undefinedundefined It absolutely kills me when "old-school" football analysts insist that a team has to establish a running game in order to be successful. A few years back when I lived in Cincinnati, I watched the local pregame show for a Cincinnati-Pittsburgh matchup and a retired player turned commentator was like, "If the Bengals want to win they have to establish the run game and have Cedric Benson rush for 100 yards. I don't care if it takes 30 carries to do it." Huh? And then if you turn on ESPN you get Herman Edwards just champing at the bit to predict that an obviously superior pass-heavy team will lose just because their opponent runs a lot. Obviously, having a great running game is a huge asset. We saw Adrian Peterson single-handedly drag all 52 of his teammates to the playoffs just last year. I don't mean to say that running the ball doesn't matter. I do mean to say that teams like the Green Bay Packers are living proof that when you have the best quarterback on the planet and some really good receivers, you really don't need to play "smash mouth football" or "hit ‘em in the mouth" or any of the other dozen mouth-related phrases used by the human See ‘n Says known as in-studio football analysts. It's important to remember that the Packers have had a terrible rushing attack for the past three seasons and counting, because "starting running back for a high-scoring offense" is not necessarily synonymous with "reliable fantasy producer." So do the Packers have any running backs worth drafting based on their average draft position? It's one of many intriguing questions surrounding the fantasy prospects of this team. It's also worth wondering if Rodgers is worth a high pick considering the depth at quarterback, as well as which members of the crowded Packers receiving corps will live up to their billing. Let's stop speculating and start answering the $64,000 question: Should you draft him? (Draft positions are based on a composite of the results of standard scoring 12-team drafts on fantasyfootballcalculator.com. Players with added or decreased points per reception appeal will be noted. Kickers and defenses will always be ignored because they are kickers and defenses.) (ADP = Average Draft Position) Aaron Rodgers (ADP: 18th Overall): Let's get this out of the way: Rodgers is the best quarterback in the NFL. The depth and talent of his receivers are outstanding, he's in his prime, and losing Greg Jennings and Donald Driver will do very ...

Even with only one week of the NFL season to go, the waiver wonders never cease! The pickings are slim, but there are a few stars shining brighter than the others that can guide you to sweet victory in Week 17. A pair get mentioned as solid pickups, with a handful of players after that in the deeper categories. Something for everyone this week! Solid Pickup RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay The Packers continue to lose running backs, with Alex Green joining the ranks of Cedric Benson and James Starks on the sideline. Green was a surprising scratch this week, handing not only the starting job, but the position of only trustworthy back dressed in this week's game against the Tennessee TItans. Grant responded with more than 100 yards in total offense to go along with two touchdowns. The status of Green will determine how many times Grant will touch the ball in the finale against the Minnesota Vikings, at the very least we expect that Grant will get 60-75 percent of the workload, which is enough to warrant fantasy consideration for those in need at the position. K Blair Walsh, Minnesota A week after drilling a trio of kicks from more than 50 yards (on a day where he connected five times in total!), Walsh backed that effort up by connecting three times against the Houston Texans, including once from more than 50 yards. The Vikings will be home the final week of the season, in a must win game against their divisional rival Green Bay Packers. Every point will be crucial, and look for Walsh to continue his hot streak with another strong performance to close out a tremendous rookie season. On the Radar RB Montell Owens, Jacksonville With Maurice Jones-Drew still on the shelf, Owens tabulated more than 100 yards in total offense against the New England Patriots. He is splitting time with Richard Murphy, but a weak Tennessee squad is on the schedule for this upcoming week. The status of Jones-Drew may cut into Owens' time, but, if he does not play, Owens will have the opportunity to put up another 100 yards of total offense. WR Jason Avant, Philadelphia Nick Foles has been using Avant as his checkdown over the middle, so Avant has been racking up the catches of late. He has caught 19 passes in the last four games, including eight for 70 yards this week against the Washington Redskins. Especially in points per reception leagues, Avant is worth considering. TE Lance Kendricks, St. Louis What a sight it was to see Kendricks lumbering down the field on his way...

