Faceoffs: The best way to break a tie?

Editor's note: Each week Senior Fantasy Writers Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg will debate the value of a handful of key Fantasy players heading into a certain week. They not only state their case below, but they also provide owners with some alternatives.

What is the fairest way to break a tie in the Fantasy playoffs?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
Because there's no overtime in Fantasy Football, tying in a playoff game needs a concrete and air-tight result. In most leagues, having a higher seed against an opponent has no advantage. You can't play your Fantasy game at your home field, after all. So if there ever was going to be an advantage for having the higher seed, this should be it. Your team earned its seed -- it should pay off somewhere beyond having a bye. Besides, my Fantasy bench is for carrying insurance for my studs, not guys who are going to bail me out in the unlikely case of a playoff tie. Losing a game because the team I played finished with a better record than me during the regular season is something I can live with. Losing a game because Curtis Painter and Glen Coffee each got me zero points when I didn't even intend to use them in the first place is something I'd be angry about.	The goal of every Fantasy owner is to manage your roster with good starters and capable reserves. If two teams finish tied, the bench points should determine the tiebreaker. Don't tell me that a team can "cheat" by carrying extra backup quarterbacks in case of a tie for more points. I would reward that owner who sacrificed depth at running back or wide receiver to prepare ahead. The problem with using the higher seed is that teams get cheap wins during the season with the bye weeks. If you make the playoffs, everyone is given a clean slate, and the points from each roster -- starters and bench -- should determine the outcome.

Start Calvin Johnson vs. Arizona?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
I hate to say it, but I've had it with Calvin Johnson. With three games over 100 yards receiving and four touchdowns total this season, he's been a big disappointment. Last week was a nightmare: Daunte Culpepper was his quarterback against an ornery Ravens defense and by the end of the game he was the only offensive threat the Lions had. The Cardinals might have had a hard time with Michael Crabtree last week but they won't have any problem containing Maurice Morris and Culpepper, which means that Johnson could see double- or triple-coverage in an attempt to erase him from the Lions' plans. If you're lucky enough to be playing Fantasy Football this late in the year, don't trust a good lineup spot to a guy on a terrible team who might be playing hurt. If you're starting him as a No. 3 receiver or flex, you're only doing it because he's got a big name and he's had some great games, but that won't help you now. I'd rather start: Hakeem Nicks (at WAS), Kenny Britt (vs. MIA), Pierre Garcon (at JAC)	We can all agree that Johnson is a risky start with Daunte Culpepper at quarterback, but I still find it hard to bench him. You're going to need two or three other solid receiving options on your team to keep Johnson's big-play potential out of your lineup. All it takes is one deep pass or a broken tackle for Johnson to score a touchdown and then he finishes with at least 10 Fantasy points. He also has a favorable matchup with the Cardinals at No. 28 in pass defense, and they have allowed 10 wide receivers to reach double digits in Fantasy points this year. Johnson has four games with double digits in Fantasy points and four touchdowns in what has been a down year. We'd rather have Matthew Stafford starting this week, but even with Culpepper you should still keep Johnson active. You drafted him to be a starter, and that's how he should be viewed. I'd start him over: Roy E. Williams (at NO), Kenny Britt (vs. MIA) and Hakeem Nicks (at WAS)

Which Colt will likely be resting the most over the next three weeks?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
Not to make owners of Joseph Addai feel bad, but he's a very replaceable part of the Indianapolis offense. The Colts obviously agree -- why else would they have spent a first-round pick on Donald Brown last April? This isn't to say that Addai won't produce when on the field, but the feeling I get is that pretty much any running back in Peyton Manning's backfield will see a soft run defense and a shot at posting good stats. Addai is the most experienced of Indy's running backs, and surely the Colts would like to make sure he's healthy for the playoffs. Don't be surprised if his reps get chipped away over the next three weeks.	The first player the Colts are going to rest is Peyton Manning. They don't go anywhere if he's hurt. While Addai is important since Donald Brown can't stay healthy, the Colts can live with a fill-in running back like Mike Hart or Chad Simpson. They would be one and done in the playoffs without Manning. Now, this won't take affect this week. The Colts will go all out against the Jaguars because they have 10 days off until Week 16 against the Jets. They may even chase perfection, which Manning said he and the rest of the team would like to accomplish. If not, look for Manning to be the first Colts star on the bench when the starters are pulled.

Name three running backs you'd sit in favor of Quinton Ganther in Week 15?
Dave Richard	Jamey Eisenberg
For the record, I was surprised by Quinton Ganther's production in Week 14. But I think a lot of his success (93 total yards, two touchdowns) was because of his matchup against the lowly Raiders. His last three games will be against the Giants, Cowboys and Chargers -- no easy sledding. But Ganther will see the majority of carries for Washington, and in the case of this week, the Giants aren't the toughest run defense out there (17 touchdowns allowed). With Matt Forte against the Ravens, LeSean McCoy splitting carries and facing the 49ers and Brandon Jacobs going up against the stiff Redskins run defense, Ganther is a better start than all three disappointing Fantasy running backs.	Ganther had everything going for him last week when he made his first start for the Redskins. He was going back to his hometown of Oakland, and he was facing the lowly Raiders. He has a tougher matchup this week against the Giants, but Ganther is still worth using as a No. 2 running back or flex option. The Giants have allowed 15 touchdowns to opposing running backs, and seven have reached double digits in Fantasy points this year. I can see Ganther having another game with double digits in Fantasy points, and I would start him over DeAngelo Williams (vs. MIN), Marion Barber (at NO) and Cadillac Williams (at SEA).

Do you agree with Dave or Jamey? Send your thoughts or questions to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy Faceoffs in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.