Last time New York and Dallas collided wasn’t on a football field, but rather at the ESPYs in Los Angeles last July, when Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens handed the Giants the award for the “Best game of the year.”

Packers coach Mike McCarthy sounded encouraged on Thursday about the progress of QB Aaron Rodgers and his injured right shoulder. McCarthy said during his press conference that Rodgers had his best day throwing the ball since spraining the shoulder a month ago.

In an effort to help you set the best fantasy lineup possible, here are a few interesting trends you might want to consider heading into Week 9.

Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky has bigger things to worry about than the team bringing in Daunte Culpepper for a workout and physical.

The Lions’ current starting quarterback is facing the Monsters of the Midway on Sunday, at Soldier Field, while the team he leads is winless this season and has lost an embarrassing 14 of 15 games.

Imagine this … the Dolphins face the Jets at Giants Stadium in Week 17, and Joey Porter is one sack away from breaking Michael Strahan‘s single-season record of 22.5 sacks. Brett Favre fakes a handoff and peels off to the right where Porter is eagerly awaiting the quarterback and smothers the three-time MVP to set a new sack mark.

Porter — who already has 10.5 sacks through seven games this season — has admitted that he is now pursuing Strahan’s sack record, writes Harvey Fialkov of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The Detroit Lions — who haven’t had a winning season since 2000 and are 0-for-the-season unit this season — considered two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to be expendable.

Since arriving in championship-starved Cleveland, Rogers has been a model citizen, writes Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Interceptions are so 1993.

That’s the message Jets coach Eric Mangini is sending future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Brett Favre, writes Rick Cimini of the New York Daily News.

Just as the Colts were welcoming back a key member of their defensive secondary, they have lost another one to injury — this time for the season.

Darren McFadden is battling a new toe injury, but is hopeful to go. Matt Hasselbeck is out for another week, but Jay Cutler (finger) and Aaron Rodgers (shoulder) are rested and ready to go in Week 9.

Larry Johnson returned to practice on Wednesday, which is good. But he was participating on the practice squad, which is bad. Especially for your fantasy football team. With all of the recent reports, it’s time to look at other options at running back, starting with Jamaal Charles and Kolby Smith

These days, the top wide receiver in Texas isn’t Terrell Owens or Roy E. Williams. It’s Houston’s under-the-radar superstar, Andre Johnson.

St. Louis running back Steven Jackson was limited in practice on Wednesday, and coach Jim Haslett was “guarded” about his running back’s status. While it’s no time to panic (yet), you probably should have Antonio Pittman added to your roster by now.

Tennessee has made its mark this season. So have Cincinnati and Detroit for different reasons.
But one of the main storylines of this season is the success of the passers.

Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is going through a period of transition on and off the field.

Bucs coach Jon Gruden confirmed Wednesday that starting SS Jermaine Phillips will not play against the Chiefs on Sunday due to a left forearm injury he sustained last week against the Cowboys.