Hard to tell...

if I'm just getting lazy or if there really aren't any compelling match-ups out there this weekend. First thing to note is that not everyone is playing this weekend due to FA Cup replays and who knows what other vagaries of the schedule-maker. Tottenham, Newcastle, Southampton, Fulham, West Brom & Charlton are all out of the mix for the week. Although since the powers-that-be at Yahoo haven't posted the last round of Transfer Window toys which includes two-goal Mido, one might argue that the above teams have been absent from the fantasy scene all year so how would them not playing change that?

Absentees aside, its a tough weekend. Out of form (for them) Chelsea visit Goodison Park in what promises to be a grinder of a match that kicks off at 7:45 in the AM for those of us on the East Coast. Could easily be a repeat of last week's 0-0 draw w/ Man Citeh. Compounding Chelsea's loss of offense for fantasy managers this week will be the Manchester Derby. United is definitely in good form but Citeh has had their number the last few years and a local derby is usually good for contraversy rather than fantasy points. Come to think of it, we probably need to dedicate an entire column to the fact that Man Citeh has played Chelsea and ManYoo as tough or tougher than anyone over the last two seasons and yet can't seem to beat newly promoted clubs frequently enough to stay much higher than 10th during the course of a season.

So where does this leave us? Nowhere different than last week really. Arsenal guys are probably worth more consideration after their display at Villa Park. Just imagine if the capitalize on even half their opportunities on net. Pires still looks a bit shakey but Freddie is a good bet. If you aren't sure about Andrew Johnson, or you're like me and just need the slightest excuse to include him, Bergkamp is worth a slot as well.

One final note, Eddie Johnson RULES! That header looked very Drogba-like. New prediction, by the time the MLS season ends, he will have priced himself out of Holland. Maybe out of Germany. Best bets...Blackburn (badly in need of a striker if they stay up and Friedel there to advocate), ManCiteh (need an Anelka replacement), Charlton (not sure they even have a striker), Seville (the Everton of the Spanish League), Espanyol & Atletico Madrid (both need to be innovative to find some goals).