Everyman's Fantasy

Today, the Everyman hands out his mid-season fantasy awards. Instead of All-Pro teams like most places (how hard is that?), I've decided to give you three separate teams; Team Bungles, Team Saints, and Team Titans. Each is described below. The preseason rank is based on where they were drafted for their respective position, with data from Mockdraftcentral.com

Team Bungles
Just like the Bengals, little was expected from these players at the beginning of the season. Many of these players could be had in wee rounds of the draft, if they were drafted at all. But also like the Bengals, these players have found themselve to be much more dangerous than expected, and have been outperforming much more heralded players.

QB
Joe Flacco
Preseason Rank: 20
Position Rank: 14
Ahead of: Matt Ryan, Matt Cassell, Donovan McNabb

RB
Ricky Williams
Preseason Rank: 50
Position Rank: 10
Ahead of: Matt Forte, Brandon Jacobs, Marion Barber

Rashard Mendenhall
Preseason Rank: 49
Position Rank: 16
Ahead of: LT, LJ, Marshawn Lynch

WR
Miles Austin
Preseason Rank: 65
Position Rank: 3
Ahead of: Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss

Steve Smith
Preseason Rank: 45
Position Rank: 7
Ahead of: Marques Colston, Roddy White, Chad Ochocinco

Mike Sims-Walker
Preseason Rank: None
Position Rank: 15
Ahead of: Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, Terrell Owens

TE
Vernon Davis
Preseason Rank: 18
Position Rank: 2
Ahead of: Everyone but Dallas Clark


The Saints
Coming into the season, the Saints were a potential playoff team, one that might even challenge for the division. Now? They are the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl, and are looking virtually unstoppable. Likewise, all players on this list were drafted in the mid-rounds, and while they were expected to be nice complementary pieces, they were not counted on to be a team's stud. That has changed through 9 weeks, with many of these “good” players turning themselves into great players.

QB
Matt Schaub
Preseason Rank: 10
Position Rank: 2
Ahead of: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees

RB
Cedric Benson
Preseason Rank: 27
Position Rank: 7
Ahead of: Steven Jackson, Ryan Grant, Frank Gore

Ray Rice
Preseason Rank: 18
Position Rank: 6
Ahead of: Steve Slaton, Clinton Portis, Brian Westbrook

WR
Vincent Jackson
Preseason Rank: 18
Position Rank: 1
Ahead of: Every single WR in the league

DeSean Jackson
Preseason Rank: 23
Position Rank: 8
Ahead of: Wes Welker, Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin

Donald Driver
Preseason Rank: 30
Position Rank: 13
Ahead of: Dwayne Bowe, Housh, Santonio Holmes

TE
Dallas Clark
Preseason Rank: 4
Position Rank: 1
Ahead of: Everyone

The Titans
After going 13-3 last season, everyone (except myself) expected the Titans to be right in the middle of the hunt for homefield advantage going into the playoffs. Instead, the Titans started out on a six game losing streak and would need to win out to even have a shot at the playoffs. The players on this team also came into the season expecting to be near the top of their position but through 9 weeks have become fringe starters at best. Even a late season resurrection probably won't be enough to help lift the teams that depended on them out of the basement and into the playoffs.

QB
Donovan McNabb
Preseason Rank: 8
Position Rank: 20
People Ahead of Him: Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton, David Garrard

RB
LaDanian Tomlinson
Preseason Rank: 4
Position Rank: 38
People Ahead of Him: Teammate Darren Sproles, Broncos running backs (Correll Buckhalter, Knowshown Moreno)

Brian Westbrook
Preseason Rank: 10
Position Rank: 41
People Ahead of Him: Teammate LeSean McCoy, Julius Jones, Ahmad Bradshaw

WR
Calvin Johnson
Preseason Rank: 4
Position Rank: 48
People Ahead of Him: Pierre Garcon, Saints 3rd receivers (Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson)

Steve Smith
Preseason Rank: 7
Position Rank: 33
People Ahead of Him: The other Steve Smith, Johnny Knox, Patrick Crayton

Anquan Boldin
Preseason Rank: 10
Position Rank: 46
People Ahead of Him: Teammate Steve Breaston, Jacoby Jones, Jeremy Maclin