In one league, I placed a bid of $401 bid on presumptive Reds' closer Sean Marshall last night. Marshall went for $802. Did the other guy have to bid exactly double to rub it in my face?

On to the news:

• Injured Phillies 2B Chase Utley spoke to the media on Sunday, but provided little insight on his condition. He said he'll play in 2012, but doesn't have a timetable for his return. He won't have surgery, but will rehab slowly, and you should avoid him if you haven't drafted your fantasy team yet. I added that last part, by the way.
• Aroldis Chapman seems to have a leg up on the Reds' fifth-starter job, though the team mentioned him as a candidate to replace closer Ryan Madson, who will have season-ending Tommy John surgery. As noted above, Marshall is the likely choice to close, but don't rule out Chapman yet.
• Mets 3B David Wright (strained abdominal muscle) is expected to make his spring training debut today or tomorrow.
• Angels DH Kendrys Morales continues to track toward a spot on the Opening Day roster. As someone who owns Mike Trout in two leagues, I'm dismayed by this development, though I do feel happy for Morales, who has missed most of the last two seasons due to an ankle injury. Morales qualifies at first base in most fantasy formats, and is owned in just 34 percent of FOXSports.com leagues.
• The Royals sent 2B Johnny Giavotella to the minors, meaning that Chris Getz and Yuniesky Betancourt will share duties at the keystone. AL-only owners who can use a 20-steal middle infielder should grab Getz.
• Braves 3B Chipper Jones will have knee surgery today, but hopes to return in time for the team's home opener on April 13. In other Braves' news, the team hasn't yet decided on its starting shortstop, but Tyler Pastornicky's recent hot hitting gives him an edge over Andrelton Simmons.
• After posting a Nuke LaLoosh-type line of 14 strikeouts, five walks and four hit batters over eight innings this spring, Cardinals RP Eduardo Sanchez has been sent to the minors. Sanchez will be back with the Cards soon enough, and can still be considered a fantasy closer handcuff in case Jason Motte runs into any trouble.
• If Mike Aviles wins the starting shortstop job for the Red Sox, he could hit a dozen homers and steal 15 bases. Working in Aviles' favor is the fact that his competition, Jose Iglesias, isn't close to being ready to hit in the big leagues.
• You want to see what will happen when the Marlins hit homers at home this season? If you watch this video, I don't think you'll be able to unsee it anytime soon.
• Jed Lowrie seems to be settling into the No. 2 hole in the Astros' lineup.
• Josh Willingham will be the Twins' starting left fielder, meaning that right field should feature some combination of Ben Revere, Chris Parmelee and Trevor Plouffe, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Revere's fantasy stock takes a hit with this news, and AL-only owners should take a look at Parmelee. Don't expect too much from him, though, as he's never hit more than 17 homers in a season as a pro. Parmelee qualifies at first base only in most formats.
• Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez isn't hitting well, but he's still going to make the Opening Day roster.
• Padres SP Edinson Volquez has 11 strikeouts, eight walks and a 3.95 ERA in 13 2/3 innings this spring. It's hard to trust Volquez, but pitching in PETCO Park makes him intriguing. I'd take a shot at him in a deep mixed league draft.
• Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann are still battling for the Rays' fifth-starter slot. The guess here is Niemann, but it's just a guess.
• Rangers SP Yu Darvish whiffed 11 batters in five innings during an intrasquad game on Sunday. Is anyone else getting excited?
• The Blue Jays have sent OF Travis Snider to the minors, meaning that Eric Thames will be the Opening Day left fielder. Raise your hand if you're the least bit surprised by this news. Yeah, me neither.
• If Drew Storen (elbow) isn't ready for Opening Day, Brad Lidge and Henry Rodriguez (or both) are the likely candidates to close, according to the Nats' website. This almost certainly will be a short-term situation, so don't go wasting your FAAB budget on Lidge or Rodriguez.

See you back here Wednesday morning. If you have any questions before then, you can find me on Facebook or Twitter.

My favorite reaction to Chipper Jones' retirement announcement was this one from a Twitter account called @FakeESPN: "Chipper Jones announces he will retire at the end of 2012. Not clear yet as to who will get his ownership of the Mets."

