DAUNTING DECISIONS

I realize that some of you are still participating in one of those crazy 17 week leagues. The good news this year is that only Chicago, New Orleans, and Seattle may be resting their players this week. Those are all situations to avoid in week 17. The other 29 teams in the NFL will be playing their starters, and playing the wrong player could prove fatal for you. So here I am to help you with the most meaningless of weeks for fantasy. Don't say I never did anything for you.

Ronnie Brown- On Christmas night, Brown looked very impressive in his first game back from injury. In the season finale, Brown should get more carries than last week. Watching Ron Dayne shred up the Indy defense would make you want to start just about anyone at RB against the Colts these days. Brown should have a very similar day, and considering Cleo Lemon is starting at QB, Miami will feel compelled to run the ball. START.

Chester Taylor- One of the best free agent signings of last offseason was the Vikings getting Chester Taylor from the Ravens. He has proven to be one of the most reliable running backs in the leagues when healthy. The Rams rush defense is almost as awful as the Colts, so Taylor should have one of the better days rushing in week 17. He's a very similar runner to Ladell Betts who tore up the Rams last week. Taylor should finish strong in what has been a fantastic first season carrying the load. START.

Ron Dayne- The hottest new trend these days in fantasy is to start Ron Dayne. He's had one of the most unlikely career resurgences I've ever seen in my life. Coach Kubiak seems to love him, and as long as they are paired together, Dayne is going to see his share of carries. This week against Cleveland should be another solid performance for Dayne. The Browns have one of the worst rush defenses in football, and we all saw what Dayne could do against a bad rush defense last week. START.

Jay Cutler- While the Broncos will rely heavily on their backfield for this win and in game, Cutler should also have something to say about their chances before the day is over. I think Cutler will help the Broncos rather than hurt them on Sunday. He has progressed every week so far and looks like another great prospect for a class rich in talent. Expect him to have a good day as he goes up against a weak Arizona secondary. START.

Plaxico Burress- The recent struggles of the Giants may have some people questioning if Eli Manning will be able to find his biggest target. While Plaxico's numbers have slipped a little bit, but he's still one of the few steady fantasy WRs in 2006. He has a good matchup against a bad Redskins defense that is without Shawn Springs. Expect him to do a little more than the 1 catch for 55 yards that he had in week 16. START.

Willis McGahee- Some people are in love with McGahee, but I'm one of those guys who don't find his performances too impressive. To me he's just one of those RBs that beats up against bad defenses. This week he will face anything but a bad defense when he takes on the Ravens. Baltimore will be hungry with home field throughout the playoffs at stake. It looks like it'll be a struggle for McGahee and the whole Bills offense in the final week of the season. SIT.

Joseph Addai- The rookie looked great following his ankle injury the week before. He's an explosive player who has fit nicely in the Colts offense so far. This week should be one of his toughest tests of the season against Miami. They have done a fabulous job shutting down the run lately. Addai may not even get the bulk of the work considering that the Colts may be more concerned with his ankle still. Try to look elsewhere for the final week of the year. SIT.

Laveranues Coles- The Jets best WR struggled last week against Miami as he finished with only 9 yards. While Coles' matchup against Oakland may look good this week for the common fan, it is actually an awful situation for Coles. He will be going up against cornerback Nhadmi Asomugha, who deserved a Pro Bowl start, didn't get it, and now has taken it out on every one in the league. He's one of the best shut down corners in football, and he should hold Coles in check all day. SIT.

Chris Chambers- Clearly one of the most disappointing WRs this season has been Chris Chambers. The revolving door at QB for Miami has hurt Chambers' production. He's usually good for at least 1 or 2 big games every season, but this year has been a different story. With Cleo Lemon starting this week, Chambers will most likely struggle again. The Dolphins will look to run the ball, and the chances Chambers performs well are slim. SIT.

Devery Henderson- I've been on the Henderson bandwagon all season, but this week I don't like the situation that he has. The Saints have actually struggled throwing the ball deep lately which has made Henderson useless. This week with no chance of changing their playoff position, the Saints will most likely rest several starters for portions of the game. One of those guys will be Drew Brees which means that the chances of Henderson having a big day is worse than usual. SIT.

-David Cassilo

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