With the retirement of Kurt Warner, there has been a void created in the fantasy football universe. Kurt Warner was a legit fantasy stud and one that could be counted on to consistently slip into the third round of the fantasy draft.  As long he was surrounded by quality weapons and secured with good pocket protection, Warner continued to surprise fantasy owners and pundits year after year, game after game, with a level of play the helped many owners over the last few seasons ride deep into the playoffs.  The true surprise and absolute travesty is that even with his elite ability and elevated stats, every team he played for tried to give his job to someone else.  So the initial impact your fantasy team will take is that you will no longer be able to wait until the 10th quarterback selected in your draft to secure a top 3 guy, but the tremors do not stop there. 

The Cardinals have tried on a couple of occasions to give Warner’s position to the heir apparent Matt Leinart and they would have done just that if Leinart’s interceptions and bad decisions had not proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was not ready for the job.  Regardless of Leinart’s on field ineptness the Cardinal brass was still bent on him being the guy and it was not until Ken Wisenhunt took over the helm and stated without reservation that Kurt would lead this team, that the Cardinals started to produce for their fantasy owners.  However, because of the insistence on Leinart we did, as a fantasy industry, get a good look at the future and it spells a diminishment in the production of the red bird supporting cast.  

I am not going to say that the Matt Leinart is going to a worthless fantasy quarterback. It is my guess that his extended time with a clipboard and opportunity to learn from a veteran who is notorious for being generous with his knowledge and wisdom has allowed Matt to improve on the things that led to his removal, reading defenses, decision making and patience.  I am going to say that even an improved Matt Leinart, is not Kurt Warner.  

This will have a trickle down effect across the entire team.  The value of Larry Fitzgerald will slip slightly, although Fitzy was Leinart’s favorite target when on the field so Larry should still be a top 8 wide out.  The impact of Anquan Boldin will be greatly reduced.  Boldin has been almost invisible in the majority of Leinart starts.  The greatest impact however will be in the running game.  Beanie Wells showed some flashes of greatness as his rookie year wore on.  The loss of Warner will have an immediate impact on the win/loss column for the Cardinals because Kurt was the unquestioned leader of this team, Leinart is not.  If the Cardinals trail in more games than not, the running game will be completely ineffective, leaving Beanie wells where Edgrerrin James was, 65 yards a game, no touchdowns. 

Although I am not saying dismiss Leinart or the Cardinals in your fantasy draft next year, I am saying tread lightly.  As the second installment of the Matt Leinart era in Arizona begins again, the hopes of Cardinal fantasy owners everywhere is dependant on Matt Leinart’s maturation, an assumption of which there is no evidence whatsoever.

The Panthers seem to be playing for John Fox’s job.  With the Saints resting their stars I expect the Panthers to take this one easily.  Carolina by 14.

Cleveland Browns by 1 at home over the Jacksonville Jaguars

This one we have 2 teams going in opposite directions.  The Browns have won 3 in a row and the Jaguars have lost 3 straight.  Browns take this one by a touchdown.

Dallas Cowboys by 3 at home over the Philadelphia Eagles

The Cowboys have actually managed to put together a couple of wins in December which automatically have all “experts” putting them as Superbowl champs and proclaiming all their late season woes behind them.  I am not convinced.  The Eagles have won 6 in a row and will make it 7 today.

Tennessee Titans by 6 at the Seattle Seahawks

This game we get to see if Chris Johnson can over take Eric Dickerson.  I predict he will get to 2000 but not quite to 2105.  Tennessee takes it by 14

Eliminator

For my eliminator this week I will take the Vikings over the Giants.  With everything to play for last week the Giants laid an egg against the Panthers.  I can’t imagine how bad they are going to play this week with nothing at stake.

I think the Bengals will take this one at home the Chiefs will keep it within 10.

Pittsburgh Steelers by 3 at home over the Baltimore Ravens

In the last few weeks the Steelers have lost to the Browns and the Raiders.  Baltimore should be able to take this one.

