Fantasy Football: The Things I Learned – Week 12, 2017

By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.

Below, check out my fantasy-centered recaps of key players from this week’s contests. For instance, did a player come back to earth after an aberrant breakout, or were they simply affected by something like game flow?

Eagles 31, Bears 3

Mitchell Trubisky completed 17-of-33 passes for 147 yards and two interceptions. In the first half, the Bears’ offense had 33 yards and zero first downs, which is really all you need to know about how thoroughly dominated they were.

Carson Wentz completed 23-of-36 attempts for 227 yards and three touchdowns, adding 29 yards on the ground. He has now thrown multiple touchdowns in seven straight games and doesn’t seem to show signs of slowing down.

LeGarrette Blount rushed 15 times for 97 yards, leading the team in rushing attempts and overall touches. He looked good and deserved to continue seeing work, but this backfield is strange right now. Jay Ajayi ended up with six touches for 33 yards, and Corey Clement had five touches for 39 yards. With a big lead, the Eagles’ offense didn’t need to do much late, which suppressed numbers overall, but this backfield remains tough to get a strong, consistent fantasy play from.

Zach Ertz caught 10-of-12 targets for 103 yards and a touchdown to get back on track after missing a game with an injury and then a down game after he returned. He looks to be healthy and ready to help teams during the fantasy playoffs.

Panthers 35, Jets 27

Josh McCown completed 19-of-36 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns, adding two carries for 28 yards and losing a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. This was his best fantasy day of the season, and as long as his connection with Robby Anderson continues, McCown should be useful in fantasy.

Anderson had his best day as a pro, which is saying a lot, as he’s been playing very well of late. He caught 6-of-10 targets for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He now has six straight games with a touchdown and gets a good matchup against Kansas City next week.

Cam Newton completed 11-of-28 passes for 168 yards, adding 28 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. As you can see with his 39 percent completion rate, he was not accurate, but thankfully for him, the Panthers’ defense, and his own rushing ability, helped them get the win.

The only receiver Newton was in synch with was Devin Funchess, who caught 7-of-12 targets for 108 yards. No other wide receiver caught a pass for Carolina. His biggest competition for targets will be Greg Olsen, but Olsen had to leave this game with an injury to his foot. We’ll have to wait for an MRI to see if he’s got a chance to return sooner than later.

Patriots 35, Dolphins 17

Matt Moore completed 23-of-34 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He did nothing to warrant a start next week if Jay Cutler is cleared.

Kenyan Drake rushed nine times for 20 yards and caught 3-of-4 targets for 27 yards and a touchdown, but more importantly for his value moving forward, Damien Williams hurt his shoulder and at first blush, it would appear to be a multi-week injury, giving Drake the bulk of the work while he is out.

Tom Brady completed 18-of-28 passes for 227 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. He’s now thrown 10 touchdowns in his last three games and has only three games this season in which he’s not thrown multiple touchdowns. The guy may play forever.

Dion Lewis rushed 15 times for 112 yards, but did lose goal-line work to Rex Burkhead, who caught a one-yard touchdown pass and rushed for a two-yard touchdown. Lewis is the lead back and will likely see some short-yardage situations, but Burkhead is going to be involved as well, which hurts Lewis’ overall upside.

Both Rob Gronkowski and Brandin Cooks put up big numbers with Chris Hogan out and Danny Amendola only seeing four targets. Gronkowski had gone a couple games without a touchdown, but he made up for it this week with two and continues to be a huge part of this diverse and high-powered offense.

Bills 16, Chiefs 10

Alex Smith completed 23-of-36 passes for 199 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and continued to look like the Alex Smith of old, which isn’t the Alex Smith you want on your team. The Chiefs get the Jets next week, and if the Chiefs can’t rebound against them, I doubt it’s going to happen.

Kareem Hunt had 11 carries for 17 yards and caught one target for nine yards. This was against a Buffalo run defense that had completely collapsed over the last four games, reinforcing talk that Hunt has hit a rookie wall.

Tyrod Taylor completed 19-of-29 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown, adding nine carries for 27 yards. He didn’t do much for fantasy this week, but helped manage his team to a real-life win by not throwing five interceptions in the first half.

LeSean McCoy rushed 22 times for 49 yards and caught all four of his targets for 30 more. The usage was good, but the results weren’t.

