(awkwardly ambles to podium) Hi everyone. Um, my name is Matt. (group) Hello, Matt I, uh. Well, this is new to me. I've never been to a Fantasy Anonymous meeting. Honestly, this is the first time I've ever even thought about discussing my...my problem. You see...I'm a fantasy idiot. (heavy sigh) Gosh! That feels so good just to say it. I'm a fantasy idiot. I'M A FANTASY MORON! (nervous laughter) I guess the first time I realized I had a problem was a few years ago. I showed up to the draft, hoping not to make the same mistakes in years past. I was clear-eyed, well-rested, I had my whole life in front of me! I was ready for a new beginning. Ready for a fresh start. Three hours later I came to, face down in a puddle of buffalo wing sauce, a crumpled roster sheet balled into my fist. Never again, I swore. Never again. (dabs eyes with tissue) As I smoothed out the creases of the paper, I realized the full extent of what I had done: Marion Barber and Clinton Portis ? They were busts for me last year! Derek Anderson ? Oh, oh my no. Dwayne Bowe in the second round? Bowe! Booooooowe! It never went away. Every year, I'd try to remember, try to avoid the same mistakes. Every year, I'd find myself back at the draft, in a haze of meat lover's pizza and Bachman Turner Overdrive blasting from the commissioner's laptop speakers. I need to get clean; I need to be whole. And I really want to destroy the other guys in the league. Thanks for listening. (applause) Don't worry, that's as far as I'm taking it. We all sometimes have a problem at our fantasy draft. Here now is my own six-step program, based on the tenets we should all strive toward. 1. Don't trust your $5 draft guide more than your gut. Experts are great. Whether I've cornered a doctor at a dinner party to ask about this weird thing on my neck, or I stop by my local mechanic to ask about this weird thing on my inner thigh, you can't beat the word of a pro. Trouble is, sometimes their knowledge and expertise can't beat good ol'-fashioned horse sense. Sometimes you just got to listen to your gut. Now, sometimes your gut wonders aloud why you chose to eat both the Sausage Stromboli and the Double Widowmaker Burger with extra bacon, when you could have just chosen one, or perhaps neither. Other times, your instincts are the only thing you can rely upon: weather emergencies, hostage crises, the batteries in the remote died and you're stuck watching The Chew. Come time...

Chicago Bears running back Marion Barber has decided to retire, the team announced on its website Friday.

Running Wild Owners couldn't ask for a tougher matchup for Marshawn Lynch to cap off the fantasy season. He gets the honor of going up against the San Francisco 49ers and their No. 1 ranked rush defense. San Francisco hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown all season and it doesn't look very promising for Lynch to break this streak. If you have Lynch on your roster, you are in a tough position because he's been a scoring machine for most of the season and has found the end zone five times in the last three games. But, the 49ers have been dominant and nearly shutout the Pittsburgh offense last week. My gut instinct here is to advise owners to store Lynch on their bench and look elsewhere for points, but at the same time he should be a lock for 25 touches. If you're feeling lucky then go ahead and gamble with Lynch and hope that he can vulture up an easy goal line touchdown. Willis McGahee has had one of the better years of his career this season in Denver and will go over 1,000 yards rushing this weekend. Those of you in the finals or semifinals of your leagues should ride McGahee to the finish line as he gets Buffalo in Week 16. It seems like the Bills are playing worse and worse every week and their defense is horrible, especially against the run. The Bills are allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs on the season, so look for McGahee to have a big game. Even though he only got seven carries last week, he did put up 70 yards. McGahee should see closer to 20 this week as the Broncos will be running a lot more against a poor defense. As long as his hamstring holds up he should easily get you double-digit points. C.J. Spiller is coming off easily the best game of his young career last week against Miami. He only received a total of 21 touches, but was very impressive both running and receiving. Spiller ran the ball 12 times for 91 yards and a touchdown and also came up with nine catches for 76 yards and another score. This was quite a surprise for fantasy owners who started him, but since he's essentially the only option in Buffalo he must be started again in Week 16. Spiller has a much more difficult matchup against Denver this weekend, but teams have been successful against them as of late, so there really isn't much of a debate here. Get him in your lineup because even if he doesn't get it going on the ground, he will surely contribute in the passing game as he has 18 receptions in the last four games and is very dangerous when he ...

