Fantasy File

Meet the 2001 surprise all-stars

Qadry Ismail leads the Ravens with 992 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Doug Pensinger/Allsport

By James Quintong, CNNSI.com

For many leagues, this is Fantasy Super Bowl time, so congratulations to those who made it to the championship games. While last week I mentioned a handful of top players that kept you from the playoffs, this week I'll look at some of the lower-rated players at draft time that may have propelled you to the title game. Many of us are always interested in sleeper picks -- lower-value guys who will play way above their draft position. So let's see who really did live up to those low-high expectations, this season's Surprise All-Star team.

QB: Kordell Stewart, Steelers: Just a few years ago he was a first-round fantasy pick before falling way off the map thanks to some spotty play and questionable offensive schemes. If he was drafted at all this summer, it was likely as a third quarterback. He still played like it for the early part of the season, but he turned it up in November, just when a number of starting QBs began going down with injuries. The one downside to his game was that he had just 11 TD passes (as many as Alex Van Pelt) but five have come in the last two weeks - perfect timing, especially if you had Daunte Culpepper go down during the playoff hunt. Stewart is now throwing and running the ball well, and he's got a great matchups against Cincinnati and Cleveland to end the year and possibly lift a fantasy team to a title.
Other candidates: Tom Brady, Patriots; Jay Fiedler, Dolphins

RB: Priest Holmes, Chiefs: Many fantasy experts didn't think too highly of his move from the Ravens to the Chiefs. In fact, there was thought that Tony Richardson would take away a number of carries and possibly take as the featured back. Instead, Holmes became Marshall Faulk-like, proving to be a force both running and catching the ball. The nine total touchdowns are slightly disappointing given that he has more than 1,800 yards in total offense, but that's because Richardson has stolen away a number of carries at the goal line.

RB: Shaun Alexander, Seahawks: On draft day, he was taken primarily as insurance for Ricky Watters, one of the most durable backs in recent years. Instead, Watters struggles and then gets hurt, and Alexander finally shows why he was a first-round pick last year. He's eighth in rushing in the NFL but leads the league in rushing touchdowns.
Other candidates: Garrison Hearst, 49ers; Dominic Rhodes, Colts; Antowain Smith, Patriots

WR: Qadry Ismail, Ravens: After an 1,100-yard season in 1999, he barely had half the yards last season as the offense got more conservative. Coming into this season, many people expected youngsters Travis Taylor and Brandon Stokley to be the major cogs in the receiving game with Shannon Sharpe. Instead, Ismail is on the verge of another 1,000-yard season and has already set a career high in TD receptions. He helped save Elvis Grbac from a truly mediocre season.

WR: Kevin Johnson, Browns: He suffered a huge sophomore slump last season, catching no touchdown passes to go along with just 669 receiving yards. This year, he has had one of the quietest solid fantasy performances of the season as he's about to approach 1,000 yards receiving but more importantly, he's scored eight touchdowns. It's easy to overlook him because of the struggles of the Cleveland offense, but those who owned him definitely cashed in.
Other candidates: Marty Booker, Bears; Chris Chambers, Dolphins; Laveranues Coles, Jets; Hines Ward, Steelers

TE: Marcus Pollard, Colts: Going into the year, he was expected to split catches and TDs with Ken Dilger. Instead, Dilger was pushed into the background while Pollard became a favorite target of Peyton Manning. He leads all tight ends in touchdowns and is averaging 16.2 yards per catch, a whopping number for a tight end.
Other candidates: Anthony Becht, Jets; Desmond Clark, Broncos

K: John Carney, Saints: San Diego dropped him in the offseason for Wade Richey, who's now just doing kickoffs. So Carney wandered around the league until New Orleans picked him up late in the summer. Carney struggled in 2000 but put him with a high-scoring offense who plays in a dome, it was a great match. He's hit 26 field goals and a percentage close to 90 percent. Not bad for a player who likely wasn't chosen in many leagues that drafted early.
Other candidates: Jose Cortez, 49ers; Jay Feely, Falcons

Schedule issues

Thanks to the holidays, there was no Monday night game last week or this week, and thus no Monday's Best and Worst. Yet again, the Monday night game gets moved to Saturday night with the Bucs hosting the Ravens, so a small heads up to those needing to set schedules and deadlines.

Also this week, the Patriots have the bye. It's hard to believe that this bye would have such an impact come Fantasy Super bowl time at the start of the year. Players like Tom Brady, Antowain Smith and Troy Brown will need to be replaced. But then again, these players were likely backups to begin with, so you'll just have to go back to your original draft plan to fill out your roster this week.

Injury watch

Jerome Bettis, RB, Steelers: He's currently questionable for this week's game, but don't expect him to play a whole lot down the stretch with Pittsburgh just about assured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Amos Zereoue has an injured shoulder, so Chris Fuamatu-Ma'fala will probably get the bulk of the carries again.

Todd Bouman, QB, Vikings: His thumb injury is still bothering him, and he probably won't practice until later in the week. Spergon Wynn would likely start if Bouman can't go. Avoid both of them this week, especially as the Vikings head into Green Bay.

Martin Gramatica, K, Buccaneers: He followed in his brother's shoes by getting injured last week. He's got an injured hamstring and it's unsure whether he'll play this week. You'd probably be best in picking up a kicker off the waiver wire just in case. Just be sure not to get brother Bill.

Skip Hicks, RB, Titans: He suffered a hamstring injury that will likely keep him out the rest of the year. Guess Eddie George will get a full workload against the Browns. He had his best game against Cleveland earlier this month, but his struggles all year probably kept you from the playoffs.

James Stewart, RB, Lions: He left Sunday's game early with an ankle injury and he's questionable for this week. If you somehow made it this far with Stewart on your team, bench him this week. Lamont Warren will likely start, but he won't have much impact.

Wesley Walls, TE, Panthers: He sprained his knee against the Rams, which is better news than the team expected. He could play this week against the Cardinals, so keep him in the lineup for now.

James Quintong is Fantasy Sports producer at CNNSI.com.

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