By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

As the playoff time begins, it’s important to solidify your backups in case your starters get some late-season rest. This will probably be the case for those of you who have Frank Gore on your team, as he hasn’t been at full-strength for a while.

Fortunately, his backup Kendall Hunter should provide some production, and you should consider picking him up. The Niners already locked up the NFC West and are now playing for playoff seeding, so even though their games are still meaningful, Gore doesn’t necessarily need to have big days these last few weeks. He’s been the team’s workhorse for several seasons now, but Hunter showed he is a capable runner himself this season.

Hunter’s stats aren’t impressive (82 carries for 322 yards and two touchdowns), but he has made the most of his chances during his rookie season, and when Gore was struggling early this year, there was even talk of Hunter cutting into Gore’s carries. Gore ultimately proved he could handle a starter’s workload, but Hunter has still gotten consistent reps and has caught 11 passes for 149 yards, demonstrating that he can use his quickness as a receiver as well.

Hunter has probably not made many headlines on the national scene, but you should capitalize on that and pick him up if he is available in your league. Chances are Gore will not receive 20 carries a game, and any reps he doesn’t get should go to Hunter. He’s solidified himself as the No. 2 running back in San Francisco, and his value should be at its peak now that the 49er starters could rest in preparation for the playoffs.

One of the most challenging aspects of the fantasy playoffs is figuring out which starters to bench. If Gore is on your team, read up on his updates and pick up Hunter as insurance. If Gore looks like he’ll play, you’ve still got one of the league’s best on your team. If he doesn’t play, you’ll put yourself in the best position to get points he would normally pick up by starting Hunter.

By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

After the 2009 season, we highly recommended Vikings receiver Percy Harvin for you to pick up in the 2010 fantasy draft.

He followed up his rookie season with another great year in 2010, and he has really emerged as one of the NFL’s most dangerous playmakers this season. Those of you that have him on your team have been reaping the rewards as of late. After not getting in the end zone through the air for the first 10 weeks of the season, Harvin has caught four touchdowns in the past three weeks, including two in the Vikings’ 35-32 loss to the Broncos on Sunday. Harvin had his best receiving stats of the year in that game, catching eight passes for 156 yards. He has clearly become a favorite target for rookie quarterback Christian Ponder. Harvin has caught at least six passes in the last four games, and has a touchdown in the last three. He’s at 59 catches for 710 yards and four touchdowns for the year, and going off of his recent production, he should end this season with career-high totals in all those categories.

Combine his receiving skills with his kick return abilities, and you’ve got yourself an elite scoring threat. He’s run back one kick return for a touchdown this season, and got his name in the record books with a 104-yard run in week 12, which is the longest non-scoring play in NFL history. He also has a rushing touchdown this season, so he can really impact a game in many ways.

There are quite a few playmakers in the NFL who can score at any time in one particular situation. Whether it’s a deep-threat receiver or a kick returner who can take it the distance at any time, these types of players are pretty common. The player who has all these qualities, however, is rare. Consider Harvin in that class. After three years of playmaking as a receiver and kick returner, it’s time to put Harvin in that elite group of guys who must be accounted for by both defenses and special teams. Darren Sproles is probably the only other player who fits this mold, but other than him, there really isn’t anyone else who can put up solid offensive numbers while also returning kicks with the best of them.

If you didn’t draft Harvin this season, make sure to get him next year and for many years to come. You won’t regret it.

By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Now that NFL offenses have come down to earth from the astronomical numbers they were putting up in the beginning of the season, your fantasy players have probably taken a hit.

Quarterbacks have had the most noticeable drop-off in production, but the league’s elite wide receivers have also seen their numbers drop. Two examples are Wes Welker and Calvin Johnson. Both players began the season with the potential to have record-setting years. Welker had over 700 yards after only five weeks, while Johnson had nine touchdown receptions in his first five games. Welker looked like he was on his way to setting the record for receiving yards in a season – which currently belongs to Jerry Rice, who had 1,848 yards in 1995 – and Johnson was on pace to shatter the record for touchdown receptions in a season, which Randy Moss set in 2007 with 23 touchdowns.

