hill
14. Sage Rosenfels
15. Matt Hasselbeck
16. Trent Edwards
17. Brett Favre
18. Eli Manning
19. Kyle Orton
20. Brady Quinn

Running Backs

1. Frank Gore
2. Brian Westbrook
3. Michael Turner

4. Adrian Peterson
5. Matt Forte
6. Chris Johnson
7. Marion Barber
8. Joseph Addai
9. DeAngelo Williams
10. Ronnie Brown
11. Thomas Jones
12. Tim Hightower
13. Larry Johnson
14. Marshawn Lynch

15. Clinton Portis (check status)
16. Brandon Jacobs
17. LaDainian Tomlinson
18. Steve Slaton
19. Julius Jones
20. Ryan Grant
21. Jamal Lewis
22. Willie Parker (check status)
23. Kevin Smith
24. BenJarvus Green-Ellis
25. Jerious Norwood
26. Maurice Jones-Drew
27. Willis McGahee
28. Justin Fargas
29. Antonio Pittman
30. Peyton Hillis/Tatum Bell

Wide Receivers

1. Steve Smith
2. Roddy White
3. Brandon Marshall
4. Anquan Boldin
5. Larry Fitzgerald
6. Reggie Wayne
7. Andre Johnson

8. Marques Colston
9. Lee Evans
10. Eddie Royal
11. Greg Jennings
12. Calvin Johnson
13. Dwayne Bowe
14. Mark Bradley
15. Antonio Bryant
16. Terrell Owens
17. Plaxico Burress
18. Laveranues Coles
19. Jerricho Cotchery
20. Lance Moore
21. Randy Moss
22. Wes Welker
23. Hines Ward

24. Santana Moss (check status)
25. Kevin Curtis
26. DeSean Jackson
27. Muhsin Muhammad
28. Vincent Jackson
29. Santonio Holmes
30. Bobby Engram
31. Steve Breaston
32. Michael Jenkins
33. Donnie Avery
34. Bernard Berrian
35. T.J. Houshmandzadeh
36. Matt Jones
37. Donald Driver
38. Kevin Walter
39. Deion Branch
40. Jason Hill

Week 11 edition.

By Dalton Del Don

Last Thursday’s Broncos/Browns tilt was easily one of the best games of the season. I don’t care if purists disagree, offense is just more fun. Jay Cutler has the guts of a burglar. It’s true at times he’s a little too Brett Favre in his risks, but he also makes throws that no other current quarterback can. He has an excellent mix of zip yet also the ability to float lobs into the right place. His one pick was Brandon Marshall’s fault, not his…Brady Quinn didn’t play poorly, but the normally spot on Chris Collinsworth was a little hyperbolic in his praise of the young QB. Quinn attempted just one pass that went 15-plus yards through the air, which was incomplete. It’s nice he didn’t make any mistakes, but that Denver D is the worst, and his 6.8 YPA was unimpressive. With this dink and dunk approach, Braylon Edwards’ already low fantasy value might be crushed. Bump up Kellen Winslow, however…Did everyone enjoy the Ryan Torain era as much as me? After excessive hype despite never playing and being just a fifth round draft pick, Torain looked like the second coming of Jim Brown for 20 minutes. Then, his knee bent the wrong way. It’s safe to call the kid talented, yet too injury prone to ever really matter.

Windy conditions didn’t help, but to call Rex Grossman inaccurate would be an understatement. And again, why are teams attacking Cortland Finnegan? His reputation clearly hasn’t caught up to his play yet…Then again, even Vegas and the oddsmakers have been extremely slow to the Titans’ party all season long…It’s crazy how many rookie running backs are having a great season, and none of them are Darren McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, or Rashard Mendenhall.

It’s great that Jacksonville can beat up and bully doormats, but this team is deeply flawed, evidenced by allowing a staggering 11.0 YPA to the Daunte Culpepper/Drew Stanton duo…It’s possible Kevin Smith is a difference maker in fantasy leagues down the stretch…There won’t be a better time to try and trade Maurice Jones-Drew than after last week’s effort.

I’d try to avoid the Baltimore backfield at all costs. That’s a mess from week-to-week…John Harbaugh has done a terrific job replacing that preening schmo Brian Billick and deserves serious Coach of the Year consideration…Sage Rosenfels is capable and can move the ball, but his tendency to turn the ball over is a killer. Hopefully all that silly talk about him being better than Matt Schaub can be put to rest for good now.

Michael Wilbon is an idiot. He said on PTI Tuesday that the Tim Lincecum Cy Young choice was horrible, and he would have him fourth or fifth on his list. He would have voted for Brandon Webb because of his 22 wins. He also had Brad Lidge ahead of Lincecum. Webb wasn’t even the best pitcher on his own team and wouldn’t factor into my top-10. As my blood boils, I’ll try not to let this lunacy ruin a beautiful moment: congrats Lincecum! The voters got something right for once.

The AFC East is really interesting right now, as the Bills continue to fade while the Pats continue to improve. Also, the Jets’ defensive line makes them noteworthy. And it wouldn’t be out of line to call the Dolphins the best team in that division…Go ahead and put this down in ink – bench Lee Evans when he’s facing New England…Bill Belichick is underrated. Seriously, think about all the massive failures who have left New England: Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weiss and to some extent, Eric Mangini. It’s all Belichick.

Marques Colston is back. Consider him a top-10 fantasy wideout from here on out…The Giants absolutely ripped off the Saints in the Jeremy Shockey trade.  I know he’s been hobbled, but what else is new? How is he averaging the fewest yards per catch of his career playing in that offense and with Drew Brees throwing to him? He’s much better at limping and bitching to his own quarterback then he is at playing football…Matt Ryan is a top-5 QB in the NFL RIGHT NOW. If starting a franchise from scratch with every player in the league available, the only person I’d even consider taking ahead of Ryan would be Jay Cutler. Therefore, I view Ryan as the second most valuable commodity in the NFL.

