Analysis: In Week 17, the Panthers will: wallow around in their own offensive filth. Their defense gave up 31 points at home to the Falcons three weeks ago, and it's tough to imagine their offense scoring half that Sunday. In Week 17, the Falcons will: go all out. They missed out on a chance to clinch the NFC's top seed in a Monday night loss to the Saints that they probably should've won and now need a victory here to secure the NFC South crown and a first-round bye.

Fantasy Up: Michael Turner picked a bad time to fumble Monday. He hadn't lost a single football all season, but he got stuffed on back-to-back, goal-line chances versus the Saints (after Michael Jenkins drew an end zone pass interference flag), losing the ball on the second one. An ugly punctuation mark on an ugly night: 17 carries for 48 yards against a New Orleans defense that had been eviscerated by Ray Rice the week before. But listen, Turner had three scores against the Panthers last month. If you survived Monday night, no way you're benching him for the finale. … I feel the same way about Jonathan Stewart, the red-hot back who might just be making DeAngelo Williams expendable in Carolina. However, Stewart reportedly has a sore foot and has missed some practices this week, so you'll have to make sure he's active. If he is, use him. Versus the Steelers last Thursday, "The Daily Show" produced 80 yards on 19 touches in the worst situation imaginable (on the road against the NFL's best run defense, in the cold and on national TV), and since coming back from injury five weeks ago, his average game is 19.8 touches for 109.8 yards and 10.6 fantasy points. True, the touchdowns haven't been there -- an occupational hazard when you play for the Panthers -- but otherwise he has been a bull. … Matt Ryan occasionally still has that "assassin" piece of his game missing, as he did versus the Saints. He could've put New Orleans away a couple times (especially after John Abraham's amazing fourth-quarter, tip-drill interception), but he kept letting them off the hook. But with other top-10 quarterback options possibly sitting Sunday, Ryan should be a rock-solid start, as should Roddy White.

Fantasy Down: Thanks for playing, Tony Gonzalez. Gonzo was a fantasy-killer for much of the year: up and down and eclipsing 51 yards receiving twice all season. But he saved his worst performance of the year for fantasy-title weekend, with two grabs for 12 yards versus New Orleans. I don't trust him as a top-10 option. … I want to see potential in Jimmy Clausen, if only because I thought he should've been a first-rounder and the second signal-caller off the board in April's draft. That's not looking like a particularly good call right now. In past editions of the Breakdown, I've detailed great quarterbacks who had rookie seasons even more miserable than Clausen's, so I don't think you can point to stats to explain why you find Clausen hopeless. Instead, I think you point to the game tape. He was pretty good at the beginning of the Steelers game last week, hitting Steve Smith, David Gettis and his running backs on a few short passes that moved the sticks. After that, it was a comedy of punts, missed connections and penalties that made you wonder whether Clausen could hit the broad side of a barn or lead a pee wee team. It's not fair, I know. The franchise is moribund. But let's put it this way: I absolutely understand why Carolina is dreaming of Andrew Luck.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Steelers will: play all-out, because a win clinches the AFC North and a first-round bye, while a loss coupled with a Ravens win could see them slip as low as the No. 6 seed. In Week 17, the Browns will: play their regulars, if only to see if they can spoil Pittsburgh's party in a similar circumstance to last season, when in Week 14 they shocked the reeling Steelers. Either way, Eric Mangini figures to be on his way out the door.

Fantasy Up: The Browns defense continued to be newly strengthened against the pass last week versus the Ravens: Joe Flacco was in checkdown mode when he did throw (only 19 attempts), as they focused on the ground game. That's good news for Rashard Mendenhall, who may only have eclipsed 100 yards rushing in a game three times this year, but is working on 11 rushing scores and figures to approach 20-plus carries Sunday. As for Ben Roethlisberger? I don't like the matchup, and I don't like his offensive line, but I sure like the Steelers throwing it 32 times in a blowout over the Panthers last Thursday. Start him and hope for physical health, plus another long hookup with Mike Wallace. … Peyton Hillis unexpectedly put a bunch of fantasy teams on his back this season, then shook them off just when they needed him most. Ed Reed gave Hillis a huge shot on the Browns' first drive last week and he wound up having only 12 carries for 35 yards; while Hillis is still fantasy's No. 3 running back, he hasn't gotten double-digit fantasy points in any of his past four games, and has seen his per-carry average dip from 4.55 in the first 12 games of 2010 to 3.98 this month. Oh, listen, if he's healthy, Hillis isn't losing many looks to Mike Bell (as he did in Week 16). He had 18 touches for 90 yards in Week 6 against the Steelers, and he's got 13 total touchdowns (though again, none have come in the past month). This is an awful matchup against the Steelers defense, and if I had good alternatives, I'd use them. But I still kept Hillis in my top 20 rushers.

Fantasy Down: Will Colt McCoy be a fantasy factor if the Browns go to a West Coast system next season? I tend to doubt it, but he'll have a better chance than he does under Mangini and Brian Daboll's constipated mess. Brian Robiskie has scored a touchdown in consecutive games and Mohamed Massaquoi has flashed deep skill in his two-year career, but neither player looks ready to be a no-doubt No. 1 receiver just yet, and that, I think, will wind up being McCoy's limitation in 2011. … Is this the end for Hines Ward? He'll make a reasonable $3 million next season and the Steelers would never cut him outright, but he's really fallen off a cliff at age 34. He just can't run anymore, and he'll almost certainly post his worst statistical season since 2000. He's caught only five catches thrown beyond 20 yards in the air all season. He had 20 red-zone targets in '09; he has 10 in '10. With Emmanuel Sanders and, to a lesser extent, Antonio Brown making impacts in their rookie seasons, one wonders if Ward may have seen his final fantasy-relevant moments.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Vikings will: probably trod out their concussed Living Legend for one last go-round, regardless of whether it actually gives them a better chance to win. In Week 17, the Lions will: try like heck to go into the offseason on a four-game win streak.

Fantasy Up: The Calvin Johnson situation is scary, because even if he suits up, as he did last week in Miami, there's no guarantee he finishes the game (he didn't versus the Dolphins). But really, I don't think anyone outside that locker room can offer brilliant strategic advice on this one: If Megatron is active, you probably take the chance and start him. … And regardless of whether the Vikings quarterback is Brett Favre or Joe Webb, you're not starting him, but you probably should consider starting Percy Harvin. Harvin owned the Eagles on Tuesday night, getting cornerback Dmitri Patterson benched and stretching the field with a series of slants and go patterns as well as some halfback handoffs. My assumption is that after suffering a concussion on a cheap Asante Samuel helmet-to-helmet hit, Sidney Rice won't play Sunday, which would lay the groundwork for a bigger game for Harvin. … Oh yeah, and it turns out that that Adrian Peterson fellow is pretty good, too. He might not be 100 percent because of his severely bruised thigh (thanks Tarvaris Jackson!), but he's still a wrathful deity. I know he won't catch Arian Foster for the title of best fantasy running back of 2010, but I feel content in having boosted him as my No. 1 overall pick this summer, over Chris Johnson.

