Week 16 and it's championship week. I'm so excited, I'm so excited, I'm so . . . eliminated. But that doesn't stop me from living vicariously through you. Allow me to be dying Tom Hanks and you the ear of Matt Damon in Saving Private Ryan. Earn this. (At least, that's what I think he said. Never could really hear it. Could have been "Play Risk" or "Carlton Fisk" or literally, "Urn This.")
Here's what you'll need in Week 16 to earn the 2009 title:
1) A QB. Preferably one with a killer matchup and a playoff spot on the line.
Must Starts: Aaron Rodgers/Matt Schaub/Donovan McNabb/Tony Romo
Desperate? Vince Young/Alex Smith
Grab Some Pine: Brett Favre
The top four are no brainers. Season-long starters with restaurant quality matchups. (Rodgers might put up 40 against the Seahawks and Schaub literally has no one left to hand the ball off to.) It would take gnocchi the size of Hoboken to bench Favre and start Smith or Young in the league's championship but here are two stats to consider: 1) Favre has 50 INTs in the months of December and January since 2004, and B) Smith's opponent, the Lions 'D', has allowed a league worst 30 TD passes this season.
You'll notice there's no Brady, Peyton or Brees in here. Ask me the problem with playing them in Week 16. Go ahead, ask. I'll wait. What's the prob – TIMING! Brady's coming off his two worst games of the season and Manning is playing against the No. 1 'D' in the league. Reason to be wary right there.
For Brees there's even more uncertainty. How the Saints decide to play out the season is the biggest question mark on the fantasy board. Now that undefeated is off the books does Sean Payton get cautious and rest his starters before they accumulate the stats that they're (you're) used to? I'm betting yes. Does that mean you bench Brees or Colston or Thomas? I'm betting no. But it might be smart to manage expectations.
2) Running backs who are on a tear. Must Starts: Chris Johnson/Ricky Williams/Jonathan Stewart/Frank Gore
Don't Have Anything Better? Jerome Harrison/Jason Snelling/Quinton Ganther 
N to the O: Anybody associated with the Texans or Raiders.
