Here is a breakdown of the best and worst teams at the offensive positions.
QUARTERBACK:
Three Best teams:
1. ROYALE W/CHEESE 206 pts. (Aaron Rodgers, Shaun Hill)
2. K-911s 206 pts. (Phillip Rivers*traded*, Carson Palmer)
3. HURRICANES 198 pts. (Drew Brees, Josh Freeman)
These teams have put up the points riding their franchise quarterbacks. The K-911s might have a bit of a drop-off, but Carson Palmer will hold down the fort. Brees and Rodgers continue to put up points, with Josh Freeman and Shaun Hill performing admirably when called upon.
Three Worst teams:
10.MANTI 158pts. (Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer *waived*)
11. PRETTY BOYS 157 pts. (Joe Flacco, Chad Henne*waived*)
12. RIGGINS 150 pts. (Matt Schaub, Matt Cassel)
Matt Ryan has been strong, but also was played on a bye week. Joe Flaaco has been adequate, but not explosive. Matt Schaub has been the victim of the Texans' improved running game.
RUNNING BACK:
Three Best teams:
1. HURRICANES 312 pts. (Darren McFadden, Peyton Hillis, Brandon Jacobs, Justin Forsett)
2. FLUFFERNUTTER 310 pts. (Adrian Peterson, Ray Rice, Ronnie Brown)
3. K-911S 305 pts. (Arian Foster, LeSean McCoy, Joseph Addai)
The Hurricanes have two guys in McFadden and Hillis that have put up numbers week in and week out. Brandon Jacobs and Justin Forsett give them some nice depth. The Fluff have prospered on the coattails of Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice, and with Ronnie Brown the Fluff have another home run threat on the bench. The K-911s have had a huge season with Foster, and should be even stronger with LeSeasn McCoy.
Three Worst teams:
10.PRETTY BOYS 225 pts. (Cedric Benson, Knowshon Moreno, Shonn Greene, Ryan Torain)
11. ROYALE W/CHEESE 209 pts 157 (Thomas Jones, Felix Jones, Jahvid Best)
12. COUNSELOR 167 pts. (BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Mike Tolbert, Willis McGahee)
The Pretty Boys just can't get consistent performances from there RBs. Benson has not put up the numbers he did last year, and Moreno have a tough time staying healthy. Eddie Royale lost DeAngelo Williams for the season, and until recently couldn't get much production from Thomas Jones. Best could be one of the best...if he could stay on the field. The Counselor would be even lower on this list, if not for the recently acquired Tolbert and Green-Ellis. In the last four weeks, those two backs have put up 77 of the 167 points.
WIDE RECEIVER:
Three Best teams:
1. HURRICANES 318 pts. (Terrell Owens, Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Lloyd)
2. RIGGINS 249 pts. (Larry Fitzgerald, Marques Colston, Steve Johnson, Dwayne Bowe)
3. KITTENS 241 pts. (Calvin Johnson, Jabar Gaffney, Derrick Mason)
The Hurricanes top this position as well. Hakeem Nicks is dinged up as the Hurricanes head towards the playoffs, but Owens and Lloyd will be up to the task of putting up points. Riggins has a ton of depth, with big play threats Bowe and Fitzgerald, young upstart Steve Johnson, and top-performer Larry Fitzgerald. So much depth means so many tough decisions each week. The Kittens are being carried by Calvin Johnson, but Jabar Gaffney will have to step into the recently-waived shoes of Greg Jennings if they are going to stay in the top 3.
Three Worst teams:
10. COUNSELOR 177 pts. (Jeremy Maclin, Greg Jennings, Anquan Boldin)
11. MANTI 171 pts 157 (DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith NYG, Devery Henderson)
12. FREEMASONS 151 pts. (Randy Moss, Danny Woodhead, Mike Sims-Walker)
The Counselor will not stay in the bottom 3 long. With Greg Jennings picked up off the waiver wire, and Anquan Boldin brought in via trade, the talent is there to make this group explosive. The Manti have DeSean Jackson, Mr. 60-yard Touchdown. Unfortunately, Steve Smith is hurt (but still in the line-up) and Henderson is typically an afterthought. The Freemasons are the surprise on this list. Moss has drastically underperformed, Woodhead is a running back, and Sims-Walker is a roller coaster ride. Look for the Freemasons to try and make a move to shore up this area as they head into
TIGHT END:
Three Best teams:
1. FELONS 120 pts. (Antonio Gates, Randy McMichael)
2. FREEMASONS 77 pts. (Mercedes Lewis, Jason Witten)
3. PRETTY BOYS 74.5 pts. (Dallas Clark, Brandon Pettigrew)
Gates is having a monster year for the Felons, but foot and ankle problems have kept him out the last few games. The Freemasons have two top-flight tight ends, with Lewis scoring over 8 points a game when he is in the line-up. The Pretty Boys and Dallas Clark got off to a fast start, but then Clark went down with an injury. Coach Danneker found a solid replacement in Pettigrew, but he has been flip flopping tight ends...so who knows how long he lasts.
Three Worst teams:
10. HURRICANES 55 pts. (Vernon Davis, Todd Heap)
11. COUNSELOR 48 pts 157 (Kellen Winslow *waived*, Benjamin Watson)
12. MANTI 23 pts. (Owen Daniels)
Tight End is one of the few weak spots for the Hurricanes, which is surprising after the numbers Davis put up last year. If Davis gets rolling, the Hurricanes become even tougher to beat. The Counselor let Winslow go, and now will roll with Benjamin Watson. I wouldn't be surprised to see him find another option as well. The Manti have been dinged up at tight end. It doesn't help that Owens started during his bye week and other weeks where he was started...even though he was listed as OUT.