Chad Pennington’s interception returned for a touchdown was atrocious. Up 14-0, ball security should probably be at the forefront, so a late throw across the field to the sideline was uncalled for…I actually like Miami’s squad, but this team is bad when it comes to special teams and tackling. The Wildcat can still be effective, though…The Seattle offense won’t be so dreadful with Matt Hasselbeck returning, but it’s still a situation to mostly avoid in fantasy leagues.

Adrian Peterson is far from a complete back since his hands are so poor, and he’s still a big injury risk, but with the football in his hands, there’s an argument he’s the best running back ever. Currently, he might be the NFL’s best short-yardage runner and breakaway threat – quite a rare combination. And Minnesota’s offensive line hasn’t opened up nearly as many holes as the unit did last season. I’m not a religious man, but in Purple Jesus, I trust…The Vikings’ special teams and coaching are a joke, but they have become a bit more interesting since the defensive line has started to develop a serious pass rush…The refs flat-out blew that first safety call. In fact, once they realized it wasn’t intentional grounding, they termed the penalty an “illegal forward pass.” That’s laughable.

One of my favorite moments Sunday was when the Rams sent out the field goal team to cut the Jets’ third quarter lead to 40-3. A crucial decision indeed…I have no idea what the contract details are, but I’d have a hard time seeing St. Louis not cut, or at least renegotiate, with Marc Bulger this offseason…I won’t be drafting Steven Jackson next year. He’ll still look good enough to have people talking themselves into making him a first round pick, but this guy simply can’t stay healthy. This much we know…You won’t see a weaker QB statline during a 47-3 win than Brett Favre’s last week…Imagine how good this Jets’ defensive line would be if the team hadn’t wasted last year’s sixth pick in the draft.

Jake Delhomme was just brutal Sunday. I would say it was tough to watch, but the game was blacked out in my area thanks to incompetence…The Raiders lost despite having more yards, first downs, takeaways and nearly a 15 minute edge in time of possession…Can’t wait to see what Joey Porter does against Kwame Harris next week…Quietly, DeAngelo Williams is having a very solid year…If starting a franchise, I’d make Nnamdi Asomugha the first defensive player taken. I understand it seems a little crazy since Oakland’s defense is so bad, and for the most part, I’d value guys on the line far more than a defensive back. Elite pass rushers demand double teams, and a guy like Albert Haynesworth definitely deserves consideration since he both stuffs the run and gets to the quarterback. However, there are at least 15 dominant defensive lineman, whereas there isn’t another corner in the league within a mile of Asomugha’s skill set, making him a unique property.  He literally takes away half the field on every single snap.

The Steelers may have given up 24 points last week, but it certainly wasn’t the defense’s fault. The team allowed just 6.0 YPA and 3.3 YPC, but too often a Ben Roethlisberger turnover left them with a short field to defend. Roethlisberger is really struggling right now, and one wonders whether he should sit out until fully healthy…With a playoff schedule featuring the Bengals, Lions and Jaguars, and Marvin Harrison having one foot in the grave, Anthony Gonzalez could be a major factor in fantasy leagues when it matters most…I wouldn’t call Indy’s win a “they’re back” type victory, but with a terrific pass defense and the upside of that passing offense, they still represent a potential threat…I’ve heard more than once how the absence of Willie Parker has hurt Pittsburgh, but that’s erroneous. Very few running situations in the NFL would be greatly impacted by the starter going down (49ers being the best example), and the Steelers certainly aren’t one of them.

Jamaal Charles was looking at a highly productive game Sunday had he not aggravated his ankle injury during his first touch. Now with the backfield so depleted, Kansas City has no choice but to welcome Larry Johnson back with open arms. If he can avoid incarceration, LJ could be a major fantasy factor down the stretch with fresh legs and a suddenly potent Chiefs offense…Like Darren McFadden and his toe injury, Chris Chambers should just sit out until his ankle fully heals. I’m all for toughness, but what good does it do to play at 60 percent and never let the injury truly heal?…Tyler Thigpen is clearly the answer at quarterback for Kansas City. He can play. Mark Bradley possesses serious talent as well. Just like that, the Chiefs have a very intriguing young nucleus…You think LaDainian Tomlinson looks slowed this season, wait until next year. I won’t be recommending him as a top-50 pick in 2009. It may not be Shaun Alexander, 2007, but it could approach that territory.

Any team can win any given week, but last Sunday’s line (Philadelphia -3) in the Eagles/Giants game was the most dumbfounding I’ve seen all year. Really, those two teams are equal? The Eagles are paper tigers. That game wasn’t nearly as close as the final score indicated. Philadelphia shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath as this dominant New York team…I had no idea that rule existed regarding Eli Manning’s near past the line of scrimmage throw. Interesting.

Johnny Drama has somehow transformed from one of my favorite characters to the most loathsome one currently on TV. Seriously, Californication is better than Entourage.

Shaun Hill made some boneheaded decisions Monday night, and his 5.4 YPA mark left a lot to be desired, but he also made some plays as well. He’s fine to start in fantasy leagues this week at home against the Rams…Not sure what happened to Tim Hightower, but I wouldn’t panic. He still seems like a top-15 fantasy back…In Jason Hill and Josh Morgan, San Francisco has some young receivers with upside…Everyone is criticizing the 49ers for the Michael Robinson run to end the game, but I thought their decision to call a run on second down with 20 seconds left and no timeouts was equally as bad. Just a horribly incompetent finish to an otherwise entertaining game.

