After I examined the NFC East and AFC East and new Rotorob writer Derek Jones did the same for the NFC North, it’s time to continue on with the Best Series Ever…ahem, it’s time to look at how free agency treated the always thrilling (Read: Mind-Numbingly Boring) AFC North. Oh come on, what else are you going to do, watch this random video of a woman playing Kung Fu on the NES which, for some reason, was called ‘Spartan’ in Japan? Hey, come back here!

Baltimore Ravens

Key Signings – RB Willis McGahee (picked up in trade from Buffalo)

Key Departures – LB Adalius Thomas (New England), G Edwin Mulitalo (Detroit), OT Tony Pashos (Jacksonville)

The Skinny – Let’s get something out of the way immediately. McGahee is no LaDainian Tomlinson or Jim Brown. And I don’t say that to sound like an ass. McGahee is a fine runner when he has a competent offensive line. Sadly, the Ravens offensive line is not shaping up to fit that description. There are intangibles like…umm, the killer Baltimore nightlife and whatnot, but you’re swimming without a lifeguard if you are relying on McGahee as your top back next season.

The loss of Thomas, meanwhile, will hurt the fantasy production of the defense. It’s still a very talented group that will cause turnovers, get sacks, and get picked way too early in every fantasy draft. It’s just the way things work.

Cincinnati Bengals

Key Signings – Umm, none. But the commish decided to make an example of them. That’s something!

Key Departures – G Eric Steinbach (Cleveland), WR Kelley Washington (New England)

The Skinny – In one offseason, the Bengals went from having a legitimate top wide out, two quality number two guys, and a nice third option, to a wide out corps that is basically down to two guys, thanks to Chris Henry’s half-season suspension. Yes, that’s more than most teams have, but it’s less than the Bengals have had and it’s troubling for Carson Palmer. He’s still a top (if not, the top) fantasy quarterback, but more room for problems exist now.

Other than that, expect the same ol’, same ol’ from Cincy. Palmer, Ocho, and TJ will do their thing. Rudi Johnson will get 1,300 to 1,450 yards and 12 touchdowns assuming Steinbach’s loss can be adequately covered up. Wake me up when the playoffs start.

Cleveland Browns

Key Signings – G Eric Steinbach (Cincinnati), RB Jamal Lewis (Baltimore), C Seth McKinney (Miami)

Key Departures – RB Reuben Droughns (New York Giants)

The Skinny – Unlike the Bills, who upgraded at running back while letting the offensive line wither and wilt, the Browns are going with a washed up back and a revamped line. Well, you can’t always get what you want, I suppose. This strategy could actually work better than the Ravens’ ploy. Lewis will never be the back he once was, but this is a good situation for him. He’s moved up from ‘Not worth having on a team’ to ‘Decent back-up runner.’ Yay for progress!

As for the rest of the team, not much is different. Charlie Frye should get better protection and Kellen Winslow is recovering from another surgery. Braylon Edwards is entering that magical third season and the offense seems set to take off. But, well, it’s the Browns, so not much has really changed, right?

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Signings – OL Sean Mahan (Tampa Bay)

Key Departures – LB Joey Porter (Miami)

The Skinny – The 2006 season was a flat out disaster for the Steelers. There’s no sugar coating that. Ben Roethlisberger almost died a couple times and Pittsburgh was never really alive. But that’s history now. Assuming Ben can keep his head on top of his shoulders, he should bounce back and be a weak fantasy starter or strong backup. Willie Parker remains a legitimate number one fantasy back and the receiving game will be hit and miss. Seriously, I think it’s time to reshuffle the divisions.

That does it for the AFC North. Here’s a new clip of Anquan Boldin. Yes, I do type ‘Anquan Boldin’ into youtube almost daily. No, I don’t think that’s sad. [Editor's note: no, RotoRob doesn't officially endorse Andy's man love for Anquan Boldin.]

What? Football isn’t on your radar yet? What’s that about the Final Four? Baseball? The NBA? Bah, humbug. Football takes a back seat to no sport, even if it’s just some free agent signings! Alright, whatever. You know you want to read this. We already examined the NFC East last week, let’s move over to the AFC East now.

Buffalo Bills

Key Signings – G Derrick Dockery (Washington), T Langston Walker (Oakland), DT Darwin Walker (Philadelphia) and RB Anthony Thomas (Buffalo).

Key Departures – RB Willis McGahee (Baltimore), LB Takeo Spikes (Philadelphia) and CB Nate Clements (San Francisco).

The Skinny – At least you can’t accuse the Bills of having a boring offseason. Between free agency and trades, they have essentially replaced a quarter of their starting team. And, as is often the case, some of the moves are clearly positive, and other…not so much so. The additions to the offensive line will be under the microscope since stud (?) back McGahee skipped town. If the run game doesn’t work, it will put added pressure on J.P. Losman and the Bills aerial attack. Oh, and they need to keep that Losman guy’s jersey clean as well. Unfortunately, the loss of Clements will be hard to overcome. The Bills will probably address this position in the draft, but no one coming out of school will be as polished as the current 49er is.

The whole McGahee thing is probably being slightly overblown. Other than the second half of the 2004 season, the former Hurricane has looked like anything but a stud back. Some of that could be attributed to the porous offensive line, but quality runners make plays even with a sub par offensive line. Interestingly, McGahee’s value probably would have increased had he stayed in Buffalo. The offensive line improvements would have benefitted him immensely. Meanwhile, Baltimore’s once dominant offensive line is aging and clearly not what it used to be. The onus is squarely on McGahee’s shoulders.

Miami Dolphins

Key Signings – LB Joey Porter (Pittsburgh).

Key Departures – TE Randy McMichael (St. Louis), WR Wes Welker (New England) and Coach Nick Saban (Dealing with Devil).

The Skinny – The most disappointing NFL team from a fantasy perspective was easily the Dolphins. No one really emerged as a reliable player, despite the high hopes placed on Ronnie Brown and Chris Chambers. And what did the Miami brass decide to do to rectify the situation? Well, nothing really. Saban happened to weasel away, but the powers who are didn’t really make any moves other than bringing in Porter. All I can do is shrug and say ‘Maybe next year.’

New England Patriots

Key Signings – Well, just look for yourself here. There’s not enough e-space to list them all.

Key Departures – RB Corey Dillon and TE Daniel Graham (Denver).

The Skinny – Well, no one should worry about the Patriots getting complacent with three titles. They brought in a number of players and re-signed just as many. Most notable for fantasy purposes is Dont’ Stallworth, who proved last year in Philly that he can be a dangerous player even as a top option. He and Wes Welker (acquired from Miami in trade) will help Tom Brady move up some pre-season cheat sheets. Meanwhile, Adalius Thomas should be a focal point to a defense that could regain its past prominence as a fantasy force. As for the departures, only Graham will have much of a fantasy impact, and it’s not exactly a positive one. Denver tight end Tony Scheffler was a prime sleeper candidate, but Graham’s presence muddles the situation.

New York Jets

Key Signings – RB Thomas Jones (Chicago).

Key Departures – RB Kevan Barlow (I guess).

The Skinny – There’s really not too much to talk about with the Jets. On the one hand, they had a successful year and nearly made the playoffs, so I hesitate to come out and slam them. But, on the other hand, if the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets think they are a marginal upgrade at running back away from contending for a Super Bowl title, they are probably mistaken. How about some defensive play makers? How about clearing a path for your only exciting offensive player (Leon Washington)? It was just a sadly disappointing free agency period for this team.

While the NCAA tournament putters along (yes, I’m already eliminated in my pools, thank you very much, Texas), it’s time for me to turn my attention back to the footballers. The free agency period has died down recently, which means it’s a good time to figure out what fantasy impact all of these signings will have. Let’s start with the good ol’ NFC East.

Dallas Cowboys

Key Signings – OT Leonard Davis (Arizona) and K Martin Gramatica (Dallas)

Key Departures – QB Drew Bledsoe

The Skinny – As you can see, the Cowboys haven’t done too much this offseason so far. Davis was a huge signing according to the team, but as someone who actually watched the Cardinals a lot last season, I don’t exactly agree. Tony Romo is still the man at the helm, but if he can’t get solid pass protection, then all bets are off. Sadly, I don’t have much optimism from these signings. I just hope that Terrell Owens gets healthy and the protection holds up.

New York Giants

Key Signings – Via trade, RB Reuben Droughns (Cleveland) and C/G Shaun O’Hara (New York Giants)

Key Departures – LBs Lavar Arrington and Carlos Emmons, OTs Luke Petitgout (Tampa Bay) and Bob Whitfield

The Skinny – The losses certainly outweigh the gains here, and that’s not including the retirement of Tiki Barber. The Giants offensive line had an uneven season last year, but now it becomes an area of concern for draft day. Expect the G-Men to take at least one tackle pretty high. Despite the Droughns signing, Brandon Jacobs is the best ball carrier on the roster, so it will be interesting to see how that shakes out in the preseason. I’d talk about the linebackers, but I don’t think they made a tackle all season anyway.

Philadelphia Eagles

Key Signings – WR Kevin Curtis (St. Louis), DE Juqua Thomas (Philadelphia)

Key Departures – S Michael Lewis (San Francisco), WR Dont’ Stallworth (New England)

The Skinny – The most important thing to remember here is that everything that happens this offseason for the Eagles is moot unless a healthy Donovan McNabb returns to the lineup. Of course, it would be nice if this team had a legitimate number one wide out, but it seems content with throwing out a bunch of number two and three guys. Thomas is a nice signing as he came alive to the tune of six sacks in spot duty last year, but losing Lewis in the secondary hurts a lot. After a rocky start to the 2006 season, Lewis turned things around and became a weapon for Andy Reid. Unfortunately, by the time the Eagles figured out how to use Lewis, they had already decided to dump him at the end of the season.

Washington Redskins

Key Signings – LB London Fletcher (Buffalo) and CB Fred Smoot (Minnesota)

Key Departures – K John Hall

The Skinny – The Redskins, long known for their freewheelin’ free agent periods, decided to play things closer to the vest this year. They spent more time re-signing their own players, which explains the lack of a big name in the ‘Key Departure’ column. Unfortunately, due to ill-advised trades, the Redskins have, essentially, one worthwhile pick in the upcoming draft. Still, maybe Daniel Snyder has come to the conclusion that team chemistry is worth considering to some degree.

By the way, I’m no expert on basketball, and I think it’s cool that the NBA puts up game highlights on YouTube, but shouldn’t someone be proofreading the titles they put on these things? Jeez, Mr. Stern, children can read that.

- Andy Goldstein

Time to finish up my preview of the first round of the 2007 NFL draft, from a fantasy football perspective. Part I, Part II, and Part III can be found, um, there, there, and there. Ahem, anyway, on to the conclusion.

