Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis didn't practice all week because of a rib injury, but he still hopes to play Sunday versus Pittsburgh. Head coach Eric Mangini sounded confident Friday when asked about Hillis' chances of being active. "I'm still optimistic he'll be able to play," Mangini told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I feel pretty good about it, but we'll see." If Hillis can't play, Mike Bell would likely start. Last week against the Ravens, he ran seven times for 27 yards and caught two passes for 48 yards.

Fantasy Analysis:

Hillis was the second-best pickup in nearly all leagues this season, but it's clear that he's grinding to a painful halt. He takes so much punishment and dishes out just as much on defenders. Before this season, his career-high in touches was 82; he's at 324 now. In week 12 versus Carolina, he touched the ball 32 times, gained 194 yards from scrimmage and scored three times. Since then, he's been held out of the end zone and has rushed for less than 60 yards in three of four games. He just doesn't have anything left for this season. Given the very tough matchup, I can't consider Hillis anything more than a flex play if he does start. Bell could get some junk-time points out of the passing game, but do you really want to use him in week 17 against the Steelers? If you answered in the affirmative, you must be horribly desperate.