So you've managed to get into your league's playoffs? There will always be a need for fill-in players because of injury. This, as they say, is for all the marbles. You may need a running back this week as LeSean McCoy is still out and you didn't have the foresight to grab Bryce Brown. Well it's time to look at the opportunities that you can take advantage of. Billal Powell is available in a pretty large percentage of leagues. Powell is involved in a timeshare with Shonn Greene who has under-impressed as of late. Both backs will run well this week and although Powell played 43 percent of snaps as opposed to Greene's 48 percent, there is still value there. Powell can be started as a low-end flex with some upside because he is the primary goal line back. Pair that with the change at quarterback, and there could be more carries for both backs. Rashad Jennings will enter the concussion program this week according to Mike Mularkey. Maurice Jones-Drew is not ready and with Jalen Parmele out. There is a real question mark as to who gets the ball. Montell Owens looks like the front runner as the starter with Jordan Todman, and Richard Murphy as the reserves. The Jets will give up plenty on the ground as well. So this may be just the play that one team needs to fill in for an injured back. James Starks sure looked the part last week as he got to the edge and outraced Vikings defenders for a touchdown. The problem is that every time he shows some promise, it ends with a trip to the injury report. This was the first time that I saw Starks really turn it on. Any back not named Cedric Benson is seriously not the answer. The answer here is if you have Green that you can rest assured that he will get the majority of carries only to be vultured by John Kuhn at the stripe. The signing of Donte Stallworth means that Julian Edelman is indeed done for the season. Stallworth will be a pretty deep option on the depth chart. I suspect that Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Aaron Hernandez, and Shane Vereen should see an uptick in targets. Grab Stallworth only if you are desperate. Dallas Clark is starting to get enough targets to be fantasy worthy. I had that inclination last week and grabbed him off of the wire. He had a nice catch in the end zone on a play clearly designed to get him the ball. He has big red zone potential as teams stack the box against Doug Martin. If you can still grab him, do so. He will be a decent play this week against the Eagles, and a pretty ...

Below, I'll list the player, their week 13 matchup, and the percentage of leagues in which he is owned according to our friends at fleaflicker.com. DISCLAIMER: The hope is that you don't find yourself in a situation like this. The hope is that you dodge the bullet. But hope won't help you come Sunday. Let's move on to this week's targets, keeping in mind that these aren't every week starters. Instead, these are guys that should only be used if you're in some kind of roster emergency, whether it be related to bye weeks or injuries. QB Chad Henne @BUF -- 18%. Henne has started two games this season. In those games, he has thrown for 615 yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception. He's averaging over 300 yards and three scores. He now gets Buffalo's awful pass defense, which has been one of the more generous defenses to opposing quarterbacks this season. I don't really care that the game is on the road. Our fantasysharks.com projections project him for 265 yards passing, two scores, and two picks. I think those are his minimums this week. Colin Kaepernick @STL -- 39%. I am impressed with Kaepernick thus far. Maybe I drank the Harbaugh kool-aid, but he brings so much more to the table, especially as a fantasy quarterback. He can throw better than Smith, but he runs better and gets more carries near the goal line. We've projected him for 230 yards, a score, a pick, and 20 yards rushing. I think the passing numbers will be even better, and he'll get at least 20 on the ground. Ryan Lindley @ NYJ -- 1%. Haha! Just kidding. RB Joique Bell vs IND -- 30%. Bell has come on late in the season, with solid games against Jacksonville and Houston. The Lions are starting to figure out their backfield, relying on Mikel Leshoure for early down work, and using Bell on third downs and when Leshoure needs a rest. This week, Leshoure has been slowed by an ankle injury. If he is limited in any way on Sunday, Bell will benefit from additional time. I like him to match our projection for him of 80 total yards and a score. James Starks vs MIN -- 16%. Starks was a playoff darling for the Packers a few seasons ago, but couldn't get the job done last season. After missing the first half of this season due to injuries, Starks has regained the starting role, with a little help from an injured Cedric Benson and an ineffective Alex Green. I think Starks will be a bigger part of the running game this season, and while he's a plodding runner, I like him to surpass the 30-yard ...