25. New York Jets

Expert’s Whispers – The Jets might have been a bit boring, but they got the job done to the tune of 10 wins. With an offense ranked 25th overall in the league, however, one would hope for an upgrade. Sadly, the experts don’t see this happening through the draft. Aaron Ross (CB, Texas) and Quentin Moses (DE, Georgia) are names being thrown around.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Dwayne Jarret (WR, USC) or Robert Meachem (WR, Tennessee) could be available at this spot, and either would add a nice weapon to the Jets. If both are gone, Sidney Rice (WR, South Carolina) would be my next pick.

26. Philadelphia Eagles

Expert’s Whispers – While the Eagles may spend more picks on offense than defense in this draft, their first round selection will probably go to the latter category. Michael Lewis is gone, so Michael Griffin (S, Texas) could take over. Of course, the linebacking crew remained a weakness last season, which could mean Paul Posluszny (LB, Penn State) or Patrick Willis (LB, Ole Miss) become the Eagles first pick.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – The status of Dont’ Stallworth is still up in the air, so adding a wide out like Rice (WR, South Carolina) would ease Donovan McNabb’s return from injury.

27. New Orleans Saints

Expert’s Whispers – The Saints need exactly two things from this draft: A quality corner and a physical linebacker. Enter Daymeion Hughes (CB, California) or Posluszny (LB, Penn State).

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – With Joe Horn on the way out, having another quality receiver on board would be a boost for both Drew Brees and Marques Colston. Rice (WR, South Carolina) is a possibility. Greg Olsen (TE, Miami) has also moved up some draft boards lately.

28. New England Patriots

Expert’s Whispers – This is the Patriots second pick of the first round, and it would be a travesty if they didn’t take a wide out with at least one of them. Dwayne Bowe (WR, LSU) would fit well.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Bowe works for me.

29. Baltimore Ravens

Expert’s Whispers – The Ravens certainly have already had some major player movement. Adailus Thomas and Jamal Lewis might both be gone. Anthony Spencer (LB, Purdue) is a hybrid type player and would fit well with Rex Ryan.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Let’s face it, even if Lewis comes back, his career has been over for a while. Michael Bush (RB, Louisville) might be a bit of a reach, but the gamble could pay off for a team that needs to be able to run effectively. (And, you know, for fantasy owners who would love to have another clear cut starting back in the league.)

30. San Diego Chargers

Expert’s Whispers – The Chargers need some help catching passes and stopping other teams from catching passes. Griffin (S, Texas) probably wouldn’t get past the Chargers if he were available. If he isn’t, Rice (WR, South Carolina) and Bowe (WR, LSU) become the top picks.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Normally, I’d opt for the wide receiver, but the Chargers offense already does plenty for fantasy owners. Go for defense, San Diego. We won’t mind.

31. Chicago Bears

Expert’s Whispers – There’s a consensus that Chicago will go with the best offensive lineman left on the board. Justin Blalock (G, Texas), Arron Sears (OT, Tennessee) and Ben Grubbs (G, Auburn) are the likely candidates.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – That will help both the deep passing game and the running game, so I won’t protest the Bears not taking a skill player.

32. Indianapolis Colts

Expert’s Whispers – Clearly, the Colts are going to address the defensive side of the ball. Justin Harrell (DT, Tennessee) or Jon Beason (LB, Miami) would both help with that not-so-great run defense.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Yeah, I’m still not ready to talk about the Colts. Sorry.

And that concludes my fantasy look at the first round. Hopefully those offensive players will get put into good situations and we’ll get lots of fantasy points come September.

- Andy Goldstein

As the NFL draft gets closer and closer, I’ve been going over what each team will do with their first round selections. Part I is here, and Part II can be found…right…here.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars

Expert’s Whispers – After a disappointing 2006 campaign, the Jags need to find a spark in this draft. Unfortunately, pick 17 doesn’t afford any guarantees in that department. Ted Ginn Jr. (WR, Ohio State) is on the radar, but he’ll probably be gone by this pick. Charles Johnson (DE, Georgia) could be a good pick to add depth to an already strong defensive line.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Pardon my language, but hell if I know. I have given up on trying to figure out the Jaguars. They are easily the most maddening, inconsistent group in the league. Fantasy owners shouldn’t want a Ginn or Dwayne Jarrett (WR, USC) to go to Jacksonville because that passing game is already too crowded. They don’t need a running back, and no offensive lineman or quarterbacks are worth this pick. If I were the Jags, I’d look to trade up to snag Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame), or trade down to amass more defensive depth.

18. Cincinnati Bengals

Expert’s Whispers – Obviously, all the experts are projecting a defensive selection, which makes sense considering the Bengals have all the pieces in place with their offensive skill players and no offensive lineman (always a need for every team) that will be left are worth a first round pick. Anyway, Patrick Willis (LB, Ole Miss) and Darrelle Revis (CB, Pittsburgh) could be the selection.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Oh well, I guess once you have the top fantasy quarterback for 2007 (set in stone), a top six running back, two top 15 wideouts and another wide receiver who could fill in for your fantasy roster, it’s okay to take a defensive player. Wait, what am I saying?! There’s always room for more! The Bengals do need a playmaking tight end after all. Greg Olsen (TE, Miami)!

19. Tennessee Titans

Expert’s Whispers – After a magical 2006 season, what could possibly go wrong for the feel-good Titans?! Vince Young was the man, and the defense improved with every game. Of course, there’s one little problem: Pacman Jones is insane, and now the Titans want to move him. If he does go, look for the Titans to take a cornerback in round one. Leon Hall (CB, Michigan) or Revis (CB, Pittsburgh) are possibilities.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Young might ‘just win football games,’ but his passing statistics could use some work. Namely, the completion percentage of 52 must go up. What better way to help this than with a potential-laden Jarrett (WR, USC)? He and Young could grow into quite the tandem.

20. New York Giants

Expert’s Whispers – Tiki Barber’s retirement will have very little effect on the way the Giants draft. Not only did Brandon Jacobs prove he could be a feature back, the G-Men also are reportedly interested in trading for Willis McGahee. All of this being said, that’s no excuse for the experts to put up bland predictions like Revis (CB, Pittsburgh) or Aaron Ross (DB, Texas).

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Having talented running backs is awesome. Having a dominating offensive line is awesome…er. Ben Grubbs (OG, Auburn) could work out; or, instead of having an annoying McGahee and Jacobs ‘running-back-by-committee,’ trade one, move up, and snag Levi Brown (OT, Penn State). See, this is all very easy.

21. Denver Broncos

Expert’s Whispers – Mostly defensive whispers for some reason. Jarvis Moss (DE, Florida) and Johnson (DE, Georgia) are on the radar.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – How about, you know, a dominating run game? Wasn’t that the catalyst for the Broncos Super Bowl victories? Do we really have to go through another ‘And watch out for this undrafted rookie because Mike Shanahan really likes him’ preseason? I say the Broncos trade up and snag Marshall Lynch (RB, California).

22. Dallas Cowboys

Expert’s Whispers – The Cowboys could really use some offensive line help. Grubbs (OG, Auburn) or Arron Sears (G, Tennessee) seem to be the prime targets.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – That works for me. Not only will it boost that annoying running game, but it would give Tony Romo some added protection. Of course, the Cowboys like to move the pocket, which takes the pressure off the offensive line anyway. So, maybe a wideout like Jarrett (WR, USC) or Dwayne Bowe (WR, LSU) would make even more sense.

23. Kansas City Chiefs

Expert’s Whispers – Wide receiver, wide receiver, wide receiver. Not only do the Chiefs have to take a wide out, they have to get the right one. One of Jarrett (WR, USC), Sidney Rice (WR, South Carolina), Bowe (WR, LSU), or Robert Meachem (WR, Tennessee) will be the pick according to the experts.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – With Tony Gonzalez’s career winding down, any receiving option would be a plus. Jarrett is probably the front runner, but it’ll just come down to the Chiefs scouts getting the right guy.

24. New England (from Seattle)

Expert’s Whispers – Talking about wide outs, the Patriots could use one as well. Jarrett (WR, USC) probably won’t be around, so the pickings will be slightly slimmer. New England has the advantage of possessing the 28th overall pick as well, which might mean it goes with defense at this pick and takes a wideout later.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – The Seahawks gave away that first round pick for Deion Branch, so the Patriots have plenty of options. Personally, I’d like to see them go for two wideouts. Chad Jackson won’t be ready for opening day, which leaves the Pats with, umm, Troy Brown at wide receiver.

That’s all for now! The final part, and my struggle against talking about the Colts, comes to a head on Thursday, so stay tuned for that.

- Andy Goldstein

Part I can be found here. But let’s get to it!

9. Miami Dolphins

Expert’s Whispers – The Dolphins had plenty of issues on both sides of the ball, so they could go anywhere come draft day. Levi Brown (OT, Penn State) and Alan Branch (DT, Michigan) are on the radar.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – It is my opinion that the Dolphins could use a real quarterback, and Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) might just be available.

10. Atlanta Falcons

Expert’s Whispers – The only consensus experts have about the Falcons first round draft pick is that they will go for a defensive player. More specifically, Atlanta is short on talented secondary players. Reggie Nelson (S, Florida) and LaRon Randy (S, LSU) are two names to keep in mind.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – As I said in Sunday’s column, defensive players do very little for the average fantasy owner. It’s a long shot, but if Ted Ginn Jr. (WR, Ohio State) was available, he’d be a nice boost for Mike Vick. Dwayne Jarrett (WR, USC) would also add another dimension to the offense.

11. San Francisco 49ers

Expert’s Whispers – The 49ers are another team that will probably address their defensive needs come late April. Gaines Adams (DE, Clemson), Adam Carriker (DE, Nebraska) or Jarvis Moss (DE, Florida) would add something to their defensive line depending on availability (Gaines could go earlier) and whether the 49ers were more worried about the run (Carriker) or the pass (Moss).

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Talking about defensive players really just makes me want to go watch Reno 911. But, anyway, adding an offensive lineman like Brown (OT, Penn State) would make Frank Gore owners smile. San Francisco had great line play last season, but itsr dominating left side was hurt by injuries. Brown would be an excellent insurance plan.

12. Buffalo Bills

Expert’s Whispers – Ugh. Defense. Leon Hall (CB, Michigan). Make it stop.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – I’m really not sure what gave Willis McGahee the confidence to proclaim himself the best running back in the NFL. He didn’t even break 1,000 yards this past season. There are even rumors he could be headed out of town. Assuming he does stay, his owners would have to love seeing a stud offensive lineman plowing the way for him. Unfortunately, that’s not a deep position, and the prospect of Brown (OT, Penn State) still being around is low. Anyway, maybe the Bills could trade McGahee and then take Marshawn Lynch (RB, California). Okay, probably not.

13. St. Louis Rams

Expert’s Whispers – Whatever. Amobi Okoye (DT, Louisville).

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Consider me not a fan of all things Scott Linehan. The lean to a ‘more balanced’ team capable of playing deep into the postseason is a horrid development to the fantasy football world. I want three fantasy relevant wide outs, dammit! Take Jarrett (WR, USC)! You can always win a Super Bowl next season! Aw, shucks.

