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The rest of the story

Writing the last column of the season feels a lot like saying goodbye to your friends at a summer camp.

You'd love to believe you'll "K.I.T." but you know that you probably won't hear from each other again until next June.

I know most of you have already gotten on the bus back to your real lives since many leagues don't play Week 17, but for those of you still hanging around for a few last hugs and kumbayas, I'm here for you, ready to help you navigate this final, and most treacherous, week of the season.

"Some Rest For the Weary"

Unlike any other week on the fantasy schedule, one has to worry about the dreaded "starter who starts… but doesn't play the whole game" syndrome as playoff teams who can do little or nothing to improve or weaken their position rest their stars after a token appearance in the game.

Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren has already announced he's playing his starters, despite the fact Seattle is locked in to the No. 4 spot in the NFC playoffs. His team has lost three straight, so he's trying to send a message to his fans and players that he believes they need the game to get back in shape. Still, I think starting Shaun Alexander and/or Matt Hasselbeck comes with the knowledge that they will get pulled in the second half if Seattle is up or down by three scores at Tampa Bay.

Meanwhile, Saints head coach Sean Payton and our own Bill Belichick have both kept pretty mum about who will play and how much. I simply cannot see Payton keeping Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister or Marques Colston in for the whole game against divisional rival Carolina, which may enter the game with an outside shot at the playoffs and will be playing with postseason intensity. I'd be shocked to see most of the Saints' starters in the game in the fourth quarter unless it's real close. As for the Patriots, you can not start Tom Brady after the beating he took last week. Belichick wants him healthy for next week and with the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds in flux in the AFC, there's no tactical advantage to getting cute. The Pats want to win, but they'd rather be healthy for next weekend.

You wouldn't start Rex Grossman this week anyway in most leagues, but considering he was pulled last week after playing decently just to get Brian Griese some action, expect it to happen again this week. Also, expect a full blown time-share at RB with Cedric Benson, Thomas Jones and Adrian Peterson all seeing some touches. Who gets the TD? Who knows. Don't rely on any of them.

Meanwhile, Indy and Baltimore both play at the same time and thus will both have to assume they need to win to get the first-round bye. You can start your Colts and Ravens as you normally would.

The same goes for Dallas, Philly, and all those 7-8 NFC teams that believe they have a shot at the playoffs. Of course, if the Giants win on Saturday night, everyone but Green Bay is officially out, so keep that in mind. The eliminated teams will still play their starters, there just might be a little less fire.

"Winter, Where Are You?"

Usually, this is the time of year when you're a fool if you aren't checking the weather reports on Sunday AM to make sure your QB isn't playing in a blizzard. But according to Weather.com, it looks like the worst anyone will be playing in this Sunday is some rain.

Kansas City is supposed to get showers and temperatures in the low 50's. Denver may get some high winds, but it'll be above freezing, which is shocking for New Year's Eve day in Colorado.

You still need to check the weather Sunday, but as of now, there doesn't seem to be too much to worry about out there… except for Global Warming.

"Delhomme For the Holidays"

Panthers' QB Jake Delhomme practiced on Thursday and was upgraded to probable. Considering the fact that the Panthers were at 6-6 and in position to control their own playoff fate when Jake went down with a bum thumb, I have a feeling he'll play this week and try to lead his team back to .500 and into the playoff discussion.

Will he play well, though? I dunno, but I'm sure his coaches and teammates have more confidence in Jake than they do in Chris Weinke, so I expect more passing and resurgence by Steve Smith. Of course, I can't imagine anyone who owns Smith has survived this long, but still, it's good news for the one or two four-leaf-clover-finding owners who did.

* * *

Enough of the chit-chat. If you're still playing, all you care about is who to start this weekend. I'm going to leave off anyone I mentioned when talking about which teams might rest their stars. Consider those paragraphs general disclaimers and make your decisions with that knowledge in hand.

QUARTERBACK

In The Game

I've said it before, and last week's debacle against the Eagles changes nothing. I'm a Romo-sexual this week as the Cowboys host the Lions. It's a great match-up, and Dallas wants to go into the playoffs with a win and get a playoff game at home. Tony Romo is a must start.

Ben Roethlisberger has nothing to play for in terms of saving a Steelers' season. They're out of the playoff hunt. But don't think for a second that Bill Cowher and company aren't into the idea of going to Cincy and knocking the Bengals out of the playoff contention in front of their orange-and-black-clad fans. With Hines Ward back and a shaky D across the field, expect Ben to be Big.

And while this certainly obvious, considering the way Indy's been playing, I'm putting it in here anyway. Peyton Manning will be throwing all day as Indy won't be able to run on Miami, and they'll need the win to have any shot at a bye. For l7-week leagues, Peyton is the golden ticket that wins you the championship.

On The Pine

Trent Green doesn't deserve your love this week against the Jags. Both teams need to win and this is going to be a game where even the fans will go home needing an ice pack and three Ibuprofen.

Chad Pennington faces an Oakland D that has remained strong despite playing for absolutely nothing for two months. I expect the Jets to win, but they'll do it on the ground and with defense, taking care to keep Pennington healthy for next week. With Cedric Houston healthy and playing, that will be easier to do by handing off often.

Brett Favre could be playing his last game… but I doubt it. I also doubt Lovie Smith will rest any of his defensive studs in this game considering the way the opposition has scored on them recently. Tank Johnson is back from his suspension and various police interviews. I think Chicago's looking to make a statement at home defensively before their bye week. Even with the playoffs possible, bench Favre.

RUNNING BACK

In The Game

My reluctance to buy into Ron Dayne last weekend cost me the title in my main league. This week, Texans' coach Gary Kubiak has told the girthy back to prepare for another 30 carries. You want him going against a tired Browns team.

My Ronnie Brown's back and you're gonna be in trouble! Hey nah, hey nah, my Ronnie Brown's back! We start RB's against Indy even if they're so-so, and Brown is a lot better than so-so.

Tatum Bell has been told that Mike Bell might officially move ahead of him if he doesn't start running with more aggressiveness. Well it's supposed to be windy in Denver, de-emphasizing the pass against San Fran, so I expect there to be a heavy dose of Tatum. He's running for his job.

On the Pine

Counting on Joseph Addai has been like using the rhythm method of birth control. Sure, it should be predictable and reliable, but it isn't. Against the Dolphins, it just screams of being the wrong time of month to take a chance.

Let's see… Buffalo is out of the race, they're on the road, and they're playing Baltimore. If you try to start Willis McGahee, your league's website might actually laugh at you over the internet.

Travis Henry has been very good this year, but the Patriots D is rounding back into form and I don't see him ripping the New England front seven, even without Vince Wilfork.

WIDE RECEIVER

In The Game

Like I said above, this is the week Steve Smith becomes relevant again.

The last few weeks, it's been a question of whether Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh would be Carson Palmer's primary target. This week, with their season on the line, start either or both.

Ditto for both Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt this week. Minnesota's pass D is awful and St. Louis still has a chance to get into the big dance, so expect Bulger to find whomever's open.

On The Pine

I don't expect Matt Jones to do much against K.C. I think we're looking at a Rommel-esque ground war in this game.

I'm not sure who will be throwing the ball for most of the game, so I can't recommend Bernard Berrian or Mushin Muhammad this week, even if both play the whole game against a bad GB secondary.

Some might think that with Ashley Lelie out, Michael Jenkins will see more passes and more production this week. I just don't buy it. The Eagles D is playing really well and if Michael Vick believes he has to "do it all" to get his team into the playoffs, I think he does it with his legs.

TIGHT ENDS

In The Game

Ugh… it's like the beginning of the season all over again. Last week's TE performances were so crummy that everyone was a "push" except for a few stand-outs.

Even though I don't like Trent Green n Sunday, I still think Tony Gonzalez is a must start and a great bet since teams that are playing for their playoff lives generally try to do what they do best. For K.C., that means run Larry Johnson and throw to Gonzo.

Love me some Chris Cooley against the Giants too.

On The Pine

Detroit's Dan Campbell is one of the few TE's who actually scored last week. That doesn't make him startable against the Cowboys this week.

L.J. Smith has been productive the last few weeks despite getting very few passes thrown his way. I don't believe a guy can continue scoring if he's not seeing four or five throws a game.

DEFENSE

In the Game

J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS. (Now my mouth tastes like barf.) Still, we start defenses playing the Raiders. It's just what we do.

I just expect the Broncos D to take matters in their own hands, at home, to insure the win. Frank Gore may pile up some yards, but they will cost him, and the 49ers passing game will not do much.

On The Pine

The Bills D will give up plenty of points to a Ravens squad that is determined to win and earn a bye. This will be Baltimore's "tune up" game and regardless of whether it's Steve McNair or Kyle Boller under center, expect the Ravens to make a statement on both sides of the ball.

As good as Miami's D has been, you can't start them against Indy. Let your Dolphins rest their blowholes this week.

KICKERS

Is Lou Groza still around? No? Then never mind.

Hub Hunch of the Week

There happens to be a former NFL MVP playing for a job next year, and San Diego has nothing to play for. So if you're utterly screwed at QB, I think you could do worse than to grab Kurt Warner, who's starting in place of the injured Matt Leinart.

Arizona will be playing from behind, Warner can just gun-sling downfield to Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, and really, it's just an audition for teams like Oakland that might need a starter next year until their rookie is ready to take the reigns.

This one is truly a hunch.

Final Thought

It's been a blast writing the Fantasy Hub for a predominantly New England audience. I'm especially appreciative to the dozens of you who wrote in for advice or just to talk shop every week. I tried to answer every e-mail, but if I missed one or two, my apologies.

I hope to be back in March to start writing about fantasy baseball. But it's awesome to realize that between now and then, I can hang up my fantasy columnist hat and put on my Patriots hat… and jacket… and socks.

Go Pats. We want more… we want four!

Until Spring Training… the Hub is now closed.

Unlikely outcomes

So what did Santa leave under your fantasy football tree?

Did you get a gigantic, gift-wrapped playoff victory courtesy of Vince Young's three total TDs?

Or were you the recipient of a lump of coal, a la Willie Parker's negative point total in many leagues thanks to less than 30 total yards and a fumble lost?

In a week when most leagues crowned their champs, many NFL teams leaned on unlikely heroes, thereby short-circuiting the best-laid plans of fantasy owners and columnists alike. I mean, when Leon Washington and Michael Pittman are viable and valuable fantasy starters and Tiki Barber and Chester Taylor aren't, victory is about fate more than fantasy.

