Fantasy Rewind: Lightning strikes twice
Countless experts predicted the demise of QB Drew Brees this season. Think again. The field general threw four TD passes in a win over New Orleans, and heads this week's list of top performers.
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6 min read
The Fantasy Rewind is our look at the best and worst performances from Sunday's NFL games.
| PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
Drew Brees, San Diego: With apologizes to Colts QB
Peyton Manning and Eagles WR Terrell Owens, Brees has
to be considered a candidate for the league's MVP award. The
former Purdue Boilermaker threw for 257 yards with four
touchdowns, including three to TE Antonio Gates, and no
interceptions in a 43-17 blowout win over the New Orleans Saints.
He has now tossed nine touchdown passes in his past two games, and
is on pace to compile 3,296 yards and 32 scores with a mere five
interceptions over a full 16-game schedule. The effectiveness of
RB LaDainian Tomlinson along with the development of Gates
and addition of veteran WR Keenan McCardell have turned the
Chargers offense into a juggernaut -- and Brees into a valuable
No. 1 starter. San Diego has a bye next week, but its contest in
Week 11 at Oakland bodes well for Brees' chances to continue his
current hot streak.
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| QUARTERBACKS |
HOT -- Jake Plummer, Denver: 15/24, 234 yards, four
touchdowns, no interceptions, one carry, four yards, no touchdowns
vs. Houston. Week 10: bye; Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle: 17/28,
285 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, three carries,
minus-3 yards, no touchdowns at San Francisco. Week 10: at St.
Louis; Trent Green, Kansas City: 32/42, 369 yards, three
touchdowns, two interceptions, two carries, four yards, no
touchdowns at Tampa Bay. Week 10: at New Orleans; Jake
Delhomme, Carolina: 25/45, 299 yards, three touchdowns, no
interceptions, two carries, seven yards, no touchdowns vs.
Oakland. Week 10: at San Francisco; Brian Griese, Tampa Bay:
22/34, 296 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, four carries,
one yard vs. Kansas City. Week 10: at Atlanta;COLD -- Mark Brunell, Washington: 6/17, 58 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions at Detroit. Week 10: vs. Cincinnati; Kurt Warner, N.Y. Giants: 18/36, 195 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, one carry, three yards, no touchdowns, two lost fumbles vs. Chicago. Week 10: at Arizona; Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia: 15/24, 109 yards, no touchdowns, one interception at Pittsburgh. Week 10: at Dallas; Vinny Testaverde, Dallas: 18/30, 207 yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions, three carries, 18 yards, no touchdowns, one lost fumble at Cincinnati. Week 10: vs. Philadelphia; Chad Pennington, N.Y. Jets: 7/15, 141 yards, one touchdown, one interception, two carries, 14 yards, one lost fumble at Buffalo. Week 10: vs. Baltimore. |
| RUNNING BACKS |
HOT -- Michael Pittman, Tampa Bay: 15 carries, 128 yards,
three touchdowns, two receptions, 30 yards, no touchdowns vs.
Kansas City. Week 10: at Atlanta; Shaun Alexander, Seattle: 26
carries, 160 yards, two touchdowns at San Francisco. Week 10: at
St. Louis; Tiki Barber, N.Y. Giants: 21 carries, 72 yards,
two touchdowns, four receptions, 59 yards, no touchdowns vs.
Chicago. Week 10: at Arizona; Clinton Portis, Washington:
34 carries, 147 yards, no touchdowns, 1/1, 15 yards, one touchdown
at Detroit. Week 10: vs. Cincinnati; Anthony Thomas, Chicago:
28 carries, 110 yards, two touchdowns, one reception, five yards, no
touchdowns at N.Y. Giants. Week 10: at Tennessee.COLD -- Travis Henry, Buffalo: four carries, 15 yards, no touchdowns, no receptions, no yards, no touchdowns vs. N.Y. Jets. Week 10: at New England; Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia: six carries, 17 yards, no touchdowns, three receptions, four yards, no touchdowns at Pittsburgh. Week 10: at Dallas; Kevin Jones, Detroit: 12 carries, 20 yards, no touchdowns, one reception three yards, no touchdowns vs. Washington. Week 10: at Jacksonville; Eddie George, Dallas: eight carries, 23 yards, no touchdowns, one reception, three yards, no touchdowns at Cincinnati. Week 10: vs. Philadelphia; Curtis Martin, N.Y. Jets: 19 carries, 67 yards, no touchdowns, no receptions, no yards, no touchdowns at Buffalo. Week 10: vs. Baltimore. |
| WIDE RECEIVERS |
HOT -- Darrell Jackson, Seattle: five receptions, 114
yards, two touchdowns at San Francisco. Week 10: at St. Louis;
Santana Moss, N.Y. Jets: six receptions, 157 yards, one
touchdown, one carry, three yards, no touchdowns at Buffalo. Week
10: vs. Baltimore; Torry Holt, St. Louis: six receptions
111 yards, one touchdown vs. New England. Week 10: vs. Seattle;
Hines Ward, Pittsburgh: two receptions, 32 yards, one
touchdown, one carry, 16 yards, one touchdown vs. Philadelphia.
