Fantasy owners have been chomping at the bit to get Willie Parker healthy and with the playoffs starting in most leagues either this week or next, the Steelers' running back is as close to 100% as he has been since September. However, how much he is going to help your fantasy team in the stretch drive remains to be seen.

It appears as if the Steelers are content to go with a running back-by-committee approach moving forward. Mewelde Moore has been effective and the reduced workload will increase the chances of Parker staying healthy. In addition, Gary Russell was summoned last week in the team's win over the Patriots at the goalline, taking away a key opportunity for a touchdown.

"No doubt it was a successful venture for us last week," head coach Tomlin told the team's website about featuring the two backs. "Mewelde is a good player, and he's proved that he's capable of helping us win. We all know what Willie's capable of doing. I'm sure we'll continue to see both of those guys in some form or fashion. The minute details of rotating them just hasn't been worked out yet for this week." 

Parker looked decent in his return against the Patriots last week and finished the game with 87 yards on 16 carries, but he sat out for long stretches of the game. Throw in the fact that he's battling both a knee injury and a bum shoulder and there is always a chance he could aggrevate an injury and be forced to the sidelines.

To make matters worse only the Cowboys and the Ravens have a tougher schedule ahead for running backs.

WEEK 14 - DALLAS - 10th best rushing defense - Allows 10.25 fantasy ppg to opposing RB's
WEEK 15 - @BALTIMORE - 3rd best rushing defense - Allows 7.5 fantasy ppg to opposing RB's
WEEK 16 - @TENNESSEE - 12th best rushing defense - Allows 12.1 fantasy ppg to opposing RB's (numbers are misleading; they are getting healthy now)

Expect to see Parker get about 15-20 touches per week and Mewelde Moore get 10-14 carries. If that is the case Parker will only see about 60% of the available points out there and based off the averages above that translates to about 18 total points during the three weeks of the playoffs. With the match-ups taken into consideration neither Steelers' running backs is very appealing and neither can be looked at as being anything more than a flex option moving forward.

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I am sure you are like me and getting sick of hearing about the Plaxico Burress scandal. Apparently so are the Giants.  The first step in severing ties with troubled Plaxico Burress came yesterday, when the Giants took their only logical course of action once their top receiver shot himself in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub, allegedly with an unlicensed handgun.

The team came down hard on Burress. In response to his wound, they placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list, which means he cannot play again this season or in the playoffs, according to the New York Post.

The Giants didn't stop there. In response to his outrageous behavior, they fined Burress an undisclosed amount and suspended him for four games, citing "conduct detrimental to the team for multiple and repeated violations of club rules." The Suspension means Burress is not allowed to step foot on the Giants' facility.

It looks as if the wide receiver has shot his Giants' career in the foot.

A bigger problem for the Giants could be emerging. Linebacker Antonio Pierce, a key part in the Giants' defense, helped Burress cover up the crime and is not out of the woods yet. If the Giants were to lose him too it would be devastating. 

Through 13 weeks of the season I have picked 130 out of 191 (68%) possible winners, including my 10-6 effort last week in which I scored 98 out of a possible 136 points... My Survivor Pick of the Colts hit again, but for the third straight week my "Out On A Limb" pick laid an egg (Bills lost to Raiders)... Against the spread I failed onboth of my straight wagers as the Colts missed covering by a half a point and the Bills lost outright. My Thanksgiving parlay didn't leave me much to be thankful for, but I did nail my two-team underdog parlay on Sunday as the Saints covered and the Falcons won outright. In the end I lost $52 on the week...Here are my picks for this week's action:

CONFIDENCE POOL	SURVIVOR PICK	AGAINST SPREAD
16. TITANS (vs Cle) 15. COLTS (vs. Cin) 14. CARDINALS (vs. StL) 13. VIKINGS (@Det) 12. BEARS (vs. Jax) 11. PACKERS (vs. Hou) 10. JETS (@SF) 9. PATRIOTS (@Sea) 8. BRONCOS (vs. KC) 7. CHARGERS (vs. Oak) 6. GIANTS (vs. Phi) 5. BILLS (vs. Mia) 4. RAVENS (vs. Was) 3. STEELERS (vs. Dal) 2. BUCS (@Car) 1. FALCONS (@NO)	MY PICK: CARDINALS - Kurt Warner faces his former team in the desert as the Cards are coming off a disappointing Thanksgiving night loss. Something tells me this could get ugly, real ugly. OUT ON A LIMB: PACKERS - I have struggled with my pick here for the past three weeks, but that will end as the Packers welcome the Texans, who are playing on a short week, to the Frozen Tundra on Lambeau Field.	Balance Heading Into Week: +$271 $55 Jets -3.5 $55 Raiders +10 $30 - 2-Team Parlay --Over 51.5 ATL/NO --Under 41 PIT/DAL *All lines from Caesar's Palace

The news broke some time ago, but on Tuesday afternoon the NFL announced the suspensions for six players who violated the NFL's Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. Those players are Saints RB Deuce McAllister, DE Will Smith and DT Charles Grant, Vikings DTs Pat Williams and Kevin Williams and Texans LS Bryan Pittman. All of these players are suspended through the end of the NFL's 2008 regular season and are eligible to return for the playoffs this year if their team advances that far.

All six players tested positive this summer for a banned diuretic, bumetanide, which they claim was an unlisted ingredient in an over-the-counter weight-loss product called StarCaps. They filed an appeal with the league, which was heard two weeks ago in New York City. The appeal was denied Tuesday.

The team the hardest by this no doubt is the Minnesota Vikings. They lose their two starting defensive tackles, a hit that will no doubt greatly affect one of the league's most tenacious rushing defenses. The Vikings currently in first place in the NFC North largely because of their defense, but now they must play the stretch drive without the 'Williams Wall' upfront.

However, the Williamses are expected to apply for injunctions today in U.S. District Court in an attempt to continue playing, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Peter Ginsberg, a New York-based attorney representing both Williamses, said Tuesday night that several options are being considered. "We haven't made any announcement about filing," an injunction, said Ginsberg, a partner at the law firm of Crowell and Moring. "We're going to take steps but we're not sure what they will be yet. There are several options, but until we make a decision, it's not constructive to talk about the various options. It's not a given we'll end up in court."

The move isn't as devastating for the Saints. Grant, who is already out for the season with a triceps injury, can serve his suspension while on the injured reserve list. McAllister and Smith will miss the final four games of the regular season, beginning with Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons in the Superdome. McAllister has been relegated to thrid-string duties with Reggie Bush healthy and Smith hasn't been much of a factor. Plus, New Orleans is already facing a bleak playoff outlook.