Trent Edwards has no doubt improved this season, and his peripherals are elite (68.0 completion percentage, 7.8 YPA), but a 6:9 TD:turnover ratio reveals there's still plenty of work to do…It would be nice if the running game helped, as Marshawn Lynch continues to really disappoint. At least he's much more involved in the passing game this season…If nothing else, Brett Favre keeps things interesting. He's not playing very well right now, and as crazy as it sounds, the Jets clearly downgraded going from Chad Pennington to Favre…New York's defensive line is playing at an extremely high level. Forget trying to run on them, and their 29 sacks rank third in the NFL. Kris Jenkins has been one of the most important acquisitions in the league, and I fear for Marc Bulger's safety this week.

Words can't describe just how bad that contract the Jags handed out to Jerry Porter was. How Jacksonville continues to be touchdown favorites while on the road is baffling…Chad Johnson has three scores over the last three weeks, including two last Sunday. Therefore, if you can get any type of return, look into dealing him right now. His 9.4 yards per catch mark is absurd, and he hasn't topped 57 yards receiving in a game this season. I'd rather Eddie Royal…It's almost unfathomable Cedric Benson has become Cincinnati's lone bright spot on offense. Even crazier, teammates have had nothing but good things to say about him…If there were an award that's opposite of Most Improved Player of the Year, David Garrard would be the winner this year.

I've heard criticism of the QB switch in Cleveland, and while I can understand questioning the reasoning during a short week, the opponent is ideal, and there was little reason to stick with Derek Anderson at this point. Just because you made a mistake contractually, doesn't mean that should affect playing time…That said, I'm not expecting Brady Quinn to be any kind of savior. But might as well get the learning process started and see what the future looks like…It can't be understated – Braylon Edwards has really, really bad hands…I'm not sure what people see in Willis McGahee, but Ray Rice looks like Baltimore's future in the backfield. He's an upgrade.

Just when Matt Schaub is in the midst of justifying my hype, yet another injury occurs. That hit he took was pretty serious, so it's hard to call him soft, but he clearly can't be counted on to stay healthy. Make picking up Sage Rosenfels a priority…Because of his activity in the passing game, it appears Steve Slaton is matchup proof. Then again, that theory will be tested once more this week against Baltimore…Adrian Peterson is a perceived disappointment, and his utter lack of receiving ability hurts, but the most talented back in football is on pace to finish with 1,646 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, which isn't too unacceptable. Check out his playoff schedule.

The Kyle Orton injury was a killer, because with his improvement and that defense, the Bears really were sleepers in the NFC. Now, they get a massive downgrade under center. Rex Grossman is horrific…Daunte Culpepper? Seriously? Detroit needs to find a quarterback of the future in the worst way. There's a very real chance the Lions go 0-16 this season.

Kansas City may have something in Tyler Thigpen. He's certainly more interesting than Brodie Croyle ever was. Plus, Thigpen has some serious receiving skills!...Down 24-19, Jon Gruden elected to go for two with 13:36 left, and it nearly cost him the game. I guess coaches really will never learn…I'd make Jamaal Charles my No. 1 waiver priority this week. Larry Johnson may come back Week 11, but there's an equal chance he gets a longer suspension when/if he is found guilty in his December trial. Charles isn't built for 25-plus touches, but he can catch passes and is explosive, so he'll do plenty of damage when on the field. With Thigpen making the offense competent, Charles could make a major impact from here on out.

I'm not sure what happened – is it as simple as coaching changes? But Marc Bulger is just nowhere near the same QB he was two years ago. If not for an extremely lucky 80-yard bomb last week, he would have gotten 3.2 YPA against a beatable Arizona secondary. He's not even worth a roster spot in most leagues…As a Larry Fitzgerald owner, there isn't a player in the NFL I've cursed more this year than Anquan Boldin. Dude is a touchdown machine…At the season's halfway point, my MVP ballot currently looks like: 1) Philip Rivers 2) Kurt Warner 3) Drew Brees. It's really splitting hairs among those three, who have clearly been the league's most valuable players so far. It's simply amazing what Warner's been able to do at age 37. There's a real chance the Cardinals have a bye during the first week of the playoffs…Right now, Tim Hightower should be treated as a top-15 fantasy back. At minimum.

