When setting our lineups each week we often take the strength of a match-up into consideration. If a player is playing a poorly ranked team, it’s likely that he’ll find a spot in your starting lineup over an equally talented player who’s playing a strong team. The same thought process should be used when making trades. Fantasy numbers are often hard to predict, but if you consider the strength of a player’s schedule, you’ll at least be able to narrow down who has the potential to put up some big points for your team.

Based on ESPN standard scoring, I’ve created a simple formula to show which players have the strongest and weakest combined schedules over the last five weeks of the fantasy season (week 12 to week 16. If your league plays its championship game in week 17, you should consider joining a different league).

The formula works as follows: Teams receive a score based on where they rank versus a certain position. For example, Dallas ranks 32nd against QB’s so they receive a score of 32, whereas Carolina ranks 1st against QB’s, so they receive a score of 1. So, over the five game period of week 12 to 16, you’ll want to target players with the highest combined score. Anything over 100 is pretty damn good, while under 50 is pretty horrible. Got it? If you don’t, don’t worry about, because below is a list of notable players who you’ll want to target or avoid based on this formula.

Even if he can’t get the Cowboys to the promise land, a great schedule to end the season could mean big numbers for Tony Romo.

QB’s with great schedule

Tony Romo – NYG (18), Oak (24), Chi (13), GB (25), Wsh (26)
Total Score 106, average opponent rank against QB’s – 21.2

Colin Kaepernick – Wsh (26), StL (12), Sea (2), TB (27), Atl (28)
Total Score – 95, average opponent rank against QB’s – 19
*Worth mentioning – Kaepernick is coming off his worst game of the season, making him an excellent buy low candidate.

Aaron Rodgers – Min (31), Det (14), Atl (28), Dal (32), Pit (9)
Total Score – 114, average opponent rank against QB’s – 22.8
*Worth mentioning – High risk, high reward situation based on when he can return from injury.

QB’s with horrible schedules

Drew Bress – Atl (28), Sea (2), Car (1), StL (12), Car (1)
Total Score – 44, average opponent rank against QB’s – 8.8
*Worth Mentioning – Brees currently ranks as the 2nd best player in fantasy so far. I wouldn’t rush to trade him, but if you have a good QB on your bench, especially one of the guys above, it might be a good idea to put Brees on the block and improve your other positions.

Andrew Luck has offered tremendous value to fantasy owners this season, but is his “Luck” about to run out? (pun intended, and not even close to being funny)

Andrew Luck – Ari (15), Ten (4) , Cin (8) , Hou (10) , KC (7)
Total Score – 44, average opponent rank against QB’s – 8.8

RB’s with great schedules

Matt Forte – StL (29), Min (27), Dal (32), Cle (18), Phi (15)
Total Score – 121, average opponent rank against RB’s – 24.2

Eddie Lacy – Min (27), Det (14), Atl (21), Dal (32), Pit (24)
Total Score – 118, average opponent rank against RB’s – 23.6

Ben Tate – Jac (28), NE (22) , Jac (28), Ind (9), Den (23)
Total Score – 110, average opponent rank against RB’s – 22
*Worth mentioning – As if pleasing his fantasy owners wasn’t enough motivation, Tate will be a free agent in the off-season and will be looking to prove he’s worthy of a starting position and a big time contract.

RB’s with horrible schedules

Reggie Bush – TB (7), GB (17), Phi (15) , Bal (1), NYG (11)
Total Score – 51, average opponent rank against RB’s (10.2)

Trent Richardson & Donald Brown – Ari (2), Ten (25), Cin (4) , Hou (13) , KC (6)
Total Score – 50, average opponent rank against RB’s (10)
*Worth mentioning – Even if he had a strong schedule, you probably wouldn’t want Richardson in your starting line-up. With the exception of a few players who’ve suffered injuries, he’s been fantasy football’s biggest disappointment so far.

Adrian Peterson – GB (17), Chi (26), Bal (1) , Phi (15) , Cin (4)
Total Score – 63, average opponent ranks against RB’s (12.6)
*Worth mentioning – Peterson won’t hurt you on your way to the playoffs, but going against two top five team in the playoffs hurts his value.

WR’s with great schedules

Victor Cruz, Ruben Randle, Hakeem Nicks – Dal (19), Wsh (28), SD (29), Sea (3) , Det (30)
Total Score – 109, average opponent rank against WR’s – 21.8

Dez Bryant – NYG (13), Oak (25) , Chi (16) , GB (23) , Wsh (28)
Total Score – 105, average opponent rank against WR’s – 21

Marshall and Jeffery should continue to give secondaries nightmares and add to their impressive stats.