Larry Fitzgerald's stock continues to plummet. It's not his fault, but Fitzgerald might have the worst quarterback options in the league throwing him the ball. You know, besides the Kansas City Chiefs. It's actually completely possible that Kevin Kolb, John Skelton, and some guy named Ryan Lindley may all be left-handed and not know it. In any case, Fitzgerald caught just one of his seven targets for 11 yards, including one overthrow when he was wide open for a score. His quarterback situation was the one strike against him going into the season, and it looks to be the one thing holding him back. Even with his considerable talent, I'm not sure he's a WR1 at this point. James Starks is now the guy to roster in Green Bay's backfield. The running back carousel continues in Green Bay. First, it was Cedric Benson. Then, Alex Green was given a shot. Now, it's come full circle back to last year's starter. Starks ran 25 times for 74 yards, which is unimpressive, but what was telling was that the Packers stuck with the run. The team knows that Aaron Rodgers can throw the ball, but it will need to run the ball down the stretch. Keep in mind that Benson should return some time in mid-December, but Starks is the guy for now, which is to say he's the guy for this week. A.J. Green is making a case as the top receiver in the league. In my own rankings, I had Green as the eighth receiver behind Calvin Johnson, Wes Welker, Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, Victor Cruz, Jordy Nelson and Julio Jones. I still think those preseason choices were defensible, at least at the time, but Green has since taken exception. On Sunday, he caught six balls for 91 yards and a score, his 10th touchdown in his last nine games. His consistency is coveted across fantasy leagues, and he will continue to be a Top 5 option every week. The Nick Foles era was fun while it lasted. Well, that was quick. In his first NFL start, the rookie completed just 21-of-46 passes for 204 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He looked overmatched, even against a suspect Washington pass defense, as the Eagles mustered just six points. Since the game, the "significant" concussion Michael Vick suffered in Week 10 has miraculously improved to the point that he may be available in Week 12. If he can pass his baseline concussion tests, he will probably get the start. Josh Freeman is a viable QB1. On Sunday, Freeman threw for 248 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Including this past week, ...

This week's lines are from USAToday.com (as of Thursday night). ATS - Against the Spread; SU - Straight Up; O/U - Over/Under Byes: Minnesota, N.Y. Giants, Seattle, Tennessee Locks New Orleans at Oakland (+4.5 & O/U 54.5) The Saints have turned things around, winning four of their last five games including an impressive win over the undefeated Atlanta Falcons last week. The Saints offense continues to click, scoring 27.7 points per game, 6th in the league. The run game has turned it around with Chris Ivory leading the way. The team is averaging 144 rush yards in their last two games. The Raiders defense is in for a long day. They are giving up giving up 31.6 points per game, 31st in the NFL. In their last two games, teams have scored an average of 48.5 points per game against them. In those two losses, quarterback Carson Palmer has thrown for 391 yards per game with six touchdowns and four interceptions. Both teams have defenses that rank near the bottom of the NFL, but the Saints offense is far more superior to that of the Raiders. I'm expecting this game to be a shootout with the Saints coming out on top. In their last 6 games, the Saints are 5-1 ATS. The Raiders are 3-6 ATS for the season, including 1-3 at home. Gimme the Saints minus the points and the Over. Green Bay at Detroit (O/U 52) Just as Detroit seemed to have turned things around, winning three of their last four games heading into last week's game versus the Minnesota Vikings, they came out flat in a must win game that they needed in order to stay in the playoff hunt. They were down a quick 10-0 in the first quarter and wound up losing by a score of 34-24. After a slow start, quarterback Matthew Stafford ended up with 329 yards passing and three touchdowns. Two-hundred seven of those yards were to wide receiver Calvin Johnson, whose been pretty quiet for a majority of the season. The Packers are on a four game win streak, averaging almost 32 points per game during that streak. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get Jordy Nelson back this week after missing some time due to an ankle injury. Since taking over for Cedric Benson at running back, Alex Green has been a disappointment, averaging only 3.1 yards per carry. He will take a back seat to James Starks this week, who has been declared the starter against the Lions. The Packers defense takes a hit with linebacker Clay Matthews being ruled out due to an injured hamstring. I'm expecting another shoot out in this ...

