The Injury bug is decimating the NBA right now and fantasy hoops owners are furious. I saw one team in my league that had 8 of his starters on the bench because of injury. Thats just not right. The latest star to go down is Michael Redd, who strained a tendon in his knee. He is expected to miss 4-6 weeks and I'm expecting Ruben Patterson to score 20 ppg while Redd is out. Let's see what happened in the NBA last night.

Philidelphia 76ers

The 76ers continued their quest for Oden last night losing to the pistons. The 76ers have come to an agreement to buy out the contract of Chris Webber and rumor has it he may end up on the knicks. So with Webber gone, it seems the starting forwards will be Joe Smith and rookie Rodney Carney. I don't see Carney having much fantasy value, but Joe smith could be a solid player in the fantasy world. I would love to see Korver get into the starting 5 but thats only because I have him on my fantasy team.

Detroit Pistons

Prince was out of his dome going for 33 including 5 treys!

New Jersey Nets

Vince Carter was a man on a mission against his old team going for 32 on 12-23 shooting. This shows me that Carter can score 30 whenever he feels like it......however, he doesn't feel like it as often as he should. If he put some effort in every night, he could be so much better.

Toronto Raptors

T.J Ford had been hurt, but came back and scored 20. Last night however he was 0-8 and Calderon played very well. I think Ford is safe as the starter, but monitor this situation

Memphis Grizzlies

Rudy Gay is not producing like everyone thought he would after Barone said "he might die on the court" with all the minutes he'd be playing. Gasol, Miller, and Stoudamire, are all playing like all stars.

Seattle Super Sonics

Nick Collison set career highs with 29 points and 21 rebounds and coach Bob Hill says he is the teams starter but the way this season has been going who knows what the starting lineup will be next week. Earl Watson is also starting now and Luke Ridnour's value is dropping by the second.

Phoenix Suns

Nash and Marion had huge days going for 27 and 29 respectively. Marion added 15 rebounds while Nash chipped in with 11 assists and 5 treys.

Cleveland Caveliers

Drew Gooden has been putting up big numbers lately going for 73 points and 39 rebounds in his past 3 games.

Sacramento Kings

Bibby seems to finally be over his wrist injury and has been playing well. Kevin Martin and Brad Miller also had big games against the Cavs last night.

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Reche Caldwell- With the revolving door at WR in New England this season, there has yet to be some one to step up and assume the role as the number one wideout. The physically gifted Caldwell did his best to seize that role by having 134 yards and 1 TD on 4 catches in the season finale. With the dismissal of Doug Gabriel and inconsistency of Chad Jackson, Caldwell is the one of WR who played the best among the new crop that came into New England this year. Caldwell is only 27, and I see him becoming the next David Givens in that offense.

Cedric Houston/Leon Washington- Although Houston was coming back for the Jets, it figured to be a long day for their rushing game against a stout Raiders rush defense. Houston was a bit rusty and had trouble finding holes. He finished the day with just 44 yards on 16 carries. He's explosive backfield mate Leon Washington had 15 carries for 53 yards and a TD. Washington is as explosive as any RB in the NFL, but his size and injury history will prevent him from ever becoming an every down back. However, don't be surprised if the Jets rely more on Washington than they do on Houston against the Patriots Sunday.

Lee Evans- While there have been doubts about the Bills offense throughout the season, now that they are finished I would be lying if I did not say I was impressed with what I saw in Buffalo this season. Evans has become one of the best big play WRs in football. After 145 yards and a TD on Sunday, Evans finished the season with 1290 yards receiving and 8 TDs. Despite being a big play guy, Evans still managed to put up steady numbers next week. If Losman can take the final step towards me a solid NFL QB, the Bills are a team to watch in 2007.

Willie Parker- The third year back out of UNC finished his tremendous 2006 seasin with a bang. The only thing that was keeping Cincinnati from the playoff were the Steelers. The main reason why the Bengals now sit at home is that they could not stop the Steelers running game. Parker scampered for 134 yards and 2 TDs on 37 carries in their big win. There were a lot of questions around the NFL season about whether Parker could handle the load, but after a terrific 2006 season, Parker now has shown that he is one of the most reliable in RBs in football. with 1494 yards rushing and 16 total TDs, Parker had one of the best seasons running the ball in the NFL this season.

Santonio Holmes- The play that ended Cincinnati's season came in the form of a Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes TD pass. Holmes was able to elude all the defenders chasing him before diving past the pylon. It seems only fitting that the Bengals season would end in the hands of some one who also was arrested during one point of the year. Holmes has not only had a dramatic TD catch in week 17, but he also has put together a very impressive finish in his rookie year. He finished with 824 yards receiving and a TD even though he was used sparingly in the first month. Holmes has a very bright future ahead of him, and he should start opposite Hines Ward next season.

Chris Henry- From one WR with an arrest to another. The Bengals offense was not at the top of their game, which was rather surprising considering it was a must win game against an arch rival at home. The one player who did look impressive was troubled WR Chris Henry. The bottom line with Henry is that if that he is one of the most physically gifted WRs in the NFL despite all his off the field issues. He finished with 124 yards receiving and a TD including several catches at crucial times in the game. Henry only played 13 games this season, but he finished with 605 yards receiving and 9 TDs. The touchdowns are so high because his size makes him a great threat in the endzone. Henry would be at least a second WR on any other team in football, but for now he's just one of several talented WRs on the Bengals.

