O'Malley's Tallies: 2009 NFL Draft Winners and Losers

While the 2009 Draft may have lacked that sure fire #1 player like some years in the past, talent still remained abundant for those teams willing to take some chances and risks. With a good mix of both underclassmen and senior talent on the board, every team had the challenging task of trusting their hard work for months with scouting and interviewing and being able to weigh the importance of talent compared to character. With all that being said, here are the teams that I felt left Radio City Music Hall in New York City with both the best and worst draft classes from 2009…


BEST OF THE BEST

1. New York Giants – After many years of being an avid NFL Draft watcher, I don’t think I’ve ever liked one team’s draft class more than this year’s New York Giants class. In my opinion, every single selection made by GM Jerry Reese was a strong one and will make a valuable impact on the field in 2009. With the exception of Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree, UNC wide receiver and Giant’s first round pick Hakeem Nicks is without question the most NFL ready receiver in the draft and will be one of Eli Manning’s top targets with his big, physical frame and great hands. In the 2nd round, the team added another strong pass rusher (as if they didn’t already have enough!) to the mix by taking Virginia OLB Clint Sintim who registered an impressive 70 tackles and 11 sacks his senior year at Charlottesville. In the third round, Reese added some tight end depth by taking Wisconsin’s athletic Travis Beckum (will play a role similar to Redskin’s Chris Cooley at the next level) as well as another big receiver in Cal Poly’s Ramses Barden. Lacking the household name recognition coming from a 1-AA football program, I have always felt that Barden was flying way too under the radar coming into this draft and will be a definite red zone impact player for Big Blue in 2009.

• 4th round (129 overall): Andre Brown, RB (NC State)
• 5th round (151 overall): Rhett Bomar, QB (SHSU)


2. Cincinnati Bengals – Yes, I know it’s shocking to see the “Bungals” on a list that accentuates the positives rather than the negatives. However, as much as we all are quick to jump on them for what they usually do wrong on the field, it is very tough for me to do that this year after having such a successful 2009 draft class. With age and injuries quickly creeping up on the Bengal’s offensive line depth chart in 2008, the team was able to address that issue quickly by taking the highly touted Alabama LT Andre Smith 6th overall. While the naysayers will quickly try and point to Smith’s questionable work ethic and weight issues, there is simply too much talent and upside on film to not feel this is a great selection. In the 2nd round, the team found a great value selection in USC’s First Team All American linebacker Rey Maualuga. While Maualuga may not do any one thing exceptionally, he is still very good in many other areas and will be a great on field leader for the defense. In the 3rd round, the team selected perhaps the most risk/reward defensive player in the draft in Georgia Tech’s Michael Johnson. An elite pass rusher when he wanted to be at Georgia Tech, Johnson’s NFL outlook could land himself anywhere from a perennial All-Pro defensive end or a total bust that is out of the league in three years. While he may possess in the talent in the world, proper coaching will be a must each and every year in Cincy.

• 4th round (106 overall): Jonathan Luigs, C (Arkansas)


3. Philadelphia Eagles – If Donovan McNabb is not happy with the amount of playmakers on the Philadelphia Eagles in 2009, I don’t think he ever will be. With Kevin Curtis having an injury plagued 2008 and Reggie Brown looking more and more like a 1st round bust, the Birds were able to find themselves a steal at 19th overall in Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin. While some may consider Maclin more of a track star than a polished NFL ready receiver, it is really tough to ignore his game changing speed and ability and will give opposing defenses fits as a slot receiver, deep threat, and return man. In the 2nd round, the team was able to draft Brian Westbrook’s clone in Pittsburgh RB LeSean McCoy. McCoy was a major star at Pitt despite having poor talent around him on the offensive side of the ball and should be a great 3rd down and spell back for incumbent starter Westbrook. On the 2nd day, Eagles found themselves a possible replacement for tight end L.J. Smith (signed free agent deal in Baltimore) in Florida’s Cornelius Ingram. Despite missing all of 2008 with an injury, Ingram’s talent is tough to ignore and should be a major nightmare for linebackers in coverage if he can remain healthy.

• 5th round (157 overall): Victor “Macho” Harris, DB (Va. Tech)


Honorable Mention

4. Chicago Bears – Jarron Gilbert (DT - San Jose St), D.J. Moore (CB – Vanderbilt)

5. Green Bay Packers – B.J. Raji (DT – Boston College), Clay Matthews (LB, USC)


WHAT WERE THEY THINKING???

1. Oakland Raiders – I am going to keep this one short and sweet because I am truly lost for words on how bad this team did in the draft. With the best receiver in the entire country sitting there waiting for you to call his name (Michael Crabtree), how can you possibly justify taking Maryland’s Derius Heyward-Bey 7th overall!?!? While I will be the first to admit that Bey does indeed have long term potential at the next level, he is truly as raw as it gets as a route runner and was usually feast or famine on the stat line during his days at College Park. If Bey’s 4.3 forty time was the only thing that owner Al Davis cared about with that selection, why doesn’t he just go ahead and try to convince Jamaican track star Usain Bolt and his 9.69 second 100-meter dash to come to the Black Hole? This was just one of the many awful personnel decisions made by the incompetent Oakland Raiders in the 2009 draft…

2. Dallas Cowboys – After cutting your All Pro WR (Terrell Owens) as well as losing one of your impact defensive linemen to your division rival in free agency (Chris Canty), why in the world would you use your first few picks in the 2009 NFL Draft on a no name OLB from Western Illinois and a quarterback that threw for less than 600 yards last year?!?! That is exactly what the Dallas Cowboys did this year while the rest of the teams in their division snatched up talented players like Brian Orakpo and the aforementioned Hakeem Nicks and Jeremy Maclin. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Boys’ then went on to draft a KICKER in the 5th round (already have the All-Pro talented Nick Folk on the roster) despite having a number of talented players in need positions still on the board. I know it is still very early in the year to tell, but it certainly appears as if it could be a long, soap opera like year down in Big D…

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – I am far from an NFL talent evaluator, but I really, really just don’t see it in Josh Freeman. Playing in the “defense is optional” Big 12 conference while at Kansas State, Josh Freeman wasn’t even one of the top 3 quarterbacks in his conference let alone a 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (more like a late 2nd early, early 3rd round pick to me). In addition, Tampa Bay already had 4 quarterbacks on their roster going into the draft including Byron Leftwich, a player with a lot of similar qualities to Freeman. While Freeman may have the long term potential to contribute later in his career, I just feel there were bigger needs for the Bucs with an aging Ronde Barber and defensive mainstays Derrick Brooks and Kevin Carter being released. Even after their selection of Freeman in the 1st round, there just wasn’t a selection made by the team the rest of the draft that seemed to catch my attention…


2009 Fantasy Impact Makers

1. Chris “Beanie Wells: RB, Arizona Cardinals – In 2009, Tim Hightower should get a taste of his own medicine from “Beanie” Wells after stealing many red zone scoring from Edgerrin James last season. This season, look for Wells to be very Brandon Jacobs like, being that bruiser opposing defenses get worn down by late in games and a possible candidate for double digit touchdown scores.

