NFL Top Performers - Week 15

Just what was Brian Westbrook thinking in week 15?...Westy certainly wasn't thinking about his fantasy owners! Most owners checked the weather forcast in Cleveland prior to Sunday's game against the Bills, but a less fortunate few still got burned (...better make that snowed) by a lack of fantasy stats.

QUARTERBACKS

No Tom Brady? With scores of 8-0 and nasty weather across the country in week 15, the point totals and stats were significantly reduced. Kurt Warner tossed for 3 TDs on the road in New Orleans, but his performance wasn't that pretty. On the flip-side, Drew Brees was nearly perfect in the same game against the Cardinals with 315 passing yards and 2 TDs on an amazing 26 of 30. David Garrard had an ugly 17 of 33 for 197 yards, but was able to convert 3 of his completions for TDs. Speaking of ugly, Jon Kitna tossed 5 (FIVE) INTs on the road in San Diego...fortunately, most fantasy leagues count only positive stats without penalty for interceptions. Ben Roethlisberger nearly matched Garrard's numbers (although 50 less passing yards) in the loss to the Jags. Cleo Lemon threw a bomb TD in OT to give the Miami Dolphins their first win of the season.

Top Fantasy Quarterbacks - Week 15
QB	Pass Comp	Pass Att	Pass Yards	TDs
Kurt Warner	19	30	233	3
Drew Brees	26	30	315	2
David Garrard	17	33	197	3
Jon Kitna	26	45	302	2
Ben Roethlisberger	16	33	146	3
Cleo Lemon	23	39	315	1

RUNNING BACKS

Owners who didn't replace Reggie Bush with Aaron Stecker are now kicking themselves...Stecker combined for 141 yards and 2 TDs in the home win over the Cardinals. Darren Sproles (who?) and LaDainian Tomlinson teamed up for a combined 238 rushing yards and 4 TDs for the San Diego Chargers in their win over the slumping Detroit Lions. Steven Jackson appears back to form...the Packers did little to stop SJax in week 15 - resulting in 170 total yards and a TD. Minnesota's Adrian Peterson really wasn't looking that impressive on MNF after all of the build up, but managed to benefit from a couple of second half TDs and ultimately boosted his game yardage total to a respectable 95 for the evening. Formerly know as "Fragile Freddy", Fred Taylor keeps on ticking and is playing perhaps better than ever...Taylor rushed for 147 yards with a TD against the formidable Steelers D on Sunday. Earnest Graham had another solid game for the Bucs and has emerged as a top fantasy RB through the 2nd half. Jamal Lewis got lost in the Cleveland blizzard...and the Bills couldn't see him blow by 34 times for 174 yards. Laurence Maroney waited until many of his fantasy owners were knocked from their playoffs before he decided to perform (Maroney busted for over 100 rushing yards and a TD against the Jets in week 15). Brandon Jacobs was one of the few bright spots for the Giants on SNF (160 total yards). Justin Fargas touched the ball 27 times for 96 yards and a TD against the Colts. Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook each put up 140+ total yards for their teams...although Westy had many of his fantasy owners firing their remote at the TV as he fell to the ground on the 1-yard line late in the Dallas-Philly game (he basically gave up a walk-in TD to secure the clock and the win for the Eagles...costing his fantasy owners a sure 6 points). Willie Parker, Willis McGahee, and Kolby Smith each totaled over 100 yards, but none of the trio were able to find the endzone.

Top Fantasy Running Backs - Week 15
RB	Rush Att	Rush Yards	Rcptns	Rec Yards	Total Yards	TDs
Aaron Stecker	22	95	6	46	141	2
Darren Sproles	25	122	1	13	135	2
LaDainian Tomlinson	15	116	2	7	123	2
Steven Jackson	24	143	4	27	170	1
Adrian Peterson	20	78	1	17	95	2
Fred Taylor	25	147	0	0	147	1
Earnest Graham	22	79	5	40	119	1
Jamal Lewis	33	163	1	11	174	0
Laurence Maroney	26	104	0	0	104	1
Brandon Jacobs	25	130	3	30	160	0
Justin Fargas	26	89	1	7	96	1
Frank Gore	29	138	1	9	147	0
Brian Westbrook	18	81	9	63	144	0
Willie Parker	14	100	2	9	109	0
Willis McGahee	29	104	1	2	106	0
Kolby Smith	18	82	3	23	105	0

