Bizarro world is a cube-shaped planet called "Htrae" (Earth backwards). It's the home of Bizzaro, a doppelganger of Superman in DC Comics. In Bizarro world, everything is backwards.
Welcome to the Bizarro world of fantasy football.
After four weeks of the NFL season, it's hard to believe the number of stud players who have failed to meet statistical expectations. What's more, the rise of quarterbacks and the fall of running backs has created a serious shift in value at the two positions. While runners have always been considered the most important position in fantasy football, this recent trend has pushed towards quarterbacks. Even stars like LaDainian Tomlinson, Steven Jackson and Larry Johnson haven't been able to avoid it.
In order to understand just how much quarterbacks, not running backs, have meant to fantasy success this season, I thought it would be fun to do a one-man, two-round mock draft that's based on a combination of current fantasy points (in standard formats) and overall value. The results will no doubt shock and amaze.
Round 1
1. Tom Brady, QB, New England: We all knew Brady's fantasy value would rise after the Patriots added Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte' Stallworth and Kelley Washington in the offseason, but this is ridiculous. He has a 134.7 passer rating, and he's on pace to record nearly 4,500 yards with an incredible 52 touchdown passes.
2. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas: Romo is the real deal, and he has proved it this season with four spectacular starts. He leads all players in fantasy points and is on pace to record 4.700-plus passing yards and 52 total touchdowns. If you have the Dallas quarterback, chances are you're on the positive side of the .500 mark on the season.
3. Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis: Manning isn't the top quarterback in fantasy football based on the numbers, but he has still been well worth a first-round selection. He threw for 193 yards and scored four touchdowns in Week 4, and he's on pace for another season with 4,000-plus yards and 35-plus total touchdowns.
4. Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati: The fourth quarterback in the top four selections (notice a trend?) is Palmer, whose six-touchdown performance against Cleveland in Week 2 fired up his overall totals. He has completed 63.1 percent of his passes with a solid 90.4 passer rating, and he's on pace for close to 4,700 passing yards.
5. Randy Moss, WR, New England: Who needs a preseason? Moss had an injured hamstring headed into Week 1, but it sure didn't hurt his skills and abilities, or his rapport with Brady. Believe it or not, the talented wideout is on pace to smash his current career bests of 111 receptions, 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns.
6. Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami: Brown was terrible in his first two contests with 65 rushing yards and no touchdowns, but he has exploded in the past two weeks with 12 receptions, 418 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns. At this current rate of production, Brown would finish with career bests across the board in 2007.
7. Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis: Addai's value increased in the preseason when it was clear he'd be a true featured back, and he has rewarded fantasy owners with solid numbers (11 receptions, 467 all-purpose yards, five TDs). Like Brown, Addai is on pace for a breakout season and has emerged into a No. 1 fantasy runner.
8. Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia: Westbrook would be the top fantasy runner had it not been for an abdominal tear, which caused him to miss last week's loss to the New York Giants. Even with one start out the window, Westbrook is still on pace to finish the season with 95 receptions, 2,570 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns.
9. Derek Anderson, QB, Cleveland: The presence of Anderson in the first round is an absolute shock, but he's in the top five in overall fantasy points after four weeks. He's on pace for 3,800-plus passing yards and 40 total touchdowns -- and he's still available in close to 40 percent of NFL.com leagues.
10. Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay: One of this season's top draft values, Favre has gone from a borderline No. 1 or 2 fantasy quarterback to a solid starter. Based on his current totals, Favre could finish with 4,800-plus yards and 32 touchdowns. That sort of yardage total would be a career best for the future Hall of Famer.
11. Chad Johnson, WR, Cincinnati: He's worn a future Hall of Famer coat and taken a beer bath in the Dawg Pound, but Johnson has also had time in between the white lines as well. He's on pace for 112 receptions, 1,980-plus yards and 12 touchdowns. Numbers like that would certainly land Ocho Cinco in Canton.
12. LaMont Jordan, RB, Oakland: Jordan would be listed higher in the first round had it not been for an injured back that caused him to miss part of last week's win over Miami. His status for the next few weeks is uncertain, but he is on pace for 48 receptions, 2,200-plus all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns.
Round 2
13. Jon Kitna, QB, Detroit: I'm not sure it would matter if Eric Hipple, Scott Mitchell or Erik Kramer were under center in the Lions offense -- the quarterback would produce monster numbers. Kitna has been solid for fantasy owners, and he's well on his way to a season with close to 5,000 passing yards and 30-plus touchdowns.
14. Marion Barber, RB, Dallas: It was hard to imagine a scenario where Barber would duplicate the 16 total touchdowns he scored last season, but he's on pace for 20 scores after four weeks. The aggressive runner out of Minnesota also has a chance to post between 35-40 receptions and close to 1,500 all-purpose yards this season.
15. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota: Peterson's skills and abilities were clear at the collegiate level, so his instant impact in the NFL isn't a shock. What is a surprise, however, are his immense projected full season totals after four weeks. Peterson is on pace for close to 2,200 all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns.