2. Knowshon Moreno: RB, Denver Broncos – As much as new Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels likes to chuck the pigskin all over the field, there is something about a talented Denver Broncos running back and their track records over the years that have to make a fantasy owner salivate. With perennial “game manager” Kyle Orton expected to be at the helm in 2009, Moreno and his big play potential will be crucial in making sure WR Brandon Marshall is not always doubled teamed on the outside and that the Broncos are able to stay balanced in their attack to the best of their ability.

3. Shonn Greene: RB, New York Jets – For those fantasy owners planning on making Thomas Jones their keeper selection in 2009 after his amazing 13 touchdown campaign, you may want to think again after Shonn Greene signs his contract with Gang Green. In 2008 as an Iowa Hawkeye, Shonn Greene took the nation by storm by rushing for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns on 307 carries. Listed at nearly 230 lbs., Greene can expect to take the majority of the goal line carries for head coach Rex Ryan and offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

4. Chase Coffman: TE, Cincinnati Bengals – After slipping nearly into the 4th round, I truly believe there will be a lot of teams regretting not selecting this very talented tight end out of the University of Missouri. Throughout his time in Columbia, Coffman was able to break the record for most catches by a tight end in their career with 247 (including 90 his senior season)! Once paired up with a healthy Carson Palmer, it would be far from a stretch to envision Coffman finishing the 2009 season as a top 10 fantasy tight end (similar to and if not better than the rookie impact of Seattle’s John Carlson in 2008).


Thank you all for reading as always and feel free to leave your comments for me!!

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 7 -- Week of the Running Back

Well, well, well! It certainly has been a while. Last time I popped in, I was here talking about the NFL Draft highs and lows and telling everyone how good Steve Slaton would be (Nice call eh?) and how John David Booty would be challenging for Minnesota’s starting job by now (Ok, so maybe nobody’s perfect..). Anyway, the league is now in full swing and we are beginning to see what teams are ready to rise to the top (Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and the Giants) and who is going to sink quickly (Bengals, Chiefs, and Lions). As week 7 comes to a close, let’s take a look at the “Studs” and “Duds” in this edition of “O’Malley’s Tallies”…..

STUDS

1. Steven Jackson – Is Jim Haslett putting something in the Gatorade cooler for those St. Louis Rams???? Just when you thought it couldn’t get much worse in the “Show Me State” (putrid Chiefs and free falling Missouri Tigers), Interim coach Jim Haslett and the boys showed glimpses of what we used to call the “Greatest Show on Turf.” Leading Sunday’s beat down of Dallas was #39, as he ran for 160 yards on the ground with 3 rushing TD’s to go along with it. With back to back wins against two of the NFC’s best teams, one has to question the head coaching ability of recently fired Scott Linehan…

2. LenDale White/Chris Johnson – Move over Brandon Jacobs and Tiki Barber. The “Thunder and Lightning” tag has now been passed onto this dynamic duo from Nashville! That Glenn Dorsey pick is quickly looking like a B.U.S.T. for those Chiefs as Johnson and White TORCHED Kansas City for a combined 317 yards and 4 touchdowns. No, no, no…that is a not a misprint. That really happened in Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

3. Clinton Portis – Might next year’s #1 overall fantasy pick reside in the Nation’s Capital??? While it still may be too early to tell, C.P. is doing his best this year to move into that top spot. Portis ripped off another 175 yards yesterday in the Skin’s 14-11 win over the Browns on Sunday, making him on pace for more than 1,800 yards this season!

4. Mewelde Moore – Willie Parker. OUT! Rashard Mendenhall. OUT! Didn’t seem to matter much though to the black and gold on Sunday, as Mewelde “Need I say” Moore felt right at home in the backfield at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. The former Tulane Green Wave standout went to town against a winless Bengal team, running wild for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. With the offensive line beginning to gel and FWP expected back very soon, this could be a productive backfield going forward the rest of the year…

5. Andre Johnson – Is there any receiver in the league that is more consistent when healthy than Andre Johnson??? Including Sunday’s performance of 11 catches for 141 yards, A.J. has now averaged 10 catches and 150 yards the past 3 games, making PPR owners drool in the process! Going forward, if the hamstrings, groin muscles, and knee ligaments can somehow find a way to cooperate for a full season, a monster season is definitely in store for Houston’s Finest.

DUDS

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Terrible. Awful. Dreadful. Putrid. Vile. Dire. Appalling. Which ever one of these adjective’s you would like to use to describe this team, you are well within your right to do so. With an offense in absolute disarray and a defense with more holes than one could ever imagine, one would have to guess things are only going to get worse before they get better.

2. Peyton Manning – After watching Sunday’s Colts game, now I know where little brother Eli got the famous “Eli Face” whenever he makes a poor play. In a performance as rare as it gets, Peyton Manning was downright terrible yesterday at Lambeau Field. Whether it was the blustery winds or still not being 100% from knee surgery, #18 could not get into any rhythm yesterday as the Colts got THUMPED by the Packers 34-14. While the Colts and playoff berths have been synonymous for as long as we can remember, 2008 might be a year in which that trend comes to an end unless things turn around quickly in Indy.

3. Ronnie Brown – As the expression goes, “All good things must come to an end.” Unfortunately for me, this time the expression applies to Ronnie Brown and the rest of my Miami Dolphins. After a few weeks of the “Wildcat” offense being the talk of the league, Ronnie was shut down by Ray Lewis and Co. in a major way. After #23 only gained 27 yards on the ground on Sunday, one can begin to guess that the “Wildcat” offense may go back in the archives going forward this year.

4. Brad Johnson – While nobody was expecting this long time veteran to come in and create a quarterback controversy in Big D, you had to except better than what had occurred on Sunday afternoon. Filling in for the injured Tony Romo, Johnson struggled BIG TIME against a very poor Rams defense, throwing three picks vs. only one touchdown. After this terrible loss vs. St. Louis, one would have to guess the Cowboy’s training staff will be working overtime to get Mr. Romo back on the playing field in next week’s pivotal matchup vs. the highly underrated Tampa Bay defense.


That is all until next week. Keep an eye out this coming Sunday as the NFL goes across the pond against to Wembley Stadium for a matchup of two desperate teams in the Saints and Chargers. Speak to you then!!!

