There’s a good chance that you either played someone who flat out crushed you this week or, luckily for you, you flat out crushed someone else. This was the first week where you had relative fantasy unknowns put up huge weeks, while some studs put up their best numbers of the season.

With that being said, let’s review the good, the bad and the just plain mediocre from the week that was.

Top Performer

There was certainly a battle to get into this top spot, but ultimately I have to go with Darren McFadden. Obviously, he scored the most points this week in fantasy. Four TDs and close to 200 yards of total offense will do that for you, but his performance is even more impressive if you consider what might have been.

McFadden was pulled midway through the 3rd quarter of the Raiders game against the Broncos after he scored on a 57-yard TD run. This left him with 16 carries for 165 yards and 3 TDs rushing while adding 2 catches for 31 yards and a TD receiving. When he left the game, the Raiders were up 52-14, and as I’m sure you all know, the final score ended up being 59-14. If RUN DMC would have stayed in the game, the Raiders had a realistic shot at scored 70, while McFadden himself could have set a new record for TDs in one game.

It was like (insert Oregon Ducks college reference here).

Studs

Kenny Britt–After the first round of Sunday games, I was pretty much sure that Britt would be the best player of the week. And honestly, despite the fact that McFadden still put up more points (43 to 40), Britt might have had the more impressive day overall. Like McFadden, he didn’t play the entire game. In fact, Britt was benched until the 2nd quarter, where on his first play of the game, he caught a 26-yard TD.

So once again, one of my waiver wire claims of the week exceeds even my expectations as Britt put up a monstrous 7 catches for 225 yards and 3 TDs. Looking forward, teams should be concentrating more on containing Britt since there is the possibility of a suspension after he got into a fight at a bar. But really, he’s too talented to be shut out of this offense. He is also on a 5-game TD streak now, and most of that came with Vince Young behind center, so owners shouldn’t be concerned with how Britt will play once Kerry Collins goes back to the bench.

Lee Evans–Definitely did not see this coming. Evans caught 6 passes for 105 yards and 3 TDs as the Buffalo Bills offense looked surprisingly explosive. This was by far Evans’ best game in quite some time, though I’m not sure if Evans has rejoined the ranks of fantasy relevant players. He has caught at least one TD in back-to-back games now though and with the emergence of Steve Johnson as a credible second threat, Evans may be liable to see less coverage dictated his way. He’s still a risky start since he is on the Bills, after all, but I like what I’m seeing from this offense.

Ryan Fitzpatrick–The man pulling the trigger for Evans deserves a good amount of credit, too. Fitzpatrick has been a fantasy beast since he replaced Trent Edwards and honestly, it’s fair to wonder why Edwards was ever starting at all. A 4-TD game against a Baltimore Ravens defense which featured a returning Ed Reed (who had 2 INTs himself, but still) is going to turn heads. Fitzpatrick should have been turning heads for longer, though. Since being named the starter in Week 3, Fitzpatrick has thrown 11 TDs for close to 1,000 yards. He hasn’t yet had a game where he hasn’t thrown for at least 2 TDs. This offense fits him perfectly and I’d look for him to continue to pile up stats, but for the wins to continue to elude him.

Roddy White–The most consistent WR in all of football just had his “Yeah, I’m the best WR in football” game. He’s been basically unstoppable this season and this 11 catch, 201 yards and 3 TDs game proves it. No one has more catches or yards so far this season and White is on pace to set a new career high in TDs (previous was 11, 5 already this season). I was on both sides of this one, as I own him in one league and played against him in two others. Shave off 10 points from his total and I’d be a completely happy man right now, but alas, I’m only 1/3 happy.

Underachievers

Steven Jackson–He’s still incredibly consistent as I recently wrote, but I was hoping for more out of him this week. The Rams just seem to like to throw the ball when they have goal line situations, and though I’m sure they’re trying to capitalize on the stacked boxes they see, it reeks of trying to be a little bit too cute. Just give it to Jackson and let him score 20 points at least once, I say.

Philip Rivers–Yeah I know, he’s still on pace to break Marino’s single season record for passing yards and honestly, I do think he’ll come close, but his day could have been so much better. With all the drops that the Chargers receivers had, you have to assume that at least 100 yards were left on the field, which would have given Rivers his third 400 yard game of the season. He’s still the best QB in fantasy football but man, he needs some help.

Duds

Brett Favre–You can count me out, Favre. I thought you were a great value pick back in the off-season, and I currently have you benching it up for me in two of my leagues, just waiting for you to break out. It’s not coming. No matter how many toys you surround him with this season, you’ll get the same result—Favre sucking. Forcing passes, looking like he’s not running the called plays and generally not seeing wide open receivers (or just plain missing them with his passes); he just doesn’t have it anymore. I would not be surprised at all to see Tarvaris Jackson start in place of him. The only thing holding back this team is Favre, and I’m sick of hearing the excuses.

Chris Johnson–Lost in all the Kenny Britt rage was Johnson really not doing that much. I’m not sure what to make of Johnson–at various points he looks unstoppable, making something out of nothing, while other weeks it looks like he just can’t get it going. Hopefully for his owners, the emergence of Britt will show defenses that you can’t just concentrate on stopping Johnson, but there’s also the chance that Britt’s emergence will make the offense flow more through him. Think of how the Vikings offense changed last year once Sidney Rice started balling out. Peterson still did well, but performed far below expectations.

Waiver Claim of the Week: Steve Johnson

Honestly, he probably should have been here last week (sorry about Anthony Armstrong, but had he have caught the long ball early in his game instead of dropping it, we’d be telling a different story). Johnson has had 4 straight games now with a TD and just put up his first 100-yard game on Sunday, and though he’s likely to have some down weeks, he could still be a good play with some high profile WRs not playing well. I’m looking at you, Larry Fitzgerald.

With Kansas City and Chicago coming up on his schedule, he certainly has the potential to keep his TD streak alive, and right now he’s probably good for a claim and trade at the very least.

Players I Love/Hate Score-Tracker

Jamaal Charles: +1 (solid No. 2 outing)
Kevin Kolb: +1
Larry Fitzgerald: -1
Brandon Marshall: +1
Chris Johnson: +1
Justin Forsett: +1
The Rams: -1
Joe Flacco: +1
Tom Brady: +1

Last week’s score: +2
Current standing: +7

Check out all the articles from the Players I Love/Hate series. Players I Love: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV and Part V. Players I Hate: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV and Part V.