Just a day away before NFL Free Agency is set to begin the Seattle Seahawks started their off-season shopping early as they traded for Minnesota Vikings’ wide receiver Percy Harvin.

Harvin, 24, is one of the game’s most explosive playmakers. Despite having a year remaining on his contract the disgruntled wideout made it clear that he no longer wanted to be in Minnesota and demanded a trade.

Rather than risk an ugly situation and a potential holdout, the Vikings sent him to Seattle in exchange for a reported first round and seventh-round pick in April’s draft and mid-round pick in 2014, according to FOXSports’ Jay Glazer.

The move gives Minnesota the 23rd and 25th overall pick in this season’s draft.

Harvin played just eight full games in 2012 after suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He had off-season surgery and appears to be ready for the start of camp.

Durability has been a concern with Harvin. Counting the seven games he missed last season though, he’s only missed 10 games for his entire career. He is often dinged up, but has played through injuries on many occasions.

You can’t argue his stats though and what he does on the field. In a half of a season of work a year ago he registered 672 yards receiving and had another 96 yards rushing. Over a full season that is more than a 1,500 total yard pace. That doesn’t count what he does on special teams either.

After a great run a year ago behind rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, this offense is just starting to come together. Marshawn Lynch carried for sometime but Seattle’s new three-headed monster is going to make them a strong contender in the NFC.

FANTASY TAKE
With the threat of a holdout over and a reunion with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, his former coach in Minnesota, expect Harvin to flourish. He’s easily a top fantasy wideout with top-five upside.  He is going to be even better in PPR formats.

Wilson and Lynch both get a tick in their rankings as well. The bigger boost will go to Wilson. I’ve got him No. 9 in my current rankings, but he’ll jump a spot or two in my April update.  Lynch was a solid tier 1 RB/high-end tier 2 RB1 option worthy of a top-five fantasy pick before the trade. The arrival of Harvin could mean a dip in the 315 attempts we saw a year ago, but fresher legs and less-stacked defensive fronts should offset the difference with more big plays.

It likely will have a slightly negative impact on the fantasy rankings of current receivers, Golden Tate and Sidney Rice. Both were only worth roster space as bench players to begin with.

Conventional wisdom would suggest Adrian Peterson to take a slight hit with opposing defenses having less to worry about. Peterson's 2012 numbers suggest differently:

Peterson first eight games of 2012: 151 rushes, 775 yards, 5.1 yards per carry, four touchdowns
Peterson final eight games of 2012: 197 rushes, 1322 yards, 6.7 yards per carry, eight touchdowns

Fantasy Football, NFL seattle seahawks, minnesota vikings, percy harvin, russell wilson, marshawn lynch, adrian peterson, fantasy advice

Here's some of the NFL records that are in jeopardy of being broken over the next two weeks...

Rushing yards
NFL record: 2,105, Eric Dickerson, 1984
Current leader: 1,812, Adrian Peterson

Peterson needs to average 94 yards over the final two weeks of the regular season to hit the 2K mark on the ground, and he needs to rip off 146.5 per game to tie Dickerson’s record. Standing between Peterson and history is a Houston defense that ranks fifth in the league against the run, followed by a Packers D that watched Peterson rumble for 210 yards in Week 13.

Receiving yards
NFL record: 1,848, Jerry Rice, 1995
Current leader: 1,667, Calvin Johnson

Megatron has averaged 147 yards per game over his last seven outings. If he hits that number Sunday, he would need just 34 yards against Chicago in Week 17 — and that’s exactly what Johnson gained in an earlier loss to the Bears this season.

Receptions
NFL record: 143, Marvin Harrison, 2002
Current leader: 107, Brandon Marshall

Putting up 18 catches per game over the season’s final two weeks sets a pretty lofty bar for Marshall, but keep in mind that he has had 18- and 21-catch games in his career (though both came with Denver). What won’t help: Marshall figures to draw Arizona’s Patrick Peterson in Week 16, so he’ll have a tough time coming free too many times.

