DENVER (AP) — Every year Jack Lambert Jersey , while a dozen NFL head coaches are preparing their teams for the playoffs, nearly as many coaches are called into their general manager’s office and told they’re fired for not being one of those dozen coaches who are preparing their teams for the playoffs.Eight coaches lost their jobs in 2018, including Mike on in Cleveland, long before the holidays rolled around.A half-dozen more finished the season before getting their walking papers, including Todd Bowles of the Jets and Dirk Koetter of the Buccaneers on Sunday night.On Monday, they were joined by Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati, Vance Joseph in Denver, Adam Gase in Miami and Steve Wilks in Arizona.Joseph drew an especially strong reaction in the Broncos’ solemn locker room, where players who had fought hard for him realized they had let down their beloved coach by not pulling out enough of those close games in a 6-10 season.However, linebacker Brandon Marshall said out loud what was surely on plenty of players’ minds in Green Bay, Cleveland, New York Mike Webster Jersey , Tampa, Cincinnati, Miami and Phoenix, too.Asked if the cold reality of the win-or-go-home NFL really hits home on the annual — in Denver it’s become biennial — day of reckoning for head coaches, Marshall said:“I know how everything goes. I’ve been fired before a bunch of times. One of the saddest days in the NFL is cut day for the 53-man roster. That kind of sets in more. But don’t coaches get their full salary regardless? So (shoot). You know what I’m saying? If we’re getting fired, I wish we got OUR damn salaries.“So, it sucks for him,” Marshall added. “But he’s a good coach. He’ll find work. But at least he gets the rest of his money.”In Joseph’s case, that’s about $6 million, some of which will be offset by the salary he’ll earn with his next team.NFL players have long complained theirs is the only major North American sports league where salaries aren’t fully guaranteed, and that’s why so many were pleased to see Kirk Cousins sign a three-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings last spring that will pay him $84 million regardless of what happens — like not making the playoffs this year .In other intriguing takeaways from Week 17, Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Keith Butler apparently was preparing to face Tyler Eifert on Sunday even though the Bengals tight end had been on injured reserve for three months Mel Blount Jersey , and reports surfaced that the reason Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown sat out the team’s 16-13 victory had nothing to do with a knee injury as reported on game day.Also, Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, the fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft, has a cloudy future in Florida after his standing with the team reached a new level of unrest.EIFERT, AYE YAI YAI“Hey, I am ahead of schedule!” Eifert replied on Twitter after the Steelers said they were preparing to face him. “Glad the @Steelers are still thinking about me tho.”On the “Coordinator’s Corner” podcast on the Steelers’ website, Butler was asked for his thoughts on Eifert, who broke his ankle in September.“I think he’s very good,” Butler replied. “I think he’s up there. He can get deep on you. He does a good job of catching the ball downfield, all that stuff. So he’s going to be a problem for us to cover.”To be fair, Butler might have meant in 2019.BROWN DOWNWhile Butler had a harmless slip, a more serious situation might be brewing with Brown Troy Polamalu Jersey , whom the Steelers said was deactivated Sunday because of a knee injury.The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , citing people it did not name, reported that Brown missed or skipped several team meetings last week after a dispute with Ben Roethlisberger on Wednesday in which he angrily threw a football in the quarterback’s direction.The Post-Gazette reported that Brown showed up at Heinz Field expecting to play despite missing the team’s Saturday walk-through and meeting and that he left the stadium at halftime.FLUSTERED FOURNETTEIn Jacksonville, Florida, the Jaguars informed Fournette that his suspension in November voided the remaining guarantees in his four-year rookie contract, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.Fournette’s standing with the team reached a new level of unrest Sunday and raised speculation about his future with the franchise after he and fellow running back T.J. Yeldon spent most of a 20-3 loss at Houston in the season finale on the bench, disengaged from teammates.Top executive Tom Coughlin ripped both players for being “disrespectful” and “selfish.” A look at some key fantasy football questions going into Week 7:WHICH SAINTS WR WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST BOOST IN PRODUCTION WITH TED GINN ON INJURED RERSERVE?The Saints have been high on Tre’Quan Smith since