However, there was at least one package that St. Nick delivered to the right address as the Patriots got the victory in Jacksonville, clinching the AFC East title, although they'll have to put a first-round-bye in their "Dear Santa" list for 2007 since it cannot happen this year.

Still, as the fantasy season comes to an end, it's nice to know that in New England, at least, there will still be plenty of reasons to watch the NFL for the next few weeks. In short, it's the end of the fantasy… and the beginning of the most "real" part of the season.

MAKING THE GRADE

In a week with some statistical anomalies, including only one QB throwing for over 300 yards and only six WRs topping 100 yards receiving, I tried to grade myself on my picks by looking at how a player did compared to others at their position this week. For example, I called my benching of Heath Miller a loss since he scored a TD, even though the 12-yard catch was his only one of the game. Since there were only eight TEs who scored this week, and more than half of them were free agents in every league I'm in, that makes Miller a "starter" this week, and a bad call by me.

Likewise, Jay Cutler, who I said to start, is a correct call, despite the fact that he threw for just 179 yards with two TDs and a pick. According to Yahoo standard scoring, he was the No. 7 QB for the week, just showing you how weak the week was.

So with that clarification, here's how the numbers for week 16 broke down.

Nineteen of the players I stuck in your stocking last week were on the "nice" list. My call on Marc Bulger's bounce back was truly a gift (4 TDs and 388 yards) to anyone who started him. So too was the Chiefs D, which was positively Grinchy to the Raiders. Tuesday's call to sit Ahman Green was in the giving spirit, as was my reminder to save the receipt on Owen Daniels, who didn't catch a ball. I even hung a big shiny star upon the highest bow with my Hub Hunch as Travis Henry topped 100 rushing yards against his old pals in Buffalo.

Meanwhile, four players only went halfway on the holidays. Rex Grossman didn't have a breakout game, but nor did he have a breakdown game. He was basically a perfectly average fantasy starter, so he likely didn't win or lose the game for you. And believe it or not, three of the TEs I picked to either sit or start ended up doing very little, but in a week where most TEs did nothing, that made them average.

And lastly, I found 10 players on my naughty list. Jon Kitna officially hates me more than I hate him considering he broke out of a month-long funk to hang 283 yards and 3 TDs on the Bears D. No one in the world started him. Not even Mrs. Kitna. But still, I was wrong about him. I doubled up in the loss column by simultaneously predicting Ron Dayne would have trouble against the Colts D, especially when I said Indy would get up early, forcing the Texans to throw. Instead, Dayne scored twice before most fans even got to the stadium and the Horseshoe Heads basically proved that last week's shellacking of Cincy was a blip on the radar of a team in turmoil. On the fantasy front, I'm sorry… and I'm sorry. Lastly, I'm sorry about that Cedric Benson start recommendation. Thomas Jones ended up playing and then the Bears gave all the goal line carries to Adrian Peterson. Man… I'd be much better at this stuff if NFL head coaches were, you know… honest about what they intended to do.

A 19-4-10 record for the last "normal" week of the year is solid, but I know many of you are still playing Week 17, which makes me sad, despite the fact it means I get paid to write one more week's worth of columns. More on that later.

NEW SCORING CATEGORIES

Dropping Complaints: -5 pts -- In a move that's about as shocking as the daily sunrise or a Pamela Anderson divorce, Terrell Owens complained about not being involved in the Cowboy offense enough, despite leading the NFL (unofficially) in dropped passes this year. He had one truly egregious drop in Monday's loss to the Eagles, and NBC showed footage of warm-ups during which T.O. was clearly unable to catch the ball cleanly with his bruised, broken, and strained fingers. A wide receiver with bum hands complaining that he isn't catching enough balls is like a taxi driver with no rear seat complaining he doesn't get enough fares. Ah well, at least we get to watch this soap opera extend into the postseason as the Cowboys have already backed their way into the playoffs thanks to an awful NFC where at least one 8-8 team will win a wild card slot.

Walk Out Win: 100 pts -- According to the Chicago Sun Times, about 100 Detroit Lions fans walked out of the game against the Bears on Sunday as a protest to how bad the team has been under GM Matt Millen. The thing is, the Lions actually almost won that game. I'm telling you, if they'd gotten 10,000 protesters instead of a measly 100, the Lions would've brought home the victory. Of course, that just shows you how bad things are going in the Motor City. They can't even put up big numbers in disgust.

FANTASY HUB BUB

Not So Sweet Seventeen
If you've been reading the Hub for a while, you know that I deeply disapprove of leagues that use Week 17 to decide their championship.

"Why," you ask?

In 2006, the NFL's ideal of parity has come to fruition in a big way. Only the Chicago Bears have an unassailable overall record that makes Week 17 truly irrelevant.

Still, there are several other teams that have little or no reason to try their hardest and risk injury this week. The Saints have the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye wrapped up regardless of what happens and must decide whether beating Carolina and knocking them out of the playoff hunt is worth putting their stars out there for 60 minutes.

The Seahawks have the NFC West wrapped up and cannot do better or worse than the No. 4 seed. So how hard are they trying against a very bad Tampa Bay team?

San Diego needs only a win over Arizona at home to clinch home field advantage for the playoffs. They could be up by 21 by the half and start resting their stars.

The Patriots can be the No. 3 seed at best, the No. 4 seed at worst, and they're playing a Titans team that needs a win and some help to get into the playoffs. After the beating Tom Brady took on Sunday (and yes, I thought he had a broken shoulder after being speared in the second half), is Bill Belichick going to throw him out there all game long against a team playing for it's playoff life, or is he going to get some real game experience for Matt Cassel?

It's too early in the week to know the answers to these questions, but I can tell you one thing. Any league where the owner of LaDanian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselbeck, the Bears D, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, Marques Colston, and Tom Brady all have to consider benching those guys because of fear that they may not play meaningful minutes is a league that has spent 16 weeks wasting everyone's time.

Define Perfection
It's easy to look down your league's stat sheets and see who the highest scoring player at each position is and say "those guys would be the perfect fantasy team." But the truth is that many of Drew Brees's owners never even got to their title games because of his Week 15 stinker while Larry Johnson's Week 15 mediocrity also probably left a few owners coming up short.

So here is the perfect fantasy roster in terms of guys who would've played well enough to get you into the playoffs, and then have produced enough to get you the crown. I'm also trying to be the slightest bit realistic. There's no way you had LT and LJ in most leagues, so this list reflects that reality.

QB: Peyton Manning He's actually been better in the playoffs than he was most of the season.

RB 1: Steven Jackson Like I said, I'm being realistic and I doubt you could have Manning and LT, plus S-Jax has been almost as good as LT, and was better this past week by a wide margin.

RB 2: Frank Gore He's had either 150 total yards and a score or two scores in each of the last three weeks and was solid all season.

WR 1: Marvin Harrison And to think, he didn't even have a TD until Week 5.

WR 2: Donald Driver Never anyone's first choice ... except Brett Favre.

WR 3: Lee Evans A TD a week for the last three weeks, and will top 1,200 yards for the season with J.P. Losman as his QB. That's impressive.

TE: Todd Heap In a year where no TE truly dominated, Heap's consistent production made him top of the ... no, sorry, even I cannot make that joke.

K: Robbie Gould He's a kicker, he was the highest scorer at the position, and he's been good the last three weeks. You all know how I feel about kickers.

DEF: Baltimore Chicago has been a non-factor the last two weeks, while Baltimore was No. 2 for most of the season and has been even better recently.

Help Me-Mail
Regular reader Tyler is clearly in one of those leagues I disparaged a few paragraphs ago as he wrote me the following before this week's games were even over.

First, I don't know if I should play Steve McNair vs. Buffalo or Jeff Garcia vs. Atlanta. I'm somewhat worried that Baltimore will sit some of their starters and possibly sit McNair after halftime. Next, I don't know whether to play Ladell Betts vs. Giants or Larry Johnson vs. Jaguars. I am definitely starting Jones-Drew, but I am worried that the weak Chiefs line won't be able to block Stroud and Henderson; plus Betts is on fire.

Man ... them's some tough questions for a guy who's already packing up his tent. I'd start Garcia for sure since the Eagles are playing inspired football and a win gives them the division. They aren't sitting anyone under any circumstances, and Atlanta's D has been spotty at best. I doubt the Ravens will sit anyone since a win guarantees them a bye, but still, I like Garcia better.

At RB, I think it's too early to make the call until you know whether Fred Taylor is playing. If he is, you go with LJ and Betts. If MoJo is going to get all the carries again, though, then I'd consider starting him over LJ. Just remember, Johnson topped 100 yards against the Ravens and they know they have to win to have any chance at the playoffs, so they are going to play to their strengths, even against the Jags. LJ has averaged 26 carries a game. It's hard to sit that ... ever.

"What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This?"
You have to be desperate to be trying that line, and you have to be desperate to be looking for players to pick up in a league that still plays Week 17.

I think you can grab Adrian Peterson, as the Bears have nothing to play for except to make sure the Packers don't have a shot at the playoffs. If he got the goal line looks last week, I don't see why he wouldn't again this week. You could also grab Brian Griese in case Lovie Smith sits Grossman ... though I don't see that happening until the second half at the earliest.

Maurice Morris likely gets more than a few carries this week as Shaun Alexander's foot gets a rest going into the playoffs. I'd expect to see Alexander running a little in the first half just to keep him from getting rusty, but that's it.

At WR, Denver's Brandon Marshall is technically the No. 3 WR, but he's playing better than Rod Smith and seems to have a connection with Jay Cutler. With Denver hosting the 49ers and owning their own fate, I could see a coming out party for Marshall.

Early Start/Bench
No need this week as there's no Thursday game. There's also no Monday game. Yet another reason why this isn't a real week for fantasy football.

Programming Note
Friday's Fantasy Hub will be the last fantasy football article of the season for me. It's been my honor and pleasure to check in with you twice a week for the last four months. It's been great hearing from so many of you via e-mail, even if it's just to bust on me for sitting someone who ended up finding the end-zone four times.

Even though the column won't be updated in the coming months, feel free to contact me via e-mail with any fantasy questions you have and remember ... baseball drafts will be starting in just a couple of months.

