BERNARD BERRIAN
Is the top receiver in fantasy football. Also in the top 7 are the Saints Marques Colston and the Packers Greg Jennings. Who? What? No T.O., no Steve Smith, no Chad Johnson. Most owners draft teams based on a player's performance the previous season. That's the way we all do it. The reality is that none of us are scouts and we can't analyze whether a team is going to utilize one player more than another. Berrian lives by the big play and so far Rex Grossman has been able to get him the ball but he isn't a receiver that can move the chains and stretch the field. No fantasy receiver in the top 10 has more than 4 touchdowns this season.
L.T. and Michael Turner
The Chargers RB tandem is really starting to irk L.T. owners especially after his uncharacteristic 36 yard performance last week. Turner is averaging 69 yards a game and more than 10 carries and Marty Ball means L.T. sits when the Chargers have the game in hand. Turner is a nice change of pace back and a viable start at a flex position if you can get him. L.T. will continue to get his, but if the Chargers get up early, and will often this year thanks to their stingy defense, look for Turner to spell L.T.
INJURY REPORT
The following players were listed as questionable (50 percent chance of playing) on the NFL's team-by-team injury report.
Eagles RB Brian Westbrook (knee), Seahawks WR Bobby Engram (illness), Falcolns RB Jerius Norwood (shoulder), Ravens TE Todd Heap (ankle), Titans WR Drew Bennett (ankle), Titans RB LenDale White, Jets WR Laveranues Coles (calf), Jets WR Tim Dwight (thigh).
The following players were listed as doubtful, meaning they are not playing.
Eagles WR Donte Stallworth (hamstring), Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring).
HAWAII BAR?
While celebrating my birthday at the best pub in Honolulu, Murphy's, my friend Cameron Brady and I started talking about the Big Ten and Iowa football while sitting at the bar with my girlfriend Kristina and Advertiser page designer Christine Strobel. Some drunk fool, sitting next to Kristina kept looking up from his Bud Light and shooting evil looks at us while we debated whether the Pac-10 or the Big Ten had the better reputation. This cat then turns to Kristina and tells her, "Tell your boys this is a Hawaii bar and they shouldn't be talking about Iowa." He then looks at me and says as he stumbles out, "This is a Hawaii bar, you should be supporting Hawaii this is not Iowa." Had he been wearing a smile or laughing it would have been funny but this guy was serious. Words unfit for print were exchanged and he walked away. There is no such thing as a Hawaii bar or an Iowa bar or an Iolani bar or a Punahou bar. This is Hawaii and anyone can be anything anywhere and talk about whatever they want. Sports fans are passionate folks, and the San Diego transplant wanted to back the Bows, I respect that but marking your territory? Drinking a Bud Light in an Irish pub? Grow up buddy, learn and live Aloha.
SHUFFLEBOARD
If you've ever been to Murphy's to play shuffleboard you understand it is a frustrating game of finesse. Push the puck too hard it goes flying off the board. Too much spin one way and it knocks one of your own out of scoring contention. My friends and I tried to play shuffleboard last night after we had been celebrating for 5 hours. Wayne, the gracious bartender at Murphy's, had to remind us that while our game was high drama for some, no one eating or sitting around wanted to hear about it.