Many thanks to BBS from Stampede Blue for doing the leg work on this post.

Clinton Portis is playing like an MVP right now.

The Studs

NFL Mid-Season MVP: Clinton Portis, Redskins

Comment from David the Falconer at The Falcoholic:

The homer in me wants to say Michael Turner, but he's done the majority of his damage against the league's weakest defenses. Portis has put the Redskins on his back and carried them 100 yards or more down the field most games, and for that he deserves my vote.

Best Player on Offense: Clinton Portis, Redskins

Comment from Skins Patrol at Hogs Haven:

He also has 150 yards receiving and has had his role increase with the injury to Ladell Betts Not everyone knows this, but Portis is the best pass protecting RB blocker in the league and is a big reason why Jason Campbell is playing well this season.

Best Players on Defense: Joey Porter, Dolphins

Comment from BigBlueShoe at Stampede Blue:

I thought this guy was DEAD. How the hell does he have 11.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles? I mean Jeezus, it is only Week Nine and he has 11.5 friggin' sacks! The hell are they feeding them down there in Miami?

Best Rookie: Chris Johnson, Titans

Comment from cgolden at Revenge of the Birds:

No explanation needed. Just watch this kid play and it's obvious why he's truly special. Were we really questioning his status as a first round pick six months ago?

Best Coach: Jim Zorn, Redskins

Comment from WCG at Windy City Gridiron:

I hate doing this, but in that division the Redskins should have easily been the worst team.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio has seen better days.

The Duds

Mid-Season Worst Player: JaMarcus Russell, Raiders

Comment from Dave the Falconer at The Falcoholic:

Consider that this guy was the first overall pick in the draft. Then consider that he can't throw a pass without collapsing into a heap.

Mid-Season Worst Rookie: Vernon Gholston, Jets

Comment from cgolden at Revenge of the Birds:

He's learning a new position so this probably isn't fair but seven tackles in eight games for a top six pick is simply unacceptable. You'd think he could at least be a situational pass rusher.

Mid-Season Worst Coach: Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

Comment from Chris at Big Cat Country:

Can I vote for Del Rio and the Jaguars for every possible spot?

via ESPN.com

After watching the Jets game on Sunday and actually thinking about #6 overall pick Vernon Gholston for the first time since the draft, I decided to go back over some of the 2008 draft picks and see how they're doing. If you go even further to the 2007 draft, you'll see guys that were talked about on here as possible Chiefs' picks- Justin Harrell, Dwayne Jarrett and Robert Meacham for example- that have come nowhere close to Dwayne Bowe's production.

I'm certainly not going to call any of these guys a bust eight weeks into the season, because that's what stupid people do. This is more a comparative study for conversation's sake and so you can keep these guys in your mind as you watch games this weekend.

I've noticed interesting conversation dropping off a bit around the Chiefs blogosphere in the last couple of days. Larry Johnson's pending suspension plus an emotion-filled effort last weekend that resulted in a loss has taken a lot of out us recently. Recharge now and get psyched up again this weekend. It's the spread offense, remember?

Let us know who you would have rather had in the 1st round in the comment section.

#6 LB Vernon Gholston, New York Jets

As the Jets blog says, Vernon Gholston has had a tough time finding his place on the field. Gholston has registered six tackles in seven games this season and his name has barely shown up, well, anywhere.

Vernon Gholston, like a lot of draft picks, would fit in well in KC at the linebacker spot, if only because of our lack of depth at the position. Most teams are probably better off with current Ohio St. senior LB James Laurinitis.

#7 DT Sedrick Ellis, New Orleans Saints

Here we had a legit controversy over who the Chiefs should draft- Ellis or Dorsey. The Saints had reportedly offered a deal to the Chiefs that included their first and second round picks and their first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft but the Chiefs decided to draft Dorsey instead.

In five games with the Saints this year, Ellis has ten tackles and this thing called a sack. I wasn't sure what a sack was so I had to look it up and lo and behold, the Chiefs have four this year! Who knew?

Sedrick Ellis is just now coming back from a knee injury that kept him out for a few games this season. Saints fans seem excited about him and his future appears bright.

#8 DE Derrick Harvey, Jacksonville Jaguars

Derrick Harvey has played sparingly for Jacksonville after a record 33-day holdout over the summer. Jaguars fans seem to be a mix of frustrated and anxious about drafting Harvey and more than anything they're ready to see him produce on the field. Harvey was the first pick of the draft that I felt was a big reach and I certainly would not have wanted him to be a Chief.

#9 LB Keith Rivers, Cincinnati Bengals

Keith Rivers played solidly for a terrible, terrible Bengals team until he broke his jaw two weeks against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The injury plus playing for such a poor team as the Bengals means we'll have to evaluate Rivers more next year.

#10 LB Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots

Jerod Mayo, in classic Patriot fashion, has come in and made quite the impact in New England. Mayo has played in every game this season and has totaled 48 tackles, by far the most out of any of the rookies we've talked about so far.

Mayo is starting and playing well. A great pick.

It's way too early to say I would have any of these players over Dorsey. Frankly, we could have used literally every player drafted in the first round and probably plugged them into a starting position. We can't lose in the '09 draft!