Week 10: at Cleveland; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona: five
receptions, 92 yards, one touchdown at Miami. Week 10: vs. N.Y.
Giants.COLD -- Rod Gardner, Washington: no receptions, no yards, no touchdowns, one carry, minus-10 yards, no touchdowns at Detroit. Week 10: vs. Cincinnati; Jerry Porter, Oakland: two receptions, 28 yards, no touchdowns at Carolina. Week 10: bye; Joe Horn, New Orleans: two receptions, 21 yards, no touchdowns at San Diego. Week 10: vs. Kansas City; Amani Toomer, N.Y. Giants: two receptions, 34 yards, no touchdowns vs. Chicago. Week 10: at Arizona; Roy Williams, Detroit: three receptions, 33 yards, no touchdowns vs. Washington. Week 10: at Jacksonville. |
| TIGHT ENDS |
HOT -- Antonio Gates, San Diego: five receptions, 56 yards,
three touchdowns vs. New Orleans. Week 10: bye; Tony Gonzalez,
Kansas City: nine receptions, 123 yards, one touchdown at
Tampa Bay. Week 10: at New Orleans; Jason Witten, Dallas:
six receptions, 97 yards, no touchdowns at Cincinnati. Week 10:
vs. Philadelphia; Matt Schobel, Cincinnati: two receptions,
84 yards, one touchdown vs. Dallas. Week 10: at Washington; Boo
Williams, New Orleans: five receptions, 71 yards, one
touchdown at San Diego. Week 10: vs. Kansas City.COLD -- Freddie Jones, Arizona: one reception, five yards, no touchdowns at Miami. Week 10: vs. N.Y. Giants; L.J. Smith, Philadelphia: one reception, 10 yards, no touchdowns at Pittsburgh. Week 10: at Dallas; Itula Mili, Seattle: one reception, 13 yards, no touchdowns at San Francisco. Week 10: at St. Louis; Randy McMichael, Miami: one reception, 16 yards, one 2-point conversion, no touchdowns vs. Arizona. Week 10: bye; Stephen Alexander, Detroit: two receptions, 19 yards, no touchdowns vs. Washington. Week 10: at Jacksonville. |
| KICKERS |
HOT -- Adam Vinatieri, New England: 22 points, 4/4 field
goals (43, 31, 45, 36), 4/4 extra points, 1/1, four yards, one
touchdown at St. Louis. Week 10: vs. Buffalo; Shayne Graham,
Cincinnati: 14 points, 4/4 field goals (35, 47, 45, 30), 2/2
extra points vs. Dallas. Week 10: at Washington; Nate Kaeding,
San Diego: 11 points, 2/2 field goals (40, 27), 5/5 extra
points vs. New Orleans. Week 10: bye; Sebastian Janikowski,
Oakland: nine points, 2/2 field goals (26, 19), 3/3 extra
points at Carolina. Week 10: bye; Todd Peterson, San Francisco:
nine points, 2/2 field goals (27, 30), 3/3 extra points vs. Seattle. Week 10:
vs. Carolina; Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh: nine points, 2/3 field
goals (42, 31), 3/3 extra points vs. Philadelphia. Week 10: at
Cleveland.COLD -- Kris Brown, Houston: one point, 0/1 field goals, 1/1 extra points at Denver. Week 10: at Indianapolis; Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis: two points, 0/0 field goals, 2/2 extra points vs. New England. Week 10: vs. Seattle; Billy Cundiff, Dallas: three points, 1/1 field goals (24), 0/0 extra points at Cincinnati. Week 10: vs. Philadelphia; Steve Christie, N.Y. Giants: three points, 0/0 field goals, 3/3 extra points vs. Chicago. Week 10: at Arizona; David Akers, Philadelphia: three points, 1/1 field goals (33), 0/0 extra points at Pittsburgh. Week 10: at Dallas. |
| DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS |
|
COLD -- Saints DST: 43 points allowed, one sack, no interceptions, no forced fumbles at San Diego. Week 10: vs. Kansas City; Chiefs DST: 34 points allowed, one sack, no interceptions, no forced fumbles at Tampa Bay. Week 10: at New Orleans; Texans DST: 31 points allowed, one sack, no interceptions, no forced fumbles at Denver. Week 10: at Indianapolis; Buccaneers DST: 31 points allowed, two sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles vs. Kansas City. Week 10: at Atlanta; Cowboys DST: 26 points allowed, no sacks, no interceptions, no forced fumbles at Cincinnati. Week 10: vs. Philadelphia. |
Drew Brees, San Diego: With apologizes to Colts QB
Peyton Manning and Eagles WR Terrell Owens, Brees has
to be considered a candidate for the league's MVP award. The
former Purdue Boilermaker threw for 257 yards with four
touchdowns, including three to TE Antonio Gates, and no
interceptions in a 43-17 blowout win over the New Orleans Saints.
