A LITTLE RECAP AND COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

Tiki Barber- In the final regular season game of his career, Barber had what might be his most memorable performance of his career. After switching offensive coordinators early in the week, the Giants were committed to getting Tiki the ball. Every time the Giants needed a big play to respond to the Redskins, Tiki stepped up and delivered. He finished the day with 23 carries for 234 yards and 3 TDs. His fantasy owners may be a bit upset considering he saved his best for a week that doesn't matter in the fantasy world. Barber finished his final season with 1662 yards and 5 TDs rushing while also having 465 yards receiving. It was another hall of fame quality season for a running back that will look to extend his career next weke in the playoffs.

Jason Campbell- Washington appears like it is in very safe hands for the future. Their QB Jason Campbell has shown great progress as a starter, and he looks like he may be a star in this league. The Redskins have given him only about 20% of the offense, and he has excelled so far. He showed a lot of heart by almost leading the Redskins to a thrilling come from behind victory after once being down by 20 points. Campbell finished the day 21 for 31 with 220 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. His success coupled with that of Phillip Rivers is another reason why it made be a better idea to sit a QB for a few years than to play him right away.

Now here is what I'm hearing leading up to kickoff......

After looking good in practice yesterday, it was believed that Charlie Frye would see a fee snaps for Cleveland on Sunday. However, he will actually get the start in the game. He has apparently showed a lot of progress this week, and now he will have potentially his last chance to show Cleveland what he can do. Ken Dorsey will no longer be starting and will be the backup.

The future of Jim Mora in Atlanta looks like it will be determined on Monday. Owner Arthur Blank was not happy with Mora's comments about coaching the University of Washington and his team's performance this season. The reason the decision is so difficult is that he would need to find a coach that's a better fit for Michael Vick than Mora, and that would be hard to find. Some possible replacements being considered are Louisville coach Bobby Petrino and former NFL coach Steve Mariucci.

Former Denver starting QB Jake Plummer may be brought back next season to remain the backup. He apparently has a good relationship with Jay Cutler and may consider the idea of staying around. Most likely though he will be gone and the starting job in Oakland is his most likely destination for 2007.

The Chargers can clinch home field for the playoffs today, and they have a plan to do it. San Diego would like to generate a big lead in the first half so they can rest all of their stars for the second half. They want to make sure no horrific things happen like when Drew Brees injured his shoulder last season. This may be the week we can see what Michael Turner can do with an increased workload.

Try to avoid playing any New England Patriots today. They are expected to play their starters for about one series, and then go to their backups for the rest of the game. They should roll over for Tennessee while they get every one healthy for tha playoffs. The Titans will have to make sure to remember the Patriots next Christmas if the this causes them to get in the playoffs.

Last week that "rumor monger" Adam Scheffter spread "lies" about Art Shell being fired at the end of this season. However, as expected there is some truth to the rumors of Shell possibly on his way out as coach of the Raiders. The latest from Oakland is that Shell would be stripped of his head coach duties, but remain with the Raiders as their general manager. This appears a bit crazy, but that's the one way to describe the situation in Oakland.

Chiefs QB Trent Green may be starting his last game for Kansas City on Sunday. There is some word that the Chiefs would like to get younger, and they may turn to Brodie Croyle to play QB next season. They figure to ask Trent Green to take a pay cut or they will release him. If Green does take that pay cut though, he most likely will start next season.

NEWS & NOTES

The Titans have had a very surprising year in 2006, and they have rewarded both their head coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow by exercising their options for 2007. Both coaches have done a nice job getting the most out of an offense with very little talent on it. The Titans figure to be one of the sleeper picks to make some noise in the playoff picture next season, however I feel that they really need to improve on both sides of the ball in order to make that leap.

Charlie Frye has been throwing in Browns practice this week, and he apparently looks as though he is back to healthy. The Browns have said that they will be starting Ken Dorsey on Sunday, but Frye could see some work. Regardless, they will most likely bring in a veteran QB for next season.

In other Browns news, Cleveland is very disappointed with both the progress and attitude of WR Braylon Edwards. They would prefer not to start him on Sunday, but due to massive injuries to their receiving core, he will be forced into action. The numerous amount of problems with top pick WRs may affect the draft position of Georgia Tech wideout Calvin Johnson.

The final piece of new out of Cleveland is that despite rumors about his job status, Coach Romeo Crennel will most likely be back with the team. The one condition will be that he must revamp his entire coaching staff. The lone slight possibility that Crennel will be gone is if Bill Cowher leaves the Steelers to join the Browns. However, this looks very unlikely at this point.

Speaking of Cowher, he is planning on announcing his decision for next year in a press conference next week. All signs point to him retiring as coach of the Steelers. While he may be retiring, it will most likely be short lived, and we will see him soon enough with another team. Many names have come up for the Steelers job, the most interesting of which is Marvin Lewis who was once a coach with Pittsburgh. He would most likely cause a boost in wins and arrests in Pittsburgh if he does take the job. Most likely they will promote some one from within, with Russ Grimm as the leading candidate.

In case you haven't heard yet, Jeremy Shockey will miss Saturday night's must win game against the Redskins. It's a nagging anle injury that will keep him out for the first time all season. The injury must be pretty bad considering Shockey is one of the few players on the Giants who seems to want to be out there. Vishante Shiancoe will fill in for him, but he should be a non factor.