14. Carolina Panthers

Expert’s Whispers - Todd McShay of ESPN.com has Brown (OT, Penn State) going to the Panthers. Of course, everyone and their NFL Europe sisters need offensive lineman, and I don’t anticipate Brown being there. The other expert’s picks are defensive guys like Laron Landry (S, LSU).

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Jarrett (WR, USC) would open up space for Steve Smith, so I’m all for that. Unfortunately, I’d almost put money on the Panthers not seeing any good offensive value picks at 14. If they don’t move from their spot, they’ll be essentially forced to go defensive.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Expert’s Whispers – I’ve stopped caring about the so-called experts and their uninspired defensive-player guesses.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Santonio Holmes played well last season and even improved towards the end of the year. Still, with Hines Ward getting up in age, acquiring Jarrett (WR, USC) or even a project like Robert Meachem (WR, Tennessee) would be intriguing.

16. Green Bay Packers

Expert’s Whispers – Ahman Green played all right last season, but he no longer has the game breaking ability he once did. Lynch (RB, California) does have that, which has all the experts ready to see him in green and yellow.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Finally, the experts and I can be on speaking terms again.

Parts III and IV will be coming out in the next week, which gives you time to consider how long you’d have to practice piano to be better than this cat (My guess: At least an hour.)

- Andy Goldstein

With the 2007 NFL draft a mere, umm, two months away, I thought it would be cool to take a fantasy football glance at what could happen and what we – the fantasy football world – would like to see happen. I preface this column by disclaiming that I am not Mel Kiper. Lord knows my hair gives that away immediately. It also means that I am not any sort of NFL insider. I won’t try to act as if I know what teams will do come April 28. This is a pretty good resource for that kind of information. And everyone knows about these guys.

Anyway, on to part one of How April 28 Can Change the Fantasy Football World. (Insert evil laugh.) Oh, and I’ll start with the top picks because I’m still not ready to talk about the Colts.

1. Oakland Raiders

Expert’s Whispers – JaMarcus Russell seems to be the top guess as to who will be the newest Raider come draft time. The LSU quarterback would probably need more time to grow, but let’s be honest, the Raiders can afford to wait. Joe Thomas (OT, Wisconsin) and Calvin Johnson (WR, Georgia Tech) are also on the radar.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Russell is the hope, at least in my opinion, for a couple reasons. First of all, the Raiders’ offense was a disaster last season. Offenses that have essentially nothing should start with a franchise quarterback to rebuild. It might take longer for wide outs to flourish in the NFL than quarterbacks, but a great quarterback with two or three average wide outs can still get the job done. Finally, Georgia Tech’s Johnson is the most imposing wide out to enter the NFL since, well, probably Roy Williams. If he ends up with a half-decent offense around him, then maybe he could have an immediate impact. Oakland isn’t the place for that to happen.

2. Detroit Lions

Expert’s Whispers – Is there anything scarier for Lions’ fans and fantasy owners alike than the prospect of Johnson (WR, Georgia Tech) still on the board for Matt Millen with the second pick? Think about the primal fear that will be shooting all around Detroit. It’s absolutely frightening. Anyway, the people in the know think Thomas (OT, Wisconsin) will be the pick.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Thomas, Russell (QB, LSU), or Johnson seem to be the guys for this pick, but the uncertainty swirling around Kevin Jones’ Lis Franc injury makes taking a running back here an intriguing idea to fantasy owners. Jones did have some success last year and a guy like Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma) or even Marshawn Lynch (RB, California) have skill sets superior to Jones’.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Expert’s Whispers – The third pick will go to either Tampa or Cleveland after a coin flip for it, but each of these team’s needs are so different that it probably won’t effect who goes where. Apparently, Johnson (WR, Georgia Tech) should take his 4.3 second 40 time and 6′5″ frame to sunny Florida.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Johnson works here. Frankly, if Jon Gruden was able to get two straight 1,000-yard seasons from Joey Galloway, he should finagle 1,600 yards or so per year for Johnson. Right? Anyway, it’s one of the few reasonable places where he could have an immediate impact.

4. Cleveland Browns

Expert’s Whispers – It’s all about Peterson (RB, Oklahoma) here. The Reuben Droughns era came to a crashing halt last season, and Peterson would add an extremely athletic guy to an offense with some legitimate skill players.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Of course, Charlie Frye hasn’t exactly reminded anyone of…umm…Bernie Kosar? Or, err…Brian Sipe? (Go ahead, you try to name a great Browns quarterback.) In any event, Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) and Russell (QB, LSU) would get consideration if they are available. But we in the fantasy football world wouldn’t be too upset if Peterson landed with the Browns.

5. Arizona Cardinals

Expert’s Whispers – This is where consensus begins to fade. The Cardinals have a defense that can’t get off the field and an offensive line that is as bad as any in the NFL. The experts seem to think they will address the defensive side of the ball in the first round. Gaines Adams (DE, Clemson), Jamaal Anderson (DE, Arkansas), and Reggie Nelson (FS, Florida) are the names to remember.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Those are all nice and fine players. But this is fantasy football we’re talking about. Who cares about defense? I implore the Cardinals to take offensive lineman. Is there anyone ‘worth’ this high pick after Thomas? Maybe not, but oh well. You reap what you sow, and the Cardinals have sewn together the worst offensive line in the league. They should take lineman with every pick. Levi Brown (OT, Penn State) works for me.

6. Washington Redskins

Expert’s Whispers – With one pick in the first four rounds of the 2007 draft, the Redskins probably won’t be able to improve their team too much. The experts have Adams (DE, Clemson) and Anderson (DE, Arkansas) as the guys who can bolster Washington’s terrible 2006 pass rush.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – Pass rush? Borrring. Wouldn’t a stud wide out be much more exciting? Ted Ginn Jr. (WR, Ohio State) could make something of an impact and give Santana Moss a much needed attention detractor on the other side. Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) is also intriguing.

7. Minnesota Vikings

Expert’s Whispers – According to Internet rumors, the Vikings should have a Larry Fitzgerald-Randy Moss wide out duo next season. If that (gasp!) doesn’t happen, then Ginn Jr. (WR, Ohio State) might just have to do.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream – The Buckeye do-everything player would be a fine addition to the Vikings, but are we really going to be relegated to watching Brad Johnson for another season? Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) is a better pick to me, just because it’s kind of painful to see Johnson throwing passes.

8. Houston Texans

Expert’s Whispers – One of the saddest stories in NFL history might be that of David Carr. The Texans first round pick in 2002 has never been given an offensive line to work with. Now the consensus seems to be Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) will be the pick if he’s available. It’s a cruel, cruel world.

Fantasy Owner’s Dream I would just like to see Carr get some protection. Brown (OT, Penn State) makes sense if he’s available. Barring that, Ginn Jr. (WR, Ohio State) would pair up with Andre Johnson to make a heck of a wide out duo.

Stay tuned to the next three parts of the fantasy football guide to the 2007 draft, only here on Rotorob.com! (Commercial Break.)

- Andy Goldstein

1. Steve Smith – Last year Smith was widely considered the top fantasy wide out (he was number two on my list, but having Tory Holt ahead of him probably isn’t worth bragging about), however, nagging injuries cost him superior statistics. My knock on Smith this past preseason was his inconsistency, but he actually improved in that category this season. The final stats will knock Smith’s value down, but savvy owners should have been impressed with his eight games out of 14 with a touchdown (compared to nine out of 16 in 2005) and 10 games with either 100 yards or a touchdown (compared to 11 in 2005).

2. Tory Holt – The Rams’ move to a more conservative offense hurt Holt in 2006, but Orlando Pace’s injury in Week Six was the true nail in the coffin for the team’s star wide out. Before Pace’s triceps tear, Holt averaged 88 yards and 1.2 touchdowns per game. After Pace’s season-ending injury, Holt went for 66 yards and 0.3 scores per game. The numbers are just so black and white.

3. Marvin Harrison – One thousand yards. Ten touchdowns. Bored now…

4. Chad Johnson – News flash: Johnson doesn’t score that many touchdowns. That may be surprising to the average football fan, but anyone who has had Ocho on their fantasy squad should be familiar with the line ‘Good yardage day, could have used a score, though.’

5. Reggie Wayne – One of these years, Harrison will begin to fade and Wayne will become the clear cut number one guy. It has to happen. Anyway, as long as Peyton Manning is around, Wayne will get his stats.

6. Anquan Boldin – I am unabashedly the biggest Boldin fan on the planet. That being said, his 2006 statistics left me a bit underwhelmed. On one side of the coin, he was only 100 yards and three touchdowns away from Johnson. On the other side, he had only as many touchdowns as Patrick Crayton. Oh well. Matt Leinart should progress, which means more yards and yes, maybe more touchdowns for the toughest wide out in the NFL to tackle.

7. Larry Fitzgerald – Boldin and Fitz are kind of like Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm. Except, they get along better. And neither can play soccer well (I assume). Also, both have yet to lead their team to the postseason, let alone a bajillion world titles. But other than that, they’re exactly alike. Anyway, if Fitzgerald plays 16 games, expect 100 receptions and 1,400 yards from the former Pitt Panther.

8. Roy Williams – For some reason, Williams scares me. I mean, aside from looking like the meanest person to ever play at wide receiver, I am less than keen on taking him as my top wide out next season. If the Lions’ quarterback problem is solved, then maybe I’ll bump Williams up a couple spots. But right now, I don’t know if he’s better than Mike Furrey. And Furrey might not even be a wide receiver. I’m really not sure.

9. Terrell Owens – As I’ve said since I started writing here at RotoRob, Owens is the best wide out in the game when he’s on the field and happy. Unfortunately, his knack for being injured or crazy makes him as risky a pick as there is at the position. The first year in Big D went, well…I was going to say bumpy. But compared to his second year in Philly, it was a relatively smooth ride. Bill Parcells is out, so what can possibly go wrong next year?! (Famous last words…)

10. Marques Colston – Colston proved himself to be one of the tougher players in the league last season. Yes, nagging injuries cost him playing time, but the vicious hits he took would have sidelined lesser players for much longer. If he can learn to protect himself from the huge shots and stay on the field, he has 100-catch, 1,300-yard, 12-touchdown potential.

- Andy Goldstein

1. LaDainian Tomlinson – No, he probably won’t duplicate his 2006 statistics, but there’s no way anyone else can be at the top of this list. Besides, something tells me his fire won’t be lacking next year.

2. Steven Jackson – 2,334. That’s how many total yards Jackson had last season. That’s more than Tomlinson. In fact, it was the highest total in the NFL. Over the final four weeks of the season, Jackson totaled 10 touchdowns. That’s six more than Larry Johnson. With the Rams attempting to transition to a more and more conservative offense, Jackson could easily be the top scoring fantasy performer in 2007.

