1. Anthony Thomas, RB, Chicago Bears
Season Stats: 245 carries, 1,023 yards (4.2 avg.), 6 TDs Sunday @ DET: 25-76-0
Last week: 2
Stock: RISINGThe chase for the Rookie of the Year crown has a healthy Thomas in the
lead with the 16th-ranked defense of the Jaguars up next. Jacksonville is stout
against the run (No. 9), allowing 96 yards per game.
2. Chris Chambers, WR, Miami Dolphins
Season Stats: 45 receptions, 835 yards (18.6 avg.), 7 TDs Sunday vs. ATL: 2-44-0
Last week: 1
Stock: FALLING
Chambers’ numbers are a reflection of aggravating injuries. If the Dolphins are
going to make any noise in the postseason, count on Chambers creating most of the racket
in the passing game, which opens things up for RB Lamar Smith.
3. Kendrell Bell, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week: 3
Season Stats: 71 tackles, 7 sacks Sunday @ CIN: 4 tackles, 0 sacks
Stock: STEADY
Bell’s top priority with the Steelers is stopping the run and occasionally
covering a back or tight end on first or second down. Sunday, in a 26-23 loss to
Cincinnati, the Bengals rushed for 141 yards and amassed 544 yards of total offense while
averaging 5.5 yards per play.
4. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Season Stats: 339 carries, 1,236 yards (3.6 avg.), 10 TDs Sunday vs SEA: 14-38-0
Last Week: 4
Stock: STEADY
Entering this season, Tomlinson set personal goals of 1,200 rushing yards, 12
touchdowns and a playoff berth. After a strong start, San Diego and Tomlinson each faded,
but L.T. has set a solid foundation for what looks to be a sparkling future. General
manager John Butler vowed to be dedicated in upgrading the talent along the offensive
line, which is great news for Tomlinson, Doug Flutie and the like.
T-5. Dominic Rhodes, RB, Indianapolis Colts
Season Stats: 202 carries, 963 yards (4.8 avg.), 9 TDs Sunday @ STL: 20-83-1
Last week: 5
Stock: STEADY
Thrust into action when franchise back Edgerrin James took a spill in Kansas City,
Rhodes is paving the way for a Priest Holmes-like following. Rhodes has great value to
Indianapolis, but don’t think a desperate team or two won’t try to pry him from
Bill Polian’s grasp in the offseason. For the right price (defensive help of nearly
any size or shape), the Colts may be willing to unload Rhodes. However, if we have learned
anything from this season (see Lewis, Jamal; George, Eddie; Bettis, Jerome; Faulk,
Marshall; Davis, Terrell), RB depth is an invaluable commodity.
T-5. Shaun Rogers, DT, Detroit Lions
Season Stats: 72 tackles, 3.0 sacks, two blocked FGs, FF Sunday vs. CHI: 3
tackles
Last week: 6
Stock: STEADY
Continues to be a force. The biggest reason for optimism in Detroit plays defensive
tackle, and Rogers is playing the position as well, if not better, than his peers. Team
president Matt Millen had reason to rejoice this holiday season, celebrating a full season
of a clean bill of health for his rookie defensive tackle.
7. Adam Archuleta, SS, St. Louis Rams
Season Stats: 52 tackles, 2.0 sacks Sunday vs. IND: 6 tackles
Last week: 8
Stock: RISING
Archuleta has 16 tackles in the last two weeks after missing three games with an ankle
injury and multiple concussions. Archuleta is a key ingredient to a much-improved Rams
defense and will be on the spot in the postseason with teams trying to match firepower in
order to stay in the ballgame with St. Louis.
8. Rod Gardner, WR, Washington Redskins
Season Stats: 45 receptions, 731 yards (16.2 avg.), 4 TDs Sunday vs. NO: 1-15-0
Last week: 7
Stock: STEADY
It looks like Gardner is soon to be the No. 1 wide receiver in Washington with WR
Michael Westbrook free to go at season’s end. Gardner is huge, with an upside to
match, but he is more likely to be hurt rather than helped during the imminent swoon in
Washington that will only be avoided with the addition of a veteran quarterback.
9. Anthony Henry, CB, Cleveland Browns
Season Stats: 9 interceptions Sunday @ TEN: 3 tackles, 0 interceptions
Last week: 9
Stock: STEADY
The Browns were winning with defense and ball control early in the season. They snuck
out of Adelphia Coliseum victorious Sunday, but the Browns have allowed 68 points in the
last two games. Injuries along the defensive line and at linebacker are granting time to
opposing quarterbacks, forcing Henry and the Cleveland secondary to cover for an extra
second or two — it meant TD passes of 40 and 59 yards Sunday.
10. Travis Henry, RB, Buffalo Bills
Season Stats: 213 carries, 729 yards (3.4 avg.), 4 TDs Sunday vs. NYJ: DNP
Last week: 10
Stock: FALLING
Shawn Bryson has averaged 118.5 yards in the last two games replacing the injured
Henry, who had only two 100-yard games in 14 starts, one against the Jets. Many blamed a
shoddy offensive line for Henry’s lack of success, which doesn’t appear to be
the case when Bryson is toting the bread.
Best of the rest
Mike McMahon, QB, Lions — Great poise, leadership for a rookie; picked only
once in 115 attempts. Accuracy must improve, but has a second-rate WR corps to work with.
Kevan Barlow, RB, 49ers — Averaging 4.1 yards per carry as Garrison
Hearst’s change-of-pace complement.
Alge Crumpler, TE, Falcons — With athleticism to burn, Crumpler should only
get better with experience.
Justin Smith, DE, Bengals — Starting to show his worth as top-five draft
pick; 7.5 sacks in season shortened due to holdout.
Jamie Winborn, LBs, Niners — Just one tackle in a 27-21 loss to Dallas as
the Niners’ LB corps returned to full health, bumping Winborn back to the bench. The
186 rushing yards San Francisco allowed might cause head coach Steve Mariucci to
reconsider Winborn as a starter.
Steve Smith, WR-KR, Panthers — With a little improvement in the pass receiving
department, might turn into a Kevin Dyson-type contributor.
Leonard Davis, OG, Cardinals — Injuries have limited Davis, but when he has
played, the Cardinals have liked what they’ve seen.
Jeff Backus, OT, Lions — Along with Rogers and McMahon, Backus will help
build the Lions of tomorrow.
Tommy Polley, LB, Rams — The odd man out this season behind Don Davis and
Mark Fields, free agency (London Fletcher) could push Polley into a starting spot in 2002.
Todd Heap, TE, Ravens — Has not been the same since an ankle injury in Week
Two. With the offseason to recover, expect the Ravens to have an extra helping of Heap
next season, though TE Shannon Sharpe remains QB Elvis Grbac’s top option if he's
still around.
Chris Weinke, QB, Panthers — More like Drew Bledsoe than Steve Young,
Weinke could benefit from a switch out of the West Coast offense.
Michael Vick, QB, Falcons — Looked impressive in the second half of
Sunday’s loss in Miami, throwing for 214 yards on 11-of-20 passing. He threw for one
touchdown and had two interceptions. Might be the class of the Class of 2001 before all is
said and done.
Andre Carter, DE, Niners — Three tackles in Sunday’s 27-21 loss at
Dallas.
David Terrell, WR, Bears
Santana Moss, WR, Jets
Koren Robinson, WR, Seahawks
Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
Snoop Minnis, WR, Chiefs |