He has now tossed nine touchdown passes in his past two games, and
is on pace to compile 3,296 yards and 32 scores with a mere five
interceptions over a full 16-game schedule. The effectiveness of
RB LaDainian Tomlinson along with the development of Gates
and addition of veteran WR Keenan McCardell have turned the
Chargers offense into a juggernaut -- and Brees into a valuable
No. 1 starter. San Diego has a bye next week, but its contest in
Week 11 at Oakland bodes well for Brees' chances to continue his
current hot streak.
HOT -- Jake Plummer, Denver: 15/24, 234 yards, four
touchdowns, no interceptions, one carry, four yards, no touchdowns
vs. Houston. Week 10: bye; Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle: 17/28,
285 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, three carries,
minus-3 yards, no touchdowns at San Francisco. Week 10: at St.
Louis; Trent Green, Kansas City: 32/42, 369 yards, three
touchdowns, two interceptions, two carries, four yards, no
touchdowns at Tampa Bay. Week 10: at New Orleans; Jake
Delhomme, Carolina: 25/45, 299 yards, three touchdowns, no
interceptions, two carries, seven yards, no touchdowns vs.
Oakland. Week 10: at San Francisco; Brian Griese, Tampa Bay:
22/34, 296 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, four carries,
one yard vs. Kansas City. Week 10: at Atlanta;
HOT -- Michael Pittman, Tampa Bay: 15 carries, 128 yards,
three touchdowns, two receptions, 30 yards, no touchdowns vs.
Kansas City. Week 10: at Atlanta; Shaun Alexander, Seattle: 26
carries, 160 yards, two touchdowns at San Francisco. Week 10: at
St. Louis; Tiki Barber, N.Y. Giants: 21 carries, 72 yards,
two touchdowns, four receptions, 59 yards, no touchdowns vs.
Chicago. Week 10: at Arizona; Clinton Portis, Washington:
34 carries, 147 yards, no touchdowns, 1/1, 15 yards, one touchdown
at Detroit. Week 10: vs. Cincinnati; Anthony Thomas, Chicago:
28 carries, 110 yards, two touchdowns, one reception, five yards, no
touchdowns at N.Y. Giants. Week 10: at Tennessee.
HOT -- Darrell Jackson, Seattle: five receptions, 114
yards, two touchdowns at San Francisco. Week 10: at St. Louis;
Santana Moss, N.Y. Jets: six receptions, 157 yards, one
touchdown, one carry, three yards, no touchdowns at Buffalo. Week
10: vs. Baltimore; Torry Holt, St. Louis: six receptions
111 yards, one touchdown vs. New England. Week 10: vs. Seattle;
Hines Ward, Pittsburgh: two receptions, 32 yards, one
touchdown, one carry, 16 yards, one touchdown vs. Philadelphia.
Week 10: at Cleveland; Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona: five
receptions, 92 yards, one touchdown at Miami. Week 10: vs. N.Y.
Giants.
HOT -- Antonio Gates, San Diego: five receptions, 56 yards,
three touchdowns vs. New Orleans. Week 10: bye; Tony Gonzalez,
Kansas City: nine receptions, 123 yards, one touchdown at
Tampa Bay. Week 10: at New Orleans; Jason Witten, Dallas:
six receptions, 97 yards, no touchdowns at Cincinnati. Week 10:
vs. Philadelphia; Matt Schobel, Cincinnati: two receptions,
84 yards, one touchdown vs. Dallas. Week 10: at Washington; Boo
Williams, New Orleans: five receptions, 71 yards, one
touchdown at San Diego. Week 10: vs. Kansas City.
HOT -- Adam Vinatieri, New England: 22 points, 4/4 field
goals (43, 31, 45, 36), 4/4 extra points, 1/1, four yards, one
touchdown at St. Louis. Week 10: vs. Buffalo; Shayne Graham,
Cincinnati: 14 points, 4/4 field goals (35, 47, 45, 30), 2/2
extra points vs. Dallas. Week 10: at Washington; Nate Kaeding,
San Diego: 11 points, 2/2 field goals (40, 27), 5/5 extra
points vs. New Orleans. Week 10: bye; Sebastian Janikowski,
Oakland: nine points, 2/2 field goals (26, 19), 3/3 extra
points at Carolina. Week 10: bye; Todd Peterson, San Francisco:
nine points, 2/2 field goals (27, 30), 3/3 extra points vs. Seattle. Week 10:
vs. Carolina; Jeff Reed, Pittsburgh: nine points, 2/3 field
goals (42, 31), 3/3 extra points vs. Philadelphia. Week 10: at
Cleveland.