Mike Furrey will be getting a contract extension from Detroit after his most likely of all seasons. Furrey is another great story about a former Arena League player who got an opportunity and took advantage of it. The key to Furrey playing well is that Mike Martz is his offensive coordinator. As long as they are paired together, Furry should play well. In a related note, Mike Williams, who the Lions just hate for no reason, believes he'll be back next season, and they won't care how much he weighs. This is probably the biggest misconception I've heard all week.

The Houston Texans have made it known that they would be interested in trading for Clinton Portis. Gary Kubiak used to coach Portis in Detroit, and they have a good relationship. With the emergence of Ladell Betts, the Redskins would be more open to the idea of trading Portis. However, with his massive contract, any trade would be a long shot unless several obstacles could be overcome.

FANTASY MD

After missing last week’s games, Fred Taylor appears like he will be back in the lineup for Jacksonville on Sunday. It’s a huge game for the Jaguars, and they will be happy to have Taylor back. The only question now is how Jacksonville will divide up the carries between Taylor and the talented Maurice Jones-Drew.

All season long Jeremy Shockey has been dealing with an injured ankle. However, this week was the first time that the Giants have gone public with this injury. Shockey has missed a few practices this week, and his status for Saturday night is in jeopardy. If he can’t go, the inept Vishante Shiancoe will start. I’m a Giant fan, so trust me when I tell you this is about as bad as a downgrade as you could have.

For the first time in weeks Jake Delhomme has looked healthy. The thumb injury does not seem to be bothering him anymore. He was upgraded to probable, and it looks like he will start for the Panthers on Sunday. He has a decent matchup against New Orleans if the Saints rest everyone.

Randy Moss will not play Sunday against the Jets. The word out of Raiders’ practice is that Moss is completely healthy, but just does not feel like playing any more. His days in Oakland are clearly finished, and he will be traded this offseason. I still believe that Jacksonville is the best fit for him, although there is some word that Dallas may be a destination if Terrell Owens leaves.

Luckily for the Jets, they were able to beat the Dolphins last week without Cedric Houston. This week he will return for their pivotal game against Oakland. Despite missing last week’s game, he figures to get most of the carries on Sunday. It could be a long day for him though because Oakland’s defense is pretty tough against the run.

Cadillac Williams missed the first game of his career last Sunday, and unfortunately for him, his career missed starts will most likely double in week 17. Williams has not improved at all this week, and he will most likely be inactive for Sunday's game. Michael Pittman once again will start for Tampa Bay and should have a decent game against the Seahawks. One thing also to watch for this game is that it may be the last time we see Mike Alstott suit up in the NFL. He's had one of the better careers for a fullback in the last 10 years.

There was some speculation following Sunday's game as to whether or not Laveranues Coles would suit up for the Jets in week 17. The Jets' best WR took a couple of big hits in their game against Miami and was shaken up after the game. However, with a game of such importance, Coles will be out there on Sunday. He's one of the most durable WRs in football, and it would take a serious injury to keep him out.

No need to worry anymore, Aaron Brooks looks like he'll play on Sunday. With Brooks running the show, perhaps the Raiders can manage double digits in points. In all seriousness, I do feel that the Raiders will give the Jets a tough test on Sunday. If they do play well, it will have absolutely nothing to do with Aaron Brooks. The defense will need to score points on Sunday if they are going to have a shot.

Although this isn't injury news, many teams will be sitting their starters. Expect the Patriots, Saints, and Bears all to rest their better players. With nothing to play for, it was expected Seattle would also do this. However, Coach Holmgrem has said that everyone will play to build momentum. So you should feel safe to play Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander.

DAUNTING DECISIONS

I realize that some of you are still participating in one of those crazy 17 week leagues. The good news this year is that only Chicago, New Orleans, and Seattle may be resting their players this week. Those are all situations to avoid in week 17. The other 29 teams in the NFL will be playing their starters, and playing the wrong player could prove fatal for you. So here I am to help you with the most meaningless of weeks for fantasy. Don't say I never did anything for you.

Ronnie Brown- On Christmas night, Brown looked very impressive in his first game back from injury. In the season finale, Brown should get more carries than last week. Watching Ron Dayne shred up the Indy defense would make you want to start just about anyone at RB against the Colts these days. Brown should have a very similar day, and considering Cleo Lemon is starting at QB, Miami will feel compelled to run the ball. START.

Chester Taylor- One of the best free agent signings of last offseason was the Vikings getting Chester Taylor from the Ravens. He has proven to be one of the most reliable running backs in the leagues when healthy. The Rams rush defense is almost as awful as the Colts, so Taylor should have one of the better days rushing in week 17. He's a very similar runner to Ladell Betts who tore up the Rams last week. Taylor should finish strong in what has been a fantastic first season carrying the load. START.

Ron Dayne- The hottest new trend these days in fantasy is to start Ron Dayne. He's had one of the most unlikely career resurgences I've ever seen in my life. Coach Kubiak seems to love him, and as long as they are paired together, Dayne is going to see his share of carries. This week against Cleveland should be another solid performance for Dayne. The Browns have one of the worst rush defenses in football, and we all saw what Dayne could do against a bad rush defense last week. START.

Jay Cutler- While the Broncos will rely heavily on their backfield for this win and in game, Cutler should also have something to say about their chances before the day is over. I think Cutler will help the Broncos rather than hurt them on Sunday. He has progressed every week so far and looks like another great prospect for a class rich in talent. Expect him to have a good day as he goes up against a weak Arizona secondary. START.

