The Packers had nothing to play for Monday night, but they helped more fantasy teams than the Bears did in what was certainly a highly pivotal game in many fantasy super bowls. Green Bay lost the game, but was mostly solid in all phases. As expected, only Chicago’s No. 1 running back and a tight end were useful.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. You can’t heavily blame Rodgers for Green Bay’s losing record, and he emerged as a quality fantasy starter in 2008. Those who elected to start him in Week 16 over uncertain selections such as Kurt Warner were rewarded with a solid performance. Rodgers will likely be drafted as a quality starter in the seventh round of many 10 to 12-team leagues in 2009.

Greg Jennings caught his ninth touchdown pass. He has managed to avoid injuries this year and confirmed that he can be an elite wide receiver for years to come. Donald Driver caught six passes for 63 yards. He vaulted past the 900-yard mark and has four TD receptions. Driver is still a reliable target for the young Rodgers, but the above-average fantasy numbers simply aren’t there anymore. He has one year left on his contract with Green Bay, but don’t waste a draft pick on him next year. As much potential as James Jones has flashed, I believe dynasty leaguers should expect rookie Jordy Nelson to eventually take over Driver’s spot in the starting lineup opposite Jennings. Nelson has looked very promising, already flashing the ability to gain separation from defensive backs and make tough catches on key downs. Jones and Nelson both finished Monday night's game with 27 receiving yards, but have a lot of future promise. Jones will likely become more of a boom or bust type.

Ryan Grant rushed for 65 yards and also scored on a 17-yard reception. Grant was a disappointment overall this season, and injuries certainly contributed to the frustration. Defenses also gave him more respect than they did when he was an unknown last season, and were able to put additional focus on him because Rodgers simply couldn’t beat them with the deep ball like his predecessor did. Defenses could afford to concentrate on keeping things in front of them with both the run and pass and worry less about getting burned downfield. Grant lacked the explosion and burst that set him apart last year, too, and he never seemed the same after battling through a preseason hamstring problem. Yet he gave many owners a respectable finish last night and should be a solid fourth-round draft pick in a healthy amount of leagues in 2009.

Kyle Orton threw for 142 yards, one TD and two interceptions. No smart fantasy owner started Orton in Week 16, and it is apparent that his earlier-season heroics are a distant memory. Orton still has the potential to be a quality fantasy option, but any average football fan can tell you needs more playmakers in the passing game to get real consideration as anything more than a late-round draft pick. Orton struggles to find reliable targets in critical situations and deserves an opportunity to play with better wide receivers. Devin Hester caught two passes for 12 yards and is much more hype than substance. He won’t start making plays until Chicago gets him better receiving partners, and even then, any possible newcomers in 2009 may be more dependable for possession catches. Hester is dangerous to opponents, but will continue to be too inconsistent for fantasy purposes next season. The Bears’ ultimate goal is to utilize him more as a deep guy, and that means a lot of statistical ups and downs.

Matt Forte started slowly, but finished with 73 rushing yards and a TD, plus 28 receiving yards.  The Bears staff didn’t overwork him early, probably because of last week’s toe injury, yet he still touched the ball 25 times and rewarded the owners who stuck with him despite concerns about his injury. The Bears are still alive in the NFC Playoff race, and if your season finishes in Week 17, you will be able to start Forte with a great deal of confidence. He is a prime reason the Bears are still alive, as is tight end Greg Olsen. Both players stepped up late when Chicago needed them to, and have been the only Chicago players worth starting heading into the final game. Olsen caught Chicago’s first scoring pass, and in a season of rampant tight end uncertainty, he is as good an option as any other big-name player at his position heading into the NFL regular season finale.

In most weeks, Monday Night games are often thrilling and critical to fantasy outcomes. In a healthy amount of leagues, though, the Week 15 matchup was not a pivotal one. A good portion of fantasy playoff games were decided by the end of the Sunday night game, as most smart fantasy owners avoided starting any of the Cleveland Browns in Week 15. The only widely-used players from the Eagles were likely Brian Westbrook and the defense/special teams. Some owners used Donovan McNabb, simply based on the matchup.