Fantasy Down: The Vikings defense turned it up several notches against Michael Vick on Tuesday, sending Antoine Winfield after him on corner blitzes time and time again and letting the chips fall where they may. Vick couldn't make them pay despite an incredibly thin and reserve-laden secondary, which makes me think Shaun Hill probably won't go wild against them, either. Now, Hill probably will dink-and-dunk his way to a fine afternoon with a lot of Brandon Pettigrew looks and will probably wind up with low double figures in fantasy points. But that's probably about where his upside is. He's not a bad No. 2 quarterback, even against this Vikings D that probably should've picked off Vick four times. But no more. … Jahvid Best cracked a big play on a short pass versus Miami, but he's still playing second fiddle to Maurice Morris, who found no running room against the Dolphins (14 touches, 35 yards). But MoMo is the red zone back here, scoring from five yards out in the third quarter, so he's the more attractive guy here. Of course, you're probably best starting neither.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Raiders will: play out the string, hoping for a victory that would potentially knock the arch-rival Chiefs from the No. 3 seed to No. 4 in the AFC, and lower their own first-round draft pick, which belongs to the Patriots. In Week 17, the Chiefs will: most likely play to win. This is an early game, and the Colts don't play until 4:15 p.m. ET. If the Chiefs win, they finish 11-5 and earn the No. 3 seed. If they lose and the Colts win, they'll be No. 4. Either way, they're going to have a tough home wild-card opponent (either the Jets or the Ravens/Steelers wild-card entrant), but I'm guessing this is enough motivation to keep playing.

Fantasy Up: Darren McFadden rolled an ankle late in the third quarter against Indy last week and had only one touch thereafter, putting his playing time in jeopardy for this meaningless season finale. One aspect of the Raiders' game plan that was a real head-scratcher against the Colts was why they had Run-DMC trying so many perimeter runs, rather than just pushing up the gut, which has been both his and the offensive line's strength this season. Now, it's possible to overstate exactly how good McFadden's "breakout season" has been: He's scored 101 fantasy points in three games and 107 in the other 10. But if he plays Sunday, he probably does need to be started in most lineups. If he doesn't, Michael Bush becomes very usable. … I'll take all those gifts and cards for my preseason assessment of Jamaal Charles now, please. Charles was disappointing in Week 14 (the first round of playoffs in many leagues), but dominated each of the past two games, leading many fantasy teams to championships. To begin the season, I had Charles ranked No. 9 among running backs (which subjected me to the slings and arrows of many of you), and yet here he is, tied for No. 4 in fantasy points among players at his position. Hey, I made a few bad calls (hello, Beanie Wells!). But Charles was probably my highest-profile "out-on-a-limb" player (I went on multiple ESPN TV outlets and referred to him as "Chris Johnson in a red uniform"), and he was a home run. Roll with him here; the Chiefs will give him a crack at 1,500 yards rushing. … Dwayne Bowe made the game-breaking play versus the Titans last week: a deep-in that Matt Cassel had a year to throw the ball, and both Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin looked absolutely disinterested in making a post-catch tackle. Bowe is fantasy's leading receiver heading into Week 17, but unfortunately he'll see a lot of a healthy Nnamdi Asomugha on Sunday, who broke hearts shadowing Reggie Wayne last week. As a result, I make Bowe a high-upside No. 2 fantasy receiver for the finale.

Fantasy Down: I honestly can't tell you if Jason Campbell is the answer. I know he has a big arm. I just haven't seen him use it much this season. Oh, I know the Raiders have made several long plays, but precious few of them have been bombs; Jacoby Ford keeps taking handoffs and returning kickoffs for scores, and Marcel Reece and McFadden have occasionally been deadly in the screen-and-run game. But Campbell has completed only 10 passes that traveled 20 or more yards in the air, and that's out of 179 total completions. Al Davis must be rolling in his, um, chaise lounge. Part of that is an accentuation of the running game, as the offensive line has improved its run blocking and McFadden has emerged. But part of it is shoddy pass protection: Campbell's 30 sacks in 304 pass attempts is the fourth-worst ratio among quarterbacks with at least 100 completions (only Jay Cutler, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy are worse ... and Michael Vick is fifth). No doubt, in Louis Murphy and Ford (as well as perhaps Darrius Heyward-Bey and Chaz Schilens) the Raiders have intriguing outside speed. They just didn't use it much this season.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Dolphins will: play their regulars per usual. Tony Sparano is likely on the hot seat, and a win at New England could ease his pain. In Week 17, the Patriots will: um, good question. Considering they lost Wes Welker to a torn ACL in a meaningless Week 17 game in Houston last year, you'd think Bill Belichick would be reluctant to use his starters here, since the Patriots have wrapped up home field throughout the playoffs. But Belichick believes what he believes, and I'm not sure past results figure into future performance. My guess is that Tom Brady and his fellow starters play a half, then sit.

Fantasy Up: So you have to ask yourself: Is one half of Brady better than a full game from Stephen McGee? I would argue that it is. In fact, I left Brady among my top 10 quarterbacks this week, even factoring in the possibility that he sits early. However, I took Welker and Deion Branch out of my top 20 receivers. Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman and even Matt Slater could see significant second-half action catching passes from Brian Hoyer, but you can't start any of those guys in the back half of your fantasy title game. … Brandon Marshall has 10-plus catches for 100-plus yards in consecutive games (albeit versus the Bills and Lions), and no doubt was a surprise value play in many fantasy title games this year after spitting the bit for three months. Rookie Pro Bowl corner Devin McCourty figures to get some rest here. No reason to get away from using Marshall. … BenJarvus Green-Ellis fits the mold of a guy Belichick would just leave in there and let pound away while Brady and the pretty boys take it easy, but the Dolphins defense is still tough against the run (don't hold Jahvid Best's crazy 53-yard catch-and-run last week against them too much). With lots of other questions among the top fantasy rushers, I still left BJGE barely inside my top 20. Danny Woodhead is better (as always) as a flex, while Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris are likely to get some second-half carries. There's risk using any of these guys, for sure, since we really don't know what Belichick is going to do. … Ronnie Brown looked relatively strong in the screen game and out-touched Ricky Williams 18 to 16 last week, plus got the Dolphins' only real goal-line attempt and converted it for a touchdown after a long Mickey Shuler reception (Lousaka Polite did have a four-yard touchdown run earlier in the game). Still, Brown's yards-per-carry are way down, and with just a few exceptions this season, the Wildcat hasn't been very good to him. That said, the Dolphins have been known to grind it out in late-season games against the Patriots, which makes me not exactly hate either Miami running back as a deeper-league option. … I'd expect Aaron Hernandez to sit again to rest his hip injury, which would install Rob Gronkowski as a better-than-average fantasy option. I'd like him even better than No. 9 at his position this week, but again, I worry about resting Pats.

