This year, every Tuesday, we will be looking at the big surprises and disappointments from the previous weekend. We’ll take a look at the players who outperformed their projected rank the most, and the ones who fell far below expectations. You will find out why they were ranked where they were, why they played like they did, and how I think they’ll do for next week and the rest of the year. Link to last week's article. Quarterbacks: This week, another chapter in the Steve Spurrier saga was written, this time with his rookie quarterback. On the flip side, after two straight weeks of top five finishes, one of the best young QBs in the league couldn't finish in the top twenty. Aaron Brooks     Projected: 3rd     Finished: 23rd Stats: 14-24, 207 pass yards, 1 TD, 0 INT; 3 carries, 0 rush yards. Reason for projection: Aaron Brooks had scored six touchdowns the previous two weeks, and was going up against a defense that has been torched by both Rich Gannon and Tom Brady. With the Saints were at home, the feeling was they should be able to take advantage of their considerable speed to score points. Why he busted: Jim Haslett doesn't play fantasy football (or maybe he does and his opponent had Aaron Brooks?) There are times when the interests of fantasy football and winning games diverge, and Sunday was one of them. With Deuce McAllister running fantastically, and the Saints in the lead most of the game, Brooks wasn't asked to compile great stats. He had a QB rating over 100, and was able to control the game very well. Future outlook: Normally, noting that Brooks had an off fantasy football day, but still had a great NFL day would rest the fears of his fantasy owners. There are a couple of things to remember. One, Jim Haslett is a defensive oriented coach, and he may hold AB back a little more as the Saints push for the playoffs. In week four, Brooks threw nearly fifty times (a fantasy heaven) and the Saints lost-in week five, he threw under thirty times and the Saints won. Haslett will do what works, and it may involve having Brooks not try and do too much, with Deuce McAllister as the focal point of the offense. If I was a Brooks owner I wouldn't be too worried, but he may not put up great stats over the next few games (Washington, San Francisco, and Atlanta). Patrick Ramsey     Projected: 29th     Finished: 13th Stats: 20-34, 268 pass yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT; 2 carries, 1 rush yard Reason for projection: Well Ramsey was the backup going into this week, although some felt he might play (and thus the reason he was even ranked). When Wuerfful got injured early, Ramsey came in and shined. Why he broke out: Let's remember, the Titans pass defense came in ranked 29th, and not expecting Patrick Ramsey. Ramsey threw a couple of touchdowns, and had a pretty nice yardage day as well. The facts that he was playing a poor defense and it was his first start probably cancel out. Future outlook: It took a few weeks, but the Redskins are finally starting their best quarterback. Ramsey is a very coachable player, and is smart in the heat of battle. Some experts compare him to Phil Simms and Brad Johnson and he does have a favorable schedule coming up. The Washington offense has potential to put up points, and he fits the Fun N Gun well. That said, he IS a rookie QB and the WRs on Washington still leave something to be desired. He doesn't have enough pure talent to dominate right now, and we have yet to see how he'll do once teams get some film on him. If someone is willing to buy high on him, I would: remember what Shane Matthews did one week as well. Running Backs: This week saw a lot of top ten RBs fall flat on their face. Bruisers Anthony Thomas and Antowain Smith didn't produce much this week as their teams got blown out. Fred Taylor had an off game, and lost a TD to Stacey Mack. Still, neither of them have matched the consistent lack of production that Eddie George owners have gotten. Fortunately for us, there are good stories in this game. A new QB led Jerome Bettis to his best week of the year. Eddie George     Projected: 7th     Finished: 36th Stats: 20 carries, 26 yards; 3 receptions, 14 yards, 0 total touchdowns Reason for projection: George was facing a Washington defense that has failed to live up to preseason hype. George had a TD in each of the last two games, and the running game might be asked to shoulder more of the load with the loss of star WR Derrick Mason. Why he busted: Because he isn't very good? Eddie failed to gain 3.0 yards per carry for the fourth time in five weeks. The consensus says years of being the workhorse have piled on, the offensive line isn't very good, and George losing a step makes him a step too slow for this league. Future outlook: It's hard to find much silver lining here: George has rushed for 26 yards each of the last two weeks. He always made his living at the