Westbrook was not a major fantasy force as he had been in recent weeks, totaling only 67 yards from scrimmage. It was a disappointing outing, as the Cleveland linebackers heavily spied on Westbrook throughout the game and prevented him from breaking off any big plays. There were no indications that Westbrook was banged up, so you must keep him active for any forthcoming fantasy playoff games. Hopefully for those depending on Westbrook this past week, his output was just enough to push them to a close victory.

Cleveland’s emphasis on containing the ground game opened up the passing game for McNabb, and his owners received a solid performance. McNabb passed for 290 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. His numbers were limited by the fact the game was one-sided, and McNabb did not have to finish the fourth quarter. McNabb has certainly not been dependable overall in 2008, but he definitely won’t hurt your team if you still need to start him in the next week or two. Many fantasy championship teams have been built around a strong core of hot running backs and wide receivers, plus a decent, but not elite quarterback.

DeSean Jackson caught five passes for 77 yards, and Kevin Curtis caught four passes for 45 yards and a TD. Jackson has been unreliable recently and should only be started out of desperation in the final week or two. Curtis has been statistically erratic since he came to Philadelphia and should not be on rosters during the fantasy playoffs. Jason Avant led the Eagles with five receptions for 101 yards. Eagles fans can look forward to Jackson and Avant being a quality receiving combination in the future, and both pass-catchers project to be very attractive upside players in 2009. Avant can be a safe and regularly productive wide receiver who complements Jackson’s big-play ability very well.

The Philadelphia defense played up to expectations, allowing no offensive scores and intercepting Ken Dorsey twice. Philadelphia also forced Dorsey to fumble, and it was recovered by the Browns. Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley, a rising star in his second season, intercepted his first pass of the season. Bradley now has 96 total tackles and has developed into a good starter in IDP leagues this year.

Dorsey had the expected down outing, completing just 11-of-28 attempts. He made some highly questionable reads. Dorsey does not have a strong arm, and when he isn’t making good decisions, he will play at his lowest possible levels. Still, he did help Braylon Edwards surprise with a quality outing. Edwards caught five passes for 102 yards. If Dorsey did anything right, it was simply allowing his top WR to make plays. Dorsey tossed the ball up in his general direction a few times, and let Braylon use his skills to haul in jump balls, poorly thrown offerings, and off target passes. Credit Edwards for being the playmaker that he is, but he has been letting down fantasy owners for most of the season. You still cannot start him with any confidence in the final week or two.

Jamal Lewis rushed for 32 yards on 14 carries. With Cleveland playing from behind and lacking much of a passing game overall, there is no reason to use him in the final games. Lewis has no upside, so it’s better to gamble on players like Tashard Choice, Tim Hightower, or Chester Taylor over him. Choice has much more upside, and the other two players will offer more consistent scoring chances at the end of the season. At worst, any of those three guys can match Lewis’ numbers.

Many teams who win in fantasy football have the right mix of “hot” players. They stick with them no matter what. You don’t bench your fantasy superstars or guys who are playing well during the most important time of the season, even if their matchup seems to be a very challenging one.

DeAngelo Williams is playing like a fantasy superstar this year, and Monday’s memorable performance against the usually stingy Buccaneers provided a resounding confirmation to the fantasy strategies previously mentioned. Williams rushed for 186 yards and two TDs, just when many fantasy players thought his run of strong games was about to come to an end. Williams, however, remains unstoppable. It seems like he has been a different guy since the day Carolina drafted Jonathan Stewart to challenge his playing time.