The Titans have now won eight straight games without a 200-yard passing game. Please let that sink in a minute…All LenDale White does is score goal-line touchdowns or hit 50-plus yarders. Such breakaway speed!...Green Bay is underrated. That's a dangerous team capable of going deep into the playoffs…Chris Johnson is a very, very good football player. Despite White stealing all those touchdowns, Johnson is currently a top-10 fantasy back, and in dynasty leagues, he's a top-5 commodity.

That offensive pass interference call negating an 80-yard touchdown to Brandon Marshall was a joke. That isn't called 99.9 percent of the time. Don't worry about Marshall, he'll be just fine. His response to Joey Porter was priceless…The Dolphins are sneaky good. I know I wouldn't want to face them in the playoffs…It's Peyton Hillis' world, and the rest of us are just passing through…Can't wait to see what Ryan Torain can do. It's safe to say I've never been more excited about someone with three career carries who was drafted in the fifth round…As leader of the Jay Cutler fan club, I'll be the first to admit his play has really slipped over the past five games. Still, I'm keeping the faith.

After everyone was clamoring for a QB change, it was pretty funny watching Brooks Bollinger's first pass get picked off. I'm beginning to think Dallas is easier to beat with Tony Romo out of the lineup…Justin Tuck is a bad, bad man. Like linebackers in Pittsburgh, the Giants just breed elite defensive ends…Eli Manning has quietly struggled over the past four games, but it doesn't matter when the running game is historically good. The team's current 5.2 YPC mark is higher than any team has ever finished a season with.

The Eagles seem to be the darling of stat heads, often getting ranked as one of the league's three best teams in power polls. I just don't see it. They pressure the quarterback well, but too often lofty yardage totals result in too few of points thanks to poor red zone play. Donovan McNabb's impressive 7.6 YPA mark is accompanied by a modest 20-TD pace. Plus, Andy Reid is a liability on Sundays. Why Vegas views them as equals to the Giants (Philly -3 this weekend) is beyond me…All that said, Brian Westbrook should be treated as the No. 1 fantasy asset from this point forward…Seneca Wallace spiked the ball in the final minute of the second quarter to stop the clock last week. On third down. They punted the very next play.

For the first time in 16 years, a team (the Raiders) had negative yardage at halftime Sunday. John Abraham absolutely abused Kwame Harris in one of the more pathetic offensive displays in recent memory. 10 net passing yards!…Don't be fooled, this Atlanta team is good. I say they beat the Saints this week…It sounds like the Raiders will release DeAngelo Hall soon, meaning they traded a second round pick and paid $8 million for eight games in which he was consistently torched. I always knew he was overrated, but I at least thought he was above average. Not the case. At least Al Davis was able to admit his mistake, and locking up Nnamdi Asomugha long-term should be a top priority. He might be the most valuable defensive player in the league.

It was sad watching the Colts/Patriots game, which was a far cry from their usual matchup. Both teams are a shell of their former selves, although Peyton Manning played well…Interesting to see Bill Belichick make a couple of questionable calls. Still, it's impressive how he's getting that New England team to play…Few players are more overrated (and overpaid) than Dwight Freeney.

The offense has problems mainly because of the line, but Pittsburgh's defense is Super Bowl level. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, two linebackers, have recorded 19.5 sacks so far this season…Byron Leftwich played well in relief Monday, but I'm skeptical if he were forced into significant playing time…Washington's secondary is playing at an extremely high level. They are allowing the third fewest YPA (6.0) in the NFL, which is especially impressive when you consider the lack of pressure the front seven provides.