Looking down the road at intriguing matchups in fantasy's last week of the season.

If you're in the playoffs or shooting for the points lead, look ahead.

Week 17 matchups:

Matt Ryan and Michael Turner (vs. St. Louis)
Marshawn Lynch (vs. New England)
Cedric Benson (vs. Kansas City)
Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings and Ryan Grant (vs. Detroit)
Matt Forte (vs. Houston)
Willie Parker (vs. Cleveland)
Earnest Graham (vs. Oakland)
Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Tim Hightower, Anquan Boldin (vs. Seattle)
LaDainian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates (vs. Denver)
Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall (vs. San Diego)
Clinton Portis, Chris Cooley, Santana Moss (vs. San Francisco)

Flashback to your fantasy league's draft day: You can't pass up Raiders running back Darren McFadden as visions of Adrian Peterson dance in your mind. Poor choice. You instead ignore the temptation and scoop up Chris Johnson, see above right, or Steve Slaton late, way late. You're a shoo-in for the Fantasy Football Hall of Fame. You'll be in the "***-Pull" wing.

Rookie running backs are nightmares to pick from early on draft days. Remember Ki-Jana Carter. Remember Cedric Benson. Remember William Green.

The NFL has it's self a good old-fashioned showdown in Houston on Sunday. Johnson vs. Slaton.

Johnson is second is the AFC in rushing. Slaton is third. The crazy part lies in their rushing averages. According to a press release for the NFL, they could join a rare list of rookies with 1,000 yards rushing (got it) and an average of 5 yards per carry (could get it).

Slaton is right at 5 yards a pop, and Johnson is at 4.9.

The rookies who have done it:

1934: Beattie Feathers, Chicago (119 carries, 1,004 rushing yards, 8.4 per carry)
1971: John Brockington, Green Bay (216, 1,105, 5.1)
1972: Franco Harris, Pittsburgh (188, 1,055, 5.6)
1974: Don Woods, San Diego (227, 1,162, 5.1)
1988: Ickey Woods, Cincinnati (203, 1,066, 5.3)
1989: Barry Sanders, Detroit (280, 1,470, 5.3)
2000: Mike Anderson, Denver (297, 1,487, 5.0)
2002: Clinton Portis, Denver (273, 1,508, 5.5)
2007: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota (238, 1,341, 5.6)

Closing in:

*2008: Steve Slaton, Houston (206, 1,024, 5.0)

*2008: Chris Johnson, Tennessee (222, 1,094, 4.9)

*Through 13 games

PHOTO BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

If Peyton Hillis, seen above, didn’t go down with a torn right hamstring on Sunday, he may have shared top billing with Terrell Davis, Olandis Gary, Travis Henry and Clinton Portis in coach Mike Shanahan’s feature flick, "Mount Rush-MORE." Mike Anderson and hundreds of other Denver running backs could make cameos in "Mount Rush-MORE II," but Hillis rolled four straight weeks with a rushing touchdown for star status.

He was turning into an ideal No. 3 running back in any league’s format.

After four straight productive weeks, the former Arkansas fullback was tied with All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall for the team lead with six touchdowns. The only hopes left for Broncos fans lie with Selvin Young and Tatum Bell. After the Hillis injury, Bell took the lion share of carries.

Bell is worthy of a pickup, but not a start yet. Young, the former University of Texas star, has been battling a groin injury for most of the season and is probable this week.

Under pressure

With dollars and pride on the line in the weeks ahead, advancing can fall to one player or a last-second decision. Monday night’s game between the Buccaneers and Panthers proved the stress and luck involved in fantasy football playoffs comes in different forms.

In one league, I saw it come down to Antonio Bryant vs. Steve Smith. The epic battle had both wide receivers scoring a touchdown and getting more than 100 yards. Bryant with 200 yards and two touchdowns was the winner.

Monday night’s game this week features the Browns and Eagles.

If you relied on Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb or DeSean Jackson throughout the year, you get a great matchup on paper. The trifecta should pull through again, but look out for Kevin Curtis and the Eagles defense too. If you have a Browns starter, chances are you’re out of the playoffs already.

Who wouldn’t be intrigued though by Ken Dorsey vs. McNabb for fantasy glory?

