Just one week ago, things were looking so good.

The playoffs were about to start in many fantasy football leagues or it was the last game of the season and playoff positions were at stake. For weeks, team owners had been struggling through having their top picks go south and hoping upon hope that the sun would shine on them for a couple more weeks.

LaDainian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Terrell Owens were exploding on the field and putting up big numbers to boot.

And then week 14 hit the books. All bets were off.

In week 14, studs turned to flubs and fantasy hopes were dashed in a single swoop.

Who knew that Peterson, star running back for the Minnesota Vikings, who leads the league in rushing and has peeled off multiple touchdown games all year would (gasp!) go for only three yards on 14 carries? And against the San Francisco 49ers, no less.

Or that Carson Palmer would find it difficult to throw on the lowly St. Louis Rams, just because of a little drizzle? It’s understandable to a degree, but 189 yards and two picks? That’s just rubbing your crapulence in the face of fantasy owners everywhere.

Then there was T.O. (Terrell Owens), as the Cowboy wide receiver took on the hapless secondary of the Detroit Lions. Three catches for 21 yards? Where am I?

Instead, it was rookie Bills QB Trent Edwards going off for four touchdowns. It was Tom Brady being Tom Brady and leading the Patriots with four TD tosses of his own against the No. 1 pass defense in the league. It was Marion Barber taking T.O.’s scores to the tune of three and several fantasy points.

It was a rough week, and if you are still in the playoff hunt, it only makes figuring out who to start that much more difficult.

Like the guys I went with this week. I said to start Jacksonville’s David Garrard at QB, running back Steven Jackson for the Rams and Detroit wideout Calvin Johnson.

Well, Garrard was all right, putting together two touches and 230 yards. Jackson and Johnson, on the other hand, weren’t as successful. Jackson had only 91 yards and no score. Johnson also missed out on an end zone dance, with a paltry 51 yards.

As for who to sit, I said Raiders QB Josh McCown, Jets RB Thomas Jones and Chargers TE Antonio Gates. McCown threw one touchdown, two INTs and only 110 yards. Jones didn’t get a touch this week, but did rush for 106 yards. And Gates was my big miss, as he caught the game-tying TD and snagged 57 through the air.

Now for your guarantees, as the playoffs really get down and dirty.

PUT THE CHECK BY THESE GUYS

• Seattle QB Matt Hassellbeck (vs. CAR): He’s been on fire lately and there is no Seahawks running game to speak of.
• Baltimore RB Willis McGahee (vs. MIA): It’s Miami. ‘Nuff said.
• New England WR Donte Stallworth (vs. NYJ): I think he will get more looks this week, for some reason. Plus, you need to start almost all Pats players these days.

SEND ‘EM DOWN

• Detroit QB Jon Kitna (vs. SD): He’s looked bad for a while and now his 10-win guarantee won’t come to fruition. He’s done.
• Oakland RBs (vs. IND): Whether it’s Lamont Jordan or Justin Fargas, it won’t matter. They won’t get much against Indy.
• Dallas WR Patrick Crayton (vs. PHI): I just don’t like him all that much. Sorry.