WEEK SIX
Studs, Duds and Surprises By Ted Kluck

Studs:

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots: Was Tom Brady incredible again this week? He was, going for 5 TD’s vs Dallas. Am I getting uncomfortable using the words “Tom Brady” and “Stud” together each week? I am. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Derek Anderson, QB, Browns: Weird, isn’t it? But this guy just keeps scoring TD’s (3 passing, 1 running this week) and the Browns are sucking less and less each week. However, it helps to play the Dolphins, who have dropped behind the University of South Florida in several polls.

Brian Griese, QB, Bears: I’d like to say I saw this three-touchdown performance coming. If Griese is fire and Rex Grossman is ice, then Cedric Benson is like lukewarm water.

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers: Scored 4 times vs. the Raiders, which is a relief, as I thought he might lose his job to Michael Turner.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings: Clearly the upright running style has been problematic for him, though he still managed to eke out 224 rushing yards and 3 TD’s this week in spite of it.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jags: Has had a Ronnie Brown-like resurrection the past two weeks, adding 125 rushing yards and 2 scores against the Texans. I hope you bought him low.

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Chiefs: 9 catches, 102 yards, 2 touchdowns. Suddenly, the Chiefs don’t look as pitiable as they have in weeks prior. The Bengals, however, still do.

Braylon Edwards, WR, Browns: Montana to Rice, Manning to Harrison, and Anderson to Edwards. I’m being facetious, but they’ve still looked pretty darn good for a Browns team that can be counted on for shootouts (read: no defense). Edwards torched the Dolphins to the tune of 3 TD’s.

Wes Welker, WR, Patriots: On the receiving end of a couple of Brady TD strikes, and nobody was happier than Randy Moss.

Devin Hester, WR, Bears: Scored on an 89 yard punt return and an 81 yard catch. More importantly, his speed is rated “99” on Madden and he is just two credits shy of a PhD in Literary Criticism at Miami. Just kidding about that last part.

Steve Smith, WR, Panthers: It was great to see the Panthers involving Steve Smith in the offense again, and he responded with 10 catches, 136 yards and a score.

Duds:

Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals: Kurt Warner has been called many things during his long NFL career, but rugged and durable aren’t among them. Warner left early, completing 2 passes for 21 yards and ushering in the Tim Rattay era in Arizona.

Chad Pennington, QB, Jets: Pennington is reportedly tired of seeing his name next to the adjectives “noodle armed” in print, so I’ll refrain from doing so here. Unfortunately Chad and his arm only produced 128 yards and an INT.

Vince Young, QB, Titans: Looking a lot like Mike Vick version 2.0, minus, of course, all of the personal baggage. Another 120 yard 1 INT day. Yawn.

Brett Favre, QB, Packers: Passed for only 188 yards and, more importantly, threw his NFL record-setting 278th interception.

Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson, Chargers: Lest I gloat over predicting Vince Young’s demise this season, I was also adamant about the fact that Phil Rivers would become a star. Rather, he has looked like Joan Rivers, and had another underwhelming (156 yards, 1 INT) outing this week. Vincent Jackson, he of the Marques Colston comparisons, chipped in one catch for 5 yards.

Justin Fargas, RB, Raiders: He was sensational last week, and those who rushed to the wire to grab him were rewarded with...10 yards on 2 carries. The upshot? He averaged a solid 5 yards per carry. He welcomes Dom Rhodes and perhaps Michael Bush into a crowded backfield, so in the words of the immortal Michael Scott of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, he should be dropped like he’s hot.

Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks: 14 carries, 35 yards and no scores again for Seattle. Before the season I predicted mediocrity for SA, which he seems to be delivering in droves, though, in his defense, the broken hand doesn’t help.

Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys: We’ve grown accustomed to seeing Marion Barber score each week ­ something he didn’t do against the Patriots.

Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals: Made his triumphant return into the lineup by racking up 8 yards on 4 carries.

Santana Moss, WR, Redskins: His stat line: 1 carry, 0 yards, 1 fumble.

Ben Watson, TE, Patriots: We knew Watson couldn’t keep up his torrid pace, and he hit the wall this week, registering 1 catch for 28 yards, while Wes Welker flourished.

Bobby Petrino, Coach, Falcons: What was Jerious Norwood’s reward for taking a carry 67 yards to the house? A grand total of 6 carries on the game.

Ted Kluck is the author of three books, including “Paper Tiger: One Athlete’s Journey to the Underbelly of Pro Football.” Visit him online at www.tedkluck.com.