For many leagues, this is the last week for you to clinch your playoff spot if you have not yet done so. In my main league there are two spots left, with four or five teams who still have a shot looking in. I have clinched my playoff spot and am looking to play spoiler to a team that wants in. If this were real football, of course I’d have Drew Brees on the bench for this game. We know it’s not, although many of us treat it as such. There are plenty of us out there that monitor every game as if we work for the team. As a fantasy football pro, I’m excited to be welcoming the playoffs. It’s a nice chance for me to take a deep breath and know that I’m in.

So, let’s look ahead to this week as I give you outsiders who need this win the guys to keep your season going.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

• Chad Pennington: If you had told me at the beginning of the season that Chad would be putting up the numbers he is, I would have laughed. He is coming off a monster game of 340 yards and three touchdowns, all against the Patriots. Going to St. Louis this weekend should be no different. He did lose one of his favorite targets, Greg Camarillo, for the year, but that shouldn’t stop him from finding Ted Ginn a couple times. If you have a tossup for quarterback on your team and Pennington involved, consider him for the start.

• Trent Edwards: Edwards looked scared two weeks ago in Cleveland. It almost looked like he lost the touch that gave Buffalo a tremendous start at the beginning of the season. Last week, though, the spell was broken. Edwards threw for two touchdowns, in addition to running two in. If you were lucky enough to believe in this guy, you got your money’s worth. Buffalo faces San Fransico and Miami for its next two games. Keep an eye on Edwards to get his confidence level back up and move this team towards the playoffs.

• Other notable starts: Joe Flacco, Tony Romo, Gus Frerotte.

• Additional note: Going into this week, you may be running into the situation of playoff teams beginning to rest their main QB. If you have the opportunity to pick up quarterbacks in the NFL that are still fighting for playoff contention, do it now, before it’s too late. Guys like Joe Flacco and Tyler Thigpen are still sitting in many leagues.

Sit ’Em

• Tyler Thigpen: Even against the Raiders, you will want to sit him. He has been lights out for fantasy owners as of late. In his last five games he has thrown 11 touchdowns to only three interceptions—impressive, without question. However, the Raiders are respectable when it comes to pass defense. They are ranked 10th in the league, holding quarterbacks such as Jake Delhomme and Chad Pennington to low numbers in recent games. Keep Thigpen on your bench for the playoff run, but let him rest it out this week.

• Other notable sits: Matt Cassel, Matt Ryan.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

• DeAngelo Williams: Finally, the kid from Carolina is starting to break out. It seems like we have been waiting for this to happen for a few years now. In the beginning of the season, he was splitting time with Stewart, but as of late, Williams has turned into the back I expected. He has gone over the 100-yard mark in four straight games and has five touchdowns in that span. The Panthers have Green Bay this week, who were torched Monday night by the Saints. Green Bay can usually stop the pass, but can they stop this speedster on the ground? I like Williams to continue the streak of 100-yard games and find the end zone.

• Chris Johnson: Where have you gone, Chris Johnson? In the last three weeks he has been unable to get past 65 yards and against Chicago only put up eight rushing yards . . . eight! However, with a Turkey day game this Thursday against the Lions, Johnson should return to true form. Detroit is dead last in rushing defense in the league and ranks last in points given up. Those are good signs for Johnson and Tennessee. Look for him to have a great game this week and please the fantasy owner who is starting to fear his decline.

• Other notable starts: Thomas Jones, Steve Slaton, Justin Fargas.

Sit ‘Em

• Jamal Lewis: The Browns are done, and so is Lewis. Find another running back if you can. Lewis has found the end zone one time in the last four games and has yet to get over 65 yards in that same timeframe. Cleveland takes on the Colts this week, who have suddenly risen from the dead to become a playoff team. They are on a mission and putting down anyone who is in their way. Cleveland will be the next team for Manning and his crew to slow down, and they will succeed.

• Other notable sits: Frank Gore, Darren McFadden, Pierre Thomas.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

• Jerricho Cotchery: If you’re like me, you drafted this guy expecting big things. Cotchery hasn’t exactly lived up to being the number one stud that many people hoped for, but he has had his good days. He is consistent on catches and yards, but touchdowns aren’t always there. The Jets play Denver, who have terrible defense. Brett Favre at times looks like he loves Cotchery, so hopefully we will see that this week. He has caught at least five passes in three out of the last four weeks and averaged at least 55 yards receiving. Let’s hope he finds the end zone against a weak Denver defense.

• Antonio Bryant: Bryant had a good week in Tampa, but this week the Saints come to town and are hungry. This could pan out two ways as I see it. Either the Saints light up the scoreboard, which will make Tampa try to do the same, or the Saints get shut down and Tampa wins with defense. I like the first option, which is why I think Bryant will have a good game. Look for something comparable to week 10 against the Chiefs, where he had eight catches, 115 yards, and a score. Tampa is fighting tough in the NFC South division, where it’s a nail biter. The Saints rank 24th in the league against the pass, so even Jeff Garcia should find some luck this week with Bryant.

• Other notable starts: Bernard Berrian, Ted Ginn Jr., Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Mark Bradley.

Sit ’Em

• Donald Driver: Driver is slowly falling out of the picture in Green Bay as Greg Jennings has become Aaron Rodgers’ go-to guy. Driver, who is still a respectable wideout, hasn’t been the same this year. He has gone over 80 yards in only one game, compared to last year at this time when he had four games over 80 yards. Even with the high-flying passing attack they bring, Driver is noticeably fading into the background. If you have him, you may want to start him, because the Packers are fighting for their lives, but don’t expect those big numbers anymore. Driver has become number two in Green Bay and maybe number three on your team.

• Other notable sits: Dwayne Bowe, T.J Houshmandzadeh, Braylon Edwards.

Got fantasy questions? Want answers? E-mail them to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Tune in every Friday afternoon from 3:15-4:30 p.m. on WJJG 1530 AM or online at www.wjjgam1530.com for all your fantasy news on Bizzy on Sports with your host, me, Bill Bizeau!

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