Now, let’s talk a little pure fantasy. Here are big Buzz topics for Week 8:

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait: Hope It Wasn’t Too Late

If you’ve been patient enough to stay with Drew Brees and/or Lee Evans during their horrendous starts to the season, today may have been the first day you’ve had satisfaction with a box score in some time. There may not be many Brees owners who are hovering near the top of their league’s standings, but if you’re there, I think the Drew Brees of 2006 is back. Brees has looked better and better each week since his bye week and today’s game was an emphatic statement that he may be ready for a strong stretch run. Also, in the humble pie department, did I really say Marques Colston was done last week? Yep. Color me stupid.

As for Evans, I still don’t think he can be counted on for this kind of production often unless the match up is just right (see New York Jets), but 85-yard touchdown catches also remind me of 2006. If you start three wide outs each week, I do think Evans is worth a start from now on, however. So, Lee Evans and Drew Brees owners...this day belongs to you. Kudos for being patient... What? You had them on the bench? Fantasy football is a frustrating game sometimes.

Other guys who showed up today for the first time all year included Reggie Brown and Buzz favorite, Laurence Maroney. Yes, Maroney didn’t find the end zone, but it’s a start.

You Can Depend On Me: Players On The Rise

Chances are if you have LenDale White or Kevin Jones, you got them in the middle rounds of a redraft, if not later. In case you haven’t noticed, they’re both becoming pretty dependable as this season progresses. Chris Brown and Tatum Bell have seemingly done their annual disappearing acts and these two are the beneficiaries. I don’t know if you can get either in a trade with their values on the rise, but definitely don’t sell at this point. Guys who get 20+ carries a game on a regular basis and get used exclusively at the goal line are valuable and these fit the bill in that regard.

Another running back who has been impressive since returning from injury is Brandon “The Mack Truck” Jacobs. In what was otherwise a pretty boring game for the Brits to watch, Jacobs was a machine yesterday and he appears to be silencing at least a fair share of his doubters who wondered if he could carry this kind of load. His upright running style still makes him a weekly injury risk so don’t hang your hat on him for the long term. But in the short term, get him in your weekly lineup. He’s averaging 108 yards rushing a game during the last four weeks. It is hard to argue with that kind of production.

Here’s one more for you: Ben Roethlisberger. With the kind of year Tom Brady is having, most other quarterbacks are getting overshadowed. Oone of those guys is Big Ben. He’s on pace right now for 35 touchdowns and with Santonio Holmes starring as one of the brightest young wide outs in the league, Hines Ward back to health and playing strong, and Heath Miller providing something consistent over the middle, Roethlisberger looks to be one of the safest starts in fantasy from here on out.

The Madden Curse: A Different Kind Of Jinx

The Good News for Vince Young owners this year: Your QB is still playing and not out for the season with some season-wrecking injury.

The Bad News: He stinks.

Young has become an absolute liability in a fantasy lineup, netting 14 fantasy points total in his last three games using FFToday standard performance-league scoring. Whatever Buzz that surrounded him before the season as being a potential fantasy gold mine is long gone. With the Titans 5-2, Young’s lack of production probably isn’t getting a lot of press amongst the NFL beat writers. But, his lack of production is drawing plenty of attention at the fantasy water cooler. I don’t know if you can blame Young or his receivers or both. I do know that I hope you have a different QB in your lineup now if you had been counting on Young at one time. The curse is alive and well...just taking a different form this time around.

Random Buzz

• Maybe T.J. Houshmandzadeh should start developing some unique touchdown celebrations. After all, he’s the only Bengal wide out getting into the end zone these days.

• Did you notice that Willie Parker scored from a yard out today? You can bet Parker owners did.

• Braylon Edwards may be the best wide receiver in fantasy football—period. We stated over a month ago that he would finish top ten this year. Now, I’m not sure if he won’t end up #1. What a steal.

• So much for Kenton Keith taking a chunk of Joseph Addai’s work away. Addai owners will join Willie Parker owners on this day and celebrate. It’s nice to see some myths fall apart.

• I feel bad for Steve Smith. I really do. Makes you realize how good Andre Johnson really is.

• Hope you traded LaMont Jordan after Week Three and got something for him. The ugly performances are now becoming the norm.

A Look Ahead: The Buzz Is Already Starting…

Well, everybody is going to have a take on the Colts-Patriots game in the next six days, so we might as well, too. I will go on record as saying that I think the Patriots are going to adjust their strategy vs. Indy as the Colts rank #1 in the NFL against the pass. It pains me to say this given the amount of grief we’ve sent his way in the past month, but look for Laurence Maroney to have his best game of the season in Week Nine. I don’t think Belicheck is capable of actually using him around the goal line, but a big yardage day could be in store. As for the Colts, the x-factor is going to be Dallas Clark. The Patriots should be able to neutralize most of the Colts’ weapons, but Clark was great against them in the AFC title game last year, and he’s coming off a very quiet Week 8. A hundred yards and a TD sounds about right to me.

Whatever the case, it’s going to be a great game and here at the Buzz, we’ll be one of the first to talk about it when it at all goes down.

One final note: Did you notice who Drew Brees’s leading receiver was today in terms of yardage? The greatness of David PatteRn is reborn yet again. Long-time FFToday junkies couldn’t be prouder. Hats off to you, DR....and have a great week everybody! For you Travis Henry owners...I hope your guy plays tonight and plays well. God Bless!