Fantasy Football News 1/4/07

[Hache Man]

Wild-card weekend tips
Maybe you can't let the fantasy season go or perhaps you need to fend off a long offseason for a few more weeks? Whatever the reason, instead of hibernating immediately, some fantasy owners are headed straight back into their draft rooms this week for playoff fantasy leagues. www.therx.info
www.therx.wswww.fantasysportspicks.com

Rules vary for such leagues but you're basically restarting your league with the 12 remaining playoff teams. The limited field, as well as the dwindling number of available players every week, make draft picks tricky. One common setup is to pick starters at each position and keep them throughout the postseason, regardless of how many games their team plays. The other is to pick the best players each week, which is silly because it does not punish the guy who picks all of the Giants.

Under the former method, your debate is deciding whether players appearing in the most games also will be the highest-scoring players. If you think the Bears will make the Super Bowl, are three games of Thomas Jones better than maybe two games of Brian Westbrook? In general, a more consistent fantasy player is the better pick, unless you are convinced that his team will be one-and-done. My rankings if you are gearing up for another draft:

QUARTERBACKS: Two games will be enough for Peyton Manning, especially because the first is such an attractive matchup. His second would be at Baltimore, against whom he has had some success in the past. Drew Brees has been better than Manning at times and will have a fine first game, but his second might be at Chicago.

1. Peyton Manning, Colts

2. Drew Brees, Saints

3. Jeff Garcia, Eagles

4. Tom Brady, Patriots

5. Philip Rivers, Chargers

6. Rex Grossman, Bears

7. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks

8. Eli Manning, Giants

9. Steve McNair, Ravens

10. Tony Romo, Cowboys

11. Chad Pennington, Jets

12. Trent Green, Chiefs

RUNNING BACKS: A mediocre group of quarterbacks means the cream of the crop is at this position, led by star LaDainian Tomlinson. But the order behind Tomlinson is a bit jumbled with several players who could become very valuable if their team makes a deep playoff run.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers

2. Brian Westbrook, Eagles

3. Jamal Lewis, Ravens

4. Larry Johnson, Chiefs

5. Joseph Addai, Colts

6. Deuce McAllister, Saints

7. Thomas Jones, Bears

8. Shaun Alexander, Seahawks

9. Tiki Barber, Giants

10. Marion Barber, Cowboys

11. Corey Dillon, Patriots

12. Reggie Bush, Saints

13. Laurence Maroney, Patriots

14. Julius Jones, Cowboys

15. Dominic Rhodes, Colts

16. Cedric Benson, Bears

17. Leon Washington, Jets

18. Brandon Jacobs, Giants

19. Cedric Houston, Jets

20. Correll Buckhalter, Eagles

21. Michael Turner, Chargers

22. Mike Anderson, Ravens

23. Ovie Mughelli, Ravens

24. Michael Bennett, Chiefs

WIDE RECEIVERS: As usual in fantasy, you're in good shape if you wind up with one of the Colts' top receivers. Otherwise, it is a bit of a crapshoot because none of the receivers from the other top contenders have performed consistently, even when their teams have won.

1. Marvin Harrison, Colts

2. Reggie Wayne, Colts

3. Marques Colston, Saints

4. Reggie Brown, Eagles

5. Terrell Owens, Cowboys

6. Donte Stallworth, Eagles

7. Mark Clayton, Ravens

8. Bernard Berrian, Bears

9. Plaxico Burress, Giants

10. D.J. Hackett, Seahawks

11. Laveranues Coles, Jets

12. Darrell Jackson, Seahawks

13. Joe Horn, Saints

14. Reche Caldwell, Patriots

15. Muhsin Muhammad, Bears

16. Devery Henderson, Saints

17. Terry Glenn, Cowboys

18. Deion Branch, Seahawks

19. Eddie Kennison, Chiefs

20. Derrick Mason, Ravens

21. Vincent Jackson, Chargers

22. Troy Brown, Patriots

23. Jerricho Cotchery, Jets

24. Samie Parker, Chiefs

TIGHT ENDS: Treat tight ends in the postseason just like you did in the regular season. If you have a chance to get Antonio Gates or one of the other top tight ends, then do it. Otherwise, there are several serviceable players who should suit you just fine.

