Week 8 is officially a closed chapter in the NFL saga of 2008. That means it’s time to dish out some Week 8 hardware.

Things are going right in Philly as running back Brian Westbrook returned from injury to take home MVP honors, while last week’s top star Steven Jackson sat this one out with an injury of his own. The circus that is the Dallas Cowboys continues to cause fantasy woes and Seahawks posted 35 points without John Carlson or Julius Jones finding the endzone.

A Rams rookie had a big day catching the ball could be catching the torch from this week’s cuttable player. And the shootout overseas landed some Saints and Bolts in fantasy headlines and on the Dream Lineup for Week 8.

Big Bertha’s here to issue a decree of accolades and duds in the form of Week 8 hardware.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
B-West had been recently sidelined with broken rib,s but had an extra week of recooperation in the form of Philly’s Week 7 bye. The versatile veteran came back with a vengeance on Sunday by leading the NFL in rushing with 168 yards and reaching paydirt twice. Just the kind of week you’d expect from a clear-cut, top-tier back.

Runners-Up

Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers
Smith is a game changer. That goes for the NFL and in the fantasy world. The wideout had five catches for 117 yards and two scores in the Panthers win over Arizona on Sunday. Smith’s impact was certainly felt when he took a down-and-out for a score after man-handling a defender and walking the sideline like a tight-rope. The play was reviewed, but the only conclusive evidence they could find was that Smith is a monster.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
Brees is the best passer in the NFL. Period. He lit up the skies overseas with a 339-yard, three-touchdown performance against his former team in the Big Smoke on Sunday. He spreads the ball around (eight different guys with receptions, three with scores) and looks like the clear-cut fantasy favorite heading into the half-way point.

Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers
Very similar performance to that of Brees. He threw for 341 yards and three scores. Completed one to the wrong team but played very well overall. If he had shown up for the first half of this one he might have led the pack for Week 8.

MOST SURPRISING PERFORMANCE

Leonard Weaver, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Who? Yes, Leonard Weaver. Weaver is an undrafted graduate of Carson-Newman college in Jefferson City, Tenn. Weaver said after the game that, “my first obligation is to block and my second obligation is to block.” So, when he took four catches for 116 yards and two scores it’s realistic to believe that the fantasy world was almost as shocked as Weaver was with his Sunday at the office.

Runners-Up

Donnie Avery, WR, St. Louis Rams
Avery is an up-and-coming first year standout who has been climbing our weekly rookie rankings over the past month. On Sunday, he had six catches for 163 yards and a big score against the Pats. Suddenly people are forgetting about Torry Holt.

Tyler Thigpen, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Tyler Thigpen’s 280 yard 2 touchdown game came as a surprise because:

1.) He was the first ever Coastal Carolina Chanticleer selected in the NFL draft.

2.) He plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.

3.) Prior to Week 8 he was 38-for-90 passing for 392 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions

4.) He plays for the Kansas City Chiefs

5.) I’ve told you about three times in this column over the past two months that he’s a joke. (He still is, the Jets defense isn’t exactly top-notch).

Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Miami Dolphins
When Dolphins fans heard that their team selected Ted Ginn Jr. with the ninth pick in the 2007 NFL draft most had the same reaction, “Ninth pick in the second round, right?”. Well, as it turns out, the ‘07 blunder paid off for Week 8 as Ginn had seven catches for 175 yards in Miami’s upset win over Buffalo.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
189 yards, one score, and four completions to the bad guys doesn’t get the job done. Ever. In the NFL or in fantasy. Tisk, tisk Big Ben.

Runners-Up

Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Witten was a Week 8 no-show. One catch for eight yards and two fractured ribs are not going to keep fantasy owners happy. Witten and the ‘Boys need Tony Romo back. Badly. And there’s nothing that kills a fantasy season like a quarterback rushing back from an injury to usher in a big pile of suck for the last part of a season.

Terrell Owens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Ditto.

Edgerrin James/Tim Hightower, RB, Arizona Cardinals
They combined for 20 yards rushing. For the whole game. You should expect that kind of yardage total from a TD vulture like Hightower. But from James? And when you add that Anquan Boldin returned from injury to out rush this tandem with one reverse, it makes their owners, especially those who start both as handcuff backs, dry heave.

CUTTABLE PLAYER

Torry Holt, WR, St. Louis Rams
He’s clearly over the hill. His production has been declining over the past couple of years and the emergence of Avery as a deep threat isn’t helping his statistical production one bit. Avery is still available in a large chunk of leagues on both Yahoo! and ESPN. Drop Holt and pick up the newbie.

WAIVER WIRE SPECIAL

Kevin Faulk, RB, New England Patriots
Maroney’s down for the year so, unless you consider BenJarvus Green-Ellis a legitmate NFL running back, it would seem as though Faulk’s production will continue to increase. Faulk is great at capitalizing on mismatches, and he’s productive receiving the ball out of the backfield. The addition of the former third-down-back to your fantasy squad will help bolster your lineup and allow you to limp through bye weeks.

DREAM LINEUP
QB - Drew Brees, NO
RB - Brian Westbrook, PHI
RB - LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
WR - Steve Smith, CAR
WR - Roddy White, ATL
TE - Antonio Gates, SD
K - Shaun Suisham, WAS
D/ST - Seattle Seahawks

NIGHTMARE SQUAD
QB - Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
RB - Edgerrin James, ARI
RB - Jonathan Stewart, CAR
WR - Reggie Wayne, IND
WR - Terrell Owens, DAL
TE - Jason Witten, DAL
K - Jason Elam, ATL
D/ST - San Diego Chargers

HIGHLIGHT REEL (Best Play)

After a formulaic Week 7 highlight reel we’re going to change the format for Week 8. Forget about the top plays because the NFL lacked spectacular or sensational plays this Sunday. Instead, watch the entire Saints-Chargers game that took place in London, England.

The teams went back and forth, playing as close to mistake free as two teams like that can play. Additionally, the Saints defense actually decided to show up for a game, although the 32 points allowed don’t really show it. I was on the edge of my seat the whole game and this is sure to be one of the best ‘08 has to offer.

WEEK 8 BONUS AWARDS

HEAD COACH BLOW-UP OF THE WEEK

Mike Singletary, San Francisco 49ers
The new Niners coach changed some things in the Bay area over the course of his first week as head honcho. He benched the starting QB, ordered the starting tight end off the field, and went nuts in his first press conference. But, the fire may be just the thing to ignite the Niners talent. Then again, they aren’t going nowhere this year, so does it really matter?

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AWARD

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco pitched the ball to former Buckeye Troy Smith on a reverse, then hauled tail down the sideline to pull in a reception that went for 43 yards. If he weren’t a clutz and hadn’t tripped over his own feet it could have gone the distance.

GET ME THE BALL AWARD

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo Bills
Lynch has gotten 20 carries only once this season. He took his lowly 13 on Sunday for 61 and a score. He averaged nearly five yards per carry this week and still couldn’t get his touches. Feed the man the ball.