the preseason. He had 16 receptions (three for 20 yards or more) this summer, and with Ginn sidelined in Week 5 he caught three passes for 111 yards and added two TDs. His two scores went for 62 and 35 yards, showing he’s a big play receiver. Although he was second on the team in routes run, in Week 5 he only received three targets.Cameron Meredith should play most of his snaps from the slot. He might receive more targets and catch more passes than Smith, but Smith has the bigger upside. Saints receivers have a tough matchup against a good Ravens defense this week, so don’t become alarmed if neither player puts up big numbers. Both receivers should see an uptick in production but Smith has better potential for the rest of the season.WHICH UNDER-THE-RADAR WR HAS THE BEST CHANCE FOR A BIG GAME IN WEEK 7?Bears WR Allen Robinson has been dealing with a groin injury this week. He may not play and if he does Carnell Lake Jersey , he might be limited. Robinson’s injury could make Taylor Gabriel Chicago’s most targeted receiver this week. Gabriel hasn’t dropped a pass since Week 3 and has two straight games with 100 receiving yards or more. The Patriots defense has given up the third most TDs to wide receivers with nine this season. Gabriel leads Bears WRs with four targets within the 10-yard line, so should have a good opportunity to score a TD in Week7.Jets WR Jermaine Kearse could be in line for another double-digit target week vs. the Vikings. With Quincy Enunwa out, Kearse should play a significant portion of his snaps from the slot, a weakness for the Vikings defense.WHICH UNDER-THE-RADAR RB HAS THE BEST CHANCE FOR A BIG GAME THIS WEEK?Peyton Barber may eventually lose his starting job to rookie RB Ronald Jones but it’s not likely to happen right now. Barber’s coming off his best performance of the season, having rushed the ball 13 times for 82 yards (that’s 6.31 yards per carry). He also added four receptions for 24 yards and a TD. He has the potential to build upon that with a choice matchup against the Browns. They’ve given up 4.67 yards per carry and the second-most rushing TDs to the position this season.Kerryon Johnson could also have a larger role out of the Lions backfield this week if Theo Riddick is forced to miss time due to his knee injury. Johnson has averaged 5.98 yards per carry in his last four games and could be featured in the Lions passing game if Riddick is out.WHICH UNDER-THE-RADAR TE COULD BREAK OUT?Fantasy football players have been waiting a long time for Austin Hooper to emerge as a reliable fantasy TE. Well, it looks like it’s finally happening. Hooper has caught nine passes in each of the last two weeks and has over 70 receiving yards in each of the past two outings as well. With Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley battling injuries and questionable to play on Monday night, Hooper should see double-digit targets for a third straight game.CAN YOU RECOMMEND A GOOD BUY LOW TARGET AMONG WRS?Browns WR Jarvis Landry averaged just under seven catches per game through Week 3. He’s maintained an average of 11 targets per game, but since Week 3 his has just over four catches per game.Now he gets a very favorable schedule over the next four weeks, facing the Buccaneers, Steelers, Chiefs and Falcons. All four of those teams are top 6 in most yards per game yielded to slot receivers. If you own Landry, use him with confidence starting this week. If you don’t Jerome Bettis Jersey , his two catch for 11-yard Week 6 performance might allow you to trade for him at a discount.IF DALVIN COOK IS ACTIVE FOR WEEK 7 SHOULD HE BE IN STARTING LINEUPS?Cook’s status (hamstring) needs to be closely monitored as game time approaches but even if he’s active, if you have an alternate option, you should use it. Leading up to Week 6, Cook’s practice status was as both a limited and full participant, he was also questionable, then likely to play and finally inactive. With the constant uncertainty surrounding his availability and the number of snaps he’ll play if active, try to minimize your risk and slip another RB into your lineup if possible.IS IT TOO LATE TO TRY TO TRADE STEELERS RB JAMES CONNER?No. It never hurts to put a player with Conner’s skill set on the trading block and allow offers to come your way. The potential impending arrival of Le’Veon Bell could drive down Conner’s fantasy trade appeal, but if and when Bell reports, he’s probably not going to be able to take on a full workload for a couple of weeks.If Bell reports and is activated for Week 8 he’d probably suit up, but it might take until Week 10 before he can possibly work as a bell cow back again. It could even still be a time share. Don’t be too surprised if Conner retains a significant role in the Steelers offense.Gauge his value if you have another feasible option at RB that you can slide into your weekly lineup. If you don’t, continue to use Conner until he’s no longer a surefire starter.