COMPLETE LIST (SI.com)

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Every week I’ll address some topics that have my head spinning after Sunday’s action:

Adrian Peterson
As if the stat line was impressive enough – 23 carries for 153 yards and a TD – the manner in which Vikings’ RB Adrian Peterson ran the ball on Sunday was breathtaking. You would’ve never guessed that he was still less than a year removed from a major knee surgery. All Day hit the holes with explosiveness, broke tackles convincingly and appeared to be playing with a sense of purpose against a formidable Arizona defense. With the injury apparently behind him I am touting Peterson as the No. 3 overall RB behind Arian Foster in my Midseason Rankings.

Felix Jones
The numbers turned by Cowboys’ running back Felix Jones weren’t terrible, but they were hardly impressive. The Panthers’ defense has proven to be very friendly to fantasy running backs this season and frankly I was expecting bigger things. One problem was the team’s passing attack could never get going, plus Jones was a bit dinged up (go figure). He did manage to catch five passes for 30 yards giving him some value in PPR formats, but 44 yards on 15 carries (2.9 ypc) against Carolina is not going to get it. Hopefully owners didn’t blow too much of their FAAB budget on him.

Brandon Lloyd
Three weeks ago I endorsed trading for the Patriots’ Brandon Lloyd and even acquired him in one of my leagues, claiming he would finish as a top 15 fantasy wideout with top ten upside. Three weeks later I can’t even call him more than just a sketchy WR3 option. He only managed to pull in one of his eight targets in Sunday’s win over the Jets as he finished with just six yards receiving. The good news is that he’s seen eight or more targets in five of the Pats’ seven games. The bad news is he has just one 100-yard game and has made only one trip to the end zone.

Ben Roethlisberger
While I did get the winner right in Sunday night’s Steelers vs. Bengals showdown, the game did not go as I expected. Neither quarterback did much of anything. Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t terrible though. He still managed 278 yards and a touchdown. He is on pace to set a career mark in yardage, but it would be nice to see his TD total go up as he’s now managed to throw just one score in three straight contests. With that in mind he should still be viewed as high-end QB2 option at best and left out of lineups in most weeks.

Trent Richardson
Let the frustration officially begin for Trent Richardson owners. The ultra-talented rookie has been slowed by a rib injury. He tried to play through it on Sunday, only to wind up sitting the entire second half. The result was mediocre fantasy numbers as he finished with eight yards on eight carries in what should have been a huge matchup to exploit versus Indianapolis. The team is hoping to get him back on the field in Week 8, but with him not at 100 percent it becomes a risky proposition. Owners might be better served if the Browns just opted to rest him until he was 100 percent.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
--Tony Romo, Ray Rice, Stevan Ridley, AJ Green, Dez Bryant, Justin Blackmon, Kyle Rudolph

BIGGEST SURPRISES
--Josh Freeman, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Randall Cobb, Jeremy Kerley, Dustin Keller

Fantasy Football fantasy advice, monday qb, adrian peterson, felix jones, brandon lloyd, ben roethlisberger, trent richardson

The NFL continues its unpredictable ways. Mediocrity and absurdity prevail from week to week in the NFL and therefore in your fantasy leagues. Here’s some players who deserve game balls for their performances this week.

QB:
Drew Brees, NO, 377 passing yards, 4 TDs: Few things are as predictable and guaranteed as Drew Brees putting up big numbers. He is a fantasy juggernaut and can be counted on every week for fantasy domination.

Josh Freeman, TB, 420 yards, 3 TDs:  Freeman is coming off back-to-back weeks of 300+ passing yards and 3 TD games. It’s time to consider him as a matchup play each week. And after his 420-yard performance this week against the Saints, Freeman is finally living up to some of the hype.

RB:
Chris Johnson, TEN, 195 rushing yards, 2 TDs: After weeks of my public ridiculing of his lackluster and downright disappointing performances, CJ2K finally emerged in a huge way. Hopefully you listened to my advice last week when I said to be patient with him. Either way, kudos to Johnson on the best running back performance of the week.

Adrian Peterson, MIN, 153 rushing yards, 1 TD: The owners who by taking Peterson early in their drafts have to be pleased. Peterson is back in rare form atop the list of elite running backs.

WR:
Vincent Jackson, TB, 216 receiving yards, 1 TD: He had a 95-yard catch that actually didn’t result in a TD this week. But the absurd numbers didn’t stop there for Jackson, who set a Tampa record for receiving yards in a game. Jackson has been less than consistent for his owners, but those who started him, reaped the benefits for sure with one of the best fantasy performances of the year.