Until Friday, the Hub is now closed.

The respect factor

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Aretha Franklin sang about it, but she would have to add a "D-I-S" to the front of her anthem to talk about what motivates NFL players and teams.

The Patriots only had a single player elected to the Pro Bowl and it was almost as if you were watching Popeye eat his spinach. The Patriots have a Rodney-Dangerfield-esque ability to turn being disrespected into instant success. So when you add the Patriots being underdogs this weekend to the Jaguars to the Pro-Bowl snubbing of Tom Brady, Asante Samuel, and maybe even Ty Warren, you've got a revitalizing tonic that classically has put some pep into the step of each and every Patriots player and coach.

But does disrespect figure into fantasy? Well, at different times this season, both Chad Johnson and Marvin Harrison felt they were being disrespected by their respective teams (or is that disrespective teams) and the next week, each went stone-cold nuts.

Rex Grossman had lost the starting QB job in every newspaper in the country, and he turned that into motivation into 4 TDs and no INTs over the last two weeks.

So keep your radar tuned to good players coming off bad games and feeling disrespected. For some guys, it's stronger than HGH.

And one last note on respect. I've got a ton of it if you're reading the Fantasy Hub this week because it likely means you're in your league's championship game. I know, some of you may not play your big game until the final week for the NFL season, but most leagues know that playing games Week 17 makes as much sense as a screen door on a submarine.

So for those about to play ... we salute you.

FANTASY HUB-BUB

Big Name vs. Big Game
The majority of e-mails I got this week contained questions that were some version of the one I got from reader Stephen.

I've made it to the championship game with Carson Palmer as my QB. Do I dare sit him after the stinker vs. Indy and the tough matchup against Denver (and the snow)? My backup is Alex Smith and I'm not allowed any roster changes.

Essentially, it's the question of whether one should bench the guy who carried you all season long after a rough game when you have a lesser player with a great matchup, or stick with him even when his situation isn't ideal. I mean, it would've been easy to see Drew Brees or Marc Bulger's name in Palmer's place, and believe me, I did.

I responded:

Honestly, I don't think you can consider benching Palmer after one bad week when his defense put him way behind and his O-line had no answer for a pair of undersized speed rushers.

The Broncos are tough, but unless it's snowing heavily and windy to boot, you start Palmer over Smith.

I'm a big believer in starting my elite players in big games unless there's a deeply compelling factor working against said player (i.e. an injury, a terrible matchup, wicked weather) as well as a truly impressive second option.

I can live with myself all offseason if I put my best players on the field and get beat. I will spend the next eight months hating myself if I lost because my big guns went off on the bench.

So remember, as you make your final decisions, you've got 15 weeks of information to look at. If a guy has been impressive for most of those weeks, you have to believe he has a good chance to be impressive again.

What Will Brown Do For You?
Forget the UPS slogan, if you own Ronnie Brown, who's been out a month with a broken hand, you're trying to figure out whether he'll deliver on Christmas Day. If he starts, he has an irresistible matchup against the Jets. But if he's a late scratch on the Monday night game, it'll be too late to make any moves to get something out of your RB situation.

If you already own Sammy Morris, that's the best insurance policy you can have, but if not, there's always Kevan Barlow, who has been taking extra snaps this week as Cedric Houston has been missing practice and is questionable with a hurt calf. Barlow won't set the world on fire even if he starts, but if you suddenly are without Brown, at least Barlow might grab a short TD and keep your stat sheet doughnut-free.

I actually think Brown will start and play well ... but because of the schedule, I might not have the guts to start him in a championship game unless he's upgraded to probable officially. I'm nervous like that.

Mr. Mo-Jo Rising
Quick. Who's the third-highest scoring RB over the last three games according to Yahoo's scoring system?

That's right: Maurice Jones-Drew, who has averaged about 125 yards from scrimmage in the last three games with five TDs to boot. It looks like his running buddy Fred Taylor may be at least slowed and possibly out thanks to a hamstring injury going into this weekend's game against the Patriots, a very strong run D. But Vince Wilfork looks likely to miss the game and frankly, there's no way you bench Mo-Jo if he's going to get most or all of his team's carries. Even if the Jags fall behind early, he'll see the ball on screens and dump offs.

Feeling Sick or Feeling Vick?
Starting a mobile quarterback with questionable pocket presence and a sore groin is enough to make any fantasy owners a little queasy. But really, if you have Michael Vick on your team, you pretty much don't have any choice. The guy managed 237 yards passing and four TDs last week against the Cowboys, so facing the now irrelevant Panthers, he should once again be able to offer production even if he's got some groin pain. Considering he managed 56 yards on the ground too, it sounds like whatever's in his groin is not a big deal ... wait, that came out wrong.

* * *

All right, I owe you all a quality start/bench list this week after last week's tepid-at-best performance. I've already started strong with correct calls on starting Donald Driver, especially in PPR leagues, and the benching of Ahman Green, who didn't even muster 70 total yards. My call on staying away from all Vikings receivers was even more spot on as not one of them topped 10 yards. Ewwwwwwww! Of course, I'm also the guy who told you it was OK to start Chester Taylor on Thursday night, so there goes the idea of a perfect week.

QUARTERBACK

In The Game
Last week I told you that you could start Jay Cutler and he came through. I'm riding that Bronco this week against a Cincy D coming off a short week after a looooong Monday night.

Philip Rivers faces off against a Seahawks team that is freefallin' like Tom Petty circa 1989. I think Marty Schottenheimer knows he needs to get Rivers going again a little before his first venture into the playoffs, so expect Marty to let him throw more than the 23 times per game he's had the last two weeks.

Please, Lord, forgive me, but yes, I'm saying that if you have a big name QB who has a bad matchup and is missing a few receivers, you can start Rex Grossman this week and expect over 200 yards and a pair of scores.

I like Marc Bulger to bounce back as well. Playing at home against the Redskins is good for what ails ya.

On The Pine
Let the hate mail begin. I have benched Tom Brady in my main league. In fact, he was the guy I was referring to in the Grossman paragraph earlier. No Ben Watson, no go-to wide receiver, and no time to throw against the Jaguars' D. I'm praying for and expecting a win from the Pats ... I just don't expect good things in a fantasy sense.

Ben Roethlisberger has been generally healthy for the last month or two. The Ravens will fix that, especially with Ray Lewis working out his own disrespect issues after not making the Pro Bowl.

I hate you John Kitna. You made me look stupid several times this year, so I'm sending the Bears D, fresh off of looking unfocused, to come kick your silver-pants-wearing behind.

RUNNING BACK

In The Game
If Thomas Jones can't play, which may be the case considering the fact that the Bears have already clinched first place and home field throughout the playoffs, then Cedric Benson, going against the Lions and getting all the carries, is a game changer. If Jones does play, I still think Benson's a solid Flex play.

Like I said on Tuesday, there are no better bets than Ladell Betts against the Rams. Man ... I love it when the puns are so easily recycled.

If Frank Gore isn't one of the top five backs in your league this week, I'm simply shocked. He should run all over the Cardinals, who are more focused on planning Dennis Green's farewell party to do anything about it.

On The Pine
I'm not starting Deuce McAllister this week against the Giants. This is going to be a game won through the air for New Orleans and with the possibility of Michael Strahan being back, I expect to see a stronger defensive effort all the way around for the G-men.

The matchup says Ron Dayne should be able to run at will against the Colts. But we saw the Indy defense wake up last week, largely because the offense gave them a lead. The Colts will absolutely jump down Houston's throat early, forcing Dayne off the field for much of the second half. He's a desperation play at best.

Rudi Johnson has been very good the last few games as he's played a couple of bad defenses who consider stopping the run to be optional. The Broncos don't feel that way. Sixty yards and a TD is the best he'll do, and he could do worse. You need more in your championship game.

WIDE RECEIVER

In the Game
I'm loving Plaxico Burress this week as the Giants will have to throw to keep up with New Orleans. The Giants are playing for their playoff lives, and that means some big plays. Plax is their big play guy.

With Philly coming to town, the press will be covering Terrell Owens. They won't be the only ones. All of the Eagles' DBs will do the same, leaving Terry Glenn open to catch plenty of Tony Romo's throws.

The Titans are playing much better, meaning Buffalo probably won't be able to just sit back and run against them all day long. So if Losman has to throw, then Lee Evans has to be started. He's scored two straight weeks.

On the Pine
Yes, no other WR in the NFL has been targeted more often than Andre Johnson. Yes, I believe you must start your studs. But no, you don't have to start Andre considering the way that Houston offense is going. David Carr's career-death-rattle can be heard for miles and I'm just not willing to trust that Sage Rosenfels will come in mid-game and make it all better.

Even if you have to start three QBs, you can't really start Eddie Kennison against the Raiders. Oakland has contained better passing attacks than the Chiefs', so benching Eddie is easy.

TIGHT END

In The Game
Alge Crumpler should be the main beneficiary of Vick's recent refocusing on the aerial game. Carolina hasn't been very good at stopping opposing tight ends and Crumpler is a guy who can go off.

I don't like Jeramy Stevens, but I do like tight ends that get targeted eight times by their QB. Seattle will need to throw a bit to keep up with the Chargers and Matt Hasselbeck will look for Stevens enough to help your team.

On The Pine
Owen Daniels has been absolutely forgotten in Houston, with only 6 passes thrown his way the last three weeks combined. Feel free to forget him as well.

Heath Miller, meet the Ravens Defense. They'll be taking you on a date this week. Maybe dinner, a movie, and then straight to the bench.

DEFENSE

In The Game
The Colts' D reawakened last week. They're not really that good ... but Houston really is that bad. I'd start the French Army against the Texans at this point.

Oakland plays their old rivals, Kansas City, so the Chiefs' D suddenly becomes as attractive as Salma Hayek hanging out at Victoria's Secret. Turnovers galore on tap for K.C.

On The Pine
I'm not even sure the defensive coordinator in Seattle feels comfortable starting the Seahawks' D against the Chargers and LaDainian Tomlinson.

And here's a bold one, and a homer play. I think the Patriots will take care of the ball this weekend and score enough to win. So if that happens, the Jaguars D will be only so-so instead of playing at the elite level you've come to expect. Look elsewhere.

KICKERS

I was tempted to actually pick a few kickers, just to mess with you, but I'm already at over 2,000 words.