Zay Jones caught a touchdown, but only was able to reel in 3-of-10 targets for 33 yards. With Kelvin Benjamin out, he was the lead receiver and now has two touchdowns over his last three games, but when Benjamin returns, targets will likely be spread too far for Jones to have much upside.

Titans 20, Colts 16

Jacoby Brissett completed 17-of-29 passes for 196 yards and rushed three times for 16 yards. He was also sacked eight times, showing no ability to read the pass rush or find his receivers in a timely manner. He is going to have an impossible time moving the ball against Jacksonville next week.

Jack Doyle was the only player Brissett could hook up with, as he caught 7-of-8 targets for 94 yards. Doyle continues to be Brissett’s safety net.

Marcus Mariota completed 17-of-25 passes for 184 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. It was another down game in a disappointing season for Mariota. He now has failed to top 20 fantasy points in any game this season.

Derrick Henry rushed 13 times for 79 yards, adding one catch for 10 yards, but DeMarco Murray was able to get a touchdown on a goal-line carry despite rushing 12 times for a total nine yards. Without much work in the passing game, it’s going to be tough for Henry to have much upside until Murray is no longer on the field.

Bengals 30, Browns 16

DeShone Kizer completed 18-of-31 passes for 268 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, although he rushed nine times for 39 yards and a touchdown. His rushing ability keeps him as a possible streamer and two-quarterback-league option moving forward, as he’s rushed for three touchdowns over his last four games.

Isaiah Crowell rushed 16 times for 95 yards and caught 1-of-2 targets for 10 yards. This was his highest rushing-yardage game of the year, and if he was in a better offense, he likely would have better touchdown upside, but right now, it’s just not happening.

Duke Johnson was supposed to see an increased workload, but was still within his season averages, as he totaled 10 touches for 67 yards.

Andy Dalton completed 18-of-28 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns, adding 26 yards on four carries. He didn’t need to do much in this one, as the running game was working well, but he did enough to keep him as a fantasy QB1 this week.

Joe Mixon rushed 23 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, adding 51 yards receiving on three receptions. It was his breakout game, and it came against a strong Cleveland run defense, albeit one that has been showing some cracks. His schedule isn’t great, but his usage and ability should keep him as a fantasy asset moving forward.

Falcons 34, Buccaneers 20

Ryan Fitzpatrick completed 27-of-44 passes for 283 yards and rushed for 20 yards. He was able to move the ball, but either ended up with Peyton Barber touchdown runs or field goals. Fitzpatrick should remain on the streaming radar next week against the Packers.

Doug Martin left this game with a concussion and was ruled out at halftime. Jacquizz Rogers, Charles Sims and Peyton Barber took over for him, but Barber was the only fantasy factor, as he rushed for two touchdowns on five carries for seven yards. He proved himself as a goal-line back this week, but isn’t in line for a big enough workload to have any fantasy value.

Julio Jones caught 12-of-15 targets for 253 yards and two touchdowns after catching just one touchdown in the previous 10 games. He has this kind of upside every game, but unfortunately, we just don’t see it often enough. But in comparison, nobody has these kinds of games, as Jones has three games over 250 yards receiving and no other player in history has over one.

Tevin Coleman delivered with Devonta Freeman out with a concussion, as he rushed 19 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns. He weirdly didn’t see any targets, but his fantasy backers will take the results, especially with Freeman likely back next week.

Cardinals 27, Jaguars 24

Blake Bortles completed 19-of-33 passes for 160 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, but he also rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns on six attempts. With Leonard Fournette rushing 12 times for just 25 yards, Bortles’ two rushing touchdowns were the offense’s only touchdowns and despite an awful passing day, Bortles will finish as a fantasy QB1.

Dede Westbrook led the team in targets and receptions, with 6-of-10 for 41 yards, but Marqise Lee was shadowed by Patrick Peterson and ended up with just two targets. Allen Hurns was out.

Blaine Gabbert completed 22-of-38 passes for 241 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, plus one fumble, while rushing for 17 yards and a two-point conversion. And did I mention he was playing against the Jaguars, who have given up just seven passing touchdowns through 10 games? Gabbert wasn’t perfect, but he continues to show that he’s not done and that he will continue to give his team chances to win.

When Rickey Seals-Jones scored two touchdowns last week I was skeptical. And this week when he caught 4-of-6 targets for 72 yards and another touchdown, I remained skeptical, but results are results and as long as Gabbert and Seals-Jones are making things happen, you can’t ignore this tight end in fantasy.