Catch them if you can...

DeShaun Foster, 49ers running back: The former Panthers back filled in for the injured Frank Gore against the Jets with 16 carries for 35 yards. He obviously wasn’t great, but that is a lot of carries. If Gore can’t go this week or next, Foster has Miami and St. Louis on tap to redeem himself.

Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants running backs: Brandon Jacobs went down. The severity of the injury is unknown yet. If you’ve been cautious, you’re ready to plug Ward in. If not, hurry.

The fallen...

The Patriots defense: How the mighty have fallen. When Junior Seau has to come out of retirement, you’re in trouble. The only resemblance of hope lies in their matchup vs. Oakland this week. Otherwise, Bon Jovi’s "Livin’ on a Prayer" should be playing when you’re setting your lineup.

Bernard Berrian, Vikings wide receiver: Here’s a quick study if Gus Frerotte is out. Tarvaris Jackson and Phillies pitcher Adam Eaton have the intangibles. Eaton’s career 4.80 ERA and Jackson’s 70.3 career quarterback rating scare fantasy owners, but apparently not the people who employ them.

Four and out

1. Don’t forget to set lineups for Thursday's game between the Saints and Bears. 2. If Matt Hasselback is out, Seneca Wallace is the desperate play of the week vs. the Rams. 3. Joseph Addai vs. the Lions has one last chance to prove the skeptics wrong. 4. Terrible timing award: Clinton Portis blasted his coach and lost left tackle Chris Samuels.

PHOTO BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oh my, Atlanta! Michael Turner burned his ex-teammates for 130 yards on the ground in the Falcons’ Week 13 win vs. the Chargers.

Meanwhile, Matt Ryan, see above left, keeps proving rookie quarterbacks can prosper. Ryan Leaf, Rick Mirer, Tim Couch, Alex Smith and Akili Smith are probably shaking their heads on a beach.

For fantasy owners, rookie quarterbacks are a lot like the Terry Bradshaw Fantasy Football Journal. They seem worthy, but end up hurting you in the end.

Ryan, a Peyton-like rookie minus the hype, could be different.

With the actual Falcons battling for a playoff spot, fantasy owners get a dream matchup heading into most leagues’ playoff weeks: Falcons vs. Saints in the Superdome.

If you teetered with Saints receivers Marques Colston and Lance Moore in Week 13, let loose. If Rodney White wasn’t your No. 1 receiver before this game, when will he ever be?

The usual suspects (Drew Brees, see above, Turner) are locks, but Ryan may pull through for an owner in desperate times. The Saints’ pass defense is in the bottom five for touchdown passes allowed and is giving up 224.2 yards per game.

Arresting development

With No. 1 Giants receiver Plaxico Burress suspended, Domenik Hixon and Amani Toomer have quickly become top targets on free-agent wires. The pair had five catches each vs. the Redskins in Week 13. Toomer found the end zone for the third time in five games, and Hixon produced his second straight week with more than 60 yards receiving.

Who will be better down the stretch, if Burress doesn’t suit up again?

The Giants, in order, play the Eagles, Cowboys, Panthers and Vikings.

Out of the four defenses, the Eagles have given up the most passing touchdowns while allowing the least amount of passing yards per game. Not one of the particular defenses is a desirable matchup for a wide receiver, but considering Eli Manning’s tendencies go with Toomer.

After watching him play against the Browns, he loves to lock into his targets.

Being the probable No. 1, Toomer would square up against each team’s top cornerback and double coverage. Being the probable No. 2, Hixon would see more man-to-man coverage.
That is one deciding factor for Hixon, but Toomer appears to be the go-to guy.

Catch them if you can …

Tashard Choice, Dallas running back: Marion Barber is day to day, but Choice can shoulder the load if called upon. With Dallas vs. Pittsburgh on tap, he won’t be a solid start this week just a great insurance policy.

The fallen …

Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia running back: He had four touchdowns last week. Seriously, though, he can’t be relied on. He’s usually day-to-day throughout the week, and you’re stuck until game time. Well, you’re stuck with him this season, but he’ll be a second-round pick next year.