HUB HUNCH OF THE WEEK

Travis Henry plays his old team, Buffalo, and he has a ton of motivation to break the 1,000 yard barrier, and rub it in the nose of the team that treated him like a has-been as soon as Willis McGahee got healthy. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go for 150 total yards, though he's been hobbled a little, so just make sure he's a "go" before using him.

NON-FANTASY FOOTBALL RETRACTION OF THE WEEK

I'll admit it. Bryant Gumbel has picked himself up after being truly atrocious for the first few games doing play-by-play for the NFL Network. Maybe he was rusty, or nervous ... but it's gone now and while the NFL Network's coverage of games isn't as complete as ESPN, FOX or CBS yet, the booth has come together around Gumbel and Chris Collinsworth.

When I'm wrong, I say so.

If course, maybe I'm just giving Gumbel credit for making it through last Saturday night's debacle, where he spent the first half working with a voiceless Dick Vermeil and then spent the second half bouncing back and forth from the intelligent Marshall Faulk and the unintelligible Deion Sanders.

Good luck this weekend.

The Hub is now closed.

Bah, humbug?

Are you still out there? Are you still alive? If you can hear me, send up a signal flare.

Considering the win-or-go-home nature of the fantasy football playoffs, it's statistically certain that around half of the readers who were here last week, studying, calculating, and rejiggering their lineups for the postseason are now gone. Kaput. No longer with us. Deader than Michael Richards' chances of winning an NAACP Image Award.

But if you're reading this, you're still alive ... or you're my mother. (Hi, Mom.) That means you have big decisions to make and a shot at the fantasy football equivalent of the Lombardi Trophy, even if it is just a foot-long chicken parm sub in your league's case.

So let's see what can be done about keeping the winning ways going, shall we?

MAKING THE GRADE

I let you all down this week. I didn't deliver.

I'm not guilty of perpetrating a Star-Wars-Episode-I-level disappointment, but still, I know you all expect more of me than the Jar-Jar start/bench advice I provided this past weekend.

Only 17 of the players I recommended or relegated to the bench did what I said they would. Of course, this included a few of my riskier calls, such as Jay Cutler's first win as a pro, Joe Jurevicius grabbing a score on top of solid catches and yards, and the sparkling QB trifecta of benching Vince Young, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, all of whom will likely be Pro Bowl signal-callers within the next two years, but played like Toilet Bowl entries, so to speak.

Then there were the seven guys who really found that mediocre spot between startable and bench-worthy, including the recently hot Jeff Garcia, whom I recommended. You likely didn't lose because he was in the game, but he certainly wasn't the little engine who could push you over the top, either. Ditto my call to sit Matt Jones and Reggie Williams. Jones got a score, but little else, Williams got the bulk of the catches and yardage, but neither was difference maker in your lineup or a heartbreaker on your bench.

Sadly, a full 11 players did exactly the opposite of what I'd say they'd do, and since there are 11 players on the field at a time for an NFL team, that means I had an entire offense of losers. Did you start Jon Kitna on my say so? Then I'll assume I'm getting coal in my stocking from you. Benched Willie Parker this week, only to watch him break out for over 130 yards and a score, did ya? I'm on your naughty list. And don't even get me started on Jeramy Stevens. The guy is such a jabroni, I believe he went off on Thursday just to tick me off. Marc Bulger was my Hub Hunch, and he got Hub crunched.

17-7-11. That's not a Fantasy Hub success record ... that's the combination on a discount lock. I'm coming back strong this week. No way I'm going out like that.

NEW SCORING CATEGORIES

Same Name, Same Stats: 20 pts. -- I'm sorry, but if you own two players, with the same first name, and they have the same stats ... that's gotta be worth a points-gasm of some sort. This past weekend, the Bears' Cedric Benson rushed for 53 yards with a TD. At the same time, the Jets' Cedric Houston was rushing for 53 yards and a TD. This isn't two guys named "Steve" or "Joe" matching stats. These are a pair of Cedrics. You can probably go to an NFL game and page "Cedric" over the PA system and only come across one. Yet the NFL has three RBs with the first name Cedric, so we can only dream of the day when Cedric Cobbs might also rush for 53 and a score.

Going From Favorite to Forgotten: -5 pts. -- Marty Booker had caught 20 balls, for 280 yards and four TDs in the last three games. In short, he was basically one of the four or five best WRs in the fantasy game since Thanksgiving. On top of that, Booker was as attached to Joey Harrington as the blanket was to Linus. So what happened this week? Booker didn't catch a single ball. In fact, he didn't even have a pass thrown his way and by the end of the game, the immortal Cleo Lemon was throwing the ball for the 'Fins. Honestly, Pauly Shore didn't disappear that fast.

FANTASY HUB BUB

Starting Backs Who Never Got Started
There were a whopping six running backs this week who were their team's "starters" who managed less than 50 total yards, and no sores. That's almost 20 percent of all NFL franchises who watched their studs utterly let them down, and for fantasy fans, it was even worse.

Combined, Carnell Williams (36 total yards), Julius Jones (26), Fred Taylor (37), Reuben Droughns (31), Travis Henry (39), and Chester Taylor (38) managed about the same number of yards from scrimmage as LaDainian Tomlinson this week ... and LT scored two more TDs than the group.

If you're a fantasy owner who started any of the dirty half dozen, and you actually won this week, your opponent must've started two of these so called "running backs."

A Stiff Brees Blows
OK, I don't really know why Drew Brees was so awful this week, but attributing it to stiffness made for a better headline. But I do know Brees, who had thrown at least one TD in every game since Week 3, was positively mediocre on Sunday. Granted, he's playing a level where a bad day only involves 200 yards and a pick, as opposed to someone like David Carr, who threw for half the yards and four times the interceptions.

Still, there was no greater fantasy killer than Brees this week, because owners have been riding his Manning-esque production all season long, and then, just when Brees got them to doorstep of a championship game, he came up small.

Compare that to someone like Rex Grossman, who had his second straight great game after being equally damaging to the Bears and fantasy owners as well ... only no one in their right mind started him.

If you survived Brees' bad start, you have to start him again this week ... and if you have Rexy, you're probably actually considering him against the Lions, too. Fickle game that fantasy football.

The Best Betts
When Clinton Portis went down for the season, I was quick to tell you to pick up Ladell Betts, though I thought his value would never be higher and I suggested trading him right away.

Now, Betts has run for 100 or more yards for four straight games and right now, he's leapfrogged names like Edgerrin James, Joseph Addai, Deuce McAllister and even Shaun Alexander in terms of being startable in your fantasy playoffs. Hope you grabbed him and couldn't deal him.

This week, Betts getts ... er ... gets the Rams D. He's a top 10 back and a guy who will hand more than one owner a championship.

Bearly Startable
I already covered the fact that as tough as it is to stomach, Grossman is startable against the Lions. But what's the fantasy prospects of other Chicago players, with the Bears already owning the NFC North title as well as a first round bye and home-field throughout the postseason?

Personally, I'll be reading as much as possible to see if Bears head coach Lovie Smith even talks about resting his players. But with that team's hard-nosed work ethic, and coming off a week in which they almost lost to Tampa Bay, I wouldn't worry about it.

Smith has to keep Grossman in to keep his positive momentum heading into the postseason, and the receivers need to stay in synch. The only guy you might see resting is Thomas Jones, who banged up his ribs in Sunday's game. The Bears have plenty of motivation to find out how good Cedric Benson can be if he were ever to get the bulk of the team's carries, and this situation, with meaningless games and a nicked up Jones, offers them that chance. Owners who are struggling through late-season injuries and disappointments could get right back into the championship picture with Benson.

If for some reason he isn't owned ... grab him. Grab him now. Don't even finish this column first. Bookmark it and go get him. Speaking of pickups ...

If I Could Rewrite the Alphabet, I Would Put U and I Together
One of my favorite pickup lines for a week when every pickup is crucial.

But first, a reminder that since many leagues are in their championship week, the rules for grabbing players is a little different. You can waive any player on your team, no matter how big a name they are, if you aren't going to start them this week, because there is no "next week."

Wanna waive Laurence Maroney since he's banged up and there's no way you'd start him against the Jags, and pick up Ron Dayne because you might start him against Indy? Do it if it's now or never. (And for the record, yeah, it's time to pick up Dayne even though it goes against everything I believe as a fantasy columnist.)

Also, if you have someone you aren't going to start, go grab the backup of any injured RB you own, just in case. That way, if they're a late scratch, you can swap him out and still have a chance.

As far as guys you can pickup and play if you're desperate for a playoff win, how about Jay Cutler? He gets Cincy this week, playing on short rest, and he's thrown multiple TDs in every start of his young career.

I said he was startable last week, now I'm saying he's pickup-worthy if he's still out there. Joe Jurevicius is officially seeing too many passes to ignore.

And if your desperate for some defensive love, stay in Cleveland. The Browns D gets Tampa Bay and Houston, two teams that have been generous to opposing defenses.

Early Start/Bench
The Vikings head to Green Bay on Thursday, and with weather that's supposed to be 30s and wet, it sounds like running weather, so if Chester Taylor is healthy enough to start for Minnesota, he's good enough to start for you. Green Bay's D hasn't been great. I don't feel the same way about Ahman Green against that scary Vikings rush D. Also, it looks like Tavaris Jackson gets the start at QB for Minnesota, so don't start him ... or his receivers, not that you were gonna anyway. Donald Driver still is worth starting, regardless of weather.

NON-FANTASY ITEM OF THE WEEK

So I'm IM'ing with my friend, Eric Gold, a labor lawyer in D.C., last night during the game between Cincy and Indy and we're talking about a league we're in and how one owner is trailing, late in the game, despite having Rudi Johnson and Reggie Wayne going for him.

Eric then writes, "Don't' worry. Touchdown to Wayne right here."

Marvin Harrison had already caught three TDs, so it was clear Wayne was No. 2 on that night. I was in midst of typing that exact sentence to Eric when Peyton Manning takes the snap, looks downfield, and hoists a TD to Wayne in the left corner of the end zone.

Instead, I typed "Wow." Seemed to cover it.

I'm not saying Eric is psychic ... but I am saying I'm going to Vegas with him in three months and I may just bet on the same horses he does.

Good luck in the playoffs. Until Friday, the Hub is closed.

Backing Brady

I wanna say, I'm touched.

