Championships!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well folks for most people the season is now over and we hope that you achieved your goal of winning your league. We certainly hope that we were able to help you in your quest and would love to hear stories about your league and your path to the championship. We would appreciate you taking a moment to post a comment to the site stating your results and if we were able to help in your quest for glory that is great as well.

Just because the season is over for many does not mean that it is time to put away the fantasy football until next year. For everyone who is in a keeper or dynasty league this is a key time of the year for you to make sure next year you have the ability to post your championship story here at Hatty Waiver Wire Guru. We have a dedicated staff or experts when it comes to dynasty leagues and we are here to help. I want to take a moment to recognize our staff and also make sure you have their contact information in case you need help with trades, upcoming rookies and overall strategy to help you improve your team.

Hatty: hattywaiverwireguru@hattywaiverwireguru.com
JD: jdncsu350@hattywaiverwireguru.com
Derrick: stalyes1920@hattywaiverwireguru.com
Jay: jayvonahn@hattywaiverwireguru.com

If you are wondering about credentials all of us won at least 1 of our fantasy leagues this year, all have extensive experience with dynasty leagues and all of us are here to help.

Thanks to all of our readers in our first year. It has been an awesome year and we look forward to hearing from you throughout the off season and into next year.

Author: JD Dowell


Author: Hatty
Email: hattywaiverwireguru@hattywireguru.com

Hatty's Week 15 Afternoon Delight

With such a short turnaround from Week 14 to 15 and the videos Hatty has already put up this week I wanted to wait until the last possible moment for the normal weekly player news. This week is championship week for most leagues so the player news is vital to those still fighting for the title. Some BIG news this week around some players who may be in your lineups so let's get started.

Anquan Boldin
The man has had a broken face and still been beyond beast like all season long. For owners who have rode Boldin's good play to the finals this is bad news. The Cardinals are considering sitting Boldin this week! Boldin has an injured shoulder and with the division already locked up and home field advantage not possible the Cards have nothing to really play for over the next two weeks. This is not set in stone yet but I have a feeling even if Boldin suits up you likely won't see him play a significant amount of time. STEVE BREASTON owners should have him in the week!

Frank Gore
Gore stated that he is about 50/50 for this week. Which means that even if he does play he likely will split time with Deshaun Foster making his value for owners looking to win their league minimal. I would recommend going with other options if you have them.

Matt Forte
Forte was once again held out of practice for a bum toe on Thursday. This has the risk level at high for Forte to miss this week's game. Luckily for owners he does not play until Monday Night so it gives him an extra day of rest. For those owners who have Forte as one of their premier backs you need to snag Adrian Peterson just in case it turns out that Forte will miss time.

Colts
Tony Dungy stated publicly that if the Colts win on Thursday night that he may rest his starters in Week 17 since the win would clinch their playoff spot. To me that says that this week could be a big week for Colts players such as Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark and their running backs could have big games tonight as they have a little added bonus should they win. MARVIN HARRISON is out this week so be sure you plug in Gonzalez if you own Harrison.

Reggie Bush
If you have been under a rock, or busy with your wife's graduation, then you know that Reggie Bush is done for the year. This makes Pierre Thomas a must start unless you are working with some serious depth at RB.

Brandon Jacobs
BJ was back at practice and with the huge game against Carolina on Sunday night you can expect him to be back in the lineup. With home field advantage at stake this game could be amazing. Be sure to Tivo, DVR or put it on a VHS for those who are behind the times if you cannot be sure to make it live.

Trent Edwards
For those owners who have limped into the finals and need a QB Edwards looks to be back this week and could be a nice spot starter.

That is all for this week and good luck to all of our readers in the finals. I know about 75% of the owners I communicate with have made it to the championship and from what Hatty and the other writers have mentioned they are hearing similar things. I hope that we have been able to help you make it to your league finals.

Be sure to email us if you have any last minute lineup needs or questions.

