It’s the midway point of the NFL so it’s time to revisit my sleeper and bust predictions for 2009. Looking back, my collection of sleepers has been pretty much a disaster.

New England running back Fred Taylor had a great game in Week 3 (21 carries, 105 yards, a touchdown), but got hurt the very next week and probably won’t return until the postseason. San Francisco quarterback Shaun Hill has posted mediocre numbers at best (87 of 155 for 943 yards and five touchdowns) and has now been replaced as the starter by Alex Smith.

Philadelphia tight end Brent Celek has probably been my best sleeper pick but he’s certainly no Dallas Clark or Antonio Gates. Celek is averaging 5 receptions for 64 yards and has scored three touchdowns. It appears he’s destined to be a feast or famine guy all season.

Miami wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr., is averaging just three receptions for 30 yards per game and has caught just one TD pass. He did return two kicks for touchdowns Sunday, but that probably won’t happen again all season.

San Francisco wideout Josh Morgan has simply been invisible this year, both before and after the arrival of No. 1 draft choice Michael Crabtree. The second-year receiver has just 18 catches for 267 yards and one total touchdown.

The only guy in the group that’s starting material is, possibly, Celek and even he’s a stretch. All in all, a poor group of sleepers.

We’ll re-visit my 2009 busts next week.

Injury update: Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers (leg) of Green Bay and Jake Delhomme (chest) of Carolina should be OK to play in Week 9. Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook (concussion) was unable to play Sunday and is considered day-to-day.

Detroit running back Kevin Smith (shoulder) left Sunday’s game and did not return. His status is unknown.

Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin (ankle) could not complete Sunday’s game and is considered questionable for this weekend. Houston tight end Owen Daniels tore his ACL and is out for the season.

Players to jettison: It’s time to give up on Jacksonville tight end Mercedes Lewis. He has just five receptions for 38 yards over the last three games. Denver wideout Eddie Royal is just not producing with quarterback Kyle Orton at the helm. Through seven games Royal has 20 catches for 158 yards without a touchdown.

Cleveland receiver Mohammed Massaquoi was apparently a one-week wonder and the Browns offense is headed nowhere. Since his breakout game in Week 4, Massaquoi has just nine catches for 149 yards.

St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger has lost any value he may have had in the preseason. Against lowly Detroit Sunday he completed 17 of 35 passes for 176 yards with one interception.

Players to pick-up: Houston running back Ryan Moats has inherited the starting running back because of fumbling problems by Steve Slaton. All Moats did was rush for 126 yards and three touchdowns against the Buffalo defense Sunday.

The San Diego Chargers have cut wide receiver Chris Chambers, which means Malcom Floyd finally has some fantasy value. He’s still the third passing option behind Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson, but quarterback Phillip Rivers usually throws enough passes to keep most of his weapons productive.

Houston’s Daniels is done for the season and that should mean a bigger role for wide receiver Kevin Walter the rest of the way. Walter did very little after Daniels went out, but quarterback Matt Schaub is likely to be looking his way more often in the second half of the season.

Tennessee quarterback Vince Young has regained his starting job and, while he posted only so-so numbers against Jacksonville, has the potential to be a decent fantasy back-up. If you’ve been hanging on to Bulger or Trent Edwards or Matthew Stafford, Young would be a wise move.



Jim Rueda is the Free Press sports editor. To contact him, call 344-6381 or e-mail him at jrueda@mankato freepress.com