Charlie Frye- When this season began, I had the feeling that Frye would step up for the Browns and have a solid season showing that once again a MAC quarterback can get it done in this league. As I watched Frye perform weekly, I realized I may be wrong. He has an NFL arm, but his decision making is just not good enough to be an NFL starter. In his return from a wrist injury, Frye was 25 of 34 for 187 yards, 0 TDs, and 1 INT. Despite a very shaky season, Frye will most likely be given another chance next year. However, Brady Quinn has actually made the comment that he would like to play Cleveland, and there will also be the home town pressure to draft Troy Smith. I doubt Quinn will be there for their pick and that they will actually select Smith. The most likely scenario is that Cleveland will bring in a veteran to compete with Frye, and the name Drew Bledsoe makes a lot of sense to me.

Peyton Manning- A strong finish to another outstanding season for Peyton Manning. Against a tough Miami defense in the regular season finale, Peyton was 22 of 37 for 282 yards and 2 TDs. His final numbers were 4397 passing yards, 31 TDs, and only 9 INTs. He also had a very solid 65.0 completion percentage. We've become so accustomed to this that we sometimes forget just how remarkable a season like this would be for any other QB. Of all the Colts teams in recent memory, this one I would say has the smallest chance of winning the Super Bowl due to their rush defense. Peyton is now 30 years old, and he better hope that the Colts can finally upgrade their defense in 2007 or Manning may never win that one big game.

David Garrard- Are you happy now Jacksonville? I hope you have finally learned your lesson and will turn back to Byron Leftwich for the 2007 season. David Garrard, who was never actually good, was the starting QB in Jacksonville due to a phantom injury to Byron Leftwich who clearly capable of playing. In the midst of another horrible game on Sunday that cost them a playoff spot, Garrard was actually replaced with Quinn Gray. Garrard's backup played fairly well, but he's no long term option. If Garrard is the starter next year in Jacksonville, I will be shocked and immediately call for Coach Del Rio's head to be examined.

Vince Young- Amazingly enough if the Titans didn't lose on Sunday they would have been in the playoffs. However, the Patriots, who said they would rest their starters after a series, decided to help the Chiefs out and play their starters basically the whole game for no reason. Young struggled with his accuracy against a team that baffles rookie QBs, but he did still manage to finish with 227 yards passing. Young also ran in his 7 TD of the season. The finishing numbers on his surprising rookie numbers are a 51.7 completion percentage, 2199 yards passing, 12 TDs, 13 INTs, and 552 yards passing. If Young can make some progress over the offseason as a passer, he will become one of the best QBs in football in only his second season.

Chris Taylor- First, for those of you who may be asking who is Chris Taylor, I'll give you a little background on him. He's been on the practice squad for the Texans all season just until recent weeks, but Coach Kubiak has always been impressed by him so he decided to give him a shot in week 17. Coach Kubiak angered many fantasy owners because he did this by not giving Ron Dayne one carry all game. Taylor had 99 yards on 20 carries while also scoring a TD in his first shot carrying a full load. While Taylor looked decent, I doubt that he will be anything more than a backup in the NFL for his career.

Larry Johnson- At the time they didn't know it, but after the Chiefs won a tough test against Jacksonville they would learn juts four hours later that it was the win that got them to the playoffs. Johnson led the day once again for the Chiefs he had 138 yards rushing and 3 TDs on 33 carries. Johnson showed that last year's finish was just the beginning as he rushed for 1789 yards and 19 total TDs in his first full season as a starter. In 11 of his 16 games he went over the 100 yard mark on the ground. The Chiefs now will face the Colts in the first round, and all signs point to a field day for Johnson in his first playoff appearance.

Eddie Kennison- Since taking over as Kansas City's number one WR has put up decent numbers, but nothing too impressive. To be fair, the real number one WR is Tony Gonzalez, but he plays TE. His numbers were never too spectacular to begin with, but it's clear that Kennison's performance had fallen off a bit in 2006. He did manage to go out with a bang this regular season by racking up 144 yards and a TD in a huge win over Jacksonville. It seems like almost a given that Kansas City will try to bring in a top WR and shift Kennison to their second wideout.

Jay Cutler- The Broncos may have lost a game they clearly should have won to make the playoffs on Sunday, but in no way at all can you blame Jay Cutler. Stats wise he was 21 of 32 for 230 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT, but they don;t even tell the story. Cutler was knocked in the first half and suffered a head injury. It may have been some form of a concussion, and it looked like he'd be out the rest of the game. However, Cutler returned and led his team on an 80 yard drive in the final minutes of regulation to send the game into overtime. Although the Broncos did not make the playoffs, I have to praise Coach Shanahan's decision to go to Cutler who is clearly better than Jake Plummer. He seems to have a very bright future ahead of him, and the Broncos are in safe hands for the next decade.

Tatum Bell/Mike Bell- What an utter mess the Broncos running game has been in 2006. Thanks again Mike Shanahan. Tatum Bell has lost all support after developing fumbling issues in the last few games of the year. He ran for 48 yards on 12 carries and fumbled on Sunday. His teammate Mike Bell had 66 yards on 11 carries. After 16 games, neither RB showed anything that would separate him from the other. The backfield picture is as hazy as it has ever been, and I could not even venture a guess who will start next season for Denver.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

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Hank Baskett- With half the league not playing for anything, many young players got a shot to show what they could do on Sunday. Within Philadelphia, Hank Baskett has been a well kept secret. After a terrific training camp, the Eagles realized they had a very talented WR. However, with Donte' Stallworth and Reggie Brown at wideout, Baskett never really got a shot. On Sunday he was their number one WR, and he performed exceptionally well. He finished the day with 7 catches for 177 yards and a TD. In a pass first offense with an ninjury prone Stallworth ahead of him, Baskett could have an impact in 2007.