"O'Malley's Tallies" - - NFL Draft 2k8

Wow! Time really does fly. It seems like such a short time ago I was writing about last year’s weekly fantasy contributors and now the draft has already come and gone. As I am sure is the case with most of you, the weekend of the NFL Draft is something I look forward to every year. While you may be ready to pull your hair after ESPN beats the proverbial dead horse every year with wall to wall previews the week before, once the draft begins is when the excitement really begins. While this year may have lacked the top heavy star power of other years, the 2008 draft class was full of a number of talented collegiate athletes that will make an impact for their teams for years to come. With nothing is certain and the draft truly is a crap shoot sometimes, my edition of “OMalley’s Tallies” this week will focus on some of the teams I felt did the best and worst as well as some fantasy sleepers to keep an eye on going forward through training camp and into the regular season. Without further ado, here is my recap of this year’s draft…


CREAM OF THE CROP

1. Kansas City Chiefs – While I may be the FURTHEST thing from a Herman Edwards fan, after this weekend I must tip my hat to him and G.M. Carl Peterson for an outstanding job drafting. After ranking 28th in the NFL last year against the run, the Chiefs addressed a major need right away by grabbing the draft’s best run stuffer in LSU’s Glenn Dorsey. From there, the team went on to fill their other major need by grabbing offensive guard Brandon Albert from UVA. Out of all the picks in the 1st round, Albert was by far and away the best value pick in my opinion as he should help solidify an offensive line lacking a lot of talent and youth. In the 2nd round, the team struck gold again by selecting cornerback Brandon Flowers out of Virginia Tech. While Flowers may not possess the speed of Leodis McElvin or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, he is by far and away the draft’s most physical corner (could eventually benefit from a move to safety later in his career) and will make an immediate impact for the team on the other side of veteran Patrick Surtain. Here are some of the rest of the Chief’s great picks last weekend:



+ 3rd round (82 overall): DuJuan Morgan, Safety (NC State)
+ 4th round (106 overall): William Franklin, WR (Missouri)



2. Carolina – While many will question the team for not addressing the quarterback position, I look at the team’s draft as one that has seemed to fly under the radar as one of the league’s best. After losing Deshaun Foster to free agency, the team immediately replaced him with a physical athlete in Johnathon Stewart from Oregon. Along with D’Angelo Williams, this backfield will possess a lot of youth and that “thunder and lightning” quality that more and more teams strive to attain in today’s game. From there, the team did a great job just six picks later in acquiring University of Pittsburgh Offensive Tackle Jeff Otah who will help pave the way for the two young men mentioned in the preceding. Despite not having a 2nd round pick, the team still found their man in the 3rd round by selecting one of my favorites, CB/S Charles Godfrey out of Iowa. While they officially list him as a cornerback, Godfrey has a future at safety in my opinion and possesses that blue collar attitude that seems so prevalent from Hawkeye players. While I know this may be a big statement, but I see a lot of former Hawkeye Bob Sanders in Charles Godfrey and could eventually be a replacement for Panthers fan favorite Mike Minter.



+ 3rd round (74th overall): Dan Connor, LB (Penn State)
+ 5th round (141st overall): Gary Barnidge, TE (Louisville)



3. Tampa Bay – John Gruden and company hit the jackpot at pick #20 with one of my absolute favorite players in the draft Aqib Talib. Despite major character issues and questions about drug habits, Talib is by far one of the draft’s most athletically gifted athletes and will be in the running for Rookie Defensive MVP (You heard it here first..). His ability as a punt returner and also on occasion wide receiver at KU gives coach Gruden some additional weapons in his arsenal to use from time to time when needed. Did I mention how much I LOVE this pick???? Staying in line with the athleticism, the Bucs did a great job in the second round as well taking Dexter Jackson from 1-AA powerhouse Appalachian State. While he definitely lacks the size that most teams look for, Jackson is a game changer and can hit the “home run ball” at any time. With a good camp, look for Jackson to be a great slot option and take some pressure off aging veteran Joey Galloway. In the 3rd round, Rutger’s T/G Jeremy Zuttah was another great value pick that should compete for a starting job on Tampa’s line this year.



+ 5th round (160th overall): Josh Johnson, QB (San Diego)
+ 6th round (175th overall): Geno Hayes, LB (FSU)




WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!?!?

1. Tennesee – When your leading receiver from the previous year is a slow, possession receiver by the name of Justin Gage, you know it is time to get yourself a playmaker wide receiver for Vince Young. While they did get themselves a playmaker running back in Chris Johnson from ECU, the fact that they didn’t take a receiver until the late 4th round (Lavelle Hawkins, Cal) and instead took two defensive ends and a tight end (ANOTHER tight end drafted by the Titans!?!?) should really be disheartening to #10.



2. Chicago – “With the 14th overall pick in the 2008 draft, the Chicago Bears select University of Illinois and hometown hero running back Rashard Mendenhall!” Oh…wait…they took Chris Williams, offensive tackle from Vanderbilt. While I can’t knock Williams as a player, the selection to me was not the right one. Instead of taking Mendenhall and immediately getting themselves a playmaker to spell 1st round bust Cedric Benson, the team later reached heavily on RB Matt Forte out of Tulane in the early part of round two. With the exception of a good value pick in Craig Steltz in late 4th round, I was not a fan of what the Monsters of the Midway did on draft day.



3. Jacksonville – Why would you trade up to #8 overall and give up a number of picks in the process to take the most over hyped player in the draft in Derrick Harvey? Yea…I don’t know either. For a second round pick, they could have easily convinced a desperate Miami Dolphin team to trade them All World defensive end Jason Taylor and been that much closer to making that Super Bowl push that many scouts believe is right around the corner. Instead, they will have to deal with the growing pains and ups and downs of having two rookie defensive ends (Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves) instead of a former Defensive MVP.





SLEEPER FANTASY CONTRIBUTORS IN 2008:


1) Steve Slaton (RB, Houston Texans) – for anyone that regularly watched WVU football games the past few years like myself, it is evident what a playmaker Steve Slaton really is. While his numbers slipped his junior year due to some nagging injuries and the emergence of Noel Devine at WVU, Slaton can definitely still change a game on one play. When you add together Slaton’s playmaking ability and the wide open mess that is the Houston Texan’s backfield, this rookie 3rd rounder should have every opportunity to be a 1,000 yard back this season.

2) Dustin Keller (TE, New York Jets) – In round 2 of the draft, the Jets may have found themselves their first playmaker tight end in years. Missing on players Like Anthony Becht and Chris Baker over the years, Keller should finally be that athletic tight end in line with the Jason Witten and Jeremy Shockey’s of the world. Despite the presence of veteran Bubba Franks, Keller should get every opportunity to be the playmaker after Chris Baker is most likely cut in the coming weeks or months.

3) John David Booty (QB, Minnesota) – I know, I know. You must ALL think I am crazy for this one and I am well aware it is a major reach. However, the quarterback situation is far from settled in Minnesota with Tavaris Jackson, journeyman Gus Frerotte, and Brooks Bollinger on the roster. With that being said, Booty is used to playing against top competition coming from the Pac-10 and the Vikes West Coast offense should match up well for Booty. With Adrian Peterson in the backfield and newly signed Bernard Berrian aboard, would it really be that outlandish to think this 5th round pick has a shot to win the starting job? If he does, he could make for a serviceable QB2 in mixed leagues this coming season.

Others to consider: Limas Sweed (WR, Pittsburgh), Kevin Smith (RB, Detroit), John Carlson (TE, Seattle), Mario Manningham (WR, New York Giants)


Thanks for reading everyone! Feel free to send me your thoughts and opinions and I look forward to another season of football and “OMalley’s Tallies”!