The thing about early week deadlines is, well, news can sometimes break after we go to press. I reported earlier this week that there wasn't much worth getting excited about on the waiver wire, so much so that I cut out the "Smokin' Hot" category for the week. A lot has gone down in the couple of days since the Waiver Wire Wonders was posted, so here is a quick update on the late breaking news as it pertains to this week's waiver wire. Random Thought Before we get to that, I haven't decided where I stand on the NFL having a game on every Thursday night. Part of me enjoys this, since it is another night that I can watch a football game on television. The other part of me, the fantasy football owner, very much doesn't like this change. Thanksgiving games, yea, no problem, even the Thursdays in December, ok. The Thursday game pushes up the weekly schedule for everything, free agency, picking games in the "pool", seems like each week is a rush. So I'm firmly on the fence, but have come to accept these games. Now that we've got the bye weeks mixed into the schedule, has it ever been explained why the NFL doesn't have two of the teams on a bye week be matched up in the following week's Thursday night game? Makes too much sense, right? Instead of giving the two teams playing in the Thursday night spotlight game 10 days to rest and prepare, let's just give them three days and hope they don't have any bumps and bruises. The Ravens played in a Sunday night game, then four days later they were on for the Thursday night tilt. If we are going to have Thursday night games, how about giving these teams a fighting chance at putting on a good show. Green Bay Running Back After my deadline, it was announced that Cedric Benson would be out for an even more significant period of time than was originally reported, likely now to be until at least week 14. I stand by my recommendation that James Starks will be the player to pick up in his place. While many were encouraged by Green's performance last week after Benson left (10 carries for 63 yards), this was in a game where Starks was not dressed. Even though the Packers are reporting that Alex Green may get an opportunity this week to be the starter (our friends at fleaflicker.com show Green as the top selection this week), I feel Starks is the long term solution. Many have forgotten that it was Starks that was the spark for the Packers on their magical Superbowl run in 2010. He carried the team as the leading ...

Running Wild After Jackie Battle had a few good performances, it looks like Ryan Mathews is back as the lead back for the Chargers. Mathews had a great game Monday night against the New Orleans Saints, rushing for 80 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown. He also had six catches for 59 yards, so it was a solid game for fantasy owners. Battle is still going to get some carries moving forward, but it's safe to say that barring injury Mathews is the back to own from here on out. Don't drop Battle, though, because he still should see the majority of goal line work. Cedric Benson's foot injury has turned out to be a serious one and he will miss at least eight weeks. It appears that James Starks will get first crack at the starting job, but don't count out Alex Green. The Packers are saying that Starks will be the first option, but remember that Green got most of the work last week when Benson went down. He had nine carries for 55 yards and has a nice burst of speed. Green clearly has better upside; Starks has more experience. Nonetheless, both backs should be picked up, with Green being your first waiver priority. New York Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw had a career day in Week 5, logging 200 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Cleveland. This was definitely an unexpected performance from Bradshaw, especially since New York was down by two touchdowns early in the contest, but he ran hard and got 30 carries. Backup Andre Brown went out with a concussion in this game as well, so that leaves rookie David Wilson to steal a small amount of work from Bradshaw. Owners should feel confident in starting him every week, but be wary in Week 6 as the Giants draw San Francisco and its excellent defense. Sleepers Jeremy Kerley, WR, New York Jets Kerley is now the No. 1 receiver for the Jets since Santonio Holmes is done for the season. I'm not sure how much his fantasy value increases since New York is having a very hard time scoring touchdowns, but he did have a nice game in Week 5 against a tough Houston pass defense (five receptions, 94 yards). Kerley has a favorable matchup on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, so take a shot with him. If the Jets start moving the ball more effectively, he will be one of the main reasons. Also, Indianapolis has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. William Powell, RB, Arizona First, Arizona loses Chris ‘Beanie' Wells for 6-8 weeks. Now they lose Ryan Williams for the season ...