Tony Romo- In his final start of the regular season, Romo looked brilliant at some times and awful at others. The good on Sunday came in the form of a career high 321 passing yards and 2 TDs. He made spectacular play after spectacular play as he led Dallas up and down the field trying to create a comeback. However, the reason they were behind was partly because Romo threw an INT and lost two fumbles. Romo is not not the second coming of Johnny Unitas, but he is a decent QB in this league. He finished the year with 2903 yards, 19 TDs, and 13 INTs in just 12 games at QB. He'll be one of the top tier QBs next season in the league.

Terrell Owens- He's a weekly distraction, but no one can deny that he is one of the best WRs in the NFL. Owens racked up a season high 117 yards receiving in the final regular season game for the Cowboys. The game capped off a very controversial but successful season statistics wise for Owens and the Cowboys. He finished with 85 receptions, 1180 yards, and 13 TDs. The numbers are almost identical to his first season with Philadelphia. There has been a lot of speculation that this will be Owens only season in Dallas, but with production like this it would seem very unlikely that Jerry Jones would want to get rid of Owens.

Rex Grossman- Sunday night marked the lowest point of what has been an up and down season for Bears QB Rex Grossman. The following numbers are actually true as shocking as they may be. Grossman finished the day 2 for 12 with 33 yards, 3 INTs, and 1 fumble before being relieved in the second half. His backup, Brian Griese, was not much better as he was 5 for 15 with 2 INTs. Since it's clear that Griese was no improvement, Grossman will start the Bears first playoff game. Rex finished the season completing 55% of his passes with 3193 yards, 23 TDs and 20 INTs. His inconsistency is the weakest point for a very talented Bears team. His production in the playoffs will determine whether the Bears look for a change at QB next season.

Cedric Benson- The Bears looked awful while playing most of their starters on Sunday night. The one player who did show some promise was their second year RB Cedric Benson. He was able to run for 109 yards on just 13 carries. The Packers do have a poor rush defense, but nevertheless, it was an impressive day for Benson. He's seen an increased workload over the last month, but part of that is because Chicago has had the one seed in the NFC for weeks, and Thomas Jones needed his load lightened. Although Jones had a terrific season again, I would have to figure that the Bears will finally give Benson the starting job next season.

Brett Favre- After things didn't go their way with the Giants winning on Saturday night, the Packers now had a meaningless game to finish their season. The Packers won by having a tremendous defensive performance, but the story of the night was clearly Brett Favre. After a solid day with 285 yards passing, 1 TD, and an INT, Favre became very emotional in a post game interview. He hinted several times that this was most likely his final game of the season while fighting back tears. Knowing Favre, it is hard to believe him even after an interview like that. When he sits back weeks from now without this game fresh in his mind, he will realize that if he came back for one last year he will have a legitimate shot to go to the playoffs. His decision will be the biggest offseason story of 2007.

Tarvarias Jackson- In his final start of the season, Jackson looked shaky at best for the Vikings. He finished the day 20 for 34 with 213 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT against a very weak Rams defense. Although he looked decent at times, Jackson never showed any drastic improvement during the season. The Vikings still believe that he has the tools to be a star in this league, and he will most likely go into next season as their starter. However, if he is going to have success, the Vikings will have to bring in some capable WRs to help him out.

Jon Kitna- It was a very strong finish for Jon Kitna who in the process had the first 4000 yard season of his career. Kitna led the Lions to a shocking win over the Cowboys in an offensive shootout. He finished the day with 306 yards passing, 4 TDs, and 1 INT. It was his best day of a strong season under offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Even if the Lions bring in a rookie QB, Kitna appears likely to at the very least begin the year as the Lions starting QB. The offense is clearly not the problem in Detroit, and they now may look to go defense with their second pick of the draft.

Roy Williams- The Lions did a great job screwing up the only bright spot of their season by winning their final game and thus losing the number one pick of the draft. Their big play WR Roy Williams had 104 yards receiving and 2 TDs in a thrilling win over Dallas. He finished the season with 1310 yards receiving and 8 TDs which is proof that even Matt Millen can draft a good WR now and then. Roy is one of the bright young stars in the NFL, and he will be a top WR for at least the next 5-6 years.

Jake Delhomme- After missing three games with a thumb injury, Delhomme returned for a meaningless game against the backups of the Saints. Delhomme looked sharp in what may have been his best day of the season. He completed 23 of his 27 passes for 207 yards and 2 TDs. Days like those are what was expected all season from Delhomme which makes it rather disappointing that he finished with numbers like he did. While there were some rumors he'd be done as the starter, it would be a total shock if he wasn't taking snaps for Carolina in 2007.

Steve Smith- He's one of the best WRs in football, and he finished that way on Sunday. A week ago I had questioned Smith's effort after not being able to catch one pass. Now I can see that the problem was mainly the QB not Smith's effort. With Delhomme back, Smith had 85 yards receiving and 2 TDs. The injuries and struggles QB led to a bit of a down year for Smith, but he was still able to finish with 1166 receiving yards and 8 TDs. His teammate Keyshawn Johnson is talking about retirement, but that would be a shock to me. Most likely the Panthers will return a similar offense and have a much stronger season.

Michael Vick/Matt Schaub- The final start of the year for Vick was a brief one as he left the game early with an injury. Before departing he had 81 yards passing and a TD. The injury isn't serious and would have been able to play next week if there was a game. Vick finished the season with career highs in both TDs and rushing yards. In his relief on Sunday, Matt Schaub, who is one of the best QBs in football not starting, was 15 for 21 with 175 yards passing, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Now that Coach Mora is gone, the next coach will have a huge impact on the QB situation. They will probably hire some one who is best for Vick's talents, but there has been some talk about possibly giving Schaub a chance to win the starting job in the preseason.

