NFL's Hot & Cold Stats Through Week 9

Jason Witten is having a career year in Dallas and is just a few yards behind Antonio Gates for the top producing tight end of 2007. Witten looks forward to this weekend's potential shootout in New York as the Cowboys and Giants try to match their 80-point production in week 1.

Scout.com compiles the HOT 'n COLD players through each week of the NFL season (fantasy owners take note). Check below for a grid of stats & commentary through week 9 and be sure to check back for further updates each week.

QUARTERBACKS

HOT - Although Tom Brady has nearly doubled the QB field through the NFL's first 9 weeks, he gets a deserved bye week this weekend. Who would have thought that Brady's total touchdowns would more than double that of a healthy Peyton Manning (who is ranked 4th) heading into week 10? This time last season, Tony Romo was just becoming a starter and Derek Anderson was nowhere near anyone's thoughts when QB ratings were considered. All Ben Roethlisberger is doing is throwing TDs and winning games. How has Carson Palmer and his Bengals won only 2 games? Look out...because Drew Brees and the Saints are marching!

COLD - The Kansas City Chiefs are playing better, but Damon Huard isn't quite the spark coach Herm Edwards would like in KC. Despite a decent record, Jason Campbell is barely getting it done in Washington. Joey Harrington and the Falcons have surprisingly won 2 games this season. Daunte Culpepper is now a sub. Just how are the Tennessee Titans winning?...Vince Young's stats are invisible (except, of course, if you look at his W-L column). Marc Bulger and Steve McNair are thinking of "the good 'ol days". So much for so many who thought Alex Smith and the San Fran offense would be good this season (I didn't).

Quarterbacks Hot/Cold Through Week 9
QB	Pass Comp	Pass Att	Pass Yards	TDs
Tom Brady	219	299	2686	33, 2 (run)
Tony Romo	170	264	2308	19, 2 (run)
Derek Anderson	148	257	2108	17, 2 (run)
Peyton Manning	168	259	2058	14, 3 (run)
Ben Roethlisberger	137	208	1742	20
Carson Palmer	190	294	2193	16
Brett Favre	205	308	2406	13
Matt Hasselbeck	173	280	2023	13
Drew Brees	225	335	2175	12
Damon Huard	157	247	1683	8
Jason Campbell	133	227	1520	6, 1 (run)
Joey Harrington	149	238	1545	4
Daunte Culpepper	70	125	818	4, 3 (run)
Vince Young	93	151	855	3, 2 (run)
Marc Bulger	119	209	1300	3
Steve McNair	116	179	985	2
Alex Smith	82	165	800	2

RUNNING BACKS

HOT - Rookie Adrian Peterson is the new sheriff in town and nobody has told him he is on a bad team. LaDainian Tomlinson has cooled, but still HOT...LT looks to put a hurt on the Colts this weekend. Can Joseph Addai pick up on the San Diego D where Peterson left off? Brian Westbrook just gets things done. Marshawn Lynch is an incredible rookie and would be "rookie of the year" if not for AP. Reggie Bush and Willie Parker get great matchups in week 10.

COLD - Cedric Benson, Thomas Jones, and Shaun Alexander have 458 rushes collectively...and have just 4 TDs combined. Julius Jones will never reach his full potential with Marion Barber in uniform on the same team. I realize that Laurence Maroney hasn't seen action all season due to injuries and a conservative effort to keep him healthy, but how does this back not have a few TDs?...he may be the only New England player that hasn't scored this season. Steven Jackson feels good this week and should be able to knock off some of the frost in week 10...but no guarantees with the season SJax and the 0-8 Rams have experienced.

Running Backs Hot/Cold Through Week 9
RB	Rush Att	Rush Yards	Rcptns	Rec Yards	Total Yards	TDs
Adrian Peterson	158	1036	12	206	1242	8
LaDainian Tomlinson	155	657	32	248	905	8, 1 (pass)
Joseph Addai	149	704	22	205	909	9
Brian Westbrook	126	601	49	435	1036	6
Marshawn Lynch	177	690	12	96	886	5, 1 (pass)
Clinton Portis	151	629	19	156	785	6
Marion Barber	99	533	21	183	716	7
Willis McGahee	158	689	27	155	844	4
Reggie Bush	113	434	50	277	711	5
Willie Parker	189	772	13	102	874	2
Edgerrin James	165	620	7	68	688	5
LenDale White	170	613	11	57	670	5
Thomas Jones	160	606	17	122	728	0
Cedric Benson	149	466	14	104	570	2
Shaun Alexander	149	492	12	56	548	2
Julius Jones	91	353	13	129	482	2
Fred Taylor	109	474	5	20	494	0
Laurence Maroney	89	417	2	37	454	0
Steven Jackson	77	274	10	66	340	1
Rudi Johnson	71	196	9	98	294	1