Williams has become a complete runner, able to bang for important yardage inside, and he is an absolute terror for opposing defenses who let him move into open space. He conjures up memories of Terrell Davis in his prime. He’s a shifty runner with great instincts, displaying the ability to change gears and either run behind his pads or explode to the second level of defenders. Williams will be the key to many fantasy championships in 2008, and much like Brian Westbrook has shown us recently, the best fantasy players earn elite status by producing fine numbers against any opponent.

The 115 yards and two TDs from Jonathan Stewart were certainly unexpected. Many of his owners benched him in Week 14, based on the matchup and the recent play of Williams, who had owned the spotlight in Carolina. Stewart’s outing proved that both players can excel together, which is certainly John Fox’s ultimate vision. Stewart, however, has been statistically unreliable in his rookie season, yet he has provided his owners with the maximum possible production from a flex position. Stewart’s numbers can easily sink again in the next week or two, but he will still be a useful starter with regular goal-line opportunities.

Upcoming opponents will certainly give Stewart more respect after his fine outing against Tampa Bay, and the Carolina running game is sure to be a focal point of defensive game plans. Williams still may not be stopped, but it remains to be seen how the rookie will adjust to being in the defensive crosshairs. At this point of the season, what you can expect from most players in terms of upside and consistency has been well established, and one outing should not change your thinking. Williams has been excellent all season, so don’t bench him in any scenario. Heck, it’s obvious you wouldn’t after Monday night. Stewart, despite his fine outing on Monday, has been up and down numerically, so you’ll have difficult decisions to make on him in the final weeks if you are considering him for anything more than a flex spot.

The outstanding running game has certainly helped Steve Smith, as Carolina has hit its desired stride in terms of offensive balance. Smith caught nine passes for 117 yards and a TD, and there is no doubt that opponents will continue to be greatly challenged by the Panthers. If they try to focus extra attention on the run, Smith will surely burn them downfield. Defenses who give safety or linebacker help to contain Smith leave more room for Williams and Stewart to eat up. Carolina’s outstanding offensive line opens large holes, continues to smash defenders as run plays develop, and also gives Jake Delhomme lots of time to throw.

Delhomme, however, finished with only 173 yards and the one TD pass to Smith, and he has been nearly useless from the fantasy perspective recently. With the running game flourishing and Smith being his only dependable big-play target (that hasn’t changed), no fantasy owner with serious championship aspirations would use Delhomme right now.

The Tampa Bay defense/special teams unit presents new and disturbing concerns. The Buccaneers have allowed 20 or more points in three consecutive games. Until recently, owners of the unit would simply activate them and then worry about the rest of their lineups. Right now, there aren’t many other options available in free agency, and you have to believe the defense will come out wanting to re-establish itself in a major way against Atlanta in Week 15. The back seven is much better than it looked on Monday, and they will be fired up to put an awful outing behind them next week.

Lost in the din of Carolina’s dominance was a 200-yard, two-TD performance by Antonio Bryant. He has officially replaced the faded Joey Galloway as Jeff Garcia’s top big-play man, and opposing secondaries can’t seem to stop him even if they give him extra attention. There has never been any doubt about his playmaking abilities, and Bryant should continue to roll in Week 15.  Consistency has often been an issue, but most of his owners don’t employ him as anything more than a WR3. They won’t be willing to bench him after Monday’s outing.

Warrick Dunn totaled 62 yards from scrimmage, and it is apparent that he is a matchups play at this point of the season. Fortunately for his owners, he faces the Falcons next week (he should be highly motivated to burn his ex-team). Carnell Williams rushed for a score in his second consecutive game and dispelled any doubts that he can be a reliable goal-line runner. Williams plowed straight through linebacker Jon Beason on his four-yard TD run in the third quarter.

Houston’s decisive win over Jacksonville was a showcase for rookie running back Steve Slaton, who quelled any lingering doubts about his health by delivering the best game of his career. He totaled 182 yards from scrimmage and scored twice. Now, his owners have nothing more to worry about as their fantasy playoffs begin.