Joey Galloway- The lone bright spot on the Tampa Bay offense this season has been Galloway. He finished another strong season with 8 catches for 118 yards and a TD in a loss to Seattle. Galloway, who seems to never age, had his second straight 1000 yard season and finished with 1057 yards and 7 TDs. He still remains one of the better WRs in football, but at 35 years old it's clear that a drop off in production bound to come soon. His QB next season will be the biggest factor for his value.

Steven Jackson- What a great season it has been for Steven Jackson! He turned the corner in his third season for the Rams and is now not only a great runner, but also a great pass catcher. Jackson went out with a bang as he finished with 166 total yards and 4 TDs in his final game of the season. His week 17 numbers added to a fantastic season in which Jackson had 1528 yards rushing, 806 yards receiving on 90 receptions, and 16 TDs. The season was one of the best rushing and receiving for a RB in recent memory. He will be one of the first RBs off the board next season in your draft.

Frank Gore- In addition to Jackson, his division rival Frank Gore busted onto the season this season. In a thrilling victory for the San Francisco 49ers to keep Denver out of the playoffs, Gore rushed for 153 yards on 31 carries. He finished the season with an NFC best 1695 rushing yards to go along with 9 TDs. Gore had some fumbling issues early in his career, but he was able to correct them and now seems to have no holes in his game. In just his second season Gore has become one of the 5 best RBs in football.

Kurt Warner- He may have problems holding onto the ball and escaping from the pocket, but Kurt Warner has always been one of the best pure passers in the NFL throughout his career. With Matt Leinart out, Warner was able to start the last game of the season, and he had 356 yards passing and a TD. His starting days appear behind him, but he has said that he will most likely not retire following the season. If Warner does ever get another starting job in this league, he would be a solid veteran to have.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

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A LITTLE RECAP AND COUNTDOWN TO GAMETIME

Tiki Barber- In the final regular season game of his career, Barber had what might be his most memorable performance of his career. After switching offensive coordinators early in the week, the Giants were committed to getting Tiki the ball. Every time the Giants needed a big play to respond to the Redskins, Tiki stepped up and delivered. He finished the day with 23 carries for 234 yards and 3 TDs. His fantasy owners may be a bit upset considering he saved his best for a week that doesn't matter in the fantasy world. Barber finished his final season with 1662 yards and 5 TDs rushing while also having 465 yards receiving. It was another hall of fame quality season for a running back that will look to extend his career next weke in the playoffs.

Jason Campbell- Washington appears like it is in very safe hands for the future. Their QB Jason Campbell has shown great progress as a starter, and he looks like he may be a star in this league. The Redskins have given him only about 20% of the offense, and he has excelled so far. He showed a lot of heart by almost leading the Redskins to a thrilling come from behind victory after once being down by 20 points. Campbell finished the day 21 for 31 with 220 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. His success coupled with that of Phillip Rivers is another reason why it made be a better idea to sit a QB for a few years than to play him right away.

Now here is what I'm hearing leading up to kickoff......

After looking good in practice yesterday, it was believed that Charlie Frye would see a fee snaps for Cleveland on Sunday. However, he will actually get the start in the game. He has apparently showed a lot of progress this week, and now he will have potentially his last chance to show Cleveland what he can do. Ken Dorsey will no longer be starting and will be the backup.

The future of Jim Mora in Atlanta looks like it will be determined on Monday. Owner Arthur Blank was not happy with Mora's comments about coaching the University of Washington and his team's performance this season. The reason the decision is so difficult is that he would need to find a coach that's a better fit for Michael Vick than Mora, and that would be hard to find. Some possible replacements being considered are Louisville coach Bobby Petrino and former NFL coach Steve Mariucci.

Former Denver starting QB Jake Plummer may be brought back next season to remain the backup. He apparently has a good relationship with Jay Cutler and may consider the idea of staying around. Most likely though he will be gone and the starting job in Oakland is his most likely destination for 2007.

The Chargers can clinch home field for the playoffs today, and they have a plan to do it. San Diego would like to generate a big lead in the first half so they can rest all of their stars for the second half. They want to make sure no horrific things happen like when Drew Brees injured his shoulder last season. This may be the week we can see what Michael Turner can do with an increased workload.

Try to avoid playing any New England Patriots today. They are expected to play their starters for about one series, and then go to their backups for the rest of the game. They should roll over for Tennessee while they get every one healthy for tha playoffs. The Titans will have to make sure to remember the Patriots next Christmas if the this causes them to get in the playoffs.

Last week that "rumor monger" Adam Scheffter spread "lies" about Art Shell being fired at the end of this season. However, as expected there is some truth to the rumors of Shell possibly on his way out as coach of the Raiders. The latest from Oakland is that Shell would be stripped of his head coach duties, but remain with the Raiders as their general manager. This appears a bit crazy, but that's the one way to describe the situation in Oakland.

Chiefs QB Trent Green may be starting his last game for Kansas City on Sunday. There is some word that the Chiefs would like to get younger, and they may turn to Brodie Croyle to play QB next season. They figure to ask Trent Green to take a pay cut or they will release him. If Green does take that pay cut though, he most likely will start next season.

-David Cassilo
Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

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The Titans have had a very surprising year in 2006, and they have rewarded both their head coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow by exercising their options for 2007. Both coaches have done a nice job getting the most out of an offense with very little talent on it. The Titans figure to be one of the sleeper picks to make some noise in the playoff picture next season, however I feel that they really need to improve on both sides of the ball in order to make that leap.

