Owners who took a flier on two future Hall of Famers who appeared to be past their prime were pleasantly surprised this week.
I am talking about none other than Terrell Owens and LaDainian Tomlinson, two players who dialed the clock back a couple of years and put in some classic T.O. and L.T. performances.
What’s interesting is that both of these veterans found themselves in eerily similar predicaments this season, as both joined a new team and were slotted 2nd on the depth chart at their respective positions. Sorry Ochocinco and Shonn Greene, but you guys just got served by your understudies.
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Let’s start with T.O., who racked up an incredible 222 yards receiving and even hauled in a touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns. Those 222 yards were 70 more than the 152 that Owens had managed to tally in the three games prior to this week. It was also the first time Owens eclipsed the 200-yard receiving mark since Week 12 in 2008. Just to make things clear, that was when he was still a Dallas Cowboy and crying about his quarterback Tony Romo. How long before Owens turns on the waterworks for Carson Palmer?
Moving on to L.T., it was another vintage performance for a former stud against a bad team. Tomlinson managed to shred the Buffalo Bills defense (who called me in to play linebacker this past week) for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Not to take anything away from Tomlinson, who quite frankly has looked like the L.T. of old and is an early favorite for Comeback Player of the Year, but it was against the Buffalo Bills.
Regardless, Tomlinson’s performance through four games thus far has elevated him above Shonn Greene on the Jets’ depth chart, and even though this past week was the first time he had surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark since Week 8 in 2008, Tomlinson is averaging an impressive 6.1 YPC and has scored three touchdowns in his past two games.
No Time To Stand Pat
We go from two veterans who have shined this past week to one who apparently has fallen from grace. Randy Moss’ streak of games with at least one catch was snapped this past week, as the Patriots wideout failed to haul in a single ball against the Miami Dolphins. In fact, Moss was only targeted one time by Tom Brady, and it appears that he has fallen out of favor with coach Belichick and Tom Terrific.
Numbers do not lie. So far this season Moss has nine receptions for 139 yards, which is embarrassing for a player who was drafted in the 2nd or 3rd rounds in most fantasy drafts. The only thing keeping Moss from being waiver-wire material aside from his name, is that he has managed to turn three of his receptions into touchdowns.
Maybe the Bye week will help Moss’ cause, but at this point it appears as if Wes Welker is the new top dog in New England. It’s time to get worried if you are a Moss owner.
