TREASURE
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%% Larry Johnson
RB, Chiefs
CARRIES YARDS TD FUMBLE
26 201 3 1
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New year’s prediction: Larry Johnson is the No. 1 pick in your 2006 fantasy draft. What about Shaun Alexander and his 28 TDs? Good for pick No. 2. In nine weeks since becoming the Chiefs’ starter, Johnson has put up absolutely sick numbers: He has rushed for 1,351 of his team-record 1,750 yards and 16 of his 20 TDs in nine games! Kudos to you owners who grabbed Johnson as a late, what-if-Priest Holmes-goes-down pick.
ALSO RECEIVING VOTES
Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins: 27 carries, 112 yards, 2 TDs
DeShaun Foster, RB, Panthers: 18 carries, 165 yards, TD
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OFF COURSE
Alex Smith
QB, 49ers
COMP/ATT YARDS TD INT
16 of 29 159 1 1
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He can only get better, right? The No. 1 overall pick has been adrift in a season filled with injuries and ineptitude. But in his seventh game as a starter and on his 152nd attempt of the year, Smith finally got that first TD pass out of the way. Shouldn’t be that hard, but this was not a good situation for a rookie. These are not Joe Montana’s 49ers. Not even Tim Rattay’s 49ers. Smith should inch up your draft board next season, if only by a round or two.
ALSO RECEIVING VOTES
Josh McCown, QB, Cardinals: 31 of 42, 297 yards, TD, INT, fumble
Kevin Jones, RB, Lions: 18 carries, 78 yards, 0 TDs
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SHIPWRECK
Ben Roethlisberger
QB, Steelers
COMP/ATT YARDS TD INT
7 of 16 135 0 2
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C’mon Big Ben, even though Sunday was Jerome Bettis’ day, you’ve gotta play better than this heading into the playoffs. The fact that Roethlisberger is 22-3 as a starter is a stunning stat for a second-year QB, but that means little for a fantasy owner. He has thrown for 300 yards twice in his career, so he better come up with some TDs–but he has had just two in four games. And those INTs are a killer, especially vs. the woeful Lions, probably good for negative points.
ALSO RECEIVING VOTES
Kyle Boller, QB, Ravens: 15 of 36, 151 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs
Kelly Holcomb, QB, Bills: 23 of 37, 184 yards, 2 TDs, 4 INTs