49ers QB Alex Smith could be a hero in fantasy’s championship week. If you’re one of those owners worried about losing your top quarterback in the biggest game of the season, I’d grab him off the waiver wire now.

Here’s what stood out to me after Sunday’s action.

Having fantasy football analysts star-struck shouldn’t be a surprise given our current obsession with celebrity in our TMZ-driven world. But it was kind of shocking to hear fellow NFL.com gurus Michael Fabiano and Bucky Brooks trumpet some falling stars during our Fantasy Friday taping this week.

There are so many things that can be debated at the midseason point. Even though there’s still a lot of football left to be played, I’m about to give props to some deserving guys who might not be getting the recognition they deserve.

In preparing to call the Colts-Texans game for CBS, I expected a very good game Sunday and it lived up to the billing.

Here are some of the few important news, notes and trends for fantasy owners to remember heading into Week 9.

In the eyes of Pro Bowl LB Patrick Willis, the 3-4 San Francisco 49ers are a playoff team. He told NFL Nation as much during a live chat Tuesday on NFL.com.

What should I say that hasn’t already been said about the Colts? I can’t help but think Peyton Manning is the greatest QB to ever play the game, and this team might be on a collision course for a Super Bowl matchup against the Saints.

As a former NFL defensive back, even I have to admit that without a top-notch, steely-nerved quarterback, you cannot expect to win consistently in the league today. I can see the evolution in what it takes to win in today’s NFL.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher might be Colts QB Peyton Manning’s No. 1 fan. Maybe not, but at least Fisher was seen wearing a Manning jersey.

Coming off a big win against the defending Super Bowl champions, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis knows this is no time for his players to get overconfident. So, starting Wednesday, Lewis had his equipment manager work overtime to order enough nameless jerseys for every player to practice in this week, writes the Cincinnati Enquirer. The message, Lewis said, is buying into selflessness.

Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe returned to practice on Thursday, but fantasy owners should temper their enthusiasm.

I would argue that right now — in the 2009 NFL season — is the most challenging time to be a a fantasy owner.

Vince Lombardi once said that the game is played from the neck up. If it is true, then Monday night’s meeting between the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins gave us two of the best and brightest quarterbacks in the game.

Take a look at the stories making their way Around the Web today, including Vince Young playing father to Steve McNair’s boys, Mark Sanchez preparing to face the Patriots and the true king of the comebacks (hint: it’s not John Elway).