2007 NFL -- Week 5

Another week, another group of injured players listed as "questionable." Is it frustrating? Yes. Should it provoke violence? No, though my friend Pete doesn't listen.

So what should you do if you have 1 or 2 starters listed as "questionable" this week?

1) If you have a deep bench, drop someone you'd never expect to play and pick up someone who will be good this week if the starter is ruled out. I'm talking about Kenton Keith (Joseph Addai's back-up) or Ladell Betts (Clinton Portis's back-up). Both of these back-ups are currently available in my 14-owner league--though with 8 starters and 2 bench players, we don't have much room to keep extra players.

2) So if you have a short bench, you'll have to decide whether this "questionable" player is one of those guys who guts it out no matter the injury. I've dealt with Kellen Winslow's questionable status most of the year, yet he's one of the 3 top TE's in the league. He's not leaving my starting line-up until he proves he's too hurt to play. Other guys--like the 30-some great players who are ailing right now--should be game-time decisions. What do I mean? Read on:

3) No matter what you do, you must check the Internet Sunday morning to learn your player's final pre-game status. In my league, our final line-ups must be set 5 minutes before game-time. Find the sites that work for you--there are hundreds out there--bookmark 'em, and add them to your Sunday morning routine. Between 11am and 1pm, the updates pour in, telling you who's starting and who's out. Interested in Kenton Keith? Pick him up, drop your mediocre kicker, and wait until 10 minutes before your line-up must be set. If Addai is ruled out, you've got yourself a hardcore replacement.

Here are your Week 5 hardcore picks:

QB -- Eli Manning: Even with #1 receiver Plaxico Burress questionable, the Giants have enough offensive weapons to put up big numbers agains a week Jets D. Manning has had to go up against 3 of the top 12 defenses this season. Manning is the #11 scorer among QB's in my CBS Sportsline league, but expect him to improve to #8 or higher when he faces his easiest match-up thus far.

RB -- Reggie Bush was picked in the 1st or 2nd round of most fantasy drafts this year. As a result, along with Drew Brees, he's been worse than softcore; he's been just plain soft. But after a bye week, and with their backs against the wall at 0-3, they have a golden opportunity to redeem themselves at home against the Panthers' bottom-10 defense. And with Deuce McAllister out for the season, look for Bush to carry more of the load and remind people why he's one of the most exciting players in the sport.

WR -- Brandon Marshall.is primed for a hardcore performance at home against a Chargers defense that's even worse than the Panthers' D. The Broncos' #1 receiver, Javon Walker, is out this week, giving Marshall sufficient motivation to prove that he can help lead this offense. And fortunately for Marshall--and not so for the Broncos--the team's running game is in chaos thanks to Travis Henry's drug bust. Cutler will do a lot of softcore throwing; thank goodness he's got a hardcore receiver who can make his QB look good.

TE -- Chris Cooley. Take this pick to the bank and cash it, hardcore style. Why? Do the math:

-- Redskins are at home

-- #1 receiver Santana Moss is doubtful

-- Detroit has a potent offense, which will force Jason Campbell to throw

-- Detroit's defense is 3rd worst in the league

-- Cooley has 2 TD's but is averaging only 18 yards a game--after averaging 45 a game each of the last two seasons

Picking players isn't guess work; mix the variables together, and you've got your answer.

Defense -- The 49ers were drafted in many leagues this year, but most owners have given up on them. After this week, many of those owners will express remorse. The Niners are at home and facing one of the most pathetic QB's in the league, Steve McNair. Am I being sacreligious? Shouldn't I be praising McNair for being such a gutsy and crafty veteran? After watching him play this season, it's clear that this will be his last season, and quite possibly will be the final start of his career. He's playing with the mental weakness of a rookie--something the Niners will exploit starting with McNair's first fumble after tripping over a tuft of dirt.

2007 NFL -- Week 4 Recap -- Introducing Jo-Jo McSofty and Dirk Hardy

In every fantasy league, there's a Jo-Jo McSofty and a Dirk Hardy:

• Jo-Jo McSofty makes all the wrong moves at all the wrong times. He sticks with bad players too long, picks up one-hit wonders a week too late, and makes excuses like, "If I'd had these players last week, I would've won this week . . . dag-nabit . . ."

• Dirk Hardy plays each week like it's a season, examining each of his players with objectivity and acumen, leading to the development of line-ups that (a) maximize the probability of winning that week, and (b) doesn't leave him vulnerable in future weeks.

Don't be a Jo-Jo. I can't tell you how many times just this season I've witnessed my competitors clamor to pick up journeymen who didn't know the meaning of having a "career day" before breaking through in one glorious game. Look at Chris Brown's performance Week 1, when he ran for more than 180 yards; the person who picked him up was sorely disappointed by Brown's pathetic Week 2 output. Or examine Kevin Curtis's Week 3, when he cracked 200 yards. It's not surprising he had a forgettable Week 4.

Even worse, Jo-Jo's tend to hang onto bad players way too long. Rather than improve their team from week to week, they expect Mr. Mediocre Quarterback to live up to the hype, rather than identifying how many better QB's remain on waivers.

After winning my 14-team head-to-head league last year, I've started this one 3-1. In typical Dirk Hardy fashion, I've just dropped LaMont Jordan. A free agent pick-up right before Week 1, Jordan outperformed nearly every other running backs in the first 4 weeks. A McSofty wouldn't dare drop him, fearing that others would perceive him to be "an idiot." But a Hardy cuts bait when reality hits. With a bye week upcoming, with Jordan questionable for Week 6, and with Dominic Rhodes returning from suspension, Jordan likely will never put up the same numbers for the rest of the season. With an eye toward assembling the best team for the playoffs, a Hardy won't hesitate to replace Jordan.

If you remember nothing else from this post, play fantasy as you would (or should) play the stock market:

• Don't get emotionally attached to your players.

• Find the best bargains.

• Hold on to your best players only if their anticipated rate of return cannot be matched by free agents. LaMont Jordan is a prime example. He's the penny stock that damn near turned the N.Y. Stock Exchange on its head. But at the end of the day, he's just a penny stock. Your future as an investor in great fantasy players lies elsewhere.