Roundtable - Week 13

  Posted 11/28 by Staff, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Feel free to eavesdrop as various staff members share their views on a range of topics in discussion format. This week, they touch on the following:

• Cowboys vs. Packers
• Kolby Smith
• Adrian Peterson (CHI), Andre Hall
• Eagles QBs
• Dolphins RBs

Cowboys vs. Packers

What specific matchups are you looking forward to in this game?

Which individual players do you think will have big fantasy games, and which do you think will disappoint?

Jeff Pasquino: This is going to be a great game, and I'm looking forward to this big matchup.

Both teams are the class of the NFC and any time two teams meet this late in the year with just one loss each you have to sit up and take notice.

As for the matchups I want to see, I want to see what Dallas tries to do against Brett Favre. I'm expecting Green Bay to go with Ryan Grant as the lone back for much of the game, plus either 3 WRs and Donald Lee or 4 WRs, forcing the Cowboys to try and keep pace with the Packer passing attack. So what if Green Bay has struggled running the ball at times this year? Favre has been spectacular this year and Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones have been one of the toughest 3-WR combos to cover this season. Dallas' weakness is certainly their secondary and Ken Hamlin has been spun like a top in several games, so look for Favre to press the middle third of the secondary.

The Packers will run the ball to burn a little clock and to keep the LBs honest throughout the game, but I would not expect a huge game from Ryan Grant unless Green Bay was up big later in the game.

As for the Cowboys, look for Tony Romo to try and counter-punch to Favre's attacks on the Dallas defense and on the scoreboard. Terrell Owens and Jason Witten will see plenty of coverage from a good Green Bay defense, but Witten should be able to find some holes down the seam. Getting Patrick Crayton back helps as the crossing slant will also be a big pass option for Romo.

Julius Jones and Marion Barber have both been effective at times, but the Packers LB's are too quick for Jones to accomplish much this game. Barber, as usual, will get the bulk of the work and pound the inside when he runs and also contribute on a few screen plays. Barber, like Grant, would seem to be the most valuable guy to have on the field if Dallas is up by two or more scores in the fourth quarter as he can just wear down a defense in the waning minutes.

Overall, I expect this game to be a shoot-out and highly entertaining to watch. The surprise here is that Green Bay will win the game because the biggest mismatch is the Packers passing attack vs. the Dallas weaknesses at LB and DB. Favre and Romo both will get 300+ yards and 2+ TDs, but Dallas won't be able to keep up. The Packers defense has also been more opportunistic this season and if Favre gets a shorter field to work on, that could be the difference and it should play out that way. I expect the Packers to take the #1 seed lead in the NFC on Thursday with a 34-27 victory.

Jason Wood: It looks like Charles Woodson is banged up, but I would've loved to see if he still has the goods to cover TO. This will be a great chance to see strength on strength, with the Packers dominant front four going up against a Cowboys offensive line that has really played well this year. Romo has an uncanny ability to escape the rush; and this should be one of his toughest tasks yet. Although they're not competing against one another on the field, how can any football fan not look forward to seeing Brett Favre, the league's all-time gunslinger go up against the new sheriff of the NFL?

Marc Faletti: Two names for you: Jason Witten and Donald Lee.

This game is all about linebackers and safeties who can hit but not cover, and the two tight ends should have huge games exploiting the middle of the field. Lee has been quietly emerging as one of the best fantasy TEs in the league, and he could have a memorable national performance on Thursday if the Cowboys try to stick someone like Hamlin or Williams on him.

Chris Smith: I never would have guessed at the start of this season that it would be the 10-1 Packers invading Dallas to take on the 10-1 Cowboys. This has the makings of an epic battle and should be fun to watch. There are many ways to break this game down but I see it coming down to one thing...

A motivated Terrell Owens taking on the Packers secondary. Owens has been the 'Man' this season and he will be focused on having a huge game at home in a battle for home field throughout the playoffs.

I think it will be a high-scoring, exciting game. I'm leaning towards a Cowboys victory but it will be close. Don't be surprised to see 700+ passing yards combined between the two teams.