On to the news:

• Angels DH Kendrys Morales made another step in his comeback last night, finally appearing in a game and going two-for-three with a run scored. The Angels seem to think that Morales, who hasn't played since injuring his ankle on May 29, 2010, is on track to be in the Opening Day lineup barring any setbacks. If Morales is ready to be a regular, then Bobby Abreu will need a trade if he wants to get at bats. Morales is an interesting AL-only option, but I'm not ready to expect 30-plus homers again, or even an injury-free season.
• Reds closer Ryan Madson still hasn't appeared in a game this spring due to a sore elbow, and appears to have suffered a setback in his recovery. Madson's injury doesn't seem to be of the long-term variety, but if he's not ready for Opening Day, the current buzz is that lefty Sean Marshall will save games in his place.
• In other Reds' news, the team still hasn't decided whether fireballer Aroldis Chapman will start or relieve this season. Either way, Chapman will strike out enough batters to help you in mixed leagues.
• Royals closer Joakim Soria is weighing his options on how to deal with his sore elbow, and Tommy John surgery looms. Forget about Soria as a 2012 fantasy option. The Royals haven't tipped their hand between Greg Holland and Jonathan Broxton as Soria's replacement, but I'm still leaning toward Holland.
• The Cardinals' website reports that Carlos Beltran may move to center field against lefties so they can get Allen Craig's bat into the lineup. Jon Jay owners, take note. Craig hit 11 homers in a limited role last season, and can help NL-only owners.
• In other Cardinals' news, the team hopes to get an update today on Chris Carpenter's neck issues.
• Here's an update on Drew Storen's bicep/tricep soreness. It sounds like Storen will be OK, but I'd like to see him pitch a little more before spring training ends.
• The Opening Day status of Nats 1B Mike Morse is uncertain due to a strained lat muscle. This is another one that doesn't sound too serious.
• I love the headline to this article: "Phillies' Howard removes boot, takes grounders in chair." You're not planning to draft him in a mixed league, are you?
• Daniel Bard still doesn't have a rotation slot locked up with the Red Sox. Just remember that if Bard goes back to the bullpen, he can still have value in many formats due to his high strikeout rate.
• Tyler Pastornicky got four hits yesterday, making a strong statement in his battle with fellow rookie Andrelton Simmons for the Braves' shortstop job. Don't expect a decision for awhile, though.
• Are you hunting for sleepers right now? Read this item about Orioles SP Brian Matusz.
• The Cubs want closer Carlos Marmol to throw fewer pitches. Throwing a strike here and there would help.
• If you're a Jerry Sands fan, you might be interested to know that he's tracking toward starting the season at Triple A.
• Shelley Duncan might be the Indians' Opening Day left fielder. Duncan hit 11 homers in 223 at bats last season, AL-only owners. He might head to the bench when Grady Sizemore returns, but who knows how long Sizemore will stay healthy?
• Mets 3B David Wright (strained abdominal muscle) hopes to appear in a spring training game next week, and still could be ready for Opening Day.
• The A's are still undecided about their starters at first base (Brandon Allen, Kila Ka'aihue) and third base (Josh Donaldson, Eric Sogard). Fantasy owners should probably root for Allen and Donaldson.
• Here's an update on the Giants' second-base situation. I'd like to cast my vote for Emmanuel Burriss, who can't hit but could steal a boatload of bases.
• Even though I think Brett Lawrie is being overdrafted, it's not because of his groin injury. Lawrie has been out since March 16 and will miss a couple more days, but he'll be fine.
• The White Sox might not decide on a closer until shortly before Opening Day. This Chicago Sun-Times article says that "smart money is being wagered" on Matt Thornton getting first crack at the job, but also that the "bullpen sets up best if (Addison) Reed ... mans the closer role with Thornton and (Jesse) Crain setting up." Even if Thornton might have the job on Opening Day, Reed will be my draft-day bet.
• Scheduling note: I'll be posting blog entries here Monday-Wednesday-Friday next week, and then every weekday beginning April 2. This season's Fantasy Halpin schedule also includes a weekly free-agent article, chat and podcast with colleague Mike Harmon. More details will be coming soon.

See you back here Monday morning.

Before we get started, a quick word about Miguel Cabrera's fractured orbital bone, since he's the highest-ranked fantasy player in the news right now. Cabrera might be ready for Opening Day, and if he's not, he should play pretty soon afterwards. Until you hear more bad news, leave him exactly where you already have him on your draftboard. This injury probably isn't serious, and Cabrera's potential for another big season hasn't changed.

