Christmas is just a week away, and the last minute shoppers are scrambling for those final important gifts. The guys at RapidDraft.com though, are scrambling to help those worthy fantasy owners looking for important playoff advice.

This week they're making Christmas cookies with grandma, expressing their displeasure with those pathetic quarter eaters, and going "Straight Mason, homey." Have a safe and fun-filled holiday season. Enjoy this week's forecast.

Starting player "A" is like:

Starting Michael Vick against the Giants is like grandma making Christmas cookies with the four year old grandchild. The kitchen table, floor, and four-year old's face are almost destined to be a frosting and sugar sprinkle mess every time. However, the overall results in the end will overshadow how they were achieved. Vick may run for his life all day long, but he will produce.

Starting Rashad Jennings against the Colts is like playing as Marge in the Simpsons arcade game. She knows how to give a beat down, and won't disappoint with her vacuum cleaner weapon. However, she just isn't as appealing as Homer (Maurice Jones-Drew), especially against a run defense that is capable of surrendering 250+ yards to a runner like HomerMJD.

Starting Ronnie Brown against the Bills is like inserting 50 cents in to a mini-helmet vending machine, only to receive the one team you don't want the most. In my case, it happened to me this week when I scared a cashier after receiving a Dallas Cowboys star. In other words, I was excited to get it (like the Dolphins drawing the Bills defense), but wasn't too happy which who it was (Brown).

Starting Dwayne Bowe against the Rams is like choosing to eat a Krispy Kreme donut instead of a ham and cheese omelet for breakfast. It sounds like a sweet choice, but it's not healthy and will not fill you up. Come to think of it, Krispy Kreme donuts are only good when they're hot anyways.

Don't fall off your chair

• Ryan Fitzpatrick's facial hair might have finally gotten bushy enough this week to officially qualify him for Muppet status.
• The saddest image was watching Greg Jennings' fantasy value get carted off the field. Actually, the saddest image was probably one of Matt Flynn's throws. It was completely unfair of the officials to switch out the football for a shuttlecock once he entered.
• How about Carson Palmer managing three touchdown passes in a game in which his team only scored seven points? Pretty impressive.
• The Seahawks were officially eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday -- not for anything relating to their record, but for finishing the day with Ruvell Martin as their leading receiver. I have yet to confirm that Martin is actually an NFL receiver and not a John Waters transvestite. (I'm hoping for both.)
• Jay Feely has already been named Arizona's starting running back for the rest of the season.
• Whenever I see Tom Brady in the post-game press conference, I wonder which Wes Anderson movie I suddenly started watching.
• Boy, Jay Cutler was right about the Soldier Field turf. There was white stuff all over it for the whole game. Most folks probably thought it was snow, but it turned out to be Chicago's surrender flag.
• For all your holiday baking, I highly recommend the coating that covers the hands of every Jets receiver.
• Deion Sanders said on the NFL Network postgame show that some team will pay Jon Kitna next year to be its starter. I say it's unfair to put him in the UFL already.

Random Tidbits

A UPS driver that I know expressed concern this week over the thought of Tim Tebow starting at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. He joked about the notion, and sarcastically blurted the words, "I would be screwed." Yeah, like so many other playoff contenders, he has Brandon Lloyd, and the last thing he would need would be to have an inexperienced and inaccurate rookie take over as starter under center. But then I reminded him that most inexperienced quarterbacks latch on to one receiver until they get more comfortable with the others. He felt a little better, but still had his hopes high that Tebow would see nothing but the aluminum bench on the Broncos sideline. Sorry UPS driver, but the latest out of Denver is that there is a good chance that the lefty lobber may see some significant snaps this week ...

I laughed so hysterically when I was watching the "Big Bang Theory" on Thursday night that I made all of my tears of fantasy sadness evaporate. Yeah, I had a pretty large river streaming down my face thanks to Antonio Gates and Malcom Floyd, and their consistent approach to sitting out during my biggest and most important fantasy weeks. Luckily, I have Bo Scaife and Lance Moore to cushion the huge blows. Ok, so Scaife and Moore aren't exactly the types of players fit for a championship run, but I guess they're better than having Jeremy Shockey and Randy Moss; examples of why big names don't necessary lead to big results ... 

