Welcome back to Ryan’s Fantasy Corner. In the fantasy football world right now, as the playoffs are on the horizon, there are three types of teams: the playoff teams, the busted teams and the fringe teams. Labeling your team is important because it should dictate your activity on the waiver wire.

Teams that are pretty much assured of a playoff berth need to execute a long-term strategy for your waiver pickups. For example, I grabbed Sidney Rice in two leagues last week. Firstly, do so only if you can afford the roster spot, but with bye weeks mostly in the books you should be fine. But evaluate the situation: if an owner has dropped a talented guy who has been hurt, like Rice, Kenny Britt or Austin Collie, those are guys you should consider if their slated return is around playoff time. It may not necessarily be a reason to yank the guys that have powered you all year, but imagine if Brett Favre rediscovers his magic (he probably won’t) right when Rice comes back and goes right back to his favorite target. That’s easy money.

If you’re on the fringe, you need to think short-term. Every matchup is a must-win now, and you need to search for guys that will give you a momentary boost. Of course, a long-term boost would be good, too, but not guys like Rice. You need production now, so keep one or two spots on your roster that could change from week to week. Finding a diamond in the rough is difficult this late in the season, but you’re trying to save your fantasy football life here.

And if your team is of the third variety, the busted squads ‘ well, there’s always next year. But at least keep filling your lineup, don’t be the one dick that is a guaranteed win for whoever plays you because you don’t bother to put together a lineup. That’s just lame.

BRANDON MARSHALL ‘ I can’t believe that he was being projected as high as the No. 2 receiver before the season began. He’s a lock for at least five catches a game, but against Baltimore he only had 30 yards on those five grabs. He’s had one touchdown all year. In a PPR league, maybe he’s tolerable, but while he has had two breakout games, you’d prefer to have him do that more often. You can’t sit him, but go right ahead and hate him.

SEYI AJIROTUTU ‘ Hell no, I can’t pronounce it. But the new craziest name in the NFL ran wild in Week 9 with four catches, 111 yards and two scores. But if you haven’t already figured it out, this is what happens in San Diego. No Vincent Jackson? Enter Malcolm Floyd. No Floyd? Enter Legedu Naanee. No Naanee? Enter Patrick Crayton. No Antonio Gates? Enter Randy McMichael. Philip Rivers is playing out of his mind, and he will not be stopped. He will use whatever receivers he has on the field, so you better damn well start whichever guys he’s gonna be throwing to; just make sure you read it right and choose the right ones. Watch the injuries and trends. But while San Diego’s passing game thrives ‘

RYAN MATHEWS ‘ A highly touted rookie, he has seemingly been hampered by a series of minor injuries, and has therefore not gotten very many carries, hitting double digits only three times this year. He’s even given way to a touchdown vulture, Mike Tolbert. If you have any option that is remotely better, you need to sit Mathews. He has potential, but his tangible upside is essentially nonexistent at this point.

JACOB TAMME ‘ As with Rivers, anyone playing on the receiving end of Peyton Manning is going to be diesel. Tamme has assumed the role of the poor man’s Dallas Clark, hauling in 11 balls for 108 yards and a score in Week 9. Manning has not hesitated to look his way right off the bat in his first two games, so unless you have a tight end by the name of Gates, you should strongly consider starting this man.

RANDY MOSS ‘ So what do you do? For the guys that drafted Moss, it has been a surreal year with this legendary but problematic receiver. He hasn’t been spectacular in either of the uniforms he has worn this year; what makes you think the third time is the charm? There is always the chance that he picks up right where injured Britt left off, but they said the same thing when he went to Minnesota with the injured Rice. I honestly don’t see it happening. His production this year hasn’t been good, and he has had two NFL legends throwing him the ball, and Vince Young is hardly a legend. Sit him.