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Some old dogs still have plenty of fight in them

Published:November 27, 2009, 7:46 PM

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Updated: August 21, 2010, 9:06 AM

It must have been Turn Back the Clock Day in the NFL last Sunday.

How else can the fantasy performances of Terrell Owens, Ricky Williams, LaDainian Tomlinson and Brett Favre be properly explained?

The veterans took center stage, producing some point totals reminiscent of their heydays.

The following players may be long in the tooth, but it hasn't slowed their fantasy production.

Favre, QB, Minnesota: The man who just can't stay away has proven this season that maybe he shouldn't. Favre's 21 touchdown passes this season is tied for second in the league, and he's thrown just three interceptions, a definite un-Favre like total. Having a runner like Adrian Peterson has proven to be a perfect complement to Favre, allowing the 19-year veteran to work against defenses preoccupied in trying to stop the run.

Reggie Wayne, WR, Indianapolis: The nine-year veteran leads the league at his position in yards (968) and is tied for second with eight touchdown catches. Losing counterpart Marvin Harrison didn't hurt Wayne's production. In fact, it's helped. Wayne is on pace for the most productive season of his career. Having Peyton Manning throwing the passes must be every receiver's dream.

Randy Moss, WR, New England: Moss is second in yards (925) and tied with Wayne with eight touchdowns. It's hard to believe that the 12-year veteran looked washed up in his two seasons with Oakland in 2005-06. It's even harder to believe that the Patriots acquired Moss for only a fourth-round pick. Moss remains the game's best deep threat as long as Tom Brady is throwing the passes.

Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona: The 38-year-old continues to make plays in the Cardinals' pass-happy attack. Warner has thrown for 2,718 yards and 20 touchdowns this season, good for 12th in scoring in ESPN leagues.

Williams, RB, Miami: His 5.3 yards per carry is a stat that jumps off the page. His performance in Week 11, when he single-handedly willed the Dolphins to victory against Carolina (22 carries, 119 yards, 2 TDs, 2 catches, 19 yards, 1 TD) was one of the season's best. Williams' fantasy value has gone up since Ronnie Brown went on injured reserve. Considering all the nine-year veteran has been through in his career, Williams' performance this season may be the most remarkable of any player in the league.

On the other hand, Father Time has not been so kind to the following players.

Tomlinson, RB, San Diego: He's come alive the last two weeks with three touchdowns, but Tomlinson has yet to crack 100 yards in a game this season. The Chargers are being careful with the ninth-year veteran's touches in an effort to preserve him for the end of the season. That's always bad news for fantasy owners.

Owens, WR, Buffalo: Last week (9 catches, 197 yards, TD) was special, but did Owens owners even have him in the lineup? His production in the first 10 weeks would have made it very difficult to do so. Owens, in his 14th year, showed last week he's not washed up, but largely because of the offense he's stuck in, he's not the fantasy force he once was.

Larry Johnson, RB, Cincinnati: Considering Johnson started the year with the Kansas City Chiefs, it's safe to say all sorts of things have gone wrong from a fantasy perspective for the seventh-year veteran. Johnson, 30, didn't score a touchdown in seven games with the Chiefs and averaged just 2.9 yards per rush.

Jamal Lewis, RB, Cleveland: Lewis, in his 10th season, is still the top running back in Cleveland, but that's not saying much. He's cracked the 100-yard mark just once this season (in Week Five against the Bills) and hasn't found the end zone this year. The Browns' woeful offense awoke with 37 points in Week 11 against the Lions, but that was an anomaly. Don't expect much from Lewis the rest of the way.

Analyzing the Bills

Ryan Fitzpatrick's presence in the lineup has given new hope to owners of Lee Evans and T.O. Start either of them this week if you've got them.

Marshawn Lynch is having a miserable fantasy season, but it's tough to bench him considering his average draft position. If you've worked the waiver wire well and have a better option, sit Lynch.

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