Plaxico Burress- The recent struggles of the Giants may have some people questioning if Eli Manning will be able to find his biggest target. While Plaxico's numbers have slipped a little bit, but he's still one of the few steady fantasy WRs in 2006. He has a good matchup against a bad Redskins defense that is without Shawn Springs. Expect him to do a little more than the 1 catch for 55 yards that he had in week 16. START.

Willis McGahee- Some people are in love with McGahee, but I'm one of those guys who don't find his performances too impressive. To me he's just one of those RBs that beats up against bad defenses. This week he will face anything but a bad defense when he takes on the Ravens. Baltimore will be hungry with home field throughout the playoffs at stake. It looks like it'll be a struggle for McGahee and the whole Bills offense in the final week of the season. SIT.

Joseph Addai- The rookie looked great following his ankle injury the week before. He's an explosive player who has fit nicely in the Colts offense so far. This week should be one of his toughest tests of the season against Miami. They have done a fabulous job shutting down the run lately. Addai may not even get the bulk of the work considering that the Colts may be more concerned with his ankle still. Try to look elsewhere for the final week of the year. SIT.

Laveranues Coles- The Jets best WR struggled last week against Miami as he finished with only 9 yards. While Coles' matchup against Oakland may look good this week for the common fan, it is actually an awful situation for Coles. He will be going up against cornerback Nhadmi Asomugha, who deserved a Pro Bowl start, didn't get it, and now has taken it out on every one in the league. He's one of the best shut down corners in football, and he should hold Coles in check all day. SIT.

Chris Chambers- Clearly one of the most disappointing WRs this season has been Chris Chambers. The revolving door at QB for Miami has hurt Chambers' production. He's usually good for at least 1 or 2 big games every season, but this year has been a different story. With Cleo Lemon starting this week, Chambers will most likely struggle again. The Dolphins will look to run the ball, and the chances Chambers performs well are slim. SIT.

Devery Henderson- I've been on the Henderson bandwagon all season, but this week I don't like the situation that he has. The Saints have actually struggled throwing the ball deep lately which has made Henderson useless. This week with no chance of changing their playoff position, the Saints will most likely rest several starters for portions of the game. One of those guys will be Drew Brees which means that the chances of Henderson having a big day is worse than usual. SIT.

SUNDAY RECAP: AFC VARIETY

Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney- Sunday marked Maroney's return, and the end to the run of great games that Dillon never had while Maroney sat on the sidelines. The rookie looked good in his return as he had 7 carries for 48 yards and a TD. His counterpart Dillon was also up to his old tricks running for a pedestrian 30 yards on 10 carries while stealing a TD. Maroney loosk to have a bright future ahead of him, but if the Patriots decide to keep Dillon around his value will be hurt because Dillon will get his goal line carries.

Leon Washington- If you were watching the Christmas night game between Miami and New York, you were able to see first hand what a special player Washington is. It was his dazzling 64 yard run on a screen pass late in the game that gave the Jets an opportunity to win the game. He finished the day with 134 total yards, the majority of which came through the air. Washington is too small to ever be an every down back in the NFL, but his speed and catching ability makes him a great compliment to any RB. He's another great player in what was a fantastic draft for the Jets.
Ronnie Brown- In his first game back from injury Brown looked fantastic against the Jets. He didn't enter the game till late in the first quarter, but once he did he could not be stopped by the Jets defense. He was able to run for 110 yards on just 18 carries. The performance showed that his broken hand is healed and has lingering effects on his performance. Brown's season in 2006 was a bit disappointing, and a better one in 2007 is expected. The only concern for him is if Ricky Williams will come back and take some of his carries.

Steve McNair- I personally have a grudge against Steve McNair because I started him in my week 15 semifinal, and he got hurt, stood on the sidelines seemingly healthy, and registered 0 points. I lost by six points. That being said it was a pretty solid day for the veteran McNair in his return from the fake injury to end my season. McNair completed 21 of his 31 passes for 256 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs. He's one of the few QBs in football that you know exactly what you are going to get from week in and week out. He should finish strong next week against Buffalo as the Ravens try to gain home field throughout the AFC playoffs.

Rudi Johnson- If there was one work I could use to describe Rudi Johnson, it would be solid. His performance against Denver was nothing flashy, but just some good hard nosed down hill running. The workhorse finished the day with 30 carries for 129 yards and a TD. The TD was his 12th rushing TD of the season which matched his season total for both 2004 and 2005. He will most likely finish close to those seasons in yardage. Go ahead and draft Rudi for years to come. He's an almost absolute lock for 1400 yards and 12 TDs.

Derek Anderson- Well, that was fun for awhile, wasn't it? With likely no other shots at a starting job on the horizon the 6'6" Anderson may have ended his brief starting career with a horrible day and an injured shoulder. Before Anderson left the game with injury, he was very inaccurate and threw 4 INTs. The next Browns QB to be sacrificed to the opposing defense is our old friend Ken Dorsey. Dorsey, who seems to always randomly start once a year, will lead the Browns into their highly anticipated game against the Texans in week 17.

Peyton Manning- Derek Anderson and Peyton Manning. It's only suitable that two stars of their caliber should have blurbs written about them back to back. Unlike his colleague Anderson or his brother Eli for the matter, Peyton actually played well on Sunday. He finished the day 21 of 27 for 205 yards and 3 TDs. How the Colts did not win this game against the Texans with a performance like that is still beyond me. In the midst of the game, Peyton became the first player ever to throw for seven 4000 yard passing seasons. It has been another great season for Peyton, but every year he doesn't win the Super Bowl just seems like a waste for such a talented player.

