Struggling stars confound owners with big games

	Jamal Lewis finally had his first 100-yard game of the year, partly because his two main backups were inactive. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
	300-yard passers Player Team C-A Yds TDs Eli Manning Giants 29-53 344 2 Steve McNair Titans 23-41 343 3 Trent Green Chiefs 19-26 323 1 Kurt Warner Cardinals 29-46 315 2 Ryan Fitzpatrick Rams 19-30 310 3 Carson Palmer Bengals 22-30 302 3
	100-yard rushers Player Team Carries Yds TDs LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers 25 184 3 Tiki Barber Giants 26 151 0 Edgerrin James Colts 29 124 0 Larry Johnson Chiefs 31 119 1 Brian Westbrook Eagles 21 117 1 Warrick Dunn Falcons 17 116 0 Rudi Johnson Bengals 27 114 2 Jamal Lewis Ravens 23 113 1 Samkon Gado Packers 26 111 1 Shaun Alexander Seahawks 31 110 1 Steven Jackson Rams 25 110 1
	100-yard receivers Player Teams Catches Yds TDs Andre Johnson Texans 12 159 1 T.J. Houshmandzadeh Bengals 9 147 1 Joey Galloway Buccaneers 7 138 0 Joe Jurevicius Seahawks 8 137 2 Torry Holt Rams 10 130 1 Marvin Harrison Colts 4 128 1 Jeremy Shockey Giants 10 127 1 Anquan Boldin Cardinals 10 115 0 Plaxico Burress Giants 6 109 0 Chris Brown Titans 3 105 1 Alge Crumpler Falcons 7 104 2 Chris Chambers Dolphins 6 101 0

Fantasy football can be a fickle game. Sure, there are guys like LaDainian Tomlinson, who can be counted on for big game after big game. On the other hand, though, you've got Jamal Lewis, whose struggles this year have forced many owners to bite the bullet or roll the dice on either his backup Chester Taylor, or major gambles like Samkon Gado or Heath Evans.

But then there is that one week when you've just about given up on him and, boom, he explodes for a big game you've been expecting since the start of the season. However, he might be on your bench and all you can do is scream.

Similar "where have you been" players this week include Steve McNair, who burned the 49ers for 343 yards and three scores; Marcus Robinson, who had another one of those inexplicable three-touchdown games; and Andre Johnson, who finally had that breakout game this season with 12 catches for 159 yards and a score.

Fantasy Stud of the Week

LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers (25 carries, 184 yards, 3 TDs; 6 catches, 29 yards): He was only at 37 yards at the half, but with Drew Brees struggling, San Diego put the load back on Tomlinson's shoulders, capping off a wild second half and overtime with a 41-yard dash to win the game. He's still neck and neck with Shaun Alexander for fantasy MVP honors.

Other Studs
QB
Drew Bledsoe, Cowboys: 29-44, 232 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT; 3 carries, 2 yards, 1 TD
David Carr, Texans: 25-34, 293 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 4 carries, 39 yards
Eli Manning, Giants: 29-53, 344 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 1 2-point conversion pass; 3 carries, 15 yards
Steve McNair, Titans: 23-41, 343 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 3 carries, 0 yards
Carson Palmer, Bengals: 22-30, 302 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 1 carry, 14 yards
Kurt Warner, Cardinals: 29-46, 315 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT; 1 carry, 5 yards

RB
Shaun Alexander, Seahawks: 31 carries, 110 yards, 1 TD; 1 catch, 4 yards
Tiki Barber, Giants: 26 carries, 151 yards; 5 catches, 27 yards
Chris Brown, Titans: 10 carries, 30 yards; 3 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD
Domanick Davis, Texans: 25 carries, 78 yards; 3 catches, 42 yards, 1 TD
Samkon Gado, Packers: 26 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD; 1 catch, 11 yards, 1 lost fumble
Steven Jackson, Rams: 25 carries, 110 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 2 yards
Larry Johnson, Chiefs: 31 carries, 119 yards, 1 TD; 5 catches, 53 yards
Rudi Johnson, Bengals: 27 carries, 114 yards, 2 TDs; 1 catch, 5 yards
LaMont Jordan, Raiders: 23 carries, 97 yards, 2 TDs; 7 catches, 47 yards
Jamal Lewis, Ravens: 23 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD; 5 catches, 36 yards
Brian Westbrook, Eagles: 21 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD; 4 catches, 11 yards

WR/TE
Alge Crumpler, Falcons: 7 catches, 104 yards, 2 TDs
Todd Heap, Ravens: 6 catches, 87 yards, 2 TDs
Torry Holt, Rams: 10 catches, 130 yards, 1 TD
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals: 9 catches, 147 yards, 1 TD; 1 lost fumble
Andre Johnson, Texans: 12 catches, 159 yards, 1 TD
Joe Jurevicius, Seahawks: 8 catches, 137 yards, 2 TDs
Marcus Robinson, Vikings: 3 catches, 32 yards, 3 TDs
Jeremy Shockey, Giants: 10 catches, 127 yards, 1 TD; 1 2-point conversion reception

Fantasy Dud of the Week

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (22-40, 248 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs; 1 carry, 15 yards): The running game is absent in New England, so Brady is throwing a lot more than he'd like, and this time he was often high to his receivers, leading to four picks, three on deflections, against a so-so Chiefs defense. The passing game seems like a patchwork of receivers, but then again, it's always been that way.

Other Duds
QB
Drew Brees, Chargers: 23-44, 215 yards, 3 INTs; 1 carry, 2 yards
Brett Favre, Packers: 15-33, 171 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

RB
Mike Anderson, Broncos: 11 carries, 31 yards, 1 lost fumble
Stephen Davis, Panthers: 6 carries, 22 yards
Kevin Jones, Lions: 4 carries, 32 yards; 1 catch, 12 yards
Willis McGahee, Bills: 21 carries, 53 yards

WR/TE
Michael Clayton, Bucs: 0 catches, 0 yards
Antonio Gates, Chargers: 3 catches, 39 yards
Ashley Lelie, Broncos: 0 catches, 0 yards
Brandon Lloyd, 49ers: 3 catches, 30 yards
Randy Moss, Raiders: 3 catches, 28 yards
Muhsin Muhammad, Bears: 4 catches, 38 yards

Waiver Wire Wonder of the Week

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Rams (19-30, 310 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; 3 carries, 23 yards): With Jamie Martin knocked out with a concussion, St. Louis turned to its third-stringer, a seventh-round pick out of Harvard, who then burned the Texans defense in the second half and overtime for an improbable win. Granted, it helps when you can throw to guys like Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and the emerging Kevin Curtis. And after seeing how the Texans played last week, maybe Fitzpatrick did think he was playing Columbia or Dartmouth.

Other Surprises
Arnaz Battle, WR, 49ers: 7 catches, 75 yards, 1 TD
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, Jets: 4 catches, 72 yards
Ron Dayne, RB, Broncos: 7 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD; 2 catches, 10 yards
Tim Dwight, WR, Patriots: 5 catches, 76 yards
David Garrard, QB, Jaguars: 12-26, 115 yards; 5 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD
Chris Henry, WR, Bengals: 3 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD; 1 lost fumble
Eric Parker, WR, Chargers: 7 catches, 98 yards
Roydell Williams, WR, Titans: 3 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD