Here are some guys at each position that I will be considering for the Wild Card Round. Find the combination that you like. Remember, it’s not mandatory that you use every single credit that you are given to start out with. Unless you are about to go over your limit, I wouldn’t pay much attention to how much you have spent.

QB- Matt Ryan, Atlanta
Everyone is expecting, as they should, the Falcons to try and run the football down Arizona’s throat, especially with a rookie QB under center. I think this will open the door for a lot of PA passes, and the already shaky Card pass defense, could be exposed to some big plays. Having deep threats in Jenkins and White does not hurt Ryan’s cause either.

QB- Donavan McNabb, Philadelphia
McNabb quietly had a tremendous season. While everybody likes to look at the rumors of this being his last season in Philly, and the overtime/tie rule incident, McNabb has put up some of the best numbers of his great career. The Vikings could be without Pat Williams, and will likely concentrate on stopping Westbrook and the running game, stacking 8 in the box. This opens the door for the red hot Quarterback to shred Minnesota’s secondary.

RB- Michael Turner, Atlanta
One of the fantasy season’s top steals, Turner will not be cheap in the Post Season event. But I think that he is worth it. Turner is my top rated player heading into this weekend. I will be sure to grab Michael the burner Turner. Will you? It would be the wise choice. Arizona’s run D, (their whole team really), has been as bad as bad can be over the past few weeks. The Falcons run D gets better and better every week. Turner is coming off of a 205 yard performance in the season finale, on just 25 carries. He should continue his hot running this Saturday in the desert.

RB- LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego
Don’t look now, but LT is back! San Diego will be hosting Indy this weekend. The Colts run defense has struggled all year long, so Tomlinson should have a big day running the football. I think too many people are expecting the Colt run D to stout up like it did back in 2006. Even if it does, when LT gets going like he is, nobody is going to slow him down. Tomlinson will come with a heavy price tag though, as always.

WR- Mark Clayton, Baltimore
Clayton has been making circus like catches this season on Joe Flacco bombs down the field. Clayton will most likely be matched up against Will Allen, who is banged up for the Dolphins. Even though the Dolphin secondary has been good against the long ball this season, especially recently, they might have to stack up the box to contain the Raven running game. This will open the door for the PA pass, and a long one to Clayton, (it seems like he catches one every week). Clayton should/will be one of the cheaper receivers, and I think a great bargain. Also, Clayton should be the number one receiver for Flacco, with Mason banged up with that shoulder injury he suffered a couple of weeks ago.

WR- Anquan Boldin/Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
Take your pick. These guys are money to put up big numbers every single week. I think that Warner and the passing game will try and get into a rhythm early, and these two beasts of men will have a big day.

TE- Dallas Clark, Indianapolis
Look no further than Dallas Clark at TE. SD has been absolutely horrendous at covering opposing TEs this season. Clark had a rough beginning to the season, but has really picked it up in the second half, and is on fire. Clark should be in for a huge day this Saturday out in sunny San Diego.

Players to avoid:

QB- Chad Pennington, Miami
Pennington has been solid all season long for Miami. This week he faces one of the best defenses in the NFL in Baltimore, and could be in for a long day passing the football. The MVP candidate doesn’t put up huge numbers usually anyway, and I doubt he does this weekend. He isn’t a terrible selection, but considering some of the other match-ups, I would go with almost any other QB.

RB- Joseph Addai, Indianapolis
Addai has been a huge disappointment to fantasy owners all season. He’ll be facing a SD defense that has gotten better against the run recently, and I don’t think he’ll be getting that much work anyway. Addai is definitely somebody to stay away from.

RB- Tim Hightower, Arizona
While Atlanta has been shaky against the run this season, I think that it is best to stay away from Hightower. You know that the Cardinals are going to come out passing the football, and Hightower, I think, is a little over rated due to a couple of decent starts that he had earlier on this year. I would pass on him.

WR- Ted Ginn, Miami
Ginn has become a very good receiver for the Dolphins, and a decent number one. He made a couple of beautiful plays last week against NY in their win, and has made some nice catches down the field all season. This week they’ll be going up against a very good Raven D, and Baltimore will probably be weary of the deep threat in Ginn. Ed Reed is a ball hawk out in center field for the Ravens, and will probably be leaning towards Ginn’s side. Pennington will keep the ball away from Reed at all costs, and that probably means very few catches for Ginn.

One thing that I would stay away from in general, not so much specific players here, is to get multiple players from one team. For example, if you want Michael Turner, I would avoid getting Matt Ryan, and vise-versa.
Good luck, and enjoy your continued fantasy football season!

I will have my top rated players for the divisional round as well, along with my ‘stay away from’ players, coming out sometime next week. Be sure to check it out!

Note* - Look for end of the season articles and early 2009 fantasy talk to come soon!

This is going to be a 3 part blog post. Part 1, which you are reading, will cover my fall in the Phinfever Fantasy League. Part 2, my sudden collapse and high hopes for the Montague Football League (in which playoffs round 1 starts this weekend) and part 3, why my teams are so solid all season only to bomb at years end. Stay tuned for all 3 parts!!!

Week 1 - Lost 171.18 - 165.38  (0-1) 
Here I start the season with a strong scoring week (3rd highest) but unfortunately faced the 2nd highest scorer in the league for a tough week 1 loss.

Week 2 - Won 162.41 - 87.47  (1-1) 
A completely dominant win, with around the same score as week 1. A solid start, especially with points scored, and a 1-1 record.

Week 3 - Lost 155.48 - 141.82  (1-2) 
My scoring dips a bit here, but it’s still a decent score compared to the rest of the league. This puts me at 1-2 with 2 division losses right off the bat.

Week 4 - Lost 172.48 - 148.06  (1-3) 
Another week with a decent score, but another week against a high profile team. I’m 1-3 but I’m happy with the big scores I’ve put up so far. At this point I’m just hoping to catch some breaks, in a 16 team league finding a key free agent is extremely hard so I stick with my typical lineup.

Week 5 - Won 168.94 - 113.64  (2-3) 
Finally a second win comes along! Again over 160 points, nearly to 170, and 141 points is still my lowest score of the year. A lot of positives for a now 2-3 team.

Week 6 - Won 168.54 - 161.32  (3-3) 
Here’s some revenge for week 1 as already the schedule begins to repeat. Run Ronnie (my opponent) defeated me by 6 points in week 1, I returned the favor by beating him by 7 here in week 6. My team now stands at 3-3.

Week 7 - Won 106.80 - 100.25  (4-3) 
The great teams win even in bad weeks… or lucky weeks in the fantasy world. TennFinFan only scored 87 against me in week 2 and although improved here with 100 points, just wasn’t enough to beat my season low 106 on the week. Despite the disappointment in the score, the Prime Time are now 4-3 and hold a winning record for the first time in the season!

Week 8 - Won 176.72 - 135.74  (5-3) 
Well going into this division replay PZ’s Prime Time was only 1-2 vs the division. With our 3rd straight win against a division opponent we’re bumped up to 4-2 against the division and enjoying first place at 5-3. Things sure are looking good!

Week 9 - Won 151.19 - 102.97  (6-3) 
Another dominant win and I’m pretty happy that my scoring continues to stay rather solid. My lowest was 106, but my second lowest was 141, not bad at all.

Week 10 - Lost 160.63 - 158.12  (6-4) 
In one of a veteran fantasy players worst and I mean absolute worst nightmares, my hot streak of 5 games was put to an abrupt end by a rookie. A rookie, whom I helped draft his team. This was a tough 2 point loss but I didn’t get too down cuz I figured having a really long winning streak going into the playoffs would not be good, so I took it for what its worth and moved on at 6-4 and still atop the division.

Week 11 - Lost 141.52 - 112.88  (6-5) 
So remember that time Westbrook was hurt? Yeah, apparently he was a huge part of my scoring and you can definitely tell this week in my 3rd and final game against Run Ronnie. This put me at 1-2 vs his team and a pitfall to 6-5, quickly losing grasp of my division winning dreams!

Week 12 - Lost 171.11 - 152.56  (6-6) 
A third straight loss only brings one thing to mind, “never help a rookie draft a team ever again”. It was a curse, an absolute curse. My team put the scoring up to the 150’s again, but I took a hard hit from TennFinFan who previously could barely score over 100 points against me. Another tough division loss puts me at a four way tie for the division. The division only had four teams.

Week 13 - Won 221.38 - 139.40  (7-6) 
This was it, I needed this win against Big Dave’s Berserkers (the 2nd place division team - goes by points after record) to clinch the division and oh boy did my team show up! Lead by Westbrook who scored a ridiculous amount of points, Forte, Cotchery, Fitzgerald, Colston and Matt Ryan all had solid games as well to clinch the division and put me into the playoffs.

Playoffs Round 1

Gentlax13 » 151.12  vs.  PZ’s Prime Time » 131.10
The meltdown reappeared because of a stupid rookie mistake made by a veteran. Instead of going with my gut to play Westbrook against a tough Giants defense, I decided to follow the analysis of columnists around the world who said to bench Westbrook, and instead I started Chester Taylor against the Lions. This seemed like a viable option at the time, until Westbrook put up 52 points on my bench. 52 points which would have covered my 20 point loss and won me the game, 52 points which will forever haunt me in future years in this league. 52 points to remind a veteran player, that no matter how the season goes, you stick to your all-stars. ALWAYS.

2. Michael Turner - Atl = @NO
Expect Turner to get his 20 carries and a couple of goal line chances as well this week. 100-125 rushing yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

3. Matt Forte - Chi = Jac
He’s been money all year, and after Slaton’s rumbling on the Jaguars defense last week, Forte should post 100-125 rushing yards and 1-2 touchdowns.

4. Chris Johnson - Ten = Cle
After last weeks explosion, another favorable matchup for Johnson this week makes him a good bet to post 100-125 total yards and 1-2 touchdowns.

5. Thomas Jones - NYJ = @SF
Jones is the key to the Jets offense, and a matchup against the 49ers defense should make him good for 100-125 total yard and 1-2 touchdowns,

6. LaDainian Tomlinson - SD = Oak
His talent is too immense to rank him lower, but its hard to count on him for fantasy stats no matter how bad the opponent is. 80 total yards, maybe 1 touchdown on the low end; 125 total yards, 1-2 touchdowns on the high end.

7. Steve Slaton - Hou = @GB
The Green Bay defense hasn’t been able to stop anyone the past two weeks, and Slaton is the clear #1 running back now that Ahman Green is out for the year. 100-125 total yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

8. Marshawn Lynch - Buf = Mia
With quarterback questions this week, Lynch should get a full workload at home this week. 100 total yards, 1 touchdown.

9. LenDale White - Ten = Cle
As usual, LenDale has a great chance to post a touchdown or two this week. 50-75 rushing yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

10. Larry Johnson - KC = @Den
Excellent matchup for Johnson, finally has him in the top 10 again. Anything less than 100 rushing yards and 1 touchdown would be a huge disappointment this week.

11. Brandon Jacobs - NYG = Phi
A tough divisional matchup for Jacobs and the Giants offense should mean a lot of rushing attempts for the Giants this week. However you never know the health of Jacobs right now. 80 rushing yards, 1-2 touchdowns if he’s healthy and plays the full game.

12. Joseph Addai - Ind = Cin
Good matchup for Addai, but he is extremely hard to gauge for fantasy purposes right now. 100 total yards and 1 touchdown is very possible.

13. DeAngelo Williams - Car = TB
DeAngelo was great last week, but Tampa Bay’s defense sure isn’t Green Bay’s.

14. Peyton Hillis - Den = KC
Hillis has been everything the Broncos and fantasy owners could have hoped for. 100 rushing yards, 1 touchdown.

15. Frank Gore - SF = NYJ
Since the benching of J.T. O’Sullivan, opponents haven’t respected the 49ers passing game which has severely limited Gore’s potential.

16. Brian Westbrook - Phi = @NYG
After a resurgence last week, Westbrook will face an extremely tough test against the NY Giants defense this week. Just don’t get your hopes up too much this week. 80-100 total yards is likely.

17. Clinton Portis - Was = @Bal
Injuries and a tough matchup should limit Portis this week. Benching him is a decent option if you have others with better matchups.

18. Willie Parker - Pit = Dal

19. Ronnie Brown - Mia = @Buf

20. Tim Hightower - Ari = StL
He probably won’t get more than 40 rushing yards, but a touchdown or two is very possible.

21. Ryan Grant - GB = Hou
Injury issues may limit his playing time this week.

22. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jac = @Chi
With fantasy football playoffs around the corner, Jones-Drew isn’t someone you want to have to rely on to win your leagues Championship this season.

23. Steven Jackson - StL = @Ari
One good week in the books, but two weeks in a row is hard to believe.

24. Justin Fargas - Oak = @SD

25. Marion Barber - Dal = @Pit
Toe injury and a tough Pittsburgh defense makes Barber a bench candidate this week. Don’t expect much from him. 50 total yards and probably no touchdown.

26. Reggie Bush - NO = Atl

27. Kevin Faulk - NE = @Sea

28. LaRon McClain - Bal = Was
McClain appears to once again have reclaimed the #1 RB role with McGahee out. A matchup at home against Washington makes him a great flex option and spot starter this week.

29. Warrick Dunn - TB = @Car

30. Darren McFadden - Oak = @SD

31. Derrick Ward - NYG = Phi

32. Leon Washington - NYJ = @SF

33. Chester Taylor - Min = @Det

34. Jonathan Stewart - Car = TB

35. Willis McGahee - Bal = Was
Injuries make McGahee a bench candidate every week.

36. Fred Jackson - Buf = Mia

37. Mewelde Moore - Pit = Dal

38. Ricky Williams - Mia = @Buf

39. Jerious Norwood - Atl = @NO

40. Cedric Benson - Cin = @Ind

41. Jamaal Charles - KC = @Den

42. Jamal Lewis - Cle = @Ten

43. Kevin Smith - Det = Min

44. Dominic Rhodes - Ind = Cin

45. Pierre Thomas - NO = Atl

46. Sammy Morris - NE = @Sea

47. Brandon Jackson - GB = Hou
With Ryan Grant sustaining a slight injury last week, Jackson received the extra carries and did a great job. If he gets the start this week, Jackson is a very good flex option.

48. JJ Arrington - Ari = StL

49. Maurice Morris - Sea = NE

50. Julius Jones - Sea = NE

51. Antonio Pittman - StL = @Ari

52. Tashard Choice - Dal = @Pit

53. Carnell Williams - TB = @Car

54. Deuce McAllister - NO = Atl

55. Ray Rice - Bal = Was

56. Selvin Young - Den = KC
Injury issues may force him to miss this weeks game again.

57. Michael Bush - Oak = @SD

58. Edgerrin James - Ari = StL

59. Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis - NE = @Sea

60. Fred Taylor - Jac = @Chi

Week 14 Rankings

WEEK 14 - QB Rankings

WEEK 14 - WR Rankings

WEEK 14 - TE Rankings

WEEK 14 - Kicker Rankings

WEEK 14 - Defense Rankings

WEEK 14 - Start & Bench Picks

WEEK 14 - Waiver Wire Pickups

1. Steve Young, 1998.
In Young’s 14th NFL season, the league’s all-time highest rated passer threw for over 4000 yards, 36 TDs, to just 12 INTs. Young’s best season of his career came at 37 years old. Young’s 98′ season was also one of the top 5 fantasy seasons, of any player, ever. Truly remarkable.

2. Steve Beuerlein, 1999
Steve who? In 15 NFL season, Beuerlein played for 6 NFL teams, and reached the 20 TD mark just once. But in his 11th NFL season, at the age of 34, Beuerlein had a season that he will never forget. The unknown QB threw for 36 TD passes, and nearly 4,500 yards. A break out year would be an understatement.

3. Kurt Warner, 2008
Warner, at 37 years old, is 3 yards short of being on pace for 5,000, and 32 TDs. The 2 time MVP has an astounding 99.4 QB rating. He’s the leading MVP candidate in a lot of people’s eyes, having maybe his best season yet. Warner has been blessed with a great receiving core throughout his career, but may have his best right now, and it is paying dividends.

QUARTERBACK

RUNNING BACK - (RB Rankings Week 13)

START: Marshawn Lynch, Thomas Jones, DeAngelo Williams, Chris Johnson, Ronnie Brown, Maurice Jones-Drew, Marion Barber
BENCH: Peyton Hillis, Willie Parker, Willis McGahee, Kevin Smith, Cedric Benson, Julius Jones

WIDE RECEIVER - (WR Rankings Week 13)

START: Reggie Wayne, Roddy White, Lee Evans, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, Dwayne Bowe
BENCH: Santana Moss, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Donald Driver, Kevin Curtis, Torry Holt, Chad Johnson

TIGHT END - (TE Rankings Week 13)

START: Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, Bo Scaife, Dustin Keller
BENCH: Owen Daniels, Jeremy Shockey, Tony Scheffler, Greg Olsen, Ben Watson

KICKER - (Kicker Rankings Week 13)

START: Adam Vinatieri, Rob Bironas, Nick Folk, Rian Lindell, Neil Rackers
BENCH: Matt Prater, Kris Brown, Josh Brown, Jason Hanson, Shayne Graham

DEFENSE - (Defense Rankings Week 13)

START: Tennessee, Baltimore, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, Miami
BENCH: Green Bay, Carolina, New England, Philadelphia, San Diego

Week 13 - Free Agent Pickups

Week 13 - Start & Bench Picks

RUNNING BACK RANKINGS - WEEK 12

1. Matt Forte - Chi = @StL
With Kyle Orton injured, I fully expect the Bears to give Forte at least 30 touches in this game as they desperately need a win to stay in playoff contention. 150-175 total yards, 2 touchdowns.

2. Marion Barber - Dal = SF
Great matchup for Barber and the Dallas offense, and with Romo still a bit rusty you can bet the Cowboys will run the ball and use plenty of short dump off passes to Barber. 125-150 total yards, 2 touchdowns.

3. Brandon Jacobs - NYG = @Ari
Should be an interesting game in the desert, and if the Cardinals don’t explode with a ton of points you can bet the Giants will control the tempo of the game by running Jacobs. 100 rushing yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

4. Adrian Peterson - Min = @Jac
Granted the Jaguars D actually held the dominate Titans rushing attack in check last week, but before that virtually anyone could rack up 100 rushing yards on them. Expect 100 rushing yards and 1-2 touchdowns from AP.

5. LaDainian Tomlinson - SD = Ind
Even with a tough matchup at Pittsburgh last week, Tomlinson produced admirably and finally gave some glimpses of fantasy hope for the rest of the season. A much easier matchup at home against Indianapolis should have LT posting 100 rushing yards and 1-2 touchdowns.

6. Ryan Grant - GB = @NO
Grant exploded last week while rushing the ball against the Chicago Bears defense, and I don’t think that New Orleans will have a prayer in stopping him this week. 100 rushing yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

7. Steve Slaton - Hou = @Cle
Marshawn Lynch had a huge game against the Browns D last week with virtually no QB play in Trent Edwards, so I don’t expect anything less than 125 total yards and 1 touchdown from Slaton this week.

8. Frank Gore - SF = @Dal
There is no other way to put it, Gore is the key to the 49er offense and will get his touches and yards every game. 100 total yards, 1 touchdown.

9. Clinton Portis - Was = @Sea
This ranking may be a bit low, but with as bad as Seattle has been playing this year it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Redskins get an early lead and rest up Portis during the game. But this ranking is based on the thinking that Portis will get an early TD before he hits the bench.

10. Joseph Addai - Ind = @SD
Finally played like the Addai we got accustomed to the last two years, and with Peyton Manning finally on stride with the passing attack, you can bet Addai will begin to see plenty of rushing holes in opposing defenses. 100 total yards, 1 touchdown.

11. Willie Parker - Pit = Cin
You wouldn’t think it possible, but Cincinnati held Brian Westbrook to just 60 rushing yards and 11 receiving yards last week. Point being…..don’t get too high on Parker this week because you are thinking of the “OLD Bengals D.”

12. Michael Turner - Atl = Car

13. Marshawn Lynch - Buf = @KC

14. Brian Westbrook - Phi = @Bal
Westbrook and the Eagles offense has looked terrible the past two weeks, and a matchup at Baltimore shouldn’t be pretty for them.

15. DeAngelo Williams - Car = @Atl

16. Chris Johnson - Ten = NYJ

17. Ronnie Brown - Mia = NE

18. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jac = Min
MJD somehow managed 2 touchdowns last week against the great Tennessee run defense, but couldn’t even muster 1 touchdown or 50 rushing yards against the Detroit Lions defense a few weeks back….strange. Who needs advice with playing Jones-Drew….just flip a coin and go with it.

19. Kevin Smith - Det = TB

20. LenDale White - Ten = NYJ

21. Peyton Hillis - Den = Oak
Hillis is the #1 RB option and he produced admirably last week. Another good performance could be in store for this week against the bad Oakland defense.

22. Jamal Lewis - Cle = Hou

23. Thomas Jones - NYJ = @Ten

24. Justin Fargas - Oak = @Den

25. Warrick Dunn - TB = @Det

26. Jonathan Stewart - Car = @Atl

27. Larry Johnson - KC = Buf

28. Reggie Bush - NO = GB
Injury issues may keep him out this week.

29. Tim Hightower - Ari = NYG
All that fuss when he won the starting RB job…and he just hasn’t looked very good since then.

30. Jerious Norwood - Atl = Car

31. Deuce McAllister - NO = GB

32. Willis McGahee - Bal = Phi

33. Antonio Pittman - StL = Chi

34. Ricky Williams - Mia = NE

35. Sammy Morris - NE = @Mia

36. Derrick Ward - NYG = @Ari

37. Fred Jackson - Buf = @KC

38. Pierre Thomas - NO = GB

39. Julius Jones - Sea = Was

40. Mewelde Moore - Pit = Cin

41. Dominic Rhodes - Ind = @SD

42. Chester Taylor - Min = @Jac

43. Jamaal Charles - KC = Buf

44. Felix Jones - Dal = SF
Injury issues may keep him out this week.

45. Cedric Benson - Cin = @Pit

46. Ben Jarvis Green-Ellis - NE = @Mia

47. LaRon McClain - Bal = Phi

48. Ray Rice - Bal = Phi

49. Ahmad Bradshaw - NYG = @Ari

50. Selvin Young - Den = Oak

51. Michael Bush - Oak = @Den

52. Leon Washington - NYJ = @Ten

53. Darren McFadden - Oak = @Den

54. Ahman Green - Hou = @Cle

55. Jerome Harrison - Cle = Hou
Well one thing is certain for the Browns this year…..Harrison has looked a ton better running the ball than Jamal Lewis.

56. Correll Buckhalter - Phi = @Bal

57. Kevin Faulk - NE = @Mia

58. Tatum Bell - Den = Oak

59. TJ Duckett - Sea = Was

60. Edgerrin James - Ari = NYG

OUT:
Ryan Torain - Den = Oak
Earnest Graham - TB = @Det
Steven Jackson - StL = Chi

Week 12 Rankings

WEEK 12 - QUARTERBACK RANKINGS

WEEK 12 - WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

WEEK 12 - TIGHT END RANKINGS

WEEK 12 - KICKER RANKINGS

WEEK 12 - DEFENSE RANKINGS

WEEK 12 - FREE AGENT PICKUPS

WEEK 12 - START and BENCH PICKS

Some of you may be scratching your heads in confusion, but anyone who started John Carney this past weekend knows exactly what I’m talking about. That’s right, the G-Men have decided that they’re going to alternate kickers. Yup, John Carney and Lawrence Tynes will be alternating the kicking duties for the rest of the season, it’s a good ol’ fashioned kicker by committee!!!

Now I obviously know that coach Tom Coughlin is not at all thinking about the millions of fantasy owners when making a decision like this, he’s obviously thinking about the team. Even so though, with John Carney having an amazing season and being 21 for 22 on field goals this season, what the hell do you bring in Lawrence Tynes for?? Because he was your kicker before he got hurt and now he’s belly aching because he lost his job to his grandfather?

To me, this NFL season has been filled with oooo’s and aaaa’s and what the hells… This definitely falls under the what the hell category. I would like to express my sympathy for anyone who lost a game this past weekend because they started John Carney. Clearly the fantasy news on kickers is slim and only those with an inside story on the G-Men would have known about his sudden benching. I sure didn’t know, and I lost quite a few games because of it myself… so again, I sympathize with you.

That’s all for now, until next time, go kick some ass!!

Since then Manning has been playing very well, with a rating of 87.35, having thrown 12 TDs to just 5 INTs. And over his last 3 games, Peyton has thrown 7 touches and just 2 picks, and has a rating of just a tad below 95. The Colts are 2-1 in that span, and are getting healthier.

With Indy’s remaining schedule going like this: Houston, San Diego, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Jacksonville, Tennessee; Peyton’s future stats are looking promising, as each of these teams have struggled tremendously against the pass all season, with the exception of the Titans of course; but that match-up is in Week 17, a game in which you’ll probably be seeing Tennessee’s second unit for most of the game…unless of course they can go…never mind.

In keeper leagues, Manning is still worth keeping. I wouldn’t go trading Manning, as I have seen a lot of that in the leagues that I am in over the last couple of weeks. Peyton is still one of the top 5 QBs in the league; fantasy, and otherwise. With the running game struggling the way it is in Indianapolis, and with Manning starting to get into a nice grove with his receivers again, he should be racking up the fantasy points the rest of the way. Especially in your league’s Post Season, where he plays Cincy, Detroit, and Jacksonville.

Keep Peyton, start Peyton, and worry about your other positions. Also, Manning has gotten sacked just twice in his last 4 games, (both coming against Pittsburgh’s league best pass rush), a sign that the offensive line is getting healthier, and is finally starting to gell.

The JP’s Biggest Steal of Fantasy Drafts across the fantasy world Award, for 2008, goes to…

Phillip Rivers. Rivers was number one on my top steals list that I made just prior to the season, and it looks like I was right on the money with that one. Rivers, with a banged up receiving core, and, for a few weeks, not much of a running game to support him, has been arguably the best QB in the NFL. He is just behind Kurt Warner for the league’s highest QB rating, (and we are talking tenths of a point), is on pace to throwing nearly 40 TD passes, is in the top 5 in the NFL in passing yards, and has been very consistent throughout the year. He’s clearly turned into one of the big time passers the NFL has. While Rivers does have a good core of receivers in Chambers, Jackson, and Gates at the Tight End position, you have to wonder what kind of numbers he would put up if he had a big time, Andre Johnson or Brandon Marshall type of receiver. Rivers is already, and will be for a long time, one of the top 5 QBs in the NFL. He is your keeper in a keeper league.

From now on, I will have a little random segment at the end of my blog. So here is this entries’:

I was wrong about…

- Adrian Peterson. While everybody was quick to jump on the ‘AP number 1!’ bandwagon, I wanted to wait and see what he did in his sophomore year. Those who drafted Peterson number one ahead of Tomlinson and Westbrook, while I berated you about taking anybody ahead of the league’s most polished half back, who just so happens to still be in his prime…I’m sorry, and congratulations. You were right. AP is now the best running back in the NFL. Yes, I said it. There is a back in this league better than LaDanian Tomlinson, and his name is Adrian Peterson.

QUARTERBACK RANKINGS - WEEK 11

1. Drew Brees - NO = @KC
Even with the interceptions, Brees is a near lock to post 350-400 passing yards and 2-3 touchdowns. Fantasy owners simply cannot pass up those stats.

2. Kurt Warner - Ari = @Sea
Warner looks like the Warner we knew in the good old days in St. Louis. 300 passing yards, 2-3 touchdowns.

3. Peyton Manning - Ind = Hou
Peyton has posted back to back good fantasy weeks against New England and the NY Giants D. A matchup at home against the Texans this week means you shouldn’t even consider benching Peyton. 250-300 passing yards, 2-3 touchdowns.

4. Donovan McNabb - Phi = @Cin
Excellent matchup for McNabb makes him a must play this week. 250-300 passing yards, 2-3 touchdowns.

5. Jay Cutler - Den = @Atl
With essentially no running game, Cutler could throw nearly 50 times this game. And even if he has an interception or two, his passing yards and touchdowns should trump the turnovers. 350 passing yards, 2 touchdowns.

6. Ben Roethlisberger - Pit = SD
If Big Ben is healthy, he should post a great fantasy week against the worst passing defense in the NFL. 250-300 passing yards, 2 touchdowns.