Author: JD Dowell
Email: jdncsu350@hattywaiverwireguru.com

Hatty Waiver Wire Guru Playoff Run Week 16



Author: Hatty
Email: hattywaiverwireguru@hattywaiverwireguru.com

Fantasy Off-Season

For those of you that made your league championship game, congratulations! For those of you that didn't, now comes the most undervalued time in fantasy football keeper and dynasty league play, the fantasy off-season while the NFL keeps playing.

This is the time to try and deal that fantasy surprise that you scooped up off waivers or acquired in a trade that you have concerns about for next year. It's important to remember that right now he is a commodity; in a couple of months he'll once again be a prospect. Is Vincent Jackson the next Anquan Boldin, or is he is the next Kevin Curtis?

Right now he looks like he is the next Boldin. It all falls into buy low sell high. Obviously dealing these guys is risky. You are gambling on them either failing miserably next year, not performing at a top level next year, or that you can get something of greater value for next year and beyond. The other side of the gamble is the player you are trading for. You want to be careful not to "overpay" for another player that may or may not perform next year. The gamble expands exponentially when you trade these players for draft picks. The ideal target for these trades are owners that feel they are one player away, or if you are packaging players your target is a team that has one or two superstars, but no depth. Key in on these teams and even if your league doesn't open the trade window until after the regular season, you can start doing your homework for these trades now.

I'm not telling you that you can turn a player like Steve Breaston into Adrian Peterson, but if you have a player near the edge of you keeper list or outside your primary starting line-up that could net you a better player to plug into your lineup for next year, now is the time. Their value will never be higher than it is right now until three to four weeks into next season.

Sunday Morning Scramble

Here we go again ladies and gents for what is sure to be one great day of football. Good luck to everyone in their semi-finals matchups as the majority of leagues are fighting to see who makes it to the championship game this week. Some tough matchups give an edge to those 3-6 seeds in my opinion this week so I expect there might be some upsets around the fantasy football world. Some key players are either out or likely to be limited this morning. So let's get down to the real matters at hand.

Probable (90%)
Brian Westbrook
Ryan Grant
Joseph Addai (not starting but is suiting up)
Matt Cassell
Koren Robinson
Jamarcus Russell
Steve Breaston
Jerricho Cotchery
Questionable (50/50)
Marion Barber
Lendale White
Domenik Hixon
Selvin young
Mark Bradley
Ray Rice
Brandon Stokely
Laverneus Coles (should play)
Matt Hasslebeck

Out (Eating Pancakes)
Frank Gore
Brandon Jacobs
Trent Edwards
Kellen Winslow
Daunte Culpepper
Gus Frerotte

That covers all of the injury concerns for this week. A lot of good games this weekend you should sit down and watch without your stat tracker running. Steelers and Ravens as well as the Giants and Cowboys should be great games.

Good luck to everyone this week and I hope to hear from everyone that they made the finals!


Author: JD Dowell


(Email me with your last minute lineup needs!)

Hatty's Afternoon Delight

A little earlier than normal but there is a lot of news that is vital for fantasy owners and I wanted to make sure everyone was up to date. Last night's game saw some scares, surprises and some great games by some key fantasy players. For those who didn't follow Hatty and I's recommendation on Pierre Thomas, sorry. For those who are wondering what is going on with some of the big named players out there let's get to it.

Brandon Jacobs
Looks as though Jacob's is officially out for Week 15. This is tough news but at least they made it public and did not leave it as a game time decision like usual. Hopefully you have Bradshaw or Ward handcuffed for Jacobs owners but if not be sure to grab someone off the wire. 1 point is better than 0.

Frank Gore
Gore has been indicating all week that he would play but news stories out of SF this morning indicate otherwise. I think either way Gore is a risky play since the Niners are facing a tough Miami run defense so hopefully you have some good options on your bench.

TNF
Thursday's big game saw Pierre Thomas have his true coming out party, Bears nation and a lot of fantasy owners gasp as Forte went down in the first quarter and many owners no doubt a little disappointed in Brees performance. Either way it was a great game if you could peel back the fantasy impact. Pierre Thomas is a great player to have right now but also for keeper and dynasty league owners he is someone you may want to target.