Charlie Frye has been throwing in Browns practice this week, and he apparently looks as though he is back to healthy. The Browns have said that they will be starting Ken Dorsey on Sunday, but Frye could see some work. Regardless, they will most likely bring in a veteran QB for next season.

In other Browns news, Cleveland is very disappointed with both the progress and attitude of WR Braylon Edwards. They would prefer not to start him on Sunday, but due to massive injuries to their receiving core, he will be forced into action. The numerous amount of problems with top pick WRs may affect the draft position of Georgia Tech wideout Calvin Johnson.

The final piece of news out of Cleveland is that despite rumors about his job status, Coach Romeo Crennel will most likely be back with the team. The one condition will be that he must revamp his entire coaching staff. The lone slight possibility that Crennel will be gone is if Bill Cowher leaves the Steelers to join the Browns. However, this looks very unlikely at this point.

Speaking of Cowher, he is planning on announcing his decision for next year in a press conference next week. All signs point to him retiring as coach of the Steelers. While he may be retiring, it will most likely be short lived, and we will see him soon enough with another team. Many names have come up for the Steelers job, the most interesting of which is Marvin Lewis who was once a coach with Pittsburgh. He would most likely cause a boost in wins and arrests in Pittsburgh if he does take the job. Most likely they will promote some one from within, with Russ Grimm as the leading candidate.

In case you haven't heard yet, Jeremy Shockey will miss Saturday night's must win game against the Redskins. It's a nagging anle injury that will keep him out for the first time all season. The injury must be pretty bad considering Shockey is one of the few players on the Giants who seems to want to be out there. Vishante Shiancoe will fill in for him, but he should be a non factor.

Mike Furrey will be getting a contract extension from Detroit after his most likely of all seasons. Furrey is another great story about a former Arena League player who got an opportunity and took advantage of it. The key to Furrey playing well is that Mike Martz is his offensive coordinator. As long as they are paired together, Furry should play well. In a related note, Mike Williams, who the Lions just hate for no reason, believes he'll be back next season, and they won't care how much he weighs. This is probably the biggest misconception I've heard all week.

The Houston Texans have made it known that they would be interested in trading for Clinton Portis. Gary Kubiak used to coach Portis in Detroit, and they have a good relationship. With the emergence of Ladell Betts, the Redskins would be more open to the idea of trading Portis. However, with his massive contract, any trade would be a long shot unless several obstacles could be overcome.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

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With the recent coaching change in Memphis, Rudy Gay's value is going to sky-rocket! Go pick him up right now! Just like I did this morning. With so many injuries lately I'm sure he will be a great replacement. Lets see what else is going on in the NBA.

Chicago Bulls
Deng hurt his wrist but he continues to play and I think he is fine going forward. Hinrich however could miss a game or two.

Toronto Raptors
TJ Ford sprained his ankle but stayed in the game and should be fine to keep in your lineup. He has been Toronto's leading scorer with Bosh out.

Orlando Magic
Turkoglu is back from his ankle sprain and back in the starting lineup. Last night he hit 5 treys and finished with 20 points.

Charlotte Bobcats
Brevin Knight is hurt and that Means Raymond Felton is going to put up huge numbers for a while. You might want to try to trade for him.

Miami Heat
Dorell Wright led the Heat in scoring last night going for 21 points. What was even more impressive were his 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 blocks! If you have lost Josh Smith to injury, you may want to pick up Wright as he may put up similar numbers while Smith is out.

Milwaukee Bucks
Mo Williams continues his stellar play. Villanueva is working his way back into form and can now be safely played in all leagues. Charlie Bell however, I would stop playing. I hate this guy as I picked him up and he proceeded to score 11 and 2 points in back to back games. Right now I think Ruben Patterson has more value than Bell.

Detroit Pistons
Billups is going to be out for at least a week and probably closer to 2 weeks. Flip Murray might benefit from this, but I wouldn't run and pick him up. Wait and see what he does before you pick him up.

New Orleans Hornets
With Paul out a month, Jenero Pargo should be very productive. Mason and Butler should also have decent value but will most likely be inconsistent.

Seattle Sonics
The starting center has changed again. Now it's Sene again......yawn...

Houston Rockets
McGrady is back and Luther Head is back to the pine. I wouldn't drop him yet, because McGrady will most likely get hurt again.

Los Angeles Clippers
I would trade for Maggette now because If he gets traded to the Kings he will start and score about 20 per game. However I wouldn't give up too much to get him because the trade might not happen.

Brian Melnick aka Big Mel
Contact at bigmel2k5@yahoo.com

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After missing last week’s games, Fred Taylor appears like he will be back in the lineup for Jacksonville on Sunday. It’s a huge game for the Jaguars, and they will be happy to have Taylor back. The only question now is how Jacksonville will divide up the carries between Taylor and the talented Maurice Jones-Drew.

All season long Jeremy Shockey has been dealing with an injured ankle. However, this week was the first time that the Giants have gone public with this injury. Shockey has missed a few practices this week, and his status for Saturday night is in jeopardy. If he can’t go, the inept Vishante Shiancoe will start. I’m a Giant fan, so trust me when I tell you this is about as bad as a downgrade as you could have.

For the first time in weeks Jake Delhomme has looked healthy. The thumb injury does not seem to be bothering him anymore. He was upgraded to probable, and it looks like he will start for the Panthers on Sunday. He has a decent matchup against New Orleans if the Saints rest everyone.

Randy Moss will not play Sunday against the Jets. The word out of Raiders’ practice is that Moss is completely healthy, but just does not feel like playing any more. His days in Oakland are clearly finished, and he will be traded this offseason. I still believe that Jacksonville is the best fit for him, although there is some word that Dallas may be a destination if Terrell Owens leaves.