Santana Moss, WAS, 67 receiving yards, 2 TD: Remember when Santana Moss was a fantasy stud? Yeah, it seemed like forever ago. And believe it or not, Moss resides on 35% of fantasy leagues’ waiver wires. But after this week, where he caught two huge TDs from RG3, Moss might be back in consideration as a fantasy starter.

TE:
Dustin Keller, NYJ, 7 catches, 93 yards, 1 TD: A New York Jet offensive player on this list? Hard to believe, but Keller’s performance against New England is quite worthy. Keller has had injury issues most of the season, but if he’s finally healthy, and it appears he is, Keller could be a nice fantasy option in coming weeks.

Owen Daniels, HOU, 7 catches, 59 yards, 1 TD: I preach about consistency, and for good reason. And Daniels is the epitome of consistency from the tight end position. He won’t put up huge numbers like the Grahams and Gronks of the world, but he’ll grab 5-8 passes and find the end zone with regularly – just like he did this past week against Baltimore.

GAME-USED SOCK AWARD
Vernon Davis, SF, zero catches:  If you didn’t watch Thursday Night Football, you might’ve assumed that Davis was injured or inactive. Nope. He played the entire game and accumulated ZERO stats. Goose egg. Zilch. Nada. Delanie freaking Walker even caught a pass for a TD, so what gives? Granted it was a tougher matchup against Seattle, but for a guy who’s played at a top-tier level, Davis has to be a part of a game plan every week. So, for that, he gets a game used sock, and we’ll give the other matching sock to his coach Jim Harbaugh for ignoring their best receiving option in a vital game.

For fantasy advice, follow Jimmy Dinsmore on Twitter @fantasy_geek

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Every week I’ll address five topics that have my head spinning after Sunday’s action:

RGIII
The Redskins pulled off the upset of the day by knocking off the Saints at the Superdome and the rookie was a big reason why. RGIII started the game by completing eight straight passes, including an 88-yard connection for a TD to Pierre Garcon. He was the first rookie in the history of the league to have a perfect first-half QB rating (minimum 10 pass attempts).  The final numbers were staggering – 19/26 for 320 yards and 2 PaTD along with 10 carries for 42 yards.  I had RGIII at No. 13 entering the season as the top fantasy QB2. After another take he could have top six potential. It will be hard to keep him out of the lineup in Week 2 vs. St. Louis.

CJ Spiller
There weren’t many bright spots for the Bills on Sunday as they got smoked by the Jets and watched starting running back Fred Jackson forced from the game with a sprained LCL.  That resulted in Spiller getting his chance to shine. He amassed 169 yards and a score on just 14 carries and a touchdown while adding three catches for 25 yards. Spiller’s role was perplexing coming into the season, but as long as Jackson is out of action he’s a viable fantasy force as he proved down the stretch last year. At this point, even if Jackson returns the team could start leaning on Spiller more.

Michael Vick
Few players looked worst to me yesterday than Vick. The Eagles’ quarterback turned the ball over four times and appeared to be out of sync all day long. He only completed 29 of 56 passes and didn’t look good on many of them.  While durability concerns caused me to temper my expectations on him heading into the season, this performance has soured me a bit more. I am willing to give him another shot next week, but in the end I am worried.

Adrian Peterson
We figured Peterson would be limited and expected 10-15 touches. It was closer to 20 for him as he finished with 84 yards and touchdown on 17 carries. Peterson fell in many drafts because of the concern over his recovering from an ACL injury that ended his 2011 season prematurely. He pushed many of them concerns aside. While I expect the Vikings to mix Toby Gerhart in to the equation to keep AP fresh, owners can now view him a legit RB1 option moving forward with top 3 potential.

Stevan Ridley
The Patriots may have found their running back in the second-year back. Ridley was running with force all day long and took full advantage of Shane Vereen being out and the increased workload. He finished the win over the Titans with 125 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. I still have a tough time trusting Bill Belichick won’t pull him the first time he fumbles, but with each performance like this his leash is going to get longer. He’s a rock solid RB2 option with upside until further notice.