Joseph Addai or Dominick Rhodes?
Looks as though Dominick Rhodes will be getting the start this week as of now. Obviously this news could change but Addai being banged up, the Lions on the schedule and Rhodes recent improved play all point to Rhodes getting the bulk of the load this week.

Concern for Portis Owners
For Clinton Portis owners the news earlier this week was no doubt a concern. For those that do not follow the Redskins or player news down to the O-Line level...the Redskins have lost Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen from their O-Line. That would be the two biggest reasons that Portis had all those gaping holes this year.

That is all for now but certainly if more big news breaks we may have a second edition of the Afternoon Delight.

Good luck to everyone this weekend.

Author: JD Dowell
Email: jdncsu350@hattywaiverwireguru.com

Hatty's Afternoon Delight

Today is a big day with a key matchup tonight between the Saints and the Bears which has a lot of bearing on games this week I am sure. With players like Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Jeremy Shokey, Matt Forte, Devon Hester, Kyle Orton and the Bears Defense in action it should lead to a good game and some good scores. No major news around the game tonight with players. I think Forte, Thomas and Bush are set to have a big game tonight.

Matt Cassell ALERT
Cassell returned to practice today so as expected he will be fine for this weekend's game. You never know how a QB will react to a tough emotional situation such as the passing of his father but I expect him to go bonkers. 300 + 2 TD's would not be surprising.

Jeff Garcia
If Garcia is your number one guy then you most likely are not in your playoffs still. If you are, then your other position players must be nasty. It looks like Garcia could miss this weeks game but Garcia is a tough as nails type of guy so expect him to play if he can walk onto the field.

Jaguar Down
Fred Taylor's season, and likely his career in Jacksonville, are done. His thumb injury officially landed him on the IR but that is great news for you Maurice Jones Drew owners. MoJD has no one to steal carries and don't be shocked if the Jags offense suddenly takes off.

COLTS RB SITUATION
It looks like there is a good chance Joseph Addai could be out this week against the Lions which means for you owners who were smart enough to keep Dominick Rhodes stashed away or quick on the draw to pick him up recently, you will be rewarded. Get him in your lineups unless you have other studs you don't want to sit because a game against the Lions is enough to be the lineup change that pushes some teams into the finals.

Good luck to everyone tonight. Let us know if you have any last minute lineup advice.

Author: JD Dowell
Email: jdncsu350@hattywaiverwireguru.com

Week 15 Top 10 Quarterbacks

1) Peyton Manning (IND vs. DET)- In week 14, Manning showed us why he should still be viewed as an elite fantasy QB, as he threw for 277 yards and 3 touchdowns. He bounced back after a terrible week 13 and should keep that going this week against an atrocious Lions defense that is last in the NFL with only four interceptions.

2) Kurt Warner (ARZ vs. MIN)- Warner has reached the 200 yard mark in ten straights games, while also having thrown at least one touchdown in 20 consecutive games. He had a below average fantasy game by his standards last week, but should turn things around with a home game against the Vikings.


3) Drew Brees (NO @CHI)- Brees continues to be one of the best (if not the best) quarterbacks in the NFL this year. He leads the league in passing yards and touchdowns and is a must start each week. He had a good game at Chicago in late December last year (320 yards, 3TD's, 2 INT's), so there is no reason to think he can't put up good numbers again in the Thursday night game.

4)Philip Rivers (SD @ KC)- Rivers wasn't asked to throw it much last week, as the Chargers elected to run the ball 46 times with a big lead against the Raiders. However despite the low attempts, Rivers still managed to have a great fantasy game as he completed 10 of 22 passes for 214 yards, but most importantly 3 touchdowns. He had success against the Chiefs in week 10, so look for another great game from Rivers.

5) Aaron Rodgers (GB @ JAX)- Rodgers threw 295 yards, as well as two touchdowns with an interception in a week 14 loss to the Texans. Despite the Packers struggles, he's thrown 9 TD's in his last four games while also reaching 225+ yards/game in that stretch. Rodgers remains a strong option for fantasy owners in the stretch run.