Jeff Pasquino: Two players to watch to see if they'll be ready for this game is CB Charles Woodson for the Packers and also WR Patrick Crayton for the Cowboys. If both are a go, they likely negate each other - but if Crayton is ready and Woodson can't answer the bell, Green Bay will struggle in coverage.

Like Marc said as well, Witten is a problem for the Packers. I expect Atari Bigby to pick him up in coverage on passing downs and that's a great battle to watch.

Jason Wood: I'm not a betting man per se, but I think the Cowboys are going to make quick work of the Packers. Not all 10-1 teams are created equal and while I think the Pack has proven itself to be a legitimately good team, I think the Cowboys have been and continue to be the one really elite team in the NFC. I would expect the Cowboys to win by at least a TD or two; and this could be a game where Favre actually has a few turnovers because I think he'll be playing from behind.

David Yudkin: This game could easily decide home field for the NFC playoffs and should be a battle to determine how strong the Packers really are. Many people have questioned whether Green Bay is as strong as their 10-1 record, and a case could be made that they are not. Green Bay has only beaten 3 teams with winning records (and not exactly the top tier of teams) and 5 of their victories haven been by a touchdown or less.

Dallas' opponents have been even easier, as the only team they've beaten with a winning record is the New York football Giants. However, Dallas has frequently beat up on the opposition, and in the eye's of many that makes them a stronger team.

I happen to think that the Packers defense will show that they are as advertised while the Dallas defense may show that they are not quite as good as they are made out to be. They are 1-1 against teams ranked Top 10 in scoring.

Things that I will find interesting to monitor...

• Can GB continue to build upon the success of Ryan Grant and establish a consistent running game?
• Will the lack of Woodson and Crayton impact the Dallas passing game?
• Can Romo keeping putting up big numbers against a Top 5 defense?
• Can Barber get into the end zone (Green Bay has only allowed 4 rushing TD)?
• Can the Packers passing attack do as well as the Patriots did against the Cowboys running a similar offense (NE had 373 yards and 5 TD through the air)?
• Can the Packers scheme to minimize Owens?
• Can Favre get off the sneid playing in Dallas (IIRC he is 0-8 lifetime).

Should be one of the better games on the NFL docket this year.

Kolby Smith

What's in store for him for the rest of the season?

Assume Larry Johnson will not return this year. Is the Chiefs' OL good enough to make Smith a good option as a fantasy starter? Or was it just the Raiders' lousy run defense that made him look good last week?

Jeff Pasquino: The reason that many fantasy owners were holding on to LJ at this point was that the schedule looked so inviting. Kansas City has games against the Jets, Bills, and Detroit in Weeks 13, 14 and 16 respectively. Even the Week 15 matchup against the Titans doesn't look so bad with Haynesworth out of their lineup. If you thought that LJ could rack up serious numbers if he was healthy enough to start in these games, you have to like his replacement - assuming he can play.

That was the question coming into last week, and Kolby Smith answered that question emphatically. Smith racked up 150 yards and scored two touchdowns, and yes I realize it was against the Raiders, but you have to give credit to any RB (especially a rookie) who can come in and put up that kind of performance in any week, let alone their first start. I fully expect for the Chiefs to continue to ride on Smith's big game and hitch their cart to him for the duration until Johnson might come back - if he can. I think that if Smith is the guy for all of December that he has shown that he can come off the bench, just like he did at Louisville when Michael Bush went down, and put up solid numbers.

Jason Wood: I said in a blog post last week that if Kolby Smith couldn't have success against the Raiders, he wasn't going to have success against any team. The good news is Smith answered the bell with a 100+ yard effort. We saw enough of him to think that, if the KC strength of schedule pans out the way we think, he could be a serviceable option down the stretch. I honestly hadn't seen much of Smith in college; and so my basis for recommending him (or not) is almost purely driven by the numbers. That said, the Chiefs simply can't and won't abandon the run. They have no hope of winning games without a reliable ground attack and Smith seems well positioned to garner a ton of work. The Chiefs don't seem ready to declare LJ done for the year, but as their playoff chances dwindle, it's only a matter of semantics; he's not playing in 2007. And it's far too late in the season to acquire anyone of consequence which means, Smith = The Guy.

