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.
Justin Blackmon – Well it wasn’t the day I thought he’d get with the weekly rankings post, but I’ll take 90 total yards and a touchdown as a consolation call. Considering 82 of those yards came in the first half, someone needs to explain how he didn’t reach that 150 plateau considering the Jags were down big early. I guess when someone zigs, Jacksonville Jags.
Chad Henne – Threw 4 touchdown passes. Unfortunately, two of those were to the Titans defense as he threw 3 INT total but still managed a respectable 2 TD, 298 yard passing line. For all those people rooting for Tebow to land with the Jaguars this off-season…stop it and look 1/8th inch above at that Blackmon line and remember they still have Cecil Shorts as well. You don’t want that. Your mom doesn’t want that. She told me last night while we had our weekly pinochle night. Oh and if you started the Titans D/ST…you’re funny. Oh and good job. I’ll come to you for the next dooms day prediction.
T.Y. Hilton– Everyone’s favorite celebutard wide receiver, T.Y. really did most of his 111 yard damage on one 70 TD pass or else we wouldn’t be talking about him. Of course, this is the second game against the Texans in which he’s caught the long-ball touchdown so I guess we should’ve predicted it. Is there a less fearsome 12-4 team going into the playoffs than Houston?
C.J. Spiller – Finished with 131 total yards and a touchdown on 26 touches. Of course, Chan Gailey still played goal line shenanigans with him as Brad Smith and Tashard Choice found the endzone inside the 10. Don’t worry, if Fred Jackson is healthy next year this issue only gets worse. Wait, did I say to not worry? I meant the opposite of that.
Eli Manning – Just to rub it in the face of people who play only to week 16, Eli goes for 5 TDs and 208 passing yards. He came in with 21 and 16 for his TD:INT split. Don’t forget that come draft day next year, fantasy footballers. This Manning is not to be trusted.
Marcedes Lewis – You’re not excited about his line – 103 receiving yards on 7 receptions – but I am. I ranked him 6th amongst TEs this week compared to a consensus 17th. Hey, it’s week 17 I’m looking for something/anything to keep my attention for fantasy purposes.
Marques Colston – Lots of people thought I was crazy for putting him in the top 10 for wide receivers this year. Though I’m sure he didn’t make it, I think it’ll be a lot closer than most would’ve predicted as he finishes the year with a 52 yard, 2 TD performance. Marquis de Saints still plays like royalty to me.
Andre Johnson – Finishes the year with over 1000 yards on the year…in the second half of the season. Dropped a sure TD pass but had 141 yards on 12 receptions on 17 targets against a hungry Colts team. I had him a bit lower in my WR rankings than most would’ve coming into the year and still stand behind my reasoning/sentiment. The only thing that changed was the Texans defense falling off the map.
Jordan Shipley/Earl Bennett/Darius Reynaud – Because you were told laces out and didn’t listen.
Arian Foster – Rounded out his solid fantasy season with 119 total yards and a score. Despite week 16, Foster was easily the most consistent top RB this year from game 1 to game 17 though that’s what happens when you touch the ball 394 times. I’m over the fear now that he didn’t top the 400 plateau but I’m still a little leery looking forward to next year.
Jimmy Graham – Finished a rocky and injury-plagued fantasy season on top with 115 yards on 9 catches with a score. This game probably propelled him up to the #1 TE on the year if Gronkowski doesn’t go off for New England, though it’s not the #1 TE many thought they were getting.
Greg Jennings – Had his best game of the year: 2 touchdowns to go with 120 receiving yards on 8 receptions. Better late than never, right? ‘No’, says everyone who plays fantasy football.
Eric Decker – So I was both right and wrong about Decker this year as he finishes with 2 touchdowns to go with 76 yards on 7 receptions. I thought he was going to be ‘the man’ in Denver ahead of D.T. Looks like there was enough Manning to go around to make two men. If you count Stokley, he made 2 and 1/2. So who was Jon Cryer and who was Charlie Sheen, you ask? It doesn’t matter; as long as neither are Ashton Kutcher, everyone comes away happy.
Adrian Peterson – We know it’s been a magical season whether he broke the record or not: 199 rushing yards to go with both an air and ground touchdown to lead his team to a playoff berth. AP goes AD every day.
Michael Crabtree – Fun with stats: coming into the year, Crabtree only had 3 games in his career with Alex Smith at the helm in which he went for over 100 yards receiving. He’s now done it thrice with Kaepernick after gaining 172 yards on 8 receptions with two touchdowns on Sunday. Yes, one of my New Year’s resolutions is to get Crabs in 2013.
