We have been giving out fantasy awards all week long. So far, Matt Cassel, Steve Slaton and Antonio Bryant have walked away with a Wonders award for being the best waiver wire wonders at their respective positions this season.

Today we will unveil the best tight end gleaned off waiver wires this year to finish up The 2008 Wonders award ceremony. Congrats to all the winners so far and I know I speak for all owners when I say that I look forward to next year’s crop of relatively-unknown-talents-turned-fantasy-superstars.

And now for something completely different: The least valuable fantasy football players of the 2008 season. Personally, I would like to thank Jeremy Shockey for getting into the endzone ZERO times despite playing with a quarterback who threw 34 touchdowns. Hard to do, my man, hard to do.

Here are today’s great reads:

• Vote for the most valuable player for the bucks and win a free 42″ Vizio LCD television. [The Fifth Down]
• This weekend’s running back crop looks to favor much better than their quarterback counterparts. [Bruno Boys]
• Georgia’s two most explosive underclassmen have declared for the NFL Draft, and one of them just might end up to the Lions at No. 1 overall. [CollegeFootballTalk]
• In order to set up an early battle for the No. 1 overall pick, Sam Bradford will declare for the NFL Draft as well. [NFL GridIron Gab]
• The Eagles will only go as far as Brian Westbrook will take them. What else is new? [The Fifth Down]
• Would acquiring Matt Hasselback via trade make Minnesota a Super Bowl contender again next year? [NFL GridIron Gab]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

Is there a worse crop of fantasy quarterbacks to choose from for playoff leagues than this weekend’s?

The year’s best fantasy QBs of the group — Kurt Warner and Philip Rivers — both play on the road in hostile environments against teams coming off first-round byes. Not liking that for either of those guys.

Pittsburgh’s Big Ben is banged up, but he gets a soft-ish San Diego secondary which, for the most part, has been playing well lately. Donovan McNabb is playing smart football, but has to go into division-rival New York. And speaking of the Giants, Eli Manning is coming off a bye but has to face the red hot Eagles’ defense, which has been owning quarterbacks of all types lately.

That leaves us with Jake Delhomme, Joe Flacco and Kerry Collins against the Cardinals, Titans and Ravens, respectively. Would it be a huge surprise to see any of these three end up being the best fantasy quarterback this weekend? I think not.

Here are today’s great reads:

• The list of impending free agents is long and full of some interesting fantasy talent. Where do you rank Derrick Ward and Darren Sproles if they get starting jobs somewhere? [NFL GridIron Gab]
• The Tom Brady and Matt Cassel scenario where both are in New England next year is picking up steam. [FanHouse]
• Vincent Jackson must have been drowning his sorrows after posting a good egg in last weekend’s game against the Colts. [Shutdown Corner]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

The standings after the first weekend of The Hazean’s Fantasy Playoff Challenge are up, and here are the results:

Look at me up there at No. 3. You guys have some work to do to earn that Best Buy gift card. Congrats to EZ-Hambone for grabbing the early lead with this lineup: Donovan McNabb, Tim Hightower, Michael Turner, Anquan Boldin, Reggie Wayne, Antonio Gates, David Akers and the Ravens DST.

Here are today’s great reads:

• Both of yesterday’s big names from the MMR — LaDainian Tomlinson and Anquan Boldin — could miss the playoff action this weekend. [ProFootballTalk]
• Speaking of injuries, Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice yesterday for the first team since the end of the regular season. [ProFootballTalk]
• A look back at the top fantasy performers from the first weekend of playoff fantasy football. [Lester's Legends]
• Players that fall just outside the top-50 keeper candidates for the 2009 season. [Pancake Blocks]
• Another blogger is giving away some fantasy hardware, with my boy Drew Brees taking home a nice prize. [Bruno Boys]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

NFL.com has not updated the standings for The Hazean’s Fantasy Playoff Challenge yet, but I wanted to thank the 26 readers who signed up for the league.

I told you guys I would give away a free movie to the winner of the league if it reached 30 members. That did not happen, so instead I will give away a gift card of some amount close to or up to $20 to Best Buy. How does that sound?

