Last week I reviewed my dismal crop of preseason sleepers and now it’s time to look back at my preseason busts. Apparently I’m no more adept at picking failures than I am at success stories.

My 2009 bust list included four running backs — three of whom have been very productive this season. Cincinnati’s Cedric Benson has been a top 10 back all year with 837 yards rushing and six touchdowns. The N.Y. Jets’ Thomas Jones has also had a good year with 704 yards rushing and seven scores.

Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams is not quite in the top 10, but he’s somewhere in the top 15 and that’s good enough to start on every fantasy team. Jackson has scored only one touchdown but he has 784 yards rushing along with 24 catches for 186 yards.

The one back I got right was Tampa Bay’s Derrick Ward. He was the presumed starter for the Bucs in the preseason and, while he’s had his share of opportunities, has done very little. He has 188 yards rushing on 50 carries and has 10 catches for 100 yards. Ward has scored two total touchdowns.

I also hit on the N.Y. Jets’ Jerricho Cottchery. He was coming off a decent season but, with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez under center, I correctly predicted he would take a step backward. Through eight games Cottchery has 27 catches for 430 yards and just one touchdown.

So much for the lackluster report card. Here are some nuggets that may help you this week.

Injury update: The biggest injury coming out of Week 9 was to Washington’s starting running back Clinton Portis. He was knocked out of Sunday’s game in the first quarter with a concussion and is considered questionable for Week 10.

San Francisco running back Frank Gore suffered an eye abrasion Sunday but should be able to play in Week 10. Teammate Vernon Davis, a tight end, suffered a shoulder contusion and his status is day-to-day.

Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin was held out of Sunday’s game with an ankle injury but is considered probable for Sunday.

Players to jettison: New Orleans running back Mike Bell, who flashed big in Weeks 1 and 2, has resorted to his fumbling ways lately and that has led to decreased playing time. He had only five carries Sunday for 17 yards.

San Diego running back Darren Sproels is simply not going to take over as the top runner for the Chargers. San Diego seems determined to keep giving LaDainian Tomlinson the ball. Sproels has 80 rushing yards, 108 receiving yards and one touchdown in the team’s last five games.

Anyone still hanging on to Jacksonville wide receiver Torry Holt needs to let him go. He has six receptions for 54 yards over the past two weeks.

Players to pick up: Washington Redskins running back Ladell Betts posted decent numbers after Clinton Portis suffered a concussion Sunday, running 15 times for 70 yards and scoring a touchdown. Portis may have to miss some time so Betts has some value.

The two newest Kansas City Chiefs receivers both made noise Sunday and could be worth picking up if you’re desperate for help at that position. Chris Chambers made three catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns while Lance Long caught eight passes for 74 yards.

If Chicago wideout Earl Bennett is still on your waiver wire it may be time to pick him up. Although he has not scored a touchdown this season, he grabbed seven passes for 93 yards against Arizona.

Wide receiver Jason Hill is beginning to carve out a niche in the San Francisco 49ers offense. With most opponents paying attention to Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, Hill caught four passes for two touchdowns in Week 9.

Detroit rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew may have signaled his arrival Sunday, making seven catches for 70 yards and a score.



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