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 14 -- Road to the Championship

It may have taken them 14 games, but my Phins finally won a game!! After seeing the always reliable Matt Stover miss a field goal in overtime to seal the win for the Ravens, it almost seemed destiny was on the sideline of the Aqua and Orange as Bob Griese and the 1972 Undefeated team looked on. In other news, Week 15 also featured one of the classier moves that the NFL has seen in a longtime by Eagles running back Brian Westbrook. On his way to an easy 20+ yard touchdown score, Westbrook fell to the ground at the one yard line, bringing the clock down to the 2 minute warning and all but sealing the 10-6 victory for the Eagles with the Cowboys out of timeouts. While fantasy owners may have been ready to pull their hair out, Westbrook’s move truly embodied all the good that professional sports in our country stand for. Here is the rest of the good and bad that Week 15 had to offer…

Studs

1. Jamal Lewis – Sunday in Cleveland featured a showdown of monumental proportions when the Bills visited the Browns for what would most likely be a game that allowed the winner to move onto into the playoffs as a wildcard. Despite conditions being horrible with a blizzard invading Cleveland, Jamal Lewis went about his business and put the Browns on his back. Carrying the rock a whopping 33 times, Lewis gained 163 yards and allowed Phil Dawson to add a few field goals to lead his team to an 8-0 victory.

2. Aaron Stecker – Who needs Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister when you have Aaron Stecker?! With the Saints still on life support for the sixth and final playoff spot, Stecker was a huge part of New Orleans’ victory on Sunday vs. the Cardinals. Overall, Stecker carried it 22 times for 95 yards and scored two very important touchdowns in the 31-24 win.

3. Roydell Williams – Also in the thick of very tight AFC Playoff race, the Tennessee Titans needed a big second half to get the win in the always difficult Arrowhead Stadium. One major contributor to this win was Roydell Williams, who caught 4 balls for 94 yards in the 26-17 victory. The former Tulane Green Wave star scored two touchdowns as well to end the day as Vince Young’s number one target.

4. Clinton Portis – In typical New York Giants fashion, the team laid down when they needed a win the most Sunday night at home vs. Washington. With Todd Collins starting an NFL game for the first time in nearly a decade, Clinton Portis picked up the slack for the Skins and did everything the team needed him to do in the 22-10 victory. When it was all said and done, C.P. finished with 25 carries for 126 yards and a touchdown to help bring the Skins back to .500 at 7-7.

5. Tampa Bay Defense – For those that were smart enough to start Tampa Bay’s defense yesterday vs. the Falcons were definitely rewarded. With touchdowns coming from both the defense and special teams as well as intercepting Chris Redman twice, fantasy points were definitely piling up in Raymond James Stadium yesterday.

Duds

1. John Kitna – All the losses and the heartache seem to be piling up very quickly in the Motor City lately. Once the talk of the NFL at 6-2, John Kitna appeared to be ready to book a flight to Honolulu in February. Six straight losses later, the Lions have fallen back into their role as the league’s doormat. Flying cross country to play the Chargers, Kitna threw a whopping 5 interceptions with a few of them being returned the other way for a defensive touchdown.

2. Tony Romo – Whether it was the Eagles defense, a sprained thumb, or having Jessica Simpson wearing his jersey in the luxury box yesterday, Tony Romo did not get it done for the Cowboys yesterday. After leading his team and millions of fantasy owners to the top for the entire year, Romo struggled to lock up home field advantage for the Cowboys throughout the playoffs in the team’s 10-6 loss to the Eagles. On the day, Eastern Illinois’ finest finished 13-36 with 214 yards and 3 interceptions. Ouch..

3. Eli Manning – 18 out of 52?!?!? DID ELI MANNING REALLY COMPLETE ONLY 18 OUT OF 52 PASSES ON SUNDAY NIGHT?!? With a 34.6 completion percentage and only 184 yards passing, you must known that you are destined for the “Dud” list on Monday afternoon..

4. Sean Alexander – Seven carries for 17 yards is definitely NOT going to get it done. With the passing game beginning to flourish under Matt Hasselback and Alexander’s role beginning to clearly diminish, the Seahawks must seriously evaluate whether or not they plan on bringing #37 and his lofty salary number back next season.

SEE YA NEXT TIME FOR FANTASY CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK!

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 14: Playoffs Begin

For almost all leagues, the Fantasy playoffs are now in full force. Unlike real professional football, the seedings truly mean nothing just as long as you make the playoffs. On any given week, that fantasy juggernaut on your club may run into a tough matchup, deal with tough weather, or be benched with their team clinching a seed in the NFL playoffs. While the regular season can always be a grind, now is the time when fantasy managers must buckle down and do their homework in order to win that desired league championship. Here are the highs and lows of what Week 14 brought to us…

STUDS

1. Trent Edwards – It definitely may not have been pretty at times, but when it was all said and done, Trent Edwards had a huge day for the Buffalo Bills. With each game being a must win for the Bills in the wildcard hunt, Edwards stepped up and led his team to a 38-17 beatdown of the lowly Fish in Orchard Park. On the day, Edwards finished 11-23, 165 yards, and 4 touchdowns with 0 interceptions. The Bills will head to Cleveland next week in a huge matchup vs. the Browns..

2. Jason Witten – Just when you thought it was safe to say Jason Witten and the Cowboys were dead in the water today vs. the Lions, the former Tennessee Volunteer and Tony Romo took over. Down 6 with under two minutes left and no timeouts, the Cowboys came right down the field with no problems and eventually took the lead with a beautiful touchdown grab by Witten. When it was all said and done, J Witt had a whopping FIFTEEN CATCHES for 138 yards and that aforementioned game winning touchdown grab.

3. LaDanian Tomlinson – After struggling to get going for nearly the entire first half, LaDanian Tomlinson and the Chargers eventually pulled off a huge overtime victory in Nashville. L.T’s 146 yards rushing, 27 yards receiving, and and 2 touchdowns were definitely the difference in the Bolt’s 23-17 victory Sunday, all but assuring the team the AFC West crown.

4. Plaxico Burress – Struggling for weeks with nagging injuries that have affected his performance greatly, Burress finally showed up on Sunday in the City of Brotherly Love. In a game in which Eli Manning was finally efficient throughout, Burress dragged in 7 balls for 136 yards and a touchdown in Big Blue’s 16-13 victory. With the 5^th spot in the playoff race about to be clinched for the Giants, Burress owners must remain cautious in the event the Giants bench the receiver to heal his injuries before playoff time.

5. Ryan Grant – After weeks of running back questions in the beginning of the year, the Packers have definitely found their answer heading into the playoffs with Mr. Ryan Grant. Since earning the starting gig, Grant has not disappointed with Sunday being no different. In a game in which temperatures were in the mid teens, Grant carried the rock 29 times for 156 yards and a touchdown in the Pack’s 38-7 rout of the Raiders in Lambeau.

6. Marion Barber – Anytime you scored three touchdowns, your name must be noted somewhere. For MB III, those touchdowns along with his 10 receptions and 100+ total yards were a great holiday gift to all his owners countrywide.

7. Tom Brady – is there even a question anymore???

DUDS

1. Vinny Testaverde – After initially starting out as a nice, feel good story when he had his first start a few weeks back, Vinny Testaverde is definitely beginning to show his age. With the offense sputtering in all phases of the game, a matchup Sunday vs. the hot Jacksonville Jaguar club was not what the Panthers had hoped for. Before getting pulled in favor of a backup, Vinny was a dismal 13-28 for 84 yards and an interception. While Vinny has already expressed his interest in returning next season, one must wonder if there are any teams out there that would take a chance on the 43 yard old quarterback.

