Brunell, Favre lead the way as Tomlinson gets denied

	Mark Brunell burned the 49ers for three touchdown passes. Jamie Squire/Getty Images
	Hot Streak Classifications QB RB WR TE HOT 300 pass yds or 3 TDs 100 rush yds or 2 TDs 100 rec yeds or 2 TDs 50 rec yds or 2 TDs SCORCHING 300 pass yds and 3 TDs 100 rush yds and 2 TDs 100 rec yds and 2 TDs 50 rec yds and 2 TDs SEARING STREAK Hot or Scorching in consec. weeks Hot or Scorching in consec. weeks Hot or Scorching in consec. weeks Hot or Scorching in consec. weeks

By Joe Levit, Special to SI.com

It takes a lot to stop LaDainian Tomlinson. On Sunday, the Eagles held him in check though, keeping him from the end zone and sole possession of the touchdowns in consecutive games record, which he will now have to share with former great Lenny Moore (18). Tomlinson gained a career-low 7 yards on 17 carries, one week after scoring three touchdowns and gaining 140 yards rushing. He had negative five yards in the first half. His yards per carry this week: 0.4

It seems to be getting easier to field a decent fantasy tight end, someone who can at least keep pace with the others at the position. It used to be Tony Gonzalez, one or two other vogue peers per year, and then everybody else. Now, although Gonzalez finally made a second Hot List appearance this season, there are lots of guys playing well. Ten tight ends gained 50 or more yards this weekend, and that does not include what Alge Crumpler (or possibly Doug Jolley or Chris Baker for the Jets) could do on Monday night.

Only three receivers appeared on the hot list other than streaking Santana Moss, and two of them are players we might not expect to be there, but should give a second look. Az-Zahir Hakim got a score and gained exactly 100 yards in a tough loss to St. Louis. As long as Joe Horn is out, Hakim is worth starting as a third fantasy wide receiver. Even when Horn is back, Hakim could remain worthy of fantasy consideration. After all, he is a stud in the slot by nature. Doug Gabriel is fast becoming a final destination of Kerry Collins' passes. He did Hakim one yard better, and is outplaying Jerry Porter, who many thought would be a top-15 fantasy receiver this season.

Searing

QUARTERBACK

Mark Brunell, Redskins (2 weeks): It's time to get used to this. Brunell is making magic with Moss, and now he is overseeing an offense that if finding an equilibrium between the passing and rushing components of the team's attack. Brunell is looking like a much younger quarterback. That is what protection packages can do.

Brett Favre, Packers (2 weeks): Brett looked great in the first half, and racked up a lot of his 315 yards passing. He also had two tosses into the end zone to make his fantasy owners very happy. They didn't care that former Bear Paul Edinger connected on the second-longest field goal to win a game in league history.

RUNNING BACK

Thomas Jones, Bears (5 weeks): It doesn't matter which team the Bears play in a given week this year (against Ray Lewis on Sunday). It doesn't matter how good their own team is (a mediocre 3-3). Jones is going to produce a hot day no matter what. This marks the fifth week in a row that Jones has scored twice, rushed for over 100 yards, or both.

Lamont Jordan, Raiders (3 weeks): Though Jordan tried to pretend he meant to look like he was lounging when he slipped after getting past the stripe on one of his scores Sunday, he certainly didn't fall down on the job against the Bills, running for 122 yards and three scores after calling for the ball all week.

Edgerrin James, Cots (3 weeks): He scored two times  and gained almost 140 yards rushing. The Colts will not go away from what is helping them to a perfect record so far this season -- a great defense and a ground game. That means more big afternoons for James.

Priest Holmes, Chiefs (2 weeks): Holmes proved as slippery as ever against the Dolphins in an early Friday game. His two touchdowns helped Kansas City to a 30-20 victory. With Willie Roaf back, expect Holmes to get back to doing what he does best -- score.

WIDE RECEIVER

Santana Moss, Redskins (3 weeks): With some of the best wheels in the business Santana is scooting his way through defenses for big gains. He scored another touchdown, and had 112 yards, in Washington's rout of San Francisco. Moss was overlooked by nearly everyone during drafts this year, but he's sure to be growing on his fantasy owners.

TIGHT END

Todd Heap, Ravens (3 weeks): Heap is the only thing happening for this offense, and he is now paying off for fantasy owners who selected him later in drafts this year. With Jamal Lewis running so poorly and nothing spectacular at wide receiver, expect Heap to keep up the good work for Baltimore.

Heath Miller, Steelers (2 weeks): Suddenly, Miller is a viable fantasy starter. His QB clearly loves to throw to him, and in addition to being a great end zone target, he is getting looks throughout games. This week he caught six passes for 58 yards.

Dallas Clark, Colts (2 weeks): Against the lowly Texans, Dallas caught a 31-yard pass and took it for a score. Does his string of two good games mean he is ready to be the fantasy player a number of owners thought he would be? Time will tell.

Erron Kinney, Titans (2 weeks): He doesn't hang out in the end zone much, but he is getting enough looks and catches most weeks to make him valuable.

Jermaine Wiggins, Vikings (2 weeks): With 56 yards from Culpepper, Wiggins is on the edge of starting fantasy tight ends. If the Vikings passing game can take a step forward after the big win over the Packers, Wiggins will be a contributor for some owners again.

Desmond Clark, Bears (2 weeks): For the second straight week, some Bears player other than Jones excelled. Last week Clark caught two touchdowns, but this week he completed a feat which is more sustainable, grabbing four passes for 50 yards receiving.

Scorching

RUNNING BACK

Clinton Portis, Redskins: Portis was a large part of the Redskins' dismantling of the 49ers. In the 52-17 victory, he gained 101 yards, but more importantly, scored his first touchdown of the season, his first three to be exact. Perhaps coach Joe Gibbs is finally getting the balance on offense he has been working toward for some time. Backup Ladell Betts almost gained 100 yards himself.

HOT

RB

Steven Jackson: 2 TD; Game plan his without Marc Bulger and Torry Holt.
Mike Sellers: 2 TD; But nobody played him, I'm sure.
Willie Parker: 100+ yards, TD; Back to the business of yardage.
Mike Anderson: 100+ yards, TD; Great, if you played him.
Reuben Droughns: 100+ yards; Sticks it to his former team in a loss.

WR

Donald Driver: 100+ yards, TD; Who else is Favre going to throw to?
Az-Zahir Hakim: 100+ yards, TD; Pick him up if you need a WR.
Doug Gabriel: 100+ yards; Grab Gabby if you still can.

TE

Antonio Gates: 50+ yards, TD; He can't be held down for a full game.
Tony Gonzalez: 50+ yards; Something seems familiar about this guy.
L.J. Smith: 50+ yards; Does well as the second receiving target.
Jerramy Stevens: 50+ yards; Stevens is quietly getting better.

Jets/Falcons MNF contest not included.

Correction from Week 6

Maurice Morris was hot, with 104 yards rushing on eight carries. He will be lucky to reach that benchmark anytime again in the next two years.

Joe Levit's fantasy football columns appear on thehuddle.com. Hire him for corporate or client appreciation events at fantasyfootballspeaker.com. Joe also writes about the NFL for patriotsinsider.com. He can be reached at joelevit_writer@yahoo.com