My new favorite player in the NBA: Rudy Fernandez - “Rudy is not everyday a shooter,” Fernandez said. “He’s defense. He’s passes. He’s assists.” As awesome as that third person quote was, it didn’t bring me as much joy as reading that Edinson Volquez finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year race. And yet, he’s not a rookie! Just fantastic work by the BBWAA all around. That’s almost as good as when Rafael Palmeiro won a Gold Glove for playing 28 games in the field in 1999.

Everyone is killing the Marlins for the Scott Olsen/Josh Willingham trade, and while I agree they should have been able to get more in return, I’m not very high on either of those players’ futures at all. Olsen’s 4.20 ERA last season came with an ugly strikeout rate and a brutal 1.6:1 K:BB ratio. He’s also completely lost his fastball. Good luck sustaining that .266 BABIP. Willingham’s career OPS is .833, so left fielders like him are a dime a dozen. It’s frustrating watching Florida having to make so many decisions based on payroll, but with a staff featuring Ricky Nolasco, Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Andrew Miller and Chris Volstad, they will be contenders for years to come.

When I first heard about the Matt Holliday trade, my instinct was: “What in the hell is Billy Beane thinking?” So, naturally, Michael Wilbon and Rick Reilly go off on PTI about how much of a steal it was for the A’s. We are talking about a corner outfielder with an .803 career OPS outside of Coors Field. He’s improved in recent years away from home, but with Oakland’s payroll and Holliday about to hit free agency, it’s essentially a one-year rental. Still, I’m not big on questioning the brilliant Beane, so here’s my now revised thinking: Greg Smith’s peripherals were way out of whack with his 4.16 ERA, so he’s a nothing. Huston Street is a health risk and isn’t even the best reliever on the A’s. Also, while his component stats are pretty, he has been poor during save situations throughout his career. Carlos Gonzalez, however, is quite interesting. He could be the one true regret Beane let go. However, his horrible strikeout rate and inability to take a walk never really fit with the A’s, and he’ll only be an asset against right-handers. Beane must think either a) he’ll be able to get a better return than he just gave up at the trade deadline, when teams often become far more desperate or b) the A’s are ready to contend, and he’s happy to receive the draft picks with Holliday being a Type A free agent.

By Dalton Del Don

Quarterbacks

1. Kurt Warner
2. Philip Rivers
3. Drew Brees
4. Aaron Rodgers

5. Jay Cutler
6. Eli Manning
7. Donovan McNabb
8. Matt Ryan
9. Brett Favre
10. Chad Pennington
11. Ben Roethlisberger (check status)
12. Peyton Manning

13. Shaun Hill
14. Brady Quinn
15. Jake Delhomme
16. David Garrard
17. Matt Cassel
18. Trent Edwards
19. Sage Rosenfels
20. Tyler Thigpen

Running Backs

1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2. Adrian Peterson
3. Frank Gore
4. Brian Westbrook
5. Michael Turner
6. Tim Hightower
7. Mewelde Moore (if Parker is out)
8. Ronnie Brown

9. Thomas Jones
10. Brandon Jacobs
11. Jamal Lewis
12. Chris Johnson
13. Jamaal Charles
14. Marshawn Lynch
15. Maurice Jones-Drew
16. Steve Slaton
17. Ryan Torain
18. Joseph Addai
19. Ryan Grant
20. Matt Forte

21. Ray Rice (check status)
22. Willis McGahee (check status)
23. Deuce McAllister
24. DeAngelo Williams (bump him way up if Stewart sits)
25. Justin Fargas
26. Kevin Faulk
27. BenJarvus Green-Ellis
28. Kevin Smith
29. LenDale White
30. Jerious Norwood

Wide Receivers

1. Brandon Marshall
2. Larry Fitzgerald
3. Anquan Boldin
4. Roddy White
5. Greg Jennings
6. Steve Smith
7. Andre Johnson

8. Plaxico Burress
9. Reggie Wayne
10. Marques Colston
11. Calvin Johnson
12. Bernard Berrian
13. Braylon Edwards
14. Jerricho Cotchery
15. Laveranues Coles
16. Lee Evans

17. Randy Moss
18. Matt Jones
19. Dwayne Bowe
20. Eddie Royal
21. Vincent Jackson
22. Hines Ward
23. Santonio Holmes
24. Greg Camarillo
25. Lance Moore
26. Chris Chambers
27. Derrick Mason
28. Wes Welker
29. Donald Driver
30. Muhsin Muhammad
31. Kevin Curtis
32. DeSean Jackson
33. Steve Breaston
34. Kevin Walter
35. Sidney Rice

By Dalton Del Don

Last week I went 9-5, bringing my season total to 67-58-5. My best bet, the Steelers, won easily, bringing my total there to 6-1-2. For what it’s worth, the teams I feel the most confident about this week are: the Dolphins, the Packers and the Steelers. As for my best bet, Tennessee is going to lose at some point, and Chicago possesses a legit defense. Also, the public is all over the Titans this week, and they are the dreaded road favorite, making this my least favorite “best bet” so far this season. Still, I just can’t imagine a Rex Grossman-led offense putting up double-digit points against that defense.

Broncos +3 at Browns

Saints +1 at Falcons

Titans -3 (best bet) at Bears

Jaguars -7 at Lions

Seahawks +9.5 at Dolphins

Packers +2.5 at Vikings

Bills +4 at Patriots

Rams +8 at Jets

Ravens -1 at Texans

Panthers -9.5 at Raiders

Colts +2 at Steelers

Chiefs +15.5 at Chargers

Giants +3 at Eagles

49ers +10 at Cardinals

Check out my notes around the league over at NBA.com.

