After years of truly dismal teams, the Cincinnati Bengals finally deserve some love. Not since the Icky Shuffle has anyone outside of Cincinnati cared about this team. It's just not from their fine victory over Kansas City to keep the 1972 Miami Dolphins' legend intact. It's also that the Bengals are 5-5 and tied for the lead in the AFC North. Yes, you read that correctly. The Bengals are in first place, and they've already played some games. Chad Johnson may have correctly predicted a victory, but he didn't predict he'd win a Freak of the Week. His performance (seven catches for 74 yards) wouldn't have earn him one anyway. Rudi "Rudi! Rudi! Rudi!" Johnson would have been in the Freak ballpark if he could have added a touchdown or two to his 165 yard rushing day. However, one Bengal did have what it took to get the most coveted award in fantasy football. That man was Peter Warrick. His receiving day was solid with six catches for 112 yards. But what sent him into Freakdom was his punt return for a touchdown. A Wide Receiver Freak just has to make Warrick's big game that much sweeter.

On to the QB Freak. Jets' QB Chad Pennington came away with another multiple touchdown week (three) but only threw for 219 yards in the shootout with Indianapolis. Payton Manning threw for over 400 yards but only had one touchdown in the same game. So this week's Freak goes to a QB who could both score points and rack up some great yardage. Cleveland's Kelly Holcomb did that in a blowout of the Arizona Cardinals. Holcomb threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns.

In the battle for Running Back Freak we find Green Bay's Ahman Green nowhere in sight. He must be in a funk. He hasn't won a Freak in two weeks. Green did rush for 109 yards and a touchdown against the hapless Super Bowl champions, but that performance didn't make this judge's radar screen.

New Orleans' Deuce McAllister is a tempting pick. He rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught nine passes for 64 yards, but Deuce pulled an Ahman and fumbled the ball twice. That's a no-no in Freakdom.

To find our Running Back Freak we go back to the Jets-Indy shootout. Remember Manning only threw one touchdown. Well, how did the Colts score all their points? If you answered, "Edgerrin James," you are correct. (Sorry, no prizes awarded. SportsBlog.org is an involuntary non-profit operation) He rushed for 127 yards and three touchdowns. That might have been good enough for a Freak, but James also caught six balls for 33 yards. If Marvin Harrison continues to be bothered with injuries look for James to become the fantasy scoring machine he was a few years ago.

Who said Shannon Sharpe is getting old? I know I've thought it, but the guy can still be as much of an offensive threat at the tight end position as anyone in the league. In Denver's 38-7 thrashing of San Diego, Sharpe caught seven passes for 101 yards and three touchdowns. Wowzers! It goes without argument that he gets this week's Tight End Freak.

Can you allow your opponent to score 23 points, lose to them, and still win the Defense Freak of the Week? You can if you're the Atlanta Falcons. Why are these feathered creatures even in Freak consideration? If it wasn't for their second-half debacle, the dirty birds (can you call them that even though Jamal Anderson hasn't been with them in years?) would have been a sure thing. In their loss, they sacked Saints QB Aaron Brooks seven times, recovered two fumbles, picked off two passes, and ran an interception in for a touchdown. That is a gorgeous fantasy line any owner would love.

This just shows that fantasy world is just that, fantasy. Sometime it doesn't make sense. In the real world, I'd take a New England performance (they shut out Dallas) over an Oakland or Atlanta one, but in fantasy world, I'd gladly sacrifice some points and a team's win for defensive touchdowns.

Last, and certainly least, we have the Kickers Freak. There's no pizazz here so I'll just get this over with. Cleveland's Phil Dawson (that's a game show host's name) earns a Freak for kicking three field goals and five extra points for 14 total points. I could barely keep awake typing all that. Kickers are the most boring and unimportant part of fantasy football.

Warrick, Holcomb, James, Sharpe, the Atlanta Defense, and zzzz Dawson, you had superior performances that put you at the top of the heap (Todd?) in the football world. Being a Freak is more than an honor, it's a privilege. Along with the award comes great responsiblity. You must tell at least one reporter that you won, and that you read it on SportsBlog.org. For only then will get the attention you richly deserver. For you are all Freaks of the Week!