The end of Week 13 signals the end of the fantasy regular season for a majority of leagues. Unfortunately for some, this is the end of the line for a frustrating season. Every bad draft pick, every bad trade, every bad waiver add, every bad starting lineup decision can easily be dismissed as bad luck. At least that's what we will tell ourselves as we swear off this game of chance and promise to never play again. But even in our darkest hour, we all know we will return next season to somehow find a way to get back into the good graces of the fantasy gods. At the other end of the spectrum we have the playoff teams. We cry tears of joy as strong as Knowshon Moreno hearing the Star Spangled Banner being sung. We are the victors who have navigated the treacherous waters of the regular season to remain afloat. Week 14 brings the start to the gauntlet of the fantasy playoffs; a three week sprint that will crown the league champion. An honor that will make the countless hours we spent reading articles, utilizing all of the tools and conversing on the forums at FantasySharks.com all worth it. Whether you are looking ahead to the playoffs or looking back at what went wrong, here are the top-10 Names You Should Know for Week 14. Ben Tate, RB HOU He lives! Ben Tate's 1-yard rushing effort in Week 12 sent many people to the waiver wires to grab Dennis Johnson in anticipation of a changing of the guard in Houston. Unfortunately as is the case more times than naught, Tate exploded to have his best game of the season while sitting on many, many benches in one of the more important weeks of the season. Tate came to life to carry the ball a season high 22 times on his way to a three TD day while Dennis Johnson was relegated to four touches. The team that held Tate to 1-yard rushing is next on the schedule so it's going to take a huge leap of faith to trust Tate again. Michael Crabtree, WR SFF Michael Crabtree made his 2013 season debut and immediately gave the Niners a little jolt in the passing game. Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin have held down the fort admirably but Michael Crabtree is a difference making wide receiver that was finally starting to peak at the end last season and into the playoffs. Playing limited snaps, Crabtree saw four targets catching two of them recording 68 yards vs. the Rams. Crabtree's usage and stats figure to go up over the next few weeks as the Niners get ready for their playoff push. If he's not already owned in your league, make...

In a word: No. Colin Kaepernick was efficient almost anywhere he threw the ball in 2012, including when he threw the ball to receivers that are primarily known for drops (Delanie Walker). It's true that Kaepernick was very good when throwing to Crabtree, but it's more the case that Kap just leaned on Crabtree a lot so the stats ended up being volume + efficiency. The table below shows Kaep's attempts to his top receivers. It would be remarkable if Kaep could keep up this kind of pace, although I kind of suspect that the SF scheme deserves much of the credit. PasserReceiverPOSATTSRECSYDSTDSINTSAYAColin KaepernickMichael CrabtreeWR69436135010.33Colin KaepernickRandy MossWR3015199124.30Colin KaepernickDelanie WalkerTE25152612012.04Colin KaepernickVernon DavisTE2516192108.48Colin KaepernickMario ManninghamWR2215207009.41Colin KaepernickFrank GoreRB1410106109.00And just so it doesn't sound like I'm saying that Crabtree's injury doesn't matter at all, I'm not saying that. But given the broad success that Kaep had throwing the ball last year, I think it's reasonable to believe that they'll figure out a way for him to throw it effectively in 2013 as well. From week 11 (when Kaep made his first start against the Bears) through the Super Bowl, here is Kaep's average stat line: NAMESEASGMSATTSCOMPSCMPPCTPYDSPTDSINTSpFPOPrATTSrYDSrTDSColin Kaepernick20121027.216.90.62401.40.500.136.647.60.6He was basically RGIII from that point on. In 2013 you can draft Kaep in the 5th ...

As you've probably heard by now, the quarterback position is deep going into this year's draft. It's most likely going to stay that way, barring any major injuries or recovery setbacks as the regular season approaches. Whether you snatch up Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers in the second round, or take the best available in the sixth round, that is a discussion for another time. The bottom line: There are at least 12 quarterbacks that are more than capable of leading your team to a fantasy championship. Honorable mentions go to Andy Dalton, Michael Vick and Eli Manning. I wouldn't feel comfortable relying on them to start each week, but they aren't far from cracking the Top 12. 12. Tony Romo -- Dallas Cowboys (Average Draft Position: 87) Romo finished ninth among fantasy quarterbacks in 2012, but only nine points behind Peyton Manning, who finished sixth. Dez Bryant caught fire the second half of last year and it finally seems like the two of them have found a nice groove. Romo has at least 4,000-plus passing yards and 26-plus touchdowns in every season in which he played 16 games. Will he finish as a top-5 quarterback? No -- probably not. But he does have the chance to be sixth or seventh (where he was two years ago in 2011), and that's not bad for a guy going in the middle of the seventh round. I expect his average draft position to rise as the summer progresses. 11. Matt Ryan -- Atlanta Falcons (Average Draft Position: 63) What you see is what you get. Matt Ryan is good for 28 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and 4,100 yards. In other words, what he did in 2011. Ryan's passing yards are the only stat that fluctuates with the amount of pass attempts he has. The Falcons will run the ball more in 2013 (Ryan had 615 pass attempts in 2012 versus 566 in 2011) now that they have a running back in Steven Jackson. Matt Ryan is a fine fantasy quarterback and he is consistent from year to year. While I think his average draft position of 63 is too high, I'd take him in the late sixth round or early seventh round if he fell. 10. Robert Griffin III -- Washington Redskins (Average Draft Position: 66) It is still early, and that is why he is ranked 10th. Regardless of what we hear from the Redskins' camp and how his progression is coming along, he's still had two ACL tears in three years. He isn't solely dependent on his running game, but it's a large part and he wouldn't have finished fifth among quarterbacks last year if he was limited. Griffin III's stock will be ...