Rams 26, Saints 20

Drew Brees completed 22-of-32 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown. The Rams pressured him all game and left him with short passes and not much room to work.

The one bright spot was Alvin Kamara, who once again put up huge numbers, as he caught 6-of-6 targets for 101 yards and a touchdown, plus rushed five times for 87 yards and another touchdown.

Mark Ingram had his worst game of the season, as he compiled just 36 yards on 12 touches. It’s disappointing of course, but Ingram has been a stud and the Rams’ interior defense with Aaron Donald was impenetrable. Keep running Ingram out there with confidence.

Jared Goff completed 28-of-43 passes for 354 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He wasn’t perfect, but he found his best receivers and kept getting them the ball on all levels. Goff is still on the edge of every-week startability, but in middling to good matchups, he’s continuing to prove himself.

Cooper Kupp took over as the lead receiver with Robert Woods out, as he caught 8-of-11 targets for 116 yards, while Sammy Watkins caught 4-of-9 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown. As long as Woods is out, both should continue to see good opportunities.

Raiders 21, Broncos 14

Paxton Lynch hurt his ankle late in the third quarter and mercifully exited the game after completing 9-of-14 passes for 41 yards and an interception. Trevor Siemian came in for him and completed 11-of-21 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns to give the Broncos some hope that they still have an actual football team.

Denver’s offense was horrid under Lynch, so the statistics are awful throughout. Devontae Booker did touch the ball eight times for 33 yards to C.J. Anderson’s five times for 12 yards, which shows that this backfield is likely a 50/50 split at the moment.

Derek Carr completed 18-of-24 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns despite Michael Crabtree getting tossed and Amari Cooper suffering a concussion. It’s one of the better games Carr has had in a while.

Marshawn Lynch rushed 26 times for 67 yards and a touchdown, plus caught all three of his targets for 44 yards. The yards per carry aren’t good, but his 29 touches are easily a season high for him, and it looks like the Raiders are going to turn him loose to finish up this season.

Seahawks 24, 49ers 13

C.J. Beathard completed 22-of-38 passes for 201 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, adding 21 yards on six attempts. He hurt his knee late in the game, which allowed Jimmy Garoppolo to come in long enough to toss a touchdown pass. It remains to be seen who will start for the 49ers next week, but Garoppolo’s time is coming.

Russell Wilson completed 20-of-34 passes for 228 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed seven times for 25 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t a great game by any stretch of the imagination, but he continues to come through one way or another.

J.D. McKissic continues to look like the best option in the Seahawks’ backfield, but they continue to throw Eddie Lacy out there. Lacy ended up with 20 touches for 61 yards, while McKissic had eight touches for 46 yards. Mike Davis could be back next week to make things even more confusing.

Steelers 31, Packers 28

Brett Hundley had thrown two touchdowns to seven interceptions in six games, but this week he completed 17-of-26 passes for 242 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers. It was a strong performance, and one that could push him into fantasy consideration against Tampa Bay and Cleveland in the next two weeks.

Jamaal Williams had a big game as Green Bay’s lead back, rushing 21 times for 66 yards and a touchdown, plus catching 4-of-5 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown. He was max effort and showed good balance and drive in his runs despite his poor yards per carry. Williams should remain the early-down back even if Ty Montgomery can return.

Davante Adams continues to excel with Hundley throwing him the ball. This week, Adams caught 5-of-9 targets for 82 yards and a touchdown. He gets two nice matchups in the next two weeks, so be happy he’s not Jordy Nelson.

Ben Roethlisberger completed 33-of-45 passes for 351 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He relied on his two best targets, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, throwing their way 26 times and completing 22 for 257 yards and two touchdowns. When you have those guys, why would you throw it to anyone else? Roethlisberger now has back-to-back four touchdown games after not topping two touchdowns in a game in his previous nine matchups.

Antonio Brown is other worldly. He makes catches nobody else can even imagine making and does it routinely. This week, he caught 10-of-12 targets for 169 yards and two touchdowns. This follows up a 10-catch, 144-yard and three-touchdown game last week. He’s going to help a lot of teams get into the fantasy playoffs.

Le’Veon Bell didn’t find the end zone, but he rushed 20 times for 95 yards and caught an amazing 12-of-14 passes for 88 yards. In PPR leagues, that’s a huge game.

For more thoughts, check out Walt’s updated NFL Power Rankings, which will be posted Tuesday morning.

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