Playoff push

Vikings defensive tackles Pat and Kevin Williams suspensions were blocked by the courts yesterday, but they may not play on Sunday. If you have Lions running back Kevin Smith, he suddenly becomes an interesting play for the week. With the Williamses, Minnesota holds opponents to 73.1 rushing yards per game and ranks as the No. 2 defense in the league vs. the run.

Four and out

1. I was wrong last week. Thanksgiving was fun day, and Mother Nature made Sunday dismal for fantasy. 2. Is it time to jump on the Peyton Hillis bandwagon? 3. Cardinals Tim Hightower and Steve Breaston vs. the Rams could score points. 4. The Colts should get back on track vs. the Bengals.

E-mail Francis Bova at fbova@MorningJournal.com.

PHOTO BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

WITH Thanksgiving eating up three games of the NFL schedule, most owners have set their lineups for the weekend. Don’t get too comfortable though.

While Thanksgiving's games featured some truly great matchups for owners like Titans running back Chris Johnson vs. the Lions defense or Tony Romo vs. Seattle.

Sunday is still the day to set the DVR.

Who can’t wait to see the Colts light up the Browns defense? Randy Lerner? Bob Golic?

The one thing that could prevent Peyton Manning from three touchdown passes is snow. With the forecast calling for mostly cloudy, Manning can resume his hot streak in former St. Ignatius wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez’s homecoming.

What are the chances Gonzalez gets a better reception from fans than Derek Anderson and Braylon Edwards? Even former Browns starter Spergon Wynn, one of six quarterbacks drafted before Tom Brady in 2000, knows the answer hovers around 100 percent.

Gone baby gone?

Shaun Alexander’s brief stint with the Redskins is over. After Wayne Chrebet retired in 2005, I paid homage on my league’s Web site to the unheralded wide receiver‘s fantasy impact. You have to figure Alexander's days maybe numbered too.

The former No. 1 overall pick in most fantasy leagues only three seasons ago lit up the fantasy world with 27 rushing touchdowns for a then-single season record in 2005. Add the 1,800-plus rushing yards and Alexander was the dream No. 1 back until injury and age took his career downhill.

Is LaDainan Tomlinson heading to the same fate? I’ve heard tales of owners starting LT over Thomas Jones. I’ve witnessed owners trading him away in two leagues. Tomlinson, the record holder for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 28 in 2006, is no longer a bonafide sure thing week in and week out.

But there was one encouraging sign last week. He had 24 touches (a rush or catch) and is averaging 22 a game for the season. With Atlanta up next, barring injury Tomlinson should have his best game of the season.

The bold prediction is because his former backup Michael Turner will be starting for the Falcons. Turner, who is coming off a four-touchdown week, could be a great start too if he did set expectations so high with his last performance.

Catch them if you can

Wes Welker, New England wide receiver: The cupboard’s bare folks. Pickups are hard to find this time of season, but trades could still be an option. For two weeks, Matt Cassel has been on absolute fire. Randy Moss owners aren’t likely to sell any time soon. But Welker is a great option in a points-per-catch league, and he could be dealt for Santana Moss-type players straight up.

Tashard Choice, Dallas running back: Marion Barber left the Thanksgiving contest with an injury and didn't return. Rookie Felix Jones is out for the season, and Choice could shoulder the load if called upon next week. Monitor Barber's status, but pick up Choice as soon as possible.

Chester Taylor, Minnesota running back: For insurance sake. It will be the last time I mention him.

The fallen

Frank Gore, San Francisco running back: His matchups aren’t rosy for the next two weeks (at Buffalo and at home vs. the Jets), but he should bounce back in big fashion in Week 15 and 16 vs. the Dolphins and Rams.

Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City quarterback: It’s hard to get overly excited with the Chiefs standing at 1-10, but owners have taken a chance on the guy after decent games recently. After watching Oakland shut down Jay Cutler last week, what can Thigpen do?

Four and out

1. Don’t expect much from Peyton Hillis. 2. Lee Evans' monster game is coming soon. 3. See ya next year Brady Quinn in Round 6. 4. Be careful if you have a Jets kicker.

For fantasy football questions, e-mail Francis Bova at fbova@MorningJournal.com