Peyton Manning
The only thing that looked weird to me with Peyton Manning was the fact he was in a Broncos’ uniform. He was 19-of-26 for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns and let the Broncos to four straight scoring drives. I still don’t consider him an elite fantasy QB anymore, but he’s definitely a decent QB 1 that if he stays healthy could easily lead the Broncos and fantasy owners alike to the playoffs this season.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
--Cam Newton, Michael Vick Chris Johnson, DeAngelo Williams, Wes Welker, and Larry Fitzgerald.

BIGGEST SURPRISES
--Mark Sanchez, CJ Spiller, Frank Gore, Michael Bush, Kevin Ogletree (WED), and Stephen Hill.

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INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The passing game was completely inept for Minnesota, on both sides of the ball. They ranked 28th in passing and 26th on defense against the pass. So, in order for them to be successful, the Vikes will need to see big improvement in both of these areas. A lot of that will depend on whether Christian Ponder can develop into a consistent quarterback, who more manages the game than anything. And they’ll need Adrian Peterson to return from his torn ACL, so they can ground and pound opponents.

SCHEDULE
The Vikings have the 7th toughest schedule in the NFL according to Vegas oddsmakers with seven quality opponents on the schedule including a Week 16 game versus Houston. In fact, be aware of the difficulty down the stretch of the Viking schedule. After their Week 10 bye, they play the Bears twice, Green Bay twice, and Houston. So, this could affect your fantasy squad in the playoffs.

STUD
Percy Harvin is quietly one of the most dynamic, exciting playmakers in the NFL. And, great news for fantasy owners, his ADP falls into the fourth round area of 12-team leagues. That’s amazing considering that Harvin had 87 catches, almost 1,000 yards receiving and 6 TDs. Doesn’t sound quite like WR1 stuff right? Okay, factor in 52 rushes for 345 yards and 2 TDs and you’re getting there, right? Okay, if your league gives individual points for special teams, then Harvin threw in another TD on returns. That’s 9 total TDs, 1,300 combined yards and Harvin is a fantasy stud. I like him as a WR1. I like him so much that I’ve drafted him as such in two of my big fantasy leagues.

DUD
Okay, before I get called an idiot (I’m used to it) for putting Adrian Peterson down here, let me explain myself. Peterson tore his ACL on Christmas Eve. Even if you believe that Peterson is an athletic freak (and it’s hard to argue that), the stats are not good for players in their first year back from torn ACLs. So, I’m skeptical of all this AP will be ready for week 1 talk. And I’m skeptical that AP can put up those juicy fantasy numbers that he’s always put up, this year. All of this being said, if Peterson slips down your draft board, you have to take him, but I feel uneasy taking him as my RB1.

SLEEPER
In the year of the tight end, everyone is looking for the next Rob Gronkowski. Kyle Rudolph, and his 6’6” frame just might be that guy. Well, maybe not Gronk good, but I expect Rudolph to be an excellent fantasy tight end. As owners scramble to grab Gronk, Gates, Graham, Hernandez, hold back, grab the RB depth, and wait on your tight end. Choosing Rudolph late could be a huge impactful move for your fantasy squad.

NEW ADDITIONS
(Insert editorial opinion here) The Bengals were fools for not writing a decent paycheck for Jerome Simpson. They coached him, groomed him, and saw the fruits of those labors finally show up last season. And then they let him walk away and sign with the Vikings. What a nice addition for Minnesota. Simpson will be a great compliment alongside Harvin. He had 50 catches for 700+ last year. This year, I expect about those same numbers, but maybe more than the 4 TD total from last year. Now, remember, Simpson is suspended the first three games of the season, so that’s a decent chunk of your fantasy schedule and drops Simpson’s value a decent amount.

POSITION BATTLE
With Simpson out the first three games, the Vikings will need to find another WR to fill-in for him. The battle between Michael Jenkins and Devin Aromashadu is the most compelling, but has little effect for fantasy squads as neither are really worth drafting except in extremely deep leagues.