By Dalton Del Don

Trent Edwards has no doubt improved this season, and his peripherals are elite (68.0 completion percentage, 7.8 YPA), but a 6:9 TD:turnover ratio reveals there’s still plenty of work to do…It would be nice if the running game helped, as Marshawn Lynch continues to really disappoint. At least he’s much more involved in the passing game this season…If nothing else, Brett Favre keeps things interesting. He’s not playing very well right now, and as crazy as it sounds, the Jets clearly downgraded going from Chad Pennington to Favre…New York’s defensive line is playing at an extremely high level. Forget trying to run on them, and their 29 sacks rank third in the NFL. Kris Jenkins has been one of the most important acquisitions in the league, and I fear for Marc Bulger’s safety this week.

Words can’t describe just how bad that contract the Jags handed out to Jerry Porter was. How Jacksonville continues to be touchdown favorites while on the road is baffling…Chad Johnson has three scores over the last three weeks, including two last Sunday. Therefore, if you can get any type of return, look into dealing him right now. His 9.4 yards per catch mark is absurd, and he hasn’t topped 57 yards receiving in a game this season. I’d rather Eddie Royal…It’s almost unfathomable Cedric Benson has become Cincinnati’s lone bright spot on offense. Even crazier, teammates have had nothing but good things to say about him…If there were an award that’s opposite of Most Improved Player of the Year, David Garrard would be the winner this year.

I’ve heard criticism of the QB switch in Cleveland, and while I can understand questioning the reasoning during a short week, the opponent is ideal, and there was little reason to stick with Derek Anderson at this point. Just because you made a mistake contractually, doesn’t mean that should affect playing time…That said, I’m not expecting Brady Quinn to be any kind of savior. But might as well get the learning process started and see what the future looks like…It can’t be understated – Braylon Edwards has really, really bad hands…I’m not sure what people see in Willis McGahee, but Ray Rice looks like Baltimore’s future in the backfield. He’s an upgrade.

Just when Matt Schaub is in the midst of justifying my hype, yet another injury occurs. That hit he took was pretty serious, so it’s hard to call him soft, but he clearly can’t be counted on to stay healthy. Make picking up Sage Rosenfels a priority…Because of his activity in the passing game, it appears Steve Slaton is matchup proof. Then again, that theory will be tested once more this week against Baltimore…Adrian Peterson is a perceived disappointment, and his utter lack of receiving ability hurts, but the most talented back in football is on pace to finish with 1,646 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, which isn’t too unacceptable. Check out his playoff schedule.

The Kyle Orton injury was a killer, because with his improvement and that defense, the Bears really were sleepers in the NFC. Now, they get a massive downgrade under center. Rex Grossman is horrific…Daunte Culpepper? Seriously? Detroit needs to find a quarterback of the future in the worst way. There’s a very real chance the Lions go 0-16 this season.

Kansas City may have something in Tyler Thigpen. He’s certainly more interesting than Brodie Croyle ever was. Plus, Thigpen has some serious receiving skills!…Down 24-19, Jon Gruden elected to go for two with 13:36 left, and it nearly cost him the game. I guess coaches really will never learn…I’d make Jamaal Charles my No. 1 waiver priority this week. Larry Johnson may come back Week 11, but there’s an equal chance he gets a longer suspension when/if he is found guilty in his December trial. Charles isn’t built for 25-plus touches, but he can catch passes and is explosive, so he’ll do plenty of damage when on the field. With Thigpen making the offense competent, Charles could make a major impact from here on out.

I’m not sure what happened – is it as simple as coaching changes? But Marc Bulger is just nowhere near the same QB he was two years ago. If not for an extremely lucky 80-yard bomb last week, he would have gotten 3.2 YPA against a beatable Arizona secondary. He’s not even worth a roster spot in most leagues…As a Larry Fitzgerald owner, there isn’t a player in the NFL I’ve cursed more this year than Anquan Boldin. Dude is a touchdown machine…At the season’s halfway point, my MVP ballot currently looks like: 1) Philip Rivers 2) Kurt Warner 3) Drew Brees. It’s really splitting hairs among those three, who have clearly been the league’s most valuable players so far. It’s simply amazing what Warner’s been able to do at age 37. There’s a real chance the Cardinals have a bye during the first week of the playoffs…Right now, Tim Hightower should be treated as a top-15 fantasy back. At minimum.

The Titans have now won eight straight games without a 200-yard passing game. Please let that sink in a minute…All LenDale White does is score goal-line touchdowns or hit 50-plus yarders. Such breakaway speed!…Green Bay is underrated. That’s a dangerous team capable of going deep into the playoffs…Chris Johnson is a very, very good football player. Despite White stealing all those touchdowns, Johnson is currently a top-10 fantasy back, and in dynasty leagues, he’s a top-5 commodity.

That offensive pass interference call negating an 80-yard touchdown to Brandon Marshall was a joke. That isn’t called 99.9 percent of the time. Don’t worry about Marshall, he’ll be just fine. His response to Joey Porter was priceless…The Dolphins are sneaky good. I know I wouldn’t want to face them in the playoffs…It’s Peyton Hillis’ world, and the rest of us are just passing through…Can’t wait to see what Ryan Torain can do. It’s safe to say I’ve never been more excited about someone with three career carries who was drafted in the fifth round…As leader of the Jay Cutler fan club, I’ll be the first to admit his play has really slipped over the past five games. Still, I’m keeping the faith.

After everyone was clamoring for a QB change, it was pretty funny watching Brooks Bollinger’s first pass get picked off. I’m beginning to think Dallas is easier to beat with Tony Romo out of the lineup…Justin Tuck is a bad, bad man. Like linebackers in Pittsburgh, the Giants just breed elite defensive ends…Eli Manning has quietly struggled over the past four games, but it doesn’t matter when the running game is historically good. The team’s current 5.2 YPC mark is higher than any team has ever finished a season with.