Fantasy Down: Chad Henne simply cannot be the Dolphins' starter under center next season. He's been given enough rope. How many times can we watch this kid blow games late with boneheaded interceptions? Versus the Lions last week, he actually threw two: up three points with less than four minutes to play on a third-and-11 from his own 28, he overshot Shuler by a wide margin and Nate Vasher picked him off; then with the game tied at 27 and under three minutes left from his own 22, he zinged a pick-six into double coverage. Enough ugliness. Let the Donovan McNabb era begin in South Beach.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Buccaneers will: be as motivated as humanly possible. Their playoff hopes are dismal, but this is an early game, so the Bucs won't know the fate of the Packers or Giants (they need those teams to lose their late games, plus win here over New Orleans, to take a wild-card berth). They're going for it. In Week 17, the Saints will: also play with great motivation. It's a long shot, but if Carolina beats Atlanta and the Saints win here, they win the NFC South and a first-round bye, plus have a chance at the NFC's top overall seed. And because Bucs/Saints and Panthers/Falcons are early games, Drew Brees and Co. won't know their fate when they take the field, though if they see the Falcons get up huge early they might hold back a bit.

Fantasy Up: Marques Colston was a fantasy goat Monday night, with just two grabs for 21 yards, as Dunta Robinson tracked him all over the field and had safety help on many of his deeper routes. He's an even bigger issue this week, as he had a scope on his knee, and almost certainly won't play in this game. Meanwhile, Robert Meachem put up his second 100-plus-yard receiving day in four games. Unfortunately, in the other two games of the past month, Meacham caught two passes for 17 yards. In other words: ran-dom. Making matters more confusing, Lance Moore got free for what would've been a two-minute-drill bomb of a touchdown at the end of the first half, but Brees underthrew him. If they had connected, we'd be mentioning Moore's late-season performance in hushed tones, too. You'd have to believe that Meachem gets the biggest bump from Colston's absence, and then he belongs in the conversation to be a No. 2 fantasy wideout as Brees's best outside target. Moore is still worth considering as a flex, and Devery Henderson, who had four touches for 44 yards Monday night, is at least on the radar as a big-play option in deeper leagues. Brees doesn't see his value go down. … I understand why neither Mike Williams nor LeGarrette Blount made the Pro Bowl. That honor is not a rookie-achievement game; it's for all players, and these guys weren't the best of the best among veterans. But they each deserve Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration. Blount might not have Earnest Graham to worry about near the goal line; I counted two series against the Seahawks last week in which the Bucs got inside the Seattle 10-yard line, and Blount is the only guy who got carries. And while Blount is not much of a pass-catcher, boy, he sure is a pile driver between the 20s, isn't he? I mean, his first three carries last week went for two yards, and the fourth was a nice run in which he fumbled (fortunately, the Bucs recovered). Thereafter, he was great, with runs of 20, 48 and 53 yards in the second half. The Saints defense stood up to Michael Turner big time last week, but you have to start Blount. And while Williams didn't put up a huge day -- three catches, 44 yards -- two of his grabs were for touchdowns, including one from the Seattle 7-yard line. Love the kid. Just love him. … I wouldn't say Pierre Thomas completely redeemed himself Monday night. In fact, I was actually prepared to kind of pan his performance. In the first quarter against Atlanta, his first six touches resulted in eight yards, and while he did score a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter, at halftime he had 12 touches for 34 yards. Yawn. But I have to admit my eyes were opened by some strong fourth-quarter play from Thomas. His catch-and-run on the go-ahead scoring drive was vintage Frenchy, and he played keep-away brilliantly as the Saints killed the clock. Seeing him with that kind of late burst makes me think he's close to 100 percent again. This is a good matchup against a vulnerable Buccaneers defense, but with Chris Ivory likely to return from his hamstring injury, can you use Thomas as a No. 2 fantasy back? I think you can. Ivory is probably a better bet to get a short score, and as such is a viable flex. But I think the Saints will go run-heavy enough that Frenchy is maybe even a little higher than that neighborhood. Each guy is usable. (Reggie Bush is not.)

Fantasy Down: Really, there's not much to hate here. I don't mind Josh Freeman, even though Ryan didn't exactly light up the Saints D last week. I'm fine with Kellen Winslow, who exploded for 98 yards and two touchdowns versus the Seahawks and has scored three times in the past three weeks, after scoring just twice all season before that. I like Jimmy Graham, who scored the game-winning touchdown late Monday (and almost gave the Falcons life by fumbling even later, but the call was correctly reversed on review) and who's obviously a more trusted and valuable target than Jeremy Shockey (who can be dropped in all leagues). The entity I'd least like to start here would be the Bucs D, I suppose.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Bills will: try and save Chan Gailey's job. My guess is the looming lockout will have much more to do with Gailey's fate than the result and/or effort in this game. In Week 17, the Jets will: rest up because they know they're going on the road the following weekend as a wild-card team. The Jets will almost certainly be the No. 6 seed -- though there is a chance they could wind up in a wild-card tie with the Steelers, whom they beat -- which means a trip to Kansas City could be looming. Rex Ryan said he's planning to use his starters to begin the game, but it's hard to imagine they'd play a full half, especially Santonio Holmes, who's dealing with toe and hip injuries.