Luckily for the Jets, they were able to beat the Dolphins last week without Cedric Houston. This week he will return for their pivotal game against Oakland. Despite missing last week’s game, he figures to get most of the carries on Sunday. It could be a long day for him though because Oakland’s defense is pretty tough against the run.

Cadillac Williams missed the first game of his career last Sunday, and unfortunately for him, his career missed starts will most likely double in week 17. Williams has not improved at all this week, and he will most likely be inactive for Sunday's game. Michael Pittman once again will start for Tampa Bay and should have a decent game against the Seahawks. One thing also to watch for this game is that it may be the last time we see Mike Alstott suit up in the NFL. He's had one of the better careers for a fullback in the last 10 years.

There was some speculation following Sunday's game as to whether or not Laveranues Coles would suit up for the Jets in week 17. The Jets' best WR took a couple of big hits in their game against Miami and was shaken up after the game. However, with a game of such importance, Coles will be out there on Sunday. He's one of the most durable WRs in football, and it would take a serious injury to keep him out.

No need to worry anymore, Aaron Brooks looks like he'll play on Sunday. With Brooks running the show, perhaps the Raiders can manage double digits in points. In all seriousness, I do feel that the Raiders will give the Jets a tough test on Sunday. If they do play well, it will have absolutely nothing to do with Aaron Brooks. The defense will need to score points on Sunday if they are going to have a shot.

Although this isn't injury news, many teams will be sitting their starters. Expect the Patriots, Saints, and Bears all to rest their better players. With nothing to play for, it was expected Seattle would also do this. However, Coach Holmgrem has said that everyone will play to build momentum. So you should feel safe to play Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

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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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Corey Dillon/Laurence Maroney- Sunday marked Maroney's return, and the end to the run of great games that Dillon never had while Maroney sat on the sidelines. The rookie looked good in his return as he had 7 carries for 48 yards and a TD. His counterpart Dillon was also up to his old tricks running for a pedestrian 30 yards on 10 carries while stealing a TD. Maroney loosk to have a bright future ahead of him, but if the Patriots decide to keep Dillon around his value will be hurt because Dillon will get his goal line carries.

Leon Washington- If you were watching the Christmas night game between Miami and New York, you were able to see first hand what a special player Washington is. It was his dazzling 64 yard run on a screen pass late in the game that gave the Jets an opportunity to win the game. He finished the day with 134 total yards, the majority of which came through the air. Washington is too small to ever be an every down back in the NFL, but his speed and catching ability makes him a great compliment to any RB. He's another great player in what was a fantastic draft for the Jets.

Ronnie Brown- In his first game back from injury Brown looked fantastic against the Jets. He didn't enter the game till late in the first quarter, but once he did he could not be stopped by the Jets defense. He was able to run for 110 yards on just 18 carries. The performance showed that his broken hand is healed and has lingering effects on his performance. Brown's season in 2006 was a bit disappointing, and a better one in 2007 is expected. The only concern for him is if Ricky Williams will come back and take some of his carries.

Steve McNair- I personally have a grudge against Steve McNair because I started him in my week 15 semifinal, and he got hurt, stood on the sidelines seemingly healthy, and registered 0 points. I lost by six points. That being said it was a pretty solid day for the veteran McNair in his return from the fake injury to end my season. McNair completed 21 of his 31 passes for 256 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs. He's one of the few QBs in football that you know exactly what you are going to get from week in and week out. He should finish strong next week against Buffalo as the Ravens try to gain home field throughout the AFC playoffs.

Rudi Johnson- If there was one work I could use to describe Rudi Johnson, it would be solid. His performance against Denver was nothing flashy, but just some good hard nosed down hill running. The workhorse finished the day with 30 carries for 129 yards and a TD. The TD was his 12th rushing TD of the season which matched his season total for both 2004 and 2005. He will most likely finish close to those seasons in yardage. Go ahead and draft Rudi for years to come. He's an almost absolute lock for 1400 yards and 12 TDs.

Derek Anderson- Well, that was fun for awhile, wasn't it? With likely no other shots at a starting job on the horizon the 6'6" Anderson may have ended his brief starting career with a horrible day and an injured shoulder. Before Anderson left the game with injury, he was very inaccurate and threw 4 INTs. The next Browns QB to be sacrificed to the opposing defense is our old friend Ken Dorsey. Dorsey, who seems to always randomly start once a year, will lead the Browns into their highly anticipated game against the Texans in week 17.

Peyton Manning- Derek Anderson and Peyton Manning. It's only suitable that two stars of their caliber should have blurbs written about them back to back. Unlike his colleague Anderson or his brother Eli for the matter, Peyton actually played well on Sunday. He finished the day 21 of 27 for 205 yards and 3 TDs. How the Colts did not win this game against the Texans with a performance like that is still beyond me. In the midst of the game, Peyton became the first player ever to throw for seven 4000 yard passing seasons. It has been another great season for Peyton, but every year he doesn't win the Super Bowl just seems like a waste for such a talented player.

Marvin Harrison- His equally as talented teammate, Marvin Harrison, helped Peyton boost those stats with another big day. Harrison hauled in 8 passes for 112 yards and 2 TDs. He came on real strong at the end of the season and scored 5 TDs in his last 2 games. He now also has his best season in terms of yardage since 2002. It has been another terrific season for Harrison, who shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. He's still the go to guy in Indy despite the presence of Reggie Wayne.

Joseph Addai- It was a great sign for all Colts fans to see how well Addai played coming off an ankle injury just the week before. At first it was feared that he would miss significant time, but Addai didn't miss a game. He finished the day with 100 yards on just 15 carries. It was the second time he topped 100 yards on the ground this season, and he now has exceeded 1000 yards rushing for the season. He looks like he will have a bright future ahead of him in this Colts offense.