The Eagles seem to be the darling of stat heads, often getting ranked as one of the league’s three best teams in power polls. I just don’t see it. They pressure the quarterback well, but too often lofty yardage totals result in too few of points thanks to poor red zone play. Donovan McNabb’s impressive 7.6 YPA mark is accompanied by a modest 20-TD pace. Plus, Andy Reid is a liability on Sundays. Why Vegas views them as equals to the Giants (Philly -3 this weekend) is beyond me…All that said, Brian Westbrook should be treated as the No. 1 fantasy asset from this point forward…Seneca Wallace spiked the ball in the final minute of the second quarter to stop the clock last week. On third down. They punted the very next play.

For the first time in 16 years, a team (the Raiders) had negative yardage at halftime Sunday. John Abraham absolutely abused Kwame Harris in one of the more pathetic offensive displays in recent memory. 10 net passing yards!…Don’t be fooled, this Atlanta team is good. I say they beat the Saints this week…It sounds like the Raiders will release DeAngelo Hall soon, meaning they traded a second round pick and paid $8 million for eight games in which he was consistently torched. I always knew he was overrated, but I at least thought he was above average. Not the case. At least Al Davis was able to admit his mistake, and locking up Nnamdi Asomugha long-term should be a top priority. He might be the most valuable defensive player in the league.

It was sad watching the Colts/Patriots game, which was a far cry from their usual matchup. Both teams are a shell of their former selves, although Peyton Manning played well…Interesting to see Bill Belichick make a couple of questionable calls. Still, it’s impressive how he’s getting that New England team to play…Few players are more overrated (and overpaid) than Dwight Freeney.

The offense has problems mainly because of the line, but Pittsburgh’s defense is Super Bowl level. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, two linebackers, have recorded 19.5 sacks so far this season…Byron Leftwich played well in relief Monday, but I’m skeptical if he were forced into significant playing time…Washington’s secondary is playing at an extremely high level. They are allowing the third fewest YPA (6.0) in the NFL, which is especially impressive when you consider the lack of pressure the front seven provides.

Week 10 edition.

I participated in a midseason league last week, and here’s a write up with the details and also a link to the results. It’s fairly interesting to see how some players’ values have changed so much.

By Dalton Del Don

Last week I went 6-6-2, bringing my season total to 58-53-5. It was especially annoying because I was 5-2-2 after the morning games, and that includes a ridiculous loss in the Falcons game because of a) a blown call b) no challenges left c) 20 seconds away from an automatic booth review and d) a 39-yard TD run by Brian Westbrook, who was just trying to run out the clock. But I digress. My best bet, the Dolphins, came through, leaving me with a 5-1-2 mark on the season. This week, I feel good taking the Bills, Ravens, Texans, Cardinals, Falcons and Colts, but that often doesn’t result in better success than the ones I’m unsure on. As for the best bet, Pittsburgh has struggled against the NFC so far this season, but they still rank as one of the top-three teams in the league and will be motivated playing in the spotlight after last week’s loss.

Jets +5.5 at Bills

Lions +13 at Bears

Jaguars -8 at Bengals

Ravens +1.5 at Browns

Buccaneers -9 at Chiefs

Texans +4.5 at Vikings

Cardinals -3 at Rams

Packers +5.5 at Titans

Dolphins +3 at Broncos

Cowboys +9 at Giants

Falcons -3 at Raiders

Eagles -7 at Seahawks

Patriots +6 at Colts

Steelers +1.5 (best bet) at Redskins

By Dalton Del Don

Quarterbacks

1. Kurt Warner
2. Matt Schaub
3. Jay Cutler

4. Kyle Orton
5. Peyton Manning
6. Chad Pennington
7. Eli Manning
8. Donovan McNabb
9. Ben Roethlisberger
10. Trent Edwards
11. David Garrard

12. Aaron Rodgers
13. Brett Favre
14. Matt Ryan
15. Gus Frerotte
16. Marc Bulger
17. Jeff Garcia
18. Matt Cassel
19. Jason Campbell
20. Joe Flacco

Running Backs

1. Adrian Peterson
2. Brian Westbrook
3. Michael Turner
4. Matt Forte
5. Chris Johnson
6. Ronnie Brown
7. Steven Jackson (check status)
8. Marion Barber
9. Clinton Portis
10. Earnest Graham
11. Marshawn Lynch

12. Maurice Jones-Drew
13. Brandon Jacobs
14. Willis McGahee
15. Joseph Addai (check status)
16. Justin Fargas
17. Ryan Grant
18. Thomas Jones
19. Steve Slaton
20. Michael Pittman

21. Willie Parker (check status)
22. Jamal Lewis
23. Kevin Faulk
24. Tim Hightower
25. LenDale White
26. Cedric Benson
27. Edgerrin James
28. Mewelde Moore
29. Kolby Smith
30. Derrick Ward

Wide Receivers

1. Andre Johnson
2. Brandon Marshall
3. Larry Fitzgerald
4. Anquan Boldin

5. Reggie Wayne
6. Lee Evans
7. Roddy White
8. Plaxico Burress
9. Bernard Berrian
10. Greg Jennings
11. Calvin Johnson
12. Santana Moss (check status)
13. Jerricho Cotchery
14. Laveranues Coles

15. Hines Ward
16. Randy Moss
17. Santonio Holmes
18. Braylon Edwards
19. Kevin Walter
20. Eddie Royal
21. T.J. Houshmandzadeh
22. Terrell Owens
23. Antonio Bryant
24. Wes Welker
25. Matt Jones
26. DeSean Jackson
27. Donnie Avery
28. Steve Breaston
29. Ted Ginn
30. Devin Hester

Week 9 edition.

By Dalton Del Don

The Ravens had high praise for JaMarcus Russell after Sunday’s game, but I’m still not quite sure what to make of him. He gets little help from his receivers, but a 50.3 completion percentage is unacceptable. The jury remains out, and it’s definitely too soon to make a call, but I still say the organization blew it by passing on Calvin Johnson…The next time Darren McFadden takes the field, his toe better be 100 percent healed. Rushing back from this injury has done no good…Seriously, what happened to Mark Clayton? And the same could be said about Todd Heap too.

