We're getting pretty close to do-or-die time in the fantasy season, so it's time to start making that playoff push or piling up wins to lock up a first-round bye.

Making the right roster moves takes on more importance with key players on byes, so be careful before you push those buttons.

Better take a good look at the Gameday4Cast and proceed with caution before your playoff hopes start slipping away.

SUNNY

QB: Peyton Manning plus Houston's pass defense equals probably gonna win your fantasy matchup this week. ... If you scooped Jon Kitna off the scrap heap this week, you should get a nice payoff against the Jaguars' horrid pass defense.

RB: The 49ers might have given Troy Smith the keys to the car, but Frank Gore will be navigating the offense from the passenger seat against the Broncos' awful run defense. (See McFadden, Darren.) ... The Lions have given up more points to fantasy running backs than anyone in the league, so look for Ryan Torain to have another solid game for the Redskins. ... With DeAngelo Williams out, the Panthers will lean heavily on Jonathan Stewart against the Rams. So for at least one week, you won't be so sorry you drafted him.
 
WR: It has often been said how incredibly good Randy Moss is when he wants to be. Lining up against the Patriots less than a month after they traded him should provide plenty of motivation. ... Rarely does a player listed as questionable also carry the must-start tag, but that's the case with Reggie Wayne against the Texans, especially with the rest of the Colts' offensive weapons banged up.

TE: Keep an eye on the questionable tag, but if he plays (and he should) Antonio Gates is a great start with San Diego's receiving corps banged up. ... Tony Moeaki remains the Chiefs' most consistent pass-catcher, and the Bills give up more fantasy points to tight ends than any team in the league.

D/ST: The Lions defense has been surprisingly solid from a fantasy standpoint, and the Redskins' decent record wasn't built on the strength of their offense.


PARTLY CLOUDY

QB: It wouldn't be a bad idea to wait a week on Matthew Stafford, assuming he starts against the Redskins, but the matchup is good enough to risk starting him. ... I'd be a little queasy about starting Philip Rivers, considering the injury situation with the Chargers' receiving corps, but unless you drafted really well, you probably don't have a better option.

RB: We all know what Arian Foster did against the Colts in the season opener. He should have another solid game today, but don't expect it to approach the last one. ... Jamaal Charles and/or Thomas Jones should be in line for big numbers against Buffalo's weak run defense, but Todd Haley's insistence on a timeshare diminishes both backs' value. If you have 'em, start 'em, but be prepared to be frustrated thinking about what might've been.

WR: Clearing Deion Branch out of town has been a big boon for Seattle's Mike Williams, but he has a tough matchup against the Raiders, so his numbers could drop off a bit after two huge games. ... Kenny Britt won't go crazy every week, and the Chargers are tough against the pass. Still worth a start until further notice, but temper your expectations.

TE: It's always scary to trust a guy you'd never heard of two weeks ago, but if you need to cover a bye week, you could do a lot worse than Indy's Jacob Tamme, who will start in place of injured Dallas Clark. ... You know by now that Ben Roethlisberger loves Heath Miller, but the Steelers should show more affection for the run than the pass against the Saints.

D/ST: It would be hard to trust the Broncos defense after last week's debacle against the Raiders, but the 49ers' already struggling offense doesn't figure to make a 180 with Troy Smith under center.


STORM WARNING

QB: It looks like Vince Young will be back in the lineup for the Titans, but you don't want him in your lineup against the Chargers, who are tough on the pass. ... Even if Brett Favre finds a way to start against the Patriots, don't count on him finishing on that gimpy ankle.

RB: Both Joseph Addai and Donald Brown are major question marks for Monday night, so unless you have Mike Hart stashed for a last-minute replacement, you better not take your chances by leaving either in the lineup. ... Miami is tough on the run, and Carson Palmer has discovered how many weapons he has in the passing game. Bad news all around for Cedric Benson owners.

WR: Look for Michael Crabtree's disappointing season to continue, because the 49ers are likely to lean on the run with Alex Smith out, especially considering what Darren McFadden did to the Broncos last week. ... It seems Kevin Walter's huge game in Week 2 was an anomaly. Drop him and take a chance on a young receiver like Jacoby Ford or David Gettis instead.

TE: Doesn't look like that Donald Lee pickup is going to work out too well. Andrew Quarless looks like the big(ger) winner with Jermichael Finley out for the year. ... John Carlson has been mysteriously absent from the Seahawks' passing game, and he should disappear from your fantasy roster, too.

D/ST: The strength of the Chargers defense is stopping the pass, but the Titans are likely to focus more on getting Chris Johnson going today.