Fantasy Up: Since New York's Week 7 bye, LaDainian Tomlinson LDT has averaged 3.3 yards per carry, with a long run of 14 yards. (In the same span, Shonn Greene has averaged 3.9, with a long run of 18. Not exactly Jamaal Charles, but better than Tomlinson. The larger point may be: amazingly in that span, these two guys behind this supposedly top offensive line have produced two rushing scores between them, both coming last week. It seems clear that LDT is wearing down, and Ryan sees it, too: He acknowledged this week that there's a good chance Tomlinson won't play at all in this game, and he told reporters that Joe McKnight was going to play a lot. Eesh. I think Greene starts here and gets a few series, but when Mark Sanchez comes out, Greene will come out, too. McKnight is probably the most valuable back in this backfield this week, with Greene only a deeper-league option. Don't start Tomlinson. … Steve Johnson hasn't topped 70 yards receiving the past five games and only has one score in that span, but I still like him to make a big play, especially as the Jets defense may be resting some key players (notably Darrelle Revis). Mr. Why So Serious should've had a first-quarter touchdown in the eventual 34-3 shellacking by the Patriots last week, but Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a fade just a few inches too far, and Johnson couldn't get his feet down. The great news was that two plays later, Fitz took another end-zone shot Johnson's way, to the other side of the field, but again, the pass was overthrown. Hey, that's why they call receivers like Johnson high-risk / high-reward, right? (Please also note that if you typically use Fitzpatrick in a two-QB league, you should keep track of his knee, which limited him in practice all week. Brian Brohm would play in Fitz's place, and if he does, I'm much less interested in using Stevie J.)

Fantasy Down: Mark Sanchez probably starts here, but I can't imagine he finishes, and I don't expect to see Holmes play much, either. Braylon Edwards? Sure, it's possible, and Edwards has 178 yards receiving on 14 grabs the past two weeks. But the three contests prior to that, he had five catches for a total of 76 yards, and Mark Brunell might be throwing it to him a bunch. No thanks, and no thanks to Dustin Keller, whose 79 yards in Week 16 (his best total since September) was a day late and a dollar short. Really, I can't believe Ryan would play any of these guys well into the third quarter. … Does Fred Jackson maybe get a break here, with the Jets D possibly getting healthy and taking a "bye week" here in this almost certainly meaningless tilt? Could be. And Jackson accounted for 92 total yards (on 15 touches) versus New England last week. But they were quiet, blowout-infused yards, and C.J. Spiller (despite his dreadful fumbling) is still sticking around as part of the Buffalo game plan. Jackson can be a flex, but there are an awful lot of moving pieces here, so he's not more than that.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Bengals will: continue the youth movement that saw them shock the Chargers last Sunday. Marvin Lewis is a dead man walking, but he no doubt has orders from above to look longer at the kids on his roster. In Week 17, the Ravens will: play hard, at least until they look at the scoreboard and see that the Steelers are throttling the Browns. If Baltimore wins and Pittsburgh loses, the Ravens win the AFC North and earn a first-round bye. And because Bengals/Ravens and Steelers/Browns take place at the same time (1 p.m. ET), you shouldn't see many starters resting early. But there's added risk using your Ravens, because if Pittsburgh gets up big, Baltimore will know they're playing a road wild-card game and will probably sit players.

Fantasy Up: Ray Rice probably has to be in most fantasy lineups anyway. No, he didn't follow up that legend-making Week 15 performance against the Saints with a dominant effort versus the Browns last week: 26 touches for 92 yards and no scores. Most disappointingly, a week after he saw seven targets, he only had two in Cleveland. The most important factor, though, is Rice's usage these past three weeks: 27, 36 and 26 touches. Even if he plays only three quarters, at that rate he should see 20. … I don't consider anyone else in this game a top start (no running backs or receivers in the top 20; no quarterbacks or tight ends in the top 10), which I suppose makes this a good time to mention that the Ravens defense has really come on of late. In the season's first seven weeks (before Baltimore's bye), the Ravens averaged 18.4 points allowed and 4.7 fantasy points per game. Since then, they've averaged 16.7 points allowed and 9.9 fantasy points per game. The difference, no doubt, has been an improved pass rush (24 sacks the past eight games, compared to 12 the first seven) which has led to more interceptions (five the first seven games, 12 since). Do I love guys like Josh Wilson and Chris Carr playing so much in the secondary? I do not. But facts are facts and, last week's result notwithstanding, it hasn't been a bad thing to have your fantasy defense face Carson Palmer.

Fantasy Down: Given the risk of the Ravens potentially sitting guys late, and given Joe Flacco's fade into the game-planning background, you'd be forgiven for looking elsewhere this week. The Bengals defense did a shockingly good job shutting down Philip Rivers last week; while that had much to do with the scoreboard (the Chargers were perpetually coming from behind in the second half), corners Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph played well, too. Meanwhile, Flacco has an aging receiver corps that doesn't get open, even when the Ravens do decide to throw. Anquan Boldin has faded badly, Derrick Mason has an injured ankle, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh seems capable only of poking his head above ground once every few weeks to catch a touchdown. It's hard to get excited about Flacco a week after he passed for 102 yards. … And Palmer may have tossed for 269 himself last week (his first time topping 250 since Week 10), but c'mon, 59 of those came when Antoine Cason decided to pay attention to cheerleaders or something at the snap, and Jerome Simpson simply ran past him. Palmer played well. But this game means something to the Ravens. I couldn't start ol' Carson, with or without Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco (they're both definitely out). Andre Caldwell is my fave Cincy receiver here, but he's only a deep-league option. … Cedric Benson didn't build on his big output against the Browns a couple weeks back, sinking back down to a 2.2 per-carry average while Bernard Scott looked like the spryer player versus San Diego. Benson is a flex at best. … Todd Heap was able to practice this week, and barring a setback sounds likely to return for this game, replacing Ed Dickson. Heap is certainly more likely than Dickson to be a consistent pass-catching target, and I suppose those wanting a Week 17 lottery ticket could do worse. But who knows? Dude could re-pull his hammy on the game's first snap.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Jaguars will: basically field a team of skill-position backups, because of injury. Nevertheless, they still win the AFC South if they beat the dreadful Texans here, and the Colts somehow lose to the Titans. Because both of those games are 4:15 p.m. ET starts, certainly the Jags and Colts will both go all out. In Week 17, the Texans will: fight to save Gary Kubiak's job (he questioned sarcastically)? Amazingly, reporters in Houston are now saying Kubiak is going to remain in Houston, despite the Texans falling from 9-7 in 2009 to either 5-11 or 6-10 in '10. Yes, I know Kubiak is the de facto offensive coordinator and Houston's real problem is defense. But Kubiak did hire the defensive coordinator, right? And he has seen his offensive players flop in huge situations all year, yes? I'm sure Kubiak is a very nice man, and I'm sure he'd get a coordinator's job within a week if the Texans let him go. But they should let him go.