Here are today’s great reads:

• Seven lessons learned from the 2008 fantasy football season. [Sports Jabber]
• The key to winning fantasy leagues in 2009 is to start preparing right now. [CBS Sports]
• An early fantasy mock draft for a redraft league with no LaDainian Tomlinson in the first round. LT already is looking like a steal in 2009. [Fantasy Football Xtreme]
• Darren Sproles’ performance against the Colts this weekend put money in his pocked this offseason. [Pancake Blocks]
• The Colts could dump Marvin Harrison this offseason to save some cash, which would mark the end of a remarkably era for Harrison. [ProFootballTalk]
• Speaking of the Colts, was Peyton Manning to blame for Saturday night’s thrilling loss to the Chargers? [Deadspin]
• Seriously, Kansas City needs to give the ball to Tyler Thigpen at the start of next season. [NFL GridIron Gab]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

It’s not too late to join The Hazean’s Fantasy Playoff Challenge. To sweeten the pot a little bit The Hazean will give away a free movie DVD not to exceed $20 of the winner’s choice if the group reaches 30 members. The league size is approaching 30, so make sure to tell your friends, family and league mates!

Next week, The Hazean will hand out The 2008 Wonders awards to the players at each of the fantasy skill position that came off the waiver wire to lead fantasy owners on championship runs in 2008.

I already have linked to other awards being handed out by fantasy football bloggers since the end of the regular season. One of the more interesting awards out there this week is the 2008 Fantasy Football All-Value Team. Some of these guys should pop up as nominees for The 2008 Wonders, so stay tuned for those next week.

Here are today’s great reads:

• Two tight ends that headed into 2008 with high expectations could carry fantasy playoff teams this weekend. [Bruno Boys]
• Keeping an eye on the ever-changing NFL mock draft market, it looks like many think Detroit is going QB with the No. 1 pick. [Football Jabber]
• Two of the Chargers most dynamic players have missed practice this week, but I doubt either of them misses action against the Colts. [ProFootballTalk]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

It’s not too late to join The Hazean’s Fantasy Playoff Challenge. To sweeten the pot a little bit The Hazean will give away a free movie DVD not to exceed $20 of the winner’s choice if the group reaches 30 members. The league size is approaching 30, so make sure to tell your friends, family and league mates!

Hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe New Year’s Eve. The wife and I stayed in to watch LSU trounce Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl (I refuse to call it by its corporate name) and then hit up a party with a few friends for our first Eastern time zone New Year’s.

Got any unique New Year’s Resolutions for 2009?

Remember to sign up for our fantasy playoff league by clicking the link above. We had around 20 members last I checked, so only 10 more need to sign up for everyone to get a chance to win a free DVD.

Here are today’s great reads:

• I thought Bill Cowher would want a veteran like Brett Favre at quarterback, but rumor has it that is not the case. [ProFootballTalk]
• Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees will head into 2009 fantasy drafts as the No. 1 quarterback on most fantasy boards. [SI.com]
• Is there a better 1-2-3 punch at wide receiver than Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston? [Larry's Legends]
• Speaking of Fitz and Boldin, they are two of the top four receivers you can use in fantasy playoff leagues this weekend. [Bruno Boys]
• If you need some help trying to defeat me in our fantasy playoff league, check out some of these rankings. [Fantasy Football Librarian]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

It’s not too late to join The Hazean’s Fantasy Playoff Challenge. To sweeten the pot a little bit The Hazean will give away a free movie DVD not to exceed $20 of the winner’s choice if the group reaches 30 members. Right now we are at 15, so tell your league mates!

If you still have the itch to play some fantasy football, join our playoff challenge for a chance to win a free DVD of your choice. It is tough to quit fantasy football cold turkey, which is why NFL.com offers fantasy playoff games.

Speaking of playoff fantasy football, it appears that Michael Turner trumps Adrian Peterson this weekend. Which poses an interesting debate: Can Turner challenge Peterson to be the No. 1 pick in next summer’s fantasty drafts?

Here are today’s great reads:

• For now, fantasy owners do not have to worry about getting Shanahanned next year. But Mike Shanahan is too good to not find a job soon, if he really wants one. [Roto Arcade]
• The 49ers would be wise to hand Shaun Hill the starting job for next year right now. [Real Football 365]
• Professor Jabber is giving away a $25 gift card to the winner of his fantasy playoff challenge. [Football Jabber]
• Members of the media are jumping all over Terrell Owens, which makes me wonder if he can last another season in Big D. [NFL Juice]
• Matt Ryan may have won the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but can he win The Hazean’s Fantasy Rookie of the Year as well? [NFL Grid Iron Gab]
• DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart were the best of the 1-2 punch bunch this season. [Lester's Legends]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

It’s not too late to join The Hazean’s Fantasy Playoff Challenge. A dozen readers joined the group on Monday, so to sweeten the pot a little bit The Hazean will give away a free movie DVD not to exceed $20 of the winner’s choice if the group reaches 30 members. Tell your league mates!

It is looking less and less likely that Matt Cassel will test the free agent waters this offseason. And that is bad news for the Lions, Vikings, Rams and Buccaneers, all of whom may be in the market for a new signal-caller this spring.