On to the rest of the news:

• The A's have decided to go with Grant Balfour as their closer. Balfour is 34 years old and has never closed on a full-time basis, but with a career rate of 9.92 strikeouts per nine innings, he's got the stuff to succeed. I'll still be keeping an eye on Fautino De Los Santos in AL-only leagues, though.
• Chase Utley's knee issues make his return date uncertain, and some are speculating that his career may be in jeopardy. Rookie Freddy Galvis appears to be Utley's short-term replacement. Galvis brings a little bit of speed to the table for fantasy owners, but not much else. Stay away from this mess, even if you're considering a buy-low pick on Utley.
• Rangers SP Neftali Feliz left his Tuesday start due to shoulder stiffness. Stay tuned.
• There's no definitive news on Joakim Soria's prognosis, but the Kansas City Star reports that elbow surgery is "likely" for the Royals' closer. As I wrote here in Monday's entry, I'm leaning toward Greg Holland over Jonathan Broxton as Soria's replacement. I cut Holland at $5 last week in my AL keeper league, and I now hate myself for it.
• Lost in the Royals' acquisition of defensive catcher Humberto Quintero from the Astros was the fact that they also got speedy OF Jason Bourgeois, who stole 31 bases in part-time duty last season. AL-only owners looking for late-game speed should seriously consider Bourgeois.
• As a reminder, the Royals got Quintero to replace Salvador Perez, who recently had knee surgery and might miss half the season, according to the Royals' website.
• Cubs' closer Carlos Marmol left Tuesday's game with what was apparently just a cramp in his right hand. There's nothing to worry about here, except Marmol's inability to find the strike zone despite the use of a guide dog, a sherpa and Google Earth.
• Handcuff alert: Padres RP Andrew Cashner struck out the side in the ninth inning on Tuesday. That'll happen when you throw as hard as he does.
• So far, so good this spring for Marlins' ace Josh Johnson. If healthy, he'll be a fantasy stud. That's a big IF, though.
• Stephen Strasburg had another strong start on Tuesday. All systems are go with Strasburg except for that pesky innings limit he'll encounter late this summer.
• Yankees SP Michael Pineda hit 94 mph on the radar gun during his up-and-down outing on Tuesday. We're not worried about his velocity anymore, right?
• One Diamondbacks' beat writer thinks Josh Collmenter is the front-runner for the team's fifth starter slot.
• Braves' rookie RP Arodys Vizcaino is done for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
• Here's a look at the probable Orioles' rotation, which includes no roster able mixed-league starters.
• Daniel Bard doesn't yet have a rotation slot locked up with the Red Sox.
• The Astros have four pitchers competing for their final two rotation slots. You don't want any of them.
• One Indians' beat writer projects that Jack Hannahan will beat out rookie Lonnie Chisenhall for the starting third-base job. If only Hannahan could hit.
• Still waiting for Angels DH Kendrys Morales to play in an actual spring game? It might happen on Thursday.
• The Twins' website suggests that rookie Brian Dozier still has an outside shot to win the starting shortstop job. Dozier batted .320 with nine homers and 24 stolen bases between A ball and Double A in 2011. He's young, but interesting.
• Mets OF Andres Torres left Tuesday's game with a strained left calf, and his prognosis is TBD.
• Reid Brignac's foot injury might lock up the Rays' starting SS job for Sean Rodriguez. Rodriguez's batting average is usually pretty bad, but he has decent power and speed for a middle infielder, and qualifies at second, short and third.
• Chris Sale tossed six scoreless innings for the White Sox on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Sale spent 2011 as a reliever, but will join the team's rotation this season. Sale is talented, and offers plenty of upside in AL-only leagues.

See you back here Friday morning.

Did you hear that the Yankees signed Andy Pettitte on Friday? Pettitte will turn 40 in June, didn't pitch in 2011, and probably won't be ready until May. Do the Yankees distrust Phil Hughes that much? Anyway, stay away from Pettitte in mixed leagues.