It's the most wonderful of the year for Mike Wallace owners, or so I hope. Last season Wallace was on the receiving end of three 40-plus yard passes in the final three weeks of the season. That was also the same number of 40-plus long balls he caught in the other 13 games. This week the Steelers are matched up against a crippled Jets secondary which vulnerable to the play-action pass. Plus, lockdown cornerback Darrelle Revis is still nursing a hamstring injury. In other words, if the Steelers can establish an effective rushing attack on first down, the sky's the limit for Wallace this week at home.

Four Downs: You're in the semi-final game of your fantasy playoffs and trying to establish your starting lineup.

Huber

First Down -- You've been blessed with Arian Foster as your top running back, but have been playing match-ups when it comes to your second starter. This week you're stuck between LaGarrette Blount and Jonathan Stewart. Who are you rolling with?

Even though I may have better odds with Blount scoring a touchdown against the Lions, I like Stewart's overall chances against a Rams team that has a hard time putting up points. Plus, Stewart has been one of the hottest rushers in the last three weeks, and is on his way to yet another great finish to the regular season. J-Stew, take me to the title game.

Second Down -- Terrell Owens has carried your fantasy squad through much of the season, but lately has been slumping. Are you keeping him in your starting lineup, or sitting him down for Deion Branch?

Right now Terrell Owens reminds me of my wife's unfinished knitted blanket that's sitting in my front closet. Every time I nudge it, the yarn starts to unravel. However, the Packers defense ranks third against the pass (196.8 yards per game), and hasn't allowed a 100-yard wide receiver since Week 6 (Brandon Marshall). Since then, they've shut down the likes of Calvin Johnson, Roddy White, and Miles Austin. I think it may be time to re-introduce Johnny Knox back in to my starting lineup.

Third Down -- Lately, your primary starting tight end, Jacob Tamme, has been struggling to score fantasy points. Do you sit him down in favor of Kellen Winslow, who has been riding your bench since about Week 10?

When it comes to tight end play I don't care about past results. Tamme's side of the see-saw has a fellow named Peyton Manning and a wretched Jaguar pass defense, while Winslow's side has a less experienced Josh Freeman matched up against a fiery Lions defense coming off a huge win against the Packers last week. In other words, the elephant is on Tamme's side, while the rooster sits perched high on Winslow's.

Fourth Down -- On paper, Matt Ryan looks like a lock against the Seahawks, but with the way Michael Turner has been rumbling as of late you're thinking twice. Are you benching Ryan for the Bears' Jay Cutler or Rams' Sam Bradford, or sticking with the always dependable Falcons signal caller?

Well, forget about Sam Bradford. In the last few weeks, he's been about as cold as that metal tongue-ripping pole in the movie The Christmas Story. Jay Cutler has had success against the Vikings in the past, but can be about as erratic as the job market any other week. I'll stick with the gun that I know will shoot when I draw it out of my fantasy holster. Ryan is the best weapon of choice here, even with Turner chugging faster than the Polar Express.

Schauf 

First Down -- At quarterback you face a heavy dilemma. Do you start your normal starter Drew Brees, or go with Jon Kitna, who has a very favorable match-up against Washington this week?

Brees. If you're wondering why, read the two names again and then check out what Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub did to the Ravens this season. Opting for Kitna would be classic playoff-time overthinking.

Second Down -- Tim Hightower is coming off a big game last week. Are you rolling the dice and starting him over LaDainian Tomlinson?

Yep, and I don't even think the decision involves dice. Tomlinson hasn't found the end zone since Week 6. He hasn't rushed for 60 yards in a game since Week 5. He hasn't even caught more than two passes in any of his past three games. He's simply a weak option right now in a bad offense.

Third Down -- Derrick Mason has been on your bench most of the season, but is starting to get more touches than Anquan Boldin. Are you starting the red hot Mason this week, or sticking with your normal productive starter Greg Jennings?

If Aaron Rodgers plays, Jennings is the guy. If he doesn't, I'm straight Mason, homey.

Fourth Down -- Antonio Gates is starting to give you migraines with his uncertain weekly status. Who are you starting in his place at tight end, Bo Scaife or Kevin Boss?

It's a total crapshoot between these two. Both have terrific matchups and neither has any kind of target pattern to give him the edge. Scaife preceded Week 14 with a pair of one-catch games, but one of those came with Rusty Smith under center. I'd lean Boss because I'm an Eagles fan and would seek to jinx him.