BENCH BUILDER
In the four games he started in Peterson’s absence, Toby Gerhardt proved to be a serviceable running back. He scored 3 TDs including two receiving, and went over the 100 yard rushing mark in week 16. With Peterson’s health a question mark, Gerhardt is an absolute must handcuff if you do draft AP, and a nice bench builder in all leagues, because regardless, Peterson won’t have nearly the touches he had last year, and those remnant touches will fall to Gerhardt.

Fantasy Football, NFL 2012 nfl preview, minnesota vikings, percy harvin, adrian peterson, kyle rudolph, jerome simpson, michael jenkins, devin aromashadu, toby gerhardt

I am entering my 21st season of fantasy football and I can’t remember a single one of them where there was a less appealing option with the first pick of a fantasy draft.

With Chris Johnson holding out, much of the talk has centered on Adrian Peterson or Arian Foster.  In a few cases, Jamal Charles and Michael Vick have been selected.

Here’s my perspective on all the candidates and what needs to be considered:

Adrian Peterson – It appears as if Peterson is expected to become more involved in the passing game this season. However, the team’s offensive line is on the decline. The addition of McNabb is an improvement over Tavaris Jackson, but I am not sure by how much.  He shrugged off his fumbling woes last season as he only coughed the ball up one time. Over his four year career Peterson has averaged 299 carries for 1,340 yards (87 YPG) while totaling 52 TDs. FINAL TAKE: Still the best bet as the top pick, particularly in non-PPR formats.

Arian Foster – A strong case can be made for taking Foster as the top dog. He emerged last year as a fantasy stud with eight games of 100+ yards and having scored multiple touchdowns in seven contests.  A recent hamstring injury has raised cause for concern, but it doesn’t appear to be serious.  Expect Ben Tate, whose injury last season opened the door for Foster’s blowout, to get some looks. That could lead to slightly fewer touches for Foster over the course of the season. FINAL TAKE: The track record isn’t as strong, but his upside is higher than Peterson’s.

Chris Johnson – There are reports that the Titans are getting serious about signing their star running back to a new deal and ending his holdout.  Owners that have already drafted had to weigh the pros and cons of drafting him, allowing his ADP to slip from third to fifth overall in less than 10 days.  His numbers took a dip back last year, but with the arrival of Matt Hasselbeck and new offensive coordinator expect CJ2K to get back in open space more in 2011. FINAL TAKE: I’ll roll the dice and take my chances on him, he could easily finish as the top scoring back.

Jamal Charles – I do agree that Charles is one of the most electrifying playmakers to carry the ball in NFL history. However, the carries aren’t there. Thomas Jones had more rushing attempts than Charles a year ago and with offensive coordinator Charlie Weis leaving Kansas City I expect the Chiefs’ offense to take a dip back…FINAL TAKE: A solid top 5 pick, but simply don’t get enough touches to be take No. 1 overall.

Michael Vick – You can certainly make a case for a guy that could throw for 30 TD’s and run for 12 more. Vick is a fantasy monster in any given week. I still play it safer to the bill and put Aaron Rodgers as my first QB on the Cheat Sheet. No matter the quarterback, I just can’t take one with the first pick. The depth this year is there for those that wait…FINAL TAKE: Let someone else enjoy the Michael Vick Experience if you have the top pick.

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DRAFTING STRATEGY
--The changing landscape of running back has become evident, far and few between are guys that consistently carry the rock 20-25 times per game. However, just because their is more depth than ever before it still doesn't hide the fact you need to have producers in your fantasy backfield. I may go with a WR or QB early on, but I still want to have a pair of running backs in my first three picks.

THE ELITE
Adrian Peterson – The offensive line in Minnesota is on the decline and the Vikings’ offense lacks weapons. While “All Day” is still our consensus No. 1 running back, we don’t like him as much as years past. The team has suggested they will use him more on passing downs though and that could help him produce better numbers as a receiver.

Arian Foster – Foster was amazing in 2010 as he scored 18 times and finished with 2,220 total yards for the Texans. His carries could dip a bit this season with the healthy return of Ben Tate, whose injury last season opened the door for Foster to shine. However, his production won’t be too far off from last year’s eye-popping totals. A strong candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in many drafts.

Chris Johnson – If not for his holdout CJ2K would be another back argued for the top spot, but with no end to his contract dispute in sight Johnson is sliding down draft boards quickly. Don’t let him fall too far. With a capable quarterback under center and a new offensive coordinator in town Johnson promises to break several big time plays, assuming he ever gets on to the field.

