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Eagles' DeMarco Murray one of many studs turned duds

Sizing up the disappointments of the first half of the NFL season.

AT THIS POINT last season, DeMarco Murray was consistently being mentioned in the same sentence as Hall of Famer Jim Brown.

This year, he's more likely to be in the same conversation as Charlie Brown.

Murray dominated for the Cowboys in 2014 when he led the NFL in rushing on the strength of an incredible start that saw him break Brown's record of 100-yard games to begin a season. Brown had 100 yards in the first six games in 1958. Murray started last season with eight. It was like Daniel Murphy hitting home runs for the Mets early in the postseason. He couldn't miss.

This year for Murray, however, it's been mostly peanuts.

The prize of the Eagles free agent class, Murray has only one 100-yard game. And as he prepares to make his return to Dallas, there are plenty of questions whether Murray is even the best running back on his own team. The calls for Ryan Mathews, who missed practice Thursday with a groin injury, get louder every time Murray gets stuffed at the line of scrimmage.

But Murray isn't the only stud who's fallen off the fantasy cliff. In fact, so many of the 2014 stars are hurt or struggling, or both, that any predraft cheat sheets from August are better off being used to line the birdcage. Here's a look at the top five scorers in 2014 at each of the three key positions and what they've done through the first half of 2015:

Running backs

DeMarco Murray: Four touchdowns in eight games. Grade C.

Le'Veon Bell: Had three 100-yard outings in six games. After missing the first two weeks with a suspension, Bell ripped up his knee Sunday and is done for the year. Grade D.

Marshawn Lynch: Was invisible the first five weeks of the season. Grade D-.

Matt Forte: Was averaging about 14 points per game in standard scoring before he sprained his knee on Sunday. Could miss multiple games. Sigh. Grade B.

Arian Foster: Missed three games, played in four, then shredded his Achilles'. Grade: F.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers: Take away that 333-yard, five-TD game against the Chiefs in Week 3 and he's putting up Alex Smith numbers. Grade C.

Andrew Luck: Buddy of mine picked him No. 2 overall. Rotten luck. Grade F.

Russell Wilson: Nine TDs, six picks, zero rushing scores. Yawn. Grade C.

Peyton Manning: More interceptions (11) than TDs (seven) even with that group of receivers. He's sunk to a low-end QB1. Grade D.

Ben Roethlisberger: On this list, injuries work against your grade as much as substandard play. Probably not fair, but that's life. Grade F.

Wide receivers

Antonio Brown: Being judged despite not having your regular quarterback for half the season also isn't fair. Grade B.

Jordy Nelson: Injured during preseason. Hope it happened before your draft. Grade F.

Demaryius Thomas: Consecutive strong games have spurred optimism. Grade B.

Dez Bryant: No Romo, no cry. Grade G.

Odell Beckham Jr.: Had a monster last week (8-130-3), but clunkers in three others. Grade B.

Contest of the week

How many rushing yards will DeMarco Murray get in his return to Dallas? He had two (on 13 carries) in the second week of the season against the Cowboys and 65 against Carolina in the Eagles most recent game two weeks ago.

The reader who comes closest to pegging Murray's rushing total will win a Daily News fantasy football T-shirt valued at well over $7.

Send an email to FantasyFootball@phillynews.com with your guess and a mailing address by 8 p.m. Sunday.

In case of tie, one winner will be chosen randomly. Obviously, if Murray doesn't play at least one snap, the contest is off.

Feel the Brees

Condolences to all who lost their fantasy game after official scorers charged Drew Brees with an interception the day after his slugfest with Eli Manning and the Giants. A completion to Willie Sneed that originally was called a fumble by Sneed was changed to a pick. Brees also lost 6 yards on the play, so his passing total on the day went from 511 yards to 505.

Talk about a bad break. Anyone who couldn't win on a day when his quarterback throws for 500 yards and seven touchdowns probably ought to go to church and light some candles.

Position watch

Quarterback: Peyton Manning returns to Indianapolis for the second time since the Colts let him walk following the 201 season. In his first 27 career regular-season games at the Hoosier Dome, Manning had 55 touchdowns and 33 interceptions, and averaged 270.1 yards passing. In Andrew Luck's first 27 home games, he has 51 TDs, 23 picks and an average of 272.0 yards passing . . . Marcus Mariota is 12th in this week's Daily News rankings and would be a cheap roll of the dice in fantasy leagues. The Titans are playing the Saints, which have given up multiple TD passes in six of their eight games.

