I know we’re not quite at the mid-point of the season, but I figured now is as good a time as any to take a look at the Patriots from a fantasy perspective.

(As bad as things seem now, imagine writing a fantasy column about the 1990 Patriots? Marc Wilson was the main QB, posting a 61.6 passer rating, tossing six TDs with 11 picks. John Stephens led the team in rushing yards (808) and rushing TDs (two). That team ran for FOUR TDs that entire season (they gave up 29 TDs on the ground). Irving Fryar caught 54 passes to lead the team, and tight end Marv Cook had five TD grabs.

I think Cook would have been the only every week play, probably Stephens and Fryar could’ve been used in spot starts. I don’t think the first “Sexual Harassment League” was formed until 1995, so Zeke Mowatt was of no use that season.)

On to 2008…

Quarterback

I was high on Matt Cassel as a strong play before the Miami game and got burned on that one. He hasn’t really regained my trust since, though I think he should put up some numbers against a terrible Denver pass D on Monday Night (Broncos rank dead last in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game). But I wouldn’t use a roster spot on him.

November 13, 1994. Drew Bledsoe leads the Pats to a comeback win over the Vikings (down 20-3 at the half). From that day until Bernard Pollard hit Tom Brady, New England fans could believe that a 14-point deficit wasn’t insurmountable. Those days are over. I don’t know if that is Cassel’s fault or not, but it is the current situation.

Running Back

I’ve killed this guy in recent weeks, but it bears repeating: If you have Laurence Maroney on your roster, dump him (I’ll give you two backs who you should grab later in the column). Checking Yahoo!, Maroney is still owned in 59 percent of leagues. That shocks me. He continues to live off a reputation he never actually earned, otherwise known as the “Joe Buck Rule”.

Kevin Faulk can still be useful in a 12-team league as a bye week option or injury replacement. He’ll give you four or five catches and 30-40 yards rushing. Don’t expect 25 fantasy points, but he’s a nice bet for 10-12 each week. That can be helpful for an owner in a tight spot.

Sammy Morris is, I guess, the closest the Pats have to an every week play at RB. I don’t think he is the same player he was in 2007 (4.5 yards per carry in ’07, 3.2 YPC in ’08), but he is the guy they give the ball to in the red zone. Morris is an okay play vs. Denver this week (I think he’ll get in the end zone and post about 100 yards of total offense), but I still think he’s strictly a matchup play.

Wide Receiver

Looks like it’s going to be that kind of year for Randy Moss. Throw out his big game vs. the 49ers and he’s averaged three catches for 24 yards over the last three games. But the possibility of a 130-yard game lingers (would anyone be shocked if he has a HUGE outing Monday Night?) and he has to be in your lineup every week. I still feel that he’s a tough guy to trade (you won’t get enough back right now).

Wes Welker is on pace to catch 115 passes this season. How quiet has that seemed? What hurts Welker, of course, is that he just does his job- no name changes, no blowing off the press, no arguing with the QB (he’s the Alex Speier of the Patriots). The problem, of course, is that Welker hasn’t found the end zone yet in 2008. It could be a fluke (he had eight TDs last season), or maybe he needs Brady in the red zone (only one other career TD outside of 2007).

I’ll lump Ben Watson in here. The aforementioned Zeke Mowatt had six catches in his “year of exposure”. Watson needs to double his current total just to match that number.

Kicker and Defense

A more than reasonable argument can be made that the Patriots’ MVP this season has been Stephen Gostkowski. He’s 11-for-12 on FG attempts and drills his kickoffs seemingly every time.

The defense is no better than a matchup start. No go vs. Jay (“2008 NFL MVP runner-up”) Cutler Monday, but I’d give them a shot against the Rams the following Sunday.

Other Stuff

Joseph Addai is likely to miss the Colts’ game with the Packers this weeked (hamstring). It’s been a washout season for Addai (he was known as “Joe Addai” at LSU, correct? Or am I imagining that was the case?), who has just 216 rushing yards in five games. If Dominic Rhodes is still out there in your league grab him, he’s should be a nice start vs. a bad Green Bay defense against the run (153 yards per game, 27th in the league).

With Willie Parker possibly out Sunday (MCL sprain), Mewelde Moore looms as another strong waiver wire pickup at RB. The Bengals are a mess on defense (Marvin  “Dorfler” Lewis  has that “Pitino in 2000” look down pat) and Moore is coming off a strong effort vs. Jacksonville in Week 5 (99 yards rushing).

Got a couple of emails asking about Tony Romo. Pretty simple: If you own Romo and he’s on the field you have to have him in the lineup. If he doesn’t play this week, I like Jeff Garcia at home vs. Seattle. You know he won’t hurt you with a three-pick game. 200-220 yards and a TD pass is a good bet.

If you own either Matt Hasselbeck or Carson Palmer it is time to cut the cord. Both are injured and on teams going absolutely nowhere. I wouldn’t be shocked to see both miss the rest of the season. If a Garcia (or Kyle Orton) type is available you should make that move.

Kirk Minihane, WEEI.com Contributor, is the resident Fantasy Football expert for WEEI.com.