Brandon Marshall & Alshon Jeffery – StL (17), Min (24), Dal (19), Cle (9), Phi (32)
Total score – 101, average opponent rank against WR’s – 20.2

Torrey Smith – NYJ (21) , Pit (6), Min (24), Det (30) , NE (14)
Total Score – 95, average opponent rank against WR’s – 19

WR’s with horrible schedules

T.Y. Hilton – Ari (8), Ten (2), Cin (11), Hou (5), KC (12)
Total Score – 38, average opponent rank against WR’s 7.6

Kenny Stills & Marques Colston – Atl (25), Sea (4), Car (1), StL (19), Car (1)
Total Score – 50, average opponent rank against – 10

TE’s with great schedules

Jason Witten – NYG (21), Oak (13), Chi (22), GB (24), Wsh (27)
Total Score – 107, average opponent rank against TE’s – 21.4

Jordan Cameron – Pit (14), Jac (31) , NE (10) , Chi (22) , NYJ (28)
Total Score – 105, average opponent against TE’s – 21

* No relevant fantasy TE’s have a horrible schedule (approx 50 points or less)

So, there you have it. An ace up your sleeve to take advantage of your unsuspecting friends. If this formula helps you capture your league crown I wouldn’t object to a cut of your winnings, or at the very least, the opportunity to build a friendship based on a love of sports and trusting each other with dark, disturbing secrets… Good Luck!

~ Joe Osborne

Here’s a look at the game changers from week 12:

Week after week, I can’t help but wonder if Drew Brees uses Head and Shoulders. He doesn’t appear to have dandruff, so if I needed to guess, I’d say he does.

Stud of the week – Drew Brees, Saints, Quarterback: It doesn’t get much better than this. Brees put up his best numbers of the season, throwing for 363 yards and four touchdowns, and if that wasn’t he enough, he managed to also rush for a touchdown. Another game like this might be too much to ask, but don’t be too shocked to see Brees put up big numbers the rest of the season. The only reasonably good defense against QB’s that he takes on for the remainder of the season is the Lions, who will likely be without top pass rusher Ndamukong Suh when they face off this Sunday night.

Dud of the week – Jordy Nelson, Packers, Wide Receiver: It’s kinda tough to be critical of Nelson this season, but after three huge games in which he scored five touchdowns and averaged 97 receiving yards, you’d expect a little bit better output than four receptions for 26 yards. Maybe it was Nelson’s turn to not put up big numbers, as Aaron Rodgers loves to spread the ball around in that explosive offense. Still, he set the expectation and didn’t deliver.

The who the hell are you award – Caleb Hanie, Bears, Quarterback: Last week I warned you not to laugh about the possibility of fantasy success from Hanie, and he delivered. ‘The Chosen One’, as he’s not known, threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns and added 50 rushing yards. He was a top 10 fantasy QB this week, putting up better numbers than Cam Newton, Mathew Stafford and Tony Romo. With a continued QB friendly schedule, I’ll warn you again not to laugh, and suggest picking him up and stashing him on your bench.

Moving on up – Mike Williams, Bucs, Wide Receiver: A few weeks ago, Williams would have ranked high as one of this season’s biggest disappointments, but he now appears to be on the road to redemption. Williams has scored a touchdown and has over 80 yards receiving in each of his last two games. Next for Williams is the Panthers, who’ve given up at least one receiving touchdown in three straight games.

Free Falling –Jets Defense/Special Teams – We often don’t pay as much attention to Defense/Special Teams in fantasy as we do to the skill position players, but going into the season, many of us had the Jets ranked quite highly. This team simply hasn’t been getting it done lately as they’ve only created one turnover in their last three games and have allowed an average of 26 points per game over that same span. Maybe this is what it will take for Rex Ryan to finally shut up? Nah, probably not.

Keep an eye on – Percy Harvin, Vikings, Wide Receiver: If you’re a Harvin owner, now might be the time to get him into your lineup. With Adrian Peterson sidelined for the majority of the last two games, Harvin has become the Vikings primary play maker. In the last two games, he has two touchdowns, 168 receiving yards and even received a handful of carries. It looks like he may be building some serious chemistry with Christian Ponder, and with AP possibly on the shelf for another game or two, Harvin should get lots of opportunities to put up big numbers.

That’s it for now. Have a great week and enjoy this weekend’s games!

Here’s a look at some of the difference makers in week 11:

Smith became a very popular man this week. I bet he got invited to a bunch of parties. Hopefully he declined so he can focus on football.