Ray Rice – After a disappointing campaign a year ago there is plenty to like about Rice heading into 2011. Willis McGahee is gone, which should lead Rice getting more carries and allow him additional scoring opportunities. His value is even higher in PPR formats as the 24-year old have averaged 71 catches per year over the last two seasons.

BREAKOUT CANDIDATES
Jahvid Best – A nagging turf toe injury limited him during his rookie campaign. The Lions’ offense is loaded with weapons and Best could be the most explosive playmaker in the group. With this year’s rookie running back Mikkel Leshoure out for the season things will only get better.

Mark Ingram – Ingram is my pick for the rookie likely to make the most immediate impact for fantasy owners. He has been impressive throughout the preseason and should become the go-to-guy quickly in the Saints’ high-scoring attack. He could finish as a top 10 fantasy RB.

Shonn Greene – I was high on Greene last year at this, but LT’s hot start kept Greene in a reduced role most of the season. With Tomlinson now taking a back seat, Greene has the potential to be a 300-touch running back more than capable of scoring double-digit touchdowns.

FADING AWAY
Michael Turner – The Falcons are opening up their offensive attack and looking to air it out a bit more and that spells trouble for Turner. While he will still get a chance to put up some touchdowns, a dip in his touches should be expected. His value takes an even bigger hit in leagues that reward points for receptions.

Ryan Grant – Grant is likely to slide in drafts and could provide some mid-round value, but with James Starks looming and discussion that Grant could be a roster cut casualty should make owners feel reluctant. You may be best served to let someone else take a flier on him.

Cedric Benson – Nearing his 29th birthday the workload is beginning to catch up to the Bengals’ running back. With the offense getting even worse this season, Benson will find it even tougher to run. He’s never been good in the passing game either. Running backs on bad teams are always something to avoid and no team in the league may be as bad as the Bengals.

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QB Game Ball – Matt Schaub, Houston – 31/62 for 393 PaYd, 3 PaTD’s, 2 INT
Schaub finally delivered for fantasy owners that have waited all season by torching the Ravens down the stretch of Monday’s loss. We could’ve done without the two picks, but the Texans’ signal caller more than made up for it for the nearly 400 yards and three scores.

QB Honorable Mention – Alex Smith, San Francisco – 17/27 for 255 PaYd, 3 PaTD’s (very few owners out there had him in their lineups, but most wish they did).

RB Game Ball – Darren McFadden, Oakland – 123 RuYd, 3 receptions, 83 ReYd, 3 TD’s
What a day McFadden rewarded owners with during Week 14 in which he torched the Jags for over 200 total yards while finding the end zone three times. He remains a RB1 for any fantasy playoff push as the Raiders are determined to run the ball.

RB Honorable Mention – Michael Turner, Atlanta – 28 carries, 112 RuYd, 3 RuTD’s (The Falcons’ workhorse has three 100-yard games and six TD’s over last four weeks).

WR Game Ball – DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia – 4 receptions, 210 ReYd, 1 ReTD
Jackson remains fantasy football’s top playmaker broke out of his mini-slump in a big way, including the longest play of a season in the NFL, a 91-yard TD catch. He did it all despite tweaking his ankle during the game and missing some action.

WR Honorable Mention – Deion Branch, New England – 8 receptions, 151 ReYd, 1 ReTD (Branch defied odds and delivered huge effort despite terrible weather in Windy City).

TE Game Ball – Jason Witten, Dallas – 7 receptions, 69 ReYd, 2 ReTD
After missing in action for the past couple of weeks Witten was able to step up and score twice in Sunday night’s loss to the Eagles. He remains a top 5 option at the position on weekly basis, especially when you factor in all of the injuries at tight end.

TE Honorable Mention – Bo Scaife, Tennessee – 4 reception, 20 ReYd, 2 ReTD’s (scored two times for an offense that had gone 14 quarters without a touchdown).

GAME-USED SOCK AWARD
Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota – 14 carries, 26 RuYD, 0 receptions, 0 TD’s
The elite fantasy back was from elite in the opening week of the playoffs turning in his worst effort of the season. He mustered just 1.9 yards per carry as the Vikings struggled mightily versus a tenacious Giants’ D.