16. Plaxico Burress, WR, N.Y. Giants: Burress has had to deal with back and ankle ailments, but he has still produced monster numbers for fantasy owners. The athletic wideout has 34 catches for 286 yards and an impressive six touchdowns, and he's on pace to finish the season with career bests in all statistical categories.
17. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh: Roethlisberger has thrived in the offensive attack of new coordinator Bruce Arians, who brought in some newfound excitement and aggressiveness to the Steelers' pass attack. After four weeks of the season, Big Ben has recorded a solid 807 passing yards and eight touchdowns.
18. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego: The consensus No. 1 overall selection in most drafts, Tomlinson had done little this season before a 132-yard, one-touchdown stat line against Kansas City. He's on pace for a respectable 1,532 all-purpose yards and 12 total touchdowns, but those are serious decreases from his 2006 totals.
19. Braylon Edwards, WR, Cleveland: Edwards appears set to break out in his third NFL season. He's on pace for 1,500 yards and 16 touchdowns, both of which would be career bests. Edwards also has more fantasy points than stud wideouts like Roy Williams, Steve Smith, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt.
20. Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle: One of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL and fantasy football, Hasselbeck is on pace for 4,128 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. Those totals would shatter his current career bests of 3,841 yards and 26 scores. Hasselbeck has been a tremendous draft value for fantasy owners.
21. Edgerrin James, RB, Arizona: Remember when James was a surefire top-five selection in all drafts? He hasn't re-claimed that status in our draft, but he has seen a resurrection in value under head coach Ken Whisenhunt. Edge is on pace for 1,400-plus rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, which are solid totals for the veteran back.
22. Roy Williams, WR, Detroit: No one is shocked to see Williams ranked among the top wideouts in fantasy football based on the Lions offense, but he was taken outside of the second round in most drafts. On pace for 104 receptions, 1,500-plus yards and 12 touchdowns, Williams has been a fabulous value for fantasy owners.
23. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina: Smith was set to record astronomical numbers after the first two weeks, but the loss of Jake Delhomme has caused his numbers to fall hard in his past two contests. Still, the veteran wideout is on pace to finish the season with 84 receptions, 1,200-plus yards and 16 touchdowns.
24. Terrell Owens, WR, Dallas: Owens had a bit of a hiccup last week against St. Louis with three catches for 33 yards and no touchdowns, but he's still been solid overall. In one of the league's premier offensive attacks, Owens has a real chance to post close to 80 catches, 1,500 yards and double-digit touchdowns.
Waiver wire focus
Daunte Culpepper, QB, Oakland: He threw for an awful 75 yards in Miami, but Culpepper scored five touchdowns against his old team. Too bad he was active in a mere 13 percent of NFL.com leagues.
Andre' Davis, WR, Houston: Davis posted 117 yards and one touchdown in a loss to Atlanta, and his role should remain prominent with Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones both out of action.
Earnest Graham, RB, Tampa Bay: Cadillac Williams is out for the season, so Graham will see additional work and most of the goal-line carries for head coach Jon Gruden.
Joey Harrington, QB, Atlanta: Harrington has had two solid weeks in the offense of head coach Bobby Petrino, and he's a viable option for fantasy owners who need a bye-week replacement.
Kenton Keith, RB, Indianapolis:Fantasy owners who have Joseph Addai should look to add Keith, who looked good in Addai's absence against Denver. He's become a nice handcuff choice.
Michael Pittman, RB, Tampa Bay: The versatile Pittman will start in the absence of Williams and has more value than Graham in leagues that reward points for receptions.
Antwaan Randle El, WR, Washington: There's been talk that Santana Moss could be out several weeks with an injured groin, so Randle El could become Washington's No. 1 wideout.
Dominic Rhodes, RB, Oakland: The status of LaMont Jordan is in serious question due to an injured back, so Rhodes could find himself in a prominent role after Oakland's bye week.
Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona: The Cardinals offense seems to run much better under Warner, who has replaced Matt Leinart in consecutive weeks and could take the starting job soon.
Selvin Young, RB, Denver: Travis Henry has been all banged up this season, so Young could be allowed more carries to decrease the load on his veteran teammate. He also plays in Denver's backfield heaven.
Mailbag
I was hoping you could help me with some problems I've been having at the quarterback position. I've got Marc Bulger, Jake Delhomme and Drew Brees. I could use some suggestions for some decent waiver wire options. -- M. Jezusko, St. Louis, Mo.
M.F.: You must have been thrilled to land these three quarterbacks at the start of the season, but now you're in a definite bind. I doubt there is a quarterback on waivers who warrants a prominent role more than Brees, who has a nice matchup against Carolina in Week 5. If you feel that desperate, however, look to add Chad Pennington or Jason Campbell, both of whom have good matchups.
I drafted Donovan McNabb in the third round thinking that he would be great with Kevin Curtis. He was solid in Week 3, but now he just seems Grossmanesque. What should I do with him? -- C. Bear, Philadelphia, Pa.
M.F.: I like the Grossmanesque reference, but I can't blame McNabb for his poor numbers against the Giants. After all, he was sacked 12 times and had no time to throw the football. He has a bye in Week 5, but otherwise I would continue to use McNabb unless there is another viable option with a terrific matchup.