1 - Aaron Rodgers - Arguments could be made for others, but Rodgers is just too sturdy and productive to ignore. On top of that, there is a very strong possibility that we have yet to see the best from Rodgers. The emergence of Randall Cobb and the healthy return of Jordy Nelson offer tremendous potential. The hopeful development of the running game could open things up a bit more as well. 2 - Peyton Manning - A strong case could be made for Manning to be drafted as the No. 1 quarterback. Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Wes Welker provide ample firepower for Manning, who will be a year further removed from his neck injury. The potential statistical output for Manning hasn't been this high since he and Marvin Harrison were lighting up the scoreboard. 3 - Drew Brees - The New Orleans Saints' main man has a knack for chasing records. That doesn't seem likely to change in 2013. With offensive guru Sean Payton back on the sideline, the offense should be set to get back to business in an explosive way. The New Orleans defense is a historically awful one that should create more than enough opportunities for shootouts. 4 - Tom Brady - It seems like a sin to have him outside the top 3 but the stars just don't seem to be aligning at the current time. Main threat Rob Gronkowski is in-and-out of surgery on a daily basis, fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez also has injury issues, and we're unsure as to if Danny Amendola can handle the role vacated by Wes Welker. Brady always seems to find a way to get it done, but the offense isn't as potent as in seasons past. 5 - Cam Newton - It was a tale of two seasons for Newton last year. For the first half of the year he looked to have taken a large step back from his rookie performance. His numbers were disappointing to say the least and his value was slipping quickly. But, all of a sudden, Newton found his form and started to rip off huge numbers. If Newton can perform at that second-half level for the entire year, the rushing numbers will be completely off the charts. 6 - Matt Ryan - The former Boston College Eagle took a step towards elite company last season but not as big of a step as most were expecting. He was as solid as a rock, but not as prolific as we were expecting. This season, Julio Jones hopes to avoid injury, Roddy White remains the elite veteran, Tony Gonzalez returns to provide greatness from the tight end position, and new addition Steven Jackson is set to catch all he can handle out of the ...

Quick Hits With the slow and steady progression of the NFL offseason, it would seem that relevant fantasy news is at a loss. But even the daily reports coming out of organized team activities contain insight that will affect our selection on draft day. This article is quick recap of the recent headlines from around the NFL affecting our pre-draft preparation. Michael Crabtree , WR, San Francisco -- Arguably the biggest news affecting fantasy owners was the loss of Michael Crabtree after blowing out his Achilles last week. Many have speculated that Crabtree could return before season's end. However, I'll warn you now this is a season long injury for fantasy owners with visions of a postseason comeback. The fallout has newcomer Anquan Boldin and veteran Vernon Davis as the primary fantasy providers in the San Francisco passing game. Rob Gronkowski , TE, New England -- The other injury news of late has been the recent bout of surgeries incurred by Gronkowski. New England has become notorious for lying, so it's no surprise the Patriots are calling the newest back injury "minor." Regardless, Gronkowski is now bordering on a red-flag injury risk. I made a rule for myself long ago - no injury prone players before the fourth round. Gronkowski just made my list. (Need more proof? Read Jim Bukowski's article below.) Carson Palmer , QB, Arizona -- Bruce Arians has been raving about Carson Palmer calling him "as pretty a deep, ball thrower as I've ever seen." I'm infatuated with Palmer's upside this year as a likely 10th-round selection. Mark my words: barring injury from a crappy offensive line, Palmer will be a Top 10 quarterback or better by seasons end. Arian Foster , RB, Houston -- Potential No. 1 overall selection Arian Foster has suffered a strained calf that will keep him on the pine until training camp. No need to panic as we are still month from the regular season, but certainly worth monitoring. Steven Jackson , RB, Atlanta -- It's not surprising that Steven Jackson has impressed his coaches and teammates with his abilities as a receiver. After all Jackson is the antithesis of Michael Turner in the passing game. I expect one more big year on the best offense Jackson has been on since his rookie season. Mark Sanchez , QB, New York Jets -- Mark Sanchez sucks, in case you forgot. Mike Gillislee , RB, Miami -- The addition of Mike Gillislee to the Dolphins backfield is stirring up news as the rookie has seen time with the first team offense. If ...

