Devil's in the Details (USAT)Finally, hockey hell is just about over. Let the madness of NHL 2013 begin.

The four-month lockout is expected to become a footnote later this week when the owners and players officially ratify the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. A microwaved season, expected to be 48 games, will start at some point in the next two weeks (early favorite: Jan. 19). It's going to be a mad scramble for players, coaches, ownership . . . and fantasy owners.

Today's goal is to tackle some general Q and A themes as we get ready for the first puck drop, whenever that is. Shuffle Up rankings by position will follow in the days to come. There's no time to lose, so let's jump right into the rush.

So Yahoo! has a fantasy hockey game for 2013, right?

We'll start with a shot into an unguarded cage. Yes, we're back with hockey. Yes, we're ready for you. Yes, you're allowed to play Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey no matter how much you loathe Gary Bettman. Lace em' up, hop the boards with us.

All of those overseas KHL stars are coming back to the NHL, yes?

It's just about a certainty, yes. The KHL has an agreement with the NHL that it will not employ players who are under NHL contracts. This wasn't an issue when the NHL was in lockout mode, but when the 2013 season is finally confirmed in ink, the talent starts heading back. Alex Ovechkin and Pavel Datsyuk are already back in North America; Ovechkin practiced with some Capitals teammates Tuesday.

[Related: How badly will the lockout really hurt the NHL?]

There have been rumors buzzing that New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk might want to stay in Russia even after the lockout thaws, but it's hard to imagine him keeping that stance. We're talking about someone who signed a $100 million contract with New Jersey back in September of 2010. Kovalchuk apparently doesn't want to make a move until the CBA is put to bed, but I'd be flabbergasted if he decided to make a bigger issue of this. Look for him back in Jersey.

Cup, you got this shot (USAT)

For the last decade or so, Michael Salfino and Scott Pianowski have been putting together an email exchange centered around (but not limited to) the NFL. You might enjoy listening to them haggle. You might prefer a swift kick into the stomach. The Table isn't for everyone; we hope some of you enjoy it.

From: scott pianowski
Date: Wed, Jan 2, 2013 at 3:52 AM
Subject: something wild breakfast
To: Michael Salfino

So here we are, the playoffs. I'm excited for the tournament as a whole, but the Wild Card slate doesn't seem that interesting to me.

You'll really have to sell me on the AFC matchups, given that I can't imagine anyone other than Denver or New England representing the conference. Heck, if the Broncos and Patriots don't meet in two weeks, I'll feel a bit cheated. Who can crash that party? What in-action AFC team from this week intrigues you the most?

The NFC games are better this week, I guess. I have a hard time picking the Seattle-Washington game for a variety of reasons, and I was mildly surprised to see the Seahawks favored on the road. The winner there would have a good chance against the Falcons next week yes?

I put the Seattle-Washington winner automatically into Atlanta because I can't imagine Minnesota winning at Green Bay. I know, the Vikings just beat the Packers (in one of the better games of 2012). Yes, Adrian Peterson is a physical freak not of this earth. But the list of star running backs who don't go deep into the playoffs is ridiculous (Campbell, Dickerson, Sanders, Tomlinson and OJ never got to a Super Bowl). Great quarterbacks who never played on the big stage? You've got Dan Fouts, Warren Moon . . . and really that's about it. (Was Bernie Kosar great? I know, he got that ring on Dallas's bench. Randall Cunningham?).

And I dare Christian Ponder (the ignored part of last week's upset) to play that well two weeks in a row, especially now that it's a road game.

Peterson's narrative is going to sweep the MVP award, something I don't agree with. Let's have a look at your mythical ballot, should you be so inclined, and please dive into the playoff previews, macro and micro. Wild Card Breakfast is served.

Thanks for the numbers, Mo (USAT)Back in October, Mo Williams was one of my building blocks in the Yahoo! Friends and Family League, my sixth-round pick, the 71st player off the board. We had some good times. The team is off to a solid start. We had an enjoyable 9 1/2 weeks.

But this is No Country for Injured Men, not in a league without IR slots. When the news came down Williams would miss at least six weeks due to his busted thumb, I knew it was time to move forward.

Thanks for the memories, baller.

One of my fundamental concepts in any fantasy league is to stay grounded and realistic when it comes to players dealing with long-term injuries (see the Andre Johnson/Marques Colston swap from 2011). Don't trip yourself up expecting miracle comebacks and accelerated timetables (and for the love of all that's good, never listen to a player's self-declared timetable). It's important to accept that a dead roster space comes with an opportunity cost; you pay a price if you're willing to play the waiting game. Embrace the randomness; play for today.

Robbie G and some other cat

From a very early age I've always been a list-driven person. I probably checked out Phil Pepe's "The Sports Book of Lists" from my local library 8-10 times as a kid. And I loved the Top 5-driven theme of High Fidelity, a theme I'm going to shamelessly borrow in this exercise.

Keep in mind there's no preferred order with these Top 5 lists unless specifically noted, and also accept that this is one of the most subjective of undertakings. So you like different football players or music or movies than I do? It's all good. There's no problem. That's the fun of it, the disagreements.

Have a happy and safe New Year and we'll catch you on the flip side.

Five Reasons Peyton Manning Is My 2012 MVP
- Quarterbacks drive outcomes in the modern NFL, far more than any other position.
- Manning is essentially the Broncos offensive coordinator and associate head coach.
- Denver's point differential spiked by 273 points from last year to this year, with Manning the only major addition to the offense.
- Manning had just two games under a 90 passer rating, and only one game under an 83 rating (none since September).
- The growth of Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker is significantly tied to Manning's tutelage.

