It looks like owners who made it to Week 17 on the arm of Saints QB Drew Brees will be without their prolific passer this Sunday. With New Orleans already having the No. 1 seed in the NFC locked up, head coach Sean Payton said that Brees will serve as the team's third quarterback this week against the Panthers, meaning Mark Brunell will get the start. The Saints will also be without RB Pierre Thomas (rib), WR Lance Moore (ankle) and TE David Thomas (calf) for this one, and TE Jeremy Shockey (toe) is listed as questionable after being limited in practice all week. Carolina, meanwhile, will be minus WR Steve Smith (broken arm) and likely RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle), so RB Jonathan Stewart should be in for another big day.

Although it appeared that previously disgruntled WR Brandon Marshall was on good terms in Denver, that's no longer the case. Head coach Josh McDaniels said Friday that Marshall would be benched for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, a contest the Broncos must win to have any playoff shot. Apparently, Marshall did not want to play through a hamstring injury suffered in practice this week, upsetting McDaniels and resulting in the wideout's benching. The Broncos will be very short on pass catchers for this game, as TE Tony Scheffler also has been benched and WR Eddie Royal (neck) has been ruled out.

Owners of players from the Colts and Chargers need to be very careful this week, as both squads have already clinched playoff byes and don't have anything on the line in Week 17. While QB Peyton Manning and Indy's other star offensive players could see some action, it's unlikely any of them will see extended playing time at Buffalo. Don't take any chances by starting Manning, RB Joseph Addai, WR Reggie Wayne or TE Dallas Clark. With San Diego, head coach Norv Turner has already said that QB Billy Volek will get plenty of snaps this Sunday vs. the Redskins, so don't trust QB Philip Rivers in your lineup. It's also very possible that RB LaDainian Tomlinson and TE Antonio Gates get removed from the contest early, and WR Vincent Jackson might not suit up at all due to an Achilles injury.

Other notable players listed as questionable this week include: Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez (calf), Falcons QB Matt Ryan (toe), Falcons RB Michael Turner (ankle), Ravens WR Derrick Mason (knee), Cardinals RB Beanie Wells (groin), Colts WR Pierre Garcon (hand), Panthers WR Muhsin Muhammad (ankle), Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw (ankle), Giants WR Mario Manningham (shoulder), Vikings TE Visanthe Shiancoe (thigh), Dolphins RB Ricky Williams (shoulder), Rams RB Steven Jackson (back), Seahawks RB Julius Jones (rib) and Redskins WR Devin Thomas (ankle).

Meanwhile, Raiders RB Justin Fargas (knee) and Bears WR Johnny Knox (ankle) are doubtful, while Jaguars WR Torry Holt (hand), Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (head), Giants RB Brandon Jacobs (knee) and Seahawks WR Nate Burleson (ankle) are all out.

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