Maurice Jones-Drew- Another rookie RB with a bright future ahead of him is Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars RB saw an increase in carries due to the injury of Fred Taylor and performed exceptionally well. He finished with 131 yards and 2 TDs on 19 carries. The play of the day came when he actually fell down, got up, and then finished off a 74 yard TD run for the score. Even if Fred Taylor does stick around next seaon, Jones-Drew will be a very productive player for the Jaguars.

Vince Young- The rookie phenom had one of his best overall days of the season as he led the Titans to the win over Buffalo. Young finished 13 for 20 with 183 yards and 2 TD passing. He also had 8 carries for 61 yards and a TD rushing. The bulk of which came on a spectacular 36 yards TD run. Young became the first rookie QB to ever rush for 500 yards in a season. Even more amazing is that with 1 week left in the season, the Titans have a shot at the playoffs because of Young's play this season. He truly is a special player.

Travis Henry- Week in and week out I say it, but I'll repeat it again. Travis Henry is quietly having one of the best season's for a RB in 2006. Henry was as much a reason for the win on Sunday as Young. He ran the ball 25 times for 135 yards. It was the fifth time this season that Henry had topped 100 yards. Despite missing two games to injury, Henry has still been able to rack up over 1100 yards and 7 TDs this season. Henry got a raw deal in Buffalo due to the drafting of Willis McGahee, and I hope the same does not happen to him in Tennessee with LenDale White.

Ron Dayne- It still seems so odd to be talking about Ron Dayne in week 16 of the NFL season. Against the Colts, Dayne exploded for 153 yards and 2 TDs on 32 carries. This is either a sign that Dayne's resurgence is for real or the Colts truly do have the worst rush defense ever. Nevertheless, the Dayne bandwagon continues next week in a good matchup against Cleveland. He has been dominant lately, rushing for 429 yards and 5 TDs in his last 4 games. If Dayne can finish strong, he will be the odds on favorite from within to start at RB for the Texans next season.

LaDainian Tomlinson- You know you're a special player when you run for 122 yards and that's a disappointing day. Well, that is the kind of reaction Tomlinson will get if he doesn't run for a TD these days. Despite giving up 122 yards, Seattle did a nice job against LT as they prevented him from killing them. It ended at a streak of 8 straight games with a TD for LT. The game should have no ill effect on his impending MVP award. LT should finish very strong against Arizona next Sunday.

Jay Cutler- Once again Cutler looked pretty solid as he moved his team into prime position for a playoff berth. Cutler didn't try to do too much in the tough conditions of the snow, and he finished 12 for 23 with 179 yards, 2 TDs, and an INT. Cutler threw that interception on his first pass of the game, but then showed good composure to settle into a nice groove. It's kind of surprising that with Cutler at QB the Broncos have still been able to stay in the playoff hunt. Cutler will look to lead his Broncos in the playoffs with what should be a win against San Francisco.

Tatum Bell/Mike Bell- Well, well, well, the Bells are at it again. There's really no way to determine which Bell will have the better day for Denver these days. Mike Bell has been hot lately as was shown with his 16 carries for 69 yards and a TD on Sunday. The somewhat forgotten Bell, Tatum, in the Denver offense managed a respectable 50 yards on 12 carries. Combined these Bells now have over 1500 yards rushing and 10 TDs. This season is the prime example for why you should never draft a Denver running back.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

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Brian Westbrook- While QB Jeff Garcia may be receiving all of the credit for the Philadelphia resurgence, it's the steadiness of Brian Westbrook that has been the key to their clinching of the playoffs. In the game Westbrook had one of his best games of the season rushing as he had 26 carries for 122 yards. He has shattered every previous career high he has had rushing the ball this season. He has twice as many 100 yard rushing games this season as he had in his whole career up to 2006. While he may not be getting all the accolades, Westbrook has put together one of the best seasons for a RB in 2006.

Tony Romo- The Romo show may have taken a horrible turn on Christmas during his game against Philadelphia. The Dallas QB had looked seemingly invincible in all of his November starts, but in three of his last four games he has thrown for multiple interceptions. Romo was very inaccurate all game long and finished 14 for 29 with 142 yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs. He should finish strong with a game against Detroit, but his real test will be the playoffs. Unless Dallas can get some help, that test will come in Seattle against one of the most underachieving teams in football.

Eli Manning- Another struggling QB over the weekend was Giants QB Eli Manning. In a must win game, the Giants just did not show up. Eli was off his rhythm one game and attempted only 2 deep passes despite losing 30-7. He finished 9 for 25 with 74 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. This performance looks even worse considering Eli started the game 6 for 6 including a 55 yard touchdown. If Eli cannot come up big next weekend in a win and in game against Washington, it will be a very long off season for the former number one pick.

Ladell Betts- How good is this guy? With another huge performance on Sunday, Betts broke 1000 yards this season despite having limited work for half the year. Betts, who has shown he can handle a substantial amount of carries weekly, ran for 129 yards and 2 TDs on 29 carries. Since Clinton Portis has went down, it has just been monster week after monster week for Betts. He should finish strong with a game a home versus the Giants on Saturday night. With the way Betts has played this year, the Redskins are now faced with some tough decisions about their RB next season.

Rex Grossman- Going into this game, Grossman knew that he would be replaced at some time to get Brian Griese some work. While he did play, Grossman was overall very effective executing a game plan concentrating on short passes and reducing mistakes. He finished the day 20 for 36 withe 197 yards and a TD. In the short work that Griese got, he was 6 for 9 with 51 yards. Grossman would have to have a complete meltdown in week 17 or the playoffs the be replaced at this point. I also feel that the Bears are going to be comfortable having him at QB in 2007.

