1. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Season Stats: 262 carries, 956 yards, 10 touchdowns Sunday @ SEA: 24-87-1
Last Week: 1
Stock: STEADYTomlinson is going to have to show us something in the next couple of
weeks or be overtaken by Miami WR Chris Chambers. He found the endzone for the 10th
time this season and became the first San Diego back to break the 1,000-yard plateau in
five years. We acknowledge that he is doing so with a substandard offensive line in front
of him, but L.T. has to make plays.
2. Chris Chambers, WR, Miami Dolphins
Season Stats: 31 catches, 604 yards, 5 touchdowns Sunday vs. DEN: 3-35-1
Last week: 6
Stock: RISING
Chambers had two catches for 11 yards or better, including a touchdown reception, on
the drive that started Miami’s 21-point comeback vs. Denver in the fourth quarter
Sunday at Pro Player Stadium. He has bouts with inconsistency from time to time, but
Chambers has uncanny ability to adjust to a ball in the air and his instincts may be the
best among the Dolphins’ veteran WR corps.
3. Shaun Rogers, DT, Detroit Lions
Season Stats: 63 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two blocked FGs, FF Sunday @ CHI: 0
tackles
Last week: 3
Stock: STEADY
Rogers found out Sunday what the rest of the league has discovered — that the
Chicago offensive line is better than advertised. Head coach Marty Mornhinweg would argue
that despite Rogers’ lack of production, he did his job, freeing up MLB Chris
Claiborne to make 12 solo tackles.
4. Kendrell Bell, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week: 2
Season Stats: 57 tackles (50 solo), 7 sacks Sunday vs. MIN: 0 tackles
Stock: FALLING
Bell didn’t make much noise Sunday against the Vikings, but his numbers are hard
to argue with. The fact that the rookie doesn’t see the field on third down amplifies
the impact he has had with Pittsburgh, making his presence known despite playing only in
first- and second-down packages.
5. Anthony Henry, CB, Cleveland Browns
Season Stats: 7 interceptions Sunday vs. TEN: 0 ints, 2 tackles
Last week: 6
Stock: STEADY
Henry was one of the victims of the Steve McNair aerial assault as the Browns suffered
a 31-15 setback at the hands of the Titans. The Browns gave up 43- and 71-yard TD
receptions to the Titans’ Derrick Mason and if Sunday is any indication of what is to
come …
6. Anthony Thomas, RB, Chicago Bears
Season Stats: 150 carries, 638 yards, 4 touchdowns Sunday vs. DET: DNP
(hamstring)
Last week: 4
Stock: FALLING
For the second consecutive week, the Bears won without Thomas, who is nursing an
injured hamstring. Incumbent starter James Allen has averaged 100 yards — albeit vs.
Minnesota and Detroit — in the two games Thomas has missed, but count on the A-Train
to get the ball this week at Green Bay.
7. Rod Gardner, WR, Washington Redskins
Season Stats: 33 catches, 531 yards, 4 touchdowns Sunday vs. DAL: 2-24-1
Last week: 8
Stock: RISING
Gardner caught a touchdown pass from QB Tony Banks late in the fourth Sunday in
Washington. His numbers aren’t great, but Gardner is saddled somewhat by the
Redskins’ no-risk offense, as well as the always-erratic Banks.
8. Kevin Barlow, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Season Stats: 79 carries, 350 yards, 2 touchdowns Sunday vs. BUF: DNP
Last week: 9
Stock: STEADY
If you haven’t noticed, Garrison Hearst is back … not just playing, but doing
it like he did three years ago. That takes time away from Barlow, no matter what his
injury status may be, though he was inactive Sunday.
9. Travis Henry, RB, Buffalo Bills
Season Stats: 174 carries, 574 yards, 3 touchdowns Sunday @ SF: 6-9-0
Last week: 7
Stock: FALLING
All he wants for Christmas is a new O-line. Henry is a hard-nosed kid without the size,
but his work ethic will keep him in the running for rookie honors. Running against
Carolina Sunday should help Henry regain some confidence.
10. Mike McMahon, QB, Detroit Lions
Season Stats: 15-of-34-147-1 TD Sunday @ CHI: 4-9-42
Last week: 10
Stock: STEADY
Charlie Batch separated his shoulder Sunday vs. the Bears. The ball belongs to McMahon,
possibly for the rest of the season.
Best of the rest
Adam Archuleta, S, Rams — Possibly returns to action in game Sunday vs. San
Francisco after missing two straight games with a concussion and a bad ankle.
Jose Cortez, PK, Niners — Another of Cortez’s kicks (fourth of the
season) was blocked Sunday. Mr. Clutch has the Niners boasting a 3-1 overtime record. But
head coach Steve Mariucci won’t hesitate to stop the music if Cortez keeps
squandering scoring chances.
Tommy Polley, LB, Rams — Polley can run sideline-to-sideline. If he can
shed blockers and cover backs and tight ends, he’ll be a star. With MLB London
Fletcher among the eligible free agents after the season, St. Louis might be banking on
Polley.
Steve Smith, WR-KR, Panthers — With Carolina’s defense, Smith gets
endless opportunities to make things happen in the return game.
Todd Heap, TE, Ravens — Nice hands and feet … has to wait for Shannon
Sharpe to get the boot to claim spotlight.
David Terrell, WR, Bears — Becoming a bigger factor though he dropped two
would-be scores Sunday vs. Detroit.
Alge Crumpler, TE, Falcons — Could be the Keith Jackson, Eric Green of his
era.
Chris Weinke, QB, Panthers — In a rush to get into the endzone, Weinke is
making plays.
Michael Vick, QB, Falcons — Didn’t lead a scoring drive in two
quarters vs. St. Louis.
Andre Carter, DE, Niners — With Dana Stubblefield and Bryant Young in the
middle, Carter’s speed should get him in the backfield more than it has.
Jamie Winborn, LB, Niners — A part-time starter already, Winborn, Julian
Peterson, Derek Smith and Jeff Ulbrich will be the best LB corps in the league by the end
of next season.
Justin Smith, DE, Bengals — Might have made a big impact with training camp
to get ready.
Santana Moss, WR, Jets
Koren Robinson, WR, Seahawks
Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
Snoop Minnis, WR, Chiefs
Plenty of teams thought highly of the 2001 WR draft class. It will be two years before
we find out how good it really is, when progress warrants a measurement against Chris
Chambers. |