3. Larry Johnson – It might be surprising to see Johnson in the third slot of this list. Early indications show that he will be second on just about every pre-season list in seven or eight months. I will have a post fleshing out my full thoughts, but for now I will simply say that I’d steer clear of the Chiefs back next season. I put him at three because his value is this high. Unfortunately, I’d be surprised if he ends up anywhere near the top of the list. Much as I wrote about avoiding Shaun Alexander last season, Johnson is in for a big drop. His epic workload (416 regular season carries) alone is a huge red flag. The Chiefs’ offense is aging and won’t be able to take any burden off the star back. Finally, a once dominating offensive line has fallen back to the pack. It’ll be hard to avoid Johnson if you have the second or even third pick, but weren’t we saying the same thing about Alexander last season?

4. Willie Parker – As I detailed in my early 2007 Quarterback rankings, I am hopeful that the Steelers offense will, if nothing else, have more stability than last season. That’s what made Parker’s campaign all the more impressive. His quarterback was completely out of sorts, which led to many unceremoniously quelled drives. If Ben Roethlisberger keeps his head on straight (ugh, sorry), there’s no reason the offense as a whole can’t improve.

5. Frank Gore – Please sir, I want some more. Gore was as good as anyone could have hoped last season. After years and years of terrible knee injuries in college, the second year player blossomed. Now, the obvious question is about his ability to stay healthy. If I knew for sure that Gore would play 16 games (hell, even 14 or more games), I would have little problem taking him with the third pick. He is as talented as any back in the league short of Tomlinson.

6. Rudi Johnson – It doesn’t get more boring than this pick, and I say that in the nicest way possible. Johnson has accounted for 1,300-1,460 yards and 12 touchdowns each of the last three seasons. There’s really not much to say. Lock it up.

7. Clinton Portis – So, umm, Dolemite Jenkins, we need you. We need you to brighten our midweek boredom. We need you to remind us that some players have a sense of humor. And we really need your 1,700 total yards and double digit touchdown totals.

8. Shaun Alexander – Alexander is now a poor man’s Johnson to me. I think he’ll be good for 1,300 yards and eight to 10 scores. Unfortunately, there’s not much upside anymore. He remains an injury risk, and he’s certainly not getting any younger.

9. Brian Westbrook – Much like Gore, I’d put Westbrook a couple slots higher if I knew he’d play 14 or more games in 2007. His penchant to suffer nagging injuries has always held, and probably will always hold Westbrook back from being a top end fantasy player.

10. Maurice Jones-Drew – Obviously, this is subject to change, but, if the chips fall properly, Drew could vault even higher. First, look at the numbers. He ran for 941 yards on a mere 166 carries. That’s a stunning 5.7 yards per attempt. (I was excited about Gore’s prospects after a 4.8 average in 2005 on 127 carries.) Then there’s the touchdowns, 15 to be exact, including a rookie record of eight consecutive games with a score. Well, his weakness must be receiving, right? Not quite. Jones-Drew managed 46 receptions for 436 yards. Did I mention he only started a couple games towards the end of the season? Yes, Jones-Drew’s fantasy status hinges on Fred Taylor wearing a jersey that isn’t teal next season. The Jaguars’ defense needs to continue to keep the offense on the field. The Jacksonville passing game needs to continue being inconsistent. Yes, lots of ifs, but all seem reasonable at this point.

- Andy Goldstein

1. Carson Palmer – Peyton Manning had never led fantasy quarterbacks in scoring, but used a big Week 17 to surpass Drew Brees this past season. I expect the ‘Manning finishing second’ trend to reappear next season as Carson lights up the scoreboard. Palmer is a tad riskier, but he has more weapons, a more consistent running game, and ummm, a blog, apparently! I don’t know if the blog is really his, but there’s nothing phony about his place atop the ‘07 fantasy quarterback rankings.

2. Peyton Manning – You know you’re getting one of the top signal callers in the league. An aging Marvin Harrison and a defense that can’t get off the field are both reasons for worry for the Golden One. But even if everything goes wrong, Manning will approach 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.

3. Drew Brees – Obviously, 2006 was a career year for Brees. Knowing that, it’s important not to reach on the Saint in your draft. At this stage, I wouldn’t consider drafting him before the third round. Still, he and Marques Colston should form one of the better quarterback to wide out connections in 2007.

4. Mike Vick – Maybe he is a coach killer. Maybe he can’t read a defense. Maybe he’s the most inaccurate 16-game starter the NFL has ever seen. It doesn’t matter in fantasy football. Vick averaged 65 rushing yards per game and was consistently a top scoring quarterback. The Falcons have a new coach, which means anything could happen come 2007, but if Mr. Mex…er, Vick, is given any free reign, he’ll continue to rack up fantasy points.

5. Marc Bulger – Thanks to (or despite?) Scott Lienehan’s more conservative blocking schemes, Bulger passed for over 4,000 yards for the first time in his career. The Rams had what I consider a strange season. They had a dominating run game, used extra protection often, but still gave up the fourth-most sacks in the NFL. It makes less sense than if Donald Trump and, say, Rosie O’Donnell got into a feud! Oh…wait…never mind. Anyway, I hope the Rams bolster the receiving game. Isaac Bruce is getting up in age and Kevin Curtis’ production fell by nearly half.

6. Ben Roethlisberger – Many fantasy football ‘experts’ are too knee-jerk reactionary when it comes to prognosticating. Roethlisberger is my early pick for 2007 quarterback sleeper of the year, and he’s probably about 10 spots higher on this list than he will be on most pre-season cheat sheets. We all know what happened last preseason. His face hit a lot of un-movable objects and then he needed an appendectomy. Big Ben would have had a better season if he just went hunting with Dick Cheney every day. Ok, that may not be true, but as long as he doesn’t almost die twice this offseason, all the pieces are there for him to have a big year. He’s got a deep, talented wide out group and a run game that demands attention. A lot will hinge on how good the defense is and what kind of coach the Steelers peg to lead them, but as of now, this guy should be a weekly fantasy starter next season.

7. Vince Young – I am sipping the kool-aid. (Aw, remember when he was funny?) Young reminds me of an early Donovan McNabb. Naysayers will point to Young’s completion percentage (49 per cent) and poor touchdown to interception ratio (0.9:1) as to why he can’t be a top 10 signal caller. Of course, Mr. Chunky Soup saw significant jumps in his completion percentage (51 per cent to 58 per cent) and touchdown to interception ratio (1.1:1 to 1.6:1) in his sophomore season. I expect similar increases for Young.

8. Matt Hasselbeck – There’s not too much to say about Hasselbeck. Injuries slowed his season, but he still managed to average better than 200 yards passing per contest. Hasselbeck’s season probably rests on how good the pieces are around him. If the team rebounds, the passing game will go back to where it was the last couple of seasons. Not a ton of upside here, just an opportunity for rock solid consistency.

9. Tom Brady – Having no wide outs didn’t help Brady, but those who only look at his yearend numbers wouldn’t be able to tell all that well. Where Brady had two of 15 games with fewer than 200 yards passing in 2005 (he hardly played Week 17), he had six out of 16 under 200 yards this past season. That’s deadly inconsistency to fantasy owners.

10. Matt Leinart – This ranking is based on the idea that the Cardinals will, you know, draft a lineman or two that deserve to start in the NFL. If they manage to protect the former USC star, the sky is the limit. No wide out group has more talent and few defenses will let up more points than Arizona’s. It’s the perfect storm for a breakout year.

Stay tuned for early looks at running backs and wide receivers in future columns.

- Andy Goldstein

St. Louis at Minnesota – Stephen Jackson actually has a very interesting matchup in this game. On one hand, the Vikings possess the top-ranked run defense in the league, but Jackson is certainly not a one dimensional player. His ability to gain yards out of the backfield as a receiver makes him a must play every week. Marc Bulger, Tory Holt and Isaac Bruce are all fantasy starts as well, as the passing game finally showed signs of life last week. For the Vikings, Chester Taylor remains the only entity worth considering.

Arizona at San Diego – Somehow, Kurt Warner is a good play this week. The veteran quarterback knows the Cardinals offense and knows the talented wide out duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Leave Edgerrin James on the bench, since the already tough Chargers run defense will be motivated to gain a victory in this one. Of course, you know to start LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates. Both will find the end zone.

Atlanta at Philadelphia – Mike Vick is a start, I guess. He is, after all, the second- or third-ranked fantasy quarterback depending on your league’s scoring. In their last regular season meeting, Vick had 68 rushing yards and a score, so there’s that. On the other side of the ball, keep rolling with Jeff Garcia! The Falcons pass defense is…umm…outmatched. (That felt dirty to write.) Brian Westbrook is a must start, but the rest of the offense is too inconsistent to trust.

Buffalo at Baltimore – Lee Evans and Mark Clayton are the starts of the game. Both young wide outs are enjoying breakout seasons. Leave Willis McGahee on the pine against this Ravens suffocating run defense. Jamal Lewis, on the other hand, should find some open spaces to rumble through. The former Vol has seven touchdowns in his last five games.

Miami at Indianapolis – Come Week 17, some NFL teams have long thrown in the towel. The Dolphins are one of those squads. They are starting some guy named Lemon at quarterback. I’m sure he has a first name (unless he’s like the NBA’s Nene). Seriously, what’s up with that? This isn’t Brazilian soccer…err…sorry…foosball), but if an NFL team has given up on their season, I give up on writing about them. Ronnie Brown is only a decent option because of how historically inept the Colts run defense is. And start your Colts, obviously.

San Francisco at Denver – Frank Gore is going to set a franchise rushing record, Tatum Bell will pretend as if barely surpassing 1,000 yards is a great triumph in today’s NFL, and Javon Walker will catch a long touchdown pass. So, it’s pretty much just like any other day for the ‘Niners and Broncos.

Green Bay at Chicago – This might be Brett Favre’s last game. Although it may not be. Donald Driver is the only player on either side worth starting for fantasy purposes. But this might be Favre’s last game. But maybe not. Anyway, I’m not even sure there’s really going to be a game played. I mean, it could be Favre’s last time on the field. Although he might be back. I wonder if ESPN will follow that story line at all.

And that’s it. It’s been a fun fantasy season. I hope there were lots of championships won by my readers. And let’s be honest, if you read my columns, you probably won. I already have my sights set on the 2007 fantasy season, so don’t stray too far. Those columns will start appearing in the next couple weeks. ‘Till then, I go back to my full-time position at the Ministry of Silly Walks.

- Andy Goldstein

N.Y. Giants at Washington – The Giants are in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot and basically just need to win to get in. Tiki Barber should be a go, and he’s not a bad start, although his chance at a touchdown remains on the ‘don’t count on it’ side. Plaxico Burress has been as frustrating as ever, so logic dictates he’ll have a great game. Jeremy Shockey, meanwhile, is iffy for the game, so look elsewhere if you can. As for the Redskins, it’s all about Ladell Betts. He’s been Washington’s constant ever since he took over.

