Injuries and a tragedy make careful thought a must

Adrian Peterson will return to action, but it's too soon to expect his usual big numbers. AP

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Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor. Taylor, Peterson. What's a fantasy owner to do? That kicks off our fantasy tips for the weekend. And if your lineup had to be hard and fast before the Thursday night game, my apologies for getting this to you too late.

1. Be careful about expecting too much out of Peterson, who spent the week adjusting to playing with a knee brace. And do not bench Taylor if you've got him, because I see Brad Childress leaning toward splitting the load this week and next while Peterson gets back into good playing shape.

2. Pick up Tennessee's defense, or play it ahead of your other defense if you have two. Simplistic to say, but the Titans' D will return with a vengeance this weekend with Albert Haynesworth back in the lineup after his strained hammy. And don't expect Ron Dayne to do much after averaging 5.0 yards a carry over the last three weeks. Haynesworth eats guys like him for bedtime snacks.

3. Marvin Harrison still is not practicing regularly. Hasn't practiced for a full day in a month. He missed Thursday's workout in preparation for the big game with the Jags. It's been that kind of season for all Harrison owners.

4. This is more of a Fred Taylor game for the Jags than a Maurice Jones-Drew game. With the Colts playing on the rug, and the defensive speed ratcheted way up over last year, and with Taylor coming off his first 100-yard game of the season, Jack Del Rio will turn to him for 20 to 23 power carries, I think.

5. Take a flyer on Jesse Chatman off the waiver wire if he's been dumped there. He was limited in practice this week, but the Dolphins need him to get off the schneid, and it sounds like he's going to try to give Miami 15 carries or so against an inconsistent Jets run defense.

6. No D.J. Hackett for Matt Hasselbeck and Mike Holmgren to gameplan with. So, I'd play Deion Branch and expect him to get eight catches in Philly. Games like this are why the Seahawks gave up a first-round pick for Branch.

7. I'd think hard about picking up Trent Dilfer and playing him this week. He's coming off his best game in years -- a 356-yard strafing of the Cards -- and the 49ers should be able to throw it on the packing-it-in Panthers.

8. It's going to be a painful weekend for the Redskins, taking the field so soon after the death of Sean Taylor. You always wonder how players with damaged psyches can come back and play a game so quickly. My theory is that the Bills are so beat up right now -- they lost defensive end Chris Kelsay this week, and will play their third straight game without Marshawn Lynch -- that Washington will be able to move the ball and let their inner inspiration work for them. I expect Clinton Portis, who thought of but decided against wearing Taylor's number 21 Sunday ("I can't live up to those expectations,'' he said), to play one of the best games of his life for his fallen friend.

9. Whatever Browns you have, play them. I mean it. Even Braylon Edwards, who's got an ouchy hamstring, but will play Sunday in Arizona. With Adrian Wilson out of the Cards' secondary the rest of the season, it's going to be a pointsfest down the stretch against the Cardinals. That also good if you've got Kurt Warner, because he's going to have to fill the air with footballs to keep up with guys like Derek Anderson.

10. Bench Jeff Garcia and pick up another quarterback. Any quarterback. I don't trust Garcia's back. Not for a second.