On to the rest of the news:

• The Nationals announced Sunday that phenom Bryce Harper will open the season at Triple A as a center fielder. Roger Bernadina and Rick Ankiel should watch their backs, because Harper is likely to steal their platooned big-league job by early June at the latest. Please, please don't draft Harper in standard mixed redraft leagues. It'll almost certainly be a waste of a pick. He'll probably be great someday, but not now.
• Royals closer Joakim Soria sounds worried about his sore elbow, meaning that it's time to start thinking about his possible replacement. A few weeks ago I would have said Jonathan Broxton, but Greg Holland was terrific last season, and has been strong again this spring while Broxton has been working his way back from September elbow surgery. If you're looking to speculate on some bad news for Soria later this week, the guess here is that Holland will be the likely beneficiary.
• With OF Carlos Quentin expected to be out until mid-April following knee surgery, the Padres' website suggests that Jesus Guzman and Kyle Blanks will get most of the at bats in his place.
• Breathe easy, Robinson Cano owners. The Yankees' second baseman got hit in the left hand by a pitch on Sunday, but X-rays were negative and he won't miss much time.
• Orioles' southpaw Zach Britton might not be ready for Opening Day due to shoulder inflammation.
• The Rays sent Brandon Guyer to the minors? I thought he was going to platoon with Matt Joyce. Boo!
• Here's a good article about one of my favorite draft-day bargains, White Sox 3B Brent Morel. There are at least five third basemen being picked ahead of Morel for no good reason.
• Jays 3B Brett Lawrie (groin) should be back in the lineup later this week. Don't let this short-term injury stop you from overdrafting Lawrie, like everyone else is.
• Shoulder tendinitis will shut down 20-year-old SP Jacob Turner for a week, so his chances of earning a spot in the Tigers' rotation are just about gone.
• Chris Carpenter's recovery from a neck injury seems to be going well, and if he doesn't start on Opening Day, he should be back on the hill shortly after that.
• Hector Noesi appears on track to make the Mariners' rotation. I hope the guys in my AL keeper league aren't reading this.
• Is anyone reading this really worried about Giants 2B Freddy Sanchez not being ready to start the season?
• It sounds like Jim Thome might see some time at first base while Ryan Howard is out. Any excuse to see Thome get some extra Paul Bunyanesque swings is fine with me.
• Daric Barton is still in the middle of the A's first-base competition. Um ... yippee?
• Mets 3B David Wright (torn abdominal muscle) still hopes to be ready by Opening Day.
• Twins SP Francisco Liriano threw five no-hit innings yesterday. I can't quit Liriano, and this doesn't help. The readers of this blog might need to stage an intervention if I start drafting him again.
• OF Corey Hart (knee) might surprise the Brewers by being ready for Opening Day.
• If DH Kendrys Morales makes the Angels' Opening Day roster, won't they have to trade Bobby Abreu? There are at least two too many 1B/OF/DHs on that team.
• It sounds like Mike, er, Giancarlo Stanton's knee inflammation will keep him out of spring games for at least another week. This issue better not affect the 50-homer season I've been counting on.
• Jeff Samardzija appears to be closing in on a rotation slot for the Cubs. I look forward of a season of misspelling his name once a week.
• The Red Sox will probably start the season with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kelly Shoppach as their catchers, and Ryan Lavarnway in the minors.
• Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew is likely to start the season on the disabled list. This news isn't a surprise, but you might have needed a reminder.

See you back here Wednesday morning.

Did you play the FOX Bracket Challenge? Here's a link to my bracket, in case you're interested. I'll celebrate my 14-out-of-16 first day, since it's bound to get worse from here.

On to the news:

• The Phillies' website reports that Ryan Howard's return from a torn Achilles' tendon isn't likely to come before June 1, and that date is no guarantee, either. The team did note that Howard's rehab won't start "from scratch," so at least that's encouraging. When you read the article at that link, don't scroll down to the part about Roy Halladay's puzzling spring velocity, because it's probably nothing to worry about.
• In other worrisome news from Clearwater, 2B Chase Utley hasn't yet played in a Grapefruit League game and isn't taking infield drills, but the Phils expect him to be ready for Opening Day. If anyone is reading this from Las Vegas, can you put down a "Braves win NL East" bet for me? Thanks.
• New York is abuzz with concerns about Michael Pineda's velocity. I'm no scout, but I think this is much ado about nothing. Pineda seems to be more concerned with improving his changeup, anyway.
• Nationals SP Chien-Ming Wang strained a hamstring yesterday, and his return timetable is uncertain. Does anyone else think of Caddyshack whenever Wang's name is mentioned?
• Matt Thornton and Jesse Crain have pulled ahead of rookie Addison Reed in the White Sox closer derby. Nobody has been paying attention to Crain, so you can get him late/cheap.
• Today's feel-good spring story is about Mariners OF Michael Saunders, who says he's a better hitter after swinging a 60-ounce bat and working hard during the offseason. You should take all stories like this with a grain of salt, but it's a nice read.
• Buster Posey finally got a hit yesterday - and it was a home run! Woot!
• The Pirates are considering 2B Neil Walker as their cleanup hitter? Um ... OK.
• Mark Trumbo is working hard to become the Angels' third baseman. He'll probably get the job unless he's a complete butcher.
• Indians closer Chris Perez (oblique) will throw a bullpen session today, and hopes to be ready by Opening Day.
• The Astros' fifth-starter competition between Zach Duke and Jordan Lyles is ... zzz.
• Here's a rundown of Josh Johnson's Thursday start. Are you worried about Johnson's risk, or salivating over his upside?
• The Rockies have pushed back Jamie Moyer's next start due to stiffness in his left leg. My mom gets stiffness in her legs sometimes, so I guess such an ailment is common for people in their 70s.
• Speaking of the Rox, Denver Post beat writer Troy Renck tweeted yesterday that there's "no way" utilityman Jordan Pacheco wouldn't make the team. Unfortunately, Pacheco will qualify only at first base in most fantasy formats, so NL-only owners will need to be patient before (if?) he fits at catcher.
• Alfredo Aceves is pitching himself into the Red Sox rotation.
• Another good outing for Orioles SP Brian Matusz, huh?. Hmm ...
• Braves RP Arodys Vizcaino will visit Dr. James Andrews on Monday to have his ailing elbow checked out. Uh-oh.

See you back here Monday morning.

Welcome to my first baseball blog entry of the season. It's a good thing I'm starting these now, because with four drafts (maybe more) coming in the next four weeks, I really need to keep up with what's going on. Who's Yu Darvish, anyway? 

• Oh, that's right. Darvish is the Rangers' newest starter, imported from the Japanese league. He struggled with his control on Tuesday, issuing four four-pitch walks in three innings. Remember: It's March, and the games don't count, so don't worry unless this wildness becomes a habit. Consider Darvish an SP4 in standard mixed leagues.
• In the Orlando area? Nationals' phenom Bryce Harper (calf) will return to the lineup tonight against the Braves. The Braves will start stud prospect Julio Teheran in the game, making it must-see TV (MLB.TV, actually) for keeper leagues. Harper is still iffy to make the Opening Day roster, so stop picking him in redraft leagues.
• Quick note: This blog, which is scheduled to appear Monday-Wednesday-Friday until Opening Day, won't necessarily address every minor injury from Florida and Arizona. They happen all the time in the spring, and managers are cautious, so we don't need to worry about every tweaked hamstring. If you're curious about a specific player, tweet me or post a message on my Facebook page.
• Royals C Salvador Perez injured a knee prior to Tuesday's game, and results of his MRI are expected to be available today. Keep your fingers crossed for the youngster, and for the Royals.
• Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew, who broke his ankle last July, is still recovering and unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. Drew seems to be progressing, and while it doesn't sound like he'll be out for too long, this isn't good news.
• Marlins OF Logan Morrison hasn't played in a Grapefruit League game due to his sore right knee, which underwent arthroscopic surgery in December. It doesn't sound serious, but keep an eye on LoMo.
• Planning to draft Dodgers OF Jerry Sands in an NL-only league? It sounds like his roster spot isn't quite locked up.
• Brewers SP Shaun Marcum is battling shoulder soreness, but should be ready to start the season.
• Buried at the bottom of this story about Johan Santana is a note that the Mets hope 3B David Wright (ribcage) can resume baseball activities as soon as this weekend. You didn't jettison Wright from your draftboard after hearing about his cortisone shot earlier this week, did you?
• The Phillies will be sending Domonic Brown back to the minors at some point. Don't get any ideas about picking him in a redraft league.
• Are the offensively-challenged Giants really having that much trouble finding a spot for Brandon Belt? Good grief, this is ridiculous.
• On Tuesday, Hetcor Noesi continued to make his case for a spot in the Mariners' rotation. AL-only owners, keep an eye on this guy.
• Reid Brignac appears to be gaining ground on Sean Rodriguez in their battle for the Rays' starting shortstop job.
• The White Sox closer competition is far from settled. I'm rooting for Bobby Thigpen.