1. Antonio Gates, Chargers

2. Todd Heap, Ravens

3. L.J. Smith, Eagles

4. Desmond Clark, Bears

5. Dallas Clark, Colts

6. Jason Witten, Cowboys

7. Jeremy Shockey, Giants

8. Ben Watson, Patriots

9. Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs

10. Jerramy Stevens, Seahawks

11. Chris Baker, Jets

12. Mark Campbell, Saints

KICKERS: With kickers more so than with the other positions, concentrate on players you expect to play the most games. More games mean more kicking chances, either extra points or field goals, and more points.

1. Nate Kaeding, Chargers

2. Robbie Gould, Bears

3. Matt Stover, Ravens

4. John Carney, Saints

5. Adam Vinatieri, Colts

6. David Akers, Eagles

7. Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots

8. Josh Brown, Seahawks

9. Martin Gramatica, Cowboys

10. Jay Feely, Giants

11. Lawrence Tynes, Chiefs

12. Mike Nugent, Jets

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS: Don't go looking for any secrets among defenses in the postseason. The best units will be the highest scorers, almost regardless of how many games they play. One shutout or one defensive TD will overshadow other production in such a limited window of games.

1. Baltimore Ravens

2. Chicago Bears

3. San Diego Chargers

4. Philadelphia Eagles

5. New England Patriots

6. Dallas Cowboys

7. New York Giants

8. Seattle Seahawks

9. New York Jets

10. New Orleans Saints

11. Kansas City Chiefs

12. Indianapolis Colts

[Hache Man]

	Jackson, Hackett to be game-time decisions
	Darrell Jackson - WR - SEA - Jan. 4 - 5:07 p.m. ET
	Darrell Jackson (turf toe) didn't practice Thursday, as expected. He worked out in front of Mike Holmgren and president Tim Ruskell after practice, but the media wasn't allowed to watch. Jackson will be a game-time decision, but he's hard to trust while playing with turf toe. D.J. Hackett is also a game-time decision after not practicing fully all week.Jan. 4 - 5:07 p.m. ET Source: The News Tribune

[Hache Man]

	Green returns to practice Thursday
	Trent Green - QB - KC - Jan. 4 - 4:14 p.m. ET
	Trent Green (probable, ankle) took all the reps in practice Thursday. Asked how Green looked, coach Herm Edwards said, "Mahvalous, he looked mahvalous." There isn't any doubt that Green will start against the Colts Saturday. Whether he finishes is another matter. Jan. 4 - 4:14 p.m. ET Source: KCChiefs.com

[Hache Man]

	Ricky on track to return but will 'Phins want him?
	Ricky Williams - RB - MIA - Jan. 4 - 3:27 p.m. ET
	Ricky Williams' agent Leigh Steinberg says his client is on track to return to the Dolphins. Ricky is taking and passing all his drug tests and will apply for re-admission to the league in April. One aftershock of Nick Saban's departure: An incoming coach is far less likely to want to deal with Williams. Ronnie Brown owners should be crossing their fingers for a trade.Jan. 4 - 3:27 p.m. ET Source: Miami Herald

[Hache Man]

	Darrell Jackson to be game-time call
	Darrell Jackson - WR - SEA - Jan. 4 - 1:19 p.m. ET
	Darrell Jackson (turf toe) admits that his availability for the Seahawks Wild Card Game will be a game-time decision. Seattle's team website says Jackson isn't likely to practice this week, even though the Seattle Times reported he might try to go Thursday. D.J. Hackett, who is expected to play, should start vs. Dallas if Jackson can't.Jan. 4 - 1:19 p.m. ET Source: seahawks.com