Mike D. (San Diego, CA)

Happy holidays Jim. Need some help for my championship game. I need 2 RB's (P. Thomas, C. Benson, L. White, J. Stewart, M. Barber). Also 3 WR's (Bowe, Colston, D, Branch, D. Northcutt, A. Gonzalez)

Jim McCormick

  (3:01 PM)

Happy Holidays to you as well Mike. Per your run for glory- I'd go with Pierre and Cedric - White will likely see a reduced role on a Titans team playing for nothing and Barber is still banged up while Stewart is the clear second fiddle now. WR-wise, I like Bowe, Colston for sure and it's between Branch and Northcutt, with North having a larger share of targets- so go with him.

Steiny (NYC)

Pierre Thomas or DeAngelo Williams next week?

Jim McCormick

  (3:03 PM)

Carolina is still fighting for their division title and the all important bye, so go with the fantasy monster that is D Will over PT, who could lose out to Brees' air show.

J. Stu (Big Easy)

Ho Ho Ho... Jim, whaddayaknow? Had to bench some folks for week 17 and have the old "flex dilemma." Benson, Freddie Jackson, or McClain?

Jim McCormick

  (3:04 PM)

So strange how we find ourselves considering names we never though we would in the most crucial weeks- but I like Ced of this group, if for the volume of touches alone.

Miki RWC, CA

Feliz navidad. What do you expect from K. Smith & Ryan Grant this weekend? And how much of a factor is breaking the record going to be for Brees? Gracias.

Jim McCormick

  (3:07 PM)

Alright Miki, I really like Grant this week as the Packers' will be running late in this game with what will likely be a solid lead. Smith should also post usable numbers as the offense will be centered around him against the porous G-Bay rush defense. The record factor for Brees? Carolina is playing to win here and with their secondary I doubt he makes the mark, and it really shouldn't affect his fantasy value either, as he's always a top play regardless.

Jim McCormick

  (3:08 PM)

Steiny, thanks for the volume of questions, but I simply can't answer all of them...

q (tha beach)

Haps On The Holidays! Warner or Cutler?

Jim McCormick

  (3:09 PM)

Haps to you as well. Gotta go Cutler here Q, Warner has been shaky and the Cards could sit him if they were to get up or down by a large margin while Cutler will be in a pivotal shootout against one of the league's most exploitable secondaries.

Tully(TX)

Happy Festivus Jim!! Shiancoe or Carlson?

Jim McCormick

  (3:10 PM)

Ah, the aluminum pole is in the living room I see. I like VS in this one as T Jackson seems comfortable with him and Seattle spreads the ball around lately.

Steiny (NYC)

Do you expect Davone Bess to have a good game against the Jets?

Jim McCormick

  (3:12 PM)

I do Steiny, especially in a PPR league. Nothing spectacular, but as your 3rd WR in a deep league, Bess is a relatively safe option.

Justin (Chicago)

my league's season is over. Who are the top 5 keepers next year? Happy Holidays

Jim McCormick

  (3:14 PM)

Keepers? somewhat depends on your league rules and settings- but in a vacuum- first you gotta go with the young crop of tailbacks with Forte, ADP, Turner and D Will thrown in. WR-wise I love Larry and Calvin (Fitz is younger than you'd think) and QB's it's Drew Brees in his own class for now. More than five, but I ran with it.

Tim( Monahans,Tx)

Happy Holidays Jim. I just needed some direction on something. Who might I e-mail about some sugestions for the fantasy football web page? There are some things that the guys in my league would like to see added.

Jim McCormick

  (3:16 PM)

You know what Tim, that's a great question. For feedback I'd assume you can send the TMR a shout- http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/mailbagESPN?event_id=15863

Kevin (Rochester, NY)

Need help at the flex. Driver or D. Jackson????

Jim McCormick

  (3:17 PM)

With DeSean Jackson being nicked up I'd go with Driver, who has a sweeter matchup as well.

Xavier (Seattle)

Hey Jim! Last minute help please?! McClain, T Bell, F Jackson, or R Brown this week as my RB2 aside K Smith? Down pretty big in week 2 of our Super Bowl so I need a big game. Also, Atl D/ST or Dallas? Thanks!

Jim McCormick

  (3:20 PM)

Tough call from these backs- I'd sit Bell since we don't know what we'll get and I'd bank of Denver's fantasy value lying solely in the passing game. That said, if Lynch sits, and I mean is clearly OUT, then I like Jackson since he's such a resource in the short passing game, but if Lynch is a go, I like McClain. I just can't trust Ronnie Brown right now in that share in Miami and with the Jets' run defense still posing a legit challenge. Go ATL defense against a sloppy STL offense.

Will H. (Chester, VA)

Hey Jim, would it be better to start Chad Pennington or Kurt Warner this week?

Jim McCormick

  (3:21 PM)

Another tough call here Will. If it's my team? I go Pennington. I know that Warner and the 'Zona offense are looking to get back on track before the playoffs but you can safely assume that Chad plays the whole game and will be slinging it against the generous Jets' pass D.

