Trade deadline is approaching quickly.

Know what that means? So are the playoffs.

At this point, there are usually three types of players in the league: championship chasers, play-off pushers, and hope crushers.

Championship chasers are the players that are sitting pretty with a 9-2 record and looking ahead into the playoff. Your move? Don’t do anything stupid. Your team has proved that it can win games, so don’t fix what ain’t broke.

One piece of advice I would give is to give your squad some depth. Own Jamaal Charles? It would be smart to acquire Knile Davis as a handcuff if you don’t already have him. Make sure your team has no overloaded position. If you own both Julius Thomas and Greg Olsen, you can probably flip one to strengthen a position in need. Some players with an easy schedule during Week 14-17 are:

QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys: the Birds, the Bears, and then the ‘Skins in faithful Week 17. Those matchups are tastier than the carrot cake featured on the Knight Crier.

RB Bishop Sankey, Tennessee Titans: Besides the matchup against the Jets on Week 15, Sankey has several good matchups – the Giants, the Jags, and the Colts to finish the year. I could have featured Le’veon Bell and Arian Foster, but they would require a king’s ransom.

WR Kelvin Benjamin, Carolina Panthers: Cam’s favorite target (even though that doesn’t matter too much), Benjamin has great matchups against NO, TB, CLE, and ATL.

Other options: Marques Colston, Cecil Shorts

TE Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans: You will read more about him later, but there is no denying that he has a good matchup against NYG, NYJ, JAX, and IND.

Other options: Zach Ertz

Playoff pushers are the ones on the fringe. You are the San Francisco Giants, the wildcard. You have no time to worry about playoff matchups and whatnot. You’re worried about today and today only. Some players you can target are:

QB Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions: He’s not playing particularly well, but he has enough weapons around him to go back to fantasy relevance. His Week 13-14 matchups are Chicago and Tampa, which should be easy.

Other options: Tony Romo, Teddy Bridgewater

RB Rashad Jennings, New York Giants: He has dreadful playoff matchups, but you really shouldn’t care. He has a fantastic matchup against Jacksonville and Tennessee.

Other options: Arian Foster, Eddie Lacy, Denard Robinson

WR A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals: Yes, he is a star, but he is more than acquirable. HOU, TB, and PIT aren’t really scaring anyone too much.

Other options: Mike Wallace, DeSean Jackson, Marques Colston, Doug Baldwin

TE Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles: Tight end position is thin, and this is honestly the best I can think of…sorry. Good matchup vs. Dallas and Seattle, though.

Other options: Eric Ebron, Scott Chandler

Hope crushers are the ones out of contention. So what do you do? Well, if you’re in a redraft league, don’t bother. Just don’t ruin a league. If you’re in a dynasty league, sell what you have and stack yourself with young players, such as:

QB Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins: Why not? His price has been as low as it has ever been, so let’s see what a former ROY can do in the future.

Other options: Ryan Tannehill, and, if you’re brave, Johnny Manziel

RB Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers: Everyone was on him in preseason, but he didn’t break out the way we all expected him to. Nevertheless, he has fantastic talent and Frank Gore can’t play forever.

Other options: Isaiah Crowell, Bobby Rainey, Devonta Freeman

WR Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles: Is it just Mark Sanchez or is he really breaking out? Either way, he is an exciting prospect.

Other options: Martavis Bryant, Cordarrelle Patterson, Allen Hurns, Davante Adams

TE Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts: Dwayne Allen who? Fleener has stepped up and shown that he can take over the starting gig as the Stanford connections have been established.

Other options: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tyler Eifert

So good luck to everyone, and may all your fantasy dreams come true. Shoutout to Grant Silhanek for not giving up on the league despite his 3-8 record. Thanks for not ruining the league.

Players I LOVE

QB Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers: He’s not helping any of his receivers in fantasy, but Kaep himself has had quite a nice, solid season. He has thrown at least one touchdown every game and playing against the Redskins team that allowed the third most TDs in the air is a plus.

QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens: Coming off the bye week, Flacco is welcomed by the Saints defense that allowed fourth-highest yards per pass attempt. With big play threats like Torrey Smith, look for Flacc Attack to go for some home run passes and connect with his receivers.

QB Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Rays: Mike Evans? Mike Evans! McCown found his new toy, and he is clinging onto it like Adrian Peterson with his lawsuit. And what are they going to do, let Charles Sims run it? The Bears allowed the second-most touchdowns in the league and McCown has thrown for a pair of them in the last two games.

