So, Week 9 is in the books and it was boring.

A lot of sloppy offense. A lot of field goals. A lot of mediocrity across the board in the fantasy world. Two overtime games. Mike Shanahan shaking things up in the fantasy world as usual, and an 0-7 Bengals team erasing the goose-egg as it toppled the Jags.

But lucky for you, Big Bertha has sifted through the rubble of the Week 9 yawn fest to bring the best of Sunday’s standouts and blunders. This is your Week 9 hardware.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans
Johnson has effectively established himself as one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the NFL. In Tennessee’s win over the Pack on Sunday, Johnson added 89 yards rushing, 72 yards receiving and another touchdown to his totals for the year. Considering that Johnson is a rookie that likely slipped to the middle of fantasy drafts this season, many of his owners are reveling in their own genius as he’s stepped up to be a No. 1 fantasy back.

Runners-Up

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Over 100 yards rushing and a score in a quiet week from NFL backfields allowed AP to finish second in the Week 9 MVP race.

Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona Cardinals
The former grocer continues to lead a prolific passing attack out of the desert with another great statistical game on Sunday. A 342 yard day with three touchdown tosses and no turnovers makes Warner the top fantasy QB for Week 9.

Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants
Jacobs tallied just over 100 yards and one score as the G-men took it to a depleted Dallas team in the Meadowlands.

MOST SURPRISING PERFORMANCE

Peyton Hillis, FB, Denver Broncos
Leave it up to Mike Shanahan to ruin the fantasy weekend for everyone. Once again the Denver head coach allowed a no-namer to step up and provide a large portion of the Broncos’ statistical production. Hillis, a rookie fullback out of Arkansas, took seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown. Chances are he’s not owned by any fantasy football player in any league.

Runners-Up

Brent Celek, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
After starting tight end L.J. Smith had his bell rung last week, Celek, a second-year guy out of Cincinatti, stepped up for the Iggles. He hauled in six balls for 136 yards in the Birds’ win over the Seahawks on Sunday.

Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
The former stand-out at Rutgers had his first big game on Sunday for the Baltimore Ravens. He ran for over 150 yards but couldn’t find paydirt. He shares a role in the backfield with original starter Willis McGahee and certified touchdown vulture Le’Ron McClain. After watching him struggle to get touches in the first half, his breakout performance came as a startle to most owners.

Koren Robinson, WR, Seattle Seahawks
Robinson didn’t get arrested over the weekend. He didn’t fail a drug test and he wasn’t pulled over by police. He did, however, rack up 105 receiving yards on four catches in the ‘Hawks loss to the Eagles on Sunday. This was Robinson’s first time over the century-mark since December of ‘05.

MOST DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE

Anyone on the Dallas Cowboys
Generally speaking, the fantasy world cares about a couple of guys with stars on their helmet. Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Marion Barber, Jason Witten, Roy E. Williams, and maybe Patrick Crayton and/or Felix Jones. In Week 9 Romo, Jones, and Witten sat out. The other four guys combined for an unimpressive 19 fantasy points (depending on your scoring).

Runners-Up

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Buffalo Bills
He ran for only 16 yards. Not going to cut it. Especially after I stuck up for him by writing about how the Bills need to feed him the ball. Well it looks like I’m eating my words a little here as he was a Week 9 no-show. But Lynch is a good back and is usually good for at least 75 yards and a score each week. Hopefully he returns to form shortly.

Brett Favre, QB, New York Jets
Nothing says “I should’ve stayed retired” like throwing for 200 yards with an interception that was returned for a touchdown. New York’s defense couldn’t have played any better. They kept the Bills O on the sidelines, scored a touchdown to help pick up for their own offense’s ineptitude, and forced turnovers inside opposing territory. Seems like Brett and company struggled to capitalize, which has proven to be a problem of theirs all season.

Brandon Marshall, WR, Denver Broncos
How are you going to tally up 140 catches when you can only pull in three against Miami at home?! Seriously, Marshall has been hit or miss all season and it’s making my hairline recede. I’m too young to have these gorgeous locks wasted because he ran his big mouth and couldn’t back it up. He needs to show up with a game big enough to see from space in the first Thursday game since the season opener.

CUTTABLE PLAYER

Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
It seems as though I may set a record for most recommendations to cut a player on the pre-season “unable to cut” list. If you’ve been paying attention then Derek Anderson, Carson Palmer, Matt Hasselbeck, Torry Holt, LJ should be floating around waivers, too. Kolby Smith and Jamaal Charles showed up for the Chiefs against Tampa on Sunday so even if the team lets him dress, he’s going to have to fight for carries.

WAIVER WIRE SPECIAL

Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland Browns
If you drafted Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, Derek Anderson, Tony Romo, Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Schaub, or David Garrard as your starter, pay attention. Quinn is clearly a gamble as he will make his first career start Thursday against the Broncos. But picking him up off waivers is a great idea because:

1.) At the very least he should give you a one week band-aid over your quarterback fiasco because he’s throwing against a Denver defense that ranks 27th against the pass.

2.) He has Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow to catch the ball.

3.) Denver has the third-worst kick coverage in the NFL and Joshua Cribbs is awesome. This means good field position.

4.) If you drafted one of the duds listed below you’re probably sitting at 3-6 and have nothing to lose.

DREAM LINEUP
QB - Kurt Warner, ARI
RB - Adrian Peterson, MIN
RB - Brandon Jacobs, NYG
WR - Donald Driver, GB
WR - Derek Mason, BAL
TE - Owen Daniels, HOU
K - Dan Carpenter, MIA
D/ST - New York Jets

NIGHTMARE SQUAD
QB - Kyle Orton, CHI
RB - Steven Jackson, STL
RB - Marshawn Lynch, BUF
WR - Plaxico Burress, NYG
WR - Brandon Marshall, DEN
TE - Greg Olson, CHI
K - Josh Brown, STL
D/ST -Cleveland Browns

HIGHLIGHT REEL (Best Play)

Don’t even bother. Really. With field-goal-fests like Green Bay at Tennessee and NE at Indy, a lopsided shutout in Oakland, and an NFL total of 27 interceptions thrown it would be advisable to stay away from all Week 9 action. Don’t watch replays, delete the games you DVR’d, and start counting the hours until Week 10 kicks off on Thursday. This was one ugly week of football.

WEEK 8 BONUS AWARDS

THE “REALLY?!” AWARD

Brooks Bollinger, QB, Dallas Cowboys
ESPN showed a stat that said Bollinger went 1-for-2 for -12 yards and an interception in his first two posessions as the man in Dallas. I guess everyone understands why Minnesota decided they’d rather platoon Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte then let Bollinger even hold a ball near the practice facility.

THANKS FOR COMING OUT AWARD

Aaron Rodgers (QB) and the rest of the Green Bay Packers
The Packers put forth a valiant effort in their attempt to spoil Tennessee’s hopes for 9-0. But, as has been the case all season, they fell just short. It’s a shame really because the Titans have the Bears, Jags, Jets, Lions, Browns, and Texans before they get another real test against the Steelers in Week 16. Tom Brady is cringing for sure.

WELCOME BACK AWARD

Rex Grossman a.k.a. Sexy Rexy, QB, Chicago Bears
Fitting that the ugliest week of football in recent memory included one of the season’s most pleasant surprises, Bears QB Kyle Orton, go down with an ankle injury only to be replaced by one of the worst starting quarterbacks ever. So, in Week 9, we’ll send Grossman home with the “Welcome Back” award as he ushers in a whole new level of sloppy to the 2008 NFL season.