Rosenberg: Hey, 'fantasy stud': Thanks for nothing!

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Fastasy Sports -- And we're back! In more ways than one, but more on that later.

With just three weeks remaining in the NFL's regular season, we can officially tag players with the labels "stud" or "bust."

How have this year's top picks performed? Let's just say next year's first round could look a whole lot different.

Using our league's draft as a template, let's review:

• 1. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers — You can run but you cannot hide from the Madden Curse. Tomlinson has seen his production drop from 1,815 yards rushing and 31 total touchdowns in 2006, to 1,474 yards and 18 TDs in 2007, to this season's 885 yards and eight TDs. Letting fullback Lorenzo Neal walk was a great call, Chargers.

• 2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings — Peterson, one of the few first-round choices who has panned out, leads the NFL in rushing (1,413 yards), though you'd like more than his nine TDs entering Week 15. Still, we've got a pretty good idea who's going No. 1 in 2009.

• 3. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots — Those who drafted Brady threw for as many TDs (0) as their top gun and will always have those seven completions and 76 yards as mementos.

• 4. Brian Westbrook, RB, Eagles — It's been business as usual for Westbrook — a couple missed games, 788 yards and nine TDs rushing, 305 yards and five TDs receiving, and not a word of complaint from his owners.

• 5. Joseph Addai, RB, Colts — Addai has been a dud, rushing for just 540 yards (32 other backs have rushed for more) and just six total TDs in 11 games after scoring 15 TDs last season.

• 6. Marion Barber, RB, Cowboys — Like Tomlinson, Barber (870 yards rushing and nine TDs) has been injured, inconsistent and far from the impact player fantasy owners envisioned on draft day.

• 7. Steven Jackson, RB, Rams — Jackson, like all things Ram this season, has been a fantasy disaster. His 683 rushing yards rank him 22nd among NFL backs and his five TDs are roughly a third of LenDale White's league-leading 14.

• 8. Frank Gore, RB, 49ers — Gore's TD total (eight) isn't great, but everything else (978 yards rushing, 367 yards receiving) is just fine. • 9. Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys — This pick drew laughs when we made it, but considering the falls from fantasy grace by many of those drafted ahead of him, Romo's 10-game totals of 2,769 yards and 22 TDs are pure gold.

• 10. Clinton Portis, RB, Redskins — Portis is the NFL's third-leading rusher (1,260 yards), but he has just seven TDs (none since Oct. 19) and has gained just 54 yards combined the past two weeks.

• 11. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts — It hasn't always been pretty, but Manning, who ranks fourth among QBs in passing yards (3,225) and fifth in TDs (22), has managed to turn in another solid if unspectacular season.

• 12. Terrell Owens, WR, Cowboys — Me-O, who is still dropping passes and throwing sideline tantrums like a champ, is tied for second among receivers with nine TDs, but ranks just 25th with 55 catches and 19th in yards with 848.

• FOURTH-AND-2 -- It's too late to make a run at first place (our league leader has Peterson and horseshoes tucked away in places we dare not tread), but the return of Romo (we'll forget that last week ever happened) and the additions of Steve Smith, Lance Moore and Pierre Thomas (not to mention the game of Antonio Bryant's life on Monday night), has catapulted us from ninth place four weeks ago to tied for third, just 51 points out of second.

Now that we have a deeper and more trustworthy lineup, we just have to cross our fingers, hope Romo can keep TO busy/happy/quiet and see how the final three weeks play out.

• OUR WEEK 14 LINEUP — QB: Tony Romo (vs. Giants); RB: LenDale White (at Texans) and Pierre Thomas (at Bears); WR: Steve Smith (it doesn't matter) and Antonio Bryant (at Falcons); TE: Jason Witten (vs. Giants); K: Nick Folk (vs. Giants); D/ST: Steelers (see Steve Smith).

Stu Rosenberg's fantasy sports column runs Fridays.

He can be reached at srosenberg@modbee.com or 578-2300.