2011 Heisman Race week 1 - RG3 is Player of the Week

We handle the Heisman Trophy differently every year, mostly because I'm never sure how much interest I and others will have in the race. This year we've started with last year's top vote getters on a five-man shortlist.

Of last year's top ten finishers, five are back for 2011:

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
3. Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State
4. Justin Blackmon, WR, OK State
5. Denard Robinson, QB, Michigan

So that's where we start. Every week we'll move them up or down a notch based on performance that week and for the full season to date, and each week we'll add a new player. At week 10 we'll have 15 and will eliminate three players each week until we have the final three in order.

2011 Heisman Race after week one

1. Andrew Luck, QB-Stanford (1-0): 17-26 65% 171yd 2TD 0int; 2rsh 9yd 4.5av 1TD 0fmb
   Luck did all that was needed in a 57-3 win over San Jose State
2. ^ Kellen Moore, QB-Boise State (1-0): 28-34 82% 261yd 3TD 1int; 0rsh 0yd 0TD 0fmb
   Moore led Boise to a big win over Georgia, 35-21, on a national stage. Now has 102 career TDs.
3. v LaMichael James, RB-Oregon (0-1): 18rsh 54yd 3.0ave 1TD 0fmb; 6rec 61yd 0TD; 17 ret yds
   Conversely, James  was held up by LSU's defense in Oregon's 40-27 loss on national tv.
4. Justin Blackmon, WR-OK St. (1-0): 8rec 144yd 0TD 0fmb
   Another game, another 100+ yards for JB. No TDs, though, as the Cowboys beat ULL 61-34
5. Denard Robinson, QB-Michigan (1-0): 9-13 69% 98yd 0TD 0int; 8rsh 46yd 5.8av 0TD 0fmb
   Shoelace efficient in Michigan's new offense; stats are for <45 min. in 34-10 win over W. Mich.
6. Robert Griffin III, QB-Baylor (1-0): 21-27 78% 359yd 5TD 0int;10rsh 38yd 3.8av 0TD 1fmb;15 rcY
   Griffin leads Baylor to shootout win over TCU, 50-48, and joins the Heisman Race

The only stories this week were Robert Griffin, the obvious Player of the Week for his virtuoso performance against TCU's vaunted defense, and the disparity in performance between front-runners Moore and James. Oregon's loss doesn't hurt James as much as a Boise loss would have hurt Moore, but he loses momentum and needs a big game to remind people he's in the hunt.