The Houston running back stable is depleted, but Slaton is proving that he can carry a significant workload, and the team has preserved him well. He touched the ball 23 times on Monday night, consistently displaying good vision, quick bursts through holes, and the ability to accelerate into higher gears when he hits the second level of defenders. Such qualities have solidified Slaton as a prime RB2 again as the fantasy postseason begins in many leagues. Gone are the whispers that the smallish-yet-exciting running back was either banged up, hitting the notorious rookie wall, or both.

The Texans lack a true goal-line ballcarrier, as Slaton was denied a possible touchdown on three consecutive attempts late in the third quarter. Yet, he bounced back to score twice in the fourth, including a late 40-yard scoring run against a tired, beaten Jacksonville defense. The long TD served mostly as window dressing by that point, but it was an excellent bonus for Slaton’s fantasy owners, further proving his resiliency. You can’t keep a determined runner like Slaton out of the end zone for too long, even if he lacks the bulk to punch the ball in when he carries in short space.

Houston will be careful not to overwork Slaton in the final weeks, though. All they really have behind him on the depth chart is Ryan Moats, another small scatback type who isn't nearly as dangerous to opposing defenses. With no other RB on the roster who can truly split time with Slaton, the Texans staff will have to carefully distribute his workload over the course of the final games. You can start him with great confidence during your playoffs, as he has rushed for over 100 yards in two of the past three games and had the best “comforting” week of any RB other than Brian Westbrook.

It was pleasant to see Andre Johnson score for just the second time in seven games. Kevin Walter was held to only 38 receiving yards on two receptions, a disappointing outing when you consider how steady he has been for most of the year. Most wide receivers, even the best ones, have off weeks here and there. Plus, there’s a good chance Matt Schaub could return to action next week, which means the ball will be distributed in a more balanced manner among the Houston pass-catchers again. Sage Rosenfels threw for 200 yards, one TD, and an interception. Those aren’t terrible numbers, but he has been a big disappointment in Schaub’s absence. His shaky decision-making skills are certainly keeping the numbers of Houston’s top pass-catchers down a bit overall. Owen Daniels caught only two passes for 25 yards, and his season may be revived if Schaub can return next week.

There’s really no reason to own David Garrard in fantasy leagues with the postseason looming. He threw for 287 yards, one TD, and one interception on Monday night, and no owner with true aspirations of winning it all would start him. There are certainly better backups out there, and most smart owners have found an alternative option as a No. 2 fantasy QB by now.

Fred Taylor rushed for 67 yards on nine carries and scored his first rushing TD, but he has been very unreliable this season and won’t be useful in most fantasy playoff scenarios, either. Maurice Jones-Drew totaled 71 yards from scrimmage, a respectable performance overall. Matt Jones led all receivers with eight catches for 104 yards and a TD. He has scored only twice this season, but Garrard is doing a good job of targeting him downfield and in the red zone. Jones did a nice job of catching a few high throws, plucking them out of the air like a tall kid taking groceries off the top shelf in the supermarket. Garrard is realizing that he should rely more on Jones, so you can give him strong starting consideration during your fantasy playoffs in larger leagues.

Reggie Williams scored for the second consecutive game, but it was on a garbage time play. While he is getting more key looks from Garrard recently, you really can’t depend on Williams during the fantasy postseason. Jerry Porter caught only two passes for 39 yards, but he does command defensive respect, allowing Jones and Williams to get open more often. You shouldn’t own Porter, but it will be helpful to the Jacksonville offense if he stays healthy in the final weeks.

All week long leading up to the Saints-Packers matchup, I kept hearing how good the Packers pass defense was, and that it would even present a challenge for the potent New Orleans offense. The Packers cornerbacks get up in the face of wide receivers, they successfully use press coverage, and they throw pass-catchers off their routes. Many fantasy leaguers considered benching some of their top Saints.