Carolina at New Orleans – Ummm, are the Panthers fo’ realz? Steve Smith getting no catches is a travesty, no matter who their quarterback is. DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams are stealing each other’s carries, which makes neither a safe option. Unfortunately, the Saints are one of those teams that have clinched all they can. Sean Payton has intimated that they will treat the game somewhere in between a regular season contest and a ‘fourth pre-season game.’ Whatever that means. Relying on Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister,Reggie Bush or Marques Colston will be very risky.

Cleveland at Houston – With both teams calling ‘uncle,’ this will definitely be one of the lesser-viewed finales Sunday. The Browns are actually starting Ken Dorsey. He’s a quarterback, for those that forgot. (I admit I had to look him up.) Braylon Edwards is having discipline problems while Kellen Winslow is listed as questionable. Just avoid the Browns. Ron Dayne and Andre Johnson could both score touchdowns, which makes both legitimate fantasy starts for the Texans. Here’s to 2007!

Detroit at Dallas – I’m going to be honest here: My hope for this game is that Roy Williams takes it to Roy Williams. That would be sweet. Yes, I’ve been waiting all season to write that. Yes, that’s sad. Whatever. The Lions top wide out has been something of a second-half bust, but you probably have to start him this week. Mike Furrey is also a legitimate option. The Cowboys are playing for a division crown, so I expect all starters to play the whole game. That makes Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Julius Jones, Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn good fantasy starts.

Jacksonville at Kansas City – Maurice Jones-Drew is riding a seven-game scoring streak, which ties the longest streak for a rookie in NFL history. I fully expect him to break the record against the Chiefs. Fred Taylor should play, but MoJo is the better start. The Chiefs are going to have to turn on the jets against a tough Jacksonville defense, but Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez are standard starts. For the record, Johnson will be a very risky pick next season. He already has 383 rushes this season, which means he has an outside chance at the most rushes for a season in league history (410). The reckless handling of this kid has put his career in jeopardy. (Just ask the current record holder, Jamal Anderson.) The Chiefs should be ashamed.

New England at Tennessee – The Patriots still have something to play for, sort of. They can move up to the third seed in the AFC with a win and a Colts loss. As long as this contest is close, I’d expect the starters to be playing. Tom Brady is a marginal start while both Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney are flex plays. The Titans need a win desperately, so start Vince Young with confidence. The kid has been a fantasy savior this season. Travis Henry is listed as questionable and the Patriots run defense is strong. That’s a combination I’d avoid. Drew Bennett is a deep sleeper at wide out.

Oakland at N.Y. Jets – Stay away from me, Oakland! I’d rather have LaDainian Tomlinson quarterback the Raiders than either Aaron Brooks or Andrew Walter. The Jets have had a pretty incredible season and should find a way to win this one. Unfortunately, Cedric Houston and Laveranues Coles are both listed as questionable. Monitor the status of this pair. Either are worth starts if they play. Jerricho Cotchery is a decent sleeper, and his stock increases if Coles can’t go.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati – I actually think this could be one of the more competitive games of the day. The Steelers are out of the playoff picture, but would love nothing more than to keep the Bengals from advancing themselves. Ben Roethlisberger is listed as questionable, but if the Steelers have any heart, they will keep the battered soul out of the lineup. Willie Parker might be the start of the game, as he had 146 total yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati earlier this season. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes are both weak wide out starts. As for the Bengals, start your engines and by engines, I mean the normal guys. You knew that.

And, while fantasy football is coming to an end, I will still be around every now and then. You’ll still get some insightful off-season fantasy themed columns from me. If that doesn’t do it for you, however, there’s also Grey’s Anatomy! Yay! I should probably do a column on that…

- Andy Goldstein

In case you couldn’t get to my first column this week, let me reiterate my methodology for previewing games for championship time. Due to LaDainian Tomlinson’s domination this season, almost every league is down to a team that has Tomlinson (The ‘LT team’) and a team that doesn’t (the ‘Non-LT team’). As I wrote a few days ago, the Non-LT team should take more risks. ‘Good’ days from players aren’t enough to overcome Tomlinson, since he cancels out two or three ‘good’ players per week. Go big. Try to find the equalizer.

The LT team, on the other hand, can play it closer to the vest. Jeff Garcia, for example, is a great play for an LT team, since he’s thrown at least one touchdown pass in all of his starts this season. On the flip side, I wouldn’t recommend Garcia to Non-LT teams, since he’s only thrown for over 300 yards and tossed three touchdowns once.

Tampa Bay at Cleveland – Awesome. The NFL went out and attempted to find a feud more boring than the pointless Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump tiff. And boy did it succeed. Other than Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, there isn’t a soul to start from this snoozefest. By the way, O’Donnel, Trump and Anderson Cooper. May 2007 be a better year.

Tennessee at Buffalo – Vince Young is a Non-LT team kind of player this week. He is a very high risk since he’s still a green quarterback. His stats were terrible last week since he was never on the field. Ultimately, his ability to combine decent passing numbers with rushing stats that approach Michael Vick is what makes him an intriguing play. As I mentioned above, if you need to try to cancel out Tomlinson, you’re going to need something special. Young can be that player, but the downside (last week, for example) is well known.

On the Bills side, Lee Evans and Willis McGahee are both fine starts. The Titans defense has improved somewhat, but they are still very beatable. J.P. Losman is playing at a higher level than earlier in the year, but still shouldn’t be trusted at this late stage.

Washington at St. Louis – This contest should be all about the running backs. The Rams are the 31st-ranked run defense while the Redskins sit at 21st. Clearly, Ladell Betts and Steven Jackson are must starts. Tory Holt has had an immensely disappointing campaign, but if you have him and you’re in your championship game, there’s no way you can bench him. After all, the Redskins have allowed more passing touchdowns than any other team in the league.

Arizona at San Francisco – What to do with the Arizona Cardinals!? Edgerrin James would be a safe play alongside Tomlinson, but I doubt many owners would have both pre-season first round picks. Non-LT teams should only use James as a last resort. His explosiveness is limited. The receiving game remains a baffling one for the Cardinals. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are still a formidable duo, but neither is having a killer season. It’s a good matchup, so I’ll call both second fantasy wide outs, but I’d be surprised if both have good games.

Frank Gore. Gore, Gore, Gore, and Gore. The former Hurricane has lit the league on fire. He’s headed to the Pro Bowl and the 49ers still have an outside shot at a playoff spot. They also have been off since last Thursday, which means Gore’s legs should be feeling better than they have for a while. Umm, he’s a start.

Cincinnati at Denver – After last week’s sub par performance, many owners of Bengals’ players are out of their league’s playoff picture. For the lucky ones that remain, Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are all good plays. The Broncos have not been too adept at stopping opponents from running up nice scores.

The Jay Cutler era seems to be moving along nicely for the Broncos. (Although that may not be right Cutler.) As long as Javon Walker plays, he should put up a good game. Tatum Bell, unfortunately, has been too inconsistent this season. His 18-carry, 29-yard performance last week is a red flag to ever starting him.

San Diego at Seattle – Well, well, well. If it isn’t Mr. Tomlinson. What are we up to, 70 touchdowns now? Luckily for Tomlinson (and Antonio Gates) owners, the Chargers have to play the starters at least one more time this regular season, so there should be no worries of the studs not getting snaps. Unfortunately, after last week, Philip Rivers shouldn’t be trusted in your big game.

Don’t start Shaun Alexander. Even when healthy, this guy is not the same player he was the last five seasons. The Chargers defense is one of the best in the league, and Seattle will probably be playing from behind. Do you really need 20 carries for 75 yards? Matt Hasselbeck is an average option. Expect 225 yards and two touchdowns from him.

Philadelphia at Dallas – I talked about Garcia at the top of the column, but I should also mention this is a revenge game for him. Terrell Owens insulted his manliness by saying he smelled like a rat. Or…something. Anyway, I still expect one or two touchdown tosses from the former 49er. Brian Westbrook is a strong start, and a great non-LT guy since he can fill a stat sheet in multiple ways.

The Cowboys are the Cowboys, which means Tony Romo, Owens and Terry Glenn are worth starts. If you’re feeling lucky, Marion Barber could also succeed against a poor Eagles run defense. Unfortunately, his deficiency in carries makes me wary of starting him in a championship game.

N.Y. Jets at Miami – This is the Monday night game? Let’s face it, if you’re not a Jets or Dolphins fan, fantasy football is the only reason you’re tuning in. Monitor Laveranues Coles’ health. If he’s good to go, he’s a decent start. On the other side of the ball, it appears as if Marty Booker may not play, which means Chris Chambers becomes, perhaps, the most controversial start of the week. He’s probably best suited for non-LT teams, given his penchant for, well, sucking sometimes. Still, his ability to have huge games could make him an equalizer. Basically, you’re swimming at your own risk with Chambers.

Have a happy and safe holiday season filled with fantasy football championships!

- Andy Goldstein

For most of the fantasy football world, this is the final week of games. (Fear not! I will be back next week for the stragglers out there.) But it’s time to get stingy. This is championship week — no more playing around. In fact, let me go over some championship strategy right now. In 95 per cent of leagues, there are two specific kinds of teams playing for the title. One is the ‘LT Team.’ Maybe the whole team is solid, maybe not, but the guy (or gal) has LaDainian Tomlinson. The other type of team is the ‘Non-LT Team.’ It’s probably a better ensemble group with a stud or two. If you are the former, you are probably looking for safe starts. You need your quarterback to toss a couple touchdowns and keep the wheels moving. Basically, you just need Tomlinson to do his thing and it’ll be good.

If you don’t start a guy who has 60 rushing touchdowns (or whatever he has), you are looking for the big play guys. You don’t need a quarterback who will get you 200 yards and a couple touchdowns. You can’t assume that will help you much at all. Tomlinson owners have eaten the average teams up all season. My advice to the owners that are going up against Tomlinson is to take risks. You have to go in with the mindset that a good day from your team won’t win. It’s about conquering a player who is having the best fantasy season in NFL history. And with that, on to the games.

Minnesota at Green Bay – There aren’t too many good starts from either side in this game. Chester Taylor came back from injury last week and had a mediocre stat line while only carrying the ball 11 times. LT teams might be able to get away with starting him as a second back, but non-LT teams can only use him as a flex play at best.

With the Vikings run defense being all-world, Ahman Green should be promptly benched. This ain’t a Green game for anyone. The Packer to target is Donald Driver. He’s going to the Pro Bowl and should prove worthy against the Vikings porous pass defense.

Kansas City at Oakland – Two names. Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez. Other than those two, this game will only be worth watching for the new Heidi Klum ‘Santa Baby’ commercial.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh – Sadly, the starts just aren’t there in this one, especially on the Ravens’ side of the ball. Honestly, are you going to start Jamal Lewis? Derrick Mason? In fact, the only player I’d consider is Mark Clayton for the non-LT teams out there. He has a chance (however low) of having a huge game. He’s done the two touchdown thing before, at least.

