Now that Week 12 is complete, it’s time to hand out awards for the third quarter of the fantasy football season. These awards are based on performance scoring, such as this one from Antsports.com. For those players that missed games due to injury, I included those games in their per game averages. Keep in mind, I’m only looking at performances during Weeks 9-12.
QUARTERBACKS
MVP: Drew Brees (27.5 ppg)
So much for that iffy shoulder. All Drew Brees has done in the last four weeks is throw for an average of 393 yards and two scores per game. I wonder how dumb the Dolphins feel right now. During the offseason, they felt that Brees’ shoulder was a bigger risk than Daunte Culpepper’s knee. I wouldn’t want to put “Dolphins’ team doctor” on my resume right now.
Honorable Mention: Carson Palmer (24.0), Tony Romo (23.1)
Biggest Surprise: Tony Romo (23.1)
Many thought that Romo would be better than Drew Bledsoe, but who thought that he’d be this much better? In the last four games, he has averaged 281 pass yards and 2.3 TDs per game. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Honorable Mention: Matt Leinart (20.2), Ben Roethlisberger (19.5), Vince Young (19.3)
Biggest Disappointment: Eli Manning (9.9)
After a pretty nice start, the “other” Manning has fizzled of late, throwing for an average of 168 yards and 0.8 TD against 1.8 INT over the last four games. While arguments could be made for handing this award to Matt Hasselbeck or Donovan McNabb, Manning hasn’t missed any time with injury.
Dishonorable Mention: Matt Hasselbeck (4.8), Donovan McNabb (8.3)
RUNNING BACKS
MVP: LaDainian Tomlinson (40.1)
Zzzzzzzz. What? You want me to tell you what LT has done over the last four weeks. Okay, well, he averaged 161 yards from scrimmage. Not enough? Let’s see, he averaged 3.3 TDs per game. That’s enough? Good, I’m going back to sleep now.
Honorable Mention: Steven Jackson (34.2), Brian Westbrook (24.9), Willie Parker (24.3)
Biggest Surprise: Joseph Addai (22.3)
Granted, Addai won this award on Sunday night when he gained 208 yards from scrimmage while rushing for four scores against the Eagles. I definitely thought Addai would have a good second half, but I wasn’t expecting that.
Honorable Mention: Jamal Lewis (17.4), Maurice Drew (16.2), Marion Barber (15.4)
Biggest Disappointment: Edgerrin James (9.2)
Arguments can be made for several players, but no back was more disappointing in the third quarter than James, who just can’t seem to get anything going behind the Cardinals’ sketchy offensive line. Arizona had a bye in Week 9, but since then, James has gained an average of 72 yards from scrimmage with no scores. Ugh.
Dishonorable Mention: Shaun Alexander (6.3), Julius Jones (7.3), LaMont Jordan (5.6), Willis McGahee (5.4), Clinton Portis (5.1)
WIDE RECEIVERS
MVP: Chad Johnson (29.9)
Who else? Over the past four games, CJ has averaged seven catches for 151 yards and 1.3 TD and that includes a 4-catch/32-yard game against the Ravens. He had a slow start, but over the last three weeks, he’s been phenomenal.
Honorable Mention: Lee Evans (21.5), Steve Smith (20.9), Javon Walker (20.3)
Biggest Surprise: Devery Henderson (19.5)
Is this even fair? The Saints already have Marques Colston, who is the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and when he goes down with an ankle sprain, they plug in Henderson, who averaged four catches for 110 yards and 0.8 TD over the last four games. And those numbers include a goose egg against Pittsburgh in Week 10. Wowsers.
Honorable Mention: Lee Evans (21.5), Mark Clayton (15.0), Marty Booker (14.7)
Biggest Disappointment: Torry Holt (10.8)
What’s wrong with Torry Holt? After averaging 6-82-1 through the first eight weeks, Holt’s numbers took a nosedive in the third quarter, where he averaged just 5.3 catches for 55 yards and zero scores. This probably has more to do with Marc Bulger’s ribs than anything Torry is doing, but he’s still a disappointment.
Dishonorable Mention: Santana Moss (2.2), Antonio Bryant (5.5), Joe Horn (6.9), Chris Chambers (10.3)
TIGHT ENDS
MVP: Chris Cooley (14.3)
After a slow start, Cooley was cut in many fantasy leagues. Sharp owners jumped on him and over the past four weeks, he’s paid dividends, averaging 3.5 catches for 63 yards and 0.8 TD.
Honorable Mention: Todd Heap (13.1), Ben Watson (13.1), Kellen Winslow (12.9)
Biggest Surprise: Bo Scaife (10.1)
Over the past four weeks, Scaife has benefited from the absence of Ben Troupe, averaging three catches for 38 yards while scoring twice. He should be a good spot starter the rest of the way.
Biggest Disappointment: Desmond Clark (4.7)
Clark teased fantasy owners with a strong first half, but over the last four weeks he’s caught an average of 1.8 passes for 14 yards and 0.3 TD. Ugh.
Dishonorable Mention: Alge Crumpler (7.8), Antonio Gates (11.5)