7. Matt Ryan - Atl = Den
Ryan has been absolutely unbelievable this year. A matchup against the poor Denver defense shouldn’t slow him down this week. 250 passing yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

8. Aaron Rodgers - GB = Chi
After last weeks terrible outing, expect Rodgers and the GB offensive line to get it back together at home against the division rival. 250 passing yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

9. Philip Rivers - SD = @Pit
Tough matchup for Rivers, but so far this year he has proven he will get his yards and touchdowns no matter who the defense is. 250 passing yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

10. Tony Romo - Dal = @Was
Assuming Romo is healthy, this is actually a decent matchup for him against a so-so Washington secondary. 200-250 passing yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

11. Jake Delhomme - Car = Det
Excellent matchup for Delhomme, but last weeks disaster still lingers with this somewhat low ranking. 150 passing yards, 1 touchdown on the low end; 250 passing yards, 2 touchdowns on the high end.

12. Jason Campbell - Was = Dal
The Dallas secondary is still banged up, and you can bet the Redskins offense will be charged up for this home matchup against the division rival Cowboys. 200-225 total yards, 1-2 touchdowns.

13. Eli Manning - NYG = Bal
Don’t expect too much from Eli this week as he will go against a good Baltimore defense. 175-225 passing yards, 1 touchdown.

14. Sage Rosenfels - Hou = @Ind
Decent matchup for the Texans air attack, so a high yardage passing total and a couple touchdowns could be in store. But its just too risky to rely on Rosenfels.

15. Chad Pennington - Mia = Oak
Decent matchup for Pennington makes him a sneaky spot-starter option this week. 200 passing yards, 1 touchdown.

16. Trent Edwards - Buf = Cle
Good matchup for Edwards, but he and the Bills offense has been terrible as of late. 150 passing yards, 0 touchdowns on the low end, 250 passing yards, 2 touchdowns on the high end.

17. Brady Quinn - Cle = @Buf
He did OK in his debut as a starter, and the Bills D is banged up. But don’t expect too much from him just yet. 200 passing yards, 1 touchdown.

18. Tyler Thigpen - KC = NO
Considering his solid performance last week against the Chargers, Thigpen has a good matchup this week against the Saints D. If you need a QB, Thigpen is a great sleeper pick for this week. 225-250 passing yards, 1-2 touchdowns on the high end.

19. David Garrard - Jac = Ten

20. Jeff Garcia - TB = Min

21. Brett Favre - NYJ = @NE

22. Shaun Hill - SF = StL
Hill actually looked decent in his Monday night start last week, and a matchup at home against the St. Louis defense has me thinking another 2 touchdown performance is very likely.

23. Matt Cassel - NE = NYJ

24. Marc Bulger - StL = @SF

25. Joe Flacco - Bal = @NYG
After a good showing last week, a tough matchup at NY doesn’t look too promising this week.

26. Kerry Collins - Ten = @Jac

27. Kyle Orton - Chi = @GB
Ankle injury lingers. And even if he does play, don’t expect much from him and the passing game as the Bears should enjoy running the ball on the Packers D.

28. Matt Hasselbeck - Sea = Ari

29. Gus Frerotte - Min = @TB

30. Rex Grossman - Chi = @GB

31. Byron Leftwich - Pit = SD
If Roethlisberger can’t go this week, Leftwich is a great spot starter, as the San Diego D is fresh off giving up over 250 passing yards and 3 touchdowns to Tyler Thigpen!

32. Seneca Wallace - Sea = Ari

33. Ryan Fitzpatrick - Cin = Phi

34. Daunte Culpepper - Det = @Car

35. JaMarcus Russell - Oak = @Mia

36. Drew Stanton - Det = @Car

37. Derek Anderson - Cle = @Buf

38. Trent Green - StL = @SF

39. Andrew Walter - Oak = @Mia

40. JT O’Sullivan - SF = StL

OUT:
Matt Schaub - Hou = @Ind
Dan Orlovsky - Det = @Car
Carson Palmer - Cin = Phi

Week 11 Rankings

WEEK 11 - RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

WEEK 11 - WIDE RECEIVER RANKINGS

WEEK 11 - TIGHT END RANKINGS

WEEK 11 - KICKER RANKINGS

WEEK 11 - DEFENSE RANKINGS

WEEK 11 - FREE AGENT PICKUPS

WEEK 11 - START & BENCH PICKS