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player ready...Treasure: Larry Johnson
Lots of standout performances to choose from Sunday: LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Vick, Reggie Wayne and . . . Sage Rosenfels? But Week 8 belonged to the Chiefs running back, who pounded out 155 yards and scored four times–three rushing and one receiving. Oh, and by the way, he had a team-record 39 carries against the Seahawks. “Thirty-nine?” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. “That’s a lot of carries, man.” So, to whoever is calling the plays over there: Continue keeping Herm in the dark and let LJ run, run, run.
Off course: Drew Brees
The Saints’ play was kind of stale under the Dome, and this feel-good team fell flat against the Ravens–who got a big assist from Brees, returning two of his three picks the other way for scores. The quarterback also lost a fumble, and it’s those dreaded turnovers that marred an otherwise stellar fantasy line: 383 yards, 3 TDs–two to up-and-coming rookie Marques Colston and the other to old standby Joe Horn. So don’t panic. He’s got the weapons he needs in New Orleans (don’t forget Reggie Bush) and remains a solid starter.
Shipwreck: Ben Roethlisberger
We’re getting kind of tired seeing you over here in the principal’s office, Ben. But four picks against lowly Oakland? Come on. Their offense couldn’t do squat–no touchdowns, in fact–but the Raiders scored twice off your silly turnovers. “I’m letting the whole team down,” he said. You think? Roethlisberger insisted he felt no lingering effects of the concussion he suffered last week, but his melon is definitely malfunctioning on the football field. Coach Cowher and his Steelers teammates are standing behind Big Ben, but you shouldn’t.