Hopefully, none of them were silly enough to bench Drew Brees, who is a must-start no matter the matchup. Brees sent the Green Bay pass defense back to the classroom to figure out how they allowed him to deliver his best game of the season. The New Orleans quarterback threw for 323 passing yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. When the Green Bay defensive backs were too aggressive, he made them pay. When there were holes in the middle of the field, Brees exploited them. He put on a clinic, and you have to wonder how the Packers defense will respond. I say they will bounce back and still be worth starting. With Brees, it’s simply a question of whether or not I rank him as the No. 1 fantasy quarterback after his performance. Check for my in-season rankings on RotoExperts.com Tuesday night.

Brees’ top pass-catcher was Lance Moore, who finished with 115 receiving yards and two scores. I thought by now Moore would command enough defensive respect that his numbers would start to be erratic. Yet, he has been up to the challenge, and he fully won me over on Monday night. Moore has truly arrived as Brees’ go-to guy, and with the Saints QB able top spread the ball around so effectively, there’s no way Moore can face lots of double-teams and bracket coverage. He will continue to flourish for the remainder of the schedule.

Marques Colston caught a 70-yard TD pass, which was his only catch of the game. Despite the big play, I want to see more consistent production before I reconsider him for my starting lineup. I’m no doctor, but Colston looked like he was uncomfortably racing away from the defense on his score. I think his knee problem still lingers, and it bothers me as a Colston owner that he was shut out the rest of the night.

Jeremy Shockey caught five balls for 57 yards, and he is looking healthy again. I’d start him with confidence again, because as I have said so many times recently, anything you get from your tight ends this year is an added bonus to what you receive from your core players. Shockey will give you a nice 4-to-10 points each week, depending on whether he gets the occasional TD.

Pierre Thomas totaled 121 yards from scrimmage and scored twice. He’s running much better than he did earlier in the season, running with good vision, and more importantly, displaying a complete desire to risk his body for the good of the team. Thomas ran inside very impressively on Monday, breaking tackles and battling hard for extra yardage. He’ll continue to be a factor, even when Reggie Bush returns. He’s a better runner from scrimmage than Bush or Deuce McAllister right now, so at worst, he’ll be worth a flex spot when Bush comes back. McAllister scored, but he only finished with five yards on five carries. Deuce will be nothing more than a goal-line guy for the foreseeable future. Thomas is versatile and will continue to produce good combined yardage numbers, even if the TD production is inconsistent.

Aaron Rodgers played an uneven game, throwing two TD passes, but he was also intercepted three times. You will get these outings from Rodgers another once or twice in the final weeks. He plays in a timing-based offense, and when opponents disrupt or pick up on that timing, they can jump his routes, especially when he is throwing to his favorite targets. Rodgers needs to vary his decision-making more in tight games or when he gets behind. When the team falls far behind, Rodgers will struggle, because he is much better throwing slants and curls than the deep ball. It’s hard to play catch-up with his skills and the Green Bay playbook. Still, he has played well overall and should remain a Top 10 fantasy starter throughout the remainder of the schedule.

Greg Jennings caught eight passes for 101 yards and a TD. While many fantasy players and fans regard him as a speed guy, he continued to prove how tough and resilient he is, absorbing major shots that would have sent lesser players to the sidelines. Not only did he take a lick from safety Roman Harper that is destined to be replayed on highlight films for a long time to come, but he was also nearly knocked out of the Superdome at one point. On an interception return, few saw Saints linebacker Scott Fujita come out of nowhere to send Jennings flying into the sideline area. Both times, Jennings simply got up and returned to action. Jennings’ owners should not only be proud of him, but they can also surely count on his durability during the fantasy playoffs. Heck, Fujita’s hit was so fierce... I swore my digital cable signal started breaking up for a few seconds.

There were a lot of other predominant storylines from the pure football perspective on Monday Night, but the one that jumped out most at many fantasy players was the fact that Lee Evans was shut out. There must have been countless Evans owners who confidently headed into Monday Night needing just a few points for a victory – and didn’t get it!