6) Jay Cutler (DEN @ CAR)- The ups and downs of Cutler have been well documented this year. Cutler didn't set the world on fire last week (286yds, 2TD's, 1 INT), but still had a respectable fantasy game. Cutler faces a below average Panthers pass defense in week 15 and lost another RB (Hillis) to injury, so expect Cutler to throw frequently.


7) Matt Cassel (NE @ OAK)- Cassel responded from a terrible week 13 performance against the Steelers with a respectable 268 yard/1 touchdown game against Seattle. Look for Cassel to repeat those numbers this week against an average Raiders defense and hope he can get a few more scores.

8) Donovan McNabb (PHI vs. CLE)- McNabb has thrown five touchdowns in his last two games, leading the Eagles to back to back victories and keeping them in the playoff hunt. Expect a good fantasy game from McNabb as he faces an average Browns defense at home with a lot on the line.


9) Tyler Thigpen (KC vs. SD)- Thigpen now has had two straight games where he's failed to reach 200 yards, and is a fantasy quarterback that should only be considered when the matchup is right. Luckily for Tyler Thigpen owners, he faces one of the leagues worst pass defenses this week. He threw 266 yards with 3 touchdowns against the Chargers in week 10, and is should be a "borderline starter" this week depending on your other options.

10) Matt Schaub (HOU vs. TEN)- Schaub was great in his return from injury, throwing for 414 yards and two touchdowns (one interception). That performance was a good indicator that Schaub should start being considered as a middle to upper tier fantasy quarterback again. He does have a tough matchup this week, so consider other quarterbacks if you can, but he does remain an intriguing option.
Author: Jay VonAhn
Email: jayvonahn@hattywaiverwireguru.com
(Email Jay is you have any questions about your QB or other position players. He is also great for lineup advice, news on key players and long walks on the beach)

Hatty Waiver Wire Guru Playoff Run Week 15



Author: Hatty
Email: Hattywaiverwireguru@hattywaiverwireguru.com
Need advice then email me...

Hatty's Afternoon Delight

I ma back for another installment of the Afternoon Delight. A lot of news over the past 48 hours that will have an impact on players this Sunday. Unfortunately a lot of this news leads to more potential for split carries, key players being out and overall uncertainty leading into a critical weekend for fantasy owners. Most teams are in the semi-finals of their playoffs so let's get down to business.

Jags
Most owners of Maurice Jones Drew have been disappointed outside of his two weeks where he blew up. Good news for most owners to hear that both Fred Taylor and Greg Jones are likely to hit the IR this week. MoJD should recieve no competition throughout the rest of the year and with Indy and Green bay on the schedule for the next two weeks, MoJD could be your playoff MVP.

Frank Gore
X-Rays revealed no major damage but Gore is still expected to be a game time decision. Deshaun Foster would be the primary back if Gore cannot go. Keep an eye on the daily updates here as if we report of the Niners adding more backs it would be a good indication that Gore will not make it back. Either way, if you have other options at RB you may want to consider them.

Marion the Barbarian
Marion disappointed many owners this past week but he was in pads on Wednesday. He will be limited in practice this week and don't be suprised is Tashard Choice gets some looks on Sunday based on his good play against a tough Steelers team. I think Barber will end up seeing the bulk of the work against the NYG.

Matt Cassell ALERT
For those who have been riding the hot hand recently Cassell was not at practice on Wednesday after the passing of his father. Our hearts go out to Cassell and his famiyl in what is a tough time I am sure. No word yet on whether he will play Sunday but I woudl expect Cassell to pull a Favre and could have an emotional and beneficial performance.

Clinton Portis
It was only a matter or time before the stress of a team on the slide became public and Clinton Portis exploded on Tuesday. I like how Coach Jim Zorn handled this situation taking apassive approach rather than letting the media get what they wanted. Either way I would expect Zorn to give the ball to Portis and make him prove his worth after taking something along these lines public. Portis should have a huge day against a weak Cincy Defense.