It’s too bad the Cardinals don’t have a defense, because their offense is good enough to win the Super Bowl. Kurt Warner is playing exceptionally well…When he and Jake Delhomme are both healthy, Steve Smith is basically the best fantasy receiver alive…Muhsin Muhammad’s drop in the end zone qualified as one of the worst so far this season…Step aside Edge, time to see what Timmy Hightower can do.

Chad Pennington looks like Jay Cutler compared to Brad Johnson’s arm strength. This Dallas team is in a lot of trouble if Tony Romo doesn’t come back at 100 percent…No matter how good of a job he does taking care of his body, it looks like Terrell Owens is losing the battle with age…Wade Phillips acted truly dumbfounded when reporters asked about a possible QB switch during his Monday presser, wondering why he would replace Johnson after a win. He just doesn’t get it.

Santana Moss and hamstring injuries don’t go well together. Hopefully it’s not serious, because leg injuries are Moss’ kryptonite…Is there any sane reason whatsoever for Detroit continuing to give Rudi Johnson more carries than Kevin Smith? Nice Gosder Cherilus draft pick, Matt Millen…Clinton Portis is on pace to finish the season with 374 carries, so while I’m not recommending trading him at all costs, be aware there’s a real chance he wears down over the second half of the season.

The Dolphins were nothing short of terrible tackling Sunday, but Joey Porter has been a force this season…Jason Peters has been one of the most disappointing players in football this year…The Ronnie Brown/Ricky Williams split needs to be more 3:1 than 2:1…Miami hit a home run with the Jake Long pick, and there’s a real chance they did the same with Chad Henne. For someone who no longer looked useful as a head coach, Bill Parcells has sure been a valuable asset to the Dolphins…Looks like I was one year too soon jumping on the Lee Evans bandwagon…In case you weren’t invited, Ted Ginn had his coming out party Sunday, absolutely abusing a hobbled Terrence McGee. He’s actually been much more involved in the passing game over the last few weeks, making him an intriguing pick up. Chad Pennington isn’t an ideal fit for his deep speed (half of Pennington’s throws Sunday looked like they were shot mid-air), but Ginn looks like a playmaker. He’ll probably remain inconsistent, but he’s a sneaky play against the Broncos this week.

It looks like BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ relevance will be short-lived, which is a shame. Fantastic name…Torry Holt has fallen off the planet. The warning signs were there, but no one could have predicted this type of decline…Donnie Avery, meanwhile, looks terrific. Remember when everyone went crazy when the Rams took him over Devin Thomas?

I’ll eat some crow regarding LaDainain Tomlinson, as he looked pretty good last week. The Chargers have a very easy schedule moving forward as well…The only thing less surprising than Ted Cottrell ruining a defense would be Tim McCarver stating the obvious. Seriously, why are two of the worst announcers in the business involved in the World Series?…San Diego sure does know how to draft quarterbacks, as Philip Rivers and Drew Brees have been fantastic this season.

Where did that come from Tyler Thigpen? The Jets’ secondary is bad, but that was still highly unexpected…Those Brett Favre interceptions were horrid. Simply brutal. He’s not playing very well right now, and that team is a fraud…It probably wouldn’t be the worst idea to get Leon Washington a few more touches each week…Larry Johnson is awfully tough when it comes to women. Seriously, your next transgression better involve a male, LJ…For some reason, I’m a big fan of the name Connor Barth.

Roddy White is officially a star. He’s been targeted on more of his team’s pass attempts than any player in football this season…Only health prevents Brian Westbrook from being the greatest fantasy asset alive…Michael Turner is the perfect back to have if you’re loaded with RB depth – he destroys bad defenses and is almost worthless against tough ones. He’s a must-start this week in Oakland…Matt Ryan continues to impress…Thanks for costing me a win ATS refs! What a blown call, looking even worse with no challenges available and only 22 seconds away from it being subject to booth review. Ugh.

Maybe now I’ll finally stop getting “should I pick up Matt Schaub” questions. This Texans offense has a lot of upside…Andre Johnson is on pace to finish the season with 128 catches and 1,765 yards. Some more touchdowns would be nice though…The attempted tackle on Kevin Walter’s second TD catch after he was already on the ground was an embarrassment. The Bengals are a joke.

Shaun Rogers was flat-out dominant Sunday, shutting down the Jaguars rushing attack. Put a fork in Fred Taylor, he’s done…Kellen Winslow isn’t a bad buy-low target right now…Nothing like a looming suspension to get motivated, as that was Matt Jones’ best game of his career…Braylon Edwards has been one of, if not the biggest healthy busts so far this season.

I find it hard to believe Pittsburgh wouldn’t be downgrading by switching back to Willie Parker…Playing without Santonio Holmes, or as Dick Stockton calls him, “San Antonio Holmes,” hurt, but a poor offensive line is a recipe for disaster against that Giants pass rush. Imagine if New York hadn’t constantly stalled in the red zone…Still, Pittsburgh remains the third best team in the league.

J.T. O’Sullivan was awful Sunday. Leading the league in sacks, interceptions and fumbles is quite an impressive trifecta…I guess the Mike Singletary/Vernon Davis situation is uncommon, but was it really that big of a deal?…Nice disappearing act, Josh Morgan…It’s not often a team that gets 1.4 YPC, while their opponent gets 5.2, wins 34-13.

LenDale White is on pace to finish the year with 747 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. As a proud Chris Johnson owner, I loathe the fat man…Sitting at 3-4, don’t be shocked if the Colts finish 10-6 and in the playoffs. Tennessee is legit, but the team really could use even an average option at wide receiver. To win the Super Bowl, would you take the Titans/Giants/Steelers trio, or the field?

