Saturday morning updates -- Week 14

It's playoff time, and I hope (and expect) that every Fool is still competing today. 

Let's get to it:

It sounds like Chris Ivory (hamstring) will sit out today's game, making Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram marginally more attractive.  I've owned Ingram all year, and have yet to start him.  Won't be today, either.  As for the other two, they both have a good shot to score (as does Ingram), but none are likely to put up big yardage.

Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy are out again.  Gotta love Bryce Brown, even though he has a rough matchup.

Big Ben is back in the saddle for the Steelers, but Mendenhall won't play again.  Roethlisberger is worth a start if your other options are weak.  Dwyer also should have a decent day.  Love Antonio Brown and Heath Miller.

Look for another heavy workload for DeMarco Murray, as the Cowboys try to relieve pressure on Romo from the relentless Bengals pass rush.

Cecil Shorts and Rashad Jennings won't play for the Jags today.  Will be interesting to see if Justin Blackmon steps up in Shorts' absence, or if the Jags just implode.  With Montel Owens at RB, I'm thinking implosion.

It looks like Hakeem Nicks (knee) will be good to go today.  Start him if you've got him.

Danny Amendola will be sidelined, making Chris Givens and Brandon Gibson viable options.  But I wouldn't start either ahead of a more established performer.  I love Steven Jackson in this contest, though.

Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd and Aaron Hernandez are all listed as questionable for the Monday nighter, but none is expected to miss the game.  Of the three, Lloyd is the least interesting, but with Julian Edelman and Gronk both out, even he could come up big in this one.

Dustin Keller won't play for the Jets today.  Jeff Cumberland takes his place.

Ed Dickson also will sit out, leaving the TE spot mostly in Dennis Pitta's hands.  That doesn't make him a great starting option, though, in spite of the tasty matchup.

It's that time of year when weather can be a major factor in the games.  The Packers and Lions will be playing on a truly frozen tundra, as they are expected to get several inches of snow tonight.  That wouldn't keep me from starting Rodgers, but I would be more concerned about Matt Stafford, who isn't used to playing in that kind of weather.

Okay, that's it for now.  Heading to Twitter (www.twitter.com/ladd_biro) to get out the inactives and other late-breaking news.

Good luck, Fools!