Are you effing kidding me?

This new segment is dedicated to anybody who lost a playoff matchup in Week 15. I feel your pain.

• Tony Romo had a 22.2 QB rating? Are you effing kidding me? No TDs, three INTs, 13-for-36? What was that? Think he might have had something else on his mind?


• People actually wear pink Cowboys jerseys? Are you effing kidding me?

• Terrell Owens has five catches for 58 yards and no TDs in his past two games? Are you effing kidding me?

• Zero TDs for Tom Brady? THE Tom Brady? Are you effing kidding me?

• Jamal Lewis ran for 163 yards in the snow? The same three-inches-and-a-cloud-of-dust Jamal Lewis from last year? Are you effing kidding me?

• Brian Westbrook ... are you effing kidding me?



• LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 116 yards and two TDs, all in the first half? Are you effing kidding me?

• Cleo Lemon was tied with Drew Brees for most passing yards in Week 15? Are you effing kidding me?

• The Dolphins won a game? Are you effing kidding me?

• David Garrard threw three TDs against the No. 1-ranked Pittsburgh Steelers defense? Are you effing kidding me?

• Todd Collins still plays in the NFL? The former heir apparent to Jim Kelly? And his team won? Are you effing kidding me?

Snow problem

Sounds like they're calling for some nasty weather up in Foxborough this weekend for the Patriots-Jets game. That's probably got some of you a little concerned if you've ridden Tom Brady and Co. to the fantasy playoffs. Before you go and do something drastic, however, let's think about this.

Our friend Tom does have some experience playing in the snow, as you may recall from the picture above. Obviously the white stuff, if it does hit, will slow down the passing game a bit, and that's what the Patriots are built around this season. But I really don't think there's any way you can bench Brady, Randy Moss or probably even Wes Welker this week. Doesn't matter if there's three feet of snow on the ground, the Pats are going to try to embarrass the Jets after the whole spygate thing. Now, you want to bench Ben Watson? Donte' Stallworth? Jerricho Cotchery or Laveranues Coles of the Jets? I'm fine with that. But you'll probably never forgive yourself if Brady hooks up with Moss a couple times and you have them on your bench. I'm just sayin.

Photo courtesy of the Boston Globe.

Hot Pickups - Week 15

• Aaron Stecker's back on the hot list after a 100-yard game and Reggie Bush's knee injury. The Saints backup might find some room to run against the Cardinals. He wouldn't be a bad No. 3/flex back. FOUR STARS (Out of five)

• Jabar Gaffney's hot streak (TD in three straight games) is getting to be too much to ignore. You figure the Patriots will try to decimate the Jets this week, too, which works in Gaffney's favor. FOUR STARS

• Anthony Gonzalez has two 100-yard games in his past three and scored twice last Sunday. He's clearly benefitted from Marvin Harrison's absence, and that should continue again this week, although the Raiders' pass D isn't as much of a pushover as you might think. THREE STARS

• Jerheme Urban had one of those classic "Huh?" games last week (six catches, 123 yards, TD) when everybody was expecting Bryant Johnson to step up with starter Anquan Boldin out. Any chance of an encore? Sure, if Boldin's still out ... he is going against the Saints, after all. THREE STARS

• Like a moth to a flame, I keep getting drawn back to LaMont Jordan. I've been burned before, so the only way I'm touching him this week is if starter Justin Fargas (ribs) really can't go against the Colts. It'll probably be painful though. Be careful. TWO STARS

• Samkon Gado is an old fantasy friend of mine, so normally I'd have no problem recommending him, especially coming off last week's showing (93 total yards, two TDs) for the Texans. Only problem is Sammy now faces the Ravens, who may be falling apart but still know how to stop the run. TWO STARS

Beware of the dud

I was going to do a Week 14 recap, but why live in the past? If you're reading this, odds are your fantasy team is in the playoffs this week, so I'll do everything I can to get you prepared.

The following guys are setting off my dud radar, and I’d give serious thought to benching them unless I’m really stuck:




• Donovan McNabb is usually hurt around this time of year, so you can understand if he’s a little rusty against the Dallas Cowboys. It’s been a rough year for his Philadelphia Eagles.

• Kurt Warner has produced since taking over as the Arizona Cardinals’ starter, but do you really trust him with your fantasy life? Sure, he threw three TDs last week, but he was also picked off five times.

• Kansas City Chiefs rookie Kolby Smith rushed 13 times for 12 yards against the Denver Broncos, who can’t stop anybody. What makes you think he’ll fare better against the Tennessee Titans?

• Shaun Alexander’s been good for about 60 rushing yards a game this season. Start him if that’s what you’re into, but don’t expect anything special.

• I’ve seen enough touchdown-free games by Vince Young this year – six to be exact. Don’t let that happen to you this week. Start Cleo Lemon if you have to.

• Laurence Maroney and Donte’ Stallworth look like afterthoughts in the New England Patriots’ juggernaut offense. They should be fantasy afterthoughts too, even though their team won’t hold any punches against the New York Jets.

• I enjoy Maurice Jones-Drew’s highlights as much as the next guy, but would a 30-yard, no-TD game shock you this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers?

• It’s been an awful season for Steve Smith and the Carolina Panthers. He hasn’t scored since Week 6. No reason to believe that'll change this week against Seattle.

• Sure, Jay Cutler's coming off a four-TD game. But he's also got three zero-TD games and six one-TD games this year.

• Kevin Jones has put some great games on this year's stat sheet, but there are also 1-yard and minus-4-yard games sprinkled in there. Be careful using him this week against the Chargers.

Photo by The Associated Press.