Fantasy football: 4 difference makers in a pinch

If your team is in the middle of the pack of your fantasy football league’s standings at this point, it’s time to shake up your lineup to have any shot at the playoffs.

Luckily, there may be some potential difference makers still available. Not only should these players be owned in every league of 12 teams or more, they should probably be in someone’s starting lineup.

Tyler Thigpen, QB, Kansas City

Thigpen has thrown for eight touchdowns and averaged 247 yards in his last three games, placing him in the top three of all fantasy quarterbacks during that span.

And Thigpen’s remaining schedule is soft. After this week’s tough game against Oakland

(10th against the pass), Thigpen faces Denver, San Diego and Miami; all have pass defenses ranked in the bottom eight of the league. Somehow, Thigpen is owned in just 45 percent of Yahoo leagues.Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Miami

The second-year speedster has scored at least eight fantasy points in four of his last five games and has been the seventh-best fantasy receiver over the past three weeks.

He should continue to put up big numbers now that Dolphins receiver Greg Camarillo is out for the season with a knee injury, freeing Ginn up to make more plays. Also,

Miami’s upcoming schedule includes patsies St. Louis, San Francisco and Kansas City.

Ginn is owned in just 49 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Mark Bradley, WR, Kansas City

The former Bear has been a significant part of the Chiefs’ offense since signing as a free agent last month, thanks in part to Thigpen’s ascension.

Bradley has 50 yards receiving or a touchdown in five straight games and has been the 13th-best fantasy receiver over the last three weeks. He’s owned in 17 percent of

Yahoo leagues and 24 percent of ESPN.com leagues.

Dustin Keller, TE, Jets

Over the past three weeks, Keller has been the second-best fantasy tight end, amassing at least six catches in each of those three contests.

With Denver, San Francisco and Seattle left on the Jets’ schedule, there’s no reason to believe Keller will slow down, yet he’s owned in only about half of Yahoo and ESPN.com leagues.

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SIT

Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia (vs. Arizona)

McNabb was yanked at halftime last week. He’ll get the start against the Cardinals, but

who’s to say whether he’ll finish this game?

Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans (vs. Tampa Bay)

Thomas is tempting because he scored three TDs in the past two games, but the Bucs

are tough against the run and Reggie Bush should be back.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City (vs. Oakland)

Few receivers have big games against Raiders All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who held

Carolina’s Steve Smith to one nine-yard catch on Nov. 9.

John Carlson, TE, Seattle (vs. Dallas)

The Cowboys have only allowed two touchdowns to tight ends this season.

START

Trent Edwards, QB, Buffalo (vs. San Francisco)

Edwards broke out of his slump against Kansas City on Sunday. He gets another easy matchup this week, facing the 29th-ranked pass defense.

Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami (vs. St. Louis)

Brown is third in the AFC in rushing TDs, and no team has given up more rushing TDs than the Rams.

Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay (vs. New Orleans)

Injuries have forced the Saints to promote backups to the starting lineup. Bucs coach Jon Gruden should find a way to exploit New Orleans’ biggest weakness.

Tony Scheffler, TE, Denver (vs. Jets)

Only one team has allowed more fantasy points to tight ends this season than Gang Green has.

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