I was pleased to have picked him up in several leagues last week. While I'm not expecting miracles, I do think he could approximate top 20 numbers the rest of the way which makes him an intriguing utility option.

Marc Faletti: Kolby Smith didn't do anything spectacular on Sunday, but we don't usually expect a third-stringer to wow us, do we? What Smith did do was hit the hole hard, make decisive cuts, and fall forward whenever possible. Those fundamentals should help him finish in the top 20 most weeks because we all know Herm Edwards likes to ride one tailback -- a lot. In many ways, this is the ideal scenario for a running back -- he has no legit back-up, he has a rookie QB that the team wants to minimize, and yet the team has threats like Bowe and Gonzalez who force the defense to honor the pass despite the aforementioned rookie signal-caller.

Smith may struggle against San Diego on Sunday, but most weeks will be big weeks.

Jeff Haseley: I agree with everyone else: It appears as if Kolby Smith can play. Ride him and the Chiefs easy as pie schedule as far as you can. While he probably won't get 150 yards and two scores every week, he still has tremendous value going forward, because he will be the prime ball carrier on a team that will continue to make running the ball their main offensive attack. What's not to like about that?

David Yudkin: I picked up Smith in one of my leagues because I was down to Anthony Thomas or Jerious Norwood, and obviously he had a huge week to save my behind.

I'm certainly hopeful that he can continue to be productive, but I am concerned that we may see him be inconsistent even with a heavy workload. The Chiefs can't play the Raiders every week, and in most years I would think that he would be eaten alive by the Chargers. I still think he could post marginal numbers this week and I have no visions of an ADP-like performance.

Taking a quick look around the NFL, by my count there are currently 14 teams that were using a different primary RB than was to be expected at this stage of the game.

Smith would be a no-brainer pick up for fantasy owners lacking RB depth, but teams that have avoided the injury bug may look to roster him but play the guys they've been playing all along.

On paper, KC's schedule looks favorable for Smith and we know the team will continue to run the ball. I think Smith should do well and put up RB2 type numbers heading forwarded.

Adrian Peterson (Chi), Andre Hall (DEN)

These guys will probably be two of the hotter waiver-wire pickups this week. Will they justify that status?

Jason Wood: At a most basic level ANY running back with a chance to garner the majority of his team's carries is worth owning at this point. So, both Hall and Peterson will (and should) be rostered in all but the shallowest of leagues. But the real question is, can they perform well enough to justify inserting into your starting lineups?

The truth is, if you've been relying on either the Denver or Chicago running game; you are likely not competing for a playoff spot in your league currently. Benson has been a huge disappointment; yet the Bears have stuck with him. Peterson has been the backup to a number of Bears runners now and you have to wonder why the coaches haven't given him his shot yet. However, if you said the same thing about Justin Fargas a few weeks ago (as I did), you've missed out on a solid waiver wire pickup.

What do you perceive Peterson's value to be for the rest of the season? Adequate fantasy starter? Solid flex? (12 team league.)

Jeff Pasquino: Peterson is much more valuable in point-per-reception leagues, as he already has 33 catches on the year. For the most part, Chicago has used him as the third down / passing down back and he has been rather effective in that role. Unfortunately he was pigeonholed into that role and his insertion into the lineup often tipped the defense as to the play calls. Now that won't happen, which is a plus.

The Bears were also talking about working him in more with Benson's struggles this season, particularly as of late (post-Week 9 bye). Now with Benson out they get their wish.

The downside? The schedule looks rather poor for Peterson. After hosting the Giants in Week 13 the fantasy playoff weeks consist of @Washington, @Minnesota and hosting Green Bay. That's rough - the 11th, 1st, and 13th teams against the run. If you picked Peterson during another part of the schedule I'd like him much more, but for now he's a RB2/3 option at best.