2. Josh McCown – For years, Lambeau Field has always been considered one of the toughest places to place for visiting clubs in the month of December. Unfortunately for Josh McCown, Sunday was a day in which he had to learn the hard way. Before being replaced by Andrew Walter, McCown went 7-15 for 110 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs in that blowout loss to the Cheeseheads. While the team has definitely grown leaps and downs from last year, the constant revolving door of quarterbacks from the bench to under center needs to become more consistent going forward.

3. Baltimore Ravens – How does a team with leaders like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Derrick Mason get embarrassed that bad on national television!?!? Right from the outset, this Ravens club looked the polar opposite of what they looked like last week vs. the Patriots on Monday Night Football. That 43-20 final score is much closer than it could have been if the Colts would have gone full throttle all four quarters…

4. Kolby Smith – Going up against a suspect Denver rush defense, many including myself expected Kolby Smith to have a day to make fantasy owners smile. The result instead was 13 carries for 12 yards. The Chiefs and Smith would of nearly been just as good if they would of stayed in Kansas City and forfeited the game. Another ugly performance for Herman Edwards’ crew..

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 13: Peyton's Place

As we head into the December portion of the NFL schedule, it should be a time where we are focusing on key divisional races and which teams are going to take that next step to the playoffs. However, after this past week, many NFL fans were faced with the harsh reality of life. Just this past week, the NFL lost one of it’s budding superstars when Sean Taylor was brutally attacked and killed in his home due to a gunshot wound near his thigh. Throughout the league, both players and coaches as well as fans did their part in remembering the 24 year old All-Pro Safety from the Washington Redskins. It is acts like these that are brutal reminders of how professional athletes are humans like everyone else. With that being said, here is the rest of what Week 13 had to offer….

STUDS

1. Peyton Manning – After a few weeks of being in an uncharacteristic lull, Sunday was a time for Peyton Manning to show why he is considered one of the game’s elite. Playing against a Jaguar defense that notoriously has played well vs. the Colts, Manning’s level of play was superb in Indy’s 28-25 victory over Jacksonville. When the final whistle blew, Manning’s stat line impressively read 20-29 for 288 yards and 4 touchdown passes (only 1 INT). Now if only his brother could be as consistent as he is…

2. Hines Ward – When you look around the NFL, there are few teams with a brighter history than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Whether it is Terry Bradshaw, Joe Green, Jack Lambert, or Franco Harris, the Steelers have always been a team built on tradition. After Sunday night, we can officially add Hines Ward to that exclusive class. With his 11 catch, 2 touchdown night, the former Georgia Bulldog officially became the club’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions, an honor that couldn’t go to a better person than #89.

3. Derrick Ward – With doubt being to creep into the mind of New Yorkers regarding the direction the Giants have been heading, the team knew they had to take care of business in Soldier Field to put some of the naysayers to rest. With Eli Manning getting off to another slow start, it was Derrick Ward who kept the Giants in it until the end before unfortunately breaking his leg. On the day, Ward carried the rock 24 times for 154 yards and a score in the team’s 21-16 comeback victory.

4. Torry Holt – After starting out the season 0-8, the St. Louis Rams are beginning to play great football by winning three out of their last four. One of Sunday’s big stars was Torry “Big Game” Holt, whose 6 catches, 135 yards and 1 TD were a major catalyst for the team’s 28-16 victory vs. the Dirty Birds in St. Louis.

5. Earnest Graham – Don’t look now, but the Tampa Bay Bucaneers are now 8-4! Coming off a year in which they had one of the league’s worst records and a top five pick in the NFL Draft, John Gruden and the Bucs are very close to winning the AFC South crown with 4 games left to go. In Sunday’s wild, last second win vs. the Saints, Earnest Graham did the job for his team by gaining 106 yards on the ground with 1 TD and 7 receptions for 37 yards. With such an impressive season filling in for Cadillac Williams, Earnest Graham may have earned himself a look for a starting gig come next season.
   

DUDS

1. John Beck – So much for a successful home opener! My Fish are now 0-12, due in part to a very poor game from rookie quarterback John Beck. Known for his smart plays and good decision making, Beck threw three interceptions on the day and no touchdowns in the team’s 40-13 loss to the rival New York Jets. If Beck does not have a few good outings the rest of the way, the Dolphins will be faced with a tough decision about whether or not to take a quarterback in the draft.

2. A.J. Feeley – After nearly beating the Patriots last week on the road, A.J. Feeley was awful this week at home vs. the Seattle in a must win. Overall, A.J. completed than less than 50% of his passes and tossed 4 interceptions in the team’s 28-24 loss vs. Lofa Tatupu and the Seahawks.

3. Carson Palmer – Whenever you go 17-44 in the air, you know that you are going to be in for a long day. When you combine that with only throwing for 183 yards, it is no wonder that Carson Palmer and the Bengals looked lost offensively last night vs. the Steelers…

4. Brett Favre – Despite being known for his heroics in the big game, Brett Favre was absolutely terrible on Thursday night in the colossal matchup vs. the Cowboys. Before succumbing to injury late in the 2^nd quarter, Brett went 5-14 for 56 yards and 2 interceptions, equating easily to one of his worst games of the year for the Pack.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK!!!

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 12 -- 85 Comes Alive

With the holiday weekend upon us, Week 12 in the NFL this year was a time in which we as Americans were to give thanks for everything that we sometimes tend to take for granted. It was a time meant to be enjoyed with our closest friends and family, yet also to remember those all over the world fighting to protect our freedom on a daily basis. With stand up individuals like LaDananian Tomlinson taking time out of his life to donate thousands of turkeys to family's in the San Diego wildfire area, it is a refreshing reminder of how NFL superstars are humans too and understand the importance of the Thanksgiving tradition. Without further ado, here is the top and bottom of Week 12 in this edition of "O.T's"....

STUDS

1. Chad Johnson – After not reaching the endzone for a number of weeks heading into Sunday’s game vs. Tennesee, Ocho Cinco finally had that coming out party that he was so desperately looking to show the country. In a season full of disappointment for the underachieving Bengals, Sunday marked a major bright spot as Chad hauled in 12 balls for 103 yards and 3 touchdowns to help lead the bengals to a 35-6 stomping of the Titans.

2. Kolby Smith – First it was Larry Johnson broking a bone in his foot. Then it was Priest Holmes severely reinjuring his neck and having to retire. These were the events it took to help turn rookie running back Kolby Smith from a zero to a hero instantly! Going against a Raiders run defense with more holes than a piece of swiss cheese, Smith carved up Oakland (no cheesy Thanksgiving turkey pun intended I swear…) for a whopping 150 yards and two scores in the team’s 20-17 loss vs. the Men in Black. With continued performances like this heading down the stretch, more and more people around the country will surely begin to take note of this impressive University of Louisville product.