Despite the fact that the Fantasy Hub was buried under $103 million worth of Matsuzaka Mania at Boston.com (and yes, I'm as excited as anyone that my old Johnny Damon home jersey can be worn again), avid readers of "the Hub" still were able to find this week's column, read it, and write in with questions.

Of course, maybe that just proves that fantasy owners who are still in the playoff hunt can't be distracted aby nything that doesn't involve pigskin, but still, I'm flattered.

And apparently, someone else out there was paying attention since I got a call from a producer at ESPN Radio (890 AM/1400 AM) and I will be appearing (at least vocally) on the Russ Francis Show this Saturday at 9:05 a.m. I'll be talking fantasy playoffs and Patriots with my old pal Russ ... and by "old pal" I really mean, "the guy I've never met but grew up idolizing until I realized that no high school football team was going to roster a 5-foot-1, 118-pound tight end with Geisha-sized hands."

Anyway, I hope you'll tune in or head to the site (use the link above) and listen online. It could be incredibly informative, or at worst, you'll come to realize you enjoy my fantasy musings better in print, when there's no nasal voice attached to them.

Either way.

FANTASY HUB BUB

Usually, I hit a bunch of topics, like the fact that Chester Taylor was listed as doubtful, but has been upgraded to questionable, meaning that you'll likely have to wait until Sunday noontime to know whether you should be starting him or Artose Pinner against the porous Jets D.

I might also dabble in the news that Jake Delhomme looks like he may sit again, even though you want no part of him or Chris Weinke against the Steelers. There should be picks-a-plenty.

The rumor being floated by ESPN's John Clayton that Randy Moss may be done for the season would be a topic of discussion ... if it weren't for the fact that he's clearly been "done" for several weeks, even when he was on the field.

And of course, I'd discuss the fact that owners who bought an injured Ronnie Brown at their trade deadline thinking he'd be back in time to be a strong play in the playoffs are currently cursing themselves as the star back has been ruled out for this weekend's tilt against the semi-soft Bills D.

But dang it, as I mentioned above, I spent a good portion of the week answering e-mails from readers who had real conundrums, and in spirit of thinking globally and acting locally, I'm willing to recycle those e-mails, and the responses, because I'm sure some of you are asking the same questions in private.

Regular reader, Adam, asks:

What do you think about playing Vince Young instead of Tom Brady this week? Brady has been terrible lately. Young has been great. But the Pats are playing Houston and, after all, we are talking about Tom Brady here. Somehow it doesn't seem right to sit him and play a rookie! Also, Sammy Morris or Thomas Jones? Jones has been good to me, but I'm leaning towards Morris since it looks like Ronnie Brown is still out and Buffalo has trouble stopping the run.

Clearly, like Janet Jackson circa 1986, Adam's not afraid to ask "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" I understand it's hard to sit the hot hand, or start the cool hand, but here's where I netted out on the question:

I think Vince is a very nice player, but he's playing Jacksonville this week and Brady's playing the Texans. Unless you have psychic ability or an inside source telling you Belichick intends to run the ball 45 times, you start Brady.

On the Sammy Morris front... I'm not a huge believer, but his matchup is so much better than Thomas Jones... and TJ got a little dinged up in Monday Night's game. I think Morris has the bigger upside for this week.

Continuing a theme, I got the following from reader Will:

All my roster positions are set, except for QB. I have Tom Brady, Jeff Garcia, and Tony Romo. (I picked them up as soon as they were named starters). Anyway, it is standard Yahoo scoring, 1 pt/50 yards, 6 pts/touchdown. All three have good matchups and all three should post some points. However, Romo and Brady have been struggling lately, and Garcia is playing mistake free football. Who should I start?

Another Brady bailer. Amazing what a 78-yard day will do. But then again, Will does have arguably the second-hottest QB in the fantasy landscape on his quad. I got back to him:

I think the QB question comes down to Brady, the struggling star, and Garcia, the Cinderella story. Both have very nice matchups, but I think the Giants are bouncing back a little while Houston has taken the pipe.

I'll be starting Brady over Rex Grossman and Romo this week in my league. The only reason I'll change is if the weather at Foxborough looks nasty and yet is somehow much nicer down in New Jersey.

Weather.com says it'll be 54 degrees and cloudy, with only a 10 percent chance of rain. Again, I'm a Brady believer. If this team can't find a way to pass against the Texans, there is something rotten on Rt. 1 in Foxborough.

George writes in with a RB question that I'm sure many are facing:

Need your advice on RB2 this weekend--- Maurice Jones-Drew at Tennessee or Chester Taylor vs. the Jets (assuming he can play). I have been riding the Fred Taylor train up until this past weekend. Mo-Jo went off and now I'm reluctant to bench him. Plus, there are rumblings that Fragile Freddie has hurt his hammie. What do you think? Which way to go?

George, in discussing Fred Taylor, Chester Taylor, and Maurice Jones-Drew (by the way ... loving the Mo-Jo nickname gaining traction), is actually choosing between three RBs who are all on the injury report. The two Jaguar backs are probable, while Chester was upgraded from doubtful, but when George wrote in, none of that was for sure, so here was my initial response:

Your holidays came early with those two matchups this weekend. I'd start MoJo because of what you mentioned. Even if Chester plays, I bet he takes a few more plays off than usual to protect him, and if Fred T. is at all dinged up, Jones-Drew gets even more production.

If both play, both should be start-worthy ... but I'll take Drew as the healthier option right now.

I still think Chester's too much of a risk, even if he's slated to play on Sunday morning, to start him when there are other viable options on the roster. Of course, now it seems like Fred and Mo-Jo are both a little banged up, so choosing between those two playing in Tennessee, is the tough call to make.

The thing is, with both guys having similar injuries and getting similar touches, it's a tough call. As of Thursday, Taylor, the older back, is the one doing more at practice while Mo-Jo is the one limited. So right now, I'd lean a bit in Fred Taylor's direction, but if Drew is definitely active this week, he's just as strong a play, and certainly the hotter player. I truly think both have the potential to put together 100 total yards and a score this week with the way Jacksonville is playing.

And finally, on Thursday afternoon, one of the Hub's earliest e-mailers, Chris, had a couple of questions.

I have a QB controversy on my hands: I don't trust the QBs on my roster because they've all blown it a few times this season. So, I ask you -- Matt Leinart, Steve McNair or Rex Grossman? Also, do you start Javon Walker over Antonio Bryant?

Man ... nothing like getting to the playoffs and realizing your trio of QB options could go "Three Stooges" on you. Still, you gotta start someone, at least that's what I told Chris:

I'd lean on Leinart if I had to ... he's been one of the top 10 QBs over the last month or so, and as good as the Broncos D is, the fact that Arizona has two amazing WRs negates Champ Bailey just a little since Leinart will have a playmaker who isn't covered by him at all times.

Definitely Walker over Bryant ... better matchup, plus major rain and wind in Seattle on Thursday.

Chris' QB dilemma is regrettable, but it also reminds us that if you are a confident owner who's having a decent season, you should absolutely make a move or two in the middle of the season to set yourself up for the playoffs. Of course ... at mid-season, Grossman looked like a playoff stud, so it's easier said than done.

As for the WR question, as we saw last night, the Niners passing game was hit-and-miss, so while I don't know what Walker will do for sure, it's a good bet he'll top Bryant's two-catch, 16-yard performance.

Oh, and while we're talking about last night's game, my picks on Tuesday were pretty hit-and-miss too. Starting Frank Gore was dead on, and since Shaun Alexander managed a TD, he was worth starting as well. But I missed on benching Jeramy Stevens and starting Deion Branch, plus Alex Smith's TD scamper made it clear that he was startable.

Thanks to all the readers who checked in this week. I wish I could've printed more, but I know most of you read on Fridays for the start/bench advice, so I need to get to it.

As always, I'll avoid advice so obvious that John Madden might offer it. Starting Drew Brees officially falls into that category, and benching Reuben Droughns against the Ravens, is on the flip side of that coin.

QUARTERBACK

In The Game
Maybe you're a Creationist, or even believe in Intelligent Design, but still you'd have to admit the evolution of Jay Cutler is happening before our eyes. He has thrown two TDs in each of his starts, and his yardage and completion percentage went up as well. This week, against the Cards, expect his first "breakout" game -- 225+ yards and a pair of scores.

As indicated above, I'm pretending last week never happened and starting Tom Brady this week because honestly, this was one of the reasons you drafted him ... for this matchup against the Texans. It has "fantasy playoff victory" written all over it.

Oh, and even though I recommended starting Brady over him to a reader, I still think Jeff Garcia needs to be in the game for you too unless you are talking about Carson Palmer, Peyton Manning, Brady or Brees in his place.

I'm giving Jon Kitna some love as well. It's the Packers ... you know.

On The Pine
If there's a defense that's playing well enough to contain Vince Young right now, it's Jacksonville. And hey, Young plays the Jags this week. Weird, huh? Sit him.

I just don't think Philip Rivers can be counted on with another game against a decent D (the Chiefs this time) and a running game that makes the pass an afterthought so often.

The Eagles will blitz Eli Manning as If doing so could solve world hunger. He's been better lately, but this week I expect to see stronger play by the Giants' running game and lesser play from Eli.

RUNNING BACK

In The Game
For the second straight week ... Rudi ... Rudi ... Rudi (Johnson). Of course, I might actually start Sean Astin against the Colts' rush defense right now.

As mentioned above, Sammy Morris may not be the runner Ronnie Brown is, but he is the guy who should get 20 carries against the Bills. Start him with gusto.

And while I think very little of his overall ability right now, Jamal Lewis has gashed Cleveland in the past and with the Browns D a shambles, I think he's a dangerous man who will get into the end zone a few times.

On The Pine
Cedric Houston has been hot. Against the Vikings, he's extremely "not" ... in fact, I bet he only outgains Cedric the Entertainer by about 40 yards.

DeAngelo Williams or DeShaun Foster? I'll take "C: None of the Above" against the Steelers.

I don't know if you can really bench Willie Parker considering the fact he's a top 10 RB, but if you're one of the lucky-slash-smart owners who loaded up at RB and have two other elite options, go with them. Carolina's rush D is strong and Parker hasn't been the same guy away from home this year.