Evans delivered another stinker, after catching only two passes for 22 yards in Week 10. He has not scored in four consecutive games. One can easily link Evans’ lack of production to quarterback Trent Edwards, who may have played his worst game of the season in terms of throwing the ball. He threw three interceptions, often struggling to locate open receivers and to make decisions quickly. Edwards threw one TD pass and rushed for another, but it was apparent that he was having problems going through his progressions and anticipating throws. Edwards hasn’t thrown more than one TD pass in a game this season and should not be on fantasy rosters for the playoff push.

Lee Evans owners might actually be pining for the return of J.P. Losman, and there were times Monday that you had to wonder if Edwards was going to get pulled in favor of the erratic former “future franchise QB.” Losman has great skills but lacks on-field smarts. Yet, the one thing he does right is get the deep ball to Evans. If the Bills don’t make a switch, though, you can’t start Evans with any regular confidence. Josh Reed has not been worth much in fantasy leagues, but he has been a dependable target for Edwards on key downs. His loss only makes the Bills easier to defend in the passing game. With Reed sidelined, Evans has no real help to draw even a bit of defensive attention away from him.

While Edwards had possibly his worst game of the season, Marshawn Lynch came through with his best performance of 2008. He rushed for 119 yards and a score, catching 10 passes for 58 yards, including an 18-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown. Lynch is versatile and tough, and he runs equally well in short and open spaces. He hasn’t played up to expectations this season, but there is no way you can bench him if you have fantasy playoff aspirations. Fred Jackson rushed for a career-best 60 yards on 12 carries, and he remains a must-have handcuff for Lynch’s owners. Jackson has good vision and hits holes quickly before taking off for extra yards.

It was a night for reserve running backs to showcase their talents, as Cleveland’s Jerome Harrison scored on a 72-yard run. Some fantasy leaguers may be moved to add Harrison, but I would resist the urge unless you need him as a handcuff to Jamal Lewis. Harrison simply isn’t going to get enough touches to consistently post quality numbers, as he had not rushed for more than 48 yards in a game prior to this week. Even if Lewis were to go down, Harrison might struggle to provide anything more than adequate fantasy totals as a regular ball-carrier.

Brady Quinn managed the game well overall for Cleveland. He didn’t make costly mistakes despite being pressured often, especially by a blitzing Kawika Mitchell. Quinn finished with 185 passing yards, no TD passes, and no interceptions. Even though Quinn helped them win by not hurting the team, such performances indicate that you are better off with a more productive backup QB on your fantasy roster for the playoffs. Be sure to register for RotoUniversity on RotoExperts.com, where I’ll teach you how to form the ideal roster for you’re your fantasy postseason.

The best thing Quinn did was firmly establish a better on-field relationship with Braylon Edwards, who caught eight passes for 104 yards. Quinn did a nice job of threading the ball to Edwards, sometimes in tight windows. While the ultra-talented WR has been inconsistent this season, it’s now apparent he’ll have some good outings in the weeks ahead, even though he is working with a young QB. Edwards will have some off games, but you don’t want to miss out on the quality outings, so keep him active as a WR3. Kellen Winslow Jr. caught three passes for 40 yards, but at this point of the season, you should expect anything most tight ends produce to be bonus additions to the output of your true core players.

I could spend an entire day questioning the offensive strategies that the 49ers used when they clearly had a chance to beat Arizona. From a fantasy perspective, though, I was thoroughly impressed by the obvious adjustments made to the game plan. Finally, Mike Martz relented and tailored his attack to the strengths of his players, instead of expecting them to adapt to an offense not suited to their skills. Of course, with Mike Singletary pointing that classic intense stare in his direction, Martz really didn’t have any choice other than to be more flexible.