The fantasy championships are finally here for most of us. Congratulations if you've made it this far. At this time of year, some guys you may not have started all season could help lead you to fantasy gold. This week I will look at five players who were an afterthought on draft day but could be the deciding factor in you winning or losing your league. Next Monday will be my final column of the season. Good luck this week everyone. Kahlil Bell, RB, Chicago -- Bell is the kind of late season pickup that could lead people to a fantasy title. I hope that doesn't happen considering I'm playing against him this week but there's a lot to like about Bell. After his disastrous performance against the Denver Broncos, Marion Barber found himself riding the pine this past Sunday in favor of Bell. Bell played 43 snaps against the Seahawks compared to Barber's 17 and he was able to rack up 108 total yards and a score. The reason I like Bell this week is because the Green Bay Packers are likely to be in a foul mood after just an awful effort against the Kansas City Chiefs. My guess is Chicago will be playing from behind early, so Bell will get a lot of opportunities as a receiver out of the backfield. If you play in a points per reception league, Bell is a better start this week than someone like Adrian Peterson, who still isn't 100 percent healthy. Like I said, I go against Bell and I'm afraid if I lose he could be the deciding factor. If you have Bell, you would wise to find a spot in your lineup for him this week. Donald Brown, RB, Indianapolis -- I loved Brown coming out of college, but until lately he's been a huge bust. Just when we were about to close the book on Brown's career he comes out of nowhere and turns into a solid fantasy player. Brown is coming off a 161-yard performance against Tennessee that included a dynamic 80-yard touchdown run. Brown has now scored in three of his last four games, so he's getting carries and he's finding the end zone. On paper, Brown doesn't have a great matchup this week against Houston. However, it looks to me like the Texans defense is getting worn down. Houston is down to its third string quarterback and the defense has been on the field a lot over the last few games. Against Carolina, they were pushed around and the unit just looked tired to me. Brown isn't a great play this week, but if you're struggling to find a flex option he's worth a look. I don't think 60 yards and a score is an ...

The NFL has warned Chicago Bears running back Marion Barber that he will be fined if he continues to evade the media.

THE TOP STORYLINES: The New York Giants Rally From a 12-Point Deficit to Stun the Dallas Cowboys 37-34 and Grab First Place in the NFC East; A Missed Field Goal Attempt Costs Dallas a Possible Victory For the Second Straight Week If you didn't see Sunday Night Football, you sure missed a very entertaining game between two teams that laid it all on the line for a chance to claim supremacy in the NFC East. Down by 12 points late in the fourth quarter, the New York Giants (7-6) put together two touchdown drives in the final 3:14 to go ahead 37-34 thanks to some clutch play by Eli Manning (27/47 for 400-2-1), who has been carrying the G-Men on his back most of the season. Yes, I think Eli has joined the ranks of the elite NFL triggermen. How about you? Getting the ball back with 46 seconds left, Tony Romo (21/31 for 321-4-0) displayed some clutch play of his own, quickly driving the Cowboys down to set up Dan Bailey for a 47-yard field goal attempt that, if successful, would force overtime. The rookie Bailey, who missed a game-winner two weeks ago against the Arizona Cardinals, made the field goal; however, it didn't count because the Giants called time out to ice him. When Bailey attempted the do-over, New York's Jason Pierre-Paul partially blocked it, sealing the desperately needed triumph for the G-Men. For Dallas, Laurent Robinson (4-137-1), Miles Austin (4-63-1) and Dez Bryant (1-50-1) paced the passing attack. DeMarco Murray (broken ankle) was replaced after just five carries by Felix Jones (16-106-0 and 6-31-0). On the New York side, Brandon Jacobs (19-101-2) made the most of the extra touches that he received while starting in place of Ahmad Bradshaw (8-12-0 and 1-7-0), who sat during the first half as punishment for violating team rules. Hakeem Nicks (7-154-0), Victor Cruz (7-83-0), Mario Manningham (2-62-1) and Jake Ballard (4-52-1) were the key contributors. 　 Tim Tebow Rallies the Denver Broncos to Another Dramatic Come-From-Behind Win, Upending the Chicago Bears 13-10 In Overtime; Tebow Is 7-1 as a Starter Even if you despise Tim Tebow and the AFC East-leading Denver Broncos (8-5), there is no denying that something special has been happening in the Mile High City. Tebow's teammates -- especially the guys on a vastly improved defense -- believe in him, and the fans adore him. And the Chicago Bears (7-6) were the latest team to get Tebow'd. You probably know what happened: Trailing 10-0 late in regulation, Tebow connected with Demaryius...

As you prepare for your league's playoffs there are a few important things you have to remember so that you are best positioned to claim the championship. Whether you managed an undefeated regular season or snuck in the playoffs on the heels of some crazy tiebreaker, the playoffs are a whole new season. Every team is one hot streak or one tragic hiccup from a championship or a first round exit. The most important thing that you can do now is to not try to get cute with your starting lineup. By now you have settled in with your core starters and key fill ins. Some NFL teams who are out of contention may use the last several weeks of the season to audition players for next year; you should NOT! A lot of times you may be tempted to get creative and play a touted matchup over an established player. Ninety percent of the time over thinking your matchups and getting cute will cost you. Stick with the guys who put your team in the position to make this championship run! Another important thing to remember is to keep working the waiver wire. I know that it may sound contradicting to what I just said about your starters, but what I am talking about here is never stopping improving your team. Your starters are not immune to injuries just because you are in the playoffs, just ask owners of Matt Forte. Do your research and put in claims for guys. If you are thin at running back you should add Khalil Bell or Marion Barber just like you likely would if it were week four. Maybe one of them pans out and gives your team options if one of your established starters goes down. Even if you have better options and never plug the guys in, you may be keeping one of your opponents from filling a glaring hole on their roster. If you have question marks at wide receiver adding Santana Moss should be a no brainer for you this week. The Redskins will be without Fred Davis and have been making a habit of targeting Moss since his return. Add all that to the fact that the Skins face off with the generous Patriots pass defense in week 14 and you may have found a nice fill in for your lineup woes. Do you have Frank Gore? A savvy fantasy owner would be sure to grab Kendall Hunter right now if they have a droppable player. Yeah I know that Hunter has struggled to make the impact that many thought he would entering the season, but with the 49ERs creeping up on solidifying their playoff seed they may consider resting Gore to keep him fresh for the playoffs. If the Packers ...