Both have dramatically cooled off. Johnson hasn’t cleared 100 yards receiving in his past three games and only has one touchdown in that span, and Welker has gone above 100 yards only once the past four games. Welker and Johnson are still ranked number one and two in yardage for receivers, respectively, and their numbers are still relatively good compared to their record-setting output earlier in the season, so there’s no reason to panic. You should, however, start looking for lesser-known wide outs for your team if you haven’t already.

There are a few receivers out there who might not be household names and should be available in your league. We recommended taking a look at Earl Bennett of the Chicago Bears a few weeks ago, and even though quarterback Jay Cutler is out with a broken thumb, Bennett is still the most reliable receiver on the team and should be a target for backup quarterback Caleb Hanie. Michael Crabtree of the 49ers had a seven-catch, 120-yard day against the Cardinals in week 11, and though he only had 54 yards against the Ravens on Thursday, he was still the Niners’ leading receiver with six catches.

Looking for tight ends could also help your team. Picking up players like Dennis Pitta of the Baltimore Ravens or Fred Davis of the Redskins and putting them in your flex spot could get you solid production. Both players aren’t going to give you big numbers, but they do get targeted by their quarterbacks and could get you some points on any given day.

Like any position, the wide receiver spots in fantasy teams are dominated by a few stars, but looking for up-and-comers who aren’t widely known could help you make a late-season surge. Players like Welker and Johnson will always be fantasy threats, but even they have off days. Make sure you’re prepared for them.

By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

On its best day, the Baltimore Ravens can be the most dominant, intimidating group of players in the NFL. There’s no arguing that.

But if you take a look at the losses they’ve piled up this season, you could also make the argument that the Ravens are the most bizarre, puzzling team in the league as well.

Their 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week cemented that. I started Baltimore’s defense thinking it would shut down the Seahawks and give me a double-digit point total. At the end of the day, I had a whopping 1 point from the Ravens D.

It’s almost unfathomable that a defense like Baltimore’s couldn’t even come up with one interception or fumble recovery. After all, the Ravens scored 32 fantasy points against the Jets in week four and 22 in week one against the Steelers.

The Ravens aren’t too inconsistent to bench altogether, but if you’ve got their defense, make sure you have a backup D that you don’t mind starting regularly. If they could only score one point against the Seahawks – a team the Ravens should shut out – you never know who they’ll give up points to.

It’s now safe to say that the Ravens defense isn’t a lock to score points every week. They can still be incredibly good, but you can’t start them without giving it a second thought anymore. The New England Patriots are playing a Kansas City Chiefs team that struggles offensively, so even though their pass defense is atrocious, you might want to think about picking them up if they’re available and you need a backup defense. The Cleveland Browns are playing the offensively challenged Jacksonville Jaguars, so they could be a good acquisition as well.

It’s sad to admit, but the Ravens probably won’t bring you double-digit points every week. When they do show up, they’ll get you more points than some of your offensive starters, but when they don’t, they could very well contribute one measly point to your total. Plan ahead for that possibility.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

It’s almost fantasy football playoff time. Has your team been over hyped by yourself like the Eagles were by Vince Young? Do you still believe you can make a run only if you sneak into the playoffs? If you’re going to do it, now is the time. Go out and perform the proper moves to bolster your teams chances.

Quarterbacks:

Tim Tebow-

As bad as Tebow is throwing the football, he is overcoming those horrendous numbers with fantasy numbers with his legs. This past week he ran for ninety yards with a touchdown. Better than most starting running backs. Tack on the minimal points he gets with his arm, and he is like starting a top five running back in the quarterback position. That is until he starts to fumble or throw interceptions.

Alex Smith-

His teams steady play has surged Smith’s confidence week by week. Mistakes have been limited, and he is producing enough. Not jump out the room fantasy numbers, but he will deliver over 200 yards with a touchdown or two. If you’re struggling with a turnover prone starter, maybe you want to look at Smith as an option. Former quarterback and head coach, Jim Harbaugh, coaches to Smith’s strengths and will continue to.

Matt Leinart-

This is the chance Leinart has been waiting for. Will he be ready? He should. The former first round pick, has been in the NFL for many years now. Things did not work out in Arizona obviously, and he has been rather quiet as a backup for Houston. Now in his second year there, he’ll get a chance again to show he can be a starter. He was shaky in the preseason, but has the weapons around him to be able to continue to get this team some wins. If not, rookie TJ Yates may be looked upon to take over.