Brandon Jacobs
Jacobs seems to be okay but Tom Coughlin was quoted as saying that they would do the right thing medically in regards to him playing this week. With the Giants securing the division the only thing left is the home field advantage so Jacobs could play but unless he improves drastically I would expect Bradshaw and Ward to get more carries and looks even if Jacobs dresses.

That is the big news today. Feel free to email with questions regarding player status, lineup questions, etc... to help you win this week.

Author: JD Dowell
Email: jdncsu350@hattywaiverwireguru.com

Thanks to everyone for writing in about the success they have had this year. It is great to hear that we have helped so many people go farther than they ever have in their leagues. The journey is not over yet as we still have 2 more games to win!

Hatty Waiver Wire Guru Week 15



Author: Hatty
Email: hattywaiverwireguru@hattywaiverwireguru.com
Email me if you need advice

Hatty's Afternoon Delight

So after a brief hiatus from the Daily updates we are back with some big news following Week 14. Most teams were in the playoffs this week and we would love to hear updates on how things went down. There is a lot of news surrounding some recent players who have been hot and be sure to tune in for the weekly waiver wire video if you won this week because this is a crucial time of the year for the waiver wire as you can easily find that high octane player to help push you to the championship.

This is almost getting ridiculous, Denver!
It appears that another one has bit the dust in what may become known as the worst loss of manpower since WWII. Peyton Hillis looks to be done for the year falling in line behind Michael Pittman, Ryan Torain and others in the Denver running game. For those who started Hillis this week, at least he got us a TD before he went out with a hamstring injury. Normal recovery time 5-6 weeks which means he is all but done for this year's fantasy football. If Tatum Bell is on your waiver wire then grab him now. Selvin Young may be back soon but that has been the word for weeks so who knows.

Marion the Barbarian
What is it with the Cowboys and pinkie digits this year? Marion Barber missed this past week with a dislocated pinkie toe. Barber is a beast so I assume this is more serious than it sounds but he looks to be back this week. After being called out by Jerry Jones, apparently misquoted but we know what ya mean Jerry, Barber is expected to be a game time decision this week. Tashard Choice had a nice performance filling in for Barber. Either way I expect Barber's value to be less than normal with Choice showing he can be productive.

Redskins
Clinton Portis sat our all of the second half in Sunday Nights game. Portis has continued to play through the injuries but for fantasy owners looking for Portis to catch fire for the playoffs, those chances took another big hit with OT Chris Samuels going down for the year. For those who do not follow the Skins, Samuels has been an O-Line staple and a big part of the Skins Run and pass protection. The Skins Offense has been terrible for the past few weeks and this is not the type of loss to help them get better.

Ryan Grant
In similar news Ryan Grant's strong side blocker, Mark Tauscher, is done for the year which means the direction Grant performs best just took a big hit. Grant's numbers are down from what many expected and this news hurts their potential ground game even more.

Ravens
In a hard hitting matchup on Sunday night both Ray Rice and Willis Mcgahee were not around at the end of the day. Willis probably broke a nail which means he will be out 9-12 months and Rice took a pretty good lick but no news on his injury. As we highlighted in a player spotlight earlier this year Leron McClain will likely be the starting back next week. Of course the Ravens face the Steelers which is not good for production but I have more confidence in a bruising back like McClain having a good day against the Steelers more than anyone else they have.

That is some of the biggest news coming from Sunday. I know tonight has a lot of owners nervous with Garcia, Dunn, Cadillac, Bryant, Delhomme, Smith, Muhammed, Williams and Stewart all playing just to name a few. Take time to look away from your scoreboard and enjoy what should be an awesome game. You cannot dictate the outcome by analyzing every 3 yards a player gets so just trust in your squad and let us know when you win and make it to the playoff semi-finals.

Please don't hesitate to email any of our writers for advice on wire pickups, lineup changes, injury reports, start em and sit em news and anything else to help your team win. We want to have a post once the playoff season is over claiming championships.