RB Denard Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars: He has been on fire ever since taking over the starting gig, scoring more than double-digit points in every single game he played. Coming off the bye week, the former Michigan quarterback/receiver/running back is facing the Colts that allowed the second most rushing touchdowns in the league.

RB Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: With Bradshaw injured, this former first-rounder will get yet another chance to prove himself that he belongs in the league. Who’s better to face than the Jags? Most likely Luck will throw and throw until his arms fall off, but once Indianapolis gets control of the game, look for Richardson to put in work.

RB Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns: Releasing Ben Tate, the Browns are now committed to a two-man backfield with rookie Crowell leading the way. He was getting the bulk of the carries anyway, and he seems to have the starting gig on hold just for now. The Falcons allowed the most touchdowns on the ground in the entire league, and Crowell is bound to land one or two.

WR Josh Gordon, Cleveland Browns: Guess who’s back, back, back, back again again again? If he is STILL somehow available in your league, snatch him up. The NFL seems to be generous towards returning players as he makes his homecoming against the Falcons that allowed most yards per game and third most yards per attempt.

WR Torrey Smith, Baltimore Ravens: See Flacco, Joe. Really. All I have to say is up there.

WR Kendall Wright, Tennesee Titans: He is the top receiver on his team and recorded the most yards this season last game. Mettenberger showed me that he is capable of playing the position. If he shows the similar pocket presence as he has shown last week against the Steelers, Wright could have a big day against the Philly secondary that relinquished the third most yards and touchdowns to opposing receivers.

TE Larry Donnell, New York Giants: While Donnell is relying on touchdowns as receivers such as Beckham and Randle have been hogging the targets, the matchup against the Cowboys is a favorable one, as they allowed third most touchdowns to fellow tight ends.

TE Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys: Witten’s a volume guy, and the Giants have allowed the most yards per attempt this season, sitting pretty with 13.6 ypa. He may be old, but he’s good to go.

Green Bay Packers D/ST: After a DOMINATION against the Eagles, Green Bay travels to feast on Teddy Bridgewater, Jerick McKinnon, and Co.

Indianapolis Colts D/ST: Santa Claus – I mean, Jacksonville is coming to towwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnn!!!

Players I HATE

QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons: He continues to throw touchdowns, and that’s what matters in fantasy. He has thrown at least one in every game, but the Browns have allowed the third least touchdowns against opposing quarterbacks. With Julio Jones not producing, Matty Ice could be in trouble.

QB Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins: Never liked him, and probably never will. Did I say that before? Yes, yes I did. He couldn’t figure out the Bucs defense after the bye and with all the things going in that locker room, he sure as anything isn’t going to get it together against the Niners.

RB Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins: If they can’t throw, they are going to struggle establishing any running game. Sixth least yards and third least touchdowns allowed? Doesn’t exactly scream “good matchup” to me.

RB Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints: Not entirely sure what happened to the Saints team as a whole, but they really struggled against the Bengals that they really should’ve comfortably beaten. They couldn’t establish a good running game as they were trailing, and it looks to be a similar story as the Ravens allowed the fifth least yards per game to opposing running backs.

RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers: I told you the Redskins rush defense is LOT better than you think. While Gore has run all over the weak Giants front line with ease, as he should have, he is going to have to take the backseat as the Niners will opt to throw against suspicious secondary of Washington.

WR Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants: Last time he faced Dallas, he was restricted to only 34 yards, but the day was saved by two touchdowns. It won’t be easy to repeat that kind of performance as the Cowboys have allowed the third least touchdowns in the air this season.

WR DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans: With Mallet as your quarterback, against the Bengals run D, and Foster in your backfield, are they really going to throw? Answer is no, kids.

WR Julian Edelman, New England Patriots: The Jonas Gray show started against the Colts and the freight train doesn’t look like it’s going to stop anytime soon. His points were boosted by an unexpected 25 yard run, and he doesn’t look like he will be getting too many carries anytime soon. Also, the Lions have allowed the second least touchdowns.

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals: He didn’t practice Thursday and Seattle defense is just as tough as Detroit. Who knows how much more this old man can take.

TE Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans: He has four concussions in his career and was diagnosed with another one this past Sunday. He also hasn’t done much since his Week 2 breakout. Again, cue the Frozen soundtrack: Let. It. Go.

TE Owen Daniels, Baltimore Ravens: See Smith, Torrey. They are taking more shots deep, and Steve Smith has become invisible. You would think Daniels would get more attention, but no – he hasn’t done anything but catch dump offs.

Detroit Lions D/ST: In case you haven’t heard, the Patriots have been on absolute fire.