Snap Count Observations: Week 12
In-season management has always been a major key to fantasy success. Whether you are 12-0, waiting to slaughter your league mates in the playoffs; or 5-7 and clinging at hope, continue to be aggressive. Championships will be won and lost by players who are currently available on the wire.
Theo Riddick 79% / Dwayne Washington 21%
The Lions ran the ball on 30% of their plays on Thanksgiving. They were able to get away with it in a game where 16 points meant victory. Moving forward, with a likely playoff appearance looming, they must establish a running attack. Queue: Ameer Abdullah. He received a positive medical report this weekend and could be playing in the next two weeks. If available, add Abdullah now and hope for a fantasy playoff push.
Adam Thielen 95% / Cordarrelle Patterson 58% / Laquon Treadwell 58% / Charles Johnson 37%
With Stefon Diggs sidelined, Treadwell finally had his chance to see meaningful snaps. Unfortunately, he ended the day with no targets. Perhaps the rookie is struggling to pick up the intricacies of NFL defenses. 1 catch for 15 yards on the season is a massive disappointment. Diggs’ value to the Vikings offense was evident without him. Thielen is not a true #1 and Patterson is the ultimate boom/bust player.
Vernon Davis 60% / Jordan Reed 49%
Davis could join the elite tier of TEs while Reed is out with injury. Both TEs have been playing well, and complimenting each other. The concern is that losing Reed could negatively affect the entire Redskins’ offense.
Mohamed Sanu 89% / Julio Jones 80% / Taylor Gabriel 50%
I am late hopping on the Gabriel train. He was released by the Cleveland Browns just prior to the season and has provided an element to the Falcons offense they have been missing. I expect big passing games to continue in Atlanta for the remainder of the season. All 3 of these WRs carry strong value.
Denard Robinson 46% / T.J. Yeldon 34% / Chris Ivory 22%
The Yeldon/Ivory dual rushing attack fizzled out horrendously this season. It is extremely telling that on a day Ivory gets banged up, the team turned to Robinson over Yeldon. To be fair, Yeldon is currently battling an ankle injury, but his productivity has been shaky all year. Head coach, Gus Bradley, will most likely be fired at season’s end. But he is not a quitter, and his team will continue to fight. Robinson is possibly in position to revive his once promising career with a stretch of nice games to close out the season. This is no sure thing, but Robinson absolutely represents major potential upside.
Marquise Goodwin 78% / Brandon Tate 53% / Sammy Watkins 45%
For those of you who patiently waited on Watkins, congratulations. I predict a fantastic finish to the season coming from him.
Cameron Meredith 86% / Marquess Wilson 59% / Josh Bellamy 58% / Deonte Thompson 52%
When Wilson got hurt in the preseason, it felt like his Bears’ career may have come to an end. Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White were lined up to be an elite WR duo, Meredith was coming on strong and depth was not an issue. Fast forward and Wilson, in only his second game this season, has been thrust back into the lineup and shown some of the potential Bears fans have been waiting for. Much like Bradley and the Jaguars, the Bears will not mail it in. Look for big numbers from Meredith and Wilson against a weak 49ers defense this week.
Josh Hill 78% / John Phillips 41% / Coby Fleener 24%
Fleener is the kind of player fantasy owners only draft once.
Rex Burkhead 51% / Jeremy Hill 49%
For those of us who hoped for big things from Burkhead, it was a bad week. Don’t give up yet though. The Bengals face the Browns in week 14. Burkhead could be in position to help win fantasy playoff games.