Author: JD Dowell
Email: jdncsu350@hattywaiverwireguru.com

Sunday Morning Scramble

Today is a big day for most fantasy owners as it is the first week of the playoffs in most 6 and 8 team playoff setups. Hopefully all of our readers made their playoffs and we would love to hear about it if we had a helping hand. Leave us a comment on the article to let us know you made the playoffs. This is the first Sunday Morning Scramble for the playoffs and there is some big news out there for owners who are looking for those final lineup changes to ensure they make it to next week.



First let's start with the player updates:



Probable (90% chance they are playing)
Anquan Boldin
Jason Elam
Willis Mcgahee
TJ Houshmanzadeh
Roy Williams
Peyton Hillis
Selvin Young
Kevin Smith
Ryan Grant
Matt Schaub
Reggie Bush
Brian Westbrook
Willie Parker
Josh Morgan
Steven Jackson
Donnie Avery


Questionable (50/50 and likely a gametime decision)
Trent Edwards (not likely)
Laverneus Coles (listed this way every week so expect him to play)
Ronald Curry
Matt Hasselbeck

Out (Reading the minute by minute account of Plaxico's infamous night)
Marion Barber
Carson Palmer
Kellen Winslow
Mark Bradley
Correll Buckhalter


As expected there are not many game time decisions as players are either playing or cannot physically make it to the field. For Marion Barber owners there should be some serious concern (I am one of them) when after 9 days of rest a dislocated pinkie keeps him out of a key game for this team and their playoff hopes. Tashard Choice should be picked up immediately. Toe injuries are never good as was witnessed in the Darren McFadden issues earlier this year that really killed his rookie year.


I hope to see some comments from our readers who made the playoffs. I should be around this morning if you have any last minute lineup needs or you have a player in questions not on my list. There are some matchups this week that lend my to think that some big offensive performances could be occurring today.


Good luck to everyone and let's get some W's in the playoffs!


Author: JD Dowell
Email: jdncsu350@hattywaiverwireguru.com

Week 14 Top 10 Quarterbacks

1) Kurt Warner (ARZ vs. STL)- Warner had his worst game of the year last week, throwing 3 interceptions in a loss to the Eagles. However (like I say each week), even in his bad games he still puts up good fantasy numbers. Despite the turnovers and failing to reach 300 yards, he still threw for 3 touchdowns. Warner remains a must start this week against the Rams.



2) Drew Brees (NO vs. ATL)- Like Warner, even when Brees has a "bad game" he still puts up solid fantasy stats. He threw for 422 yards and 2 touchdowns in a week 10 game against the Falcons (although he also had 3 interceptions). Expect Brees to put up his usual numbers.


3) Jay Cutler (DEN vs. KC)- Cutler threw for 357 yards and 2 touchdowns in week 13. I mentioned last week that Cutler can be a "wild-card" from game to game, but the potential is always there for him to put up huge numbers. I expect another big game from his this week against the Chiefs.





4) Peyton Manning (IND vs. CIN)- Who knows what to make of Manning's terrible performance in week 13 (15-21, 125 yards, 0 TD's, 2 INT's)? He returns home with a favorable match up, which are two great things for Peyton owners. He remains an elite fantasy quarterback.


5) Aaron Rodgers (GB vs HOU)- Rodgers has had three straight solid fantasy games, and should keep that up this week against a Texans team that is on a short week after the MNF game (they also will be on the road at Lambeau). Rodgers has at least 2 touchdowns per game during that stretch, with 8 total (7 passing, 1 rushing).



6) Matt Cassel (NE @ SEA)- Cassel had the worst outing of his career last week against the tough Pittsburgh defense, finishing the game with four turnovers (two interceptions and two lost fumbles). I knew that it would be a tough match up for him, but did not think it would go that bad. Look for Cassel to turn things around this week against a terrible Seattle defense.


7) Matt Ryan ( ATL @ NO)- Ryan remains one of the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks this year. He now has seven straight games with at least 200 yards. Ryan doesn't have those games where he explodes for 400 yards with numerous touchdowns, but you can always count on 200 yards and at least one score.


