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Much like the Buffalo Bills, anybody who took a chance and drafted Willis McGahee must feel pretty good heading into the last five weeks of the season.
McGahee scored four touchdowns in Sunday's drubbing of Seattle, one more than he had managed all season. Still, in the past two months, only Kansas City's Priest Holmes has more rushing touchdowns. With 116 yards, McGahee topped 100 for the fifth time in seven weeks. By no coincidence, Buffalo is 5-0 in those games.
Entering the season, McGahee was an unknown commodity, having not carried the ball once his rookie season as he recovered from knee surgery. He had just 70 yards in the Bills' first five games, but since then, he has been as advertised before his injury. His breakout season has been a nightmare for Travis Henry owners, who saw a frustrating season end Sunday when he broke his leg.
Buffalo is two games out of the second AFC wild-card spot, and with a light schedule over the next four weeks, it will rely heavily on McGahee. Consider his opponents: Miami, Cleveland and Cincinnati, all among the league's seven worst rush defenses, then San Francisco, tied for the NFL high with 15 rushing touchdowns allowed.
The only caveat for McGahee owners is that Buffalo finishes the regular season against Pittsburgh, which is the league's stingiest rush defense, having given up a league low in yardage and a measly four touchdowns. That could give McGahee a bad week in your fantasy league's championship game, but if he gets you that far, you can't really complain.
BIG NUMBERS: With the second-most total points in NFL history, Sunday's Bengals-Browns shootout was a dream. Some of the biggest stars - especially on Cleveland's end - weren't likely on fantasy rosters last week, so grab Browns quarterback Kelly Holcomb, who will put up big numbers as the Browns will often play from behind the rest of the way. Former Cowboys receiver Antonio Bryant has emerged as Cleveland's top receiver, and Steve Heiden, who had three touchdowns Sunday, is the latest in a long line of breakout tight ends this season.
PACKING IT IN: It's that time of year when teams out of the playoff picture will take a closer look at younger players, which means it's time to give up on disappointing starters such as Dallas' Eddie George and San Francisco's Kevan Barlow.
The Cowboys have given rookie Julius Jones 30-plus carries two weeks in a row and should lean on him the rest of the way. Jones, who had 150 yards and two touchdowns in Thursday's win, has a great schedule ahead of him, facing a Panthers defense that has given up 15 rushing touchdowns, then a Saints defense that is the NFL's worst in rushing yards allowed. Carolina, too, seems to have settled on fourth-year back Nick Goings, who had his second straight 100-yard game against the Bucs. He gets that same poor Saints defense this weekend and is a safe bet for 20-plus carries and another strong effort.
THIS AND THAT: Passing touchdowns are through the roof, and not just Peyton Manning's. Look for the running-back-heavy nature of the first round to change in next year's drafts. It's not just receivers benefiting from the passing fancy, as tight ends are having a huge presence in the end zone. Last season, only two had five or more touchdowns, but that figure is at nine this season, with five more tight ends close by with four scores. ... Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook, with three receiving touchdowns the past two weeks, is still a must-start at running back, and you can say the same for the Bucs' Michael Pittman, who had 134 receiving yards and two scores Sunday. Better check to see how many points are deducted for fumbles in your league.
If you have a fantasy question or comment, send an e-mail to staff writer Greg Auman at auman@sptimes.com