WIDE RECEIVER

In The Game
Call this one a hunch, but regardless of who starts at QB for the Panthers, there is no way Steve Smith gets ignored again this week. Starting him may be obvious, but I know how some owners panic during playoffs when a stud has a down week. Don't do anything silly. Start yer studs.

Last week, Marques Colston played and was mostly a decoy. This week, with Joe Horn out and the Redskins trying to defend him ... as long as he's on the field, he's in my lineup.

This one is risky, but I think if you're in a PPR league where lots of catches equals lots of points, Joe Jurevicius is an ideal WR3, even against the Ravens. Cleveland will be trailing, Derek Anderson (who starts in place of Charlie Frye again) loves J.J., and he will be trying to save alive by throwing intermediate routes to his most reliable target.

On The Pine
Take Joey Galloway's last name, and replace "Gallo" with "No." Joey No Way ... not against the Bears.

We saw Rex Grossman return to form a bit last week, and he may continue against Tampa Bay this week ... but you don't want to be starting Bernard Berrian because pat of Grossman's success was a realization that he was better of not going for broke too often, and Berrian is the deep threat. Less opportunity equals less production.

And I'm not starting any Jacksonville WR as long as they seem able to dominate by throwing as a last resort. Theoretically, even if David Garrard only throws for 150 yards, one of the WRs will be decent ... but I don't believe for a second that Matt Jones or Reggie Williams will break out in a way that makes you regret sitting them.

TIGHT END

In the Game
If Ben Watson is out, and it looks like he will be as far as we can tell from the Morse code coming out of Foxborough, then I'll take Daniel Graham (though Graham is questionable, too). Brady will find him if he plays.

If you're desperate, you can do a lot worse than Cleveland's Steve Heiden. New QB Derek Anderson looks for him at the goal line like Hugh Heffner looks for new "talent" getting off the bus in L.A.

On The Pine
After only seeing one pass thrown his way the last two weeks, it's time to put George Wrightster on a milk carton. Has anyone seen this Jacksonville tight end?

Remember when Owen Daniels was everyone's favorite mid-season TE pickup because he was catching balls and scoring TDs? Of course you do ... because it's easy to remember things that are in the past. Daniels' fantasy value is a memory, at least this week.

DEFENSE

In the Game
It's a special day in any fantasy fan's life when he gets to start the home team D against the Texans. Enjoy in New England.

Gotta start Miami's D against the Bills. It's playing as well as any defensive unit in the game right now.

On The Pine
Go ahead, start the Chiefs D against San Diego in San Diego ... If you're a fantasy masochist who enjoys collecting negative points from your defense.

Indy is slumping as an offense right now, so let's change the rule to "Never start a defense that's playing Drew Brees and the Saints." That means the Redskins D gets a big old splinter in their behind this week.

KICKER

Shmicker.

THE HUB HUNCH OF THE WEEK

I've seen a lot of sites and experts advising owners to bench Marc Bulger against the Raiders' withering pass D.

Here's the thing. The Raiders have given up big passing days to top shelf QBs on teams that were willing to pass often. Carson Palmer lit them up for 303 yards last week, and the Steelers, during Ben Roethlisberger's "throw 40 times a game" era, went for 271. Most of the Raiders' dominating outings against the pass came against teams with young QBs or run-oriented offenses. Well, Bulger will throw often, and he's got plenty of good receivers, and he can also throw to Steven Jackson out of the backfield.

Bulger managed a fine game against the Bears last week as well, so I'd say that if you've counted on him so far, you can do it again this weekend.

OK ... this sucker is getting long.

Remember, there is a Saturday game this week as well, so get your lineup in on time. No one wants to get bounced from the playoffs because the woke up Sunday morning and realized they'd already missed the chance to start Terrell Owens.

The Hub is now closed.

Holiday wishes

I truly hope you won your fantasy matchup this week.

I hope you played some poor slob who now considers "fantasy" to be the "F" word after he started Shaun Alexander, Steve Smith and Trent Green, only to net about 10 total points out of them.

I pray you were the recipient of all the breaks, like Terrell Owens scoring a touchdown on a Tony Romo pass that hit a defensive back right in the hands, only to slide through his fingers like a greased pig.

I even hope you tried to pick up New Orleans' kicker John Carney, only to accidentally roster Saints' fullback Mike Karney instead, thusly benefiting from the beefy back's first three TDs as a pro.

In short, if something good could possibly have happened this past Sunday from a fantasy football point of view, it is my sincere wish that it happened to you.

After all, if you're a Patriots fan, there certainly wasn't anything within two zip codes of "good" happening on the real football field this weekend.

I was at the Appelstein Family Hanukkah party on Sunday with a few relatives I've mentioned before, including Uncle Bo and Cousin Adam, all of whom are rabid Pats fans. I think we, as a collective group, may have set the world's record for the most "oy veys" in a three-hour span watching Tom Brady and the rest of the team looking as limp as an undercooked latke.

The good news for New England is that they still have three games left in the regular season to wake up and smell the Manaschewitz. If your fantasy team went out and played like the Patriots this past weekend, you likely were bounced from the playoffs.

Let's see how Kosher my picks were this week.

MAKING THE GRADE

On the whole, I had a decent read on how things would go down this weekend.

Twenty players who I suggested you start or sit followed my script. Looking back to Thursday, I predicted Willie Parker would dominate at home, which he did in only three quarters of play en route to setting a new franchise record for rushing yards in a single game. Travis Henry was ultra-productive as well, while my suggestion to sit Joseph Addai and all of New England RBs rang true, too.

You sat the Cowboys' D like I told you, didn't you? Sure hope so as Dallas actually lost points in many fantasy formats. Also, gotta give some props to Vince Young, my Hub Hunch, who racked up over 300 yards of total offense, including the game-winning TD on the ground.

Then there were four players who were neither good enough to be solid starters, nor bad enough to be worthy of benching. For example, I correctly predicted Kevin Jones being stuffed on the ground by the Vikings' run defense. But he snuck in a receiving TD before leaving with a hurt foot. In the end, he was about the 22d-ranked RB this week, so if you sat him, as I suggested, it likely didn't hurt you, but he also didn't kill you if he was in the lineup.

And finally, there were nine naughty players who refused to bend to my will... which is frustrating. Most of them were receivers, as I was about as good at reading Japanese as I was at reading WRs this week. Sitting Mark Clayton was a massive blunder, starting Joey Galloway didn't help anyone, and Andre Johnson, while better than he was last week, still didn't justify a spot in your lineup. I'd also like to apologize for the whole "start Alex Smith if you're in a bind" suggestion. There were 20 other QBs who were as good or better.

So we're looking at an 20-4-9 record, and while I'd rather be right every time, I said several months ago that my goal was to get twice as many right as I get wrong, so I'll take it.

NEW SCORING CATEGORIES

TDs by players you shouldn't even have on your bench: 3 points -- Unless you're in a 20-team league where each team starts a dozen offensive players, there is no way you, or anyone else on this planet without psychic abilities, started Mike Karney, Artose Pinner, or Drew Carter. So once we all agree to that fact, we should also agree that owners who had even one of those guys on their roster deserve some sort of reward. How about half the traditional six points one receives for having a starter score. Seems fair.

Headlines about you losing your job: 1 point each -- I'm just looking for some way for Rex Grossman to earn the kind of fantasy points he was putting up during the first month and a half of the season. Actually, if Rex got a point for every one of those nasty headlines, he'd have almost as many points as LaDainian Tomlinson. At least Grossman put up a solid effort on Monday night, so maybe we can go a week without hearing Brian Griese's name.

Utterly demoralizing kickoff returns for TDs: 10 points -- Anyone who watched Monday Night Football knows that the Bears' Devin Hester returned not one, but two kickoffs for TDs in the game. Honestly, can there be anything more crushing for a team than for them to work hard to put together a long drive that results in a score, only to see it wiped away on the ensuing kickoff? It's like writing an entire term paper (or online column) and then having your computer freeze before you save it. Do over. Never happened. So sad. Hester and the rest of his kick-returning ilk deserve extra points for their feats, and their feet.

FANTASY HUB BUB

Jonesing for a RB

Big week for backs with Jones in their name.

Maurice Jones-Drew broke out against the Colts (funny how many runners do that) with 166 yards on the ground, plus two scores. On top of that, Fred Taylor "tweaked" a hamstring in the game. With the Titans on tap next week, Mo-Jo Drew could get your mojo rising in the playoffs next week.

The news isn't as good for the Lions' Kevin Jones, who has a serious foot injury. As of Monday night, fantasy news clearinghouse www.Rotoworld.com, is reporting he has a Lisfranc fracture in his foot. Now "Lisfranc" may look French, but believe me, it's dangerous anyway. The team doesn't expect him back for the rest of the season. If your team made the playoffs on his back, you'll now will have to look elsewhere. The name to know is Arlen Harris. More on him later.

Finally, the Bears' Thomas Jones went into Monday Night Football looking like a key component considering the Bears' inability to trust Rex Grossman as a source of offensive production. Jones paid off with 100 yards in total offense and a score (as I suggested he would on Friday.) But looming was Cedric Benson who actually got more carries, even though he did far less with them. Panic time for Thomas Jones owners? I don't think so, since half of Benson's carries came at the end of the third quarter and in the fourth, when the game was essentially out of reach and the Bears had Benson and Adrian Peterson splitting carries.

In Jeff We Trust

Last week, I advocated picking up Jeff Garcia and starting him over any shaky QBs. Well, according to Yahoo's standard scoring system, Garcia is the No. 3 scorer in the last four weeks, outpacing guys like Larry Johnson and Carson Palmer. Granted, this past week was merely "very good" instead of "outstanding," but the question now has to be asked, "Can I trust Jeff Garcia to start important playoff games for me."

Short answer... No, unless you have to. Garcia goes on the road against the Giants and Cowboys, two teams with much better defenses than the Redskins, and while the Eagles' quarterback hasn't thrown an interception yet, picks happen to the greats and not-so-greats alike. It just feels like Garcia can't possibly get better or even maintain this level with his upcoming schedule. He's still preferable to up-and-down players like Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger, but he shouldn't buck you off any horses that have carried you all season.

Walker, I Hardly Know'er

Javon Walker is still one of only 11 receivers who, by Yahoo public scoring rules, has topped 100 points for the season. But for the last four weeks, he has amassed a measly seven points. The worse news is that he hasn't scored in a month regardless of whether it's been Jake Plummer or Jay Cutler throwing the ball. Javon is still averaging around eight targets per game... but the ball just isn't getting to him.

