Midway Point: Breakouts and Busts

Breakouts and Busts

We are midway through the 2009 season already! Time flies by! We still have 8 total weeks to go and any player can turn it around, just as any breakout can come to a complete stall, but here are my breakouts of the 1st half of 2009 and busts of 2009. And before you read the below, I purposely left off Steve Smith of the Giants. Mainly because I see the Giants WR corps as a rotating system in fantasy value. One week its Steve Smith, then Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks. No consistency.

Breakouts

1. Cedric Benson - RB - Cincinnati Bengals

Benson was not on many radars when it came to searching for a breakout RB, but the former Bear has been lights out for the Bengals. At first everyone thought it was just as fluke, until he became the 1st RB in years to put 100+ rushing yards on the Ravens defense. Chances are Benson will continue his success and enter 2010 a Top-10 RB.

2. Ray Rice - RB - Baltimore Ravens

Willis McGahee early on was stealing the spotlight from Rice, the preseason sleeper. But Rice has shown over the past few weeks that he is clearly the #1 RB for the Ravens and looks to be a solid fantasy RB for not just this season, but many to come.

3. Knowshon Moreno - RB - Denver Broncos

Most fantasy owners felt Correll Buckhaulter would cut into Moreno's carries to much for Knowshon to be a big fantasy factor. Apparently, that isn't the case. the Chelan Gulls are kicking themselves for quiting on Moreno to early and East Wenatchee is loving every moment of it.

Notables: Ronnie Brown - RB - Miami Dolphins, Steve Smith - WR - NY Giants, Rashard Mendenhall - RB - Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger - QB - Pittsburgh Steelers, Nate Burleson - WR - Seattle Seahawks, Mike Sims-Walker - WR - Jacksonville Jaguars

Busts

1. Matt Forte - RB - Chicago Bears

Sorry David, I can't hold this one any longer. Forte is becoming a concern. Forte was taken with the #3 pick in the CGFFL draft this past summer. He has performed nowhere near his value. It seems Jay Cutler has done more harm then help for Forte.

2. Steve Smith - WR - Carolina Panthers

As a big time Panthers fan, this one hurts. Steve Smith for a long time was Cariolina's lone fantasy star. Seems DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart ar ethe only fantasy relevent players remaining. Smith has potential to breakout at any time, but he has struggling big time.

3. LaDainian Tomlinson - RB - San Diego Chargers

Oh boy, do not get me started on this one. I thought Tomlinson was a preseason bust from the beginning, and he has proved to be just that. Moses Lake owner Dustin Hansen took Tomlinson with the #2 pick! Already, Hansen has shipped Tomlinson out to Ellensburg in exchange for future fantasy stud Rashard Mendenhall. Expect the Bolts to take a RB in next years draft, LT is DONE!

Notables: Darren McFadden - RB - Oakland Raiders, Brian Westbrook - RB - Philadelphia Eagles, Greg Jennings - WR - Green Bay Packers, Terrell Owens - WR - Buffalo Bills, Eddie Royal - WR - Denver Broncos

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