It's basically the midway point of the fantasy season with the Finals typically coming for everybody in week 16. So looking back on draft day what would you have done differently? When I throw in * next to the players name that means its something I did, notice how more of the * tend to be on the Bust side of the equation.
Midway Busts
Quarterback, Daunte Culpepper - Looking back maybe it wasn't that surprising that a player who lost his mobility when his knee blew out struggled, when really relied so much in the past on his legs and avoiding the rush. Coming into the season I and others thought the Culpepper to Chambers combo would be prolific, and we were wrong, very wrong. It didn't take long for Culpepper to become a fantasy zero and have any owner scramble for a backup.
Running Back, Lamont Jordan - He's been so bad this season that in my league he was recently cut for Cedric Benson. Yes, Benson who typically gets no more than 10 touches a game. A combination of no passing attack, a terrible line, a bad back and poor effort have sunk Lamont. While I wasn't high on him and avoided him early in drafts, others saw the wonderful reception numbers from last season and thought he would easily replicate 05. Well, not even close.
Running Back, Cadillac Williams - The Buccaneers offense was terrible with Chris Simms and just as bad with Gradkowski. And since their receivers are refusing to catch the few and far between good deep balls that the Toledo Rocket Rookie throws people can load up on him in the box. Things aren't
Running Back, Shaun Alexander - Think you believe in the Madden Curse yet. And are you like many others beginning to think that drafting two RBs with your first two picks is vastly overrated? Well Shaun certainly seemed like a sure thing, he has been every year after his rookie season, but again beware the Madden Curse as now if you own big Shaun you hear every week he's coming back and then come sunday there he is on the sideline in a sweatsuit.
Wide Receiver, Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson* - A surefire second round pick I thought. Palmer looked healthy and why would his numbers diminish at all. Well they have big time. Through the midway point Johnson only has 2 tds, which were followed by boring celebrations I might add, and has yet to top the 100 yard mark this season.
Wide Receiver, Randy Moss* - I figured for a bounce back year if Moss was healthy and even if Aaron Brooks was his QB that he would be able to snatch up some of Brooks' typically poor balls. However, with Walter at the helm the Raiders are terrible and you have to wonder if there is any hope for Moss for the rest of the season.
Wide Receiver, Chris Chambers - I was decided between Moss or Chambers on who to draft with my 4th pick and decided to settle on Moss, well it appears as if it didn't matter who I chose because Chambers simply has not been productive this season. Maybe he can replicate his big games down the stretch in 05 but right now those games seem light years away.
Tight End, Jason Witten - With Drew Bledsoe at the helm Witten did absolutely nothing and was certainly the bust tight end of the first half. However, for those players that did not cut him it appears as if he is one of Romo's favorite targets and of the Bust class he appears to have the most potential to bounce back in the 2nd half.
Kicker, Neil Rackers - The Cardinals simply are not putting up nearly as many points as last season and Rackers hasn't been consistent either.
Defense, Seattle* - While Defenses are all picked later in the draft and Seattle wasn't a top 5 defense coming into the draft it would have been very difficult to forecast this team giving up this many points per game against the NFC west competition that they face.
Midway Surprises
Quarterback, Rex Grossman - Unless your league has 12 teams and starts two QBs I doubt that Grossman was drafted in your respective drafts. With the exception of the Arizona game, where he probably killed your teams chances to win, you have to be thrilled to have Grossman as your 2nd QB on the roster.
Running Back, Maurice Jones-Drew - Another player that most likely slipped threw your draft. While he hasn't been consistent from week to week Jones-Drew has established himself as the Jaguars 3rd down and change of pace back and with 5 tds through 7 weeks he has given solid production.
Running Back, Frank Gore* - Despite the fumblitis, Gore has put up yards and the occasional touchdown for those like myself who made him a second half draft pick on the thought that he would get a bunch of carries.
Running Back, Ahman Green - Sure the two weeks he didn't play hurt but he has 4 touchdowns in 5 games and has 3 100 yard games. Personally, I'd rather have someone injured and out so that I can put someone else in than have a player in there who puts up no production, and when Green has been slated to play he has been good.
Wide Receiver, Andre Johnson* - Despite a down 2005 Johnson is back with a vengeance with help from the fact that the Texans go down by a ton every game and are forced to throw on almost every play.
Wide Receiver, Reggie Brown - Brown has established himself as the Eagles go to receiver and has put up admirable numbers this season for someone that was snatched up in the latter rounds of all drafts.
Wide Receiver, Laveraneus Coles - The first Jet taken in most drafts was typically gone at around the 100th pick in the draft. And while I as a Jet fan just didn't believe in their offense coming into this season those who took the gamble on Coles have been rewarded at the midway point.