Terrelle Pryor – Yet another name to put in your pocket for next year’s draft: 150 passing yards with two passing touchdowns and 49 yards on the ground for another score. Of course, that’s if Oakland wants to actually see what they have in the youth on their team and don’t stay with junk time hero, Carson Palmer. TBD…
Michael Floyd – The touchdown came during a time in the game when it didn’t matter but let’s face facts: nothing the Cardinals did on offense mattered much this year. The rookie who got to train under Larry Fitz had a great game to build on for 2013: 166 yards on 8 receptions. I’d say this game was more part of the Cards being on their 4th QB of the year in Hoyer who probably played plenty of reps with Floyd during practice throughout the year but the fact remains that Michael is a talented kid. If Arizona solves it’s o-line woes and has a healthy Kolb at QB – or better – Floyd could have himself a strong sophomore campaign. I’d put more weight on there being a worthwhile Kardashian than it happening but hey, it’s possible.
Russell Wilson – Tied Peyton’s rookie record for touchdown passes – 26 – while throwing 18 less interceptions. Not in one game, mind you, that would be a totally different type of record. He only threw for one of them today. But you throw in a rushing touchdown on 59 yards and 250 through the air and you get why they call him @DangeRussWilson.
Peyton Manning – It was like last year never happened: 304 passing yards to go with 3 touchdowns. Outside of Wilson, probably the biggest value play at QB this year. Congrats for everyone who didn’t listen to me. I wish I hadn’t either.
Stevan Ridley – Law Firm, Shmaw Firm: rounded out a great RB1 season with 74 yards and 2 touchdowns against a stout Miami defense to finish with 12 rushing touchdowns and 14 overall. Now next year it’ll be Shane Vereen that is the Pats back to own. I’m kidding…but I might not be…but I am…not really…but I could be?
Alfred Morris – The Butler did it in Hog Heaven with a running zone scheme…thrice. If you told me Shanahanigans would play the same running back as the starter from week 1 to week 17 I would’ve slapped you hard for lying to me in August. Why didn’t you tell me you were from the future? And why didn’t you tell everyone the Mayan thing was just stupid? But I digress, what a way to round out an amazing rookie year: 200 rushing yards with 3 touchdowns as he leads his team to an NFC East division title.
The Replacement Killers
Since it’s week 17, I figured it would be better to highlight these players that no one played yet who were still top performers no one saw coming with their own little piece of the post pie rather than just throwing them into the post pile. That was alliteration, BTW, or you could also call it literary consonance. Just don’t call it assonance cuz that’s wrong and makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘o’ and ‘nance’.
Rueben Randle – The rookie whom many thought would be the WR3 for the Giants this year had a 2 TD, 58 yard breakout game when the Giants needed him most. Hrm, maybe he should’ve been the WR3 this year for the Giants who now won’t make the playoffs. Come to think of it, considering how Hakeem Nicks did this year, maybe he should’ve been WR2.
Anthony Allen/Bernard Pierce -Finished with 130 combined rushing yards and a touchdown and also proved an important theory to me: if you’re the starting RB for the Ravens, that automatically means the guy who plays second fiddle to you gets all the goal line carries. Pierce finished with 89 of those yards and 0 chances at the goal while Allen got all of them. I’ll take ‘Reasons Why The Ravens Make No Sense’ for $1000, Alex.
Keith Toston – With Montell Owens a surprise inactive for the last game of the year, the Jags were Toston the new year with Keith to the tune of 115 total yards. If you started him, you must’ve been desperate, crazy, or both. Take note of his name for you’ll never see it again.
Tyrod Taylor – As the Ravens needed an emergency eyebrow waxing for Flacco – that and the win would mean nothing for them – Tyrod got a shot and performed admirably well: 149 passing yards with an interception to go with a ground score on 65 yards rushing. See the last two sentences of Toston, Keith’s blurb to see how I feel about this.
And with that we close up shop on the season that was for 2012 fantasy football. We’ll take a brief hiatus this week heading into the playoffs with the next content coming to you from our betting wizards on Thursday for a little playoff gambling fun. Next week we’ll review player rankings from 2012 to see just how completely wrong I was about everything to make you all happy. In the meantime, for those who don’t know, Razzball isn’t just about hookers, blow and football. No, we cover many more seedy and dehumanizing aspects of this world. For those of you who like playing with bigger balls, we’ve got Razzball Fantasy Basketball at your service. For those who like to play with smaller balls, we have Razzball Fantasy Baseball in full preseason swing. And for those of you who are into fantasy hockey…well, we have a Razzball Fantasy Hockey site but as you know, this season is all pucked up. So with that, I want to say thank you for a successful 2012 fantasy football season and look forward to a bigger and better one for 2013. Hope you have a great New Years. Ryan Skycrest…out!
