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Forget about those sales the day after Thanksgiving. Smart shoppers know to wait until the final week of the year for all the big-time bargains. These people scurry from store to store buying stuff simply because the sale price is 75 percent less.
I am not one of these people, but I do know a couple of tips that can help these shoppers and fantasy folks alike.
1. You can't beat free.
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2. Buying in bulk often pays off.
Both of these suggestions are useful in our Tundra Double Cab Playoff Fantasy Football. In this free game, managers are given a $35 million budget from which to field a seven-man roster. As with the salary-cap game during the regular season, owners battle to accumulate the most points. The catch is they get just one free trade every week. It's essential to use those trades wisely and not pick players on teams that will lose.
Managers can purchase additional trades, but no one wants to have to buy an entirely new lineup every week. The best way to go is to plan on buying a package of trades. One extra trade costs 99 cents, but a dozen is just $9.95. With smart selections, three moves a week should be enough to keep your team in the prize hunt. (More than $2,500 worth of prizes will be awarded.)
SECOND OPINION
Stephen Davis, RB, Panthers. Holding out Davis in Week 16 and limiting his work in the season finale has allowed the Panthers' star back to rest his sore ankle. He should be close to 100 percent for the playoffs. He practiced Tuesday while teammate DeShaun Foster sat out because of an illness. Davis won't have to worry about his ankle, but his legs still won't be as fresh as they were when he ran for 100 yards in six of his first eight games. Dallas limited Davis to 59 yards in Week 12, and it wouldn't be surprising if he is held under 100 yards again.
Derrick Mason, WR, Titans. Mason's sore ribs didn't cause him problems against Tampa Bay. He had six catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Because of his consistency, he is one of the better choices at receiver this week, despite a tough matchup against Baltimore.
Steve McNair, QB, Titans. Practice makes perfect for some, but not necessarily McNair. As he has shown the past two seasons, he can sit out all week and still play well. McNair won't take that chance in the playoffs. He will practice Wednesday for the first time in three weeks. McNair participated in the team's walk-through Tuesday and said he didn't feel any pain afterward. Owners can't forget about his calf and ankle injuries, but McNair should be a solid start now that he is close to healthy again.
Clinton Portis, RB, Broncos. Denver doesn't seem too concerned with Portis' sprained ankle, and Portis has declared himself fit to play this weekend. I am not completely convinced. Keep watching for signs from practice that Portis is totally A-OK. If he's running and cutting at full speed, feel free to use him against the Colts this weekend.
THIRD AND SHORT
Top quarterback
picks:
1. Peyton Manning, Colts, vs. Denver.
2. Brett Favre, Packers, vs. Seattle.
3. Steve McNair, Titans, at Baltimore.
4. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks, at Green Bay.
5. Jake Plummer, Broncos, at Indianapolis.
The others:
6. Jake Delhomme, Panthers, vs. Dallas.
7. Quincy Carter, Cowboys, at Carolina.
8. Anthony Wright, Ravens, vs. Tennessee.
Top running back
picks:
1. Ahman Green, Packers, vs. Seattle.
2. Clinton Portis, Broncos, at Indianapolis.
3. Edgerrin James, Colts, vs. Denver.
4. Jamal Lewis, Ravens, vs. Tennessee.
5. Shaun Alexander, Seahawks, at Green Bay.
The others:
6. Stephen Davis, Panthers, vs. Dallas.
7. Eddie George, Titans, at Baltimore.
8. Troy Hambrick, Cowboys, at Carolina.
9. Mike Anderson, Broncos, at Indianapolis.
10. DeShaun Foster, Panthers, vs. Dallas.
Top wide receiver
picks:
1. Marvin Harrison, Colts, vs. Denver.
2. Darrell Jackson, Seahawks, at Green Bay.
3. Steve Smith, Panthers, vs. Dallas.
4. Derrick Mason, Titans, at Baltimore.
5. Rod Smith, Broncos, at Indianapolis.
6. Koren Robinson, Seahawks, at Green Bay.
7. Javon Walker, Packers, vs. Seattle.
The others:
8. Reggie Wayne, Colts, vs. Denver.
9. Justin McCareins, Titans, at Baltimore.
10. Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers, vs. Dallas.
11. Terry Glenn, Cowboys, at Carolina.
12. Ashley Lelie, Broncos, at Indianapolis.
13. Bobby Engram, Seahawks, at Green Bay.
14. Donald Driver, Packers, vs. Seattle.
15. Marcus Robinson, Ravens, vs. Tennessee.
16. Antonio Bryant, Cowboys, at Carolina.
17. Drew Bennett, Titans, at Baltimore.
18. Joey Galloway, Cowboys, at Carolina.
HAIL MARY
In a preseason segment for Jim Rome's radio show, I chose the Titans and Buccaneers as my picks for Super Bowl 38. I will stick with the Titans despite the fact the team will have to win three road games to get to Houston. As for the NFC contestant, I would love to see a rematch of Super Bowl 34 (Rams-Titans), but it will be nearly impossible for St. Louis to make it if the team has to go through Philadelphia. The Packers have the potential to make things interesting if they face the Eagles, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Because guessing the weekly winners and losers in the playoffs is so vital to postseason fantasy games, here's a look at what I expect to happen this wild-card weekend.
As I said, I'll stick with the Titans in the AFC. I don't foresee them having many problems getting past Baltimore's one-dimensional offense. The Ravens' only hope is to win this game with turnovers, and Steve McNair is savvy enough to avoid those big mistakes.
I can see the Denver-Indianapolis game going either way, but I'll take my chances with the Broncos. The Colts' offense should rebound from the Week 16 debacle against the Broncos, but the defense won't. If Quentin Griffin can carve up this defense, Clinton Portis should have no trouble having a big day.
Panthers receiver Steve Smith is the only player in the Dallas-Carolina game whom I would consider using, and a Carolina victory would make him worth a start next week in St. Louis, too. The Cowboys-Panthers matchup should be a good defensive battle, which means little fantasy production.
Seattle vs. Green Bay should be the exact opposite, a game teeming with big-time scorers. Packers back Ahman Green should keep producing eye-popping numbers, Shaun Alexander will get his points, receivers from both teams should be busy, and Brett Favre and Matt Hasselbeck should both easily eclipse 230 passing yards. And there is no way the Packers lose back-to-back postseason games at home.
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