Marvin Harrison- His equally as talented teammate, Marvin Harrison, helped Peyton boost those stats with another big day. Harrison hauled in 8 passes for 112 yards and 2 TDs. He came on real strong at the end of the season and scored 5 TDs in his last 2 games. He now also has his best season in terms of yardage since 2002. It has been another terrific season for Harrison, who shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. He's still the go to guy in Indy despite the presence of Reggie Wayne.

Joseph Addai- It was a great sign for all Colts fans to see how well Addai played coming off an ankle injury just the week before. At first it was feared that he would miss significant time, but Addai didn't miss a game. He finished the day with 100 yards on just 15 carries. It was the second time he topped 100 yards on the ground this season, and he now has exceeded 1000 yards rushing for the season. He looks like he will have a bright future ahead of him in this Colts offense.

Maurice Jones-Drew- Another rookie RB with a bright future ahead of him is Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars RB saw an increase in carries due to the injury of Fred Taylor and performed exceptionally well. He finished with 131 yards and 2 TDs on 19 carries. The play of the day came when he actually fell down, got up, and then finished off a 74 yard TD run for the score. Even if Fred Taylor does stick around next seaon, Jones-Drew will be a very productive player for the Jaguars.

Vince Young- The rookie phenom had one of his best overall days of the season as he led the Titans to the win over Buffalo. Young finished 13 for 20 with 183 yards and 2 TD passing. He also had 8 carries for 61 yards and a TD rushing. The bulk of which came on a spectacular 36 yards TD run. Young became the first rookie QB to ever rush for 500 yards in a season. Even more amazing is that with 1 week left in the season, the Titans have a shot at the playoffs because of Young's play this season. He truly is a special player.

Travis Henry- Week in and week out I say it, but I'll repeat it again. Travis Henry is quietly having one of the best season's for a RB in 2006. Henry was as much a reason for the win on Sunday as Young. He ran the ball 25 times for 135 yards. It was the fifth time this season that Henry had topped 100 yards. Despite missing two games to injury, Henry has still been able to rack up over 1100 yards and 7 TDs this season. Henry got a raw deal in Buffalo due to the drafting of Willis McGahee, and I hope the same does not happen to him in Tennessee with LenDale White.

Ron Dayne- It still seems so odd to be talking about Ron Dayne in week 16 of the NFL season. Against the Colts, Dayne exploded for 153 yards and 2 TDs on 32 carries. This is either a sign that Dayne's resurgence is for real or the Colts truly do have the worst rush defense ever. Nevertheless, the Dayne bandwagon continues next week in a good matchup against Cleveland. He has been dominant lately, rushing for 429 yards and 5 TDs in his last 4 games. If Dayne can finish strong, he will be the odds on favorite from within to start at RB for the Texans next season.

LaDainian Tomlinson- You know you're a special player when you run for 122 yards and that's a disappointing day. Well, that is the kind of reaction Tomlinson will get if he doesn't run for a TD these days. Despite giving up 122 yards, Seattle did a nice job against LT as they prevented him from killing them. It ended at a streak of 8 straight games with a TD for LT. The game should have no ill effect on his impending MVP award. LT should finish very strong against Arizona next Sunday.

Jay Cutler- Once again Cutler looked pretty solid as he moved his team into prime position for a playoff berth. Cutler didn't try to do too much in the tough conditions of the snow, and he finished 12 for 23 with 179 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. Cutler threw that interception on his first pass of the game, but then showed good composure to settle into a nice groove. It's kind of surprising that with Cutler at QB the Broncos have still been able to stay in the playoff hunt. Cutler will look to lead his Broncos in the playoffs with what should be a win against San Francisco.

Tatum Bell/Mike Bell- Well, well, well, the Bells are at it again. There's really no way to determine which Bell will have the better day for Denver these days. Mike Bell has been hot lately as was shown with his 16 carries for 69 yards and a TD on Sunday. The somewhat forgotten Bell, Tatum, in the Denver offense managed a respectable 50 yards on 12 carries. Combined these Bells now have over 1500 yards rushing and 10 TDs. This season is the prime example for why you should never draft a Denver running back.

SUNDAY RECAP: NFC STYLE

Brian Westbrook- While QB Jeff Garcia may be receiving all of the credit for the Philadelphia resurgence, it's the steadiness of Brian Westbrook that has been the key to their clinching of the playoffs. In the game Westbrook had one of his best games of the season rushing as he had 26 carries for 122 yards. He has shattered every previous career high he has had rushing the ball this season. He has twice as many 100 yard rushing games this season as he had in his whole career up to 2006. While he may not be getting all the accolades, Westbrook has put together one of the best seasons for a RB in 2006.

Tony Romo- The Romo show may have taken a horrible turn on Christmas during his game against Philadelphia. The Dallas QB had looked seemingly invincible in all of his November starts, but in three of his last four games he has thrown for multiple interceptions. Romo was very inaccurate all game long and finished 14 for 29 with 142 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. He should finish strong with a game against Detroit, but his real test will be the playoffs. Unless Dallas can get some help, that test will come in Seattle against one of the most underachieving teams in football.

Eli Manning- Another struggling QB over the weekend was Giants QB Eli Manning. In a must win game, the Giants just did not show up. Eli was off his rhythm one game and attempted only 2 deep passes despite losing 30-7. He finished 9 for 25 with 74 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. This performance looks even worse considering Eli started the game 6 for 6 including a 55 yard touchdown. If Eli cannot come up big next weekend in a win and in game against Washington, it will be a very long off season for the former number one pick.

