A quick fantasy trip around the league

I thought we'd try something different this week and next and go around the NFL.

This week I'll offer some thoughts about a player (or two) on every team in the NFC, and next week I'll do the AFC.

Even if you are out of the fantasy playoffs, you can enjoy it because, in some cases, I'm looking ahead to next year. (Hint: Clip and save for next August).

NFC North

• Take away the first two weeks of the season, and guess who is in the top five in fantasy points among wide receivers? Green Bay's Greg Jennings (625 yards, 9 TDs). He's tied for fourth with Cincinnati's T.J. Houshmandzadeh in one of my leagues. Astounding.

• Where has Jon Kitna gone? The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Kitna's been dealing with knee and back issues all season. "I am worried about Jon," offensive coordinator Mike Martz said. In light of this development -- and the fact Kitna has thrown 6 TD passes and 8 INTs the last seven weeks -- he's tough to recommend as a starter anymore.

• Is the Bears' Adrian Peterson the answer to your RB woes? Don't count on it. I'm guessing he'll average 60-70 rushing yards and get 2-3 TDs down the stretch.

• Keep an eye on rookie WR Sidney Rice. If Minnesota's shores up its QB situation, the speedster could be worth a flier next season.

NFC East

• I had a good feeling about the Cowboys' Jason Witten in the preseason. He's scored in six of 11 games and should be a top-three or top-four TE for years to come.

• I'm really disappointed in Eli Manning this year. I ranked him 10th before the season and said "49 TDs the last two years makes him a safe pick." Well, he is 10th overall but only 17th the last six weeks, and after his 4-INT performance last week, his arrow is pointing decidedly down.

• Eagles Brian Westbrook is one of the most underrated running backs in the league. He has been among the top 15 fantasy RBs five straight seasons, was fifth last year and is No. 1 right now. He may not rack up huge TD numbers, but in standard yardage leagues, this guy is gold.

• After an injury-plagued 2006, there were big-time questions surrounding Redskins RB Clinton Portis entering this season. Well, aside from losing 4 fumbles, he's back to his old self. Count on Portis being a productive low-end No. 1 fantasy back for a few more years.

NFC South

• Fourth-year Bucs RB Earnest Graham (822 yards from scrimmage, 6 TDs) has been a great story this season. But what happens when Cadillac Williams returns next year? Should be interesting. (And if you have Graham for the fantasy playoffs, check out this sweet finishing schedule: at Houston in Week 14, vs. Atlanta in Week 15 and at San Francisco in Week 16).

• What to do with Reggie Bush? The Saints RB has gone from what we thought would be a no-brainer, every-week starter to a bottom-feeder, No. 2 guy or flex option. Weigh your options every week before plugging Bush into your lineup.

• Poor Steve Smith owners. Here's a consensus top-three WR putting up super-dud numbers (16 catches last five weeks with zero TDs). It just goes to show you how unreliable wideouts become once paired up with subpar quarterbacks. Feel free to sit him. Just don't forget about Smith when the draft rolls around next year.

• The fantasy wasteland that is Atlanta figures to have a changing of the guard at running back next season. Keep your eye on RB Jerious Norwood. Once Warrick Dunn is out of the picture, solid numbers figure to follow.

NFC West

• Don't be surprised if the fantasy owner who has Matt Hasselbeck is playing in at least your league's semifinals. The pass-first attack Seattle is using has been gold for Hasselbeck owners, who have watched their QB throw 7 TD passes and average 295.5 passing yards the last four weeks.

• I don't know about you, but I've rarely heard Larry Fitzgerald's name this season. It seems odd because the Cardinals' WR has 1,063 receiving yards (on pace for 1,546) and 6 TDs (5 of which have come in the last three weeks). Teammate Anquan Boldin (527 yards, 6 TDs) has been a huge disappointment, but if you are still alive in Weeks 15 and 16, smile because Arizona plays New Orleans and Atlanta.

• Frank Gore finally busted out of his season-long slump last week with a pair of TDs and 116 rushing yards. The owners of Gore in both of my leagues had him on the bench, not surprising considering he hadn't scored since Week 2. Is his big game a sign of things to come? Tough to say, but I'm guessing many Gore owners are out of the playoff hunt anyway.

• It's been an awful season for fantasy owners of just about every Ram. Marc Bulger (6 TD passes), Steven Jackson (3 TDs) and Isaac Bruce (2 TDs) have all been major duds. Only Torry Holt (809 yards, 5 TDs) isn't in that category, although many of his owners might disagree. Sorry to say, but things don't figure to get any better down the stretch.

My teams: My unit-league team (9-3) won 80-64 with 19 points coming from Antonio Gates and 13 from the Cowboys defense. My regular team (8-4) fell 124-108 thanks in large part to my opponent having Jason Hanson (three 40-plus-yard FGs, one 50-yarder). That was no way to start Thanksgiving.

Good bets

• Redskins RB Clinton Portis vs. Buffalo. After his good friend, safety Sean Taylor, was killed this week, Portis may have his game of the year.

• Jets RB Thomas Jones vs. Miami. A bold prediction: Jones finally finds the end zone.

• Niners RB Frank Gore vs. Carolina. The Panthers have allowed a rushing TD seven of the last eight weeks.

• Texans RB Ron Dayne vs. Tennessee. If Titans DE Albert Haynesworth plays this week, throw this good bet out. But if he doesn't, Dayne's a great play against a defense that has allowed 6 TDs and 567 rushing yards the past three weeks without Haynesworth.

• Raiders RB Justin Fargas vs. Denver. Fargas (384 rushing yards, 2 TDs last four) has been on fire.

• Jaguars QB David Garrard vs. Indianapolis. With Dwight Freeney out for the season, the Colts' defense lost its biggest playmaker. Garrard is a sneaky play if you are hurting at QB.

• Bills WR Lee Evans vs. Washington. This is a huge sleeper pick, but I think Evans can get loose in the Redskins secondary.

Bad bets

• Bears RB Adrian Peterson vs. the New York Giants. Combine an inept rushing attack with a defense that's allowed 2 rushing TDs since Week 3, and you have a recipe for disaster.

• Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe vs. San Diego. This seems like a good spot for Bowe, who torched the Chargers in their earlier meeting (8 catches, 164 yards). But Brodie Croyle is the Chiefs' QB this time around, so tread carefully.

• Saints RB Reggie Bush vs. Tampa Bay. In Week 2, Bush had 10 carries for 27 yards against the Bucs. New Orleans is playing better now, but Bush is nursing a shin injury.

• Broncos QB Jay Cutler vs. Oakland. Cutler's been hot lately but struggled in Week 2 against the Raiders (1 TD, 2 INTs).

• Bengals QB Carson Palmer and WRs Chris Henry and Chad Johnson vs. Pittsburgh. This is a tough matchup for some marquee fantasy names. Palmer threw for 205 yards and 1 TD at home against the Steelers in Week 8.