Bottom line for me is that if you are desperate for RB help, he is a starting NFL RB on a decent team that likes to run the ball, and also throw it to him. I wouldn't count on him to save your fantasy team, though.

Jeff Haseley: I agree with what Jeff P. said about Adrian Peterson. He is not a bad pickup if you're desperate for RB help. He'll get good rushing yardage, but he'll also catch several passes. With that rough schedule coming up, though, he probably won't set the fantasy world on fire. In my opinion, Peterson is a good addition if you need someone to start at RB, but he won't be the one player that will boost your average fantasy team to the title.

Jason Wood: I think between Adrian Peterson and Andre Hall, Peterson interests me more because he should now clearly get lots of touches. I'm not sure he'll do a lot with each rushing attempt (although he might), but the guy is pretty much a stone cold lock for 15+ rushes and a couple of receptions each week. That means he should, at a minimum, be a halfway decent utility guy if your main starters are nicked up.

Marc Faletti: Chicago's Peterson didn't look any better than Benson when he got more touches. Yeah, he carried some guys a few yards and showed heart, but there wasn't much room to run and he also seemed hesitant at times. He's worth a roster spot for the reasons Wood enumerates, but he's a last-resort starter because of the limitations of his situation and his mediocre talents.

How about Andre Hall? It's questionable whether he'll start this week. His ankle is dinged, and Selvin Young may return to the lineup. But is he worth picking up anyway? In other words, what kind of upside potential does he have during the fantasy playoffs?

Jeff Pasquino: Andre Hall has a new present - a high ankle sprain - and probably isn't worth discussing for the rest of the year. Denver is revolving door at the position, and the joke of "RB Denver" since Portis left has never been more true than this year. Whoever is healthy is the guy to have, and good luck predicting that.

Jason Wood: Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey have talked about Hall being better than Selvin Young from the start. I'm inclined to listen to them as they know rookies and Cecil knows the Broncos about as well as anyone on the planet. Putting aside injury, I could see Hall having another few solid games. However, with Hall and Young unproven and nicked up; why should we expect Shanahan to commit to one guy? The Broncos offense is just too hit or miss for my tastes, and unlike Peterson (who is the main guy by default), we really can't be sure week to week about how the carries will be divided in Denver.

Marc Faletti: Hall's got feature-back tools, but his injury woes are a concern. If I had to either Hall or Peterson for the playoffs, I'd gamble with Hall; he's much more likely to put up the kind of numbers that could help you win a fantasy playoff game. Unless your league stinks, you'll be facing some tough competition in the postseason, and you may want to have a potential home run hitter on your team like Hall rather than an 8-10 pointer like Peterson.

Chris Smith: Both players are worth rostering at this point and could help a fantasy team down the stretch if called upon. However when we are talking about the potential to bring a fantasy team championship gold in 2007, I am rolling the dice on Hall and not looking back. He is an explosive player within a system that rolls out running back production like Budweiser rolls out beer.

I believe Hall (if healthy, which is a big question at this point) can put up 20+ point fantasy efforts down the stretch and would make a very nice RB2 in the playoff drive. I see Peterson as nothing else than a decent fantasy option that will plug a gap in your starting lineup but not catapult you to the promised land.

Jeff Pasquino: You guys are lauding Hall, but would you seriously pick him up and would you use him with any confidence? I don't trust Shanahan when it comes to running backs. Hall could be named the starter in a given week and then get just a few token carries. It's always a gamble in Denver.

Eagles QBs

Andy Reid will apparently start McNabb this week. But is that the right decision? Does the team play harder when McNabb is out (for Garcia last year and Feeley this year)?

Jeff Pasquino: Both Feeley and Garcia have done remarkably well with McNabb out. I don't think it is a coincidence.

McNabb looks tentative when he plays, especially this year. Yes, Feeley made two bad decisions last week, both resulting in interceptions, but he also made a few successful throws that McNabb wouldn't have attempted this season. The diving catch by Curtis, for example, where the ball was thrown low where only Curtis could get it -- McNabb doesn't attempt that throw.

