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24 Hours 'Til Sunday — Andy Richardson

It's playoff time, which means people are agonizing over their choices more than they have all season. The main thing I'd say is that if there's an injury issue, stay away. Don't start Frank Gore. Don't start Jeff Garcia. If there's a player who's questionable and hasn't been practicing, it's too risky to put them in your lineup and risk taking a zero in the playoffs at one-ninth or one-eighth or whatever of your starting lineup.

Green Bay at Jacksonville: Fred Taylor is done for the year, so it's a good time to have Maurice Jones-Drew. Matt Jones is also out (Jerry Porter too), but that doesn't make me excited to start any remaining Jacksonville wideouts. They'll probably use a bunch of guys and won't pass very often anyway. Two disappointing teams going at it; I sort of expect Green Bay to win this one and then get eliminated in Chicago next week, but it could go either way.

Tennessee at Houston: LenDale White is questionable, which like the Fred Taylor injury for MJD makes those of us who have Chris Johnson in every league quite happy. I think there might be a lot of offense in this game, maybe a 30-20 sort of win for the Titans.

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets: No Trent Edwards, evidently. Seems like a good matchup for J.P. Losman, but then, he's J.P. Losman. I kind of like Lee Evans here, but I'm not even sure I'll start him in the league I have him in. For the Jets, I dunno, you'd like to think Laveranues Coles and/or Jerricho Cotchery are hurt or something the way the last two weeks have gone for them, but they'll probably be out there. I like the Jets' running game more this week.

San Francisco at Miami: I would have sworn Frank Gore wouldn't miss this game he's from Miami and of course went to college there), but it sounds like he might. Can't start him. Can't start DeShaun Foster either; Miami's good against the run and Foster's last good game was quite a while ago. (That NFC Championship at Philadelphia, and maybe one or two others since then.)

Tampa Bay at Atlanta: Jeff Garcia is questionable; may not play. Sounds like the Bucs would use Luke McCown, which I guess makes him a viable fill-in for desperate owners as a guy no doubt available on waivers. Check to make sure Sunday morning. Have to like Antonio Bryant after his incredible game Monday night. Really should have picked him up in my dynasty league in the preseason; I kept telling myself I'd do it tomorrow. "Tomorrow!" said Toad. That's what I get.

Washington at Cincinnati: I'm starting Clinton Portis, after his ripping Jim Zorn and Zorn saying Portis is our guy. No injuries of note here, aside from the Bengals' backup running backs being out which leaves Cedric Benson (having bizarrely ripped his offensive line this week, good choice) as a full-time guy.

Seattle at St. Louis: No Matt Hasselbeck. No clear idea how Seattle might use their running backs against a lousy Rams defense. Not expecting Deion Branch to follow up his great game against the Patriots with one here, either. I dunno, come playoff time I tend to avoid players from dog teams in dog matchups, myself. What's the motivation here? Both of these teams just want the nightmare to end.

Minnesota at Arizona: I like the Cardinals' passing game here. I do not like the Vikings' passing game, which apparently will be led by Tarvaris Jackson with Gus Frerotte doubtful. I'm not one to bet against Peterson and am indeed starting him in a playoff game, but for the most part Arizona's defense has played well at home.

Detroit at Indianapolis: Doesn't sound like Joseph Addai is going to play, which makes Dominic Rhodes a nice fill-in. Daunte Culpepper is also unlikely to play; sounds like it will be Dan Orlovsky. Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson are the only Lions I'd use; for the Colts, pretty much anybody but Addai is worth considering. With Smith, check Sunday morning to make sure he's active; he was limited in practice all week.

Denver at Carolina: If the Panthers can put up almost 300 yards against Tampa Bay, they should be pretty good on the ground here, too. Broncos' running backs....no. Some sort of Selvin Young and Tatum Bell combo just screams "avoid." Brandon Stokley is also a game-time decision. Don't use him.

San Diego at Kansas City: Wind will apparently be a factor for this game, of up to 25 miles per hour. Definitely cause for concern with marginal wideouts and quarterbacks. I'm not even sure I'll use Nate Kaeding. Running backs should be OK, or as OK as they've been all year anyway. Tight ends, too. Mark Bradley is a gametime decision; can't be used.

New England at Oakland: Matt Cassel's father died this week. Apparently he's playing anyway. Lot of other storylines here, like LaMont Jordan and Randy Moss returning to the team where Moss's career fell off the map and Jordan had a very good year, then was cast aside. Tough to know how much of a factor that stuff will play, but I still think New England beats them up on the ground with Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk -- maybe Jordan gets a few extra carries. Moss and Wes Welker, well, who can bench those guys? Not me. JaMarcus Russell will play, which should not affect anyone's lineup decisions in the slightest.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore: Game of the week. I think people are overlooking that the Ravens can actually be the No. 2 seed in the AFC if they win this game, and they can win. Almost won the earlier meeting in Pittsburgh. I'm looking forward to the game, but from a fantasy standpoint, it's awfully hard to start any players. Maybe the kickers. There just doesn't figure to be a lot of end-zone dances in this one. No Ray Rice, which means more work for McGahee and LeRon McClain, but it's not exactly a favorable matchup.

N.Y. Giants at Dallas: No Brandon Jacobs. Good news for Derrick Ward owners. Marion Barber may play. Personally, I'm going with the passing games here -- both teams should have success stopping the opposing run games. I have nothing to add to this crazy T.O./Romo/Witten nonsense. Sounds stupid to me. If T.O. is open, Romo's going to throw it to him. Probably even if he's not. If Romo's better friends with Witten, maybe it's because he realizes 2-3 years from now he and Witten will still be there and Owens won't. I also like how the griping has been expanded to include other Cowboys' wide receivers, as if anyone cares what Patrick Crayton has to say about anything. I wouldn't let any of this stuff affect my lineup decisions. Just more nonsense from people with the wrongheaded idea that people are fascinated by off-the-field stuff with the Cowboys. I guess some are. I call it boring. I suppose the Giants are glad it's caught the national media's attention, anyway. Domenik Hixon sounds unlikely to play; don't use him.

Cleveland at Philadelphia: You have to keep reminding yourself that the Browns actually won 10 games last year, so this looked like it could be a good, meaningful game when the schedule came out. The Eagles still have a chance in the NFC playoff picture, while Romeo Crennel is a head coach for just two more games after this one. Philly's key players are good to go. No Kellen Winslow, plus Cleveland starts Ken Dorsey. Ugly game coming.

Enjoy the games.

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