Who Are The NFL's Best Offensive Skill Position Players at Week 8?

We have reached the midpoint of the 2008 NFL season, and everything is jumbled together. There only seems to be a couple of contenders that have emerged from the pack and even they don't seem to be far ahead of the competition.

Basically, there's the 6-0 Titans, 5-1 Steelers, 5-1 Bills, 5-1 Giants and a whole lot of mediocrity. One week a team looks great, then gets beat by a lower quality team the next week.

I feel bad for the betters in Vegas right now. I can't even fathom how many people want to kick Bills QB Trent Edwards for leading the Bills to a win over the favored San Diego Chargers. Play it safe and only bet on Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals games. 

Scratch that. Just bet on the Chiefs, especially if QB Tyler Thigpen starts.

I can't even include Thigpen in the worst offensive skill players list. I just feel bad doing it. He was thrown into the fray with a horrible team, and can't be fully blamed for his misfortune.

Larry Johnson has suddenly decided to become Adam Jones' fraternal twin slapping, pouring drinks on and pushing women in clubs, Herm Edwards looks lost and somebody forgot to tell the Chiefs front office that QB Brodie Croyle is really Brody Jenner from the Hills.

Man, the Chiefs stink like a cat's litter box. They disgust me.

[Sighs, put's head on top of keyboard only to spring up and realize this whole page was flooded with the letter S. How ironic.]

Okay, now that I've gotten that out of the way, I promise there will be no more mention of the Kansas City Chiefs in this article.

Just as their hasn't been any dominating teams outside of Tennessee, there hasn't been a lot of dominating players.

This seems to be the year that San Diego Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson and Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning slow down a little. It's not that they've been horrible, but not Tomlinson-Manning like. (check "And the Clock Is Ticking On...Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning")

Any other year since 2001, these guys would be on this list.

Not this year.

At the end of the season I'll give out my "Sammy Awards", named in honor of New England Patriots RB Sammy Morris for running and stomping all over the Denver Broncos, then promptly saying he's injured after the game.

Many players lately have only been good for parts of seasons only to fall off the next season. Guys like Ryan Grant, Earnest Graham, Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan and Wes Welker.

Therefore, I give these awards in anticipation that many of the recipients will not be back next time.

Now, what you've all been waiting for.

The Sammy Award Nominees for Best QB at Week Eight:

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

180/263, 68%, 2224 Yards, 12 TD, 7 INT, 98.5 Rating, 3-4 Record

Despite the lack of success for the New Orleans Saints so far, Brees has been on fire. He hit a bit of a wall last week against the Panthers, but without Reggie Bush and Marques Colston, he's still doing well. The rushing attack for the Saints is the reason for their record, and if Bush can't return soon and Deuce McAllister doesn't pick it up or gets suspended for his water pill situation, the Saints will have to rely on Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas. At least #9 is under center, and Colston may be back this week.

2. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills

106/152, 70%, 1209 Yards, 5 TD, 2 INT, 98.8 Rating, 5-1 Record

Edwards' stats don't jump out at you on first glance, but two things do and that's why he's on this list. His team is 5-1 and only lost when he was injured so he's 5-0 as a starter this season and he's only threw two picks. Ball control and no turnovers is a great stat to have, and Edwards is winning because of it.

If Edwards stays healthy, he's on track to have under 10 interceptions and nearly 3000 yards. With games against the Dolphins, Jets and Patriots in the coming weeks, the Bills may be 8-1. Wow.

3. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals

149/213, 70%, 1708 Yards, 12 TD, 5 INT, 102.8 Rating, 4-2 Record

Rather quietly, Warner is building a body of work this year that may include a playoff berth for the Cardinals. After faltering badly against the New York Jets, Warner rebounded nicely with wins over the Bills and Dallas Cowboys with Tony Romo. Not to mention his star wide-out Anquan Boldin has been out the last two weeks with a facial injury.

Arizona is a surprise team on the rise right now. With RB Tim Hightower coming along well and the defense making more plays, Warner could be back in the MVP talk by season's end. Oh how well some people age, and some don't Matt Leinart. Whisenhunt may deserve Coach of the Year just for picking Warner over Leinart.

The Sammy Award Nominees for Best RB at Week Eight:

1. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins

163 Carries, 818 Yards, 5.0 Avg., 7 TD, 5-2 Record

I bet no radio station is questioning Portis now. He's running up and through defenses so far this season, giving the Redskins stability with the run and pass with QB Jason Campbell. Washington is one of the league's biggest surprises this season, and Portis is a huge reason why. If he continues this production, he may run for nearly 2000 yards.