By Dalton Del Don

Last week I went 11-3, bringing my season total to 52-47-3. Of course, my best week ATS also coincided with my first “best bet” loss, but that tally still sits at 4-1-2 on the year. It’s a tough act to follow, to be sure, but here are my Week 8 picks:

Raiders +7.5 at Ravens

Cardinals +4.5 at Panthers

Buccaneers +2 at Cowboys

Redskins -8 at Lions

Bills -1.5 at Dolphins (best bet)

Rams +7 at Patriots

Chargers -3.5 at Saints

Chiefs +13 at Jets

Falcons +9 at Eagles

Browns +7 at Jaguars

Bengals +10 at Texans

Giants +3 at Steelers

Seahawks +5 at 49ers

Colts +4 at Titans

By Dalton Del Don

Quarterbacks

1. Drew Brees
2. Matt Schaub
3. Philip Rivers

4. Peyton Manning
5. Donovan McNabb
6. Jake Delhomme
7. Kurt Warner
8. Brett Favre
9. Ben Roethlisberger
10. Eli Manning

11. J.T. O’Sullivan
12. Trent Edwards
13. David Garrard
14. Jason Campbell
15. Matt Cassel
16. Chad Pennington
17. Matt Ryan
18. Kerry Collins
19. Derek Anderson
20. Jeff Garcia

Running Backs

1. Brian Westbrook
2. Clinton Portis
3. Frank Gore
4. Marion Barber
5. Chris Johnson

6. Steve Slaton
7. Maurice Jones-Drew
8. Steven Jackson
9. Thomas Jones
10. Ronnie Brown
11. Marshawn Lynch
12. Willis McGahee
13. Brandon Jacobs
14. LaDainian Tomlinson

15. Michael Turner
16. Willie Parker
17. BenJarvus Green-Ellis
18. Jonathan Stewart
19. Dominic Rhodes
20. Jamal Lewis
21. Earnest Graham

22. LenDale White
23. Kevin Smith
24. DeAngelo Williams
25. Tim Hightower
26. Deuce McAllister
27. Kevin Faulk
28. Fred Taylor
29. Maurice Morris/Julius Jones
30. Justin Fargas/Darren McFadden

Wide Receivers

1. Andre Johnson
2. Steve Smith

3. Larry Fitzgerald
4. Reggie Wayne
5. Calvin Johnson
6. Santana Moss
7. Lee Evans
8. Randy Moss
9. Anquan Boldin
10. Roddy White
11. Plaxico Burress (check status)
12. Marques Colston
13. Braylon Edwards
14. Vincent Jackson

15. DeSean Jackson
16. Santonio Holmes
17. Hines Ward
18. Jerricho Cotchery (check status)
19. Muhsin Muhammad
20. T.J. Houshmandzadeh
21. Terrell Owens
22. Wes Welker
23. Kevin Walter
24. Antonio Bryant
25. Dwayne Bowe
26. Josh Morgan
27. Lance Moore
28. Torry Holt
29. Matt Jones
30. Marvin Harrison

Week 8 edition.

By Dalton Del Don

I hate to brag, but then again, my good friend Bobby De Niro once told me never to name drop, so go figure. Anyway, my Week 7 consisted of going 11-3 against the spread and 9-0 in all of my fantasy leagues, making it so epic, I’d be remiss not to mention it. And I hate being remiss. Now, onto the notes:

First TBS misses the beginning of Game 6 of the ALCS, and now CBS misses more than half of the Bills/Chargers game? What decade is this again?…For someone who hadn’t been targeted once in the red zone this season, Lee Evans sure did look good on his goal-line score. Might want to continue looking his way there…I’m doing my very best biting my tongue regarding LaDainian Tomlinson, but let’s just say this decline hasn’t quite come as a shock. Folks, the writing was on the wall all along…Down six in the fourth quarter, Norv Turner elected to punt on fourth-and-one from the Buffalo 40. Now that’s exhibiting some confidence in your team!

I’ve grown tired of Jeremy Shockey’s act and inability to stay healthy. He’ll never be on my team again…This Saints team has one of the very best passing attacks in the league, but if you lack any ability to stop the opposing team, especially when outdoors, you simply won’t make the playoffs…I’d give Marques Colston a mulligan. He should be fine…Steve Smith is a bad, bad man…Devery Henderson’s 15.5 YPA is the highest in the league (minimum 30 targets)…NFC South teams are 14-1 at home this season, 3-9 on the road.

I didn’t have any action on it, but I’m guessing the Vikings/Bears game went “over”…Kyle Orton continues to impress. He and Greg Olsen are forming quite a duo. Orton looks like a borderline QB1 and a fine QB2, whereas Olsen has the potential to finish as a top-five fantasy tight end…The weird thing about Minnesota’s disappointing season is that their two main acquisitions, Bernard Berrian and Jared Allen, have actually been really good…Brad Childress is clueless, and he needs to go. Immediately.

Finding MeMo! How good is Mewelde Moore? He’s definitely earned himself a role in Pittsburgh’s offense even when Willie Parker returns. Good thing the team spent a first round pick on a running back when they already had a superior option in a backup role on its roster. All Moore has ever done is produce when given the opportunity…If anyone is still holding out hope for a Carson Palmer return this season, stop. He’s an IR placement waiting to happen…Hines Ward is having a fantastic season, and that block delivered on Keith Rivers was life-changing. Might want to keep your head on a swivel when facing the Steelers.

Think about all the underachieving teams this season: Dallas, New Orleans, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Seattle. The one common denominator? Poor defense. My point? The Titans aren’t undefeated by accident and are a serious contender, despite the lack of passing game…Call me crazy, but Larry Johnson seems like kind of a punk…Anyone who thinks LenDale White had a better game than Chris Johnson wasn’t watching. Johnson is the guy getting the carries when it counts, and if they start utilizing him more in the passing game, he’s a top-10 back. White, meanwhile, could still be looking at 15 touchdowns, although his 80-yard TD run says more about the Chiefs rush defense than it does him…Down 27-0 with less than five minutes left Sunday, Herm Edwards elected to kick a field goal. I got nothing, that act pretty much speaks for itself.

