Week 12 Fantasy Football Duds
Nothing spoils an appetite for turkey leftovers like football players who poop in their big boy pants. If you started these players you were either left with an upset stomach or perhaps eating leftovers is part of how you cope with a fantasy football loss. However, you dealt with the dud performances, just remember that you are not alone and there is still time to make that late playoff run.
Editor’s Note: Get the full breakdown on today’s podcast, and read up on the Week 12 Studs.
Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott vs LAC
179 passing yards, 2 INTs
Everything is working against Dak these days, especially in Week 12. He was facing a tough secondary, without Elliott, behind an ailing offensive line, while dealing fighting his own bout with a sophomore slump. Owners should be avoiding Prescott. I recommend listening to the podcast this week for possible streaming options.
Jacoby Brissett vs TEN
196 passing yards, 16 rushing yards
With all 32 teams in action, there was no reason for you to be starting Brissett this week.
Running Backs
Jordan Howard @ PHI
7 carries, 6 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 13 receiving yards
I think most owners were prepared for an underwhelming performance from Howard on the road, against one of the league’s top rushing defenses. However, this was an exceptionally poor performance. If there’s a silver lining, at least Howard caught both of his targets.
Kareem Hunt vs BUF
11 carries, 17 rushing yards, 1 reception, 9 receiving yards
The reason behind the offensive collapse of the Kansas City Chiefs has been the subject of much speculation on the interwebs. My favorite explanation is that the Monstars from Space Jam came down to earth and stole their talent. Hopefully Bugs Bunny and Bill Murray can save Andy Reid and the Chiefs from becoming the newest attraction at Moron Mountain.
Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
C.J. Anderson @ OAK
5 carries, 12 rushing yards
That’s it. I’m done.
Devontae Booker @ OAK
6 carries, 11 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 22 receiving yards
Fair or not, I’m blaming all of this on you, Booker. It’s all your fault.
Jay Ajayi vs CHI
5 carries, 26 rushing yards, 1 reception, 7 receiving yards, fumble lost
The Eagles might be doing the smart thing by saving Ajayi for their eventual playoff run, but it certainly isn’t helping Ajayi’s fantasy owners now.
Mark Ingram @ LAR
11 carries, 31 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 5 receiving yards
Ingram had been very efficient in recent week. This, therefore, is an outlier and I intend to treat it as such.
Leonard Fournette vs AZ
12 carries, 25 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 17 receiving yards
Something is wrong with Fournette. Whether it’s happening behind closed doors with his conduct, or his ankle is still bothering him, something isn’t right. What is clear is that the team is aware of it as evidenced by T.J. Yeldon being active for just the 5th time this season.
Alfred Morris vs LAC
9 carries, 36 rushing yards, 1 reception, 13 receiving yards
There are several factors that have led to fantasy owners’ disappointment with the Ezekiel Elliott replacements. The first is that there isn’t just one guy, the Cowboys are using a rotation in his absence. The second is that this offensive line is a shadow of what it was last season. The third might just be that Alfred Morris isn’t very good.
Ameer Abdullah vs MIN
6 carries, 14 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 29 receiving yards
I have wanted to believe in Abdullah becoming a great RB for the Lions. It just isn’t happening. To reach his true potential, he needs to be the change of pace to an efficient early-down thumper. That player is not on the Lions 2017 roster.
Icon Sportswire/ Contributor
Jerick McKinnon @ DET
13 carries, 23 rushing yards, 1 reception, 31 receiving yards
It was fun while it lasted, but McKinnon has been overtaken by a now healthy Latavius Murray. His usefulness will have to come as a role player and a passing down specialist.
Matt Forte vs CAR
10 carries, 26 rushing yards
Bilal Powell vs CAR
9 carries, 34 rushing yards, 1 reception, 12 receiving yards
10 touches per week aren’t going to get it done for fantasy purposes unless you are an elite talent like Alvin Kamara who can make explosive plays with regularity. Neither Powell nor Forte is that kind of back at this point in their careers.