I've never been a huge fan of Walker in Denver, and if I own him, he has officially lost his "automatic start" status, even against the Cardinals in Week 15. There are 60 wide receivers who have been more productive than Walker in the last month, and while I wouldn't start all of them before him, I'd certainly rather see Donte Stallworth or Terry Glenn in my lineup.

Your Dad Must've Been a Thief, Because he Stole the Stars Out of the Sky and Put Them in Your Eyes

One of my least favorite pick-up lines because I think the pick-up options are a bit slim this week. In fact, I can't imagine it ever working, so I'll also mix in a few guys who you could pick up... except I don't think it would work out.

As mentioned above, if you have Kevin Jones, you need to grab Arlen Harris since he's figures to get most of the touches now. Still, no one expects Harris to suddenly turn into Barry Sanders. The real question is whether he can carry the load in terms of the passing game, a must for an RB in a Mike Martz offense. Harris becomes a lot better of a risk in PPR (point per reception) leagues since he should see quite a few passes come his way. Just don't expect any 100-yard rushing days.

If Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood are both too hurt to start this week for the Falcons, fullback-turned-tailback Justin Griffith becomes the starter in Atlanta. He managed to turn his late-game duty into decent yardage and a TD Sunday, but this week he sees the Cowboys D, smarting from being rolled over by the Saints. You want no part of him unless it's either him or starting nobody.

Feel free to grab Artose Pinner, but know that if Chester Taylor is back, then Pinner is back on the bench. Still, it's not an awful investment since whoever carries the ball most for the Vikings is worth owning, especially with the Jets' woeful rush D coming to town.

I'm not rushing out to grab Drew Carter, despite him outgaining Steve Smith and Keyshawn Johnson this past week. Carter hadn't been targeted more than six times since Smith returned from injury before he saw 12 passes come his way this past week. So what gives? Well, backup QB Chris Weinke was under center, and as Dave Young, my colleague at www.TalentedMrRoto.com wrote this week, when backup QBs get a chance to start, they throw to the guys they're used to throwing to in practice, and that means the third and fourth wide receivers. Jake Delhomme should be back this week and, even if he isn't, Weinke will find his big name receivers with another week of practicing with them.

I feel the opposite way about Joe Jurevicius, who is the apple of QB Derek Anderson's eye. There are grumblings that Charlie Frye isn't healed yet, and that, even if he was, he wouldn't get his starting gig back without a fight. J.J. is a guy you could sneak in as your third WR, though the matchup against the Ravens this weekend is far from ideal. I do expect the Browns to have to throw a lot.

EARLY START/BENCH

The Niners head to Seattle this Thursday, infuriating football widows and fantasy footballers alike. I thought these Thursday games would be great, but they just make for exhausted Fridays and force owners to make lineup decisions far too early in leagues that require complete lineups by kickoff of the week's first game.

Still, if you need to know what to do with your players on Thursday night, I'd say Shaun Alexander bounces back in a big way, and that Frank Gore is officially un-benchable. Darrell Jackson is out with turf toe, so expect Deion Branch to get plenty of looks and be worth a start. Don't feel the same about Alex Smith, who must be benched. I also think Jeramy Stevens, knowing he's on prime-time, will do something stupid. He can stay on your pine.

All right. That's all for now. Until Friday, the Hub is closed.

Playoff picks

It was 16 years ago today that I went on my first date with an achingly cute college freshman named Sara who would eventually become my wife. Back then, I had never heard of fantasy baseball, fantasy football wouldn't come along for another several years, and as such, Sara had my undivided attention.

My, how time flies. Of course, things change even quicker in the fantasy football landscape, and with many of you now playing in your leagues' playoffs, I realize you want me to save my relationship talk for the Coupling column in the Globe Sunday Magazine (by the way, I've got a new one this Sunday) and get into the football advice.

Done and done.

E-MAIL OF THE WEEK

Reader Sean, who clearly misspells his first name, asks:

Should I go to the waiver wire next week to replace Matt Hasselbeck? Joey Harrington, David Garrard, Jay Cutler, Jeff Garcia, Trent Green, and Phillip Rivers are available.

There are some strong names on that waiver wire, so it's not a silly question. Green and Rivers are on rosters in most leagues and should be. But there was little doubt in my mind as I responded.

I know Hasselbeck struggled last week, but he has the track record and a very friendly schedule from here on out. Rivers has tougher matchups, and Marty Schottenheimer is starting to go back to relying on LaDainian Tomlinson exclusively and Green has Larry Johnson and a coach who also loves the run.

I'd stick with Hasselbeck, though you'd be a fool not to grab Rivers or Green as a backup, just in case.

As we discussed last week, at this time of year, it doesn't take much more than a bad performance to earn a player a spot on the bench or even a trip to the free agent scrap heap. But I'm a believer in the bounce-back theory. Players who have been at elite levels for an extended period of time use bad performances to motivate them into much better performances. That's clearly not the case with a guy like Rex Grossman, who doesn't have the long history of success to pull out of a nose dive, but when I see an off game by a big name, I resist the gag reflex and often reap the benefits. Despite letting me down last week, I love Hass at Arizona this weekend.

FANTASY HUB BUB

When is a Loss a Win?
The best news to come out of the NFL for fantasy owners these last few weeks has been the formerly undefeated Colts losing two games out of three. I admit it, I'm a Colt-hater on a personal level, but on a fantasy level, there aren't many guys on that team I wouldn't mind owning.

Thing is, when their record was all smooth and unblemished, Colt owners had to make tough decisions realizing that Tony Dungy had made it clear he'd rest his starters down the stretch if the division and home-field advantage were wrapped up by Week 15. I know some fantasy owners who actually started selling Reggie Wayne or Peyton Manning at a discount, afraid of going into their championship week not knowing if one of their team's standout performers would be a sit-out performer instead.

Now, the Colts are tied with San Diego for best record in the AFC, and both Baltimore and the Patriots sit only a single game back (although the Colts hold the tiebreaker with New England if it were to come to that ... grrrrrr). So barring a complete collapse by the Pats, Chargers, and Ravens, Dungy and his horseshoe-heads will have to play like it matters, at least through Week 16.

Cherry Garcia, or Not Very Garcia?
There is no greater conundrum facing fantasy owners right now than whether Jeff Garcia warrants a pickup and subsequent start. After all, he's a back up who hasn't had success in this league since Hector was a pup, or at least since Terrell Owens was a Niner.

On the other hand, he was signed for this exact situation -- Philly having lost Donovan McNabb while still in position to contend for a divisional title -- so coach Andy Reid clearly thought he could be effective.

Garcia's notoriously weak arm led to him averaging only 4.5 yards per attempt in his first two games. But then, when opposing defenders crept up to take away the intermediate routes in Week 13, Garcia went deep, like a skinny kid hitting home runs over a drawn-in outfield.

What is inarguable is that Garcia is a guy who, in his prime, threw for 30+ TDs with 12 or fewer interceptions two years in a row in a West-Coast offense similar to Philly's, and so far he's thrown six TDs and zero interception in three games. Not only that, but with the Redskins and Giants up next for the Eagles, albeit on the road, Garcia faces a couple of defenses that haven't been shutting anyone down as of late.

In short, I wouldn't go benching Drew Brees or Marc Bulger for Garcia any time soon. But if you made the playoffs on the back of McNabb or are a Grossman or David Carr owner who can no longer subject yourself to that kind of abuse, I think you can start Garcia the rest of the way and know that he'll throw often, and maybe even win a game or two for you. That's more than you can say for J.P. Losman or David Garrard at this point.

Getting an 'F' on a Report
More comedy this week on the injury report that came out Wednesday night. All week, there have been reports and quotes about Chester Taylor's injured ribs. The most definitive piece of news was a statement that they were not broken. I guess not, considering Taylor was listed on the official injury report as Probable ... with a wrist injury.

I'm not a doctor, but I don't think the wrist-bone is connected to the rib-bone. I'm guessing that was a typo.

And of course, you gotta love the Ravens, Bengals, and Cowboys, who claim they have no players hurt enough to justify an appearance on the injury report as of Wednesday night.

As always, check in on the morning of your game and make your decisions there. You know how many fruit punch containers say "Less than 10 percent fruit juice?" Mid-week injury news should have a disclaimer that reads "Less than 10 percent truth."

As for me, I always strive for 100 percent truth in my weekly start/bench calls, so let's get to them. And if you're thinking that now, with only a few weeks left in the season, I might cut a few corners and advise you to start the Bears D while sitting the Texans D, think again. If I wanted to state the obvious, I'd get a job as a talk radio host.

And for the the record, of the four players I mentioned on Tuesday who played last night, I was right on with Willie Parker being a beast (223 yards and a score) and Reuben Droughns being dreck (29 total yards, and a nod to my Yiddish father). Ben Roethlisberger was very nice too, throwing for a TD, running for one as well, and throwing no picks. My only miss was Kellen Winslow, who apparently gets no love from backup QB Derek Anderson. Ah well, 3-1 is a fine way to start.

On to the rest of my picks ...

QUARTERBACKS

In The Game
I was burned by Tony Romo last week, and darn it, I have a Hillary-Clinton-esque ability to forgive and forget. Romo versus the Saints is a must-start.

Like I implied above, Matt Hasselbeck should thrive this week now that his left hand isn't hurting as much. The Cardinals are playing better on offense, but I'm still not sold on their D.

Also, I think Jeff Garcia is quite startable as long as he has Brian Westbrook to throw dump passes to when the pressure gets heavy.

And while I'm out on that "Really? I should start him?" branch, if you are desperate due to injury or matchups, Alex Smith plays the Packers. Everyone throws on the Packers.

On The Pine
The Pats are going to turn Joey Harrington into Joey Hurry-ington. And yes, they'll do it with more effectiveness than this joke. Expect Bill Belichick to dare Nick Saban to beat him with the run with Ronnie Brown out for another week.

I was down on Philip Rivers last week, and with Champ Bailey and the rest of the Broncos coming to town, I'm feeling that way again. It's like I'm rewriting last week's start/bench list. Hmmm ... last week wasn't one of my better weeks. Note to self ... plagiarize self after a better performance.