Arizona Cardinals by 15 at home over the St Louis Rams

Cards at home against a rookie QB?  15 should be a joke. Card by a ton.

Indianapolis Colts by 4 over the New York Jets

Colts take this one by a touchdown to stay undefeated.

Eliminator

For my eliminator I will take the San Francisco 49ers over the Detroit Lions.  Anyone over the Lions is a sure thing right?

Jason Snelling, Atlanta- Snelling is going to be the ground artillery this weekend against the Buffalo Bills worst run defense in the league and with Turner out and Norwood limited, Snelling should have no one poaching carries goal line or otherwise.

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati- You probably rode this horse from week 1 through injury and then you sat and watched Bernard Scott and Larry Johnson get all the carries in his stead. But Ced-Ben is back and the Chiefs are TERRIBLE against the run. Play him with confidence.

Malcolm Floyd, San Diego- The double coverage in San Diego goes to Vincent Jackson, this will leave Floyd one on one all the time. He is definitely not as talented Jackson but it is easy to be as productive when Jackson has to carry 2 or 3 guys on his back all the time. Look for 6-8 receptions from Floyd this weekend and since the Titans have the 30th ranked pass defense in the league it is not out of the realm of possibility for him to find the endzone as well.

Alex Smith, San Francisco- Alex Smith has been one of the great comeback stories of 2009. Since he took the starting job and transitioned into a lot more shotgun formations Smith has started the conversation that maybe he can be the franchise quarterback he was supposed to be in the first place. Look for him to tear up the happless Lions this weekend. He should throw a couple TDs to Vernon Davis and maybe even one to Michael Crabtree.

Good Luck this week champions!  follow us throughout the offseason and we will keep you up to date on any movements of big names and players who are not yet big names but you should know them. 

Look for our email in the spring to take advantage of our earlybird specials on the UberRank for 2010!!!!!!

After a slight hiccup in Indy the Titans destroyed the Rams.  Don’t look for that big of game this week but they will take it by 10.

Kansas City Chiefs by 2 at home over the Cleveland Browns

Two bad teams going at each other.  Chiefs get the upper hand in this one.  Win a tight one by afield goal.

San Diego Chargers by 7 at home over the Cincinnati Bengals

Chargers are unstoppable right now.  San Diego by 14.

New York Giants by 3 at the Washington Redskins

The Giants have looked suspect lately but I look for them to get back in the win column in a good divisional battle.  Giants by a touchdown.

Eliminator

For my eliminator I am taking the Arizona Cardinals over the Detroit Lions.  Arizona will want to make up for their poor showing last week against the Niners.

At this point everyone obvious should be gone, so I am not going to waste my time telling you to pick up guys like Brandon “f-ing” Marshall or Andre Johnson. I am going to throw out a couple of players that might still be available.

Quinton Ganther, Washington- Ganther has taken most of the work away from the aged Rock Cartright, and rightly so. There is a reason that Rock has been a career 3rd stringer. Ganther has made the most of his opportunities putting up big fantasy numbers each week and with Washington actually playing well… Head Smacker

Jason Snelling, Atlanta- Even with Norwood back in the line up, Snelling has been the better runner, look for them to split carries until Michael Turner gets back but Snelling will get most of the looks at the goal line making him more valuable than Norwood. Not So Obvious

Hakeem Nicks, NY Giants- The explosive rookie looks to have snatch a starting job away from Mario Manningham. He has been getting progressively more consistent down the stretch and looks to get even more looks since he is a better route runner and has so much more upside than Mannningham.

Jason Campbell, Washington- Campbell has been much better lately and might be a good long shot if you really need a QB. He has averaged more that 20 fantasy points a game over the last 3 weeks and has the beat up Giants defensive backs and the Cowboys secondary coming up, both teams can give it up through the air.

It is so easy to not get 40 points, there are countless ways to not get 40+ points, but not Brandon, punt the ball away at practice, I won’t play for the Broncos Marshall has to miss them all. You won’t play for the Broncos? 200+ receiving yards constitutes playing to me.

