The decision to bench JaMarcus Russell may not be big with Al Davis but it has won Tom Cable two of three games, and now a meaningless mid-week NFL league award.
Bruce Gradkowski was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in this Sunday's upset win over the Steelers. Gradkowski threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns. As Raiders.com is happy to tell you, it was the first time a Raiders quarterback has thrown for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter since Kenny "The Snake" Stabler did so in 1979.
Anyone out there who actually started Gradkowski on their fantasy team was richly rewarded Sunday. Gradkowski rolled up 25.16 points in Yahoo Fantasy Football, only six-tenths of a point behind Sunday's top fantasy quarterback Tony Romo. Gradkowski was a more valuable fantasy starter than Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees.
"I believe I'm a starting quarterback in the NFL," Gradkowski told CBS Sports. "I mean, you have to have that confidence. And hopefully I'm showing it. But I really don't care what other people think. I'm just worried about taking it one week at a time, winning football games, and the rest will fall into place."
It may not all fall into place this season. But it helped the Steelers fall out of the playoff race, and Raiders fans will certainly enjoy that consolation.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who can't shut up about having started Bruce Gradkowski on his fantasy team this week.