3. Minnesota Defense – What do you get when you mix an early Giants deficit and an erratic Eli Manning?? The answer is a MONSTER day for the Purple People Eater defense in the swamps of the Meadowlands on Sunday. On the day, Eli threw for 4 touchdowns, yet only 1 of them went to one of his guys wearing the blue uniforms. The rest of those TD passes went to Darren Sharper, Dwight Smith, and Chad Greenway in the Vikings 41-17 laugher of a victory. With fantasy playoffs just around the corner, those of you who started Minnesota Defense must be grinning ear to ear this morning..

4. Wes Welker – ATTENTION! This is not a mistake! Wes Welker did indeed take Randy Moss’ spot on the stud list this week! In a game in which Lito Sheppard did an outstanding job shutting down Mr. Moss, Wes Welker went out and made a killing for those in PPR leagues with a whopping 13 catches for 149 yards. While he may not have reached the endzone vs. the Eagles, Welker was definitely Mr. Clutch for Tom Brady and the Patriots during their nailbiter of a win late Sunday night.

5. Larry Fitzgerald – Besides the afformentioned Randy Moss, if there is a more consistent wide receiver in all of football besides Larry Fitzgerald I haven’t seen him yet. Each and every week, this former Pitt Panther just goes out and does what he is supposed to do. Mr. Fitzgerald definitely went above and beyond on Sunday, catching 9 balls for 156 yards and two touchdowns (including a 48 yard Hail Mary reception at the end of the first half!) in the Cardinals heartbreaking defeat to the dreadful San Francisco 49ers.

DUDS

1. Eli Manning – Just when you think it is safe to say the Giants will put their late season disappointments behind them, Eli Manning and a horrendous game occurs! Eli was downright dreadful on Sunday with his 4 interceptions and a 33.8 quarterback rating. It will NOT get any easier as the G-Men head to Soldier Field to face a fired up Devon Hester and the Chicago Bears..

2. Todd Sauerbrun – As Dan Dierdorf kept saying during yesterday’s telecast, “YOU CAN’T KICK IT TO DEVON HESTER!” While punters typically don’t make a major impact in a game, Sauerbrun’s questionable punting repertoire yesterday afternoon had a lot to do with the Broncos blowing a 4^th quarter 14 point lead. After a game like this, there is no doubt Mr. Sauerbrun will be sure to kick that ball is far out of bounds as possible next time he faces #23 on the Bears.

3. David Carr – 10-22, 95 yards, and two interceptions. Awful, Awful, Awful. You can guarantee the Carolina Panthers will be monitoring the likes of Matt Ryan and Brian Brohm come April’s NFL draft after a performance like this out of the former #1 overall pick and Jake Delhomme coming off surgery.

4. Herman Edwards – First it was a punter, now it is a coach on the Dud list! With the Chiefs down 20-17 late in the 4^th quarter vs. Oakland, the team faced a 4^th and 1 near the Raiders 20 yard line and elected to go for it instead of kicking the field goal. While we all know that Herman “PLAYS..TO WIN..THE GAME”, the old adage is that you try to win it on the road, and go for the tie at home. Without much surprise, the Chiefs did not convert on 4^th down and ended up losing to the Raiders at home.
   

SPEAK TO YOU ALL NEXT WEEK!!!

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 11 -- 4 of a Kind

Coming into Week 11, there was not that one major marquee game that everyone seemed to be talking about. Unlike in week's past when the Pats played the Colts or the Cowboys played the Giants, Week 11 was all about dodging that potential spoiler that could make or break a team's playoff hopes. Some teams like the Colts, Eagles, and Bucs all managed to take care of their business and get that crucial win they desperately needed. However, a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers may have slightly overlooked their opponent and suffered a loss vs. a Jet team that loved playing that underdog role of "spoiler." Without further ado, here are the rest of the ups and downs of week 11...

STUDS

1. Terrell Owens – If it wasn’t for the aforementioned Mr. Moss up in New England, T.O. would be the man everyone is talking about as the league’s top receiver. Despite numerous double teams and safety help from various defenses each week, no one can seem to slow down the T.O./Romo train right now. Sunday was definitely no different, as Owens tied the club record with 4 touchdowns in a game to go along with 8 catches for 173 yards in Dallas’ 28-23 victory over division rival Washington.

2. Chester Taylor – Despite losing the consensus Rookie of the Year to a knee injury last week, the Vikings didn’t seem to miss a beat at all with Chester Taylor handling the load. Going against a Raiders rush defense that has been abysmal all year long, Taylor ran wild in the Metrodome for a total of 164 yards on 22 carries. In addition, it was his three touchdowns that sealed the deal in the Vikes 29-22 victory that spoiled the homecoming of former quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

3. Antrel Rolle – If you saw any of Sunday’s Cardinals/Bengals game on television you might have thought that Cardinals cornerback Antrel Rolle was one of Carson Palmer’s top receivers! In a game expected to be an offensive shootout right from the get go, it was Rolle and the Cardinals defense that were the catalyst for Zona’s 35-27 road victory yesterday. On the day, Rolle registered 4 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 deflected passes, and two defensive touchdowns. Any of you out there that were smart enough to start him in your IDP leagues deserve a major pat on the back!

4. Tom Brady/Randy Moss – I wasn’t lying last week when I said the only week these two wouldn’t make the stud list is during the team’s bye. It is almost comical how easy these two are making it look on the football field right now..

5. Matt Hasselback – When you think of Pro Bowl quarterbacks this season, who do you think of? Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo?? How about a little respect for Matt Hasselback ladies and gentlemen! Very quietly, Hasselback is truly having a great year for the Seahawks despite a banged up Shaun Alexander for the majority of the way. Playing Sunday against a talented Chicago defense, the former Golden Eagle stepped up big time, throwing for 337 yards and 2 touchdowns against 0 interceptions in the team’s 30-23 win. With 17 touchdowns and a 91.7 quarterback rating thus far, we could be seeing Mr. Hasselback in Aloha Stadium come February.

DUDS

1. Donovan McNabb – As I have said many times before, WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK CAN MAKE! After torching the Skins last week for four touchdown passes, D Mac was truly horrific this week vs. the Fish at home in front of his home fans. Before getting injured late in the second quarter, McNabb’s stat line was 3-11 for 34 yards and two interceptions. If it wasn’t for a dominant effort out of Brian Westbrook, yesterday’s game vs. the winless Fish could of gotten a little interesting for the Eagles..

2. Byron Leftwich – Why would Bobby Petrino bench Joey Harrington after leading the Falcons to back to back wins? My thoughts exactly. Before eventually getting yanked in the middle of the game, Leftwich looked awful against a hungry Buc’s team coming off of their bye week. For the day, Leftwich went 15-28 for an ugly 106 yards and two interceptions. While Harrington is far from the second coming of Johnny Unitas, at least the team has had the ability to win a few with him at the helm.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers – This one is quick and easy. If you want to be put in the same discussions at the Colts and Patriots, you do not under any circumstances lose to the Jets at home. Whether it was the poor effort from the offensive line or the defense looking slow and sluggish at times, the Steelers definitely did not come to play on Sunday. With Mike Tomlin being such a no nonsense type of coach, expect the Steelers to bounce back next week and trounce Ricky and Fins next Monday night.