Fantasy Up: Arian Foster will go all out in this one to win the rushing title: He's 56 yards ahead of Jamaal Charles (albeit with 80 more carries), and this is really about the only thing the Texans can take pride in this season. Expect Foster to have a mammoth day, and expect him to take down the title. … Will Andre Johnson play? The Texans reportedly will decide on Friday, so there won't be as much weekend drama as there was for the Broncos game last week, where AJ was a Sunday morning scratch. At issue is an injured ankle that's bugged him all season, and Kubiak has told reporters that he'll let Johnson be the one to decide if he can play. Personally, I hate this: If Johnson doesn't go, it makes him look like a wimp. There's really no reason why big No. 80 should even consider playing here; all Houston needs is another injury to their best player. When push comes to shove, I'm thinking the Texans will do the right thing and tell AJ to sit. Jacoby Jones produced in a big way versus Denver last week, and would be startable as a low No. 2 fantasy receiver or a high No. 3 if Johnson can't play. Matt Schaub is a good option regardless; with at least 14 fantasy points in seven consecutive games (and an average of 17.9 in that span), he's been rock solid no matter who his targets are. … Owen Daniels gets targets taken away by Joel Dreessen, but he still grabbed eight for 73 and a score versus the Broncos last Sunday. His value, too, only goes up if AJ can't go.

Fantasy Down: It sounds very unlikely that Maurice Jones-Drew will play Sunday, as now we're hearing that his knee requires surgery. Oh, great. In addition, David Garrard is out after surgery on a finger on his throwing hand, and Mike Sims-Walker's ankle probably won't let him play a full accompaniment of snaps Sunday (he played in Week 16, but came off the bench and got exactly one target). Their respective replacements in the Jaguars lineup Sunday will be Rashad Jennings, Trent Edwards and Jason Hill. Hey, I know the Texans defense is execrable. But starting Edwards and Hill is out of the question (heck, using Mike Thomas probably isn't a great idea, though I'd give him and Marcedes Lewis the best chance of anyone to post good receiving days), so the real question is whether you trust Jennings. It's pretty difficult, especially after last week: 19 touches for 61 yards and a 2.1 per-carry average. Still, that kind of workload is tasty, and with so many uncertain options at the running back position for Week 17, I begrudgingly put Jennings (barely) inside my top 20. He's not for the faint of heart, but as a desperation option, he's still viable.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Giants will: play as hard as they can, and hope that the Bears beat the Packers. That's the only way New York can get into the playoffs; they must beat the Redskins and hope Chicago finds enough motivation to win what will probably be a meaningless game for them at Lambeau Field. Each game is at 4:15 p.m. ET, so owners of Giants fantasy players have that going for them. Unfortunately, if either the Falcons or Saints win in their 1 p.m. games, the Bears will know they have no crack at the NFC's No. 1 seed, and likely will fold it up early. In Week 17, the Redskins will: continue the "Rex Grossman Experience." Grossman played poorly in a win in Jacksonville last week, but at this point, you can probably expect him to be Washington's No. 1 signal-caller heading into 2011. Donovan McNabb won't be back.

Fantasy Up: Unfortunately for the Giants, Hakeem Nicks suffered a broken toe either during the Packers game last week or in practice this week (or, I dunno, maybe kicking a wall), and he almost certainly won't be able to play Sunday. That pretty much limits the downfield weapons to Mario Manningham and nobody else. Manningham becomes a borderline must-start here; I ranked him 13th among fantasy receivers. … I wonder if Ahmad Bradshaw's ankle is worse than we all think. Where's the tackle-breaking machine that we saw all season? Versus the Packers, his effort just didn't seem to be there, especially after he lost yet another fumble (someone send him to the Adrian Peterson Academy right quick) to begin the second half, when the score was only 21-14. Bradshaw didn't get the hook thereafter, but he also didn't do much, aside from a couple screens. Of course, Brandon Jacobs didn't do anything to nudge ahead in the race for backfield touches, considering he subsequently fumbled at the end of a long run near the third quarter's conclusion (with the score being 31-17). The Redskins defense should present a pretty good matchup, one Bradshaw took advantage of for 105 total yards back in Week 13. I guess you keep playing him as a No. 2 fantasy back, and hope you see more of those patented broken tackles. Jacobs is a flex option. … Chris Cooley was quite the fantasy goat last week. His unbelievable, nearly unprecedented drop of the most wide-open one-yard would-be touchdown in recorded history was a true groin shot (as was the fact that alternate tight end Fred Davis caught a score on the next one). All told, Cooley dropped four passes in the first half alone Sunday, though he did wind up with five grabs for 48 yards. Suck it up and keep using him. … And I don't see why Santana Moss wouldn't see a whole bunch of targets Sunday, considering he's riding a three-game hot streak and has shown fine chemistry with Grossman. The Anthony Armstrong love can wait; Moss is your guy here.

Fantasy Down: I'm guessing Derek Hagan starts in Nicks' place, though Michael Clayton is also in the fold for the Giants. I wouldn't get excited about either. And I guess Kevin Boss also becomes a logical target for Eli Manning, but he's such a boom-or-bust player (if he gets in the end zone, great; if he doesn't, you're sunk) that it's tough for me to put him very high in the tight end rankings. Manning is worth starting, and is inside my top-10 quarterbacks just because of his motivation to play well. He might throw more interceptions -- he'll almost certainly lead the league in that category by season's end -- but the urgency will keep him flinging it. … You're probably using Ryan Torain, but he delivered a bit of a groin shot of his own in Week 16 during fantasy championships. In the first quarter, he got two carries from the Jags' 7 and gained four and then two yards, then ceded the touchdown to Davis. Then he got stopped from the Jags' 1 in the fourth quarter (before finally getting in). Still, he delivered you 12 fantasy points, his third straight game with double digits. It's a tough matchup against a stoked Giants defense, but use Torain anyway.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Cowboys will: almost certainly go with Stephen McGee under center. McGee wasn't great in relief of Jon Kitna against the Cardinals last Saturday, but he made a few nice throws and didn't turn the ball over. In Week 17, the Eagles will: not be worth relying on. We already know Michael Vick won't play this meaningless contest -- Philly is locked into the playoffs as the NFC's No. 3 seed, no matter what happens here -- and while, as of this writing, no final decision had been reported, there's a great chance DeSean Jackson will rest his injured foot, too. How long the other skill players will go is anyone's guess. Boy, that woeful Eagles effort Tuesday night (which knocked Philly out of contention for a first-round bye) just keeps on giving, doesn't it?

