Week 12 Fantasy Football Review

This past week has been one where I've ate a lot of my words in the world of fantasy football. Vince Young with 400 yards passing? Mike Williams and Blount both scoring some decent fantasy points? Chris Johnson grabbing 150 yards on the ground?

Green Bay Packers (27) @ Detroit Lions (15)

Kevin Smith was a disappointment in this first game on Thanksgiving. Who wasn't was a Maurice Morris that is showing big signs of fantasy football value as not only a rusher, but as a receiving back (hello PPR leagues!), finishing the game with 39 yards on the ground and 8 receptions for 81 yards. Aaron Rodgers threw a 67% completion rate for 307 yards and 2 touchdowns. James Jones was the favorite Green Bay receiver, hauling in 94 yards and a touchdown to help extend the Packers record this NFL season to 11 and 0.

Miami Dolphins (19) @ Dallas Cowboys (20)

The Cowboys hosted the Dolphins, in what some felt, would be a blowout victory. Little did they know, Matt Moore is learning to score, netting 288 yards and touchdown in the losing effort. Brandon Marshall is showing some fantasy football value for 5 receptions for 103 and 1 touchdown. A solid game was had by the Cowboys' quarterback-wide receiver tandem of Tony Romo and Laurent Robinson, with Romo finishing the game going 22 for 34 for 226 and 2 touchdowns. Laurent Robinson pulled in 7 receptions for 79 yards and two end-zone dances (22-23 fantasy points is big-time people).

San Francisco 49ers (6) @ Baltimore Ravens (16)

Two words ... defensive struggle. This game didn't give out a lot of fantasy points, unless you had one of the kickers or the defenses in this game everybody.

Minnesota Vikings (14) @ Atlanta Falcons (24)

Toby Gerhart grabbed 10 fantasy football points stepping in for Adrian Peterson while he is out with an injury. Percy Harvin grabbed 8 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort. Matt Ryan, a growing solid upper tier 2 fantasy quarterback finished the game with 262 yards and 3 touchdowns. Roddy White with a big fantasy game, finishing with 10 receptions for 120 yards and 1 touchdown.

Cleveland Browns (20) @ Cincinnati Bengals (23)

Colt McCoy almost pulled out a win, and for all owners in keepers, he might be worth a second or third look for the next year or so as a starter, as he finishes against a decent defense going 16 for 34 151 yards and 2 touchdowns (along with 38 yards on the ground). Hillis started for the Browns, netting 65 yards and 6 fantasy football points. Andy Dalton for Cincinnati puts together, not a great, but a solid fantasy football game, finishing with 19, possibly a decent pickup in a QB2 league now that Jerome Simpson is playing well, and A.J. Green is healthy and back. Green finishing the game with 3 receptions for 110 and no touchdowns. On the ground for the Bengals, Cedric Benson worked for 106 yards on 21 carries and 1 touchdown.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (17) @ Tennessee Titans (23)

The Tampa Bay offense continually makes me eat my words, both positive and negative in fantasy football for their NFL players. Mike Williams a good game, 6 receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Blount pounds out 103 yards on the ground and also catches 3 passes for 56 yards to finish in most league with 15 fantasy football points. When is Josh Freeman going to stay consistently good in fantasy football? Because less than 200 yards and a 1:1 touchdown to interception ratio isn't going to cut it.

Carolina Panthers (27) @ Indianapolis Colts (19)

Cam Newton isn't getting the same press as Tim Tebow, but he is getting it done the exact same way, if not smoother, finishing this game with 208 yards in the air, and rushing 9 times for 53 yards and a touchdown. DeAngelo Williams was the big player of the day in this game, finishing with 15 carries for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns - a sweet-spot of 22 fantasy points for this week. For the Colts, Reggie Wayne(5-122, 1 touchdown) and Donald Brown(14 carries for 80 and a touchdown) had a solid NFL game, and great fantasy points as WR1 and RB1/RB2, however the Colts still could not get the W and finish the game at 0-11.

Arizona Cardinals (23) @ St. Louis Rams (20)

It was, in a few words, the Meanie Beanie show in St. Louis this weekend. Chris "Beanie" Wells finished the game with 27 carries, and a huge 228 yards along with a touchdown thrown in there. Brandon Lloyd for the Rams, was the only big-time fantasy football player of note, finishing the losing effort with 5 catches for 74 yards and 1 touchdown.