The Steelers seem to have more options. Willie Parker is tough to bench. He plays extraordinarily well at home, is on a hot streak, and can be considered a stud. You never bench your studs, even against the Ravens. I’d leave Ben Roethlisberger on the bench at this point. His penchant for throwing interceptions this season scares me against an aggressive Baltimore defense. Hines Ward, on the other hand, is a good, safe option. He’s optimal for an LT team.

Carolina at Atlanta – Steve Smith has certainly had a somewhat disappointing campaign, but I think he’s a must start against the Falcons. He is one of those guys who has a chance at having a huge game. Start him and cross your fingers. For the Falcons, Mike Vick is a strong option for non-LT teams. Again, is a 200-yard game and two passing touchdowns going to beat LT? Probably not. But the potential for Vick’s combined passing and rushing statistics is pretty high. It’s possible for him to negate Tomlinson, and there aren’t many guys out there who can do that. On the flip side, if you have Tomlinson, I wouldn’t start Vick. He is just as likely to turn the ball over and give you nothing. He’s not a safe start at all.

Chicago at Detroit – I honestly don’t think there are any good starts in this game. Chicago is headlong into ‘Rest the Starters’ mode while the Lions are entering week six or seven of their ‘Is the Season Over Yet’ status. I guess you could maybe try Roy Williams at a flex position, but even that is a high risk move, as his 11 receiving yards last week can attest to. Ummm….how about Klum as Santa again?!

Indianapolis at Houston – It isn’t every year this is true, but the Colts won’t feel the need to pull their starters here in Week 16. Fantasy owners should take full advantage of this and start Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Unfortunately, Joseph Addai is having injury problems, which makes both running backs too risky for anyone to start.

Believe it or not, I have relented. It’s okay to start Ron Dayne no matter what your situation is. This is how bad the Colts run defense is. They could make Dayne look like…well, a capable running back. Andre Johnson is probably going to lead the league in receptions, so keep him active.

New England at Jacksonville – Sorry, but Tom Brady has been worthless lately. Starting him means you might as well bookmark this game, cause you won’t be winning any money to buy a new Wii. In fact, the whole Patriots squad is not worth thinking about right now. Leave them be. The Jaguars are all about the running game. Maurice Jones-Drew is the prime start, while Fred Taylor is a decent flex play if healthy.

New Orleans at N.Y. Giants – There probably aren’t many Drew Brees’ owners that are still playing for anything this week thanks to last week’s debacle. In the off chance that you are, he should rebound nicely against the overmatched Giants defense. Depending on which wide outs actually play, there should be a couple of strong starts there. Marques Colston is probably the best option.

I am going to go out on a limb and call Tiki Barber a good start, even for non-LT teams. He scored a touchdown last week, and now faces a run defense that allows 5.1 yards per carry. It has potential to be a very large day. Plaxico Burress is also a fine start. He’s scored a touchdown or gotten more than 100 receiving yards in each of his last five games.

- Andy Goldstein

It seems as though Chris Weinke will be starting for Carolina again. Call me crazy, but I just don’t see another 400-yard passing effort in the offing. In fact, I think he’ll struggle to get half of that. Steve Smith is a start, but don’t get fooled by Drew Carter’s big game. Yes, Weinke and Carter probably have some rapport from working together often in practice, but Smith is the better wide out. Carter shouldn’t be able to find open spaces like he did last week.

Tampa Bay at Chicago - Wow, thanks for playing, we’ll see y’all next week. Umm, seriously though, there’s really nothing here. Muhsin Muhammad is a third wide out, while Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson are both flex players. Whatever the over/under is in this game, I’d take the under.

Washington at New Orleans – Is it possible that Ladell Betts is just a better running back than Clinton Portis? Okay, that’s probably a bit over the top, and Portis was certainly a better touchdown threat, but Betts has come in and done a nice job. I’d keep on rolling with the former Hawkeye. Santana Moss has been a big bust this season, but he is always a threat for a long touchdown. Consider him a weak third wide out start.

Talking about wide receivers, the Saints remain a great source of fantasy starts. Marques Colston and Joe Horn are having injury problems, however, so monitor how they do. If they can’t go, Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper become good fantasy starts. Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush, meanwhile, have become the second best running back duo in the league. (Behind Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew of course) Both are too dangerous to sit, unless you have prime guys ahead of them.

Denver at Arizona – I’m going to take a leap of faith and say the Cardinals win this one. Jay Cutler played a lot better last week than he did in his first start, but he’s still the weakest starting quarterback in the league right now. Tatum Bell is a good option if you need running back help since the Cardinals run defense is, well, your standard Cardinals run defense. Javon Walker is a guy you might have to start, and he is capable of a long touchdown, but temper expectations.

Arizona has won three of its last four games. Let’s hear it for the red and white! Larry Fitzgerald has been the most consistent Cardinal since he came back from injury. Edgerrin James has also been able to work out the early season demons. Unfortunately, the Broncos have a stifling run defense, (3.9 yards per carry allowed) which scares me off from starting James. He’s a surprising sit. The other interesting play here is Anquan Boldin. With only three 100-yard games this year, it’s definitely been a disappointing campaign. Still, I can’t advise sitting him. The Broncos pass defense is regrettable, and I’d assume Champ Bailey will spend most of the day on Fitzgerald. It strikes me as a good matchup.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants – Remember how last week I said Jeff Garcia wasn’t a terrible start and he should get a couple touchdowns and we gasped and had a good laugh? Well, consider that back in effect. The Giants pass defense stinks, so Garcia should toss a couple of scores. Dont’ Stallworth and Reggie Brown are the main targets, and at least one of them will catch a touchdown.

So Roethlisberger’s happier time included Kelly Clarkson. Michael Strahan’s happier time has Tom Arnold. You win some and you lose some, Mike! Oh well, Tiki Barber is riding somewhat-less-than-triumphantly off into the sunset after this season, but he’s a good start this week. Everyone slices and dices the Eagles run defense. Plaxico Burress might get a touchdown and I expect a good game from Jeremy Shockey. Other than that, avoid the Giants like you avoid watching The Best Damn Sports Show Period.

St. Louis at Oakland – Start Steven Jackson. The potential top three fantasy pick next season is a stud. He can beat anyone, and he should destroy the Raiders weak run defense. The Bengals showed the world last week that Oakland’s top ranking for pass defense might be a bit undeserved. Marc Bulger is worth a start, but I’d still consider it a weaker one. The only Rams wide out I trust at the moment is Tory Holt. And don’t start any Raiders.

Kansas City at San Diego – Two offenses that have been mirror images of each other for a few years now face off in what could be the most entertaining Sunday night game of the season. Both teams have great running games, dominating offensive lines, and a top flight tight end. It seems to be the new trend in the NFL. (49ers anyone?) Other than the ‘you-know-whos,’ Philip Rivers has a good chance at two touchdowns and Trent Green should at least do better than last week.

Cincinnati at Indianapolis – How does ESPN go 14 weeks with matchups that are just terrible on paper, and then pull out this doozy in Week 15? It makes no sense! Carson Palmer, Peyton Manning, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and maybe Chris Henry. I need some oxygen. Rock On!

- Andy Goldstein

San Francisco at Seattle – The last time these two teams met, that bruising, relentless running back had the best yardage game of his career. Of course, I’m talking about Frank Gore and his 212-yard rushing performance in Week 11. He’s a start, obviously, in the national spotlight. With the 49ers handing off all evening, Antonio Bryant probably isn’t the best start. He has struggled the entire second half of the season, and doesn’t warrant anything more than a flex start.

In that Week 11 meeting, Shaun Alexander was just returning from injury and didn’t run all that effectively. You don’t need me to tell you to start him this week. The big news for the Seahawks revolves around Darrell Jackson. The receiving touchdown leader this season is out with an injury suffered last week. While devastating to Jackson owners, it’s good news for Deion Branch. The former Patriot should step up and have a big game. Matt Hasselbeck is a fine start as well.

Dallas at Atlanta – So wait, Tony Romo isn’t a deity of some kind? Shoot, I guess I’ll stop praying to the Romo figurine that I’ve turned into a shrine. That being said, Atlanta possesses one of the worst pass defenses in the league. I’m expecting a bounce back from Romo in the form of a couple touchdown passes. Julius Jones had a big run last week, but didn’t accomplish much outside of that. Marion Barber just didn’t accomplish anything. I would call both flex plays this week. Terrell Owens is an obvious start, but I also like Terry Glenn to play a role in the passing game.

Mike Vick, you just became my sworn enemy. I was digging you this season. You were putting up amazing rushing numbers. You were even tossing some touchdown passes. You hadn’t really thrown up too many clunkers all season. And then, against Tampa no less, you have a 155-yard passing, five-yard rushing, one-interception day?! Inexcusable. Horrid. Anyway, Vick is a weak first starter this week. He has, historically, played well at home. That, and he should be able to beat Roy Williams deep once, since everyone can beat Williams deep at least once. Avoid the Falcons’ running and receiving games, however. Only Alge Crumpler is worth a start other than Vick. But you all knew that already.

Cleveland at Baltimore - Everyone and their mothers think that this will be a boring AFC North game. I’m not going to try and tell you this will be a game with a ton of points, but there were significant fantasy factors in the last go round. Braylon Edwards had 114 yards and a touchdown. Derrick Mason had 132 yards and Mark Clayton chipped in with eight receptions, matching his career high. I think Edwards and Clayton are both marginal third wide out starts, depending on the rest of your roster. Boring? Maybe. Fantasy relevance? It’s there.

Detroit at Green Bay – Bad news for owners of Kevin Jones, and the worst news ever for owners of Kevin Jones in dynasty leagues: The Detroit back suffered about as bad a Lis Franc injury as is possible. His season is over. His 2007 campaign is on hold. His career is in jeopardy. *Gulp* This does mean that the Lions will have to throw the ball a lot. Jon Kitna’s penchant for interceptions makes him a weak option, in my view, despite the easy matchup. Roy Williams, on the other hand, is a decent start. Even Mike Furrey is a legitimate option. I actually shuddered while writing that last sentence.

Donald Driver has quietly had a very productive season. He is currently ranked fourth in receiving yards. Detroit isn’t really known for stopping, well, anyone, so expect Driver to continue his high-flying ways. Ahman Green traveled 130 all-purpose yards and crossed the stripe against the Lions earlier this season. He is a wonderful sneaky start. Other than that, I’d avoid the Packers offense. You can find a better option at quarterback than Brett Favre.

Houston at New England – Does anyone notice that Andre Johnson is on pace to finish with 113 receptions? At the same time, he has scored one touchdown in his last six contests. Oh well, he’s a start. For some reason, people in the fantasy community think Ron Dayne is worth a start this weekend. I still don’t see it, especially with the Patriots’ third-ranked run defense. Speaking of the Patriots, thanks for nothing last week! Tom Brady is a decent start, I guess. It is the Texans. But starting a quarterback who threw for a measly 78 yards the week before, that takes some guts.

