Sometimes, tough as it is, you have to cut bait. That’s the case with a number of players who aren’t living up to their expectations, and should be ready to have their spots taken by someone who’ll score.

Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick is one guy taking a sledgehammer to the glass sculpture of expectations. A first-round pick in some leagues, but more likely second or third, Vick has had a total of two solid games through the first seven.

In the other five games, he’s averaged 148 yards passing, 40 yards rushing, scored just once (for an average of one-fifth of a TD per game), thrown five interceptions and lost two fumbles.

Vick is clearly struggling to pick up on the Falcons’ new west-coast offense and his booms are not worth the many busts.

Jake Delhomme, Drew Bledsoe and Steve McNair – who is finally giving in to his lingering sternum injury that cost me and probably many others a win last week – all join Vick in the disappointment category.

Kansas City’s Trent Green is also toeing the line. How is it that the starting quarterback on a team that scored 56 points in a game doesn’t even come away with one touchdown?

Possible replacements, for a little more consistency and the occasional surprise, include Brian Griese in Tampa Bay, Detroit’s Joey Harrington and Dallas’ Vinny Testaverde.

Sure, Griese’s done this before. He puts on a huge display and then falls off. But there’s no reason to not get on the train before it leaves the station. In the last three games, Griese has averaged 214 yards, thrown four touchdowns and just one interception. He’s off this week, so you should still be able to grab him next week.

In Dallas, Testaverde is carrying the load with the running back being as weak as it is (more on that later). In six starts, he’s topped 300 yards three times, and thrown a touchdown pass every game.

With an improving receiving corps and running game, Harrington is coming into his own in Detroit. He’s still good for bust now and then, but he’s thrown for 10 touchdowns in six games and just three picks.

That doesn’t look so bad if you’re looking at Bledsoe, Delhomme or Vick as an option.

Among the running backs, Eddie George just isn’t making the comeback he and many fantasy owners were hoping for in Dallas. He’s now splitting carries with Richie Anderson and has virtually no fantasy value.

Another letdown is running back Travis Henry in Buffalo, where the Willis McGahee era looks like it’s going to start this weekend.

Some running backs to look at include Tampa Bay’s Michael Pittman, Miami’s Sammy Morris, and Detroit’s Kevin Jones.

Pittman is quietly posting decent numbers.

Morris appears to have finally provided an answer to Miami’s rushing woes, although he’s nursing a wrist injury but is still expected to play this week.

Jones has been hurting this season and waiting his turn, but is securing the featured back position and could break out this week against the Cowboys. In the past four weeks, the Cowboys have given up 90-plus yards to featured backs, including 163 yards and two touchdowns to Ahman Green last week. Jones is not Green, but he should surprise people this week.

Columnist Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.