For whatever reason, McNabb isn't willing to give his WRs a chance. He waits for guys to "come open," and in the NFL against good secondaries this just doesn't happen every play. You have to make a throw at times, putting the ball in a spot for your WR / TE to make a play.

Personally, I would like to see more Feeley.

I'm sure that the Philly radio stations are teeming with "bench McNabb" clamor. The local papers are backing Feeley to get a shot. I think the Eagles need a change / shakeup, and this could spark them. In a year where 5-6 is still in the hunt, I say why not?

It's possible that the team does play harder when McNabb is out. They do know that they need to raise their game when he's unavailable, but they've had to elevate all year because #5 hasn't been fully healthy all season. I don't think it is much different with Feeley under center - as a starter. A QB coming in as a reliever mid-game is a much different scenario than one in which you've prepped all week with your QB.

Jeff Haseley: Philadelphia always seems to rise to the occasion when McNabb is out. Whether that's Koy Detmer, Jeff Garcia or A.J. Feeley. Why that is, I don't know. Donovan McNabb is a very good QB, but he does have his flaws. Over the years and injuries, McNabb's flaws have become more prevalent. I am for the Eagles going with A.J. Feeley once again at QB this week, because he gives them the best chance to win, in my opinion. We don't know how McNabb will play after returning from injury, but we do know how the team responded to Feeley and how they have historically responded when McNabb has been absent. Unfortunately, I don't think that's what going to happen. Andy Reid is a Donovan McNabb guy and if he's healthy, he'll likely get the start, but I don't think it's the best move for the team. Two things can happen if McNabb starts next week at home vs. Seattle.

1. He has a great game, the Eagles win and every talks about how McNabb still has some tread on the tires
2. He has a horrendous game, throwing at least one INT, possibly for a TD. The home team boos him and the Eagles begin their descent to miss the playoffs.

Considering McNabb's struggles, which one is more likely to happen? I'll let you decide that, but in my opinion, #2 looks more likely.

Jeff Pasquino: There are possible outcomes outcomes as well. Mediocrity is a big #3 option. Injury is also a possibility, but I'll put that one aside. A QB gaffe that costs them the game is another, and probably the most likely scenario against a good defense. Donovan could easily press and try and answer his critics (again) and force some throws. I wouldn't be surprised by an average-to-bad game if he plays.

All that said, Reid left himself an "out" by stating that McNabb is the starter -- when he is 100% healthy. I think there's a 90% chance that he isn't 100% healthy by Sunday.

Jason Wood: The Jeffs make some great points and, as an Eagles fan and season ticket holder, I find myself torn. On one hand, it disgusts me how much the average Philly fan craps on Reid and McNabb; they have no idea how good we have things. Yes, both are prone to the occasional mistake but there are very few tandems in the league I would rather have.

That said, I firmly believe that McNabb needs to sit for now. The bitter irony is that McNabb was just starting to look like himself in the last two games, showing some breakaway speed again as well as a willingness to take off for the first down marker. But one has to think that, no matter how confident he is, yet another injury (or in this case injuries) has to get him wondering if he's snake bitten.

I'm firmly on record as saying that Feeley is a pedestrian QB at best. And lest anyone think his INTs were flukes against a superior team, remember that he threw FOUR INTs returned for TDs when he was a starter in Miami for most of the season. He just doesn't have a strong enough arm to zip those sideline out passes; and defensive backs can break on the ball.

However, the byproduct of having McNabb on the sidelines seems to be the coaches' willingness to call a more balanced game. For as well as Garcia played last year, it was really as much about the Eagles committing to the run that led to their run to another NFC East crown. And while Feeley threw the ball quite a bit this weekend, the Eagles showed a willingness to run in key situations (on 4th and 1, at the goal line, on 1st down) that is usually nonexistent.

Chris Smith: A.J. Feeley should not be a #1 quarterback at the NFL level. He is a good backup and capable of holding down the fort when called upon but he isn't the answer for the Eagles this season or down the line. I agree with Jason after watching him with the Dolphins in that he simply doesn't have the arm strength to make many of the throws necessary for consistent NFL production.