Jacksonville at Tennessee – This just in: The Jaguars running game is pretty good. They clocked an historically inept run defense to the tune of…oh, I don’t know, 800 yards or something. I honestly lost count at around 300, but I do know the Jaguars set a team record for rushing yards in a game, which they accomplished by halftime. As long as they are healthy enough to play, both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew (MoJo is his official nickname) are fine fantasy starts.

We also learned that Vince Young was probably the best player in the 2006 draft. (With the aforementioned MoJo coming in second. Reggie Bush is third, sorry.) If I were starting a new NFL team tomorrow, and could have any player in the league, Young would probably be my pick. That being said, he is still green and facing a much better defense this week. I still think he’ll contribute enough yardage on the ground to be worth a look, but he’s not a must start. Please leave Travis Henry on the bench.

Miami at Buffalo – Much like many of these power tool racers, the Miami Dolphins just don’t get off to a good start sometimes. But once they get moving, it takes a great force to stop them. Or…at least someone to pull the power cord out. Anyway, Marty Booker is the guy to start. With Chris Chambers mercifully questionable, Booker becomes the clear-cut first option. The Bills have been heating up themselves, thanks in large part to Willis McGahee. The former Miami Hurricane has come back strong from injury, which makes him a safe start here. Lee Evans has had some huge games against the Dolphins, so keep him active as well.

N.Y. Jets at Minnesota – I really don’t know what to say about this contest. NASA would have to pay me more money to watch this one than they will have to pay for a Moon outpost. Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery are the only starts here. Please, don’t make me think about this one ever again.

Pretty spiffy new digs we got here, eh? That ‘eh’ was for you, RotoRob!

- Andy Goldstein

Philadelphia at Washington – Yes, we get it, FOX, CBS and ESPN. The NFC is so bad that the Eagles are in a playoff spot and the Redskins are still in the picture. Find a new angle. Anyway, I have something absolutely frightening to tell you, my readers. This will send chills up and down your spine. The next sentence makes The Exorcist look like Teletubbies. (Actually, even more horrifying would be The Exorcist as done by the Teletubbies.) Ahem, anyway: Jeff Garcia is a decent sneaky start. It’ll be okay, it’ll be okay. Just breathe. The Redskins pass defense is tied for worst in the league against passing touchdowns, so Garcia should get a couple. Dont’ Stallworth is a marginal second fantasy option while Reggie Brown is again a touchdown threat.Ladell Betts, meanwhile, might be the start of the game. He is working on two straight 100-yard games and is now facing a defense that gives up over 135 yards per game on the ground. Avoid using any other Redskins. Jason Campbell has been an okay NFL quarterback, but his fantasy value is limited. Plus, the Eagles are quite effective against the pass. Oh, and the NFC stinks. Thanks for listening.

Tennessee at Houston – His completion percentage isn’t, well, good. His mechanics need help. His supporting cast is low on talent. But Vince Young isn’t a bad fantasy option. He keeps scoring touchdowns through the air and on the ground. Last time he faced Houston, he got two touchdowns, and now he’s a bit more used to the speed of the game. I think he’s a fine start. Even Drew Bennett is a deep sleeper at wide out. Travis Henry is also a great flex play if you need a spark.

Andre Johnson had a terrible game last week, but if he’s on your roster and you’re in the playoffs, he’s probably a big reason as to why you’re there. This is no time to bench him. The Titans are 28th in the league in pass defense. Please stay away from the running game. Ron Dayne, Samkon Gado or Wali Lundy? Who knows. We’re talking about Ron Dayne here. Ron…Dayne.

Green Bay at San Francisco – No disrespect to Brett Favre, but the Packers flat out bore me. Donald Driver and Ahman Green are good starts. Same ol’, same ol’. For some reason the 49ers seemed to go away from Frank Gore last week. Yes, the Saints score points quickly, but Gore is the only consistent offensive player San Francisco has! How does an NFL team forget its bread and butter? I assume the ‘Niners will relearn how good this kid is this weekend. Don’t hesitate to start the former Hurricane. Antonio Bryant is a good third wide out, but Alex Smith needs more time to mature.

Seattle at Arizona – You don’t need me to say this, but start Shaun Alexander. In his last four games against the Cardinals, he’s scored 10 touchdowns. That’s not a bad average. Basically, this is a ’start ‘em if you got ‘em’ game. Matt Hasselbeck, Darrell Jackson and Deion Branch should all have good games. On the other side of the ball, Arizona’s offense has been maddeningly inconsistent. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are too good to bench, but Edgerrin James should remain on the sidelines.

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets – As of this writing, it seems as though Willis McGahee is a go on Sunday. If he does play, he’ll be a good second back. The Jets pay attention to the run about as much as Britney Spears pays attention to panties. Other than that, Lee Evans is always a threat for a big game, but you don’t want to start J.P. Losman.

The Jets have had a pretty consistent passing attack all season. Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery are good fantasy wide outs. They could both score this weekend. The running game also picked up last week behind Cedric Houston. He’s a deep sleeper if you need a boost.

Denver at San Diego – So the Jay Cutler era didn’t exactly start off on a strong note. It will be all right, I mean, the Broncos are probably playing a weak opponent this week anyway. Right? What’s that? The Chargers? Oh. Never mind. I can safely say: Don’t start any Denver players. As for San Diego, this would be a good week to start Philip Rivers since the Broncos pass defense won’t be able to handle Antonio Gates. And LaDainian Tomlinson was on the Tonight Show a few days ago. Cool!

. Cool!New Orleans at Dallas – The question of the week is whether or not to start Reggie Bush. Almost every owner who has Bush has probably rotated him in and out of his (or her) lineup five times this week. My vote is, sadly, ‘not yet.’ If Bush had a breakout game on the ground, I’d be okay with starting him. But 10 carries for 37 yards is still sub par. I realize he’s a beast in the passing game, but that’s a fickle statistic for a back who won’t contribute at all on the ground, especially against a stout run defense in the Cowboys. It’s too much of a gamble during fantasy playoff time. It seems as though all of the Saints wide outs are banged up. If you know your New Orleans wide out is a go, start him.

The Cowboys have an interesting matchup to play with. The Saints pass defense is ranked fourth in yards allowed, but 29th in touchdowns allowed. Expect Tony Romo to have a subdued yardage day, but toss two or three touchdowns. Believe it or not, Marion Barber is clearly the better running back option in Dallas. He’s a marginal second starter and great flex play.

Chicago at St. Louis – Man, that Rex Grossman is awesome, isn’t he? Uhh, yeah. Thomas Jones is losing carries rapidly to Cedric Benson, which makes Jones a bad start despite the friendly matchup. In fact, Benson is a better option of the two. As for the Rams, Steven Jackson should get to 100 yards, which is nice. Tory Holt also has an outside chance to have a good day, since the Bears do allow top wide outs to get their stats. Unfortunately, Marc Bulger will be under pressure all day, which makes him a very risky start.

Good luck and if you’re bored, check this out. Also, realize by clicking that, you will have to sacrifice at least a few hours of your life. You have no choice.

- Andy Goldstein

The Steelers, meanwhile, should find some mixed success tonight. Roethlisberger is too risky because of the interceptions, but give Santonio Holmes a look. He’s a bit of a sneaky flex start since he seems to be the only healthy option among the Steelers’ wide outs. He could be good for 60 to 70 yards with an outside shot at a touchdown. Willie Parker has underperformed of late, but he’s a must-start against the Browns’ 24th-ranked run defense.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay – Despite everyone and their mothers (or fathers) taking shots at Mike Vick, the Falcons quarterback remains a top fantasy football signal caller. Vick ran for 127 yards in Week Two against the Bucs. Warrick Dunn also ran well, but his season (and career) might just about be done. In the passing game, Alge Crumpler is still the main target, but Michael Jenkins has three touchdowns in the last four games. He’s a sneaky, high risk start.

Baltimore at Kansas City – Even when the Ravens play well offensively, the fantasy relevance is limited. Steve McNair has just been too inconsistent, so don’t start him this week. The same can be said of Jamal Lewis. Either Derrick Mason or Mark Clayton could have a nice game, but which one is anybody’s guess. As for the Chiefs, Larry Johnson will find a way to be a fantasy factor. For those of you considering benching Johnson because of the matchup, come on! Tony Gonzalez came back strong from injury last week, so keep him going. Don’t, however, go crazy with Trent Green. I wouldn’t want to trust my playoff life to a guy who has had one good game all season.

Indianapolis at Jacksonville – This should be one of the better matchups of the day. The Colts and Jaguars tend to play high level football, which isn’t always good for the Colts’ big guns. Yes, you’re going to start Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, but temper expectations a bit. Joseph Addai should go back to the bench. The Jaguars have one of the best run defenses in the league.

Jacksonville will run, run, and run on Sunday. This makes both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew legitimate fantasy starts. Earlier this season, the two combined for over 200 yards of total offense and a touchdown. In the receiving game, Matt Jones seems to be the newest fad. ESPN named him a good fill in for the fantasy playoff run. I’m not quite as high on him, but he would make for a decent flex play this week.

Minnesota at Detroit – The Vikings have been a season-long one-man fantasy entity. Chester Taylor has been a prime sleeper all year. Unfortunately, he’s banged up this week, and may not play. Monitor his injury status as game time approaches. The Lions will take the opposite approach by passing as often as possible. Jon Kitna is a sneaky start while Roy Williams is a steady one. Mike Furrey actually got more looks, catches and yards last week, but I don’t buy it. Leave the former Panther (From Northern Iowa, of course) on your bench unless you have no other options.

New England at Miami – Well, Tom Brady is a start, and he’s also super-hunky! (”You’re the starter in my fantasy league for two,” indeed.) The Dolphins pass defense is good, but quarterbacks have been able to get touchdowns against them. Corey Dillon is also a good option, since it seems as though he is good for three touchdowns a game. (Okay, maybe not, but still, he’s a start.)

Chris Chambers finally joined the party last week, getting more looks than any other player in the league. As long as that trend continues, Chambers will be a good fantasy playoff wide out. Joey Harrington isn’t quite as hunky as Brady, so clearly there’s no reason to put him in your starting lineup.