Ladell Betts- How good is this guy? With another huge performance on Sunday, Betts broke 1000 yards this season despite having limited work for half the year. Betts, who has shown he can handle a substantial amount of carries weekly, ran for 129 yards and 2 TDs on 29 carries. Since Clinton Portis has went down, it has just been monster week after monster week for Betts. He should finish strong with a game a home versus the Giants on Saturday night. With the way Betts has played this year, the Redskins are now faced with some tough decisions about their RB next season.

Rex Grossman- Going into this game, Grossman knew that he would be replaced at some time to get Brian Griese some work. While he did play, Grossman was overall very effective executing a game plan concentrating on short passes and reducing mistakes. He finished the day 20 for 36 withe 197 yards and a TD. In the short work that Griese got, he was 6 for 9 with 51 yards. Grossman would have to have a complete meltdown in week 17 or the playoffs the be replaced at this point. I also feel that the Bears are going to be comfortable having him at QB in 2007.

Jon Kitna- Recapping Lions games weekly has been an interesting experience this season. The one constant besides losing that I have seen in this team is that the Lions ownership just absolutely adores Jon Kitna. No matter how poorly he played they always said he was doing well and the clear starter for not only the remainder of 2006 but also 2007. Kitna finally made the team look smart as he completed 27 of 45 passes fr 283 and 3 TDs against the Bears. While this isn't the same Bears defense he faced earlier in the season, it is still an impressive performance. Kitna hasn't had a horrible season considering his team, and I assume he'll be the starter next season. However, the Lions will most likely replace him midway through the season with whoever they take as their QB of the future in the 2007 draft.

Reggie Bush- Against an uninspired Giants team, Bush had his best day of his career running the ball. Coach Payton was able to quickly realize that the Giants were not quick enough to handle Bush. He made the rookie the focal point of the offense all day long. Bush dazzled the New York crowd and finished with 126 yards and 1 TD on 20 carries. In three of his last four games, Bush has looked like one of the best players in the NFL. It was very promising to see him be able to pick up his yardage rushing rather than receiving on Sunday. He looks like a top 10 RB for next season.

Steve Smith- This would be a good time to point out how utterly pathetic Steve Smith has been since Jake Delhomme hurt his thumb. In my eyes, Smith gave up on the rest of this season following their loss on Monday night to Philadelphia. He's had five catches here and four catches there, but we're used to seeing Smith give 100% on every play and fight to get open. Yes, part of the blame can be given to having Chris Weinke at QB, but Smith has not been his dominant self either. No catches on week 16 was a fitting end to a very disappointing season for Smith and his fantasy owners.

Michael Vick- The only bright spot of this performance was that Vick became the first QB in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards in a single season. Other than that NFL first, Vick had another sub par performance on Sunday. In a must win game, Vick finished 9 for 20 with 109 yards and 2 INTs. With all the blame given to his WRs and coaches, the fact is that Vick cannot play like that and expect to win games in this league. The Falcons are virtually done, and if i were a betting man, I'd say Jim Mora Jr. was done too. Matt Schaub is a free agent next season, and the Falcons are going to have to make some decisions about whether Michael Vick can truly lead this franchise.

Shaun Alexander- One player who did show up in the fantasy finals was Shaun Alexander. He had arguably his best game of the season as he ran for 140 yards and 2 TDs on 31 carries. It looked like that would be enough to overcome the struggles of Matt Hasselbeck again, but some poor defense cost them the game. Alexander looks healthy which is a great sign for the Seahawks going into the playoffs. His value will be lower than it ever will be again going into 2007 which makes him somewhat of a sleeper for your draft.

Marc Bulger- It was an absolute monster performance of Marc Bulger against the Redskins on Sunday. He threw for a season highs as he finished with 388 yards and 4 TDs. It has been a career season for Bulger as he has broken 4000 yards for the first time in his career and also set a career high in TDs. His 23 TD to 8 INT ratio is one of the best in football. As long as Coach Linehan is still in St. Louis, Bulger's career is set to take off and flourish. Fantasy owners can pat themselves on the back if they took a risk on Bulger this season.

Steven Jackson- Another equally impressive season for a Rams player was had by Steven Jackson. The Rams RB, who is clearly no among the league's elite, had 150 yards rushing, 102 yards receiving, and 2 TDs which included the game winning score on Sunday. In the midst of all this, Jackson, who had just 43 receptions all last season, broke the team record with 88 this season. He almost had 1000 yards both rushing and receiving this year. The Rams still have a playoff shot, and Jackson will face his first test in weeks when he plays Minnesota on Sunday. Regardless of what happens, he is clearly one of the league's bright stars for the future.

Issac Bruce- He once was one of the best WRs in football, but these days Issac Bruce is just a solid number two WR in the NFL. However, on Sunday Bruce may have had the last great game of his career. Bruce, now 34 years old, racked up 9 catches, 148 yards, and a TD en route to a victory over Washington. It was great to see after only playing 11 games the year before that Bruce was able to play a whole season and top 1000 yards receiving in 2006. He's one of the most underrated WRs of his era, and he showed that he still had some skills on Sunday.