WIDE RECEIVERS

Vince Young actually threw a couple of TDs in week 15...finding Roydell Williams for both scores. Marques Colston is looking like the MC of last season...114 yards and a TD in week 15 against Arizona. Greg Camarillo caught his 2nd and 3rd passes of the season...and his 3rd may be his most memorable of this career (it was the OT game winning TD for the Dolphins to keep them from a winless season). Anthony Gonzalez is becoming the benefactor to Marvin Harrison's side-lining injury. Andre Johnson continued demonstrating his ability with a TD in week 15 from replacement QB Sage Rosenfels. Dennis Northcutt, Deion Branch, and David Patten all managed decent yardage and a TD. Brandon Marshall is the real deal...Marshall caught 11 more on Sunday from sophomore QB Jay Cutler. Calvin Johnson caught 5 balls from Jon Kitna, but wasn't able to turn any of the receptions into scores.

Top Fantasy Wide Receivers - Week 15
WR	Rcptns	Rec Yards	TDs
Roydell Williams	4	94	2
Marques Colston	8	114	1
Greg Camarillo	3	109	1
Anthony Gonzalez	7	86	1
Andre Johnson	6	86	1
Dennis Northcutt	4	81	1
Deion Branch	8	79	1
David Patten	4	71	1
Brandon Marshall	11	107	0
Calvin Johnson	5	102	0

TIGHT ENDS

Tony Scheffler had 7 receptions for an even 100 yards with a score. Vernon Davis, Kevin Boss, and Heath Miller each added a few yards to their TD receptions. Jason Witten moved to the top production slot of all 2007 tight ends with another huge game in week 15 (8 catches for 113 yards)...Witten passed Antonio Gates for the top honor to date.

Top Fantasy Tight Ends - Week 15
TE	Rcptns	Rec Yards	TDs
Tony Scheffler	7	100	1
Vernon Davis	5	46	1
Jason Witten	8	113	0
Kevin Boss	2	31	1
Heath Miller	2	24	1
Chris Baker	8	66	0

News and Notes - The Miami Dolphins took until week 15 to win their first game of the season on an OT bomb from QB Cleo Lemon to WR Greg Camarillo to the tune of a roaring home crowd...Tom Brady did not throw a TD pass against the New York Jets, but the New England Patriots still managed to get their 14th victory against no defeats (with just two games reamaining)...Kyle Orton started for the Chicago Bears and finished 22 of 38 for 184 yards (with 1 INT) - which was not great, but not really worse than Rex Grossman (esp. considering Orton's lengthy 2 years on the bench)...Niners QB Shaun Hill looked better on Thursday night than Alex Smith has looked in any game this season...Fantasy owners who picked up Aaron Stecker for the injured Reggie Bush were rewarded with 2 TDs in the game against the Cardinals...Any playoff fantasy owner who didn't check the weather forcast before starting any Bills or Browns in Cleveland should be ashamed of themselves (the Browns won 8-0 in a blizzard)...The "Brian Westbrook incident" (who took a knee on the 1-yard line late in the Dallas game and gave up a sure 6 points by Westy and an automatic PAT by Philly kicker David Akers) must have cost many fantasy owners their playoff game and a broken remote control...It's the time when many NFL teams no longer have anything to play for and will be resting their stars for the playoffs -or- giving youth a chance for next season - Indy, Seattle, Tampa Bay, and San Diego have their playoff positions basically locked and are all prime suspects to rest players over the last two weeks of the regular season...The Patriots, however, have an undefeated record and a Brady TD passing record to play for (although they can't improve their playoff seeding) - I'm guessing head coach Bill Belichick will have no problem risking injuries and rest to accomplish both feats (contrary to Tony Dungy's philosophy with the Colts and Peyton Manning in the past)

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