Tight End, Marques Colston - Sure he shouldn't be active as a TE, but in my league he is so the lucky guy who picked him up has been reaping the benefits.
Kicker, Robbie Gould - Be Honest did you foresee the Bears being an offensive powerhouse? The only way you drafted Gould is if you are a big time Bear fan.
Defense, Minnesota - Closing thing to surprising defense, as they lead the league in defensive touchdowns.
Midway Superstars
Quarterback, Donovan McNabb - He gets the edge over Peyton, possibly because he has yet to have a bye this season (this weekend) but moreso because Peyton was a first rounder while Donovan was at best a third and more likely a 4th or 5th rounder and yet McNabb was unbelievable through the first month of the season and he should have continued success throughout.
Running Back, LaDainian Tomlinson - So which of you LT owners out there was worried when it appeared as if Michael Turner was going to start snatching up carries from LT and perhaps diminish his value. Are you still worried now after the enormous weeks LT has just come off?
Running Back, Larry Johnson - Sure he started off slowly, but Larry Johnson is back on his horse and will push LT down the stretch as the most valuable player in all of fantasy. Aren't you glad now that you used your first pick on LJ?
Running Back, Brian Westbrook - Sure he missed a game due to injury, but he is a yardage machine and has been getting into the end zone as well. Sure the injuries are a concern but until he's out for multiple weeks at a time you have to be thrilled with his production.
Wide Receiver, Tory Holt - He is by far the most underrated receiver in the league, and everyone knows he is great. He never gets the hype of Moss, Harrison, Ocho Cinco, TO, etc. but he always put up great numbers usually surpassing any of those guys just mentioned. This year he has been the best receiver in the league bar none.
Wide Receiver, Andre Johnson* - Currently leads the league in receptions and receiving yards, ya he's having a good season.
Wide Receiver, Darrell Jackson - I was a big adversary of Darrell Jackson as a good pickup in fantasy leagues thinking that Hasselbeck would spread the ball around and that Alexander would scoop up most of the touchdowns. However, since Alexander went down with an injury Jackson has become the most steady receiver in the league with the exception of the immaculate Tory.
Tight End, Marques Colston - Lucky jerks who went waiver wire hunting after week 1.
Kicker, Robbie Gould - Once again you're a liar if you knew.
Defense, Chicago Bears - No Surprise here. The Bears are the best defense in the league and the players that jumped on them early have been heavily rewarded by their production.
Midway Busts
Quarterback, Daunte Culpepper - Looking back maybe it wasn't that surprising that a player who lost his mobility when his knee blew out struggled, when really relied so much in the past on his legs and avoiding the rush. Coming into the season I and others thought the Culpepper to Chambers combo would be prolific, and we were wrong, very wrong. It didn't take long for Culpepper to become a fantasy zero and have any owner scramble for a backup.
Running Back, Lamont Jordan - He's been so bad this season that in my league he was recently cut for Cedric Benson. Yes, Benson who typically gets no more than 10 touches a game. A combination of no passing attack, a terrible line, a bad back and poor effort have sunk Lamont. While I wasn't high on him and avoided him early in drafts, others saw the wonderful reception numbers from last season and thought he would easily replicate 05. Well, not even close.
Running Back, Cadillac Williams - The Buccaneers offense was terrible with Chris Simms and just as bad with Gradkowski. And since their receivers are refusing to catch the few and far between good deep balls that the Toledo Rocket Rookie throws people can load up on him in the box. Things aren't
Running Back, Shaun Alexander - Think you believe in the Madden Curse yet. And are you like many others beginning to think that drafting two RBs with your first two picks is vastly overrated? Well Shaun certainly seemed like a sure thing, he has been every year after his rookie season, but again beware the Madden Curse as now if you own big Shaun you hear every week he's coming back and then come sunday there he is on the sideline in a sweatsuit.
Wide Receiver, Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson* - A surefire second round pick I thought. Palmer looked healthy and why would his numbers diminish at all. Well they have big time. Through the midway point Johnson only has 2 tds, which were followed by boring celebrations I might add, and has yet to top the 100 yard mark this season.
Wide Receiver, Randy Moss* - I figured for a bounce back year if Moss was healthy and even if Aaron Brooks was his QB that he would be able to snatch up some of Brooks' typically poor balls. However, with Walter at the helm the Raiders are terrible and you have to wonder if there is any hope for Moss for the rest of the season.
Wide Receiver, Chris Chambers - I was decided between Moss or Chambers on who to draft with my 4th pick and decided to settle on Moss, well it appears as if it didn't matter who I chose because Chambers simply has not been productive this season. Maybe he can replicate his big games down the stretch in 05 but right now those games seem light years away.