The Niners’ offense centered around the running game, with Frank Gore leading the way (99 yards on 23 carries). That’s no surprise to any fantasy player, as Gore is an elite running back. What was more of a revelation was Martz’s willingness to change the approach to better suit new starting quarterback Shaun Hill, who lacked significant experience in Martz’s seventy-step drop, force the linemen to block forever and look for the bomb approach. It’s a system that is designed for a star quarterback and standout pass-catchers, and San Francisco doesn’t have either of those. That has taken Martz long enough to realize, possibly even in time to save his job with the 49ers. Singletary may be around for awhile, and it’s not smart to challenge his desires right now. Even a defensive-minded guy like Singletary could see Martz was living in  2001 and not cognizant of the fact that he no longer has top-level players to suit his schemes.

Hill performed adequately, and while he threw 40 times, he often combined deep drops with quick hitters, trying to take what the defense gave him. He also focused on making many short and mid-range throws. Hill finished with two touchdowns and two interceptions, although he could have had more picks if not for penalties, and he also lost a fumble. His flip to Gore late in the game with the RB not even looking his way was one of the worst decisions I’ve seen this year, and in a long time for that matter. Hill looked very shaky, even though he didn’t have the pressure of adapting to Martz’s true offensive desires. If I don’t see improved play from him very quickly, I don’t even want Hill on my roster as a backup.

Young wideouts Jason Hill (seven catches, 84 yards) and Josh Morgan (four catches for 54 yards, including a 31-yard TD) were San Francisco’s leading pass-catchers. Hill displayed a knack for making key possession grabs, while Morgan again flashed the playmaking ability that made him generate buzz as a possible sleeper during the preseason. The pair could be the true future of the team at wide receiver. They seem to complement each other well and fit nicely with aging Isaac Bruce, who still commands defensive respect. Bruce caught just one ball for 12 yards and is no longer worth a spot on fantasy rosters. You should certainly pick up Hill and/or Morgan if you need more quality receiving depth for the stretch run.

Vernon Davis got back on his coach’s good side with his first TD reception of the season, a picturesque 18-yard grab. It was his only catch of the game, though, and Davis has to string together a few good fantasy performances before fantasy owners even consider adding him again. As we start getting closer to the fantasy postseason, you don’t want to gamble on a possible Davis “comeback”, when you just might get burned by him again. Overlooking “teaser” performances will be among the topics covered by me in the fantasy playoffs primer at RotoExperts.com’s new Roto University.

There weren’t many surprises from Arizona, as Kurt Warner (328 yards, three TDs, no interceptions) delivered another stellar performance. Warner is playing so well he can now be considered the top quarterback in fantasy football, having surpassed Drew Brees, at least for now, after the New Orleans QB had a spotty performance in a loss to Atlanta. Warner is playing so well that he’s making second-year man Steve Breaston look like the best No. 3 WR [on his team] to use in fantasy since back when Chris Henry was relevant. Breaston led the Arizona wideouts with seven catches for 121 yards, and Anquan Boldin's return has not cut into his numbers at all. Warner is throwing the ball so well, and so often, that the Cardinals obviously have the most productive trio of WRs in the league right now.

My one major concern coming out of Monday’s game was Tim Hightower. He totaled 22 yards on 13 carries, adding 28 receiving yards on six receptions. Hightower didn’t look like a player who was ready for his recently expanded role. He didn’t make defenders miss and didn’t break tackles with regularity. With time to prepare for him and the knowledge he would be the main ball-carrier, the Niners appeared to be able to defend him rather easily. There is no doubt that Hightower is a good short-yardage runner, but he may need to share time with another RB again to truly be effective. The additional playing time may not provide the expected major boost to Hightower’s fantasy production, and his owners may be better off wishing he returns to a part-time role. That could mean the return of Edgerrin James (four yards on two carries) to a more prominent role in the offense, although we all know he’ll be mediocre for fantasy purposes. Don’t get any ideas about J.J. Arrington (one carry, one yard) seeing more quality playing time. Smaller running backs who aren’t consistently elusive don’t become major cogs in their team’s offensive plans. - - Scott Engel