8) Eli Manning (NYG vs. PHI)- Eli is quietly putting together a "Top 10 Fantasy QB" season. He's thrown ten touchdowns in his last five games, and has been limiting his turnovers. Eli doesn't seem too affected by the Plaxico situation, and should continue to put up good numbers this week at home against divisional rival Philadelphia.

9) Tony Romo (DAL @ PIT)- Similar to Cassel last week, Romo is coming off two great games heading into a very tough match up against the Steelers. It'll be hard to bench Romo the way he has been playing lately, but the Pittsburgh defense should definitely be a concern for owners. Look for average numbers from him and hope he can limit his turnovers.




10) Brett Favre (NYJ @ SF)- Favre had an average game last week throwing 247 yards with an interception in a loss to the Broncos. The Denver pass defense is near the bottom of the league which is a concern, but lets hope it was the rainy weather that affected his throws. Look for Favre to respond with a couple TD's this week










Author: Jay VonAhn
Email: jayvonahn@hattywaiverwireguru.com

Week 14 Running Backs


1 - Adrian Peterson - MIN @ DET – All Day faces his best match-up this week facing off against the anemic Lions run defense. Look for Peterson to not only extend his rushing yardage lead this week, but to overtake Portis for the total yardage crown this week.

2 - Ladanian Tomlinson - OAK @ SD – Tomlinson against the Raiders defense that has given up over 90 yards to four of the last five running backs they have faced, with Peyton Hills being the only back under that mark. LT looks to put up great numbers rushing and receiving out of the backfield this week.

3 - Matt Forte -JAC @ CHI – Forte put up almost 100 yards against second ranked Vikings defense last week. This week he faces a Jaguars defense that just gave up 130 yards to Steve Slaton and the Texans. Forte even though Forte enters uncharted rookie territory this week, playing in his 13th game in a single season, he will put up top tier numbers again this week.

4 - Chris Johnson - CLE @ TEN – Chris Johnson has become a beast in this, his first season in the NFL, if it was not for the play of Matt Ryan, and the dual threat of Matt Forte, he would be the front runner for Rookie of the Year honors. This week, once again, he faces a bottom tier run defense. Look for huge numbers rushing again this week as he faces off against the Browns and their 26th ranked run defense and their third string quarterbacked offense this week.

5 - Michael Turner - ATL @ NO – Turner has emerged as a top tier runner this year. Against a Saints team allowing over 110 yards per game on the ground. Turner put up almost 100 yards and a score the last time he faced New Orleans. Look for a repeat performance this week.

6 - DeAngelo Williams - TB @ CAR – So how do you pick against a player with over 400 yards and 8 touchdowns in the last four games. You don’t, but remember that three of those four performances were against bottom five run defenses. So this week=2 0against a top ten run defense, look for more realistic numbers from him, but you can’t pick against the hot hand.

7 - Peyton Hillis - KC @ DEN – Before four weeks ago, the most Hillis was known for was clearing the way for a couple of other rookie running backs in the league, McFadden and Felix Jones. Now with all the Broncos running backs on the IR, Hillis has become the running back by default in Denver. He has made the most of his opportunity, putting up almost 300 yards and 4 scores in three games since becoming the starter. Against the chiefs even a player still listed as the Fullback on the Broncos roster becomes, not just a viable option, but a must start against the Chiefs and their 31st ranked run defense.

8 – Steve Slaton – HOU @ GB – Steve Slaton coming off a stellar performance against the Jags looks to build on that against a Packers defense ranked eight slots worse against the run. Especially on the frozen tundra of Lambeau field were the ability to run is paramount. Look for another top performance from Slaton this week.

9 - Steven Jackson - STL @ ARI – Jackson is finally back and healthy. He plays for a really bad team. With Bulger and Holt under performing and Avery still too raw to count on, Jackson is really the only option at playmaker for the Rams. His performance last week against the Dolphins showed how much the Rams rely on him, accounting for 40% of the total offense.

10 - Larry Johnson - KC @ DEN – Two must starts in one game? When they both play for teams with run defenses among the worst in the league, yes. Johnson is not the fantasy beast he once was, but with this match-up, he will put numbers like the LJ of old.