Frank Gore- The Niners only have themselves to blame for why they are not still in the playoff hunt in week 17. Gore, who has been one of the best RBs all season, received only 11 carries on Sunday. In his limited work he had 51 yards and 2 TDs. Part of his lack of work was because they got behind 20-3 early, but when the going gets tough, you must rely on your stars. The Niners are done this year, but considering Frank Gore is just starting a great career, they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Matt Leinart- Due to a shoulder injury, Matt Leinart was forced to leave his team's win early on Sunday. The injury will keep him out for next week, but should have no effect on his status for next season. Before leaving, Leinart was off to a good start with 162 yards and a TD. In his relief, Kurt Warner came in and played adequately enough to hold onto the lead. The Cardinals play San Diego next week, so their offense may suffer a tad with Warner behind center.

Edgerrin James- It was a season that started off horribly for the former Pro Bowl RB, but Edge did put together a nice finish for respectable numbers in 2006. On Sunday, James ran for 105 yards on 29 carries to put his season total over 1000 yards on the ground. Edge has now topped 100 yards in three of the last four weeks which gives hope for him next season. As unlikely as it seemed a month ago, I expect Dennis Green to be back as coach for what will be a team that may surprise in 2007.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

No article today. I'll be back tomorrow to recap all the games from Sunday and Monday. Have a safe and happy holiday.

A LITTLE RECAP AND COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

Larry Johnson- It was another great game for Johnson in week 16. In a must win game Johnson led the way by rushing for 135 yards and a TD on 31 carries. Although LJ may have started off slow, his performance yesterday marked the eighth time in ten weeks that he had at least 110 yards rushing. Johnson has proved this year that last season was no fluke. Next week he faces a tough Jacksonville defense, but that should only have a fantasy impact in 17 weeks leagues.

Ronald Curry- With no Randy Moss or Jerry Porter around, Ronald Curry has emerged as the number one WR for the Raiders. He had always showed promise before, but injuries were his downfall. On Saturday night, Curry was the go to guy and had one of his better games of the season. He finished with 11 catches for 106 yards. If the Raiders fail to add a star WR next season and Curry remains a starter, he will be a fantasy sleeper for 2007.

Here's a quick rundown of headlines which will only include the early ones because I'm off to the Giants-Saints game....

There's a good chance that the Bears may rest Rex Grossman in the second half. Since Chicago has clinched homefield and has nothing to play for they will most likely rest a lot of starters this week and next week. This is also a sign that it may not be a good idea to play Thomas Jones this week.

Despite finishing the week strong in practice, Joseph Addai's status is now up in the air again. No word will be had till the Sunday inactives are given. If Addai doesn't play, Dominic Rhodes has a terrific matchup against the Houston defense.

NEWS & NOTES

After starting 24 consecutive games for Tampa Bay, Cadillac Williams will miss the game on Sunday. He has been struggling all week with a foot injury, and it was finally decided today that he was too injured to play. Michael Pittman will take his place and has a decent matchup against Cleveland this week.

Those of you still pinning your fantasy hopes to Aaron Brooks are about to get very disappointed. Although I know none of you exist, I still feel like it's a story that Brooks has been benched for tonight's game. Andrew Walter will take his place in what may be his final opportunity to show the Raiders he could be the QB for the future.

Continuing with the Bucs-Raiders theme, next on the news agenda is that Chris Simms has signed a two-year contract extension to remain with Tampa Bay. It's a 10 million dollar contract which means even if he does not win the starting job, the Bucs will not be killed by the deal. However, right now I'd be shocked if Simms is not the starter next season.

Kevin Williams has signed a 7 year deal to remain with the Minnesota Vikings. What makes this fantasy worthy news is that Williams is an essential part of the Vikings' number one rush defense. With him around for awhile, the Vikings will remain a force against the run for years to come.

Although Ronnie Brown may play on Monday, he will backup RB Sammy Morris. Even though he's starting, Morris is not a very good start with Brown healthy. Right now, Brown will get a few carries, but if he's not healthy enough to start, he most likely will not get too many carries.

In sort of a surprising turn of events, Cedric Hosuton is too injured to play Monday for the Jets. He will be inactive and rookie Leon Washington will get most of the carries. While Washington has looked good at times this season, his matchup against the Miami defense is too difficult to justify starting him.

As projected all week, Fred Taylor will be forced to miss this Sunday's crucial game against the New England Patriots. Maurice Jones-Drew will start in his place. Although Jones-Drew has looked fantastic at times, I feel he will struggle going up against a tough defense without Taylor to share the load.

Joseph Addai's injury does not look as severe as it did when we first saw it, but that does not mean that Addai will be all systems go on Sunday. Word out of Indianapolis camp is that while Addai should play, he will most likely have a very reduced role on Sunday. It'd be wise to avoid Addai, however Dominic Rhodes' value gets a boast now against a weak Houston defense.

There was some question earlier in the week as to whether Todd Heap and Derek Mason would play for the Ravens on Sunday. Both players looked much better in practice on Friday, and they will suit up on Sunday. They both face tough matchups against Pittsburgh.

It's the biggest game in years for both the Buffalo Bills and the Tennessee Titans, and the Titans now look like they will have their RB healthy for Sunday. Travis Henry was struggling with injury earlier in the week, but not he appears much better and will play. He's a decent option against an inconsistent Buffalo defense.

Finally, the latest chapter in a a disappointing year for Antonio Bryant is a 4 game suspension handed down by the NFL. This is in connection to his DUI earlier in the season. Bryant was in the league's substance abuse program, and that is why he was suspended. Arnaz Battle and Vernon Davis should now have increased roles in the offense.