My whole fantasy football season is ended in the blink of an eye by Brandon “f-ing” Marshall!!!!

The Jets have put together 2 wins after struggling quite a bit.  I think the Jets will continue to ride Thomas Jones and the #1 rushing attack this week to a big win.  Jets by 14.

Green Bay Packers by 4 at the Chicago Bears

The Packers have looked great lately winning 4 in a row.  I expect Woodson and Harris to cause some chaos in the secondary and end up with a couple of picks.  Packers by 10.

Jacksonville Jaguars by 2.5 at home over the Miami Dolphins

Dolphins showed last week that maybe less is more when it comes to the Wildcat.  Ricky is running well and Henne is playing decent.  I look for the Dolphins to take this one.

Arizona Cardinals by 3.5 at the San Francisco 49ers

The Cardinals dismantled the Vikings last week and we can expect the same again this week against the Niners.  Arizona by 2 TDs.

Eliminator

For this weeks eliminator I am taking Tennessee Titans over the St. Louis Rams.  Word is Rams are starting a rookie QB.  Looks like they are throwing in the towel.  Titans get back in the win column.

Playoff time!!!

If your league is worth its salt most of the decent players have been snatched by someone and like I always say, if you are in a league where there are head smackers still available…you don’t need my help.

So, here are some Not So Obvious pick ups for you that should produce well in the next 3 weeks.

Cardinals Defense- I know that i don’t usually list defensive teams in this column but I have to mention the Cards. Arizona’s defense are notoriously slow starters but if you remember last season’s playoff run, they seem to come on at the end of the year. Plus, the have the 49ers, the Rams and the Lions down the stretch…JUICY! I can almost hear Rodgers-Cromartie salivating.

Kenny Britt, Tennessee- 15 points per game over the last three games and with Nate Washington missing every ball thrown his way Britt is becoming a very attractive target. The Titans also have the Rams, Dolphins, Chargers coming up and only one of these is in the top 20 pass defenses.

Davonne Bess, Miami- Has become the go to guy in Miami. He is playing the role that the fish thought Ted Ginn would play with the departure of Wes Welker and catching 100 balls again. Henne is getting him the ball often and it should continue with the Jags, Texans, Titans (all bad pass defenses) down the stretch.

Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay- With the emergence of Josh Freeman as a real NFL quarterback has come the resurgence of Bryant.

Chad Henne, Miami- (See Davonne Bess) Henne has finally been looking like the pro he was projected to be. Also, he is playing 3 of the worst pass defenses in the league in weeks 14, 15 and 16.

Remember it does not matter where they were ranked coming into the season, if you have to drop a marquis name to pick up a hot player, do what you have to do…THERE IS NO TOMORROW

This one is my upset pick of the week.  The Titans have won 5 in a row since Vince Young took over and are playing some inspired football.  This week I look for the Titans to blemish the Colts unbeaten record and take this one in a tough divisional matchup.

New Orleans Saints by 9.5 at the Washington Redskins

Unlike the unbeaten Colts the Saints record will stay intact as they go against one of the NFC’s whipping boys.  Redskins are 1-4 in there last 5 and will go to 1-5 this week.

San Francisco 49ers (even) at the Seattle Seahawks

This one looks close on paper but I expect the Niners to run away with it.  Frank Gore is always a beast and Vernon Davis is finally living up to potential.

New England Patriots by 4 at the Miami Dolphins

Ricky will be a little nicked up for this game which has really been most of the Dolphins offense.  Henne isn’t ready to carry the load so I think New England wins this one in a blow out.

Eliminator

For my eliminator pick I am taking the Pittsburgh Steelers at home over the Oakland Raiders.  Steelers are great at home and Oakland isn’t good anywhere. This one seems like a no brainer.

Wildcard Pick

Rams over the Bears.  Bears seem like a team in trouble and the Rams every few weeks show flashes of promise.  I think this is the week they put it together.  It is probably going to be cold and windy in Chicago which means heavy run conditions.  The Bears are dead last in rushing in the league where the Rams are 12 in the league.  Rams win this battle.