"One alligator...two...alligator...three alligator". You may remember counting "alligators" out loud when you were young as you waited to rush the quarterback in a two-hand-touch football game. Of course, the rules stated that you must wait and count before rushing the passer, and he or she was generally restricted to only throwing the ball instead of rushing. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning were more than likely successful in their youths as skilled and accurate pocket passers. However, NFL defenses are not counting "alligators", but must be even more cautious rushing the passer as this season has brought forth a shift from pure pocket pass-throwing to more versatile, dual signal callers that use their legs as much as their arms. Carolina Panthers' rookie sensation Cam Newton broke another record as he continues to flourish this season. Newton ran in three scores to eclipse the NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback en route to a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Newton has accumulated 26 total touchdowns this year and is the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year. Michael Vick has been the face of quarterback versatility with over 5,000 rushing yards in his career including a season where he topped 1,000. Vick's season has been disappointing, mostly due to injury, but he has still managed to amass over 500 rushing yards this season missing the last three games. After watching Kyle Orton lead the Denver Broncos for the first four and half games from the sidelines, Tim Tebow received his opportunity at starting despite harsh criticism. Analysts may question his passing skills and open Christian views, but Tebow's success has led to a paradigm shift in Denver. Despite completing less than 50% of his throws and only passing for 200-plus yards on one occasion, Tebow has inspired the Denver Broncos to surprisingly win six of their last seven games and grasp first place of the AFC West. Tebow has rushed for 468 yards and averages 5.7 yards per rush, which is only one yard less than his 6.7 yards per pass average. Don't get ousted in the first round of the playoffs. Take a dive with me as review several key Week 14 matchups. QB Joe Flacco - Baltimore will defeat Indianapolis this weekend. However, I see this game becoming more of a shootout. Last week, Colts' QB Dan Orlovsky showed potential that he can hurl the ball around better than Curtis Painter with 353 passing yards and two touchdowns. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice should carry the Ravens ...

In recent weeks we've thrown some pity towards the Houston Texans for their injury woes after they lost their top two quarterbacks, Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, for the rest of the season. Now it's the Chicago Bears' turn. The Bears have lost quarterback Jay Cutler for the rest of the regular season and now running back Matt Forte is out 2-6 weeks with an MCL sprain. Marion Barber is a solid replacement for Forte. Caleb Hanie is not a good replacement for Cutler. We are not recommending cutting Forte just yet because he could return in time for some fantasy football playoff games. Cutler, well, you can say bye to him.

Let 's begin with a review of how accurate Vinnie has been against the spread 12 weeks in: 35-29-3 Were it not for Buffalo's resilient effort against the New York Jets, Vinnie's picks would have gone without a hitch last week. Oh well, time to shoot for perfection in Week 13. Or better yet for your purposes, perhaps there 's analysis for a game or two here that helps catapult you back to the top of your favorite pigskin pick ' em league. Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals (+4.5): With Kevin Kolb out of the lineup, Arizona has been winning on the legs of Chris ‘Beanie' Wells and special teams magic of Patrick Peterson. The Cowboys are well prepared for Wells, though, boasting an underrated run defense and as focused as ever on the slim lead they currently have atop the NFC East standings. Tony Romo has been unstoppable here lately, helped quite a bit by the sensational rushing numbers DeMarco Murray is putting up as a rookie. Expect very good things from both against the Cardinals on Sunday. Gimme the Cowboys minus the points. Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears (-7.5): Chicago had won four consecutive games prior to losing at Oakland last week. Even with Caleb Hanie taking over at quarterback, this remains a formidable team. It shouldn 't surprise if Johnny Knox picks up another big gainer or two, but the real damage will come from Matt Forte and possibly Marion Barber because the Chiefs run defense is awful. Speaking of awful, Tyler Palko is back under center for Kansas City with recently signed Kyle Orton not yet acclimated to the offense. This hurts Dwayne Bowe 's chances of making any real contributions, of course, which in turns hurts the visiting team 's chances of keeping this game close. Gimme the Bears minus the points. Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5): Here we have a pair of basement dwellers which have each, at times this season, been a model of inconsistency. Considering this and how well yo u'd think these teams know one another, not the safest pick either way, right? At this point, Tampa Bay has lost six of its last seven games, and Josh Freeman has fallen on hard times. Carolina, meanwhile, has been hit bitten by the injury bug on defense but is doing a lot of things the right way offensively. Expect Cam Newton to have quite a day against the hapless Buccaneers defense, alongside effective running on the part of DeAngelo Williams and/or Jonathan Stewart. Gimme the Panthers plus the points. Atlanta Falcons at Houston ...