24 Hours 'Til Sunday — Andy Richardson

Bad week to be facing Ricky Williams. Thursday games can leave you with angst about your matchup or overconfidence, but remember it's just one game. I trailed a game 58-6 after last Thursday (my opponent had Gore, Forte, and the 49ers defense) and won anyway. You never know. OK, on to the week's games....

Colts at Ravens: Seemingly a tough matchup for the Colts offense, but they've lit this defense up in the past, plus the Ravens have struggled against the pass. I'm not worried about starting Colts receivers this week, although Pierre Garcon is questionable, so make sure he's active (he's expected to play). Less confident about Joseph Addai in this matchup, and with Donald Brown back. For the Ravens offense, Ray Rice is a given. Little concerned about the passing game, but I kind of understand them not even trying to throw on Cleveland -- why bother? Just run and win with defense. Still, I'd probably avoid Flacco and his receivers anyway.

Washington at Cowboys: Dallas looked bad at Green Bay, but they should look very good the next two games (in a five-day span): home against Washington and Oakland, who might not be able to assemble a quality offense between the two of them. I mean seriously, do they intentionally give Dallas the weakest opponent they can on Thanksgiving Day? This is their fourth straight doormat. As for this one, Dallas' rushing offense should be good and Washington's offense, led by Ladell Betts, should be offensive. I suppose you can start Romo and Austin and Witten if you have them, but I think the Cowboys will emphasize the run.

Browns at Lions: Yikes. Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson, good plays. Matthew Stafford, decent play. Jamal Lewis (seriously), maybe an OK play in a pinch (although he's also banged up). Nothing else to say except, be glad this isn't the Thanksgiving Day game. And if you watched as much of that Browns-Ravens Monday night game as I did, my sympathies.

49ers at Packers: Ah, one of the better mid-90s rivalries. Now? A couple of mediocre teams in the hunt for a wildcard spot. If the Niners win this game, it will be because Michael Crabtree has a breakout game. I'm not expecting it, but it's possible. Vernon Davis, who reportedly didn't want to be drafted by Green Bay a few years back (they took the ordinary A.J. Hawk instead), should be good. Frank Gore, with receiving production included, can also be used. Green Bay gets Jermichael Finley back. Their passing offense should be OK; better than it was against Dallas, anyway. If the Packers win this game they'll be 7-4 after Thanksgiving, a scarily good record for a weak team. At least games against the Steelers and Ravens might take care of that.

Bills at Jaguars: If you've got Maurice Jones-Drew, a home game against Buffalo is a dream come true. Hey, I made a rhyme, that was rather sublime. The Bills will start Ryan Fitzpatrick, his likely turnovers could make a hat trick. This week I dealt away Marshawn Lynch, but I would start him in a pinch.

Steelers at Kansas City: Steelers D versus Kansas City O means I won't be starting Jamaal Charles this week. No Dwayne Bowe. I suppose I'd start Chris Chambers if I absolutely had to, being as Kansas City won't run the ball and he's their best chance to move it. As for Pittsburgh, I'd certainly start Rashard Mendenhall and their various receivers, but I'm dropping Roethlisberger behind a couple of other quarterbacks who I think will have better numbers: Brett Favre in one league, Kurt Warner in another. I just don't see KC's offense doing anything, so I'm expecting an average outing from Pittsburgh's passing game.

Seahawks at Vikings: Considered this for a suicide pool pick. I guess I'm avoiding the Vikings because I'm expecting a bad game out of them at some point. I like Justin Forsett in this game; I like Seattle's offense, actually, aside from the possibility of Matt Hasselbeck getting knocked out by the Minnesota pass rush. As long as he's upright, though, he and his receivers could be OK. Bernard Berrian is hurting; I'd avoid him. No Julius Jones, maybe for several weeks.

Falcons at Giants: No Michael Turner, but I wouldn't want to use either of his backups. (Although they're helped by Giants' middle linebacker Antonio Pierce being out.) I like the Giants offense; Atlanta's defense was doing it with mirrors for a while. I'd be wary of Matt Ryan at The Meadowlands, but would go ahead and use Roddy White.