The Eagles are in danger of slipping out of Wildcard contention but at this moment are still within a large pack of 6-5 and 5-6 teams battling to make the playoffs. With another loss or two, it is possible that we'll see the Eagles look to the future and Kolb this season; but in reality, the Eagles will likely be in the hunt to the final couple of weeks of the regular season and it will probably be McNabb starting at QB if he is healthy.

Is this McNabb's last year in Philadelphia? If he does stay in Philly next year, will Kevin Kolb be given a fair shot at the starting job, or will Reid stick with McNabb all the way?

Jeff Pasquino: The big question. McNabb and Reid are tied since 1999 as Reid's first pick ever, and Reid remains quite faithful to Donovan. Could it be his last year? Possibly. If they get a great trade offer, I bet he goes. Odds are that he stays for one more year to allow Kolb to learn from the bench and get accustomed to the NFL game one more season. Kolb will get his fair shot if he is ready but he won't be for 2008. They won't push for him to just come in and take over for McNabb while he is still in town, and Donovan's market value won't be high until he has another Pro Bowl caliber season. I expect McNabb to play for the Eagles in 2008 and then Kolb to be the guy after that point. Reid and the Eagles could certainly hand him the reins - but I don't think it is likely until 2009.

Marc Faletti: This is a tough call for Andy Reid. He owes much of his success to McNabb, and the guy's put up with a lot in Philly over his career. However, McNabb seems to be increasingly negative in his attitude towards the city and his situation, and it's clear that he's working through injury (and possibly confidence) issues on the field as well. If it were my call, he'd sit for the next few games, and then I'd trot him out there for a swan song in week 17 to let him remind other teams in the league what he can do. Then I'd roll with Kolb next year.

The problem with keeping McNabb is that you can't hold him as a back-up; he will NOT stand for it. He'll be a real menace in the press and the locker room if he has to sit every game next year, and it just isn't worth the hassle. That's exactly why I think the Eagles will part ways with him. However, if he's back, he's the starter. Like I said, there's no other way to play it if you want your team's sanity intact.

Chris Smith: I believe this is the last season for McNabb in Philadelphia and there are many possible landing spots for him in 2008 with teams desperate for proven QB help.

It should be an interesting offseason in Philadelphia as the winds of change are definitely beginning to blow.

Dolphins RBs

Between Jesse Chatman, Patrick Cobbs, the newly re-signed Samkon Gado, and possibly Lorenzo Booker - I guess playing time going forward will largely depend on health.

Which of these guys, if any, do you think will have the most fantasy success this season?

Maurile Tremblay: It looks like Chatman will probably play this week; but if he can't go, it could be down to Gado, Cobbs, and Booker. (Maybe Booker will finally get to show his stuff?) The Dolphins' next two games are against the Jets and the Bills, which don't have great run defenses.

Jeff Pasquino: Before Ricky Williams went down on the Monday Night Soupball game, I would have said that he had the most upside. Now that he's out of the picture, the focus will be on Jesse Chatman. Chatman is a veteran player and has worked well for Cam Cameron in the past, so we know what he can do. He's the guy I would want. He could put up decent numbers if he is the featured back for the Dolphins through December. But it's also possible that he'll end up sharing carries in a RBBC situation with Gado and Cobbs.

Cobbs is the wildcard, and lesser-known option. He was undrafted out of North Texas, where he led the country in rushing and scoring in 2003 and was the feature back for the Mean Green for three seasons before getting signed by the Patriots after the 2006 NFL Draft. Cobbs bounced from the Pats to the Steelers and then the Dolphins until getting put on the active roster in November of 2006, where he has remained ever since. Now he could get his shot to be the next RB to come out of nowhere and shine - which this year seems more possible than ever. If Jesse Chatman remains slowed by injury, the remaining options would be Cobbs, Gado, and Booker. But Gado was cut ahead of Cobbs just last week, and Lorenzo Booker was last seen on a milk carton.