Stud of the Week – Kevin Smith, Lions, Running Back: On November 7th, the Lions re-signed Smith and 13 days later, he rewarded them with a career game and one of the best games any running back will have this season. Smith lit the Panthers D up for 201 total yards along with three touchdowns. It’s safe to say the he’ll hang on to the starting spot, atleast until Jahvid Best returns. Don’t expect another game like this, but he should get the opportunity to put up some points in the explosive Lions offense. He takes on the Packers this week, who’ve allowed a rushing touchdown in four straight games.

Dud of the Week – Brandon Marshall, Dolphins, Wide Receiver: Not that you should ever expect a huge game from Marshall, but you’d think he’d have no problem putting up double digit fantasy points against a Bills team who ranks near the bottom of the league against receivers. Marshall had his worst game of the season Sunday, catching one pass for five yards. There was some heavy competition for this awards this week, but thanks to a dropped touchdown and a dropped 20-plus-yard pass, Marshall takes it.

The who the hell are you award – Kevin Smith, Lions, Running Back: It’s rare to see a double award winner in my weekly recaps, but when the stud of the week is owned in less than one per cent of ESPN leagues, it’s a no-brainer. Surprise performances like this are one of the things that makes fantasy football great, it’s just too bad that no one capitalized by having Smith in their starting lineup. I think it’s fair to say that Smith will be owned in a lot more leagues this week.

Free Falling – Fred Jackson, Bills, Running Back: Could the wheels finally be falling off the Jackson Express (this isn’t his nickname, but if we get the word out, maybe it’ll catch on). His numbers aren’t horrible, but Jackson hasn’t scored a touchdown in four weeks and has some tough match-ups down the stretch. The fact that the Bills passing game is falling apart won’t help either. It was fun while it lasted.

Moving on up – Jordy Nelson, Packers, Wide Receiver: In the last three weeks, Nelson has scored five touchdowns and is averaging 97 receiving yards per game. Things can get congested in the Packers receiving corps, but Nelson is emerging as the favorite after passing Greg Jennings in total fantasy points for the season. Nelson should keep producing this week against the Lions, in what could be a high-scoring shootout.

Keep an eye on – Caleb Hanie, Bears, Quarterback: Don’t laugh! It might not be the end of the world for the Bears and their new starting quarterback. The remainder of their schedule is quite friendly to quarterbacks, with four of their remaining six games being against teams who rank in the bottom 10 against quarterbacks. If you play in a deep league, Hanie might be worth a pickup. Stop laughing!

This Thursday brings us the best slate of Thanksgiving games in recent memory, all of which will have big fantasy implications as teams make their push for the fantasy football playoffs. Have fun obsessively tracking your imaginary team and eating disturbing amounts of food in front of the TV. After all, isn’t that what the holidays are all about?

Here’s a look at the headline makers from week 10:

Stud(s) of the week – Bears Defense/Special Teams: Usually, you’ll be happy if your D/ST can pad your team’s score with a respectable 10 points, with anything over that being a bonus. ‘Respectable’ isn’t what the Bears D/ST went for this week, as they scored three times and created a ridiculous six turnovers on their way to tearing the Lions hearts out. If you were lucky enough to have the Bears in your line-up this week, you probably earned a win. If you were unlucky enough to play them, your fantasy football dreams were temporarily shattered, but hopefully your self-respect remained in tact. It’s just a game!

Dud of the week – Vincent Jackson, Chargers, Receiver: The Raiders are one of the worst defenses in the league against the pass. Jackson is one of the top receivers in the league. It doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to tell you that the odds were in Jackson’s favor to put up big numbers. However, a bowling alley employee could tell you that he stunk it up (I seriously doubt any bowling alley employees will read this. If you are a bowling alley employee, I salute you). One catch for 22 yards. That won’t get it done in the NFL, and isn’t even respectable by LFL standards (Lingerie Football League. I can’t believe this actually exists – check out their website – www.lflus.com).

This is John Skelton. I’ve never met him, but from this picture he seems like a very nice person.

The who the hell are you award – John Skelton, Cardinals, Quarterback: Larry Fitzgerald might be able to back off that ledge now, as he might have found someone who can get him the ball. Skelton had a career game, throwing for 315 yards and three TD’s in a win over the Eagles. That Kevin Kolb trade looks better and better after each week.

Free Falling – Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs, Receiver: Bowe has now gone four weeks in a row without a TD or 100-yard receiving game. It looks like things might only get worse for Bowe and the Chiefs, as starting QB Matt Cassel could be done for the season thanks to a hand injury. Well, at least they have Tyler Palko and Ricky Stanzi on standby; two options who can technically play quarterback.

