2008 Fantasy Football HOF Inductees

If you were lucky enough to draft this team, you are probably reading this entry with the biggest Koolaid smile on your face right now. Like most fantasy owners, I was torn this week as my fate was split between wanting certain players to do good, all the while knowing they would kill me in another league.

The one player that I love and hate at the same time right now is DeAngelo Williams.

But I can't be too mad at DeAngelo. It was my fault. I dangled him out as trade bait early in the season. I tried to convince myself that the running back-by-committee thing in Carolina was good for competition. It was me who tried to sell high after Williams had back-to-back 100-yard games against Arizona and Oakland.

Then what happened...

He lost his mind. He took the Clear and the Cream. He went off like a spider monkey.

The most impressive thing about the Williams streak—he only had 20 or more carries three times, including tonight versus the Giants.  Those three games garnered 10 TDs (and counting, we are in overtime), with two of those games yielding eight TDs. I can't say how much I love/hate him right now.

Here is my list of should-be honorees:

Phillip Rivers (QB): Rivers established himself as an elite QB on what will become a pass-happy team. His game was never pretty, but Rivers' numbers are great, especially given the development taking place at WR and a non-existent running game with Tomlinson.

Stats: 3515 yards, 28 TD, 11 INT, 64.6 % completion rate

HOF resume: Fantasy playoff numbers (Week 14-16)—840 yards, nine TDs, one INT, including two TDs in 1:15 to win the game in Week 15 versus the Chiefs.

DeAngelo Williams (RB): I have expressed my level of mancrush for Williams already.

Here's the numbers: 1337 yards rushing, 18 TDs; 121 yards receiving, two TDs, no fumbles.

HOF resume: Since Week 10, Williams has 815 rushing yards and 15 rushing TDs, despite splitting carries with Jonathan Stewart.

Michael Turner (RB): In his first year starting, Turner proved why he was a hot commodity in free agency. Turner is the second leading rusher on a team with a rookie QB, a rookie head coach, and aspirations for a world title.

Stats: 1491 rushing yards, 16 TDs, one fumble lost

HOF resume: Since Week 10, Turner has 697 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs, both of which are overshadowed only by DeAngelo Williams.

Calvin Johnson (WR): Ok, I know his team has yet to win a game (0-15), but does that have to show up on his resume like checking the box for "Have you ever committed a crime or felony" on a job application? I won't hold it against you, Calvin.

Stats: 1229 receiving yards, 10 TDs, two fumbles lost

HOF resume: The fact that he was double-teamed, always playing from behind, and grabbing quarterbacks off the street is enough for a nomination in my book.

Andre Johnson (WR): The second half of the Brothers Johnson is an upgrade of the first. Both possess freakish size and ability, but Andre is on a better team, and you would think teams actually get up to play them. Throw in a carousel at the QB position and Johnson's stats are even more impressive.

Stats: 1437 receiving yards, six TDs, one fumble lost

HOF resume: Johnson was able to single-handedly beat the Titans with 207 yards and a TD in Week 15. Johnson also endured a brutal stretch during which the Texans played 14 consecutive games following a Week 2 bye in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

Honorable Mention:

Chris Johnson (RB): If not for touchdown vulture Lendale White, Chris Johnson would have possibly been the offensive MVP of the league. Johnson has tallied over 1,200 rushing yards and 250 receiving yards so far, with a total of 10 TDs, despite having only one game with 20-plus carries.

Antonio Bryant (WR): If Bryant would have been included in the offense the entire season, he would be over 1,500 yards. Instead, Bryant has just over 1,100 yards and seven TDs. Over the pass three weeks, Bryant has totaled 437 yards and four TDs.

Pierre Thomas (RB): Despite playing in the newest version of the Run and Shoot offense, Thomas has emerged as the RB of the future for the Saints. Just like in 2007, Thomas has reeled off three straight impressive games to finish the season, scoring six TDs in that span.