Five Mythical Award Votes From NFL 2012
- Peyton Manning: MVP
- Adrian Peterson: Offensive Player of the Year (rare case where a split vote between MVP and OPOTY makes sense)
- Robert Griffin: Rookie of the Year (Russell Wilson second)
- J.J. Watt, Defensive Player of the Year (in a landslide)
- Mike Shanahan, Coach of the Year (with a hat tip to his son, Kyle)

Five Playoff Coaches I'd Most Want On My Side (in order)
- Bill Belichick
- Jim Harbaugh
- Mike Shanahan
- Mike McCarthy
- Chuck Pagano

Five Underrated NFL Units
- Bengals Defense (though public is catching on)
- Vikings Offensive Line
- Rams Defense
- 49ers Running Game
- Browns Secondary

DeAngelo Williams, admiring his own work (USAT)

There's a good chance DeAngelo Williams has played his final snap for the Carolina Panthers. The club finally seems to realize that it's overloaded at the running back position, especially on the balance sheet, and Williams will likely be cut after the year.

If that's the case, the 29-year-old veteran put together a snappy audition tape at New Orleans on Sunday.

Williams rolled up 210 rushing yards and two touchdowns to spark Carolina's 44-38 victory at the Superdome; load up on film, there's highlights aplenty. His 54-yard jaunt in the third period jump-started a Panthers comeback, and his 12-yard score in the fourth quarter help to salt the game away (enjoy the nifty jump over the end-zone cameraman). Earlier Williams had a 65-yard scamper that narrowly missed being a touchdown; he was ruled out at the 1-yard line.

Williams didn't have impressive numbers entering the day (the 3.5 YPC number is most concerning), but the gridlock and scheme in Carolina had a lot to do with that. It's difficult for any running back to get into a groove when he's used inconsistently, and Carolina's fascination with the zone option earlier in the year probably didn't help Williams. A lot of running backs don't feel comfortable in that type of offense, in part because they don't know when they're going to get the ball and when they're not. The Williams fumble in Week 6 was really on Cam Newton; a late and ill-fated pitch put Williams in a tough position with the Seattle defenders closing in, and he didn't have a chance to adequately secure the ball.

Week 17 hero (USAT)So much for the slumping New York Giants offense. A date against Philadelphia cures everything in 2012.

Eli Manning & Company are rolling merrily along through one half of play Sunday, holding a 35-7 lead over Andy Reid's Lame Duck Eagles. Manning's thrown four touchdown passes on the day, posting a tasty 11-for-16 line with 196 yards. Rueben Randle spiked twice in the first quarter (if you started him, we welcome your victory lap in the comments), with David Wilson and Victor Cruz adding touchdown receptions later.

The Giants have been productive on the ground as well: Ahmad Bradshaw has seven carries for 67 yards and a score, and Wilson collected 37 yards on his seven rushing attempts. Whatever you want to do on offense, the Eagles show no ability (or interest) in stopping it.

Manning wasn't an easy fantasy pick entering the day, given how poorly he's played during most of the past two months (a 2-5 stretch for the Giants). But the Eagles have been utterly clueless in pass defense since swapping defensive coordinators after their Week 7 bye. Check out the passing numbers Philly has handed out since interim coordinator Todd Bowles took over for Juan Castillo: 2,229 yards, 126.1 rating, 25 TDs, 1 measly pick, 8.8 YPA, 67.2 completions. You can't post those numbers in Madden.

Coach on the hot seat (USAT)

Last dance, last chance for a few out-the-door Ws. Handicap like a champion today.

Lions +3 vs. Bears: Sure, Chicago needs the game. I get that. But motivation is present on every snap in the NFL. Players are trying to secure their next contract, impress a current or future employer. Coaches are trying to save their jobs (I see you, Jimbo). And the fact that the Bears need this game has probably added too much to this line. In a division rematch, I love taking the home dog.

Rams +10.5 at Seahawks: As much as I hate going against the Seahawks in their home stadium, Jeff Fisher is one of the best preparation coaches going, especially in an underdog situation. The Rams show up against everyone. And Seattle might be looking at a mild letdown after last week's emotional win over the Niners. St. Louis can hang around.

Rookies at rest (USAT)

There's nothing major on the line when the Browns and Steelers meet up in Week 17, and Cleveland certainly isn't making the game a priority. Make sure you buy a scorecard on the way to Heinz Field; you might not recognize some of the visitors.

For starters, the Browns will have third-string quarterback Thaddeus Lewis under center. Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy are both battling shoulder injuries and won't be available. Lewis, a 25-year-old who piloted Duke from 2006-2009, has yet to throw a pass in the NFL. And don't look for Trent Richardson (ankle) to smooth things over; the rookie tailback is out of action, too. Montario Hardesty moves up to the first string.

If this news won't talk you into the Pittsburgh defense, nothing will. I've moved the Steelers D/ST to the No. 4 position for the week, only trailing the three slam dunks (Niners, Broncos, Seahawks).

• Mike Wallace (hip) won't go against Cleveland, which means Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders will be the primary Pittsburgh receivers. The Steelers also won't have tight end Heath Miller, who tore his ACL and MCL in the Week 16 loss to the Bengals.

• Roddy White (knee) missed the full workout week and carries the questionable tag into Week 17. With the Falcons set as the NFC's top seed, there's no reason to risk a thing with White against Tampa Bay. As for Matt Ryan and Company, no one really knows how long Mike Smith will play his primary guys. I'd look for safer fantasy options, players with incentive-driven games.

• Matt Forte (ankle) had a complete workout Friday, and while no one sees him as fully healthy at the moment, the Bears are calling him probable for the must-have game at Detroit.

• Randall Cobb (ankle) did some work Friday after sitting out the entire Thursday session. The Packers are calling him questionable for the game at Minnesota. Figure on a game-time decision, and unfortunately this game is a late start, in the second wave of the slate.