24 Hours 'Til Sunday — Andy Richardson

I'll mostly talk about Sunday's games, but it's a Monday game that intrigues me this week. Not only because it's a pretty important AFC game between the Broncos and Steelers (perhaps determining either the No. 1 seed or the all-important first-round bye in the playoffs when all is said and done), but because Steelers' safety Ryan Clark may miss the game because of a blood condition that could kill him if he plays at high altitude. Seriously! We talk a lot about players dealing with personal tragedy and hardships, but I think that's pretty much top of the list. OK, on to the games....

Washington at Atlanta: Sometimes byes come at a good time, and I think we were all pretty sick of the speculation about Jim Zorn, so it was nice having a break from Washington. As for whether Washington will be any better coming out of it, doubtful. I want no part of Washington's offense here. Their defense is mostly pretty good, so I wouldn't be eager to start Atlanta players, but don't downgrade them too much, either. I considered Atlanta as a suicide pool pick but avoided them purely out of respect for Washington's defense.

Kansas City at Jacksonville: If you're like me, maybe you have to start Jamaal Charles somewhere this week. I think he could be OK, at least in PPR leagues where he catches a bunch of passes. Maurice Jones-Drew had 177 yards last week on 8 carries. If they let him get 20 this week, maybe he'll break the rushing record, although Kansas City's worse against the pass. I dropped Torry Holt this week and somebody swooped in and picked him up. I guess this is a good matchup, but c'mon. I think Mike Thomas moves past him before long.

Green Bay at Tampa Bay: This was my initial selection for a suicide pick, since I've believed since around week 4 that Tampa Bay is going to go winless this season. Changed my mind only because Green Bay got me bounced from an earlier suicide pool (when they lost to the Bengals in week 2, before I knew the Bengals were good and that the Packers only beat horrible teams). Of course, NOT picking them because of that earlier loss, and getting bounced from the suicide pool with a different team, would also qualify as getting bounced because of the Packers, I suppose. Anyway. Aaron Rodgers and Donald Driver are banged up but will be fine to play. Rodgers might not last the season, but the Bucs shouldn't get much pressure on him and it will be another beating of a hapless opponent for Green Bay. Most likely, anyway. I'd start any and all Packers, only Kellen Winslow for the Bucs. Not expecting much out of Josh Freeman.

Miami at New England: A year ago, this was the game Miami unveiled the Wildcat. I wonder if they'll bring out something new this week. Pat White at quarterback? The run and shoot? I'm curious, so I'll be watching. New England's offense should be fine, albeit with a committee at running back. Miami, well, I expect lots of trickery to hide their poor receiving corps.

Houston at Indianapolis: One of my teams was doing pretty well in large part because of Steve Slaton and Owen Daniels. So last week was a really bad week. Bad week for the Colts, too, who have lost half their secondary, Marlin Jackson and Bob Sanders, for the season, plus Anthony Gonzalez sounds like he's essentially done for the year too (the fantasy season, anyway). They've done OK without Sanders for most of the year, but still. Anyway, for Houston: In one PPR league I have both Slaton and Moats. I'm starting Slaton. In another I have just Slaton, and it's non-PPR. I'm not starting him. I think he'll get at least half the work and catch some passes, but I'm not optimistic about him as a rusher, plus I'm not sure how good Moats actually is (Buffalo's run defense is terrible). Risky situation starting either player, really. I think both teams will pass more than run. Donald Brown (shoulder) is questionable. Better situation for Joseph Addai if Brown shows up on the inactives, but Houston's run defense is much better now than earlier in the year. I like Austin Collie, just because, well, I like Austin Collie.

Arizona at Chicago: Tough to figure the Cardinals. They win at Giants Stadium, then lose at home to the Panthers. All we can say with confidence is that their run defense was good in all of their other games, and Matt Forte hasn't done much all season, so edge to them there. Neither team will run much, or well. Both should pass often, and well. Sounds like Anquan Boldin will try to play, but check those Sunday morning inactives to be sure, and he's risky anyway -- playing with an ankle injury and could be limited. Devin Hester will also be able to play. Good matchup for both players, health permitting. League I'm in, somebody just offered me Boldin and Matt Hasselbeck for Larry Fitzgerald. We only start one quarterback and I have Favre and Roethlisberger. Honestly.

