The final week of the NFL season is an enigma for fantasy football general managers. Given the tendency of top teams to rest key players, many competitions wrap up in Week 16.

For those still locked in statistical battle, though, this final week is especially treacherous.

The Colts pulled their key players last week to protect them for injury. Rather than pursue a perfect 16-0 regular season, Indianapolis coach Jim Caldwell opted to keep Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne and Co. healthy for the playoffs.

This week the Bengals and Patriots could go the same route – to the consternation of the Steelers, a team still fighting to climb into the playoff bracket.

If Cincinnati and New England lose, the Steelers would be aced out of a playoff berth even if they close out with a victory. Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley fears the worst.

“All of them lay down,” Woodley predicted Wednesday. “No one wants to see Pittsburgh in it. That’s just how it is. Everybody knows we’re a dangerous team once we get into the playoffs, no matter how we played the whole year. Once we get into the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers is a playoff team.

“Cincinnati is probably going to go into New York and lay down for the Jets and not play them hard just because they’re not going to want to see Pittsburgh in it.”

The Bengals are more concerned about the Bengals than the Steelers right now, but Woodley’s angst is shared by fantasy GMs counting on RB Cedric Benson, WR Chad Ocho Cinco and other Cincinnati players.

Here are some other Week 17 dilemmas.

Which Devin Aromashodu will we see this week? The promising one, we predict. This Bears WR has become a favorite of Bears QB Jay Cutler. He caught seven passes for 150 yards and a TD Monday night – but the week before he caught just two passes for 10 yards. Now Chicago faces a horrible Lions defense with every motivation to win big to take heat off coach Lovie Smith. This will also be a huge week for Cutler, who is struggling to prove he is Chicago’s long awaited Answer at the offensive helm.

Can Donald Brown become a one-week wonder? Yes. The Colts will put RB Joseph Addai in bubble wrap again this week, so Brown will likely serve as the feature back against hapless Buffalo. Last week Brown scored a TD, but he gained just 22 yards in 15 carries against the Jets. He won’t face quite so much resistance against the Bills.

Does Steelers WR Mike Wallace have another decent game in him? Yes. Fellow WR Hines Ward is slowed by a balky hamstring, so QB Ben Roethlisberger will keep riding his hot hand. Wallace had three catches for 83 yards last week after catching two TD passes the week before. If you’re out of options, he could be a decent flex play.

Will Steven Jackson finish out strong? Yes. Keep an eye on the game-time inactive reports, of course, but feel confident of the odds of him playing. The Rams RB sat out last week with back spasms caused by a bulging disk. He has played hurt for the latter stages of the season and is eager to get back on the field against the 49ers. He wanted to play at Arizona, but the long jet ride out to the Valley of the Sun took its toll. “I really think that’s what hurt me,” Jackson said. “Being home this last week, I think, is going to do wonders for the back.”

Can Eagles RB Brian Westbrook step up? We’re skeptical. He returned from post-concussion syndrome in Week 16 and got some touches. In his final tune-up before the playoffs, can he muster an impact performance? That seems unlikely. This is a big game for Philly and the Eagles have been grooming RB LeSean McCoy to replace him.

Will Tennessee turn Chris Johnson loose for a record-setting bid? Yes. With nothing else to play for, the Titans will feed their RB as many carries as he can handle. He needs 234 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s NFL record of 2,105 yards rushing in 1984. The Seahawks are forewarned; Johnson will get a LOT of carries Sunday as he continues boosting his draft stock for 2010.

“We want C.J. to get 2,000 and we want him to get Dickerson’s record,” Tians tight end Bo Scaife told reporters. “It’s in everybody’s head. And I think everybody’s taking it seriously and everyone’s going to do their part.”

Will Tony Gonzalez use his Pro Bowl snub as motivation Sunday? Well, maybe not. The Falcons TE would love to play and put up big numbers, but his calf muscle strain could prevent that. You will need to track his status right up to game time. “I’m still a little up in the air if I’ll be able to get out there,” Gonzalez told reporters. “I’m just taking it one day at a time. It’s feeling somewhat better, but there’s still a ways to go. Hopefully, I can get back and play this week.”

Will Minnesota close out with a big offensive effort? Yes. The Vikings’ Monday Night loss stung. QB Brett Favre quelled concerns about his late-season fade and Adrian Peterson got loose in the second half. The injury-battered Giants may play a lot of kids – so the Vikings have an opportunity to close out with a huge statistical performance.

Has Tony Romo become an elite fantasy QB? Yes. Perhaps this is more of a question for 2010, but the last five weeks have been illuminating for the Cowboys’ offensive leader. Romo passed for 1,548 yards and nine touchdowns against just one interception. Life without WR Terrell Owens improves by the week.

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (another strong finisher this season) believes Romo has arrived. “It’s Tony’s team,” McNabb told reporters. “The good thing about playing the quarterback position, when you have the reins and you have command of the guys, and the guys are following along with everything they tell them and show them, good things can happen. You’ve seen in recent weeks, the team has really played well and Tony’s played well as well. That’s part of the difference you see on that whole ball team.”