Luke (Wichita)

Flex Help Please! Tatum Bell or Lamont Jordan? Mason, Cotchery or Boldin? Thanks

Jim McCormick

  (3:22 PM)

Looks like Boldin is a go this week so he's your guy. If he sits, go with Cotchery as Mason is also dinged. For the backs? Go with Lamont, while he's sharing touches, he seems like their goalline guy and Tatum Bell is last time I checked, still Tatum Bell.

Bubba (CA)

In a points league, playing for the win! Please help a fella out! APeterson, TJones, CPortis or PThomas? CJohnson, LFitzgerald, GJennings or AGates (PPR)?

Jim McCormick

  (3:25 PM)

Bubba my man, I'll pick two of each in order of preference - Adrian Peterson (must-win scenario and D Will just gashed these same G-men) and T Jones. WR - Fitz is a lock and I go Megatron if he suits up, which it seems like he will. If he is questionable, I like Jennings in that same game.

Michelle(NY)

I was about to say many thanks from all uber users of ESPN FF, for you being the first anlyst to PUT STEINY in check , but then you answered 2 of his questions anyway.sigh

Jim McCormick

  (3:26 PM)

It's a holiday chat Michelle- not a ton of questions so Steiny kinda dominated the queue here for a while. Fell free to ask away people...

Casey Rakusin, Washington D.C.

Yo Jim, championship week!!! Can you provide a little holiday insight? At the TE spot I have Carlson/Cooley/Scheffler/Boss..... and at Flex who do you like: Santana Moss/Lance Moore/Derrick Ward/Leron McClain/Tashard Choice

Jim McCormick

  (3:29 PM)

I sit Cooley- and it sounds strange because he's the best name on here, but if I recall correctly the 49ers are the second best in the league against fantasy TE. That said, I like Scheffler in this one- despite his tendency to disappear, the SD defense is the worst against TEs. Flex - If MBIII sits go with Choice for touches and targets alone, then McClain after that.

Matt (FL)

I was just offered McCann straight up for Soto in a keeper league. Who ya got?

Jim McCormick

  (3:31 PM)

Nice, baseball questions starting to warm up here. I like Soto here, but not by a whole lot. More than anything I'm factoring in the better surrounding line-up and the similar power potential with B-Mac.

IDP Guy (Ga)

IDP league help!!! Please pick two for my points league. DL - Shaun Ellis, Mario Williams or Burgess? LB - Tatupu, Hawk, Briggs or Fletcher DB - Gibril, Sean Jones, Collins or Bethea

Jim McCormick

  (3:32 PM)

IDP is my thing my man. Mario Williams and Ellis get my vote at DL while Tatupu and Briggs are the LBs with Gibril and Collins at DB. Good luck man.

James(Sheboygan)

Better def for this week..Pitts, GB, or Bal.. Happy Holiday..

Jim McCormick

  (3:33 PM)

Gotta like Green Bay. Baltimore could be nice but I could see the Jags sticking to a conservative running game and Pitt has little to play for despite the great matchup.

Santa Claus, North Pole

AP makes me merry at one RB spot, but what about Jacobs and Ward? I need to start one more, but I could pick up Benson, M. Morris, F. Jackson, or Choice. What's a jolly fella to do?

Jim McCormick

  (3:35 PM)

The big man makes an appearance. Tough with the G-men, I'd shy away since it's a motivated Minny D and the G-men could have Bradshaw in for the volume of touches. I like Benson of that group Big Nick

Luke (Corona, Ca)

4 quick hits for you...Atlanta or Minnesota for D/ST? Ryan, Thigpen, Romo, or Wallace at QB? Westbrook or Kevin Smith at RB? And which 2 WRs, Jennings, Calvin Johnson, or Vincent Jackson? Wow...these are all questions I never would have asked at the beginning of the season.

Jim McCormick

  (3:38 PM)

Isn't that how it goes Luke? We are asking ourselves about Detroit's rookie running back over Westy- but I still go with B West here as the Birds' offense is fueled by his versatility. QB- I like Thiggy just a little more than Romo in what could be a tight NFC East battle. WR- very good options here, go with Calvin and Jennings. V Jax is a great option, I know, but I wonder what another week of health does for Champ Bailey.

Stephen (Wichita Falls)

Should i go with Tim Hightower or Kevin Faulk this week..... Thanks Jim

Jim McCormick

  (3:38 PM)

Can't trust Hightower, who is looking like a few-week wonder while Faulk has factored into nearly every game lately (esp in PPR leagues).

Alex (west lafayette, IN)

Im tied after the first week of my league championship and need help! please! I have a whole heap of RB and need help with who to start. Marshawn Lynch, Pierre Thomas, Clinton Portis, LenDale White, Le'Ron McClain and Dominick Rhodes. I need your help Jim!