Running back: With six teams on bye and so many other backs hurt, Tennessee's Antonio Andrews is an RB2/flex for the desperate. Should get 12 to 15 carries unless New Orleans, this week's opponent, goes up, 21-0, in the first 10 minutes . . . Jeremy Langford, who will replace Matt Forte for at least this week, is a better option, but it's hard to imagine he's available in many leagues. The Bears are playing San Diego, which is 32nd in points given up to opposing RBs, according to ESPN standard scoring.

Wide receiver: T.Y. Hilton was wearing a walking boot on Thursday, the Indianapolis Star reported. He wasn't an optimal play against the Broncos anyhow . . . Malcom Floyd is the guy to grab in San Diego now that Keenan Allen is done for the season, not Stevie Johnson or Ladarius Green . . . Allen Hurns has a touchdown catch in five consecutive games. He has only 22 grabs despite 40 targets in that span.

Week 9 Rankings

Byes: Cardinals, Chiefs, Lions, Ravens, Seahawks, Texans

Quarterbacks

1. Tom Brady, Patriots: vs. Was.

2. Drew Brees, Saints: vs. Ten.

3. Andy Dalton, Bengals: vs. Cle.

4. Eli Manning, Giants: at TB

5. Philip Rivers, Chargers: vs. Chi.

6. Matt Ryan, Falcons: at SF

7. Aaron Rodgers, Packers: at Car.

8. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: vs. Oak.

9. Peyton Manning, Broncos: at Ind.

10. Derek Carr, Raiders: at Pit.

Running backs

1. Todd Gurley, Rams: at Min.

2. Devonta Freeman, Falcons: at SF

3. Adrian Peterson, Vikings: vs. Stl.

4. Latavius Murray, Raiders: at Pit.

5. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers: vs. Oak.

6. LeSean McCoy, Bills: vs. Mia.

7. Chris Ivory, Jets: vs. Jac.

8. Jeremy Hill, Bengals: vs. Cle.

9. Dion Lewis, Patriots: vs. Was.

10. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers: vs. GB

11. Darren McFadden, Cowboys: vs. Phi.

12. Mark Ingram, Saints: vs. Ten.

13. Lamar Miller, Dolphins: at Buf.

14. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars: at NYJ

15. Ronnie Hillman, Broncos: at Ind.

16. Eddie Lacy, Packers: at Car.

17. Doug Martin, Buccaneers: vs. NYG

18. Jeremy Langford, Bears: at SD

19. DeMarco Murray, Eagles: at Dal.

20. Frank Gore, Colts: vs. Den.

Wide receivers

1. Julio Jones, Falcons: at SF

2. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants: at TB

3. Antonio Brown, Steelers: vs. Oak.

4. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos: at Ind.

5. A.J. Green, Bengals: vs. Cle.

6. Julian Edelman, Patriots: vs. Was.

7. Amari Cooper, Raiders: at Pit.

8. Mike Evans, Buccaneers: vs. NYG

9. Randall Cobb, Packers: at Car.

10. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos: at Ind.

11. Alshon Jeffery, Bears: at SD

12. Stefon Diggs, Vikings: vs. Stl

13. Brandon Marshall, Jets: vs. Jac.

14. Dez Bryant, Cowboys: vs. Phi.

15. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins: at Buf.

16. Michael Crabtree, Raiders: at Pit.

17. Martavis Bryant, Steelers: vs. Oak.

18. Willie Snead, Saints: vs. Ten.

19. Allen Robinson, Jaguars: at NYJ

20. Malcom Floyd, Chargers: vs. Chi.

Tight ends

1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots: vs. Was.

2. Ben Watson, Saints: vs. Ten.

3. Gary Barnidge, Browns: at Cin.

4. Tyler Eifert, Bengals: vs. Cle.

5. Greg Olsen, Panthers: vs. GB

6. Antonio Gates, Chargers: vs. Chi.

7. Martellus Bennett, Bears: at SD

8. Julius Thomas, Jaguars: at NYJ

9. Jason Witten, Cowboys: vs. Phi.

10. Delanie Walker, Titans: at NO

Added/Dropped

In leagues run by ESPN.com

Most Added Players

1. Jeremy Langford, RB, Bears

2. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Steelers

3. Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers

4. Vernon Davis, TE, Broncos

5. Blair Walsh, K, Vikings

Most Dropped Players

1. Steve Smith Sr., WR, Ravens

2. Le'Veon Bell, RB, Steelers

3. Joseph Randle, RB, Cowboys

4. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers

5. Arian Foster, RB, Texans