Clinton Portis backed up his recent promotion to Imaginary Gridiron’s No. 1 player in fantasy in a big way this week, rushing for 175 yards and a score in a win over Cleveland. He symbolized a shakeup last week, as we attempted to get a better grasp on the current state of fantasy football affairs. Less has changed in this week’s edition of The Fantasy NFL 101, but the Top 10 did get a small facelift in light of Week 7 happenings.

No player had a bigger week than St. Louis’ Steven Jackson, who finally “arrived” with 160 yards and three scores in a stunning win over the Dallas Cowboys. Even with a bruised thigh, Jackson moves up to No. 6 in the rankings because he has such a bright outlook in the season’s second half. Reggie Bush quickly plummeted after suffering a meniscus injury in his left knee, one that required surgery and at least three weeks of recovery time. Read more »

The scene in San Francisco may appear utterly hopeless. Any chances of turning around this 2008 NFL regular season seemed to go out the window for a 49ers team which, after losing their fourth straight, seems to be headed deep into yet another meaningless, empty year.

Head coach Mike Nolan frequently spoke of change and restoring the glory days in the Bay Area and for three and a half seasons roamed the 49ers sideline while the team fell apart on the field. Despite his best efforts, including bending the NFL’s dress policy so that he could wear a custom suit during home games, Nolan never translated his convictions into the team’s weekly performance.

And so the criticisms continued; not just towards Nolan, but for seemingly questionable ownership of the team under John York, who didn’t earn the job but rather was given it when Eddie DeBartolo bolted. The change in team management has clearly been evident: from 1992 to 2002, the 49ers missed the playoffs only twice; since 2003, the team has not even once tasted the postseason. Read more »

Almost at the halfway point of the 2008 NFL season and we’ve had a lifetime’s worth of parity in just seven short weeks. Now three head coaches have been handed pink slips, the latest being Mike Nolan’s early exit out of San Francisco. Plenty more coaches remain on the hot seat, including Marvin Lewis, Rod Marinelli, and yes, even Wade Philips.

As for the matchups this week, prepare yourselves for big divisional rivalries like Buffalo-Miami, Seattle-San Francisco, and Indianapolis-Tennessee. If you’re fortunate enough, be sure not to miss the overseas game between the Chargers and Saints played in London as well as quite possibly the biggest matchup of the year so far in the “Steel” city. Read more »