Baltimore at Cincinnati: Seems like this game was just played, I guess a few weeks ago now. This is happening a lot this year: Jets and Dolphins, Colts and Texans. I know the NFL schedule is tricky, but really. Packers and Vikings, too. Anyway, no injuries of note. Should be a good game. I'd probably avoid Cedric Benson, but I said that last time, so don't start just anyone ahead of the guy.

Carolina at New Orleans: Considered this for a suicide pool pick, but Saints will be a nice choice next week against the Rams if I get through this week. Also Jake Delhomme is a puncher's chance kind of guy, plus I was so stunned by the Panthers winning in Arizona last week that I can't rule anything out with that team. No Muhsin Muhammad. I can't imagine anyone was mulling starting the guy, but there you go. Saints won't have Lance Moore. Should be a lot of running in this game.

Detroit at Seattle: And here's the suicide pool pick. Seattle plays well at home. Detroit's defense is horrible. Looking at it now I'm not sure why I liked Seattle, but it seemed to make sense at the time. I'd start Hasselbeck, Julius Jones, and either Nate Burleson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh in this game. Lions have some banged-up players, also known as the only three Lions players that anyone should ever consider starting in any fantasy league of any size: Matthew Stafford, Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson. First two guys are expected to play, Calvin's a gametime decision. Last Sunday morning lots of people were saying he'd play and then he didn't. He practiced on a limited basis this week and lots of people are saying he'll play. I don't have the guy anywhere so I don't have to make the choice, but I do know I'd be checking out the Detroit media Sunday morning. It's a late afternoon game, which makes it trickier, unless your Plan B also plays late.

Tennessee at San Francisco: Vince Young versus Alex Smith. I find that funny somehow. Who's been the bigger disappointment to his team, or Who will make the most of this second (or third) chance? Both teams defend the run much better than the pass, but both offenses revolve around their franchise running backs. Should be fun, if only to watch Chris Johnson play, because the guy is awesome. Seriously. Oh yeah, maybe this will be a breakout game for Michael Crabtree, 'cause it's a really good matchup for him.

San Diego at N.Y. Giants: Do you think Giants fans will boo Philip Rivers? Not that he had anything to do with the trade and stuff, but you know, San Diego fans booed Eli, it seems like Giants fans should respond somehow. It seems like every week this year I've seen some talking head somewhere, even some fantasy types, saying that this is the week LaDainian reminds us all how great he is and so forth. Not this week, but you know. And they're wrong. He's not the same back any more. There's no insult in it. Running backs who touch the ball really often for a number of years get beat up. It happens. This idea that he just had an injury, and he's better now, and he's gonna be the same guy he was 2 years ago -- no. The guy won me a championship 6 years ago too, but let's move on. Anyway, should be a good game, with lots of San Diego passing and lots of Giants running. And passing. And probably winning.

Dallas at Philadelphia: It doesn't happen every week, but they've certainly lined up a couple of good primetime games. This is a battle for first place in the NFC East, even though many think the Giants will ultimately win, and might be right. (I like the Eagles, personally. Including here.) A quick minute for the Roy Williams comments this week, where he indicated Miles Austin (No. 2, as he says) gets more accurate throws from Tony Romo than he does. Yeah that's it, Roy Williams has been ridiculously awful for more than a year in Dallas because of the way Romo throws the ball. To steal the best part of ESPN's Monday night pregame show, C'mon, Man. (For Love of the Game is pretty good too.) As for the game itself, I like both passing games more than running ones, although with Eagles runners that doesn't matter much, since they'll be a part of both. If you've got Brian Westbrook, this is probably the type of big, high-scoring game you use him for. LeSean McCoy will be a factor, but Philly does like to lean on Westbrook when things are tight.

Pittsburgh at Denver: Latest word is Ryan Clark won't play, I don't know if it's his choice or the team's. (I'd like to think the team made the call to take it out of his hands.) Should help Denver's passing offense, but I still like the Steelers D more than Kyle Orton. No injuries of note, but that's entering the game -- by the end, there should be some banged-up teams. Probably won't be a high-scoring affair, although you never know. If the Ravens can light up the Broncos, the Steelers can too. And the game will no doubt offer up shots of the Denver skyline and the Rocky Mountains that remind me it was a pretty awesome place to live.

Enjoy the games.

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