N.Y. Giants at Carolina – Welcome back, Eli Manning. It was nice to see the Giants pass game look competent for a change. This makes Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey safe starts. Unless your league only awards points for touchdowns, Tiki Barber remains a weak first running back option. The Panthers, meanwhile, might be forced to start Chris Weinke. This is bad news for Steve Smith. He’s too good to bench, but it might not be the best stat line for the pro bowler. If DeShaun Foster is out again, DeAngelo Williams is a good flex start. Otherwise, avoid the situation.
Oakland at Cincinnati – The Raiders pass defense is very good on paper. They haven’t exactly faced the best passing attacks this year, but they shut down who they play. You can’t fault them for that. Of course, no one is going to bench Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, or T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but I’m going to be the bearer of bad news. One of the wide outs is going to have a bad game. Rudi Johnson, on the other hand, will be the focal point of the offense.- The Raiders pass defense is very good on paper. They haven’t exactly faced the best passing attacks this year, but they shut down who they play. You can’t fault them for that. Of course, no one is going to bench , , or , but I’m going to be the bearer of bad news. One of the wide outs is going to have a bad game. , on the other hand, will be the focal point of the offense.Good luck during the fantasy playoffs, even to the NFL players who might be reading. (Sorry if I said anything mean about you over the course of the year! Yes, I’m talking to you, Jake Plummer.)- The Raiders pass defense is very good on paper. They haven’t exactly faced the best passing attacks this year, but they shut down who they play. You can’t fault them for that. Of course, no one is going to bench , , or , but I’m going to be the bearer of bad news. One of the wide outs is going to have a bad game. , on the other hand, will be the focal point of the offense.Good luck during the fantasy playoffs,. (Sorry if I said anything mean about you over the course of the year! Yes, I’m talking to you, .)- Andy Goldstein- The Raiders pass defense is very good on paper. They haven’t exactly faced the best passing attacks this year, but they shut down who they play. You can’t fault them for that. Of course, no one is going to bench , , or , but I’m going to be the bearer of bad news. One of the wide outs is going to have a bad game. , on the other hand, will be the focal point of the offense.Good luck during the fantasy playoffs,. (Sorry if I said anything mean about you over the course of the year! Yes, I’m talking to you, .)- Andy Goldstein

I went through all of that because the Bills are currently ranked 16th in pass defense. Right smack dab in the middle. It’s as pure a pick em’ that fantasy football has seen perhaps all season. One touchdown is basically a guarantee and Rivers has got a 50 per cent chance at two. Moving on, consider Willis McGahee a weak second or strong flex back this weekend. He had a nice game last week, but the question of durability remains.

San Francisco at New Orleans – Frank Gore was listed as questionable earlier this week, but has since been upgraded to probable. Against the Saints’ 29th-ranked run defense, Gore should find plenty of room to run wild. He’s been a season-saving type player this year. Just ask anyone who drafted him after taking Clinton Portis, Lamont Jordan, Carnell Williams or Shaun Alexander in the first round. Other than Gore, avoid the 49ers’ offense. The Saints defend the pass well, and San Francisco will stay on the ground anyway.

New Orleans, on the other hand, should have a good offensive day all around. Drew Brees, Joe Horn and Deuce McAllister are safe starts. If Marques Colston is healthy enough to play, he’s a fine start. If he’s not, then Devery Henderson will pick up the slack again. Either way, one of those guys will be first option wide out. Reggie Bush is an interesting play, but the 49ers’ defense has been performing somewhat better lately. Bush has been a bust all year, and that should continue, unfortunately.

Houston at Oakland – Oh, how I love the smell of incompetence on Sunday afternoons. Andre Johnson will do his best to make it an interesting game, but other than that, there isn’t much to see here. Move along, folks. Try this fun, bizarre game!

Jacksonville at Miami – The battle for Florida is at hand! Between rain showers and orange groves these two ‘defense first’ teams will square off. Sadly, it probably isn’t the most interesting game for fantasy football purposes. Both teams will attempt to control the game with their running backs, and both will find it a tough go. Fred Taylor is a very weak second fantasy option while Maurice Jones-Drew is a weak flex start. I’d leave all Dolphins on the bench with the possible exception of Marty Booker. He has turned into Miami’s top receiving option and has an outside shot at a touchdown.

Dallas at N.Y. Giants – The Tony Romo era couldn’t be going much better. And did you know he’s been romantically linked to Jessica Simpson? That story almost slipped under the radar. Anyways, keep Mr. Simpson active against the Giants. He’s been too hot to dump. Err…bench. Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn are both good wide out options, but the Cowboys’ running game has been mostly frustration for us fantasy folk. Julius Jones is getting more carries, but Marion Barber keeps stealing the touchdowns. Expect that trend to continue until further notice.

Talking about running backs stealing touchdowns, ladies and gentlemen, may I present your 2006-07 New York Giants! Here we have Tiki Barber, all around yardage menace. He sports a sparkling 4.8 yards per carry average and is fifth in the league in total yards from scrimmage. There’s just one catch. You have to bring along this Brandon Jacobs guy. Much like Cris Carter, all he does is score touchdowns. Anyway, leave Eli Manning on the bench, but go ahead and start Plaxico Burress. Even if Michael Strahan threatens you.

Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh – This could be an ugly game. On the Bucs’ side, there’s…umm…not much. Carnell Williams might be a weak flex play, but his one touchdown this season doesn’t inspire me all that much. Joey Galloway has had some fantasy relevant games, but I wouldn’t want to start him against an angry Steelers’ defense.

The Steelers should have a somewhat better offensive day. Ben Roethlisberger is a sneaky start. The Tampa pass defense is ranked 22nd, which isn’t very good. Hines Ward is out with an injury, but I expect the balanced Steelers’ wide outs to all contribute. Willie Parker could also score a receiving touchdown, and remains a weekly starter despite the pitiful games against the Ravens.

Seattle at Denver – I apologize to my readers, but I must rant. Shaun Alexander (during the preseason, I picked him as my running back bust because of his overuse last year) came back from injury recently and ran well last week. In fact, he got over 200 yards on the ground. So what’s wrong here? The Seahawks gave Alexander 40 carries in that game. Four-Zero. That’s twice as much as a guy coming back from an injury should be getting in a game. The human body, even an amazingly fit one, is not made for this kind of abuse. If the Seahawks want Alexander down the stretch and in the postseason, they need to take care of him. They must make sure he touches the ball 20 to 25 times a game — no more than that. It’s unfair to him and jeopardizes his career.

Anyway, nothing I can say will make you bench Alexander this week, but don’t be surprised if he struggles. Guys who carry the ball 40 times in a game tend to take a couple weeks to get back on track. Meanwhile, start Matt Hasselbeck, Darrell Jackson and Deion Branch. I expect Seattle’s passing game to click well. For the new look Broncos, only Javon Walker is worth a fantasy look. Who knows how Jay Cutler will take to the NFL.

Carolina at Philadelphia – Flex scheduling or not, the Eagles can’t seem to escape the national spotlight at the moment. That’s not good news since the loss of Donovan McNabb meant the loss of their one true prime time player. Brian Westbrook remains a good play while Reggie Brown is probably the best touchdown threat. Other than that, there isn’t much to get excited about for the Eagles. Well, I take that back. Who isn’t excited about Jeff Garcia?!!?

Jake Delhomme has had a rough season. With only 12 touchdowns on the season and one 300-yard game, there’s no reason to start him here. Also, the running game is very much up in the air right now. DeShaun Foster might play, which is throwing a monkey wrench into the value of DeAngelo Williams. Whichever player gets more carries is a good fantasy start, but that may not be known until game time. But I’m sure Tony Kornheiser will start both of them anyway.

- Andy Goldstein

As for the game, Steve McNair is a sneaky start while Jamal Lewis has become a good flex option. Mark Clayton is a very, very deep sleeper. On the Bengals’ side, you can start the usual suspects. Carson Palmer, Rudi Johnson, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh all get the obvious go sign. Chris Henry might even get a touchdown, but I wouldn’t rely on him.

Arizona at St. Louis – The Cardinals’ offense (sans Edgerrin James) came to life last week. Matt Leinart had his best game as a pro while both Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald played up to their top 10 potential. Both wide outs are weekly starts, and Leinart might even qualify as a sneaky one this week. Unfortunately, Edge is lost and gone forever. At least for this season. Dreadfully sorry.

Marc Bulger hasn’t passed for more than 250 yards since Week Nine. Ever since Orlando Pace went down with an injury, the Rams’ offense has been anemic. It’s taken a huge toll on Tory Holt and Isaac Bruce. All should be decent starts against a porous Arizona defense, but if they struggle at all, you might have to consider benching them during fantasy playoff time.

Atlanta at Washington – Despite all the press about how awful a quarterback Mike Vick is, the scrambling enigma remains a great fantasy force. In fact, he is a top five fantasy quarterback. Deal with it. Ahem. Start him this week, but leave Warrick Dunn on the bench. Dunn has clearly hit the wall and is no longer a fantasy factor. And for the Redskins…umm…I pass.

Detroit at New England – Sadly, the Jon Kitna era might be dwindling to a close. I don’t consider him a very good option through the fantasy playoffs. Still, it was a nice run while it lasted. The good news for Detroit is that Kevin Jones looks like he will back this weekend. The Patriots have a top run defense, but because Jones has been so good out of the backfield, his dual abilities make him a start.

Tom Brady is having the most impressive regular season of his career. Yardage wise, he has struggled somewhat, but considering the wide outs he is being forced to throw to, his numbers have been absolutely remarkable. That’s a roundabout way of saying you should start him this weekend. He’ll put up the statistics. Other than Ben Watson, the only other Patriot to consider is Laurence Maroney. The rookie is slowly becoming the clear cut number one back.

Indianapolis at Tennessee – Peyton Manning and the passing game get the press for the Colts, but Joseph Addai was the real story last week. He scored four times and got twice as many carries as Dominic Rhodes. It’s safe to use Addai until further notice. Other than that, don’t bench Marvin Harrison or anything. He complained this week about his lack of touches, so expect Manning to go back to him this week.

I hold here some late breaking news: Vince Young is not a bad quarterback. I know this is hard to fathom, especially for a certain someone over at ESPN, but it’s the truth. And get this: He’s a weak fantasy start this weekend. Plus, you know the Titans will be playing catch up all day. Even Travis Henry is a legitimate start, thanks to the Colts’ pitiful run defense.

Kansas City at Cleveland – Larry Johnson is on pace for 410 carries this season. That would tie the NFL single-season record, now held by Jamal Anderson. Of course, Anderson only had one season with more than 60 carries through the rest of his career. If you own Johnson in a dynasty league, I’d be very worried. Anyway, that doesn’t change his value this season. He’s clearly the second best fantasy producer. Other than Johnson, stay away from the Chiefs. The passing offense is just not good.

Minnesota at Chicago – All I need to say is Chester Taylor and thanks for playing, Vikings. The Bears, meanwhile, have some issues. Rex Grossman is the Jekyll and Hyde of the NFL. No one really knows which one will show up each week, and that’s not a good recipe for fantasy football playoff time. Other than Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian (both weak third or flex options), leave your Bears in their cave this week.

N.Y. Jets at Green Bay – Isn’t it nice that the Jets might be playing for more than just a high draft pick? (They mess those up often, anyway.) But I digress. Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery are both fantasy starts, but the running back by committee is still in place. While Leon Washington probably has the most talent, his lack of carries means that he is an afterthought.

The Packers went to the frozen tundra of Seattle last week and proceeded to play as if Green Bay was 60 degrees throughout the entire winter. No matter, there are fantasy factors to be found here. Ahman Green got a touchdown last week and is having a decent season. Keep him active unless you have two significantly better options. Donald Driver even got back on track last week thanks to his long touchdown catch. Hopefully it’s not cold or anything on Sunday.

- Andy Goldstein