Week 12 is best defined as the week of the prevailing backup, as bye weeks and injuries continue to pile up. Let’s review my Week 12 takeaways as we look forward to Week 13.
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Quarterbacks
- Player: Jameis Winston
- Game: at Detroit
- Stats: 18-36, 366 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT with 33 receiving yards and 1 receiving TD
Winston ate a “Dub” in my book, my goodness. What an exciting athlete to watch on the field, while his personality and pep talks are second to none. How can you not enjoy the creativity from the Giants this week? He led the Giants to 529 total yards on offense and their most points in over a month against a Lions defense that allowed the 12th most points to QBs. If Winston maintains the starting role in Week 13, he’ll be a QB2 streamer in a neutral matchup on the road in New England.
Notables:
Cam Ward had his best fantasy output in his rookie season with one passing TD and one rushing TD without his top two WRs. It coincided with his first game with zero turnovers against a Seattle defense, which ranks as a middle-of-the-pack defense to opposing QBs in fanatsy. In Week 13, he’ll face his most favorable defense this season at home against the Jags, who allow the fifth most points to QBs.
Jacoby Brissett followed up his record-setting performance with his third game passing over 300+ yards and one TD against the Jaguars. Tampa Bay’s defense is next, which is the seventh-most advantageous to QBs. Brissett is set for another QB1 finish after six consecutive weeks as a QB1.
Matthew Stafford tossed three tuddies against the Bucs for his sixth QB1 finish on the season. He has yet to throw a pick since Week 3 at Philadelphia while accumulating a 25/0 TD/INT ratio. He’s set to have his toughest opponents over the next five weeks.
Jalen Hurts and Dak Presscot both ended Week 13 as QB2 and QB3, respectively. Hurts gets a favorable matchup against the Bears on Black Friday, who allow the fifth-most rushing yards to QBs following his two rushing scores against Dallas. Prescott, fresh off setting the Cowboys’ records, gets the Chiefs on Thanksgiving.
Running Backs
- Player: Emanuel Wilson
- Game: vs. Vikings
- Stats: 28 carries, 107 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 2 receptions for 18 receiving yards
Wilson stepped up for the Packers with Josh Jacobs inactive and his newly found fantasy shareholders in Week 12. Surprisingly, he had a 60/40 snap share despite dominating touches 30 to nine with Chris Brooks. If Jacobs misses more time, Wilson is an easy starter in fantasy moving forward. Once Jacobs returns, Wilson will hold significant handcuff value down the stretch of the season.
Notables:
Jahmyr Gibbs, aka Sonic, rushed for 219 yards with two rushing scores and 11 receptions for 45 yards with one receiving score. He was quite the spark plug in the Motor City in a game where the Lions had 488 scrimmage yards. The most important thing of note is that Gibbs played 70+ of snaps for the second consecutive week, limiting Knuckles, David Montgomery’s fantasy value.
Travis Etienne Jr. regained the backfield with Jacksonville with 100+ scrimmage yards and one receiving TD on 18 touches. He played 65% of the snaps over Bhayshul Tuten, while Tuten was given seven rushing attempts. I wouldn’t write off Tuten quite yet with a matchup against the Titans, who allow the fifth-most points to RBs.
The Steelers’ backfield was a complete 50/50 timeshare between Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, with the latter producing the most fantasy points among the two. Both backs will be must-starts in Week 13 against Buffalo, the third friendliest defense, and in Week 14 at Baltimore, the 12th friendliest team to RBs.
The Kyle Monangai takeover in Chicago is occurring in front of us as he outsnapped and out-touched D’Andre Swift, who lost a fumble against the Steelers. Monangai has scored in three consecutive weeks. The Bears’ backfield will clash against a tough Eagles front, but allowed Javonte Williams to account for 100+ all-purpose yards in Week 12.
Kareem Hunt was given a career-high 30 rushing attempts with Isiah Pacheco out again, rewarding the Chiefs with their first 100-yard rusher of the season, while scoring his fourth consecutive TD. He’ll have a favorable matchup against Dallas on Turkey Day should Pacheco miss his fourth straight game.
Derrick Henry was the Ravens’ offense, scoring two TDs against the Jets. New York has allowed seven RB scores over their last four games and will face the Falcons’ rushing attack in Week 13. Henry will have to get the most advantageous defense, the Cincinnati Bengals, in Week 13.
As predicted, Sean Tucker was the lone backup to let down the fanatsy community with 46 scrimmage yards. Bucky Irving is set to return and can be safely dropped once that occurs.
Wide Receivers
- Player: Chimere Dike
- Game: vs. Seahawks
- Stats: 5 receptions, 44 receiving yards, 1 touchdown on 7 targets with a 90-yard punt return TD
The backup WR came up clutch for the Titans and his rookie QB. Dike is set for a strong end-of-the-season push with the injuries to wideouts in Tennessee. He’s had enough good games now to not be written off as a one-hit wonder in the Music City. I think Ward will continue to make strides as the season winds down, and Dike should be one of the main beneficiaries. The Jaguars are next, who allowed Michael Wilson to provide an encore in Week 12.
Notables:
Wilson drew another 15 targets, finishing with 10 catches for 118 yards. If Marvin Harrison misses his third game, Wilson is a must-start with Jacoby Brissett under center in the desert.
I was VERY wrong about Davante Adams. The TD extraordinaire has more touchdowns (12) than games played for the Rams (11). Eight of his 12 TDs have come within five yards!
Jaxon Smith-Njigba posted another ridiculous 8-167-2 line to lead all WRs in Week 12. He could surpass the 2K mark with a current total of 1,313 receiving yards with six games left.
The Cowboys’ secondary is what the doctor ordered for A.J. Brown, who went over the century mark with a TD since Week 7. He was a must-start in my WR Slot vs. Wide – Week 12 article.
John Metchie III could be emerging as the pass catcher to stream for the Jets following his 6-65-1 line. Metchie has two TDs over the past two weeks and has an intriguing matchup against the Falcons in Week 13.
Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington each tallied TDs from Trevor Lawrence against the Cards. The Jaguars’ passing attack could be a full strength if Brian Thomas Jr returns in a top-10 favorable matchup against the Titans.
Tight End
- Player: Colston Loveland
- Game: vs. Steelers
- Stats: 4 receptions, 49 yards, 1 touchdown on 5 targets
Loveland is emerging as the top TE for Ben Johnson’s offense with 65%+ snap share over the last six games. Johnson is designing and calling plays for Loveland, which will serve his shareholders well as he has a favorable schedule down the stretch. I am excited to see how his season pans out, as Tyler Warren has overshadowed him.
Notables:
Hunter Henry’s 7-115-1 performance in Week 12 marks his first game over the century mark this season, while going up against the friendliest defense (Cincinnati) to TEs. The Bengals host the Ravens in Week 13. Henry will have a less favorable matchup versus the Giants.
Trey McBride’s five-game TD streak came to an end, but he produced a serviceable 79 yards on nine receptions. He’ll have his toughest matchup with Tampa Bay since Week 5.
Brenton Strange returned from injury and quickly joins the TE1 ranks following his 5-93 outing against the Cards. I am fascinated to see how the Jags’ passing attacks will look with a healthy group.
Bye Week Update
- No teams are on a bye, be sure to entertain all options and join the Sunday Start Sit Show on Sunday, two hours before kickoff!
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