Moving on up – Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks, Running Back: Lynch has now scored in three straight games and has two straight 100-yard games. The good times should continue to roll for Lynch, with the Rams on deck, who are 26th in the league against the run. You gotta love the Seahawks! Actually, I’ve never met anyone who likes the Seahawks. Must be an east coast thing.

Keep an eye on – Lance Ball, Broncos, Running Back: With Knowshon Moreno out for the remainder of the season, and Willis McGahee’s injury history, you can bet that Ball will get plenty of balls the remainder of the season. In other words,  plenty of touches should come in Ball’s direction. I know, it’s not even funny, but I bet some of you laughed, especially those of you with mental disorders. It should also be mentioned that the Broncos had a total of eight pass attempts versus 55 rush attempts last week. Yeah, they like to run.

Enjoy the games this week and good luck on your push for the fantasy playoffs!

The first UFC on FOX event this weekend marks a new era for the UFC and the sport of MMA. Stepping into prime time television is a big move for the world’s top MMA promotion, and is another sign that it is the fastest growing sport in the world.

Being on network TV will earn the UFC more fans, but will serious media coverage come wih it?

The UFC has come a long way in the past decade. The cover of Sports Illustrated, top selling video games, blue chip sponsors and monster pay-per-view numbers are just a few examples that the sport and the UFC brand are closing the gap between themselves and other popular, more traditional sports.

Mainstream media is providing the sport with more coverage, as it realizes that this is something people care about. ESPN.com will post results and a recap of UFC events, and will even feature UFC news as a top story on a slow news day. Still, the media should be doing more. This is definitely the sport of a younger demographic, and maybe that’s the problem. High profile, seasoned journalist refuse to educate themselves on the sport and refuse to accept it along the same lines as other top professional sports. By no means are the media or sports media personalities responsible for helping with the growth of a sport, but shouldn’t they do a better job of acknowledging and covering something that has reached such high levels of popularity?

Don’t even think of tuning into the highly popular show Pardon the Interruption on ESPN for any type of serious UFC or MMA discussion. Kornheiser and Wilbon will have well-researched discussions on anything from the NFL to MLS, but when the topic of MMA comes up, they both freely admit – “I’m not an MMA guy,” then go on to have a halfhearted discussion about whatever the topic is. Could you imagine one of them having a similar disregard for another sport?

This summer, highly praised ESPN personality Bill Simmons launched Grantland.com, a sports and popular culture website. Anyone who has listened to Simmons’ podcast, the BS Report, will tell you that they discuss a variety of topics that will appeal to all demographics. He’s even had Dana White and Brock Lesnar as guests. So, surely this different type of website must offer some unique insight on the UFC from time to time. Nope. Searching ‘MMA’ and ‘UFC’ brings up one relating article. However, a search of ‘WWE’ brings up 14 relating articles. So, if you want news or opinion about the UFC, Grantland isn’t the place to go, but you can definitely read about CM Punk’s interesting new gimmick on his way to being a WWE champion.

At least the two outlets mentioned above don’t choose to use their voice as an all out attack on the sport; something that was a bit of a media trend when MMA first started to grow. The same can’t be said of TSN’s ‘The Reporters’ (similar to ESPN’s ‘The Sports Reporters’, but airs in Canada). UFC 124 was a hugely successful event that took place in Montreal in December, 2010. The event saw one of Canada’s best athletes, Georges St-Pierre, convincingly beat Josh Koscheck in the main event. Instead of embracing St-Pierre as one of the country’s stand out athletes or offering up any type of real analysis on the event, the reporters chose to bash the sport, pointing out how brutally violent it is, calling it a ‘human video game’.

These are just of few examples of the disrespect the sport still receives in the media. Many media outlets have embraced the sport and do a phenomenal job covering it, but there’s still a long way to go. UFC on Fox will be a big step in the right direction, as it will help open the eyes of those in the media who still don’t take the sport seriously. Journalist can be stubborn, and some will still refuse to give it a chance. That’s their problem. Taking the time to educate yourself on the sport and be entertained by it doesn’t take long. The ones who can be converted have a bit of catching up to do, but the sport is growing and gaining new fans everyday. It’s hard to judge where the sport will be 10 years from now, but if the last 10 are any indication, we won’t have a problem getting serious coverage of what could one day be the world’s most popular sport.