Tight End, Jason Witten - With Drew Bledsoe at the helm Witten did absolutely nothing and was certainly the bust tight end of the first half. However, for those players that did not cut him it appears as if he is one of Romo's favorite targets and of the Bust class he appears to have the most potential to bounce back in the 2nd half.
Kicker, Neil Rackers - The Cardinals simply are not putting up nearly as many points as last season and Rackers hasn't been consistent either.
Defense, Seattle* - While Defenses are all picked later in the draft and Seattle wasn't a top 5 defense coming into the draft it would have been very difficult to forecast this team giving up this many points per game against the NFC west competition that they face.
Midway Surprises
Quarterback, Rex Grossman - Unless your league has 12 teams and starts two QBs I doubt that Grossman was drafted in your respective drafts. With the exception of the Arizona game, where he probably killed your teams chances to win, you have to be thrilled to have Grossman as your 2nd QB on the roster.
Running Back, Maurice Jones-Drew - Another player that most likely slipped threw your draft. While he hasn't been consistent from week to week Jones-Drew has established himself as the Jaguars 3rd down and change of pace back and with 5 tds through 7 weeks he has given solid production.
Running Back, Frank Gore* - Despite the fumblitis, Gore has put up yards and the occasional touchdown for those like myself who made him a second half draft pick on the thought that he would get a bunch of carries.
Running Back, Ahman Green - Sure the two weeks he didn't play hurt but he has 4 touchdowns in 5 games and has 3 100 yard games. Personally, I'd rather have someone injured and out so that I can put someone else in than have a player in there who puts up no production, and when Green has been slated to play he has been good.
Wide Receiver, Andre Johnson* - Despite a down 2005 Johnson is back with a vengeance with help from the fact that the Texans go down by a ton every game and are forced to throw on almost every play.
Wide Receiver, Reggie Brown - Brown has established himself as the Eagles go to receiver and has put up admirable numbers this season for someone that was snatched up in the latter rounds of all drafts.
Wide Receiver, Laveraneus Coles - The first Jet taken in most drafts was typically gone at around the 100th pick in the draft. And while I as a Jet fan just didn't believe in their offense coming into this season those who took the gamble on Coles have been rewarded at the midway point.
Tight End, Marques Colston - Sure he shouldn't be active as a TE, but in my league he is so the lucky guy who picked him up has been reaping the benefits.
Kicker, Robbie Gould - Be Honest did you foresee the Bears being an offensive powerhouse? The only way you drafted Gould is if you are a big time Bear fan.
Defense, Minnesota - Closing thing to surprising defense, as they lead the league in defensive touchdowns.
Midway Superstars
Quarterback, Donovan McNabb - He gets the edge over Peyton, possibly because he has yet to have a bye this season (this weekend) but moreso because Peyton was a first rounder while Donovan was at best a third and more likely a 4th or 5th rounder and yet McNabb was unbelievable through the first month of the season and he should have continued success throughout.
Running Back, LaDainian Tomlinson - So which of you LT owners out there was worried when it appeared as if Michael Turner was going to start snatching up carries from LT and perhaps diminish his value. Are you still worried now after the enormous weeks LT has just come off?
Running Back, Larry Johnson - Sure he started off slowly, but Larry Johnson is back on his horse and will push LT down the stretch as the most valuable player in all of fantasy. Aren't you glad now that you used your first pick on LJ?
Running Back, Brian Westbrook - Sure he missed a game due to injury, but he is a yardage machine and has been getting into the end zone as well. Sure the injuries are a concern but until he's out for multiple weeks at a time you have to be thrilled with his production.
Wide Receiver, Tory Holt - He is by far the most underrated receiver in the league, and everyone knows he is great. He never gets the hype of Moss, Harrison, Ocho Cinco, TO, etc. but he always put up great numbers usually surpassing any of those guys just mentioned. This year he has been the best receiver in the league bar none.
Wide Receiver, Andre Johnson* - Currently leads the league in receptions and receiving yards, ya he's having a good season.
Wide Receiver, Darrell Jackson - I was a big adversary of Darrell Jackson as a good pickup in fantasy leagues thinking that Hasselbeck would spread the ball around and that Alexander would scoop up most of the touchdowns. However, since Alexander went down with an injury Jackson has become the most steady receiver in the league with the exception of the immaculate Tory.
Tight End, Marques Colston - Lucky jerks who went waiver wire hunting after week 1.
Kicker, Robbie Gould - Once again you're a liar if you knew.
Defense, Chicago Bears - No Surprise here. The Bears are the best defense in the league and the players that jumped on them early have been heavily rewarded by their production.
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