Best of the best, first half:
Most Valuable QB
Carson Palmer (Feisty Klowns)
He's the only QB in the league to average 10 points a game. Not to mention the fact that the Klowns are in sixth place.
Honorable Mention: Brett Favre
So what happens when you have a Green Bay dependancy? You get Brett Favre scoring big in all four of Cooney Quest's wins.
Best Running Game
LaDainian Thomlinson, Brian Westbrook, & Carnell Williams (Nor Cal Crushers)
You wanna know why the Crushers are appropriately named? These three are why. Thomlinson is tied for the top score in the league, while Westbrook is number 10 among RBs. And when Cadillac isn't hurt, he's providing excellent support. This is why Nor Cal is up top.
Honorable Mention: LaMont Jordan & Willis McGahee
Yeah, the X-Cats have had three tough losses. But even in these, there's one constant: the running game provides their top scoring.
Best Receiving Game
It literally took me an hour to decide this. These two would generally be the honorable mentions, but nobody else has two receivers near the top.
Santana Moss & Dante Hall (Rhode Island Voltaic)
You know, if you actually count Hall as a receiver (he does have a receiving TD, so that was good enough for me). Santana Moss leads the league in receiving yardage, and Dante Hall is a top returner (and for all you nay-sayers out there, he's ranked 14th among all receivers). These two have bailed out RI time and time again.
Terrell Owens & Marvin Harrison (west coast style)
You know, if you can get past the fact that they're 2-5. Still, these two are the best two combined receivers in the league. WCS doesn't have much to be proud of, but they can at least be proud of these two.
Honorable Mention: Steve Smith
It's Nor Cal. It's the highest single fantasy score for receivers. 'Nuff Said.
Most Valuable Kicker
Neil Rackers (FIRSTforce)
Hands down. He's 20 for 20 in the first half, 2 of those being over 50 yards. Rackers is a primary scorer on the second-place Force.
Honorable Mention: Shayne Graham
While having a very easy schedule, the third place YAH still had to produce. And production came from Graham. While being a bit quirky on field goals, he's solid on PATs.
Most Productive Offense
Nor Cal Crushers
Do I really need to explain this one? The rundown: Thomlinson, Westbrook, & the Cadillac. Steve Smith. Even Jake Plummer isn't too bad. With Nor Cal ranked number one in both record and fantasy points, I think this was a shoe-in.
Honorable Mention: Koko's X-Cats
The X-Cats are second in fantasy points despite being back in that .500 tier. When they've lost, it's been close (or they're facing Cory

); when they've won, it's been dominating. McGahee, Jordan, and Burress lead their team, and they have a QB who always manages to contribute something.
Honorable Mention: Team THRUST
I didn't think it was fair to mention the 3-3-1 X-Cats without mentioning an almost equally as effective 4-3 team. Eli Manning has been hot the last few weeks (having Bulger backing him up when need be is nice too), and Stephen Davis and Torry Holt keep contributing points.
Most Dominating Defense
Stevie's Scapegoats
Under normal circumstances, this would've only gotten an honorable mention. But despite only being 2-4-1, they have not just two, but four defenders in the top 15. Add that to Atlanta holding their opponents at bay, and you truly have a dominating defense. Now if only they had an offense...
Honorable Mention: TeamTHRUST
Vilma and June have been racking up points for them all season long. This would've probably won the top prize if they weren't stuck with Minnesota as their DEF.
Honorable Mention: Rhode Island Voltaic
This defense is appropriately placed. While not the best, Ray Lewis, Mike Brown, and Atlanta are consistant point scorerers, even bailing out RI on a couple occasions.
Honorable Mention: FIRSTforce
I was about to pass this one up. Then I realized that they at least deserve an honorable mention in this category. Brooking, Bulluck, and Fletcher provide great support to the Carolina DEF. But what locked it is not only the fact that this is a good defense, but the fact that it's helped them get to second place.
Playoff Picture
I'll keep it brief this time. While nobody is eliminated yet, and nobody has clinched, there are certain quirks to the picture right now. Up top, barring a couple broken legs, Nor Cal looks like a shoe-in to a high playoff seed. I'll even go out and say the I like FIRSTforce's chances. It's YAH that worries me. They have yet to face a team with a winning record, and have a very tough road ahead. On the flip side, Rhode Island has a relatively easy schedule the second half, and may very well be in contention for a top spot (though losing to two basement teams is proof that anything can happen). THRUST hit a small losing streak, but to be fair, those two losses were to teams on a winning streak. They'll most likely be fighting for a lower spot with their only moderately difficult schedule. And those two afforementioned teams on a win streak (Empire and Klowns) both have a schedule of moderate difficulty, and will probably be fighting for lower playoff spots. And the bottom of the top/top of the middle Cooney only have a couple tough matchups left, and will probably get a comfortable playoff spot.
I'm still chuckling at the fact that there are three 3-3-1 teams. The X-Cats are the unluckiest team on the planet right now, but only have one more team on their schedule above .500. I still like their chances. Both IWCY and ADI have difficult schedules ahead, and will have to work hard to make it into the bottom playoff spots. Dunedain's three straight wins came against the bottom three teams, and they have a moderate schedule left. My bet is on no. The Kittens and Tacoites have an easier schedule, and if they can steal a couple close ones, they will be in (though barring a couple breakdowns higher up, I don't think both of them will make it). The Monkeys don't seem to win as much as their opponents lose, and their last three games are the top three in fantasy points. I don't like their chances. The Scapegoats have turned themselves around the last couple weeks, and they have an easy schedule, meaning I have a feeling they'll be in the playoff hunt. WCS has an easy schedule, but the only way they'll be in the hunt is if they exploit their opponents' weaknesses. The Cane's, Elite, and Bobcats all had lucky wins, and I think it's a safe bet that they'll be on the outside looking in.
But finally, keep in mind that really, anything can happen. The Cane's, Elite, and Bobcats are still nowhere near out, and Nor Cal is still not guaranteed to be in. But thenagain, watching things unfold is what makes this fun.
Okay, that's it for the mid-season review/awards. Here's to a second half as exciting as the first. And here's to me finally being able to get some sleep

.