4. Trent Dilfer – Here is a good question for all of my faithful readers. Who do you think would total more points/runs over the course of 16 games? The San Francisco 49ers or the San Francisco Giants? I never thought I would say this coming into this year, but the 49ers are truly AWFUL on the offensive side of the ball. JOE NEDNEY FOR THE TEAM’S OFFENSIVE MVP!!!

THANKS AS ALWAYS!!

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 10 -- Week of the Quarterback

With the Patriots on bye this week, this was the only week I could guarentee Tom Brady wouldn't be in the running for a spot on the stud list! Instead of a lot of hype surrounding the Patriots run at perfection, much of the focus was aimed at the division showdown in the Meadowlands with Dallas coming to face the Giants. While the Giants all week have tried to downplay the fact that many of their wins have come against some of the NFL's worst (including my Dolphins who now stand as the lone team without a win...WOW!), the team clearly didn't come to play as Romo and Co. went on to the victory and a big lead in the NFC East. As always, I bring you the rest of the NFL's highs and lows in the Week 10 Edition of "O.T's"....

STUDS

1. Ben Roethlisberger – Playing in a city with such a strong blue collar, working class mentality, Big Ben is quickly starting to embody everything that the city of Pittsburgh stands for. Despite an early double digit deficit to Romeo Crennel’s Browns on Sunday, Roethlisberger was very resilient and a man of his word when he told Coach Tomlin at the half that he would bring home the W for the team. After a sub par first half for the Ohio native, Ben had a monster second half against Cleveland, throwing for two TD’s and running for another. With continued play like this, one can argue that #7 looks to be the jewel of the 2004 quarterback class.

2. Brett Favre – Is there anyone honestly that loves playing the game of football more than #4? Each and every week, Favre is running down the field with a huge smile on his face, meeting one of his many weapons in the endzone for another touchdown celebration. This Sunday proved to be no different, as the league’s all time leading touchdown passer went nuts against the Vikes! On the day, Brett completed over 70% of his passes, threw for 351 yards and three scores in the 34-0 rout. In addition, a QB rating of over 115 certainly doesn’t hurt either…

3. Selvin Young – After Travis Henry was declared inactive before the Bronco’s game Sunday in K.C., Selvin Young was given his first starting nod of his young career. Despite playing in front of one of the league’s most difficult atmospheres at Arrowhead Stadium, Young did absolutely nothing to disappoint like a typical Broncos running back should. For the afternoon, the former Longhorn carried the pigskin 20 times for 109 yards (including a 20 yard touchdown scamper in the 3^rd quarter), caught 3 balls for 20 yards, and helped lead his club to a must win on the road.

4. Kurt Warner – If I going to criticize a man when he does poorly I better be able to pay homage to him when he does well. This definitely applies to Kurt Warner, who after a putrid performance last week bounced back to beat the red hot Detroit Lions at home on Sunday. All in all, Warner threw for 259 yards and three scores against only one interception in the Cards 31-21 win in Glendale. With such great young talent around him each week, it is amazing that games like this don’t happen more often..

5. Donovan McNabb – Despite a lot of distractions for the team lately regarding the legal troubles of head coach Andy Reid’s two sons, Donovan McNabb and the Eagles went out on Fed Ex Field on Sunday and looked extremely efficient. Even though the playoff hopes of the team may be dwindling away, the Birds and McNabb went into the Nation’s capital and threw all over an overrated Redskins secondary. The final stat line for D-Mac ready 20-28, 251 yards, 4 TD’s, and a 138.5 passer rating. With many in Philly wondering if both McNabb and Reid will return next season, it was refreshing to see the two embrace afterwards on the sideline in a move that D-Mac says was filled with “A lot of love.”

DUDS

1. Adam Vinatieri – THE THREE GUARENTEES IN LIFE: DEATH, TAXES, AND ADAM VINATIERI MAKING GAME WINNING FIELD GOALS! Well, um, that was until late Sunday night. In a shocking turn of events, Mr. Clutch went 0-2 on his field goals attempts, including missing a 29 yard field goal to win the game for his ballclub with less than two minutes to go. While it is far from panic time in Indy, one has got to wonder why A.V. has missed three field goals in the past two weeks…

2. Minnesota Vikings – Some things don’t add up. After THUMPING the Chargers last week in a dramatic and record setting day for Adrian Peterson, the Vikes went out and put up a donut in a 34-0 loss to Brett Favre and the Pack. I guess that “Not for Long” acronym really does apply to the N.F.L.

3. Peyton Manning – Despite setting a career high in attempts and throwing for a boat load of yards Sunday night vs. the Bolts, Manning and his six interceptions were downright ugly. A first round bye that seemed to be a lock only a few weeks ago is definitely getting a lot tighter now as the Colts hit their annual mini rut with two straight losses.

4. Cedric Benson – Normally I would never ever pick on a player that scores a touchdown in a game but when it comes to Cedric Benson, I am definitely going to make an exception. While he did gain over 70 yards on Sunday, it took him 29 carries to do so against one of the league’s worst rushing defenses. As his yards per carry continue to plummet each week and the word “bust” begins to get brought up, the former top 5 overall pick may soon start getting compared to the former bear running back Mr. Curtis Enis. Ouch!

Thanks as always to my faithful readers! Until next time!!

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 9 -- Best of the Best

While there were a number of games on the Week 9 Schedule this week, all the talk has generally been about the colossal matchup between the undefeated Colts and Patriots. Dubbed as "Super Bowl 41 1/2", this battle between two arch rivals on Sunday lived up to the excitement as 29 million Americans tuned in to watch the best the NFL has to offer. For the first time in franchise history, the Colts blew a double digit 4th quarter lead at home and the Patriots went on to win and improve to 9-0. After Sunday's win, I think it may be officially time for Nick Buoniconti and company to start to panic in South Florida. Here are the rest of Week 9's highs and low in this edition of "O.T's"...

STUDS

1. Adrian Peterson – As I said a few weeks back, the Rookie of the Year Competition is officially over. Despite going up against a defense that absolutely demolished the Texans last week, A Pete absolutely WENT OFF on Sunday at home vs. the Chargers. In total, Peterson carried the ball 30 times for 296 yards, caught 1 pass for 19 yards, and scored three touchdowns to help lead his Vikes to an impressive 35-17 victory.

2. Joseph Addai – For the second week in a row, the former Bayou Bengal had another dominant performance. With all the hype in “Super Bowl 41 ½” clearly aimed at Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Randy Moss, Mr. Addai was arguably the most valuable player in the entire game despite the Colts losing. All in all, Addai rushed 26 times for 112 yards while also catching 5 balls for 114 yards and a TD. After watching him on Sunday, there is no reason to expect top 5 numbers from here on out.

3. David Harris – While the Jets may have blown a double digit lead at home Sunday vs. the Redskins, one major bright spot throughout the game was the play of rookie Linebacker David Harris. Taking over for former Pro Bowler Jonathan Vilma (out for season with knee injury) for the second straight week, Harris had a whopping 24 tackles this week and seemed to be around the ball on almost all defensive plays. For those of you in IDP leagues, David Harris definitely is a must play going forward.