QUICK RECAP AND Q&A

Tarvarias Jackson- This was just an utterly terrible game for both offenses. Making his first start against Green Bay, Jackson struggled all night. He's still a project more than a player at this point in his career, and it was shown by his numbers on the night. Jackson finished 10 for 20 with 50 yards and 2 INTS. Against one of the worst defenses in football, Jackson and the entire Vikings offense was a major disappointment. The Vikings are out of the playoff race for this season, and right now Tarvarias Jackson will be the favorite to start at QB next year.

Chester Taylor- Since being injured, Taylor has struggled to produce like he had in rest of the season. Like Jackson, Chester Taylor was a huge disappointment, especially for fantasy owners. Taylor finished the day 15 carries for 49 yards and 3 receptions for 18 yards. Given what he did earlier in the season and the defense he was facing, Taylor should have had a much bigger day. With one week left, Taylor will look to better his career season. The Vikings signing Chester Taylor was one of the best moves of the off season.

Brett Favre- In his last game at Lambeau Field, Favre threw for 400 yards and 7 TDs. Ok, maybe that was just wishful thinking. In reality, Favre, who I hope has not played his last game at Lambeau, was awful on Thursday night. He finished 26 for 50 with 250 yards and 2 INTs. Remarkably, the Packers still were able to pull off the victory due to the equally inept Vikings offense. With a major overall improvement on last season, I expect Favre to be back next year for one last shot one what could be a playoff team in 2007. While they could make the playoffs this season, they have a real outside shot and would need a lot of help.

Donald Driver- One of the best seasons that nobody is talking about is the one Donald Driver is having for the Packers. After another solid 9 catch 99 yard performance, Driver now has established a career high in yards. He's going to the Pro Bowl this season because he has been one of the most reliable WRs week to week in all of football. As long as Brett Favre is still the QB, Driver is going to put up numbers similar to those of the best WRs in football.

Now time for your pressing questions........

Q: Hey man, I love your column. I'm in my league's final this week, and I was wondering if I should start Ron Dayne or Jamal Lewis?

A: As I said earlier in this week, I'm a big Ron Dayne fan this week and not a big Jamal Lewis fan. Dayne will be taking on the Colts this week, which is a matchup I like for two reasons. One is the obvious reason that the Colts have one of the worst rush defenses ever. The other is that they just came off an emotional high with a great performance against the Bengals. Their defense should be due for a letdown. Lewis on the other hand only seems to play well against poor defenses. Pittsburgh is far from that, and they should do a good job all day long. The only reason I may hesitate in starting Dayne over Lewis is the Kubiak has been as crazy with his RBs this season as Mike Shanahan, so there is a slight chance Dayne may not get the carries he should.

Q: My only two options this week at QB are Ben Roethlisberger and JP Losman. What should I do this week with so much at stake?

A: Well first of all, I'm very sorry that these are your only two options at QB for your fantasy championship. Now to address your question, I would give Losman the start over Big Ben. Losman may not be a better QB than Roethlisberger, but he does have a far better matchup. Big Ben will face a Ravnes defense which is always one of the toughest to go against in football. Even worse for him is the fact that Ray Lewis will take out all his Pro Bowl snub anger on the Steelers. On the other hand, while the Titans have been much improved lately, their defense still does not scare opponents. Losman will play well at home, in what is a pivotal game for the AFC Wild Card race.

FANTASY MD

After the game on Monday, it was feared that Joseph Addai may miss significant time with an ankle injury. However, as it turns out he won't miss any time at all. If he does indeed play, he has a great matchup against Houston which would be a fantasy matchup almost too enticing to pass up.

Rumors have circulated that Joe Horn may be held out for the rest of the season. For now though he is still being updated week to week by the Saints. He is listed as questionable for the game on Sunday, but it would shock me if he actually plays.

Ronnie Brown has missed three straight games this season due to his broken hand, but it appears like he will be all systems go on Monday night. Although he has been a disappointment this season, Brown has a great matchup against the Jets on Monday. He should play a huge role in fantasy championships considering he'll be the last significant offensive player to play.

On a team plagued by injuries, the latest to feel the pain is RB Brandon Jacobs. He hurt his ankle last week against Philadelphia, but Jacobs is extremely confident that he will play. If he does miss the game, Tiki Barber's value will rise because he'll receive the goal line work.

Patriots TE Ben Watson missed last week's game with an ankle injury, and it appears like he will once again be out for the Patriots on Sunday. It's likely that Watson won't be truly healthy till the playoffs so he's safe to drop.

I knew it was impossible. I knew I would never see it. What I speak of is Fred Taylor making it through an entire season without injury. After pulling up lame last weekend, it would be a shock if Taylor suits up on Sunday. Maurice Jones-Drew owners should feel safe to start him, but he does have a rather tough matchup against New England.

Both Derrick Mason and Todd Heap are questionable for the game this weekend. This is an every week occurrence for these two guys, but with a playoff spot secured there's a chance they could be rested. It's a situation to watch for the weekend.

The latest event in the horrible sophomore season of Cadillac Williams is his foot injury. He's missed two straight practices and looks like he will be out for Sunday's game as well. It's unlikely anyone was seriously considering starting Caddy, so this is not as big of an issue as it was a year ago.

Originally it was thought that Jake Delhomme would only miss one game due to his thumb injury. Now he looks like he will miss his third in a row. The thumb has not improved at all, and it looks like Delhomme may be shut down for the year. Chris Weinke will start again and bring down the entire Panthers offense.