Trent Green was a revelation last week, leading all fantasy QBs in most formats. This week he gets the Ravens. If you think Mr. Green is going to get it done, in the stadium, with the candlestick ... er ... football, you haven't got a clue.

RUNNING BACK

In the Game
Last week was "sit situation" for Thomas Jones. This week I think you can start him with confidence, and even give Cedric Benson some love at a flex spot. The Rams aren't stopping the run right now.

In case you hadn't noticed, the Titans have been downright pretty good lately, and Travis Henry has been a big part of that. This week, they head to Texas, where everything is bigger, including the fantasy points you can expect from Henry.

If Rudi Johnson can't go off against the Raiders, then something is very wrong in this world.

On The Pine
Kevin Jones faces the Vikings, a team that has the run-pass version of color-blindness. They put the clamps on anything that runs, but can't seem to see receivers in patterns. I'm sitting K.J. in leagues in which I have him.

Last week, I did the classic "start a guy the week after he explodes, only to watch him do nothing" with Joseph Addai. This week he plays the Jaguars in Jacksonville. No temptation to start him this week.

Is Laurence Maroney healthy? Dunno. Is Corey Dillon ready to carry the load in Miami? Dunno. Really, would anyone be surprised if there are four backs (Maroney, Dillon, Patrick Pass and Kevin Faulk) who each touch the ball five or more times in an effort to keep the Dolphins off kilter? Of course not. Don't start any of them unless you're desperate for flex options.

WIDE RECEIVER

In the Game
You're already starting Roy Williams. But as we, the members of Patriot Nation, saw last week, the Lions can get the ball to Mike Furrey too, so start him. Like I mentioned before, the reason you bench Kevin Jones is the reason you start Furrey.

We've seen the roller coaster that is Joey Galloway's production. Well, Tampa gets Atlanta this week, so buckle in and expect big numbers, especially with Michael Clayton done for the year.

We have to assume David Carr will be better than last week since he can't be worse and keep his job, and the Titans, while improving, are not yet ready to shut down opposing team's No. 1 WR, as we saw with Marvin Harrison last week. So ... don't be scared off and go ahead and start Andre Johnson despite recent trends.

On The Pine
I know the Ravens D is the one most people fear, but I think the Ravens offense should have a little trepidation against the Chiefs D, specifically in regards to Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason. It's not Baltimore ... it's Bench-a-more.

You can't bench Torry Holt because he's Torry Holt. But the Bears will make it a rough day for Isaac Bruce. Sit Ike, if you like.

And I believe the Chargers D is back to being nasty with Shawne Merriman back. They could rattle Jay Cutler and force him to throw fast, negating Javon Walker's ability to get deep. I think Walker is sittable this week.

TIGHT END

In the Game
Jeremy Shockey is the No. 1 tight end on my board this week. He's been up and down, but he's way up this week against Carolina. Eli Manning finds him often and in the end zone.

And keep starting Ben Watson, even though lately he's been costing you a point or two each week when he puts the ball on the ground. Tom Brady will find Watson in an effort to have a decent game against the 'Fins, so get him in the lineup again.

On the Pine
Not a single pass to L.J. Smith last week. I'm sorry, but he's not Marvin Harrison. He can't go to his coach and QB and make it clear he's tired of being ignored. Smith is in my doghouse until he drops the Harry Potter invisibility cloak.

For some reason, Tony Romo has stopped looking Jason Witten's way. Even though I'm high on the Cowboys this week, I don't think Witten's worth the start when Marion Barber is getting all the short yardage TDs and Terry Glenn has become a viable option again.

DEFENSE

In the Game
The Niners may give up some points, but there's no way they don't get a couple of Brett Favre's passes. Feel free to give them a shot.

Just a hunch, but I think the K.C.-Baltimore game ends up a defensive battle both ways, meaning the Chiefs D is startable as long as they can pick off a few of Steve McNair's passes before he gets it together in the fourth quarter.

On the Pine
No one has slowed down the Saints lately, so as good as the Cowboys' D has been, give them a rest this week.

I'm also not willing to count on the Jaguars' D against the Colts. Expect Indy to come out firing and try and prove a point.

KICKERS

Last week, the No. 29 kicker in terms if fantasy points, Rob Bironas, kicked a 60 yard field goal to win a game.

No one can predict anything about kickers, so I'm not even gonna try.

HUB HUNCH OF THE WEEK

I'm a Vince Young believer ... at least for this week. He's a winner, clearly, but that doesn't always mean a guy is a fantasy starter. But with the Titans going to Houston, a team Vince would've loved to have been drafted by, I gotta expect a rushing TD and a passing TD, which will put him in the top 12 QBs for the week, and he could do much, much, more.

All right. If you're playing for your playoff life this weekend, here's hoping you're the last man (or woman) standing in your league.

The Hub is now closed.

A fantasy fluke

It happens every week in fantasy football. One team plays another, both teams absolutely stink, and yet one gets the win. You know the kind of matchup I'm talking about. One guy starts Julius Jones, he of the 35 total yards on Sunday, and reaps a single fantasy point from him (by Yahoo standard scoring), but he ends up walking away with a victory because the other guy thought Rex Grossman was due to snap out of his funk. Instead, Try-and-scorus Rex passed for 34 total yards and threw three picks for a -6 in the fantasy point column.

Chances are both teams were outscored by just about every other team in their league, but since they faced each other, one of them gets a "W" that's as real and valid as the one earned by the guy who started Trent Green, Reggie Bush and Marvin Harrison (didn't I tell you Friday he would bounce back with a vengeance?)

What's interesting is when it happens in the real NFL, as it did in Foxborough on Sunday.

Anyone who watched that game knows that both teams should've gotten an "L", with the Pats getting the lower case "l" and the Lions getting one as big as the first letter in their team name. Eight turnovers, 17 penalties and about a dozen injuries later, the Patriots get the win, the Lions get their 10 loss of the year, and about 29 other teams will watch the game film and say, "Man, we totally would've won that game if we'd been playing against either team." (I don't say 30 because I think the Raiders know better.)

MAKING THE GRADE

A solid-yet-unspectacular week for the Peters Prognotications Service (that's the P.P.S. for those of you trading it on Wall Street). My start suggestions were serviceable, but my bench calls were better.

Overall, I had 17 players who played along with me and did what I said they'd do, making all of them more pliant and reasonable than my 6-year-old daughter has been as of late. Both Ahman Green and Edgerrin James topped the 100-yard mark, although James lost out on three short TDs to the less-than-immortal Marcel Shipp. Not a good sign going forward. My early call of starting T.J. Housmandzadeh paid off with over 100 yards, 10 catches, and a score. And all of the tight ends and defenses I said to sit were somewhere between bad and wretched. But as mentioned above, my best call was in response to a reader who was ready to give Marvin Harrison a week off after he was ignored like a 7-foot-tall girl at a middle-school dance in Week 12. Like I said, Peyton Manning knows where his bread is buttered, even in a loss.

Only two players found that dull spot between productivity and fantasy doom. For example, Tom Brady did fine for me in on my main league where QBs earn a point for every 20 yards passing, and only four points for throwing a TD. But if your league rewards six points for every kind of score and only one point for 50 yards passing, he was a not so great.

Finally, I had 13 players who were incredibly uncooperative. Apparently, Tony Romo got a little scared by my "Romo-sexual" comment and threw two early picks. Willie Parker had his first bad home game of the year, which sank my team in my main league as well as yours, and Braylon Edwards went from throwing insults at his QB to receiving a TD pass, just to spite me. My hub hunch of Randy Moss was a waste of space, both in my column and on the field.

A 17-2-13 mark won't get me fired, but it also won't get me inducted to the Fantasy Football Writer's Wing of the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. And yes, they do have that wing ... OK, it's more of an alcove or a nook or a single stall in the basement bathroom ... but it's there.

NEW SCORING CATEGORIES

Throwing for Under 50 Yards ... and Winning: 5 pts -- In the modern era, when the ball has laces and dropkicks are rare, it's even rarer for a QB to throw for under 100 yards and win. On Sunday, two different QBs failed to reach the 50-yard mark, and yet both ended up in the winning locker room. I've already mentioned Grossman, but David Carr matched him, bad throw for bad throw. I'm pretty sure that at age 80, Y.A. Tittle could match or surpass those numbers. And yes, I wrote that last sentence just to type the word "Tittle."

Defense Knocking Out Multiple QBs: 10 pts -- We knew the Bears D was good, but who knew they were good enough to for the Vikings to use three QBs in one game. First, Brad Johnson was pulled after amassing only 74 yards to go with his four interceptions. The rangy replacement, Brooks Bollinger, was actually looking good, with seven completions in his first nine passes for 70 yards, when he was crushed by a sack and jammed his shoulder. So in comes rookie Tarvaris Jackson, who finished off the game. More on him later, but the point remains ... any time you force the other team to go to their emergency QB, you're getting it done.

FANTASY HUB BUB

Young, Dumb and Full of Ho Hum
It was a banner week for rookies and other young players making bonehead plays and saying bonehead things.

Exhibit A was 49ers rookie TE Vernon Davis, who I promised as being startable last week because his only competition for the starting job was hurt. Of course, I never would've recommended him if I'd known, as the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Monday, that Davis has a tendency to line up in the wrong place. Hard to throw balls to a guy who doesn't even know where he's supposed to be.

Vern ... you've been injured for the last two months. Did you spend any of that time studying the play book and watching practice, or was it all rehab and Xbox? The guy is a fantasy commodity once he gets his head straight, but that doesn't see to be coming any time soon.

Exhibit B was the previously mentioned Tarvaris Jackson, who after Sunday's game, reportedly admitted he's "not ready" to start an NFL game. While this may be honest, the Vikings' starter, Johnson, had more picks than first down passes (four interceptions, three first downs). Their backup was getting a pain-killing injection after the game. Winners want the ball. Tarvaris wants to redshirt. No matter how desperate you are for a QB, if Tarvaris isn't ready to start an NFL game, he shouldn't start a fantasy game either.

And finally, Exhibit C comes from Rams QB Marc Bulger, who called out some young members of his offensive line after getting punished by Cardinals for four sacks and needing and MRI on his ribs after the game. Usually, a QB will do anything to avoid criticizing his line considering they are all that stands between him and a bunch of 300-pound guys who want to hurt him. Thing is, apparently the rest of the team agrees with Bulger's assessment of the situation. Of course, with the Bears coming to town in Week 14,