Fantasy Up: The two guys you probably feel best about using here are Miles Austin and Jason Witten. Austin was unstoppable against a supposedly competent Arizona secondary (I take issue with that assessment, but I digress), often shredding double teams to make plays. With Asante Samuel likely to play, at best, only part of the game, seeing some of Austin on Dmitri Patterson would be worth the price of admission. And no tight end is hotter that Witten, who finally has taken over the fantasy points lead from the ever-idle Antonio Gates and who'll take the crown going away. (The fact that it has taken him this long is a testament to how good Gates is.) [e] What about Felix Jones? Well, all he does is give you 80-plus yards from scrimmage every week these days, and the Cardinals game was no exception; it's much to his credit that he racked up the stats he did even after the Cowboys fell behind big. But there's risk, and it actually doesn't seem likely to come in the form of Tashard Choice. No, Marion Barber is back (you can't kill him, apparently), and his three games off seemed to do him right, because for one night, at least, he punished tacklers again (in Phoenix), got outside a couple times, and bullied his way into the end zone on a 24-yard run late in the third quarter. Jones is definitely flex-worthy, and has been so steady. But I'm not sure his upside is what you'd like out of a flex, because Barber could be a vulture once again.

Fantasy Down: Along with the Jets, Patriots and probably Bears, the Eagles are going to be frustrating on Sunday. We know Vick won't go, we suspect Jackson won't play, and after that it's anybody's guess. Kevin Kolb is probably their best fantasy option; we know he's a good system quarterback who's familiar with the offense and has some fine (though not Vick-like) athleticism. But will he have weapons enough to rack up a good fantasy day? Maybe Jeremy Maclin plays for a while, but I think you'll probably see a better day out of Jason Avant. Riley Cooper has been battling a knee injury, but if he winds up active, he could be a surprise performer, as could fellow rookie Chad Hall. Brent Celek has definitely re-emerged lately and we know Kolb loves the guy, but maybe Clay Harbor is a smarter play at tight end? And LeSean McCoy will probably cede some time to Jerome Harrison. Messy, messy. [e] Be aware that the Cowboys brought in Kris Brown to kick in practice this week, and there's been speculation that he might play in Week 17 instead of David Buehler. Buehler makes a good start if he's active, but this is a late game; if you don't get confirmation he's playing before Sunday, feel free to look elsewhere.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Cardinals will: keep looking at John Skelton to see if he's their quarterback of the future, and keep trying to score improbable defensive touchdowns. In Week 17, the 49ers will: begin their recovery from the disorganized Mike Singletary era, in which Singletary revealed he never met an offensive philosophy he could settle down with. Alex Smith will start here, and it will be his last game in a San Francisco uniform.

Fantasy Up: Skelton's presence in the starting lineup isn't the only reason to be wary of Larry Fitzgerald this week. Those who braved the Christmas night game between the Cardinals and Cowboys last week saw Fitz take a shot to his head, after which he stayed in the game (and in fact made the contest's key play, a fourth-and-long conversion that kept Arizona's winning drive alive), but spent some time blinking and shaking himself, trying to get his mind clear. Days later, Fitzgerald told reporters he didn't remember much about the game. Uh-oh. If Fitz is active, he stays in fantasy lineups as a No. 2 receiver; he may not have produced much in Week 16 (just that single catch for 26 yards on only three targets), but he still has at least 70 receiving yards in six of his past nine games. But keep your ear to the ground on this one; this is a late game, so if there's uncertainty about Fitz's availability leading into Sunday morning and most of your other good options are playing early, I wouldn't necessarily feel obligated to wait for Fitzgerald. … Vernon Davis turned it back on in Week 16 after vanishing in a puff of fantasy smoke the weekend before: He has at least 70 yards receiving in three of his past four. There's no such thing as a bulletproof tight end this year. It's maddening but true. But you have to keep rolling Davis out there.

Fantasy Down: As I wrote last week, the Cardinals backfield is clearly tipping back in Beanie Wells' favor, but that doesn't make him a fantasy starter. Versus the Cowboys, Wells nearly doubled Tim Hightower's carries (11 to six) and played both in a clock-killing drive in the middle of the fourth quarter (he had five carries in eight plays) and in the two-minute drill at the end of the game. There's no question if I had to take a chance on a single Cardinals back, it would be Beanie. … The 49ers backs have a much tastier matchup; the Cardinals defense may be fifth in fantasy points among all defenses this season, but you can chalk that up to weirdness: they're the fifth-worst scoring defense in the league (allowing an average of 26.4 points per game), they're fifth-worst in total yards allowed, and third-worst in rushing yards allowed. However, which Niners rusher do you play? Brian Westbrook had 10 carries in St. Louis last week, while Anthony Dixon had six (showing that his ankle injury is OK). The temptation is to select Westbrook as a high-upside flex, but my concern is that with the playoffs finally (and mercifully) ruled out, Singletary gone, and the team squarely focused on figuring out its future, why wouldn't the team give more work to Dixon? I mean, Westbrook won't be back. As a result of this uncertainty, I actually view Dixon as the much higher-upside play, though I have no actual proof that he'll be the lead dog. Really, neither guy should be starting on a potential title team in fantasy.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Bears will: talk a good game, and then eventually sit just about every meaningful player they've got. By the time this game kicks off (4:15 p.m. ET), the Bears will know whether Atlanta has lost to Carolina and New Orleans has lost to Tampa Bay. If the Falcons and Saints both lose, the Bears can play for the No. 1 seed, and will no doubt go hell-bent-for-leather. But that's not likely. Instead, they probably will kick this game off locked in as the NFC's No. 2 seed. There's a reason Vegas has the Packers as double-digit favorites in this game. In Week 17, the Packers will: be as motivated as any team in the NFL. If they win, they're in the playoffs as the NFC's No. 6 seed. If they lose, they're probably out (unless the Giants and Buccaneers both lose).

Fantasy Up: That means Aaron Rodgers and Greg Jennings are as solid as can be, even against what's been a strong Bears defense. That's also why the Packers defense should be as safe as it gets, too. Unfortunately, though, there just aren't other Green Bay players you've been able to rely on from week to week. I guess James Jones is close. His hands can still be maddening (he dropped another pass that might've been a big play, last week against the Giants), but he got a three-yard touchdown, which bodes well for his usage all over the field, since he's also a very nice deep threat. He's scored in back-to-back weeks, and can be used in deeper leagues, or maybe even as a No. 3 wideout in standard leagues.