Jim McCormick

  (3:40 PM)

You really do have quite the bus load of rbs here Alex. I sit Lynch who is gimpy and facing a share with Jackson. Of this group I like Pierre Thomas and Portis the best.

Xavier (Seattle)

Thanks for the RB and D help. What about Carlson or Shiancoe at TE? Any feelings there?

Jim McCormick

  (3:42 PM)

No problem X, this is likely the best shot of the season to get multiple questions answered. I like Shiancoe more as Seattle really spread the ball last week and Jackson will look to VS often as a safety valve against the NYG pass rush.

Tyler (Derby)

Big Ben or Aaron Rodgers. Who should be better this week.

Jim McCormick

  (3:43 PM)

Rodgers for sure Tyler, the Pack will want to end their loss streak and the Steelers have little reason to play Ben a whole clip.

what do u think jim

holt, walter, djax or breaston need 1. Also falcons, cowboys or bears d

Jim McCormick

  (3:44 PM)

ATL defense is the pick here. Chicago is facing a talented Houston offense as the Boys do as well. WR? I actually like Holt as he seems to be the safer option here, with Walter being the riskier/upside play.

Corey(Ohio)

Keeper selections, Moss or Boldin and Chris Johnson or Rivers. It's .5 PPR.

Jim McCormick

  (3:47 PM)

Between Randy (I'm assuming it's not Santana) and Anquan is a tough call- Boldin is considerably younger but Moss has the upside with Brady returning. I'd go Moss since we're not sure what we'll see from the Arizona QB in the next few years (aging Warner/unsure about Leinart). I'd keep Rivers over Johnson simply because an elite QB is tougher to get in my opinion and Johnson will still be in a share going forward.

Doug (Seattle)

Think Mo Morris is a good play this week vs. Arizona after getting 100+ yards against the Jets?

Jim McCormick

  (3:48 PM)

Sure, he's not a bad play per se, all depends what your other options are. I'm not very confident in his TD-potential but a nice yardage day is likely.

Dan (Sacramento CA)

In a Gridiron Challenge type scenario, I can afford Rivers,LT,and Gates. Relying too much on the Bolts? I can sell LT and Gates and get DeAngelo Williams and Donald Lee. Your thoughts.

Jim McCormick

  (3:50 PM)

I'd try and get D Will in place of LT if possible but if the pricing won't allow that move without losing Gates than I'd just assume you go with the SD trio in what will be a shootout. The drop-off from Gates to Lee is too glaring here.

Scott (Pittsburgh)

I can't decide who to play this week in such a big matchup for me. Devery Henderson or Laveranues Coles. Help me please Jim, thanks.

Jim McCormick

  (3:51 PM)

Henderson is so boom or bust and deep ball dependent and while Coles hasn't been great this season outside of that big day against the Cards, I like him better in a must-win versus the Fins.

Luke (Corona, Ca)

Thanks for the previous answers..but you missed one of the questions in there...Atlanta or Minnesota for D/ST? And I may as well ask one more...Carlson or Olsen at TE? Thanks and Merry Christmas.

Jim McCormick

  (3:52 PM)

Sorry 'bout that Luke - real quick, ATL and Olsen.

Andy (Phoenix)

Who's my third RB this week: S. Morris, M. Morris, War, Stewart, or Choice?

Jim McCormick

  (3:53 PM)

If Barber is out go Choice, otherwise I like Mo Morris to get a nice volume of touches.

Clay (Denton TX)

Hey there Jim. I'm looking for a the best replacement for Dallas Clark. The only decent guys left are Kevin Boss, Todd Heap, Gijon Robinson, and D. Graham(Den). Who should I go with?

Jim McCormick

  (3:55 PM)

Hey Clay. I say no on Heap and Gijon- not enough there to put such a big week on. Graham has nice upside this week and I think he will outscore Boss- but to be practical- I like Boss as the safer, yet less breakout player - but Graham could actually go off.

Mike

Keeper League Question - would you keep Westbrook for a 1st round pick next year, or Megatron for a 2nd round pick?

Jim McCormick

  (3:57 PM)

Tough given that you're giving up a second for Mega here and we can't be confident that a solid QB and/or offense will be in place by then- but Westy isn't an ideal keeper given his health and growing mileage. My team? I keep Mega

Clay (Denton, TX)

Thanks alot man! happy holidays!

Jim McCormick

  (3:57 PM)

You too man, happy holidays to all. Just a few more then I'm out.

Anthony (I'm Cool)

BASEBALL QUESTION!! I got the first pick in the draft .... who should I take?

Jim McCormick

  (3:59 PM)

Convention would say Pujols and I agree. But gotta say I'm tempted by Hanley as well.

Frank (Frisco, TX)

Championship on the line. Jacobs, Benson or Choice. San Moss, Lee Evans or Lance Moore and either Atlanta or Philly D?

Jim McCormick

  (4:01 PM)

Frank from Frisco with the buzzer beater- I like Benson and Santana Moss. Go with the ATL. Good luck Frank and to everyone in their champ week. Have a great holiday everyone!