Last week we took a look at players to target in trades based on a strong schedule late in the season. Using that strategy might make your team the best when it really counts – the playoffs. This week we’ll take a look at some players with horrible schedules in important late season games who you might want to consider trading. By no means am I suggesting that the below players will put up all-time worst fantasy performances, I’m just pointing out that the trends and opposition might not be in their favor when you need big stats more than ever. With trade deadlines approaching, it might be time to trade high and take advantage of an unsuspecting owner. Here’s the list (stats are based on ESPN standard scoring):

Quarterbacks

These 10 teams allow the least amount of points per game to QB’s (best teams ranked first): Jets, Ravens, Browns, Bengals, Texans, Lions, Steelers, Giants, Seahawks, Chargers

If this season’s stats are any indication, Philip Rivers is probably about to throw an interception in this picture.

Philip Rivers: Can things really get any worse for the underachieving Rivers this season? Yes, yes they can. In weeks 15 and 16 Rivers takes on the Ravens and Lions. With 11 interceptions in just seven games this season,  I really wouldn’t feel comfortable with Rivers in my lineup against either of those teams late in the season.

Joe Flacco: If for some reason you’re still whacco for Flacco, you should consider checking yourself into a mental hospital, or at least take a look at his schedule late in the season. With games against the Chargers in week 15 and the surprisingly tough pass D of Browns in week 16, Flacco has no business starting for a team competing for a fantasy football championship.

Doug Flutie: Flutie retired years ago, which means he’ll get you zero points if you start him. In his prime, he probably would have been a pretty reliable fantasy QB. Still though, he’s probably not even eligible for your league.

Running Backs

These 10 teams allow the least amount of points per game to RB’s (best teams ranked first): 49ers, Ravens, Lions, Dolphins, Cowboys, Texans, Seahawks, Bears, Broncos, Bengals

LeSean McCoy: You gotta give McCoy credit for having an impact in the Eagles passing game, but his late season schedule isn’t pretty. In weeks 13 to 16 he plays the Seahawks, Dolphins, Jets and Cowboys. With his strong numbers so far this season, he’d have extremely high value in a trade. Start shopping.

Fred Jackson: The breakout star has had it pretty good so far this season, but things will get tough in weeks 15 and 16 with games against the Dolphins and Broncos.

Ryan Mathews: If you’re a Matthews owner, you’re obviously worried about his health, as he seems to get some type of injury in each game. Another thing that should concern you is his games against the Ravens in week 15 and Lions in week 16. Given his injury risk and poor schedule, you should take whatever you can get for Matthews if the deal can help your team.

Beanie Wells: Wells’ production has been a surprise this season, but his inconsistent health has not. Even if he stays healthy, things get pretty nasty for Wells starting in week 13 with games against the Cowboys, 49ers, Browns and Bengals; three of which are top ten teams against RB’s in fantasy so far. Trade high, dammit!

Wide Receivers

These 10 teams allow the least amount of points per game to WR’s (best teams ranked first): Steelers, Jets, Browns, Panthers, Titans, Jaguars, Bengals, Redskins, Lions, Eagles

Hakeem Nicks: New York’s top receiver (including those on the Jets), may not look so great come the end of the year. Games in weeks 15 and 16 against the Redskins and Jets should be enough to convince you to open up trade talks. Same goes for other Giants receivers, Cruz and Manningham.

I’m sure Fitz would welcome Kurt Warner back with open arms. He’d probably even settle for Matt Leinart.

Larry Fitzgerald: Talent doesn’t always equal stats, especially when Kevin Kolb is your QB. Crappy QB or not, games against the Browns and Bengals in weeks 15 and 16 will make it tough for Fitzgerald to finish the season strong.

Roddy White: White’s numbers this season aren’t a great reflection of his high draft selection. Even more disappointing than his production so far this season is his tough schedule down the stretch. Games against the Panthers and Jags in weeks 14 and 15 could keep White’s numbers consistent with what he’s done so far this season.

If you were paying attention, two teams ranked in the top ten in each category – The Lions and the Bengals (how the hell did that happen?), so it’s best to avoid match-ups against these two teams. There’s still lots of football to be played, and these rankings will surely change between now and playoff time, but you gotta take a ‘what have you done for me lately’ approach to field the best team. Use the information above to create a team that’s built for the playoffs, then laugh in the face of those in your league when you win it all. Then go way over the line with rubbing it in, until the point where they consider kicking you out of the league. Then apologize and wait until next season and do it all over again. Or you can be a gentleman about it. The choice is yours.