See you back here on Friday morning.

In a surprising move, the Tigers signed free-agent 1B Prince Fielder to a nine-year contract earlier this week. Get the Little Caesar's/fat Fielder jokes out of your system before we move on to the fantasy impact of this move. Ready? OK, good.

Fielder's fantasy value doesn't appear to be affected much by this deal. As friend of the blog Eno Sarris pointed out on RotoGraphs, Fielder's new home park will be less homer-friendly, but it shouldn't affect him too much. I've got Fielder as the fifth-ranked first baseman and 16th overall, and I'll keep him at those spots. He'll be hitting behind an excellent hitter in Miguel Cabrera, but he was already doing that in Milwaukee with Ryan Braun, so it's not like we can expect tons more RBI opportunities.

The big fantasy news here is about Cabrera, who will become the Tigers' everyday third baseman, according to manager Jim Leyland. Cabrera can't be drafted at the hot corner in most formats, but he should qualify there sometime in April (FOXSports.com rules require 10 games at a new position in-season before a player qualifies there). If you're in a league with bench players, you can draft Cabrera early, get another starting first baseman along the way, and ignore your third-base slot until the end of the draft. Within a couple of weeks, you'll be able to shift Cabrera and ditch your other third baseman.

My rankings have Cabrera as the top-ranked first baseman, and fourth player overall behind Matt Kemp, Troy Tulowitzki and Jacoby Ellsbury. As tempting as it might be to move Cabrera up, I'm going to leave the speedy guys in the top three slots. In a keeper league - where Cabrera is likely to have third-base eligibility on Draft Day 2013 - I'd move him into the No. 3 spot ahead of Ellsbury.

The other player who becomes more interesting as a result of this deal is Tigers OF Delmon Young. Young's swing-at-anything ways have made him somewhat of a disappointment, but he has a .288 career batting average, and he's going to bat fifth behind Cabrera (.395 career on-base percentage) and Fielder (.390 career OBP). There's going to be a lot of ducks on the pond for Young; I smell 90-100 RBI.

Finally, those of you in NL-only leagues should grab Joey Votto in the first round if he's available - I'd probably rank him second behind Troy Tulowitzki. After Votto, your next first-base options are Lance Berkman, Mike Morse, Freddie Freeman and Ryan Howard (who is expected to miss at least a quarter of the season). Ugh.

Here are the NFL injuries with fantasy impact we are monitoring leading up to kickoff:

QB

Colt McCoy - out
Kevin Kolb - doubtful

RB

Mark Ingram - out
Darren McFadden - out
Jackie Battle - out
Arian Foster - out
Reggie Bush - out
Roy Helu - questionable
Chris Johnson - active
LeSean McCoy - out
Marion Barber - out
Ryan Mathews - questionable
Beanie Wells - questionable
Felix Jones - questionable

WR

Randall Cobb - out
Greg Jennings - out
Lance Moore - out
Wes Welker - questionable
Anquan Boldin - doubtful
Deion Branch - questionable
Jacoby Ford - questionable

TE

Jake Ballard - out
Delanie Walker - out

K

Dave Rayner - out

It's my final blog entry of the football season. I feel like a kid on the last day of school. Wooooooooooo!

Here's your regular reminder about where you can find fantasy advice as kickoff approaches this weekend:

• Tweet the FOXSports.com fantasy team. I'm at @jhalpin37, and you can also contact Ryan Fowler (@FOXSportsFowler), Joel Beall (@FOXSportsBeall) and Mike Harmon (@SwollenDome).
• Post a message on the Facebook pages for Harmon, Fowler and me.
• Listen to FOX Fantasy Freaks Harmon, Peter Burns and Nate Lundy, on FOX Sports Radio Sunday from 9 a.m. until noon ET. You can also tweet those guys (@FantasyFreaks).
• Chat with Fowler, Beall and me on FOXSports.com Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. We'll be in the chat room together, answering questions from the smaller number of you playing in Week 17, as well as looking forward to 2012.