Willis McGahee and the Baltimore offensive line were impressive Sunday, dominating a Dolphins front seven that had been playing well, although the early Jason Ferguson injury forced Miami to change schemes and had a lot to do with it…John Harbaugh has been brilliant and fully deserves to be on the short list for Coach of the Year honors right now…Remember when Todd Heap was relevant? Me neither.

Mike Nolan cared and it wasn’t for a lack of effort. Also, GM Scot McCloughan has been a joke of a talent evaluator (last year’s draft class ranks as one of the worst ever, for any team). Still, Nolan needed to go, and I’ll call it right now; Mike Singletary is going to be one hell of a coach in this league. Hopefully, San Francisco gives him a legit opportunity for it to happen with them…The one rookie who is making an impact, however, is Josh Morgan, who looks like a potential star…With the game an 11-point spread, how sweet was the safety with the Giants up 10 late in the fourth quarter?

Steven Jackson had to be one of the most impressive players Sunday. He can still be a force…Looks like the Donnie Avery over Devin Thomas pick wasn’t so crazy, after all…I wanted to continue going off on Wade Phillips’ aww shucks attitude, but Mike Lombardi had an interesting take on Phillips’ approach so I’ll defer to him: “The Cowboys are not a technique based team.  They rely on their talent and their scheme to make plays, so when I read a coach saying he is worried about the execution of the team, it makes me wonder.  When you are scheme oriented, you never can get better during the season because each week is a new design and there is never a foundation.  The Cowboys need to become better at their fundamentals and their techniques and this can only happen in a reduction of the scheme and trying to make sure there is more attention to detail.  And details have never been the trademark of a Wade Phillips defense.”

I liked how “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” lost the second half of its title during the commercials Sunday. Made it sound like some sort of chick flick. Either way, let’s hope Kevin Smith got his mojo back. Speaking of commercials, if I see a “Cash4Gold.com” ad one more time, I’m going to gouge my eyes out.

Andre Johnson is the No. 1 fantasy WR, Owen Daniels is a top-five tight end, and Kevin Walter is a serviceable WR3….Ahman Green may hurt Steve Slaton’s value in the short-term, but he may also prevent him from hitting the rookie wall later on, and it’s not like there’s any chance Green remains healthy when it comes to crunch time…Just forget about Rudi Johnson. He doesn’t belong on any rosters right now…Calvin Johnson’s 154 yards on two catches is probably not a sustainable ratio, but expect more targets in the future. He made his 96-yard TD look positively easy.

So I guess the Colts aren’t quite back on track…Nice to see Ryan Grant break 100 yards, but it’s clear the explosive runner we saw last year just isn’t the same. At least he’s finally moved into positive receiving yards for the season…Charles Woodson has really impressed.

The Raiders don’t have a great interior, but the Jets blocked well Sunday, and Thomas Jones looked rejuvenated, at least for one week…He’s alive! I seriously forgot for a second what “Walker” was on Oakland catching those passes Sunday…Jerricho Cotchery owners don’t get too down, as long as his injury isn’t significant. He was still targeted eight times in the loss and drew Nnamdi Asomugha in coverage for the most part. He’ll bounce back…Right before Jay Feely lined up for a 52-yard field goal attempt to tie the game at the end of regulation, I turned to my friend and said: “Tom Cable will call a timeout at the last second, Feely will miss the field goal and then later make it when it counts.” I wish I could say I’m clairvoyant, but that was very predictable. So what if it worked once or twice last year, it definitely backfires more often. Why give a kicker a practice shot?…No doubt, Darren McFadden has been a disappointment, but the fact remains he’s gotten 5.1 YPC and has plenty of skills as a receiver. If utilized better, there’s still a ton of upside. But don’t expect it this week, as Baltimore hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 25 games…I watch very little college football, yet before last year’s draft I called Vernon Gholston an obvious bust. How can I know this and not the Jets?

Brady Quinn’s not a bad guy to stash (again) right now, as Derek Anderson’s time as starter is nearing an end. He’s been pretty awful since the first half of last season ended…It’s not like Braylon Edwards has been much of a help. His hands are just brutal…Not much more can be said about Clinton Portis’ 2008 season; he’s been fantastic…Whether or not Kellen Winslow should have talked to the media is debatable, but one thing is for sure - Cleveland has a serious problem with staph infections. How can this “continuously continue” to happen?

I like baseball, don’t get me wrong, but I much prefer to watch football. But even with no fantasy players involved, nor a wager, I watched very little of the Bucs/Seahawks game Sunday night, as I was glued to Game 7 of the ALCS. Of course, it was horrible scheduling by NBC, but still, what an awesome ALCS that was, TBS’ broadcast notwithstanding. Congrats to the Rays, who will absolutely kill Vegas if they win one more series…Speaking of Vegas, Seneca Wallace’s late TD pass was one of the greatest backdoor covers in recent memory. Forget the 3.2 YPA, he came through in the clutch!…Maurice Morris is better than Julius Jones, this much I know.

Pop quiz, hot shot. Which defensive unit was/is better, the 2000/01 Ravens, or the 2008 Broncos?…Even when playing the best game of his life, Matt Cassel takes six sacks…If you’re counting touchdown totals at home, that’s Laurence Maroney 0, BenJarvus Green-Ellis 1…I loved Jay Cutler’s garbage stats more than anyone, but why did Mike Shanahan have his franchise still in the game down 34-0 and later 41-7 late in the fourth quarter while playing with an injured finger? He’s officially made one too many trips to the tanning salon.