There were a rash of injuries suffered in Week 5. While NFL rosters will plug in the next player in line, fantasy owners will require a more educated approach to fill their holes and continue to field a competitive lineup. Here is a look at a few of the key injuries and some suggestions on where to look for help. Cedric Benson had carved out a nice role in the Green Bay Packers offense over the first several weeks. Benson was a serviceable weekly flex play or a solid backup running back before he exited Sunday's contest with an injury. At first, the injury to Benson appeared to be minor, but, after a more indepth diagnosis Monday, the Packers revealed that he had suffered a Lisfranc foot injury. The injury carries an estimated two-month absence. Alex Green appears to have the inside opportunity to claim the starting role, but does that mean that he should be on the top of your waiver wire adds? Green was effective filling in for Benson, logging 55 yards on nine carries. James Starks has missed the first five weeks battling turf toe, but he should be back in action soon. Starks was the lead back for the Packers last season, but he is not an elusive, dynamic back suited to lead the Packers or your running attack. Green has more upside and is worth a speculative add if you are desperate for help in your backfield. Two weeks after putting Chris ‘Beanie' Wells on Injured Reserve with an injury that will keep him out of action until November, Ryan Williams suffered a season-ending shoulder injury this week. The Cardinals rushing attack has not been dependable with either back this season, and it only figures to get worst with the latest injury. A true running back by committee approach probably lies ahead for the Cardinals. LaRod Stephens-Howling figures to get the first shot, but Alfonso Smith and William Powell will also get carries. Unless one of the backs emerges as a legitimate lead back, none of these guys belongs on your roster. Chris Johnson has now gained less than 25 yards in four of his five games this season after his 24-yard outing on Sunday. Many have been suggesting that it may be time for the Tennessee Titans to let Javon Ringer have a shot at the starting job to see if his skills better suit offensive coordinator Chris Palmer's schemes. On the heels of another terrible outing, Ringer would have been closer than ever to claiming the starting job, but on Sunday he suffered a MCL injury that is expected to keep him out of action for ...

This week's lines are from usatoday.com (as of Thursday night). Locks New Orleans @ Green Bay (O/U 52.5) If you had told me before the NFL season started that either the Saints will start the season with a record of 0-4 or the Packers will be 1-3, I would have shed this bag and retired from my professional gambling career. Well, that's exactly the scenario that we have this week. What a crazy start to the season! The Packers look to get back on track after facing tough defenses in their first three games against San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle. Not to mention getting robbed of a win in Seattle by a horrible call. I can't stress enough how happy I am that the real refs are back! Facing the Saints defense this week looks to be the perfect matchup for the Packers offense to get out of their funk. The Saints have one of the worst defenses in the league, giving up an average of 34 points per game and ranking last, giving up 477 total yards per game. QB Aaron Rodgers will look to feast on the Saints D and finally have his breakout game of the season. The Saints are also dead last in the NFL against the run, giving up 215 yards per game. Packers RB Cedric Benson isn't anything special but he should find some running room and get a score of his own on the ground. As usual, Saints QB Drew Brees will have plenty of options to throw to and will put up good numbers but when your defense acts as a sieve, it'll be difficult to keep up with the Packers. The last time these teams played on Sept. 8, 2011, 76 total points were scored. Look for another high scoring game this weekend. Gimme the over. San Francisco @ NY Jets (+3.5) The Niners were upset 24-13 on the road last week against the Minnesota Vikings. It was a bad loss but I'm willing to give the Niners a mulligan and expect this to be a wakeup call for one of the top teams in the league. Instead of heading back to the West Coast only to have to return back east for the game, the team has decided for the second year in a row to stay in Youngstown, Ohio and prepare for their matchup with the Jets. It proved to be a smart move last year after beating both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Jets were dealt a huge blow last week, losing defensive back Darrelle Revis for the year due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The team has asked RB Joe McKnight to learn the cornerback position, a position that he has not played since high school. I don't see this ...