Wide Receivers
Michael Crabtree vs DEN
Nothing
The Knucklehead of the Week award goes to Michael Crabtree. Opposing DBs are going to keep doing this to star WRs until it doesn’t work. We saw it a couple weeks ago with Jalen Ramsey getting under A.J. Green‘s skin. Aqib Talib literally took Crabtree out of the game by pushing his buttons with a little extracurricular activity that resulted in a brawl and the ejection of both players.
T.Y. Hilton vs TEN
2 receptions, 15 receiving yards, 5 targets
If Hilton doesn’t hit the big plays, you are going to be disappointed. I don’t expect Hilton owners to enjoy too many more boom games with Jacksonville, Denver, and Baltimore on the upcoming schedule.
Doug Baldwin @ SF
2 receptions, 25 receiving yards, 3 targets
The weather was a factor in this game, but Baldwin’s 3 targets are more indicative of the Seahawks being in control for most of the game and not needing to air it out to their top WR.
Golden Tate vs MIN
4 receptions, 7 receiving yards, 8 targets, 13 rushing yards
The Lions did what they could to get Tate involved with 8 targets and 2 rushing attempts, but the Vikings defense was not going to let Tate be the one to beat them. That opportunity was afforded to Marvin Jones. It is also noteworthy that Tate appeared to suffer an injury partway through this game. He was able to return, but owners should keep an eye on his status this week.
Demaryius Thomas @ OAK
5 receptions, 18 receiving yards, 8 targets
Emmanuel Sanders @ OAK
3 receptions, 12 receiving yards, 6 targets
Week 12 was the Paxton Lynch experiment for Denver’s offense. It did not go well.
Robert Reiners/Getty Images
Dez Bryant vs LAC
3 receptions, 37 receiving yards, 5 targets
This offense as a whole has struggled to find itself during Elliott’s suspension. Dez needs to take over as the elite talent on the team, but he has yet to do so.
DeVante Parker @ NE
1 reception, 5 receiving yards, 3 targets
If Matt Moore is starting for the Dolphins, Parker should be on your bench. You can fire him back up once/if Jay Cutler returns.
Larry Fitzgerald vs JAX
3 receptions, 12 receiving yards, 8 targets, 2 pt conv
The Jaguars defense is good. Very good. Don’t worry about Larry.
Marqise Lee @ AZ
1 reception, 13 receiving yards, 2 targets
I didn’t see enough of this game to definitively say that this was the Patrick Peterson effect, but it is very likely since 2 targets is a marked downgrade from Lee’s average of 7.6 per game.
Corey Davis @ IND
4 receptions, 39 receiving yards, 4 targets
I was optimistic for Davis against the Colts. It was the softest matchup the Titans has seen in over a month and Davis was healthy while fellow pass catcher Rishard Matthews was not. Disappointing to be sure, but I am not deterred. I will be starting Davis next week where needed.
Tight Ends
Vernon Davis vs NYG
Nothing
Yikes. Couldn’t have asked for a better matchup. This was as good as it gets.
Evan Engram @ WAS
3 receptions, 18 receiving yards, 7 targets
When I saw this stat line my first thought was, “what on earth were the Giants doing on offense if Engram wasn’t involved?” The answer is, “nothing”. They did absolutely nothing. 170 yards of total offense was all they could muster in primetime on Thanksgiving. Thanks for nothing.
Travis Kelce vs BUF
3 receptions, 39 receiving yards, 4 targets
What are you going to do? Not start Travis Kelce? Ha.
Jared Cook vs DEN
1 reception, 1 receiving yard, 5 targets
Cook was a trendy sleeper this week against Denver, and just like Cook is apt to do, he failed to deliver on the hype.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins vs CAR
2 receptions, 27 receiving yards, 7 targets
If “Touchdowns that aren’t Touchdowns” was an official stat, ASJ would lead the league.
Dishonorable Mentions
J.D. McKissic @ SF
4 carries, 22 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 24 receiving yards
Tarik Cohen @ PHI
2 carries, -11 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 8 receiving yards
Theo Riddick vs MIN
5 carries, 20 rushing yards, 1 reception, 10 receiving yards
Kenny Stills @ NE
3 receptions, 47 receiving yards, 6 targets
Jordy Nelson @ PIT
3 receptions, 18 receiving yards, 5 targets
Cameron Brate @ ATL
1 reception, 6 receiving yards, 2 targets