Fantasy football: Time for our midseason awards
Think for a moment back to draft day.
Two short months ago, many of you had to choose Michael Vick or Aaron Rodgers as your fantasy football QB. My guess is more than 90 percent went with Vick, who dazzled us all in 2010.
Avid readers of this space, however, were warned that taking the Eagles QB came with a significant amount of risk, and that opting for Rodgers was the safe — and perhaps smarter — play.
And as we look back on the first eight weeks and dole out the first-half awards, it’s Rodgers who stands above everyone else as the fantasy MVP if the season ended today.
The Packers’ signal caller has been unreal with six 300-yard games, 22 total touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. He’s on pace for 5,422 passing yards, which would shatter Dan Marino’s single-season record of 5,084.
Let’s have the envelopes for the rest of our winners (and losers):
Surprise RB
Fred Jackson (preseason rank: 35; current rank: No. 1). Remind me again why I dropped this guy in a keeper league? Whoops. The 30-year-old Jackson has piled up five 100-yard games, 1,054 yards from scrimmage and 6 TDs. There isn’t one game left that looks particularly daunting, so watch Jackson top 2,000 yards from scrimmage and finish with 12-14 scores.
Surprise WR
Wes Welker (preseason: 21; current: No. 2). With just 84 yards and 1 TD in the last two games, he’s fallen since Week 5, but nobody dreamed Welker would be outscoring the likes of Andre Johnson, Roddy White, Greg Jennings, Larry Fitzgerald and Hakeem Nicks. There is some cause for concern with how the Patriots are playing of late, but Welker should finish with around 1,400 yards and 10-11 TDs.
Surprise QB
Cam Newton (preseason: 28; current: No. 4). Here’s all you need to know about just how big of a surprise Newton is: In one of my leagues, the owner of Tom Brady also owns Newton … and he’s been starting the Carolina rookie since Week 5. Newton is on pace for 4,786 passing yards, 22 passing TDs and 14 rushing scores.
Surprise TE
Jimmy Graham (preseason: 8; current: No. 1). I knew he had potential, but I didn’t expect 713 yards and four 100-yard games after eight games. Amazing.
Dud RB
Chris Johnson (preseason: 3; current: No. 26). In my two leagues, the teams that own Johnson are 3-5 and 2-6 and rank 9th of 10 and 10th of 12 in total points. This fantasy bust is averaging a pathetic 2.82 yards per carry and has scored 1 touchdown.
Dud WR
Roddy White (preseason: 2; current: 21). Larry Fitzgerald has been awful, too, but White has topped 80 yards once with just 3 TDs. There’s some hope, though, as White says he’s now 100 percent healthy. My prediction for the next eight games: 600 yards and 4-5 TDs.
Dud QB
Philip Rivers (preseason: 4; current: No. 14). Three TDs. Seven INTs. That’s what Rivers has given us the last five weeks. He looked bad Monday night in Kansas City, giving me reason to think he won’t get better in the second half.
Dud TE
Antonio Gates (preseason: 1; current: No. 30). Sometimes I’ll give a break when a guy is injured, but not Gates. All of us who believed Gates’ foot was completely healed got suckered into taking a guy who has been worthless. He’ll be lucky to finish as a top 15 TE.
Trade him: I said this last week, but it bears repeating: If you own Anquan Boldin, now would be a great time to make a trade. Coming off three solid weeks, Boldin will look great to your opponents. But Baltimore’s schedule is about to stiffen, and I don’t trust Joe Flacco the rest of the way.My teams: Not sure what has gotten into my unit-league team, but Eli Manning (19 points) and Steven Jackson (23) helped lead an 83-66 victory. That team is 4-4 and in the thick of the race. The regular team (4-4) lost despite an eighth straight 100-point week. That team leads in points (1,016) but has also #147;allowed#148; the most (953).Good betsŸRaiders defense and RB Michael Bush vs. Denver. Check this out: Since 2009, when Bush gets 14 or more carries, his yardage totals are 99-137-95-52-47-104-133-119. That#146;s an average of 98 yards per game with 5 TDs. And he#146;s playing the Broncos. Can you say top-5 potential? Giddyup. ŸChargers QB Philip Rivers vs. Green Bay. Something#146;s wrong with Rivers. He#146;s likely playing hurt and his passes look awful. Still, he#146;s a good bet for 275-plus yards and 2 TDs in a game in which he#146;ll be throwing all day.ŸGiants WRs Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz at New England. With Hakeem Nicks battling a hamstring injury, Eli Manning#146;s other two WRs should post big numbers in a high-scoring affair.ŸFalcons QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones at Indianapolis. No team has allowed more passing TDs than the Colts (15).ŸBengals RB Cedric Benson at Tennessee. Rejuvenated after his suspension, Benson is primed for a big day against a weak Titans run defense (129.4 yards allowed per game).ŸEagles WR Jason Avant vs. Bears. My weekly flier here. If you are hurting and looking for 6-8 points, I like Avant (77.5 yards per game last four) to continue his strong play.ŸChiefs QB Matt Cassel vs. Miami. The red-hot Chiefs will carve the Dolphins apart.ŸBucs RB LeGarrette Blount at New Orleans. Decimated at running back, Tampa will now keep Blount on the field in many third-down situations. He#146;s primed for a big game.Bad betsŸRavens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Pittsburgh. Anything more than 50 yards will be a feat vs. CB Ike Taylor.ŸSteelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR Hines Ward vs. Baltimore. In his last three regular-season games against the Ravens, Big Ben has thrown 3 TD passes and 5 INTs.ŸBills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and Stevie Johnson vs. N.Y. Jets. The Jets have allowed a league-best 4 passing TDs.ŸTexans QB Matt Schaub vs. Cleveland. Andre Johnson#146;s hurting, so Schaub (7 TDs last five) remains a dicey play.ŸTitans RB Chris Johnson vs. Cincinnati. Consider benching the one-time superstud.jdietz@dailyherald.comFBN31742412Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson is one of the surprises of the year and the top fantasy football rusher so far this season.Associated PressFBN