Time to vote for fantasy awards

With what's been going on in the Illinois state government this week, what better time than the present to vote in our studs and impeach our duds from the 2008 fantasy football season?

Just remember - no bribing the writer. We've wiretapped your computers.

Do your best to take personal bias out of your decisions, and feel free to include comments on any and all categories. The most ones that make me laugh have a good chance of making the season's final column in two weeks. All entries can be sent to jdietz@dailyherald.com. Write-in votes are also welcome.

MVP

1. Saints QB Drew Brees. With 4,100 yards, 26 TD passes and eight 300-yard games before Thursday night, Brees has led many fantasy teams to the postseason.

2. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner. Neck-and-neck with Brees, Warner has 4,020 yards, 25 TD passes and seven 300-yard games.

3. Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams. Where did this guy come from? Williams has all 15 of his touchdowns and six 100-yard games in Carolina's last nine games.

4. Atlanta RB Michael Turner. The Burner has racked up 1,269 rushing yards, 14 TDs and six 100-yard games.

Biggest surprise

1. Jets RB Thomas Jones. Ranked 22nd in my preseason article, Jones has erased the memory of a 2-TD season in 2007. With free-agent acquisition Alan Faneca leading the way on the offensive line, Jones has run for 1,144 yards, has caught 30 passes and has 14 total touchdowns.

2. Bears RB Matt Forte. Ranked 30th in preseason, Forte was expected to struggle behind a weak offensive line. Instead, the rookie has 1,081 yards, 53 receptions and 10 TDs.

3. Cardinals QB Kurt Warner. Ranked 24th in preseason, Warner is second behind Brees in fantasy points.

4. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. Ranked 10th by me and much lower by others, Rodgers (26 total TDs, 3,192 yards) has become a reliable fantasy QB.

5. Lions WR Calvin Johnson. Ranked 21st among WRs, Johnson has scored in seven of his last nine games despite being on the worst team in the league.

6. Saints WR Lance Moore. Unranked and unknown, Moore has 8 touchdowns and 6 in the Saints' last six games (not including Thursday vs. the Bears).

Biggest dud

1. Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson. From fantasy MVP to this indignity? Perhaps. LT, the No. 1 pick in most drafts, has just two 100-yard games and has scored in only six of 13 games.

2. Rams RB Steven Jackson. A top-six pick in most leagues, Jackson (5 TDs) missed four games and was basically ineffective when he did play.

3. Colts RB Joseph Addai. Here's another first-round bust. Addai has just 6 TDs, has been ineffective in the passing game, and has been held under 50 rushing yards six times.

4. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. After a 34-TD campaign in 2007, Big Ben has 16 total TDs and 12 interceptions and has been held under 200 yards seven times.

5. Browns QB Derek Anderson. Talk about a one-hit wonder. Anderson's 32-TD season must have been a mirage because this season he had 9 TDs in eight games before being benched for Brady Quinn.

6. Colts WR Reggie Wayne. Perhaps Wayne can redeem himself this week vs. Detroit, but the third-ranked receiver in fantasy coming into this season has just 1 TD in the last eight games.

7. Browns WR Braylon Edwards. Ranked fourth in preseason, Edwards has 3 TDs and has been held under 40 yards an astounding seven times.

Rookie of the year

1. The Bears' Matt Forte.

2. Titans RB Chris Johnson. The electric back has 1,094 yards and 9 TDs.

3. Texans RB Steve Slaton. Exploding as of late, Slaton has 1,024 yards, 39 catches and 9 TDs.

4. Falcons QB Matt Ryan. Not a huge fantasy impact, but 15 TDs and 2,940 yards is awfully impressive for a rookie quarterback.

Comeback player

I thought about Lee Evans or Isaac Bruce for this award, but the winner has to be Thomas Jones (2 TDs last season, 14 this year). If you disagree, feel free to vote for others.

My teams: I survived a first-round playoff game in my unit league 86-83, thanks in large part to Chris Johnson (25 points). Both of my teams are in the semifinals.

Good bets

• Rams RB Steven Jackson vs. Seattle. Most of his owners are probably eliminated, but if you've held on, I think you get a monster game Sunday.

• Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart vs. Denver. There will be plenty of yards for both Carolina tailbacks against the horrific Broncos run defense.

• Colts RB Dominic Rhodes vs. Detroit. It's looking more and more like Joseph Addai will not play Sunday, making Rhodes a strong start.

• Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen and WR Dwayne Bowe vs. San Diego. Thigpen has 5 TD passes in his last two home games, and the Chargers can be beaten through the air.

• Dolphins WR Davone Bess vs. San Francisco. Since Greg Camarillo was injured three games ago, Bess has 20 catches for 245 yards.

Bad bets

• Giants QB Eli Manning at Dallas. He's not an awful bet, but Manning (2 TD passes last two) and the Giants have been out of sync lately.

• Ravens RB LeRon McClain vs. Pittsburgh. Nobody runs on the Steelers.

• Browns WR Braylon Edwards at Philadelphia. Use him only if you must.

• Jets QB Brett Favre vs. Buffalo. The Bills have a stingy pass defense, as Favre found out last time he faced Buffalo (19-for-28, 201 yards, interception).

• Read more from John at ffmastermind.com and hear him each Thursday in the 1 p.m. hour with Mike Murphy on WSCR 670-AM.