For better or worse, here’s a look at some of week eight’s standout performers…

Stud of the week – Steven Jackson, Rams, Running Back: Technically, LeSean McCoy had a better fantasy week, but props have to be given to Jackson for having by far his best performance of the season. A lot of fantasy owners probably have Jackson to thank for a win this week, thanks to his 159 yards on the ground, 32 in the air, and a pair touchdowns.  S-Jax will have a chance for a repeat performance this week, when the Rams take on the Cardinals who rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of fantasy points allowed to running backs. Good for the Rams!

Dud of the week – Drew Brees, Saints, Quarterback: Coming off his five touchdown, game of the season against the Colts, you’d think Brees would be due for another big day against the miserable Rams, but that wasn’t the case. Brees had a very mediocre day passing for 269 yards, one touchdown and two picks. It’s unlikely that Brees will have another game like this, but it’s just disappointing when a top player doesn’t deliver under these circumstances.

It wasn’t easy, but I found a picture of Laurent Robinson.

The who the hell are you award – Laurent Robinson, Cowboys, Wide Receiver: For the second week in a row, this honor goes to a Cowboys player; a guy who was owned in 1 per cent of ESPN leagues going into Sunday’s game. Robinson lit it up, scoring a touchdown and gaining 103 yards. It’s hard to imagine Robinson having a lot of opportunities in an offense that includes Myles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, but he’s worth a pick-up if you need help at wide receiver.

Free falling – Steve Johnson, Bills, Receiver: I thought he was going to start going by Stevie, but everywhere I look, it says ‘Steve’, so we’ll stick will that. Steve simply hasn’t been putting up the numbers you want for a receiver of his caliber. He was most likely drafted as a 2nd receiver or flex option, but he should be stashed on your bench until he shows some improvement. In his last four games, he hasn’t gained more than 57 yards, and since starting the season with three touchdowns in three games, he only has one since. Come on Steve!

Moving on up – Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers, Quarterback: Up until two weeks ago, Big Ben was putting up some very inconsistent numbers. The past two weeks have been a different story, by throwing for over 360 yards in each game and totaling five touchdowns. It’ll be tough, but it’ll be impressive if he can put up a similar performance against the Ravens this week. I knew I could make it through a Roethlisberger section without making a sex joke!

Keep an eye on – Brent Celek, Eagles, Tight End: A few seasons ago, it looked like Celek was going to be a big part of the Eagles offense, but he pretty much disappeared. He re-emerged last week with his best game of the season gaining 94 yards and a score. Back to back strong performances might be in the cards for Celek, as he takes on the Bears this week, who allow the most fantasy points in the NFL to tight ends. Throw him the damn ball!

That’s it for now. Enjoy the games this week, and good luck gambling on the waiver wire.

Did Dana White really have a choice? After putting on a boxing clinic, and beating B.J. Penn into retirement, it was announced that Nick Diaz would be next for UFC welterweight champ, Georges St. Pierre. And that’s exactly the way it should be. What makes this situation complicated is that a few days before the event, White announced that Carlos Condit would still be next in line for a title shot, no matter what the outcome of the fight between Diaz and Penn. Since Condit was scheduled to receive the shot, it would have been fair stick with that fight, but it’s not the fight that fans want to see.

Condit will now need to win another fight to earn a title shot

Condit is a highly skilled and entertaining fighter who will no doubt challenge for a title in the future, but did he really deserve or earn the title shot in the first place? After all, he earned the shot by default, thanks to the misbehavior of Diaz, not due to winning any type of  number one contender fight. Keeping Condit in the fight would have been the honorable thing to do, but do victories over Dan Hardy and Kim Dong-hyun really warrant a shot, especially when Nick Diaz is riding an 11 fight win streak? Keeping Condit in the title fight would have either left Diaz on the shelf until mid 2012, waiting for his crack at the title, or would have forced Diaz into another fight, which if he lost, would have derailed a showdown with GSP. Not giving Diaz the title shot would have been too risky, and it’s a fight the UFC needed to make.

So, while the world waits for what will be the most hyped welterweight title fight in UFC history, what will Condit do? It’s likely that Condit will fight on the same card in the co-main event against a top tier welterweight. It’s obvious that he’ll earn a title shot with a victory, but it might not be so easy. Condit will probably face another top contender such as Jake Ellenberger or Anthony Johnson, or perhaps a mid-tier welterweight like Diego Sanchez, which would make for an entertaining fight.