goalline, and he was pulled there for John Simon on Sunday. Does he have ANYTHING left? His best game this year was when he rushed for sixty five yards. He's had eighty-one carries, and is averaging 2.7 a rush. Fortunately for him, the Titans have a bye this week. George has three easy games after the bye, facing Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Houston. Eddie's a warrior, and if the line can gel during the bye week there's a chance he could turn his season around. Considering how low his value is right now, I'd consider trading for him and hoping. If you're an Eddie owner, you're not likely to get much from him this year, but you can still hold out some hope. Jerome Bettis     Projected: 28th     Finished: 12th Stats: 18 carries, 103 yards, 1 TD; 1 catch, 4 yards Reason for projection: The Bus had yet to get rolling, and looked about as big as one. Bettis was losing carries to Zeroue and Fu, and is still hampered by injury. Why he broke out: Bettis finally ran well on Sunday, and was able to score a touchdown as well. With Maddox to keep defenses honest, and Zeroue as a change of pace, defenses weren't able to focus on him. Future outlook: Let's not forget that Bettis was the NFL's leading rusher late last season. With Kordell out of the starting lineup, that should leave more rushing yards for Bettis, and more importantly less TDs for the QB to vulture. Bus should also benefit from an improved passing game. While Zeroue hurts his value, Bettis isn't a twenty-five carry back anymore. He still has a good chance to be a solid RB2 for your squad, and he looked pretty effective against New Orleans. The change at QB may be what turns his season around. Don't write off No. 36 just yet. Wide Receivers: This week the number one wide receiver blew away the field, outscoring everyone by at least seven points. It wasn't Terrell Owens or Marvin Harrison-in fact, it wasn't anyone ranked in the top seventy-five. This week we look at a star who has frustrated fantasy owners for the last few weeks, but didn't he start that way last year too? Dennis Northcutt     Projected: 77th     Finished: 1st Stats: 8 catches, 165 yards; 1 carry, 7 rush yards, 2 touchdowns Reason for projection: From the looks of things, Northcutt entered the week as Cleveland's FOURTH best wideout. Morgan, Davis and Johnson had been targeted more through the first four weeks. Why he broke out: Northcutt was targeted NINE times in the fourth quarter by Kelly Holcomb, and caught both his touchdowns against a lax Ravens defense. The Browns have too many good receivers to be shut down, and the defense let Northcutt beat them. Future Outlook: A Browns receiver will produce each week, but it's a crapshoot as to who it will be for anyone one week. Believe it or not, Morgan leads the team in yards, Johnson in catches, and Davis and Northcutt are tied in touchdowns. It's hard to say the top receiver of the week should be on your bench next week, but I find it difficult to see consistent production coming from him. If Northcutt can develop some rapport with Holcomb (and if Holcomb is the QB) then his value goes up. With Couch in there I see no reason to like Dennis over any of the other three wide receivers Cleveland already has. David Boston    Projected: 7th     Finished: 55th Stats: 3 catches, 43 yards, 0 touchdowns Reason for projection: Considering his anemic 41 yards per game the previous three games, and his equally upsetting three catches per game, this ranking was based off last year's success. Boston was a top three wide receiver last year, and is one of the biggest WRs in NFL history. He has the talent to break out any week. Why he busted: Boston had FOUR drops against Carolina. You can't blame anyone else-Arizona threw the ball 40 times. Plummer targeted Boston 11 times. Boston came up with more drops than catches. His timing with Plummer was visibly off. Boston just about matched his previous week's average, and now has a four game stretch of 12 catches, 167 yards and 0 TDs. Future Outlook: Boston has the capability to catch 12 for 167 during a single week, so I wouldn't trade him while his value is low. With a bye week, maybe Arizona will figure out things offensively. If the running game can continue to play well, Boston will eventually benefit from it. After the bye this week, I'd have no qualms starting him against Dallas on Oct. 20th. Some may point to the slow start by Boston last year, but consider this: While he is averaging less than 45 yards a game the last month, he didn't have a single GAME last year under that number until December. Even in his second worst game of the first half a season ago, Boston had seventy one yards. If you can get value for him as a top ten wide receiver, I would trade him. He has a chance to finish top five, but I would cut your losses if the right offer comes your way. Chase Stuart Exclusive to: Footballguys.com