Jon Kitna- Recapping Lions games weekly has been an interesting experience this season. The one constant besides losing that I have seen in this team is that the Lions ownership just absolutely adores Jon Kitna. No matter how poorly he played they always said he was doing well and the clear starter for not only the remainder of 2006 but also 2007. Kitna finally made the team look smart as he completed 27 of 45 passes fr 283 and 3 TDs against the Bears. While this isn't the same Bears defense he faced earlier in the season, it is still an impressive performance. Kitna hasn't had a horrible season considering his team, and I assume he'll be the starter next season. However, the Lions will most likely replace him midway through the season with whoever they take as their QB of the future in the 2007 draft.

Reggie Bush- Against an uninspired Giants team, Bush had his best day of his career running the ball. Coach Payton was able to quickly realize that the Giants were not quick enough to handle Bush. He made the rookie the focal point of the offense all day long. Bush dazzled the New York crowd and finished with 126 yards and 1 TD on 20 carries. In three of his last four games, Bush has looked like one of the best players in the NFL. It was very promising to see him be able to pick up his yardage rushing rather than receiving on Sunday. He looks like a top 10 RB for next season.

Steve Smith- This would be a good time to point out how utterly pathetic Steve Smith has been since Jake Delhomme hurt his thumb. In my eyes, Smith gave up on the rest of this season following their loss on Monday night to Philadelphia. He's had five catches here and four catches there, but we're used to seeing Smith give 100% on every play and fight to get open. Yes, part of the blame can be given to having Chris Weinke at QB, but Smith has not been his dominant self either. No catches on week 16 was a fitting end to a very disappointing season for Smith and his fantasy owners.

Michael Vick- The only bright spot of this performance was that Vick became the first QB in NFL history to rush for 1000 yards in a single season. Other than that NFL first, Vick had another sub par performance on Sunday. In a must win game, Vick finished 9 for 20 with 109 yards and 2 INTs. With all the blame given to his WRs and coaches, the fact is that Vick cannot play like that and expect to win games in this league. The Falcons are virtually done, and if i were a betting man, I'd say Jim Mora Jr. was done too. Matt Schaub is a free agent next season, and the Falcons are going to have to make some decisions about whether Michael Vick can truly lead this franchise.

Shaun Alexander- One player who did show up in the fantasy finals was Shaun Alexander. He had arguably his best game of the season as he ran for 140 yards and 2 TDs on 31 carries. It looked like that would be enough to overcome the struggles of Matt Hasselbeck again, but some poor defense cost them the game. Alexander looks healthy which is a great sign for the Seahawks going into the playoffs. His value will be lower than it ever will be again going into 2007 which makes him somewhat of a sleeper for your draft.

Marc Bulger- It was an absolute monster performance of Marc Bulger against the Redskins on Sunday. He threw for a season highs as he finished with 388 yards and 4 TDs. It has been a career season for Bulger as he has broken 4000 yards for the first time in his career and also set a career high in TDs. His 23 TD to 8 INT ratio is one of the best in football. As long as Coach Linehan is still in St. Louis, Bulger's career is set to take off and flourish. Fantasy owners can pat themselves on the back if they took a risk on Bulger this season.

Steven Jackson- Another equally impressive season for a Rams player was had by Steven Jackson. The Rams RB, who is clearly no among the league's elite, had 150 yards rushing, 102 yards receiving, and 2 TDs which included the game winning score on Sunday. In the midst of all this, Jackson, who had just 43 receptions all last season, broke the team record with 88 this season. He almost had 1000 yards both rushing and receiving this year. The Rams still have a playoff shot, and Jackson will face his first test in weeks when he plays Minnesota on Sunday. Regardless of what happens, he is clearly one of the league's bright stars for the future.

Issac Bruce- He once was one of the best WRs in football, but these days Issac Bruce is just a solid number two WR in the NFL. However, on Sunday Bruce may have had the last great game of his career. Bruce, now 34 years old, racked up 9 catches, 148 yards, and a TD en route to a victory over Washington. It was great to see after only playing 11 games the year before that Bruce was able to play a whole season and top 1000 yards receiving in 2006. He's one of the most underrated WRs of his era, and he showed that he still had some skills on Sunday.

Frank Gore- The Niners only have themselves to blame for why they are not still in the playoff hunt in week 17. Gore, who has been one of the best RBs all season, received only 11 carries on Sunday. In his limited work he had 51 yards and 2 TDs. Part of his lack of work was because they got behind 20-3 early, but when the going gets tough, you must rely on your stars. The Niners are done this year, but considering Frank Gore is just starting a great career, they will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

Matt Leinart- Due to a shoulder injury, Matt Leinart was forced to leave his team's win early on Sunday. The injury will keep him out for next week, but should have no effect on his status for next season. Before leaving, Leinart was off to a good start with 162 yards and a TD. In his relief, Kurt Warner came in and played adequately enough to hold onto the lead. The Cardinals play San Diego next week, so their offense may suffer a tad with Warner behind center.

Edgerrin James- It was a season that started off horribly for the former Pro Bowl RB, but Edge did put together a nice finish for respectable numbers in 2006. On Sunday, James ran for 105 yards on 29 carries to put his season total over 1000 yards on the ground. Edge has now topped 100 yards in three of the last four weeks which gives hope for him next season. As unlikely as it seemed a month ago, I expect Dennis Green to be back as coach for what will be a team that may surprise in 2007.

-David Cassilo

Contact at asuhouse@aol.com

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