It’s a difficult situation where the UFC, Diaz, GSP and the fans all come out as major winners, but Condit comes out as a major loser. He was given the chance of a lifetime and had it snatched away by no fault of his own. Now there’s no guarantee that he’ll ever fight for the title, but to become a champion, one must often face adversity, so we’ll see if Condit can rise above and reclaim the title shot that was once his.

With the fantasy football season close to the half way point, you probably have a pretty good idea of where you team stands. Even if your team looks great now, that doesn’t mean they’ll look great two months from now. It’s all about match-ups in fantasy football, so you should be aware of players whose value will increase thanks to optimal schedules in weeks 14, 15 and 16; the weeks when most fantasy leagues have their playoffs. If your league enforces a trade deadline, it’s probably a few weeks away, so your should start looking to make some deals soon. In any case, here’s some players who you should be targeting based on their schedules in the last three weeks of the fantasy season. (All stats are based on ESPN standard scoring.)

Quarterbacks

These 10 teams allow the most points per game to QB’s (worst teams ranked first): Broncos, Dolphins, Patriots, Colts, Cardinals, Rams, Bills, Packers, Bears, Raiders

Do whatever you can to get Aaron Rodgers. Well, maybe not ‘whatever’ you can. We all have a morale code to follow.

Aaron Rodgers: You probably won’t find too many teams willing to unload the top scoring QB in fantasy season, but it might be worth paying the price, as Rodgers has some nice match match-up late in the season, playing the Raiders in week 14 and Bears in week 16.

Tom Brady: Once again, it doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to tell you that Brady could improve your team, a meth addict could tell you that. No quarterback has better value late in the season as Brady will get a chance to light up against the two worst teams in fantasy in weeks 15 and 16, against the Broncos then Dolphins.

Ryan Fitzpatrick: So far this season, Fitzpatrick has put up respectful numbers, good enough to be a starter in most formats. Fitzpatrick should have no problem adding to him numbers late in the season with a schedule similar to Brady’s with games against the Dolphins in week 15, and the worst overall Broncos in week 16.

Jay Culter: Mediocre would be the word to describe Culter’s season so far. He had that one horrible game against the Panthers, but besides that his numbers are above average at best. His numbers should be anything but mediocre when it really counts as he has games against the Broncos in week 14 and Packers in 16.

Running Backs

These 10 teams allow the most points per game to RB’s (worst teams ranked first): Eagles, Rams, Panthers, Colts, Titans, Jets, Raiders, Chiefs, Bills, Giants

Arian Foster: You’d be stupid not to want a healthy Foster in your lineup any week during the season, but he’ll probably be the top scoring RB in your league’s playoffs with a game against the Bengals in week 14, then two favorable match-ups against the Panthers in week 15 and Colts in week 16.

Shonn Green: If Green is the top running back on your team, you probably have no chance of making the playoffs. You should however, forward this article to your friends and others in your league as I’m doing all I can to increase this blog’s traffic. All kidding aside, Green has it pretty good down the stretch with games against the Eagles in week 15 and Giants in week 16.

DeMarco Murray/Felix Jones: Things might get crowded in the Cowboys backfield when Jones returns from injury, but both RB’s are worth a look with games against the Giants in week 14 and Eagles in week 16.

Daniel Thomas: It’s no secret that the Dolphins love to run the ball. It’s not by choice either, it’s because Matt Moore is their QB. It’s pretty bad when you have to go to plan B after Chad Henne. Enough ripping on the Fins for now. As the ‘suck for Luck’ campaign winds down later this season, they’ll have it good against the run playing the Eagles in week 14 and Bills in week 15.

Wide Receivers

These 10 teams allow the most points per game to WR’s (worst teams ranked first): Patriots, Rams, Colts, Cardinals, Giants, Broncos, Vikings, Packers, Bills, Falcons

A.J. Green: The standout receiver will make a strong push for offensive rookie of the year with a strong schedule in the fantasy playoffs with games against the Rams in week 15 and Cardinals in week 16.

Marques Colston/Saints Receivers: Owning a Saints receiver can be frustrating from week to week as Drew Brees likes to spread the ball around. If you had to pick one, there’s no question that you’d take Colston. You’ll want him in your lineup later this season with games against the Vikings in week 15 and Falcons in week 16.

The numbers might not show it, but the Dolphins have been trying to get Marshall the ball. He’s the 7th ranked receiver in targets this season.

Brandon Marshall: Marshall might not seem like an overly attractive option now, but he’ll get the opportunity to finish the season strong with games against the Bills in week 15 and Patriots in week 16. By that time, JP Losman might be his quarterback, but he can’t do much worse than Matt Moore or Chad Henne.

