While looking back over a fantasy football season, the guys who round out the top 40 backs in our 2012 fantasy football rankings are usually a combination of injured studs and half season studs and this list will be no different. Of course, my favorites are the ‘yeah, but when did you start that guy?’ players on the list and there’ll be a few of those. Gotta love when RB2 production has been sitting on your bench or out on waivers for 75% of the season. But I digress, for the purposes of this review, we’ll be using yahoo’s end of season PPR rankings to look back on the season that was for the top 40 running backs of the 2012 fantasy football season…
Please, blog, may I have some more?Mike Tolbert
It seems to happen every year. Ok, it’s now happened for two straight years at least but that’s NFL years. In human years, that’s more akin to 13. But back to the scoop, DeAngelo Williams has gone from fantasy flatliner to fantasy freak all over again when the last 4 weeks arrive. After finishing the 2011 season with a week 14-17 output of 309 total yards and 4 touchdowns, DeAngelo has followed it up with a 517 total yard, 4 TD performance during the same span for the 2012 season, capping it off with a 210 yard, 2 TD crescendo to end the year. If it hadn’t been for ‘Hey, Hey, Hey’ it’s Mike Tolbert and his 3 TD runs, we’d be talking about an even more amazing day. However, ask anyone who drafted DeAngelo if they got to enjoy this explosion and I have a funny feeling you’ll start a fight. The sad truth is, DeAngelo actually scored more touchdowns and gained more yardage in the final 4 games of the year than he did in the first 12. It’s truly a case of bad team management with the Running Back attack of the Panthers and has little to nothing to do with the talent involved. It’s like they finally figure out how to utilize their players in the final month only to forget it all the next year and start from scratch. In either case, it was a week 17 to both remember and for the Panthers to forget when the 2013 season rolls around. See you next year, DeAngelo…I’m pretty sure you’re gone till December for 2013 as well if you stay in Carolina. Yes, I know that’s Wyclef Jean and not Will.i.am…but the reference was too good to not go out on it! In other fantasy football news to wrap up the 2012 season…
Drew Brees – Completed another solid fantasy season by almost getting a 400 yard game – finished with 396 – to go with 4 touchdowns. It was a season with a few hiccups for Brees but he’ll most likely end the year the leader at the QB position in touchdowns (43) and yards (5177), barring late game antics from Romo and Rodgers. If you drafted this QB in the first round, ya done good son and I mean that ‘son’ in the figurative sense. Stop asking me for lunch money.
Please, blog, may I have some more?The link between Tom Hanks playing a quiet FedEx delivery man who finds himself stranded on a remote island and Russell Wilson’s rookie season is a bit more apropos (snooty word of the day!) than at first it would appear. In watching the movie, you get to observe Tom Hanks evolve before your eyes. Here’s a man who is a shining example of civilization. His main challenges for a typical day consist of showing up to work on time, doing a proper job and heading home. But what happens when you take this modern man and throw him back into a time that even the boy scouts can’t fully train you for? You get to watch as Hanks’ character is first beaten, matches and then eventually triumphs over a harsh environment. Considering Wilson was nothing more than an afterthought by most coming into regular redraft 1QB leagues, the Wilson we saw game 1 of this season is no longer playing. You know, the guy who was asked to hand it off to Marshawn Lynch over and over and let his defense do the dirty work. Just manage the game, the clock and the field position. Instead, what we have now is a hardened, smart and confident QB who is ready and willing to take over the offensive reigns in Seattle. Coming into the day, Wilson was the 15th ranked QB in terms of fantasy production according to yahoo and no doubt after today, that number will be a little higher. Though his last two weeks will be challenging with San Francisco and St Louis, they’re both at home, a place where the Seahawks as a team have excelled. We might be looking at a late season surge to be a QB1 on the year. Oh and the other movie connection? Both the movie and this rookie season have been done in near silence. Robert Griffin, III has been amazing and Andrew Luck had the Colts in playoff contention coming into Sunday and they were drafted higher. Of course ESPN is going to talk about them every chance they get. But after today’s 92 rushing yards to go with 3 touchdowns with a side of 205 yards through the air and another TD, Russell is leaving his owners Sleepless in Seattle with what the future brings. Now that last one was definitely a pointless and- if I do say so for myself – bad pun. Can’t all be apropos! In other fantasy football news for 2012 fantasy football…
Please, blog, may I have some more?When we left off our top 20 running backs for 2012 Fantasy Football, we were still rounding out the ‘Team’s #1 RB option until proven worthless’ tier and I’ll fully admit my faith in this position was shaken to it’s core. I really hated ranking Shonne Green ahead of…well anyone but that’s the life of a ranking pro and the life of being a running back drafter in 2012. I do think there’s still some value we have yet to ring out of this position but it’s like those last few drops in your underwear when you were too embarrassed to skinny dip with everyone else but felt too much peer pressure not to jump in. Hrm, actually it’s nothing like that but I liked the idea of putting that image in your head. Now that I’ve lead you astray it’s time to get you back on course on our journey through the 2012 Fantasy Football Rankings. Here’s the best of what’s left at running back for 2012 fantasy football.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
Without a doubt, Cam Newton‘s rookie season will go down in the record books as one of the best by a rookie QB in the history of the NFL. However, it is said that it is harder to stay at the top than it is to actually get there, as we have seen many spectacular campaigns being followed by something rather mediocre. Now that coaches and players have seen what Newton brings to the table, you can guarantee that they will be making it more difficult, if not impossible to repeat his incredible first season.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
Welcome to week 17. I will not say, “if you are still playing it’s time to find a new league” because that’s what everybody says and I’m frankly getting tired of it. There are plenty of teams still playing for something and plenty of players trying to make a name for themselves, boost their position in negotiations, impress a girl, you name it.
Please, blog, may I have some more?It’s the championship and hopefully Santa brought you a nice Super Bowl appearance to give you a vesting interest in the Christmas Eve slate of games and you avoid your family to watch the games tomorrow. I imagine there’s going to be tons of eager fantasy players checking their phones at the dinner tables, sneaking in peeks at church, and covertly slipping into the basement during pre-Christmas get-togethers. Ah, the holidays.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
I hope you all won every single matchup this week and if you didn’t I hope you cursed your opponent deftly. There were a lot of huge performances on Sunday and one of them probably made or broke you. Let’s hope you were made.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Take a look at the rankings for the rest of the season and week’s 15 and 16 for opponent’s rush and pass defense below. The lower the number the tougher the opponent.
Rush Defense Schedule
Miami has a nice schedule against the run, but of course their running back situation is a little muddled, but stashing Daniel Thomas is a good idea .
Please, blog, may I have some more?
I don’t even want to talk about the week seven injuries, but I suppose I have to considering they play such a huge role in this crazy fake game we play. We lost four offensive players for the rest of the season last Sunday. Earnest Graham, Tim Hightower, Kerry Collins, and Chris Cooley. Done. Just like that. Others suffered injuries that will keep them out this week and beyond, and at this critical point in the fantasy season we can’t afford to lose many more players. You already know this, but it’s going to happen. It happens every week. Eff me in the effin’ eff.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
