Did you forget about Hines Ward?

Hines Ward has already proven himself to be a durable, sure-handed wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, having collected at least 70 receptions the last 8 straight seasons and only missed 6 games during that same period. But even with that amazing track record, he's found a way to elevate his game to an even higher level. Through 6 weeks of the season, Ward leads the NFL in receiving yards with 599, averaging just shy of 100 yards/game and has also recorded a TD in each of the last two games. Not bad for a 33-year-old "possession" receiver who's played his entire 12-year career with the Steelers.

Another great thing about Ward is that he's so damn likable. His great big smile just speaks to that childhood dream we all had of playing professional football. He helps remind us that it's just a game and that he's going to enjoy every second that he's out there. And, I don't know about you, but I really respect a guy who spends his whole career with one team. Now that we're well into the salary cap era where free agency often strips teams of their best players, it's increasingly rare for a guy to actually stay with the same team for his entire career. Obviously Ward isn't finished yet, but it sure seems like he'll retire as a Steeler.

With Ben Roethlisberger playing out of his mind right now and the Pittsburgh offense having to be more active in the passing game while they figure out their running back situation, Ward should continue to have increased success this season. But, of course, the big question is really how good is Rashard Mendenhall? Because if he can be a guy that can carry the ball 25 times a game, then you know Mike Tomlin and the run-first Steelers will ride him all the way to the playoffs. If that happens, then Ward's numbers will inevitably suffer. But for right now he's doing everything he can to not only help the Steelers win, but also prove that he's a big-time NFL receiver.

Fantasy Impact: Ward fits perfectly into that category of fantasy players that you either drafted really late to be a back-up, bye week fill-in, reserve-type WR or picked up after a strong first week, but then comes out of nowhere to be an every-week starter. If you drafted him, then of course you're feeling like a fantasy genius because you knew all along that he was going to be great. Regardless, the reality is that he's probably not worth trading for because of the uncertainty of his production and he almost certainly not available on Free Agency. If you already have him, then enjoy the production while it lasts. If you don't have him, then just chalk it up to the fantasy gods not liking you.

Is Cedric Benson officially back from the dead?

The 4th overall pick of the Chicago Bears in 2005, Cedric Benson had all of the promise of any top running back taken in the draft, but to this point has failed to live up to the hype. Not only has he not lived up to expectations, but has preformed so poorly that he found himself out of the NFL after being released by the Bears following 2007 season. Fortunately for him, he was able to find a home as a backup for the Cincinnati Bengals, who were trying to fill the void left by longtime starter Rudi Johnson, who left to go play for the the Detroit Lions.

After beating out Chris Perry for the starting job midway through last season, Benson’s finally playing like a starting running back and even making some people wonder whether the “Bust” label was a little premature. So far this season he’s picked up right where he left off last year, averaging 98 rush yards a game and already has two rushing TD’s. Not bad for a guy with 5 career 100 yard games and 12 career TD’s in four years! Of course the big question is whether he can sustain this type of production. Is this the beginning of a new chapter for Benson or is this just a brief glimpse of what could have been?

I don’t think anyone expects him to rise to the level of the elite running backs in the league (i.e. Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew), but he certainly has the potential to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark and rack up 6-8 TD’s by the end of the season. One question that still hasn’t been answered but will have a profound effect on Benson’s production this season is how good are the Cincinnati Bengals, really?

Is the defense good enough to keep them in games against AFC North powerhouses like the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers? Can Carson Palmer stay healthy for a full season? If the answer to these questions is yes and the Bengals are a legitimate playoff team, then Benson could be in a great position to surprise some people and finish among the leaders in rush yards by the end of the season. But if the defense isn’t as good as advertised and Palmer has to throw 30-4o times a game or if Palmer goes down with another injury, then it’s going to be a long season for Benson.

I’m certainly rooting for Benson to keep things rolling and I’d like to think that he could succeed even if the Bengals falter, but I just don’t think that’s possible. If the Bengals go down, then Benson goes down.

Fantasy Impact: Benson owners must be feeling pretty good right about now and those who actually drafted him must be feeling like geniuses. With three straight weeks of consistent play, I think he's actually worth consideration as a #2 RB or Flex starter. He's probably not going to have many BIG weeks, but as long as he's healthy it looks like the Bengals are going to give him the rock 20+ times a game. I don't like him as a trade acquisition, just because most owners are probably going to try to "sell high" on him.