PHILADELPHIA — If you drafted Willie Parker, you knew this day would come.

Here we are, at the latest most important week of the year, and Parker gets to face the Ravens' defense. To start or not to start, that is the question.

Parker has been one of the season's biggest surprises. He's fifth in the league in rushing (1,331 yards), tied for fourth with 11 rushing touchdowns and only Brian Westbrook (four) has more touchdown catches among running backs than Parker's three. The third-year back has posted 223 yards and 132 yards respectively in his last two games.

That's not bad for a guy projected behind the likes of Willis McGahee, Ronnie Brown and LaMont Jordan in the preseason.

So why the hesitation with activating Parker for this week?

Flash back to Pittsburgh's visit to Baltimore on Nov. 26. Parker posted a season-worst 10 carries for 22 yards. And if you take away the 12-yard run he had early in the first quarter, Parker's numbers slump to nine rushes for 10 yards. In two games against Baltimore last year, Parker had 63 and 59 yards.

Of the backs the Ravens have faced this season — a list that includes Larry Johnson, LaDainian Tomlinson, Rudi Johnson (twice) and Warrick Dunn — Travis Henry is the only guy to run for 100 yards and a score. Larry Johnson had 120 yards, but was held out of the end zone.

Here are the weekend's second-tier running backs (i.e. guys besides Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, etc.) who should be called on before Parker: Ladell Betts, Maurice Jones-Drew, Corey Dillon, Marion Barber, Chester Taylor, Travis Henry, Jamal Lewis, Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush, Willis McGahee, Edgerrin James, Cedric Benson, and even Ron Dayne.If you have no better options, then it's time to take your medicine. Hope it's the cherry flavor.

• Look for the Bears to use Cedric Benson more than Thomas Jones as their primary tailback. The Bears have already wrapped up home-field and would like to get Jones healthy for the playoffs.• Denver wide receiver Javon Walker's shoulder separation was only a first-degree injury (the least severe) and he expects to play Sunday against a Bengals pass defense ranked last in the NFL.• On the other side of the ball, Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson got the best of Denver cornerback Champ Bailey in their only prior meeting. It was on Monday night Oct. 25, 2004, when Johnson smacked Bailey for seven catches, 149 yards and a score. Johnson made several acrobatic catches and had two receptions of 50 yards.• Apparently Randy Moss' ankle injury could open the door for Johnnie Morant to make his first career start. Not that he'd ever see the light of day this year in fantasy, but thought you'd like to know Morant is a third-year pro out of Syracuse whose father was a former Mr. Olympia. There, now wasn't that worth 60 cents?• Don't count on Saints wide receiver Joe Horn. He seems more committed to being healthy for the Saints' playoff run, not ours.n Do count on Ron Dayne, who has emerged as the Texans running back of choice, which is kind of like emerging as the Flyers' leading scorer. Anyway, Dayne is averaging 19 carries and 92 yards over the last three and has a good matchup against the visiting Colts' dreadful run defense.• Chiefs quarterback Trent Green may be 9-3 as a starter against Oakland, but he's a reach as a fantasy starter this weekend. However, figure on about 150 yards for Larry Johnson, who is not happy with KC's play calling.