WIDE RECEIVERS

HOT - Randy Moss is off in week 10...but it's doubtful that Braylon Edwards catches up to his numbers against a strong Pittsburgh defense (which has allowed less than 100 total points to date). The Bengals are a mere 2-6, but T.J. Houshmandzadeh is on a blistering pace with 62 grabs and 10 TDs at the season's midpoint. Terrell Owens and Plaxico Burress face-off this weekend in New York...the same matchup in Dallas in week 1 yielded 80 (EIGHTY) points between the two teams. Reggie Wayne, Chad Johnson, and Steve Smith all are producing in the top 10, but most expected the trio to be in the top 5 by season's end (including me)...each has a nice matchup this weekend (CJ should be good to go despite last week's serious neck injury scare). were predicted in the top 5 are on fire and burning secondaries every week. Plaxico Burress isn't far behind ( Burress has a bum ankle and gets a fortunately timed bye in week 9). Wes Welker is for real and will torch the Colts if the Indy secondary pays too much attention to Moss and Donte Stallworth this weekend. I believe Reggie Wayne, Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, and Terrell Owens were my top 4 preseason fantasy WRs - they'll have to bump up in the second half to make that prediction a reality.

COLD - Reggie Brown headed into 2007 as Philly's top wide receiver (other than Brian Westbrook)...Brown is finally moving forward, but still without a TD in 8 games. Marvin Harrison was ranked as the top WR by many heading into the season (finished first in 2006), but a knee injury continues to plague a usually healthy Harrison. Like Harrison, Javon Walker suffers from a similar knee predicament, but should see action in week 11. Darrell Jackson, Santana Moss, and Devery Henderson have also had injury concerns...although neither has been impressive when in the lineup this season.

Wide Receivers Hot/Cold Through Week 9
WR	Rcptns	Rec Yards	TDs
Randy Moss	56	924	12
Braylon Edwards	42	736	9
T.J. Houshmandzadeh	62	674	10
Terrell Owens	44	730	6
Wes Welker	61	651	7
Plaxico Burress	37	564	8
Reggie Wayne	49	730	5
Chad Johnson	47	779	3
Joey Galloway	38	648	5
Santonio Holmes	30	536	6
Steve Smith	40	529	6
Reggie Brown	27	374	0
Marvin Harrison	20	247	1
Darrell Jackson	20	237	1
Santana Moss	24	297	0
Devery Henderson	12	221	1
Javon Walker	19	230	0
Joe Horn	18	165	0

TIGHT ENDS

HOT - Antonio Gates is having a typical year, but Jason Witten is having a career year. Kellen Winslow may have more talent than any tight end in football...only TD numbers differentiate Winslow from Gates and Witten in the boxscore (which could change in the 2nd half of the year). Will Tony Gonzalez ever not be a top tight end...it's seems that Gonzo has been producing for the Chiefs forever. Dallas Clark leads all tight ends with 6 TDs and continues to play a huge role in Indy's top offense. Heath Miller may be the HOTTEST TE on the board and gets Cleveland this week. Benjamin Watson gets week 10 off to rest up.

COLD - Most of these guys were drafted as starters on fantasy teams in 12-team leagues. Most figured Randy McMichael, Alge Crumpler, and L.J. Smith as top ten material. We kind of knew Crumpler's fate when Vick pulled his stunt in the off-season. Smith has been injured and Donovan McNabb hasn't looked exactly stellar this season. Highly-heralded Marcedes Lewis has played better of late, but is still scoreless.

Tight Ends Hot/Cold Through Week 9
TE	Rcptns	Rec Yards	TDs
Antonio Gates	47	649	5
Jason Witten	45	617	5
Kellen Winslow	42	657	3
Tony Gonzalez	52	615	4
Dallas Clark	34	403	6
Heath Miller	26	350	5
Chris Cooley	27	277	5
Benjamin Watson	20	232	5
Randy McMichael	19	248	1
Alge Crumpler	19	203	1
Bo Scaife	24	196	1
Marcedes Lewis	20	220	0
Daniel Graham	16	149	0
Jerramy Stevens	8	78	0
L.J. Smith	7	68	0

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