The Three Wise Men

With Christmas fast approaching and the final games of the fantasy football season to be played on Christmas day, I would like to extend a Happy Holidays to you and yours. What a great day to wrap up the fantasy season on, with the Eagles duking it out with Dallas and the great rivalry game between the Jets and Dolphins. With that said, action will get underway Thursday night. No, this is not the Game Day Wonders, those will be out tomorrow, but these are more of insight into which players you must take stock on and watch the money come rolling in after the final game Monday night.

On Thursday night, speculation will run rampant on whether or not this will be Brett Favre's final home game. I will tell you this right now, he will return in 2007. But, if you are suffering from the quarterback blues, Favre will be a good start to your championship run. Minnesota's passing defense is what will keep the Vikings from the playoffs and Favre will rebound from his three interception performance week 15. The Vikings are ranked 29th in pass defense. Sure they have picked off more passes than touchdowns scored, but the last time these two teams met, Favre picked his way into a 347 yard and 2 score performance in the dome. Keep that in mind. Favre will have something to prove and throw with a chip on his shoulder. With virtually no running back good enough to penetrate that ferocious Minnesota run defense, Favre will throw for 300 or more yards and 3 touchdowns this Thursday. You can take that to the bank.

Tim Rattay has been designated as the week 16 starting quarterback for the Buccaneers, and with that said, expect Joey Galloway to add on to his week 15 performance. Galloway has been pretty quiet since week 11 until last week when he seen a changing of the guard in Tampa Bay. Last week, Galloway put up 107 yards and 1 score on a vulnerable Chicago Bears secondary. Cleveland's pass defense has progressively worsened since November 26th, and with no other viable option after Galloway, I expect Rattay to use him to his full advantage, regardless of double coverage. Don't expect any precipitation in Cleveland either as Galloway explodes for 131 yards and 1 touchdown on 7 receptions.

Do not question whether or not you should start Ladell Betts this week. He will ride you into victory lane like it's fantasy Nascar. The Redskins will play in the dome against the Rams, the same Rams defense that is giving up 5 yards per carry and 148 rushing yards an outing. St. Louis is ranked 31st against the run and Betts has been averaging 136 rushing yards per game over the last four weeks. Betts is the hottest running back out there and is looking like he will come out of nowhere to win some fantasy championships this year. Start Betts with confidence, he will reward you with a 168 yard and 2 score performance this week. We will be talking about Betts all off-season as well.

These players will gift wrap your league title for you, sign it, seal it, and delivery it for you on Christmas Day.