Laurence Maroney has shown a lot of improvement in practice this week after missing the last two games with an injury to his ribs. He should be able to play this week, but nothing will be definite until Sunday morning. Regardless, he has a tough matchup in Jacksonville.

Just because he's a big name, I'll give you guys an update on Randy Moss. It's rather unlikely that he will be back for their game on Saturday night. While it also doesn't look like he'll play in week 17, I would consider starting him if he does because Moss played extremely well last year in the final game, and may want to show some potential suitors he still has something left. It appears his days are done in Oakland, and I would guess that Jacksonville would be a likely destination next season.

DAUNTING DECISIONS

Here it is. The week you've been waiting all season for. If you have been lucky enough, you will play this week for your league's fantasy championship. It doesn't matter what LT has done all season, if he doesn't produce this week, you have once again failed and wasted another four months of your life. It's the week where phrases will be uttered from your mouth like, "Why didn't I start Chris Cooley?" and "I hate you Donald Driver" and even "Thank you, Josh Scobee. You just won me a fantasy title." In a week with such importance, I hope to give you the extra help that will cause months of celebration. However, I know from experience I look for people to blame when I lose my league. Don't blame me, blame Ben Utecht.

Ron Dayne- How funny it is that as I sit here on week 16 that I am actually speaking of Ron Dayne. Even more shocking is what a great start he is this week. Dayne has produced two consecutive solid performances as the main guy in Houston. He faces the Colts this week who despite their solid game on Monday still have the worst rush defense in football. My expectation is that after such a good game against the Bengals, the Colts rush defense will have a bit of a letdown, and Dayne will play well. The only possible reason to be hesitant is that Gary Kubiak comes from the Mike Shanahan school of RBs and is prone to play with fantasy owners' heads at any time by switching backs. Nevertheless, I would play him if you need a back. START.

Ladell Betts- Ok honestly, if you own Ladell Betts now and you are not playing him, you are an idiot. Betts has been unbelievable since he's been starting, however it wouldn't kill him to score a TD here and there. Betts against the Rams defense is a clear recipe for success this week. My only complaint with Betts is that he signed such a stupid contract. If he never signed this deal, he would be un the fringe of a huge pay day this offseason. If I was Betts' agent this would never have happened, but I'm not so just go ahead and play him this week. START.

Jay Cutler- Week after week Cutler, like all the rookie QBs, just seems to be getting better. Against the poor Arizona defense last Sunday, Cutler had his best game as a pro. He clearly has the tools to be a real success in this league, and I am confident that he can be very productive in his team's playoff run. The Broncos take on the worst pass defense in football on Sunday, which happens to belong to the Cincinnati Bengals. Expect a day similar to his last game against Arizona. START.

Brett Favre- He had such a great matchup last week against Detroit, and he killed so many fantasy seasons. If you survived the debacle last week, don't be shy to start Favre once again. Several factors point to success this week. First, Favre rarely has two poor games in a row. Second, he is facing an awful Vikings' pass defense. Finally, this could be the last game ever for Favre at Lambeau Field, and he seems to play well in emotional games. There you go. Three reasons why he will be great in what could be his last fantasy game ever. START.

Devery Henderson- With Joe Horn out of the lineup, Henderson has actually been relatively quite in recent weeks for the Saints. Fortunately for him, he faces a banged up and poor Giants secondary this week. Coming off disappointing weeks for both teams, I expect this to be an offensive shootout. It would be a letdown if Henderson did not have one of those huge games we saw this season. START.

Ahman Green- I was really surprised from what I saw by Green this season. Prior to the year I had written him off due to injuries an age, but he bounced back for a really strong season. He's still a productive RB and should be the team's starter next year. That being said, for God's sake do not play him this week! Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably realize that Minnesota's rush defense is one of the best ever. Starting Green against them would just be a horrendus idea. SIT.

Corey Dillon- Words cannot describe how frustrating Corey Dillon has been to me this season. When I owned Laurence Maroney, Dillon would steal all of his TDs. Then when I recommended starting Dillon when Maroney went down, he stunk up and Kevin Faulk stole all his TDs. It's pretty simple this week. The Jacksonville defense is dominant at home and against good teams, so I see Dillon having a very long day. This paragraph is bound to haunt me on Sunday. I know it. SIT.

Jamal Lewis- One player I have had a good read on all season is Jamal Lewis. He's a tremendous fantasy player if you know when to play him. This Sunday against Pittsburgh is not one of those weeks. Lewis likes to beat up on the Browns not the Steelers. Lewis should have a long day in what will be a classic battle of solid defenses. Under 90 yards and 0 TDs is a good expectation for Lewis. SIT.

Jerrico Cotchery- The Jets number two WR has had a solid year but has cooled off as of late. It was rather disappointing that Cotchery did not have a better game last week considering Chad Pennington had one of his best days of the season. This week Cotchery faces a tough Miami defense in a rivalry game on Christmas. I'd expect similiar numbers to last week when he had 56 yards receiving, and those types of days do not win fantasy championships. SIT.

Ben Roethlisberger- The only player who may have had more of an up and down season statistics wise than Rex Grossman is Big Ben. It was a very solid week last week with two TDs for Roethlisberger who has been throwing the ball a lot less lately. However, against Baltimore, he may not have the benefit of a productive running game so he will be relied on more heavily. I'd hate to have my fantasy season riding on an inconsistent QB against an elite defense and neither should you. SIT.