So if Tom Brady does elect to have another surgery now, he likely will miss the entirety of the 2009 season. Could this be the end of his legacy as the leader of the New England offense? Will Matt Cassel usurp his starting role much like Brady did to Drew Bledsoe?

Remember that it was an injury that sidelined Bledsoe which paved the way for young Brady to flourish. Cassel led the Patriots to an 11-5 record in 2008, despite failing to secure a berth in the NFL playoffs. Freaking travesty.

Here are today’s great reads:

• Which late-season collapse tickled your fancy the most? I actually enjoyed watching the overhyped Cowboys fall short of the playoffs. [Shutdown Corner]
• Now that the top-5 spots are set in stone, an early look at the 2009 NFL Draft in April. [The Big Lead]
• With this season’s action near its ends, I am looking forward to February 27 and the last weekend in April. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Forget the MVP award. Which of these guys was the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 2008? [Shutdown Corner]
• An end-of-the-season list of a different kind: The worst waiver wire additions of the season. [SI.com]
• If our playoff challenge is not enough for you, check out Fantasy Sports Madness’ One and Done game. [Fantasy Sports Madness]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

Well the 2008 regular season is officially in the books. How did your fantasy teams fare this year? For the sake of accountability, here are The Hazean’s 2008 fantasy football accomplishments:

• Overall regular-season record (six leagues): 54 - 26 (.651 winning percentage).
• Best record in a league: 11 - 2 in a dynasty league.
• Worst record in a league: 7 - 7 in our blogger league, one spot out of the playoffs.
• Five of the six teams made the fantasy postseason. Three played for championships.
• Final rankings in all six leagues: 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 8th.

Not a bad year all-in-all, but it would have been nice to come away with a couple championships after getting three teams to the title game in their respective leagues. Oh well, as the Browns’ fans that surround me at work say, “There’s always next year.”

Fantasy football does not have to end just yet though. There are some fantasy playoff leagues out there and I started one just for you guys, our loyal readers. Check out the details below:

I just signed up for the NFL.com Playoff Challenge, and I’m challenging you to start a team and play against me! I’ve set up a private “buddies” page to track our teams’ performances against each other.

To join my group, please click on the link below:

http://free2challenge.6.football.nfl.com/b/9d67f7a097404b6951b3170a25d65ec3

Here are today’s great reads:

• The Detroit Lions are quite possibly the worst NFL team ever. [ProFootballTalk]
• A pair of interesting NFC games are on tap for the first round of the playoffs. [The Big Lead]
• A good bit of the bowl games have passed, but there still is time to scout the next NFL rookie class. [SI.com]
• It may be time to catch up on some old-school gaming with regular season fantasy football in the books. [SimpleHelp.net]
• Looking ahead to this offseason’s crop of free agent running backs, though I think Cedric Benson will be staying in Cincinnati. [No Offseason]
• Donovan McNabb may return as the Eagles’ starting quarterback next season, but we likely saw the last of Brett Favre in New York. [ProFootballTalk]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.

With it being the holidays and all this will be an abbreviated version of Start & Sit for all you week 17ers out there. Hope Santa treated you well and brings you a late Christmas present in the form of a fantasy championship this weekend.

Start ‘em: AFC West quarterbacks not named JaMarcus Russell (so Rivers, Cutler and Thigpen for those of you who need more literal instructions). Seneca Wallace is a nice sleeper candidate. Now stud running backs Michael Turner and Matt Forte. Greg Jennings and Andre Johnson. Owen Daniels at tight end.

Sit ‘em: Brett Favre and his tired arm. Also Peyton Manning only because he may not play much. Is anyone still relying on Jamal Lewis? Hope not. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes for the same reasons as Manning. Antonio Bryant, because he goes up against a shut-down secondary. Anquan Boldin because he may be limited after missing last weekend. Jeremy Shockey because he may miss the action versus Carolina.

Here are today’s great reads:

• With the playoff picture due to clear up this weekend, Matt Cassel could be playing his last game in New England. [ProFootballTalk]
• Steve Smith always torches the Saints and this game could be a shootout with Drew Brees gunning for Dan Marion’s record. [Bruno Boys]
• Teams with playoff spots locked up could employ the services of their backup position players this weekend. [FF Toolbox]
• Pierre Thomas owners need to keep an eye on the now-banged up running back. [Canal Street Chronicles]
• Fantasy owners need to pay extra attention to where T.J. Houshmandzadeh ends up this offseason. [NFL GridIron Gab]

For more great reads, check out my Google Reader Shared Items page.