"If only Shannon Sharpe was healthy, Kordell Stewart was more accurate and Napoleon Kaufman would get the ball, I'd be doing great."

We've all heard and said lines such as this throughout our fantasy careers. As we come to find out, the most brutally honest answer is: Sharpe isn't healthy, Stewart isn't accurate and Kaufman is no longer the man in Oakland.

One of the biggest pitfalls in fantasy football is waiting around for a player who should be performing to actually perform. We think that waiting just one more week will mark the turnaround for a player and he will be a fantasy workhorse the rest of the way. This is a good strategy in the first few weeks, when you don't want to panic while veteran players come out of the gate a little slow. After that, however, living in denial is a sure way to find yourself out of the playoff race in Week 12, still hoping for Skip Hicks to reclaim the starting job in Washington.

So, let's use the fact that Mark Brunell failed to score at home against the expansion Cleveland Browns this week as our sign that it's time for a fantasy wake-up call. True, Brunell left early with a rib injury, but even Akili Smith threw two TDs against this team last week. 

Here is a list of players who should be replaced, benched or at least watched with some scrutiny. I normally don't like to focus on the negative, but sometimes it takes a Bulldozer to stop you from continually hitting that fantasy snooze button.

Note: My apologies if your entire fantasy team appears on this list. Remember, there's a lot of football left and this league is full of surprises. 

QUARTERBACK
Kordell Stewart, Pittsburgh
Yes, he's a talented athlete. No, he's not a reliable passer. The potential is huge, but Kevin Gilbride is not turning Stewart into a top gun. If anything, he has regressed behind center this year. If they ever move him back to WR, grab him. In the meantime, go find a consistent signal caller who will get you some yards and TDs.

Trent Dilfer, Tampa Bay
If coach Tony Dungy had simply benched Dilfer, there might be a good fantasy sleeper on this team. As it stands, though, Dungy has decided to solve the problem by reducing the passing game to an afterthought. Dilfer has never been able to get the ball downfield consistently, and that trend isn't going to reverse this year.

Chris Chandler, Atlanta
No one questions Chandler's ability, but it is clear now that he is just too frail to be relied upon. You simply can't afford to play a quarterback who only plays two to three quarters every other week. Even a poor quarterback who plays four quarters will give you better numbers this year.

Steve Young, San Francisco
Waiting for a decision from Young about retiring could be one of those pitfalls that drags your fantasy team down this year. Unless you have a starter who's tearing up the league, or there's just no one to pick up, let Young decide his future from someone else's bench.

Mark Brunell, Jacksonville
Could Brunell still bounce back and starting finding the end zone again? Of course. He's in a weak division and has talented receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell to help him out. The problem is that the Jaguars have an exceptional running game with James Stewart and (allegedly) Fred Taylor and are winning without a strong passing game, particularly in the passing TD department. At best, let Brunell rebound on your bench.

Jon Kitna, Seattle
While Kitna has put together a couple of nice games, the Seahawks are definitely in an offensive funk. While their stance with holdout Joey Galloway can be commended, they clearly miss him in the lineup. With Ricky Watters also struggling, don't count on Kitna for much more than average returns at quarterback this year.

RUNNING BACK
Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Miami
Karim may have put off the inevitable for a few games, but in the end it was definitely the inevitable. Cecil Collins may not be doing any better, but coach Jimmy Johnson has moved in that direction, going so far as to inactive a healthy Abdul-Jabbar. He's not worth a fantasy spot.

Fred Lane, Carolina
Lane has been Carolina's insurance policy while the more talented Tim Biakabutuka has worked through injuries. Now that Biakabutuka is the man, Lane is simply a backup. Napoleon Kaufman, Oakland
Despite his nice yardage totals this week, the Raiders are getting more from power back Tyrone Wheatley. Specifically, they now score rushing touchdowns. Look for Kaufman to continue to get some carries, but not enough to be a scoring threat or to be worthy of a fantasy start.

Skip Hicks, Washington
If Hicks is still on your roster, don't read too much into his carries and TD Sunday night. It will take some Washington blowouts for Hicks to get many carries while Stephen Davis is around.

Warrick Dunn, Tampa Bay
Yes, he's the starting running back on a team that loves to run the ball. However, as the lack of a passing game allows defenses to stack up against the run, Dunn will find it harder and harder to gain yards consistently. Besides, Mike Alstott gets everything around the goal line. Dunn may break off a few highlight runs, but not enough to help your fantasy team.

Barry Sanders, Detroit
Sorry, but even if Sanders were to come back now, he would have a hard time gelling with any offense to be an effective fantasy player this year. Time to let him go and move on.

Adrian Murrell, Arizona
Something tells me that the absence of Jake Plummer isn't going to make things any easier for Murrell, who is already struggling. Couple this with a coaching staff that replaces him at the goal line, and it doesn't look good.

Ricky Williams, New Orleans
Until the Saints are able to scare any defense through the air, Williams looks like a three-yards-per-carry kind of guy this year. Let him prove his fantasy worth from your bench. 

WIDE RECEIVER
Joey Galloway, Seattle
See Barry Sanders above. Galloway's return this year doesn't seem at all likely, and his fantasy value to you if he does may not be that much. Don't wait for him to sign while other receivers could be helping your team.

Frank Sanders, Arizona
In the same boat as teammate Rob Moore, the loss of Jake Plummer isn't the right recipe to turn around the passing game in Arizona. He is strictly bench material for the time being.

Jake Reed, Minnesota
Reed is one of those tough calls in fantasy football. Technically, he's a bench player on a great offensive team and would be starting on any other team. As far as fantasy is concerned, you should be able to find a starter on another team who will give you more.

Chris Calloway, Atlanta
Without Jamal Anderson and a consistently healthy quarterback, neither Calloway nor speedsters Terance Mathis or Tim Dwight will produce consistently. They're both good for a few yards and an occasional score, but not much else.

J.J. Stokes, San Francisco
In a similar situation to Jake Reed, Stokes is waiting to step in when Jerry Rice fades into the sunset. With Steve Young's future now in jeopardy, it's getting less likely that Stokes will get his chance to shine this year.

Bert Emanuel, Tampa Bay
Even if Emanuel, Reidel Anthony, and Jacquez Green are healthy, they still don't have a quarterback who can get them the ball or a coach who really wants to try. Stay away from the Bucs' passing game until the situation changes.

BULLDOZER AWARD
In the spirit of not overlooking our strong-footed workhorses, this week's Bulldozer Award goes to Lions kicker Jason Hanson. In a defining divisional game against the Vikings, Detroit's inconsistent offense needed all six of Hanson's field goals, including boots of 47 and 48 yards in the fourth quarter, to hold off Minnesota's comeback. Kickers such as Hanson, Olindo Mare, and Mike Hollis are proving to be true offensive weapons for their respective teams this year.