Saints at Buccaneers: Opted for the Saints in the suicide pool, even though they've been challenged in recent weeks while the Bucs had an upset win over Green Bay and a last-second loss at Miami. I'm not buying Tampa Bay and don't see how they can stop New Orleans' offense, plus it will be harder to use the Saints in the future (New England next week on Monday night football). Antonio Bryant should play and the Saints' defense is really banged-up, but I'm pressing ahead anyway. No Lance Moore for the Saints, and Reggie Bush is also banged-up; make sure he's active before using him.

Cardinals at Rams: Kurt Warner faces his former team and former backup quarterback, just like Favre facing Hasselbeck. Big edge for Warner and the Cards, who have a really nice schedule the rest of the way -- they could win a bunch more games. Home game against the Vikings, too, which could be a battle for the No. 2 seed and first-round bye. If you're desperate, Brandon Gibson for the Rams, and I like Beanie Wells this week. Anquan Boldin is fine.

Chargers at Broncos: Chargers would have won the other meeting but for a couple of kick return touchdowns. I know, those count too, but I like the Chargers here. No Kyle Orton, most likely, so Chris Simms will start. Ugly second half for him against Washington last week. Chargers passing game should be fine. I just packaged Jay Cutler off in a trade for Philip Rivers in my dynasty league...felt it was time to cut bait with Cutler. We'll see how that works out. Sorry, Jay, but I just didn't trust you anymore. I've still got you in half my leagues if it makes you feel any better. And oh yeah, it's not all your fault. Maybe the Bears will hire Mike Shanahan next year.

Jets at Patriots: I love Rex Ryan. His reaction to all the flak -- and there was a lot, particularly here in the New York area -- over him reportedly crying in front of his team last week was to show up at his press conference Wednesday with a box of tissues and say, "I'm man enough to be me." Damn straight, Rex. Now, as to whether he's a great head coach or not, well, that remains to be seen. He's made some mistakes thus far, as has his team; you don't lose four games in the final minute without doing some things wrong. Which is too bad. Jets will likely be without safety Jim Leonhard, which makes things easier on the Patriots offense. New England, of course, had its own controversies this week. I liked the Belichick call myself. Patriots should roll in this game. Unclear whether Sammy Morris will return, although he should and if it's certain he will, I'd be willing to use him; Jets can't stop the run right now. Tough matchup for Tom Brady and Randy Moss, at least based on earlier meetings, but I wouldn't bench either one. Tough matchup for Mark Sanchez, too.

Bengals at Raiders: Sometimes east coast teams have trouble in this matchup; the Jets last year, the Eagles earlier this season. A letdown from the Bengals after their huge win in Pittsburgh is certainly possible. Might be an ugly game, something like 17-10. Cedric Benson almost certainly won't play, so it's a good week to have Bernard Scott (I'm using him). If the Bengals are smart they'll just run the ball, let the Raiders offense do its thing (which is nothing whatsoever), and win. JaMarcus Russell has been replaced by Bruce Gradkowski, who can't be worse (but he also can't catch for Darrius Heyward-Bey, either). Nice week to start Scott and the Bengals D. Ugly week for everything else, particularly The Game of Football.

Eagles at Bears: Is it me or have the Bears been in primetime an awful lot this season? ("Awful" describes Jay Cutler in those games.) Plus I think this particular matchup has been on in primetime a couple of times in the last three years. They could have switched this game out for another one, but elected to stick with it, giving us all the chance to see another possible Cutler meltdown against a very good defense. Injuries, well, no Brian Westbrook. I like both passing offenses, despite the likelihood of some turnovers.

Titans at Texans: Vince Young's homecoming. Presumably Texans fans aren't agonizing over not drafting Young or Reggie Bush these days; Houston's offense is pretty good, although granted they don't quite have that running back thing sorted out. I'm starting Steve Slaton (PPR format, anyway), but there's a lot of uncertainty here. Chance for Chris Johnson to show the world how good he is on Monday night football. Can the Titans, once 0-6 and now 3-6, really make a playoff run? I doubt it, but if they win this one....nah.

Enjoy the games.

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