Stinky Sock Honorable Mention – Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City – 1 reception, 3 ReYd, 0 ReYd (second straight dud week, though this time can be blamed partly on Brodie Croyle).

Fantasy Football, NFL matt schaub, alex smith, darren mcfadden, michael turner, desean jackson, deion branch, jason witten, bo scaife, adrian peterson, dwayne bowe

We are eight weeks through the season, so it's time to hand out some hardware...

First Half MVP – Adrian Peterson
One word…consistency. A-Pete has put up at least nine points in every game this season. He leads the NFL with 776 rushing yards and has scored six times.

Most Outstanding QB – Phillip Rivers
He has thrown for multiple scores in 6 of 8 games and is averaging 311 yards per contest despite having his receiving corps decimated by injuries and Vincent Jackson’s holdout.

Most Outstanding RB – Arian Foster (since AP got overall)
A better value than Peterson, Foster is a close second to the Vikings’ running back as our first-half MVP. He has rushed for 737 yards and seven scores. Aside from a dud against the Giants, Foster has produced big numbers each week.

Most Outstanding WR – Roddy White
The 29-year old has emerged as fantasy football’s best wideout. He leads the league with 54 receptions and has gone over the 100-yard mark four times on his way to 747 receiving yards. There has only been one game all season in which he’s failed to either score or get to the century mark.

Most Outstanding TE – Antonio Gates
Despite being hobbled by injuries in both feet, the Chargers’ tight end has been hands down the top player at the position.  He’s caught at least five balls in 6 of 8 games and nine touchdowns in that span.  There is no doubt, he’s the No. 1 fantasy tight end is right now.

Most Outstanding D/ST – Titans
Tennessee has been a great value for fantasy owners that resisted temptation to invest heavily is a defense on draft day. The Titans lead the NFL in interceptions and have only allowed two opponents to score 20 or more points against them this season. The unit has 26 sacks at the season’s midway point.

Most Outstanding IDP – Lawrence Timmons
The Steelers’ linebacker has tallied at least 11 tackles in five of the seven games he has played and is quickly becoming one of the league’s top linebackers.  For IDP’ers there has been no better bang for the buck to this point of the year.

Biggest Bust – Maurice Jones-Drew
MJD has mustered just one touchdown and two 100-yard games all season. Ouch! For owners that spent a first-round pick on the Jags’ running back, patience is wearing thin. The second-half schedule suggest a turnaround, but for now he gets the dubious biggest bust tag based off where he was drafted.

Best FA Pickup (12 team-league) – Peyton Hillis
I remember debating whether it was going to be Jerome Harrison or Montario Hardesty all summer out of the Browns’ backfield in 2010. Once Hardesty went down, the door opened for Hillis and owners that scooped him up early. He’s scored in six of his last seven and made himself a legitimate RB2 on a bad team.

Best Rebound Player – LaDanian Tomlinson
Count me amongst those eating crow on L.T. I wrote him off after San Diego cutting him. However, he’s found new life in the Big Apple and flourishing behind a stellar Jets’ offensive line. He’s only had one 100-yard rushing day, but Tomlinson has been consistently finding the end zone and making plays in the passing game.

Most Frustrating Player – Randy Moss
With a new contract looming you would think Moss would be playing at an elite level. Instead, he now finds himself on his third team in just half of a season. After disappointing through five games with Tom Brady and New England, Moss was a non-factor during his short time with Brett Favre in Minnesota.  He has just 22 catches for 313 yards and five scores through eight games and has two games where he failed to put a single point in non-ppr formats.

Biggest Injury Headache – Pierre Thomas
It appears as if an ankle injury will cost Thomas a sixth week. Though many players have been injured the fact that the Saints originally played it up as if were a short-term injury makes the hiatus disturbing. By time he returns it is going to be eight weeks. Now, he’s back on crutches and seeking second opinions.

Best Rookie Performance – Mike Williams
Williams has been a bit inconsistent, but extremely productive for a rookie receiver. After scoring touchdowns in three of his first four games, Williams has at least 80 yards receiving in three of his last four games, averaging 82.8 yards during that stretch.

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