Could Dez be a decoy?

Yep, Dez Bryant is supposed to line up at wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A healthy Dez would be a juicy matchup against a depleted Steelers' secondary.

Unfortunately, Bryant is risking further injury by playing with a broken finger.

Bryant said he wouldn't play if the playoffs weren't on the line, so hats off to him for putting it on the line.

I'm just wondering one thing: What if Dez is a decoy against the Steelers? I haven't heard that angle.

His legs are healthy. He can run all over the field while Miles Austin and Jason Witten get all the love from Tony Romo.

I'd sit Bryant this week. The downside is too great.

Antonio Brown just got paid

Just hours after I post that Mike Wallace is making a big mistake and Antonio Brown is better, the Pittsburgh Steelers take my advice and sign Brown to an extension.

Great call by the Steelers.

It's also quite a message to send to Wallace.

I don't see him in a Steelers uniform in 2013.

Brown is still a guy to target in fantasy football drafts.

I'd go as early as the fourth round on him.

Mike Wallace making big mistake

Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace must be getting terrible advice.

Players don't win contract standoffs with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Especially one-trick ponies who have been surpassed on the roster by another wideout.

If I'm drafting, I'm taking Antonio Brown before Wallace.

Brown emerged at the end of last season while Wallace struggled.

Wallace is missing valuable time learning Todd Haley's new system. Wallace also is missing time with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Wallace can stay away as long as he wants. Emmanuel Sanders is ready to take his place.

Don't overpay for Wallace this year. You'll get better value from Brown.

Steelers burned by Broncos

Do you believe in Tim Tebow magic?

You just have to after Sunday's amazing win by the Denver Broncos against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

No one gave the Broncos much of a chance to win.

And after the first quarter when the Steelers defense stuffed the Broncos and led 6-0, no one really had any inkling to change their mind.

Then Tebow magic took over.

Tebow burned the Steelers defense throughout the rest of the game, totaling 316 yards.

The clincher was an 80-yard bomb to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime. The pass was about 10 yards and Thomas ran it the other 70.

Stunning.

Simply stunning.

Are you buying into the Tebow magic?

I have Antonio Brown on my bench this week

Those darn Thursday night games really can mess with a fantasy football league playoff push.

This week, Julio Jones played on Thursday night, which isn't such a bad thing. With my receivers (Calvin Johnson, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Brown), however, I've stashed Jones on my bench the past couple weeks.

That changed Thursday. I inserted Julio Jones into my lineup in my semifinal matchup and benched Antonio Brown.

I can't trust Brown if Charlie Batch is throwing him the ball. Unfortunately, Batch, Brown and the Steelers are playing Monday night, which limits options.

If Batch starts, I see a lot of three-and-outs, incomplete passes and sacks. I also can see a lot of 2-yard carries by Rashard Mendenhall.

Will my Antonio Brown curse continue?

I've chronicled my last week with Antonio Brown here on my site.

My team advanced, despite my boneheaded move. On Tuesday, I set my lineup for this week's semifinal game in my league's fantasy football playoffs.

Antonio Brown was there as my flex.

Now, I'm worried.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is iffy for this week's game. If he doesn't start, Charlie Batch is the guy.

Oh, no.

Should I set Brown yet again?

I might.

The Steelers playing on Monday night also complicates things.

If I wait until Monday, then I really roll the dice.

If you're in the same boat as me, wait until the end of the week and see if Big Ben practices. If it looks like he's sitting, then Brown's going to be on my bench.

Julio Jones would then get the start.

Antonio Brown's big game was on my bench

Up until 11 p.m. Thursday night, I was feeling OK with my decision to bench Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in the first round of my fantasy football playoffs.

Then, he clinched the game for the Steelers on a 79-yard TD reception.

Ugh.

Well, here's why I did it.

Brown would have been in my flex spot. However, I thought the matchup against the Browns, who were strong against the pass this season, favored a lot of running by Rashard Mendenhall.

That, in addition to my bad luck starting Thursday night players this season, made me gun shy.

I also had Mike Tolbert (vs. the Bills) and Julio Jones as other options as my flex.

Tolbert's there, but I don't expect 30-plus points from him. I am expecting a good game.

We'll see how it goes on Sunday.