Michael Crabtree has torn his achilles tendon. We analyze the ramifications.

The Bro Bowl, Harbowl or simply the Super Bowl is almost here! It was a long road for both the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers to get to this point and they certainly couldn't have done it without their respective wide receivers. Jacoby Jones caught a huge pass that led to a Baltimore Ravens victory against the Denver Broncos. Spectacular playoff performances from Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree have helped lead their teams to the final game. Which receiver will come through with a big playoff performance? Which receiver will potentially end up with the Super Bowl MVP trophy? These questions will be answered on Sunday, but the matchup between the Ravens and 49ers should provide enough fireworks to cap off another terrific NFL season.

It is the end of the NFL year. The Ravens of Baltimore will play the 49ers of San Francisco. The game will be held at the Superdome in New Orleans. The NFL celebrates its championship for the 47th time. For the first time ever, the game will feature coaches who happen to be brothers facing off against each other. The coach of the Ravens is John Harbaugh and the coach of the 49ers is his younger brother, Jim Harbaugh. So the game may also be referred to as the "Bro-Bowl." That will be gaining coverage, as well as their father Jack Harbaugh. As usual, I will write this year the case for each team and then end it with my prediction. The Case For The Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens had been scuffling a little bit, losing four out of their last five weeks of the season to end the year 10-6. The Ravens then allowed only field goals to Indianapolis while they scored touchdowns. Then they had a miraculous win in Denver where they grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat. They followed that up with a really stifling defensive effort in manhandling New England. Baltimore beat the best of the AFC to get here. The quarterback of the Ravens is Joe Flacco. He is known as a laid back cerebral player. But what I have seen from the Baltimore offense is the ability to take large chances downfield to the very talented wide receiver duo of Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin. Throw in a decent tight end in Dennis Pitta and those are enough weapons to get the job done in any circumstance. The Baltimore Ravens used to be known for their defense. This year it was 16th in the league in allowing yards at 352.5 per game. The rush defense was a little bit better than their pass defense. In the playoffs they have specialized in a bend-but-don't-break defense. Indianapolis got to the red zone several times in their game against Baltimore but only came away with field goals. The Baltimore Ravens' back story is the impending retirement of their outstanding linebacker Ray Lewis. Ever since he announced his retirement, the team has played better and better each game. The Case For The San Francisco 49ers Where have you been San Francisco? The 49ers are back in the Super Bowl for a sixth time. They are 5-0 all-time and they are a franchise that dominated the NFL landscape in parts of the 1980s and 1990s. The 49ers had a record of 5-2-1 after their bye week. They impressively defeated New England at New England on Dec. 16. They also woefully lost to St. Louis on Dec. 2. They ...

We begin our off-season Perception vs. Reality series with none other than Michael Crabtree.

Andrew Luck is historically good. Luck has been putting up gaudy numbers, as he seems to single-handedly carry the Indianapolis Colts, kicking and screaming, across the finish line each week. There's something to be said for the way he's been pulling out wins this year. It's strangely similar of Tim Tebow last season, except for the fact that Luck is, you know, a quarterback. But no matter the score or situation, it always seems like he's going to do something awesome. On Sunday, he threw the Colts back into the game against Detroit, completing just 24-of-54 passes, but totaling 391 yards and four touchdowns, including the game winner as time expired. Sure, he threw three interceptions. He's a rookie after all. But he's having perhaps the greatest first season by a quarterback in history. And it's been amazing to watch. Greg Jennings will fit in after all. On Sunday, Jennings caught four balls for 46 yards in his return to game action, looking almost all the way back. He still needs to get back in shape a bit, but he'll be productive soon, possibly next week for owners that either held on to him or pounced on him on the waiver wire. In addition, Jordy Nelson exited the game in the first quarter after tweaking his hamstring. For weeks, we've wondered how (or if) Jennings would fit in when he returned. But hamstring injuries, especially in cold weather, are very difficult. With the current playoff picture, the Green Bay Packers will exercise caution with Nelson, meaning Jennings will slide right into his old role. Chris Johnson is no more than low-end RB2. Johnson might be bipolar. He is either fantastic or dreadful. In Week 13, he was closer to dreadful than fantastic, totaling just 51 yards on 13 carries and adding 20 receiving yards. He's had four games of more than 125 yards rushing and another four with less than 25 yards on the ground. Despite his feast-or-famine 2012, his poor numbers will be masked by the big games. If you hear 12 games, 993 yards, 4.9 yards per carry, and four touchdowns, you're thinking a dependable top tier back. But ask his owners if they'd rather have Johnson or Frank Gore. Or Trent Richardson. Or even Shonn Greene. First round picks are supposed to be trustworthy in the playoffs, and I just don't believe in Johnson. Cam Newton appears to have regained his 2011 form. Maybe I was expecting a sophomore slump, but I didn't think Newton was going to be all that great this year. Back in August, he was typically the fourth or ...