Bears Receivers: You probably don’t want one of these guys in your line-up now, but it’s probably smart to keep one stashed on your bench thanks to games against the Broncos in week 14 and Packers in week 16.

Tight Ends

Here’s an idea. Quit being lazy and look it up for yourself. Here’s the link – Worst teams against TE’s

A common trend here is that the Colts, Bills and Rams fall into all three categories of giving up the most points to QB’s, RB’s, and WR’s. A play against either team is always a good move. Another thing you should also be conscious of is that the numbers don’t lie. Sure, each team’s ratings will fluctuate between now and playoff time, but trade deadlines are approaching, and how well a team has done so far gives us the best estimate of how they’ll do for the remainder of the season. Also try to avoid placing trade value on reputation alone. At the start of the season, if someone offered you Fred Jackson for Chris Johnson you’d probably try to have them kicked out of your league. Now you’d laugh and gladly accept. As for the players mentioned above, get on it and start building a championship team. It might be worth paying a little extra now, for a player who will pay off when it really counts.

Check back next week for players you should look to trade based on tough schedules later in the season. Enjoy the games this week!

Stud of the week – Arian Foster, Texans, Running Back: 115 rushing yards with two TD’s, 119 receiving yards with one TD. I’ll be shocked to see a better game than this the rest of the season. The only analysis I can give here is that maybe the Texans should give Foster a turn at QB or maybe give him a shot at kicking some long field goals that might be out of Neil Rackers’ range.

If Sunday's performance is any indication, Arian Foster is well on his way to a repeat performance of his breakout 2010 season.

Dud of the week – Chris Johnson, Titans, Running Back: If there was a week for Chris Johnson to finally breakout and put up some big numbers, you’d think it would be the week following a bye, against a Texans run defense that ranks around the middle of the pack. This was not the case. CJ rushed for just 18 yards; not on one carry, for the entire game. He did pick up 27 yards receiving, but that did little to ease the pain of his frustrated owners. For the season, The former fantasy MVP ranks behind big names like Tim Hightower, James Starks and Shonn Green. Johnson should have a chance to finally get back on track this week against the Colts, who rank near the bottom of the league in run defense.

The who the hell are you award – DeMarco Murray, Cowboys, Running Back: An injury to Felix Jones opened up a spot for Murray, and he took full advantage and should continue to be a factor in the Cowboys offense, even when Jones returns. Murray led the league with a ridiculous 253 yards on 25 rushes, and he added a score. He wasn’t relevant in the passing game, but you can’t really complain about this performance. There’s a decent chance that Murray still may be available in your league, but he should be the first player off the waiver wire. You’d be as stupid as whoever decided to trade those draft picks for Carson Palmer to not try to pick him up if he’s available.

Moving on up – Marques Colston, Saints, Wide Receiver: Colston is considered a high end number two receiver in fantasy, but his inconsistency can drive owners nuts. The past two weeks is a bit of a different story, as Colston has elevated his play with seven receptions in each game, an average of 108 yards, and three TD’s. With the worst ranked pass defense of the Rams next on the Saints schedule, look for the great chemistry between Colston and Drew Brees to continue.

Free Falling – Deangelo Williams, Panthers, Running Back: We already knew that Williams wasn’t worthy of a starting spot on fantasy rosters, but after another depressing performance is he even worthy of a spot on your bench? Williams had 10 rushes for 35 yards, and that was it. Teammate Jonathan Stewart has seen an increase in production and red zone touches over the past few games, and it appears that Williams has fallen to second tier in an offense that takes the majority of its snaps out of the shotgun formation. This, combined with the fact that Williams only has one 100 yard game and one TD in seven games this season means he’s on his way to being one of the season’s biggest disappointments if he doesn’t turn things around.

Keep an eye on – Knowshon Moreno, Broncos, Running Back: Moreno might finally reward the patient owners who kept him on their rosters, as he’ll receive an increase in touches with Willis McGahee on the shelf for a few games thanks to a fractured fourth metacarpal in his right hand. Moreno has shown in the past that he can be productive in a starting role, and thanks to his horrendous start he might be available in your league. In other news, what the hell is a fourth metacarpal?

Have a great week preparing for this weekend’s games, the most important of which in terms of fantasy implications is the Patriots vs. the Steelers. And just a quick tip; if you play in a keeper league and someone offers you two first round picks for Carson Palmer, you should accept. Go Raiders!

Joe Osborne is a sports and entertainment enthusiast who resides in Halifax, NS. To read more articles like this, visit WhatUpSports.com, or you can follow Joe on Twitter @TheJoeOsborne.