– Surprisingly, the NFL’s leading rusher, Cedric Benson (16-44-1), had a pretty quiet game against a suspect Texans rush defense.
– Steve Slaton (25 touches, 145 yards, TD) didn’t do much in the rushing game, but had 6-102-1 through the air.
– Maurice Jones-Drew (38 touches, 178 yards, 3 TD) had a day worthy of the second overall pick in fantasy leagues this year.
– Steven Jackson (22 touches, 128 yards) didn’t score, but the Rams got him involved in the passing game.
– Ray Rice (20 touches, 194, 2 TD) had a monster game against a pretty good Minnesota rush defense. Rice did much of his damage through the air (10-117).
– He didn’t score, but Adrian Peterson’s Week 6 performance (26 touches, 166 yards) is nothing to sneeze at. (Does anyone ever “sneeze at” anything?)
– The Saints’ RBBC worked out this way: Pierre Thomas (15 carries, 72 yards), Mike Bell (15 carries, 34 yards, TD) and Reggie Bush (7 touches, 24 yards, TD). When the Saints were inside the five, it was Bell who got most of the work. Thomas appeared to score on one play, but the replay did not show enough for the Saints to challenge.
– Ahmad Bradshaw (10 carries, 48 yards, TD) is pushing Brandon Jacobs (7 carries, 33 yards) for carries. Bradshaw has been far more effective lately.
– The Steelers split their carries amongst Rashard Mendenhall (17 carries, 62 yards, TD), Willie Parker (7 carries, 26 yards) and Mewelde Moore (5 carries, 20 yards). Look for this kind of a split going forward.
– DeAngelo Williams (30 carries, 152 yards, 2 TD) and Jonathan Stewart (17 carries, 110 yards, TD) absolutely shredded the Bucs’ rush defense.
– Derrick Ward (1 carry, 2 yards) was a non-factor, while Carnell Williams (16 carries, 77 yards, TD) was Tampa Bay’s feature back.
– It looks like Justin Fargas (24 touches, 98 yards) is the Raiders’ RB1 for the time being. Michael Bush (7 touches, 24 yards) wasn’t nearly as involved.
– Tim Hightower (17 touches, 58 yards, TD) and Beanie Wells (13 yards, 36 yards) were pretty much an even split in the Arizona backfield. Hightower’s value is enhanced because he’s a better pass catcher and because he gets the goal line carries.
– So much for Sammy Morris (1 catch, 3 yards) taking over as the Pats’ RB1. He suffered a knee injury on his lone touch and was helped off the field. Laurence Maroney (19 touches, 133 yards, TD) is now the Pats RB to own. Benjamin Green-Ellis (9 touches, 78 yards) will be his backup, with Kevin Faulk (3-54-1) coming in on third downs.
– Marshawn Lynch (22 touches, 76 yards) out-touched Fred Jackson (14 touches, 48 yards) 3-to-2, but neither guy was particularly productive against a Jets defense that was gashed repeatedly last week by the Miami Dolphins.
– Thomas Jones (24 touches, 227 yards, TD) was the star with a 71-yard TD run, but Leon Washington (18 touches, 145 yards) also played very well.
– A late TD for Michael Turner (15 touches, 46 yards, TD) saved an otherwise crappy night against the Bears.