4. Terrell Owens – Since his ugly departure from the team a few years back, a trip to Philadelphia to play the Eagles is almost always a huge story when it comes to Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens. Playing in the national spotlight Sunday night, Owens made sure he did his best to rile up his former fans by coming up with a huge performance in the “City of Brotherly Love”. His 10 catches, 174 yards and a touchdown played a pivotal role in the 38-17 Dallas rout and led T.O. to shower Eagle fans repeatedly with the phrase “I LOVE IT!”

5. Detroit Lions – When the Lions beat ANYONE (even a High School team!!) by the score of 44-7, it should be noted. For a franchise that has suffered through a ton of losing throughout the years, they are quietly on their way to a playoff birth with a 6-2 record. Perhaps John Kitna’s bold prediction of a 10-6 record doesn’t seem so outlandish anymore..

6. Clinton Portis – After struggling for the majority of the year to regain some of that explosiveness for which he is known by, Portis finally had the game Redskin fans have been waiting for. Going against a Jets front four that has left a lot to be desired this year, Portis ran for 196 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries (including 37 yards in overtime) to help the Skins escape the Meadowlands with a 23-20 victory.

DUDS

1. Josh McCown – 13-28, 158 yards with 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. CALLING LANE KIFFIN!! TIME TO PLAY JAMARCUS RUSSELL!!

2. Rudi Johnson/Kenny Watson – What has happened to the Cincinnati Bengals? Once a preseason favorite to make the postseason, the “Bungals” have now lost 6 out of their last 7 including Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. Going against a Bills defense that has been extremely poor against the run this year, Cincy couldn’t get anything going on the ground with their two headed monster of Rudi Johnson and Kenny Watson. Combined, the tandom totaled 22 yards on 13 carries in the 33-21 loss, dropping the team to 2-6 and all but assuring another season without a postseason birth.

3. Alex Smith – Since being drafted first overall out of Utah a few years back, one of Alex Smith’s biggest attributes was his precision accuracy and ability to avoid the big mistake. Throughout Sunday at Atlanta, he was anything but accurate. Completing only 44.7% of his passes, Smith threw for only 149 yards and three interceptions in the 49ers loss to the lowly Atlanta Falcons.

4. Kurt Warner – When you complete only 33% of your passes, chances are there is going to be a big “L” in the win/loss column on Sunday. This was indeed the case for Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, as his 10-30/2 interception day equated to a 17-10 loss at Tampa Bay.

Until next week, thank you for reading!

O'Malley's Tallies: Week 8 -- Live or Let Addai

Week 8 in the National Football League was definitely a historic one as the league showcased their talent overseas for the first time during a regular season game. As the Giants and Dolphins went to battle in Wembley Stadium in London, the NFL took the first real step in helping to make our great sport of American Football a worldwide phenomenon. As England continues to embrace our sport going forward, I bring you the Week 8 Edition of “O’Malley’s Tallies”…..

STUDS

1. Joseph Addai – Despite being in a definite trap game on the road in Carolina on Sunday (home vs. the Patriots next week), the Colts shook off a rusty beginning to the first quarter and eventually dominated the Panthers. This 31-7 beatdown was due in large part to Joseph Addai, who on the day gained 100 yards on 23 carries, caught 2 balls for 8 yards, and totaled 3 touchdowns. Despite rumblings mid week that he would be splitting carries going forward with Kenton Keith, Addai may have silenced some of that talk with such a dominant performance.

2. San Diego Defense/Special Teams – After such a horrible week in San Diego with the massive destruction caused by the wildfires, those living in the area that lost their homes hoped they could lean on the Chargers to bring the area something to feel good about it during this tough time. After jumping out to early lead due to the offense, it was both the defense and special teams that began to rally and absolutely HAMMER the Texans all day long. Whether it was recovering a botched punt for a touchdown or returning an interception for 70 yards, this defense truly gave the city of San Diego and fantasy owners alike something to be proud of.

3. Lee Evans – Prior to Sunday, a strong argument could have made that Lee Evans was easily the biggest disappointment in Fantasy Football this entire year. After a breakout season last year of near 1300 yards receiving, his slow start this year has been crippling those who took Evans very early in their drafts. However, as the expression goes, “Patience is a virtue.” On Sunday vs. the Jets, Evans finally had that breakout performance, catching 5 balls for 138 yards a touchdown. Included in those 5 catches was the game winning, 85 yard reception that he wrestled out of a defender’s hands and took it to the house to seal the victory for the Bills.

4. Tom Brady – See last week’s column, and the week before that, and most likely every week going forward. Absolutely unreal.

5. Drew Brees – It may have taken a little while, but the Saints of last year are definitely back. After starting the season 0-4, the team has now rallied to win three straight, largely in part due to the improved play of their quarterback Drew Brees. On the road Sunday vs. the 49ers, Brees had a quarterback rating of 136.8 by completing nearly 80% of his passes and throwing 4 touchdowns on 336 yards in a 31-10 win. With continued performances like this, the high powered New Orleans offense is going to tough to stop going forward.

DUDS

1. Plaxico Burress – Going into their matchup Sunday across the pond vs. the Miami Dolphins, Plaxico Burress had to be licking his chops with the prospect of going against a Miami Secondary without their two starting safeties and undersized corners. Projected as the #1 receiver by many experts going into week 8, Burress definitely didn’t come through as expected for fantasy owners. While the Giants still may have gotten the 13-10 victory, it was Burress’ 2 catch, 14 yard performance that leaves many owners scratching their heads.

2. Matt Schaub – What do you get when you add together an extremely talented defense and a hostile, emotional crowd? The answer is a NIGHTMARE for Matt Schaub. Before getting yanked in favor of Sage Rosenfels, Schaub completed 11 of 18 passes for only 77 yards and two interceptions. While the Texans may have been one of the feel good stories during the early portion of this season, things seem to be slowly but surely slipping away a little bit down in H-Town.

3. Brian Griese – I believe one major NFL analyst put it best on Sunday when he said, “If you lose to the Detroit Lions twice in one season, you don’t deserve to make the playoffs anyway.” That statement definitely was directed towards the Chicago Bears, who looked awful Sunday at home vs. those aforementioned Lions. While the blame can be spread in many different directions, the bulk of it must fall of the shoulders of quarterback Brian Griese. Going against a sub par Lions secondary, Griese went 22-40 for 208 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions. Unless a major winning streak begins after the bye week for the Bears, it may finally be time to say goodbye to the playoffs for the defending NFC Champions.

4. Vince Young – In what was easily one of Sunday’s most dreadful games of the day, the Tennesee Titans beat the Oakland Raiders 13-9 in Nashville. While those who believe in Young will overlook his stats for his winning record, I on the other hand believe the former Longhorn is extremely overrated. On the day, V.Y.’s completion percentage of 42.9 was higher than the amount of yards he threw for (42)!!!! Although the Titans may be 5-2 in the win/loss column, any of those who really believe they can compete with the Colts and Patriots in the AFC come playoff time is out of their mind.

See you all next week after the amazing matchup between the undefeated Colts and Patriots! Thanks for reading!!