Running Backs:

Lance Ball- The Broncos are going to give enough carries each week to tally the total an unordinary amount. With Knowshown Moreno out for the season, Ball steps in with McGahee to get plenty of looks.

Mike Bush- By now the fact that Bush isn’t owned by majority owners is crazy. He should have been picked up weeks ago. When McFadden returns healthy, you can expect Bush to get a few more carries than he was before. An impact back, that is making the most of his one year deal. Can you say Mike Turner cash in 2012?

Chester Taylor- Give Beanie Wells credit for trying to fight off a knee injury. You can tell though he isn’t close to being healthy. After having some fantasy worthy weeks, Wells has become a non factor. His past three to four games his yards per carry have dipped tremendously. Taylor is a veteran that doesn’t offer much, but he is the Cardinals second back.

Wide Receiver

DeNarius Moore-

It’s been awhile since Moore did something fantasy worthy, and it came in a big way. Two big touchdown catches against the Chargers, show that Moore will continue to be the deep threat with Palmer. The rookie is dynamic, and stretches the field better than Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Davone Bess-

Matt Moore is doing better and better each week. Brandon Marshall and tight end Anthony Fasano are garnering almost all of Moore’s looks. With the running game improving, you’d think someone else would get involved in the pass catching department. With Henne, Bess was a catch receiving monster. Look for Miami to get Bess re-involved now that Moore is doing better.

Johnny Knox-

Right now the Bears offense has completely transformed. A lot of it has to do with Matt Forte’s MVP type year, but it also has to do with adjustments by play caller Mike Martz. Jay Cutler is not getting drilled as much, and the passing game is showing positive output from it. Earl Bennett has had two successful weeks after returning from injury. Teams will gear to limit him and upcoming weeks, and Knox will be the one to benefit from that.

Ed Dickson-

It goes from one extreme to the other with the Ravens. Losses unexpectedly, too thrilling wins over conference contenders. It’s been that case because the offense is never in sync. One week, Ray Rice can be the explosive receiver. The next it’s Anquan Boldin or rookie Torrey Smith. This past week, Flacco could not count on either so had to force feed Dickson. Sooner or later, this team has to be cohesive all over offensively. Can they get it together and be an offensive fire power by January?

 By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

It’s safe to assume that the Chicago Bears receiving corps isn’t well represented in fantasy leagues. The wideouts haven’t exactly helped quarterback Jay Cutler that much throughout his tenure, but there is one receiver you should pick up if he’s available.

In the Bears’ 30-24 win over the Eagles on Monday night, Earl Bennett showed the country why he is Cutler’s No. 1 target. Bennett led the team in receiving with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown and was the only receiver who consistently caught the balls thrown to him.

He has chemistry with Cutler, his college teammate at Vanderbilt, and it showed. He’s probably got the best hands on the team and should be a reliable fantasy option now that he is back from the chest injury that caused him to miss five games prior to the Monday nighter.

Bennett is currently way down the list of Bears receiving leaders, but now that he’s back on the field, he should move up quickly. Running back Matt Forte is No. 1 by far; his 41 receptions are almost double that of the Devin Hester, who is No. 2 with 22 catches. But even if Bennett isn’t Cutler’s No. 1 option in the entire offense, he should be when it comes to wide receivers.

No other Bears receiver has proved to be a go-to guy. Hester’s speed is sometimes neutralized by his questionable hands, and Roy Williams has a reputation for dropping passes. Dane Sanzenbacher and Johnny Knox have been reliable, but Sanzenbacher’s only averaging 9.1 yards a catch, and though Knox is a solid deep threat, he hasn’t become a do-it-all receiver yet.

Bennett ran several kinds of routes on Monday night, and looked like the most complete player of the receiving corps. Now that he’s back, don’t be surprised if he leaps up the production chart for the Bears and quickly rivals Forte for receptions.

He might have already been claimed in your league, but if he’s not, pick him up. The Bears aren’t the first team you think of when you’re looking for good wide outs, so he might have gone unnoticed on your league’s waiver wire. Adding him would be a good move, as the Bears have been on a roll and Cutler is making smart decisions with his cannon arm. Putting Bennett at your flex spot to complement your surefire starters should increase your point total, and since he’s got the reliability factor that quarterbacks love, you never know when he’ll have a big day.