If the Redskins go on to win the NFC East and Portis is healthy, this award and many others will be his to own. At this point it wouldn't be crazy to put Portis in MVP talk, and nobody is really talking about him or his team right now. That's fine with Jim Zorn.

2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

151 Carries, 684 Yards, 4.5 Avg., 5 TD, 3 Lost Fumbles, 3-4 Record

Peterson hasn't had a Sophomore slump so far this year, "Floating On" like Modest Mouse through opposing defenses. His only problem has been fumbles, as he's lost 3 in 7 games. The quarterback situation around him seems to still be the biggest problem, even though Gus Frerotte is actually giving the Vikings a vertical passing game sans Tarvaris Jackson, the so-called QB of the future.

If Brad Childress' diss of Peterson in the media this week was meant to make him better, it was a silly way to go about it. You can't ask more of Peterson right now as he's been great yet again. Vikings must win games though.

3. (Tie) Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons and Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

Turner- 128 Carries, 597 Yards, 4.7 Avg., 6 TD, 4-2 Record

Johnson- 103 Carries, 549 Yards, 5.3 Avg., 3 TD, 1 Rec. TD

Michael Turner has carried the Atlanta Falcons on his back with QB Matt Ryan, who nearly made this list. The Falcons reportedly sent a picture of Arthur Blank, Matt Ryan and Michael Turner to imprisoned former Falcons QB Michael Vick that read, "You have become Ryan's dog food. Hope you're not hungry." (sarcasm)

The Falcons have shocked us all this season no matter how they finish. I had them winning 2 games all season, and they've already doubled that. Turner has rushed for more yards than he did in any full season in San Diego. If he continues at this clip, the Falcons may win 8-9 games.

Chris Johnson is almost a shoe-in for NFL rookie of the year honors, as he's halfway to a 1000 yards with a team that is 6-0 and the last undefeated team in the NFL. I had to give some notoriety to a player from the Titans because of their dominance.

Combined with LenDale White, the Titans running game has propelled them to their record as we can't give all of the credit to QB Kerry Collins. He's "managed the game" but without Johnson, the Titans definitely wouldn't be in first place undefeated.

The Sammy Award Nominees for Best WR at Week Eight:

1. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers

37 Rec., 685 Yards, 18.5 Avg., 4 TD, 4-3 Record

The Aaron Rodgers experiment in Green Bay is working good, and Jennings is a big part of it. He is Rodgers #1 option at receiver, and he hasn't dropped many balls either. With all of the scrutiny on that team, Jennings has emerged as a top-level receiver in the league.

If Rodgers stays healthy, Jennings may end up in the Pro Bowl and the Packers may end up a playoff team. If that happens and the New York Brett's get left out, prepare for an Aaron Rodgers love affair. And that's for certain.

2. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons

35 Rec., 566 Yards, 16.2 Avg., 3 TD, 4-2 Record

I have to show more love to the birds from the ATL. White never gets mentioned as one of the league's best WR's, and I'm still wondering why. He had a breakout season last year and is continuing to do it this year for rookie QB Matt Ryan. I keep mentioning the Falcons and their 4-2 record because it's more surprising than opening a door to a naked couple.

I don't believe White will fade during the second half of the season and if he doesn't, like I mentioned before when discussing Turner the Falcons will continue to surprise people. Maybe the next big trio will be Turner, Ryan and White. It could happen.

3. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals

36 Rec., 546 Yards, 15.2 Avg., 5 TD, 4-2 Record

Fitz has been himself so far this year, as Warner's favorite target and top 5 receiver in the league. He's done it without teammate Anquan Boldin the last two games, and made the Cowboys secondary look as bad as anyone else has this year. The Cardinals need to end their 10 year playoff drought this season, and they just may win the division.

No matter who's throwing the football, Fitzgerald will catch balls and make plays. He may get Boldin back this week, and with a healthy Kurt Warner the Cardinals are no longer the NFL's laughingstock. Just ask Terrell Owens.

Those are the nominees for the Sammy Awards at Week Eight. Maybe they'll all return for the awards show after the season to determine the winners, or maybe they'll be out like Sammy Morris.

The first half of the season has been breathtaking, and here's to wishing you a merry second semester.

And that's word to Cris Collinsworth.