Fantasy Down: Lovie Smith has sworn up and down this week that he's approaching this like a regular Packers game. He may feel like he has to say that, but if that's how he really approaches it once his team is locked in as the two-seed, he's a dummy. I'm quite sure Smith is telling the truth about Jay Cutler starting the game. I just don't think there's a chance in the world Cutler finishes it. He's the most-sacked quarterback in the league (a whopping 46; the next-closest player has 37), and if he gets hurt, Todd Collins is your playoff signal-caller. Um, no. Cutler shouldn't be an option in most leagues this week, and you're probably better off leaving Johnny Knox alone, too, though he's so fast, it's always possible he scores a long one before he sits. … As for Matt Forte, I can buy him as a flex, but no more than that. He needs only 22 rushing yards to get to 1,000, so you can be sure his coaches will let him get at least that far, but we're going to see a good amount of Chester Taylor and Kahlil Bell here, too. … All of a sudden, John Kuhn is back to looking unstoppable. Remember back in September, when he was a big part of the Green Bay offense post-Ryan Grant, getting lots of close-in carries and looking surprisingly nimble for such a big guy? Well, Kuhn disappeared for the better part of two months, but the past two weeks has been back looking tough and sure-handed in the receiving game, and oh-by-the-way also happened to get into the end zone three times versus the Giants. He's the TD-maker in this Packers offense now, for sure, and while Brandon Jackson is likelier to touch it more, I prefer Kuhn on Sunday.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Titans will: try to play the role of spoiler. Chris Johnson has a (very outside) shot at his second straight rushing title (he's 111 yards behind Arian Foster and 55 behind Jamaal Charles), and he lit up the Colts for 179 yards from scrimmage just three weeks ago. Jeff Fisher's coaching status is also uncertain, but one wouldn't suppose the result here really factors into his potential firing. In Week 17, the Colts will: not rest a soul. Normally the poster children for December fantasy frustration, Indy's midseason lull ensures that they need a win here to secure the AFC South title (a Jacksonville loss will also do the trick, but the Jags/Texans game takes place at the same time, 4:15 p.m. ET). This is the first time since 2006 the Colts will truly be playing for something on the season's final weekend.

Fantasy Up: So Peyton Manning gets a reprieve from his typical Week 17 blues, and Curtis Painter should see action only if Manning has had a mighty good day. But what about Reggie Wayne? I mean, he'll play, but that sure was a disappointing performance versus the Raiders, who used Nnamdi Asomugha on him just about the entire day (it seemed to me that all four of Wayne's catches came on plays when Nnamdi was not covering him). But unless the Titans defense changes from its usual tactics (and the tactics they showed the Colts just three weeks ago), Wayne, who lines up on the offensive right side, won't see very much of top Tennessee corner Cortland Finnegan, who plays the defensive right side. Heck, Wayne had four grabs for 106 yards versus the Titans (mostly against rookie Alterraun Verner) in Week 14. Use him, and fear not. Pierre Garcon will see Finnegan, and while that puts Garcon outside my top 20, he's still a fine No. 3 fantasy wideout. … Kenny Britt didn't disappoint in fantasy title games last week. Down 24-0, the Titans took a deep shot to Britt (his third target of the game, but his first in which Brandon Flowers played elsewhere; Brandon Carr was on Britt), and Kerry Collins converted a 53-yard bomb for a score. With about a minute gone in the third quarter, the Titans called the exact same play from almost exactly the same spot on the field, and Britt got open on Carr exactly the same way, but this time Collins underthrew him, or Britt would've notched two long scores. I counted four other deep to intermediate shots to Britt in the second half, including two that were picked off (one of those was called back because of an illegal hit to Collins' head), so you know the Titans are going to force Britt the ball. He's a top-10 play Sunday. … Jacob Tamme got back on the fantasy gravy train last week, with nine targets, seven grabs, 78 yards and a score, as Oakland's linebackers and safeties seemed focused on anything but stopping the tight end. Tamme isn't automatic, a la Dallas Clark -- he had failed to exceed 50 yards or score a touchdown in three straight -- but those guys don't exist in the NFL right now. Use him, too. … Oh, and let me reintroduce you to Jared Cook. Finally, after nearly two full seasons, Cook has flashed for the Titans. He's a physical freak, and Collins used him ahead of Bo Scaife last week, and Cook was great. I ranked him 12th among fantasy tight ends this week; start him if you're desperate.

Fantasy Down: What do we make of the Indy running back situation? Well, a week after lighting up the Jaguars with the best game of his career, Donald Brown looked like he'd carry the effort over against the Raiders. He had all five carries on the Colts' first two drives (for 24 yards), and I didn't see him do anything wrong on those possessions. The plan seemed to be to give Joseph Addai the next series, and Indy did. And Addai looked fine, rushing it twice and getting a six-yard score. Then the next possession, Dominic Rhodes got his turn, and he had four carries for 15 yards. On all four of those drives, the man who'd been "assigned" that drive played every down. On the fifth drive, Brown was out there for two plays: He carried the ball in the first one, he pass-blocked the second, and he didn't appear to make any mistakes (Manning didn't get hit). But you know what? I reviewed the game tape with a fine-tooth comb, and I didn't see Brown on the field for a single offensive snap thereafter. Addai got the two-minute drill at the end of the half, though Rhodes was on the field when Tamme scored. And then Rhodes got most of the second-half work, with Addai filling in. I don't know what happened. Clearly Brown's pass-protection skills have been called into question in previous games, but he didn't seem to do anything wrong here. I guess all this is my way of saying I really don't know what to expect. I ranked Addai highest, but only barely over Rhodes. Each is in deep flex territory. Brown? I guess you can't play him. I just don't know what's going on there.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Chargers will: take out their frustrations on the Broncos. They're not making the playoffs and they've still got one of the most banged-up offenses in football, but expect the guys who do play to rack up some numbers. In Week 17, the Broncos will: do everything they can to have the Tim Tebow hype build this spring and summer. This franchise isn't winning any time soon. They're awful and old on defense, and their offensive line is just so-so. That means their mission in 2011 will be to promote Tebow (already the NFL's best-selling jersey).