Buffalo Bills (24) @ New York Jets (28)

Ryan Fitzpatrick and Mark Sanchez put up some non-consistent fantasy football numbers (both grabbing about 29 to 30 fantasy points each this week), in a battle for second place in the AFC East. Dustin Keller was a huge play for New York, grabbing 61 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Jets. I think CJ Spiller could have some future fantasy value, while only grabbing 55 yards on the ground and 15 in the air in the losing cause.

Houston Texans (20) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (13)

Getting rid of Jack Del Rio spells no difference in the offensive output for the sad Jacksonville Jaguars for the rest of the season, as only MJD is the hot commodity in Jacksonville right now. Houston used Foster as they needed to for an end-zone visit. And I think we all lost a fantasy football opportunity with Lienart being placed on IR for the season during the first half.

Chicago Bears (20) @ Oakland Raiders (25)

Matt Forte wasn't as in the spotlight as he normally would've been with Cutler at the helm. Now, with Hanie (254 yards with 2 touchdowns), keep your eyes on Marion Barber (10 carries for 63 yards) to be a bigger piece of the offense. For Oakland, multiple receivers could mean multiple fantasy possibilities. However, I think Reece (5 receptions for 92 yards and no touchdowns) being the leading fantasy football receiver for Oakland was only due to fill-in for injuries. The money player for fantasy football for Oakland this week??? The leg (no, not the third one), of Janikowski, as he kicked 6 field goals, of 40, 47, 42, 19, 37 and 44 yards this weekend.

Washington Redskins (23) @ Seattle Seahawks (17)

Rex Grossman is looking to be a decent QB2 play for the rest of the year, but not this upcoming week. However, against Seattle, he looked solid going 26 for 35 for 314 and 2 touchdowns. Roy Helu (23 for 108 and 1 touchdown), without any other options now becomes a more solid start with Shanahan having little to no other choices. By the way, Doug Baldwin and Jabar Gaffney could be viable WR4 or FLEX1-FLEX2 plays through the rest of the season, scoring on average 6-10 fantasy football points.

New England (38) @ Philadelphia Eagles (20)

Brady and Gronkowski...enough said. The law firm of Benjarvus Green-Ellis has an uncharacteristic 44 yards with 2 touchdowns. Deion Branch put up some fantasy numbers as well with 12 on 125 yards receiving. For Philadelphia, yes, I'm about to say it, because I'm jumping on the fantasy football bandwagon with a shortened week for the Eagles...pick up Young if you need a good quarterback option for this weekend. Sunday, 400 yards! He was also the leading rusher for Philadelphia with 40 yards. Look for more rushing ways from him with Maclin not being in the game, and Jackson being down - keep your eyes on Avant and Smmith, along with Brent Celek (3 for 75 yards) if he is on the waiver wire.

Denver Broncos (16) @ San Diego Chargers (13)

This game was a flip of all the norms you could've expected. Decker caught a touchdown (3 receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown), Ryan Matthews had his thrid career 100+ yard rushing game (oh, and they have ALL been against the Broncos) and McGahee didn't find the end-zone (but did rush 23 times for 117 yards). Tebow played like Tebow and the kickers for both teams didn't get cold.

Pittsburgh Steelers (13) @ Kansas City Chiefs (9)

I'm a Steelers' fan, and these wins look like they are about to trickle into the playoffs...and make fantasy football owners feel the same with Mendenhall only getting 57 rushing yards, Antonio Brown only grabbing 81 yards and no touchdown, and Big Ben barely finishing the game with 13 fantasy football points. Tyler Palko isn't a fantasy pickup, and the three-headed giant at running back for Kansas City should still have you running scared.

New York Giants (24) @ New Orleans Saints (49)

No matter where you looked, or who you had, fantasy points were falling like rain Monday night. Eli Manning (33 for 47 and 406 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 int) and Drew Brees (24 of 38 for 363 and 4 touchdowns - no interceptions..and a rushing TD...ahthankya!) both finished the game with over a 100 quarterback rating. Running backs Mark Ingram (13 for 80, 1 touchdown) and Pierre Thomas (8 for 63 and 1 touchdown) found paydirt, along with Brandon Jacobs on the other side of the ball. And, once again, Victor Cruz makes every fantasy football owner who picked him up earlier in the season look like a genius, finishing the game with 157 yards and 2, count'em 2 touchdowns. And, once again, Jimmy Graham...ya...that's all that I need to say.

Take care everyone, and I'll catch you with fantasy football preview for Week 13 coming up on Thursday!