On to the news:

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• Tom Brady owners may have heard that he missed practice Wednesday. Brady has an injured left shoulder, practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday, and is expected to play Sunday against the Bills. With home-field advantage in the AFC at stake, I wouldn't worry about Brady missing this one.
• Texans WR Andre Johnson is on track to return after missing nine of the last 11 games due to a hamstring injury. If you're planning to start Johnson, make sure he's active on Sunday morning.
• Speaking of the Texans, one Houston columnist thinks they should treat Sunday's matchup like a preseason game, and I agree. In other possible rest-a-player news, Matt Flynn is ready to take some snaps for the Packers, Falcons RB Michael Turner (groin) was limited in Thursday's practice, and Lions WR Calvin Johnson (Achilles) is day-to-day. I'd be shocked if the Lions rested anyone - since a loss would put them at risk of visiting the Saints in the wildcard round instead of the Giants or Cowboys - but since that notion has been floated by a few people, I thought I'd mention them here. The Packers and Texans have nothing to play for, and the Falcons will be in the same situation IF the Lions win in Green Bay.
• Eagles RB LeSean McCoy (ankle) doesn't want to miss Sunday's game. That's great, but make sure he's active if you own him.
• Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) practiced fully on Wednesday and Thursday, and appears ready to go against the Browns. The main thing you need to worry about is Roethlisberger getting pulled with a big lead.
• It sounds like Cowboys QB Tony Romo (thumb) and RB Felix Jones (hamstring) will be ready to go against the Giants. If you need me on Sunday night, I'll be curled up in the fetal position on my couch.
• Speaking of the Giants, WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but says he'll play this week. I live about three miles from Nicks' house in south Charlotte, and if he's not on the field Sunday night, he can look forward to a full offseason of me ringing his doorbell and running away, and toilet-papering his trees.
• The Chargers have plenty of injury issues, with WR Vincent Jackson (groin), RB Mike Tolbert (hamstring) and RB Ryan Mathews (calf) all missing practice time this week. Mathews is the only one of the trio that practiced Thursday, and is therefore the most likely to play.
• Look for John Skelton to start again at quarterback for the Cardinals.
• If you care, Bills WR Brad Smith (hamstring) probably won't play Sunday.
• Bengals WR A.J. Green (shoulder) was limited in Thursday's practice, but is expected to play in Sunday's important game.
• So, a guy who skipped a game with strep throat because his agent told him to thinks the Madden Curse is the reason for his bad season? Good grief.
• If Chiefs RB Jackie Battle (foot) can't play, it will mean more work for Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster, as well as a potentially bigger role for QB Kyle Orton. I already wrote here that I like Orton as a matchup play this week.
• Look for Vikings QB Christian Ponder (concussion) to start on Sunday.
• It sounds like the Saints will once again be without RB Mark Ingram (toe). WR Lance Moore (hamstring) is questionable as well.
• Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew (ankle) hasn't practiced this week, but is expected to play Sunday.
• Titans RB Chris Johnson (ankle) should be back at practice today after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. The Titans need to win, so look for CJ2K to play.
• Looking for Darren McFadden one last time? Sorry - not gonna happen.
• Kellen Clemens is expected to start at quarterback again for the Rams. That will be a final stab in the back for Sam Bradford owners. Remember four months ago, when idiots like me drafted Bradford with the hope that he'd break out in Josh McDaniels' offense? Yeah, that didn't quite work out.
• I don't think we're going to see Redskins RB Roy Helu (knee, toe) this week. Look for another busy day for Evan Royster. If that doesn't scream "end your fantasy season in Week 16," I don't know what does.
• Finally, I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to my daughter Abby, who turns eight today. She screamed with delight when opening her first gift - a poster with all 32 NFL team helmets.

Thanks for a great season, folks. Please stay in touch on Facebook and Twitter during the offseason. I'll post some baseball stuff here soon. Good luck this week!

Congratulations to Drew Brees for breaking the NFL's all-time record for passing yards in a season last night. Hopefully he'll hold the record for longer than six days, as Tom Brady is just 190 yards behind him.