Fantasy Up: Mike Tolbert sustained a serious-looking neck injury early against the Bengals last week, and while his longer-term prospects should be unaffected, he's not playing here. That makes Ryan Mathews a top-10 fantasy back. Mathews' third-quarter 23-yard touchdown, which narrowed the Chargers' deficit to just three points and seemed like it would signal a big momentum shift, showed off an aspect of Mathews' game that's been lacking in his rookie year: speed. It's funny, you watch a guy like Mathews or Matt Forte plod around on plays where there's little room to run (which seems to happen often) and you get an image in your mind of them as unathletic. Then you see them finally get a crack, and they can scoot. … I'll admit it: Tebow played much better in the second half against the Texans. The Broncos didn't give him much to do in the first stanza, and it showed on the scoreboard: Houston 17, Denver 0. Then Tebow was allowed to throw it down the field more, beginning with the very first play of the second half, a bomb straight down the middle to Jabar Gaffney on which three Texans defenders basically stared at one another. This wasn't exactly John Elway stuff, but it wasn't far off; the very next drive, the first two plays, Tebow went play-action and heaved it deep to Brandon Lloyd (granted, the second never should've been thrown, and Lloyd only caught it because he jumped up over two guys covering him). After that, the Texans respected Tebow more, and the short stuff opened up, including a score on a sweet misdirection screen to Correll Buckhalter. And then Tebow showed poise and patience marching to the winning score, in the end finally flashing what will really be his fantasy calling card -- his rushing legs -- with the winning touchdown. These things will come by degrees for Tebow. First he played against Oakland, and he did a few good things with a very limited game plan. Then he was given a chance with a more wide-open second-half plan, and proved he could move the ball against the worst defense in football. Now he takes a step up in weight class against the Chargers defense, and maybe he'll make some mistakes. But he's done well so far, and as a Week 17 option? Heck, I've got him rated No. 12 among quarterbacks. And Mr. Lloyd, please forgive my doubting you. Lloyd should start in all leagues. … Vincent Jackson is also a top-10 option at his position, but mainly because so many other stars will sit. I tried to tell Jackson owners not to go crazy with him in Week 16; he was obviously coming off a crazy three-touchdown effort a couple Thursdays ago, a game that many folks rightly didn't start him, concerned about his calf injury. But you can't chase points retroactively, you know? It turned out Jackson saw safety help the entire game in Cincinnati, and outside a pass interference call he drew in the end zone, wasn't much of a factor (he did have nine targets, but only four catches). In this one, he'll likely see a bunch of Champ Bailey, provided Bailey's heel is well enough for him to play. You start him and Philip Rivers, yes. But don't expect three touchdowns. … It sounds as though Malcom Floyd has a decent chance to play, too, and he probably is an acceptable No. 3 wideout, but no more. Certainly you worry that one or both of his hammies could explode at any moment.

Fantasy Down: Knowshon Moreno gave a big (insert obscene gesture here) to fantasy owners Sunday, getting eight touches for 41 yards in the first half, then sitting out the entire second. Interim coach Eric Studesville engaged in varying degrees of dissimilation this week, as he tried to get us to buy he was only "riding the hot hand" in sitting Moreno and using Buckhalter in the second half, and that Moreno could've returned to the game. I'm not buying it. I'm quite sure Studesville was told not to jeopardize the team's franchise running back after Moreno felt his rib injury bother him. So what happens this week? For the moment, I'm expecting Moreno to suit up, though as of this writing he hadn't yet practiced, and it won't be a shock if word comes out Friday or Saturday that he won't play. If he starts, view him as a risky flex. If he doesn't, Buckhalter and Lance Ball split touches, and probably aren't viable. … No, you're not going to see Antonio Gates in this game. He's been placed on injured reserve.

Analysis: In Week 17, the Rams will: play to win, because if they win this game, they win the NFC West and host a playoff game. In Week 17, the Seahawks will: do exactly the same thing, because the same thing happens if they win. Most likely, whoever wins this game hosts the Saints next weekend.

Fantasy Up: Last week against the 49ers, Steven Jackson executed his usual act these days: high volume, low yardage and then it all comes down to whether he gets in the end zone. Jackson did score early on against San Francisco (shortly after an end-zone pass interference call), salvaging what would turn out to be a frustrating day. This is obviously a friendlier matchup against a Seahawks defense that just allowed LeGarrette Blount to give piggyback rides all around Tampa to would-be tacklers last week, so you don't get away from using Jackson, not in one of the more meaningful games of the weekend. Still, it's a shame to see Jackson's per-carry production falter like this. I don't think he'll be among the top 10 fantasy backs drafted in 2011. … Sam Bradford really was the man who got the Rams this far; he put the team on his back in Week 16 and threw it 37 times. Bradford took four deep shots that I counted, which is higher than his typical deep-strike output this season, and St. Louis played with four receivers on the field quite a lot as the game progressed (they were losing until midway through the third quarter). Would I use Bradford in a fantasy title game, on a national stage, in the most difficult road stadium in the league? Because it's the Seahawks, and because I don't fear their defense at all, I would. In two-quarterback leagues, sign me up.

Fantasy Down: Matt Hasselbeck has given conflicting reports about whether he'll be able to play Sunday night, but the assumption here is that Charlie Whitehurst will go, as Hasselbeck injured his hip on an early touchdown run against the Bucs last week. Gee, this is just what coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider thought they were bargaining for when they swapped second-round picks in the 2010 draft and gave up a third-rounder in 2011 for Whitehurst? Have the kid throw 63 attempts all season (including one touchdown and three picks) and then lead the Seahawks into a winner-take-all game for the division? Uh, yeah, that's why you probably can't use Mike Williams. BMW got absolutely nothing going with Whitehurst after Hass's injury, and heck, as a whole, the Seahawks had just five first downs (and had five three-and-outs) after the backup quarterback came in. Williams had two grabs on four targets for 12 yards. Gah! Pretty sad when you're wishing like heck that the 35-year-old Hasselbeck -- he of the two touchdowns and eight interceptions in the last month -- will play. … Speaking of disappointing players, come on down, Marshawn Lynch! I didn't go as batty for Lynch as some heading into the Tampa game, but I did put him down as an OK flex in standard leagues. Fourteen carries and 53 yards later, and we all have to feel a little chagrined. I suppose losing Hass early is an excuse. But really, the O-line did an awful job, and Lynch made nothing extra beyond what was (or wasn't) blocked. He's the starter, all right, and the Rams defense isn't great. But I can't imagine using Lynch here. … Danario Alexander was the Rams' most impressive receiver Sunday, playing the most snaps of any game during his rookie season, as he had six grabs for 99 yards, including a 46-yard bomb over Shawnte Spencer in which he just ran past the defender and nearly scored (he stepped out of bounds at the 49ers' 3). Alexander is going to be on a lot of sleeper lists next year, though his lifelong knee issues are probably going to limit him. I'm not sure you can rely on that kind of production week-to-week right now from this kid.