ROSENBERG: First-half fantasy football review

Act One of the 2011 NFL regular season has been more roller-coaster ride than joyride for the majority of fantasy football nation.

Luckily, I'm somehow in the minority.

Lucky in that I added Steve Smith, A.J. Green, David Akers and the Lions defense at the tail end of my league's draft, and even luckier still that I was able to fasten Fred Jackson, Michael Bush and Carson Palmer to my roster before the competition noticed.

While I'm off to celebrate an unlikely 9-0 record and water my four-leaf clover patch, here's a review of the best and worst we've seen so far.

QUARTERBACK

• Best: Aaron Rodgers, Packers — Rodgers (2,619 yards, 24 touchdowns, 3 interceptions) is in the midst of what could be the greatest statistical season ever by an NFL quarterback and shattering the fantasy myth that no QB should ever be taken first overall.

Sit on it, Brett Favre.

• Honorable Mention: Matthew Stafford, Lions — Stafford, healthy for the first time in his young career, is delivering the type of numbers (2,179 yards, 19 TDs, 4 INTs) that Detroit envisioned when it took him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2009.

• Bust: Philip Rivers, Chargers — Rivers is throwing for 300-plus yards per game, but his 15 picks make him the NFL's runaway leader in that category and represent a career high. Folks didn't pay top dollar to get Jake Delhomme.

• Surprises: Cam Newton, Panthers, and Andy Dalton, Bengals — Newton (2,393 yards, 11 TDs passing; 319 yards, 7 TDs rushing) and Dalton (1,696 yards, 12 TDs) didn't get the memo stating rookie QBs are supposed to have wide eyes, happy feet and clipboards handy.

RUNNING BACK

• Best: LeSean McCoy, Eagles — McCoy is the only thing that has gone right in what's becoming a lost cause of a season for the 3-5 Eagles. McCoy ranks first among NFL rushers with 825 yards and 9 TDs, while contributing to the passing game with 23 catches for another 184 yards and 2 TDs. Told you.

• Honorable Mention: Matt Forte, Bears — Forte is the only player in the NFL who has accounted for more than 800 yards rushing (805 on 149 carries) and 400 yards receiving (436 yards on 41 catches). Only his lackluster TD total (3) keeps him below McCoy.

• Bust: Chris Johnson, Titans — And to think, thousands of bright and studious fantasy types passed on Rodgers and McCoy when they used a top-three pick on Johnson (366 yards, one lousy TD), who could go down as history's worst monster by year's end.

• Surprise: Fred Jackson, Bills — Jackson's wife didn't even pick him until the fifth round of her draft, which was likely about five rounds earlier than he went in most others. Christmas came in early September when I plucked him off the waiver wire.

WIDE RECEIVER

• Best: Calvin Johnson, Lions — The only player other than Randy Moss with 11 TD catches in his team's first eight games since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, Megatron (47 rec., 804 yards) has been at the heart of Detroit's resurgence.

• Honorable Mention: Wes Welker, Patriots — The NFL leader in receptions (66) and receiving yards (960), Welker and his fantasy owners are enjoying the perks of being Tom Brady's favorite caddy.

• Bust: Chad Ochocinco, Patriots — The Ochocinco Show has drawn zero ratings in Foxborough and fantasy circles alike thanks to a meager 9 catches for 136 yards. Thank you, drive through.

• Surprise: Steve Smith, Panthers — I had zero expectations when I took Smith in Round 9 as a thank-you for past contributions. After a nobody-likes-me 2010, Smith has found new life as Newton's go-to guy, already having matched last season's catch total with 46 for 916 yards and 4 TDs.TIGHT END

• Best: Jimmy Graham, Saints — Graham became Drew Brees' favorite dance partner when Marques Colston went down in Week 1 with a broken collarbone and leads all NFL tight ends with 55 receptions for 791 yards to go along with 5 TDs.

• Bust: Dallas Clark, Colts — No shirt, no shoes, no Peyton Manning, no dice, Clark (28 rec., 287 yards, 2 TDs) owners.

• Surprise: Fred Davis, Redskins — While Washington's offense has been stuck in reverse, Davis (40 rec., 559 yards, 2 TDs) has emerged.

KICKER

• Best: Billy Cundiff, Ravens — He might be tied for NFL lead with 20 field goals and second in scoring with 80 points, but Cundiff has burned me twice this season, which is why I turned over my kicking duties to ...

• Honorable Mention: David Akers, 49ers — I took Akers in the 15th round with the 180th overall pick. My reward: 19 of 21 on field-goal attempts — including 4-for-4 from 50 yards and beyond — and 77 points.

• Bust: Matt Prater, Broncos — With just 8 field goals in 12 attempts and an NFL-low 41 points, who could blame Denver fans for wanting to boot Prater a mile high.

Bee fantasy sports columnist Stu Rosenberg can be reached at srosenberg@modbee.com or 578-2300.