If your league holds its championship game in Week 17, you know you run the risk of some teams resting their players, especially after they're locked into playoff slots. Here are the three teams you really need to worry about:

Packers: The Pack is locked into the NFC’s top seed, and has nothing to play for. RB James Starks aggravated his ankle injury against the Bears, but he's not the only starter you can expect to have a brief or inactive day against the Lions. Acme Packing Company thinks the Pack will treat Sunday's matchup like a preseason game, with backup Matt Flynn getting most of Aaron Rodgers' usual work at quarterback. The Green Bay Press-Gazette seems to agree about Flynn and Rodgers, while speculating that WR Jordy Nelson could be held out as well. Buying free-agent stock in Flynn, RB Brandon Saine and WR Randall Cobb seems like a good idea.

Texans: This injury-plagued squad will be the AFC's third seed no matter what happens against the Titans on Sunday. They're expecting to get WR Andre Johnson back after a three-game absence. Otherwise, even though head coach Gary Kubiak said on Monday that the Texans will approach this game like any other, if my team had suffered so many injuries this season, I'd be protecting RB Arian Foster as much as I could. Stay tuned for more news from Houston as the week progresses.

Falcons: If the Lions beat the Packers in their 1 p.m. ET game, the Falcons will be guaranteed the No. 6 seed in the NFC before their 4:15 kickoff against the Bucs. Unfortunately, since you'll probably have to set your lineups before the early games, this situation will be tricky. If you can handcuff either Jacquizz Rodgers or Jason Snelling (in that order) to Michael Turner, you'll have the option of a late change if you know the Falcons' game will be meaningless. Getting another late-game quarterback - such as John Skelton or Kyle Orton - can protect your team against a potentially abbreviated outing from Matt Ryan.

On to the rest of the news:

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• The Cowboys seem to think that QB Tony Romo (thumb) will be ready to play against the Giants, and RB Felix Jones (hamstring) should be on the field as well. As a Giants fan, the popular narrative that the Cowboys are going to screw up like they always do is a bit unsettling to me. Have people watched the Giants over the last couple of months? Yikes.
• With Adrian Peterson done for the season due to a knee injury, look for Toby Gerhart to carry the load for the Vikings this week against the Bears. Get Gerhart on your team and in your lineup if you can. 
• The Vikes are hoping to get QB Christian Ponder (concussion) back in action as well.
• Eagles RB LeSean McCoy has a slight ankle sprain, but head coach Andy Reid said Monday that "he'll be fine." Keep an eye on McCoy's practice participation this week.
• The Steelers can get the AFC's No. 2 seed if they beat the Browns, so expect them to try to get QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) on the field. However, if they take a big lead, they could subsequently remove Roethlisberger early. Remind me why your league plays a Week 17 championship game?
• The Raiders say they'll have a better idea Wednesday about RB Darren McFadden's chances to return after an eight-game absence. We've heard something like this for about the last five weeks, right? I'll believe McFadden is active when I see him run onto the field in full pads on Sunday.
• It's possible - but not likely - that the Bears could get QB Jay Cutler (thumb) and RB Matt Forte (knee) back for Sunday's game.
• There hasn't been any news on the Rams' quarterback situation, so if you're still waiting for Sam Bradford (ankle) to return ... I'm sorry.
• Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb is day-to-day with concussion symptoms, but I'm still expecting to see the aforementioned Mr. Skelton under center on Sunday.
• The Browns aren't ruling out QB Colt McCoy (concussion) for Sunday's game. You should, though.
• Giants WR Mario Manningham (knee) is questionable for Sunday night's game, while TE Jake Ballard (knee) sounds unlikely to play.
• Is Stevan Ridley now the leader of the Patriots' running back committee? It sure seems like it.
• It's nice that Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said nice things about his team's running back depth on Monday. It would be nicer if he tells us Roy Helu's status for Week 17 as soon as possible.
• You know who I'd be worried about this week? Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, who probably played through a groin injury on Christmas Eve only because his team needed to win to make the playoffs. With the Chargers now out of contention, maybe they'll rest Jackson. Watch for news on his practice status.
• Titans TE Jared Cook has 17 receptions for 272 yards and a touchdown over his last two games. He had 28 catches for 424 yards and two TDs in his first 13games. I guess they like throwing to him now.
• Joel Beall will be in the FOXSports.com fantasy football chat room today at 3 p.m. ET, and I'll make my usual appearance on Thursday at the same time. If you're still playing, send in your questions!

See you back here Friday morning.