Patty: Mid-season Fantasy Football Report

We have hit the midway point of the fantasy football season. Here are the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers that are leading the way. I also have a few guys I think will be Second Half Studs as we hit the second half of the fantasy season.

Quarterbacks -

1. Matt Schaub - He was on my sleeper list at the beginning of the season. He has stayed healthy and is justifying why he was brought over from Atlanta a few years back. He has tons of weapons and is leading the league in YPG with 296 and yards with 2,074. For where you drafted him, what a steal!

2. Peyton Manning - He is playing better than he ever has. I got him in the second round in my league. I'll take it for the best quarterback in the league!

3. Tom Brady - Over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns so far this season. I don't think the knee is an issue, do you? It helped to play Tennessee and Tampa Bay the last two weeks as well.

4. Drew Brees - It is tough to repeat his numbers from 2008 (5,069 yards and 34 touchdowns). Just like Brady though, exactly the numbers you expect from a first round fantasy pick.

5. Ben Roethlisberger - The Steelers are no longer just a running team. Big Ben is second to Schaub in YPG (294) and yards (2,062). He has been a nice surprise for fantasy owners who most likely drafted Big Ben in later rounds of the draft.

Second Half Stud - Carson Palmer - I know Palmer is having a solid season so far this year. But with games against Oakland, Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City, Palmer should put up big numbers when your fantasy postseason rolls around.

Second Half Stud - Tony Romo - Miles Austin has been the biggest surprise in the Cowboy's offense and this has benefited Romo. He doesn't drop balls like T.O. did last year and as much as it pains me to say this, I think Romo and the Cowboys tear it up in the second half.

Running Backs -

1. Adrian Peterson - What did you expect? He is a man. The only disappointing thing is he could have more touchdowns if Brett Favre didn't play action seemingly every time they have the ball on the goal line.

2. Cedric Benson - Benson leads the league with 720 yards rushing. He has been a big reason the Bengals are off to a 5-2 start. A later round pick that has paid huge dividends.

3. Thomas Jones - Quietly Jones has been the Jets best offensive weapon and is racking up the yards. He has accumulated over 600 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns thus far.

4. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jones-Drew is averaging 4.3 yards per carry on a team that is mediocre. He also has two three-touchdown games, while compiling 26 receptions for 165 yards.

5. Ray Rice - Rice is doing it all for the Ravens. He has 441 rushing yards and three touchdowns and 33 receptions for 325 yards and a touchdown. If only Willis McGahee didn't steal some goal line touchdowns.

Second Half Stud - Rashard Mendenhall - Since Week 4 Mendenhall is averaging 93 yards a game and gives the Steelers a new dimension at the tailback position. Weeks 13 and 14 against Oakland and Cleveland are a great match up for the second year back.

Second Half Stud - Chris "Beanie" Wells - Week by week Wells is starting to get more involved in the offense. Wells' attempts are steadily going up and that stiff arm Sunday night was a thing of beauty. You know the Arizona coaching staff wants Wells to be the starter, he just needs to hold onto the football.

Wide Receivers -

1. Andre Johnson - "Optimus Prime" leads the league with 634 receiving yards. He also has four catches that have gone for 40 yards or more. Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels are two reasons Matt Schaub is having a break out year.

2. Reggie Wayne - Wayne has scored in every game but one and has the best quarterback in the game. He is also at the top in yards per game averaging 90.3.

3. Steve Smith - The Steve Smith that plays on the New York Football Giants is having a great season. Smith is second in the league with 45 receptions and has turned out to be Eli Manning's go to guy. Smith was not a first or second round pick, but is playing like one.

4. Marques Colston - He has 30 receptions for 466 yards and five touchdowns and that includes a bye week in Week 5. Colston is the man on the best offense in the league. For a third round pick (in fantasy) he is having a better year than Carolina's Steve Smith, Greg Jennings and Calvin Johnson who all most likely went ahead of Colston.

5. Chad Ochocinco - Ochocinco has rebounded this season with five touchdowns and 573 yards receiving. He is averaging 12+ fantasy points a week and was picked up in rounds five or six.

Second Half Stud - Wes Welker - Welker missed two weeks of the season and still leads the NFL in receptions with 46! In his last two games he has 20 catches for 257 yards and four touchdowns. It doesn't matter who New England plays, he will continue to produce the rest of the year.

Second Half Stud - Sidney Rice - Rice is finally starting to develop into that number one receiver Minnesota drafted three years ago in the second round. The 23-year-old seems to have a great rapport with quarterback Brett Favre and should get plenty of chances to make big plays downfield.