Marc Faletti: It was unconscionable for the Dolphins to send Ricky Williams into that (as Jeff called it) SoupBowl. Of course he got hurt; he's had no chance to get up to speed on conditioning or contact. He was the most talented back, but now the point is moot.

The Dolphins are total mess on offense which makes it difficult to find any value in their running backs. You usually need an offense capable of easing the pressure via the air and one that's capable of taking a lead or two. Neither of those factors can be found in the Dolphins and old-man/rookie John Beck. If I had to pick one, I would still roll with Chatman, who acquits himself well in the running and passing game.

Chris Smith: Do the Dolphins have Sammie Smith, Karim Abdul-Jabbar, Lamar Smith or Bernie Parmalee on speed dial? I would love to say this is the week that Lorenzo Booker makes an impact but lets get serious here. He has already had countless opportunities with all the injuries in the Dolphins backfield and he hasn't even had a sniff. Not likely to happen at this point and there must be something pretty major happening with him behind the scenes.

If Chatman can play, I think you'll see Chatman and Gado split carries. We may also see Cobbs get a real opportunity to show his ability. But none of them look like great fantasy options.

Jeff Haseley: Bernie Parmalee? Good one, Chris! Miami and Cam Cameron must be thinking to themselves - Is it week 17 yet? I know that sounds harsh, but sometimes the best remedy for a bad day is to have it end. Miami has gone through so much this season. Losing Trent Green, Ronnie Brown and several minor injuries that kept players out for one or two weeks if not longer, not to mention the brief Ricky Williams stint. Well maybe they can put on their game faces for at least one win this season. Perhaps this week against the J-E-T-S, which ironically has stood for "Just End The Season" in the years past. So which Miami RB has the best chance at fantasy success? Being that Lorenzo Booker hasn't been given the chance to display his skills, despite all the openings in the RB position, it doesn't look good for him. Something just doesn't make sense there. Is he not picking up the offense? Is he not NFL ready? If Chatman is healthy, he'll be the one who has the most production, simply because he knows Cameron's system. If he isn't fully healthy then it likely will be a combination that includes both Gado and Cobbs. But does it really matter? Let's not forget that the Dolphins were winless even with Ronnie Brown. If I had to make a wager, I'd say that Chatman has the most production from here on out, but I'm 100% sure that anything can happen.

Jason Wood: We'll never be privy to the goings on in that locker room, but with so many veterans I have to imagine there's a tremendous sense of "get me to the offseason." It's only natural that guys nearing the end of their careers get dejected at such a dismal season. How many more productive years does Jason Taylor or Zach Thomas have? The Dolphins franchise is an ungodly mess right now and I can't imagine they can afford to keep Cameron unless he gets the team to show SOME signs of life in the final weeks.

Cobbs may be the most intriguing option, but I don't think any of the Dolphin RBs are going to help needy fantasy owners.

Has Lorenzo Booker's dynasty value taken a hit this year based on his inability to crack the lineup as a rookie?

Jeff Pasquino: I have no idea what to say about Booker. I bought into the hype on him in the preseason and I still think he has the right mix of talent and smarts, but there has to be something else going on that keeps him from getting on the field. The most likely explanation is that, while he has ability as a runner and receiver, his pass-blocking is not up to par. With his skill set, he'd be a natural third-down back, but they can't put him in the game on third downs until he can pass block sufficiently well. He was a Day 1 draft pick this year so that means the Dolphins liked him enough to invest, but Miami isn't really known for managing their drafts very well (see the multiple picks traded for QBs over the past few seasons). I would hold on to Booker for now in deep Dynasty leagues, but I want to see him do something in the next 12 months or else it is time to cut bait.

Marc Faletti: Lo Booker looks like he's a candidate to be released by the Dolphins at some point. If you weren't going to roll him out by this point in a lost season, he must be a massive disappointment. I still think he has the tools to make an impact in the NFL, but it seems to me he's going to have to find his chance on some other team in the indeterminate future.

Maurile Tremblay: Thanks, everyone. Enjoy the games this weekend, and we'll meet back here next week.