Week 13 Fantasy Football Studs
If you are reading this article it means one of two things: first, that you have made the playoffs in your league and are on your way to a #FootClanTitle; or second, that you have been eliminated from the playoffs and are using this as an opportunity to get a jump start on preparation for your 2017 #FootClanTitle. Congratulations, in either case. Here are your Fantasy Stud Muffins from Week 13. As always the guys discuss their favorites on the podcast.
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco vs MIA
-381 passing yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT
The Baltimore Ravens have been tops in the league in passing attempts over the last two seasons. Games like this just have to come for Flacco, it’s just the law of averages playing out.
Carson Palmer vs WAS
-300 passing yards, 3 TDs
This stat line looks good, but the Cardinals passing attack does not. Outside of the aged Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson, I don’t know who else they can rely on.
Matt Stafford @ NO
–341 passing yards, 2 TDs, 22 rushing yards
At least the predictions for this game came true for one of the QBs.
Running Backs
David Johnson vs WAS
-18 carries, 84 rushing yards, TD, 9 receptions, 91 receiving yards, TD
Look out Miami and New Orleans. David Johnson is coming.
Jordan Howard vs SF
–32 carries, 117 rushing yards, 3 TDs
This just feels right. Horrid weather in Chicago with a Bears RB smashing the defense for 3 yards a clip on 32 carries. Old school.
Devonta Freeman vs KC
–15 carries, 56 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 4 receptions, 49 receiving yards
This is the Devonta Freeman fantasy owners love. Mixing it up both rushing and receiving and scoring when the team gets in close.
Thomas Rawls vs CAR
–15 carries, 106 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 1 reception, 12 receiving yards
This game perfectly sums up Thomas Rawls, vicious running, electric jump cuts, scores, gets injured.
Latavius Murray vs BUF
-20 carries, 82 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 3 receptions, 23 receiving yards
It never feels good submitting a line up with Latavius Murray as a starter on Sunday morning, does it? You know what does feel good though? Checking the scores Sunday afternoon.
Le’Veon Bell vs NYG
–29 carries, 118 rushing yards, 6 receptions, 64 receiving yards
The Steelers are going to kill this young man. I wonder what they are going to do about his contract this offseason.
LeSean McCoy @ OAK
–17 carries, 130 rushing yards, 7 receptions, 61 receiving yards
Why, Mike Gillislee? Why? What did we ever do to you?
Melvin Gordon vs TB
-17 carries, 84 rushing yards, TD, 4 receptions, 54 receiving yards
Featured RB on an offense that is running out of weapons.
Terrance West vs MIA
–10 carries, 50 rushing yards, TD, 3 receptions, 18 receiving yards, TD
10 carries in a game is not great, but he scored twice, so if you started West out of desperation, congrats. Now you have 1 more week to figure out a better solution.
Wide Receivers
Golden Tate @ NO
–8 receptions, 145 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
This is why you had to start all of your Lions and Saints. Someone was going to blow up.
Tyler Lockett vs CAR
-5 receptions, 63 receiving yards, 6 targets, 1 carry, 75 rushing yards, TD
Talented player, but this was a fluke.
Jordy Nelson vs HOU
–8 receptions, 118 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
I enjoy nothing more than watching an elite WR carve up a strong defense. Strength on strength and fantasy owners win.
Albert Wilson @ ATL
–4 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 4 targets, 1 carry, 55 rushing yards, TD
Fluke.
Brandon LaFell vs PHI
-5 receptions, 95 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
Brandon LaFell is so bad, but the situation is so good.
Ted Ginn Jr. @ SEA
–5 receptions, 80 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets, 6 rushing yards
Can you imagine how bad Ted Ginn’s hands would be if he wasn’t allowed to wear those gloves?
Michael Crabtree vs BUF
-7 receptions, 74 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
This shouldn’t surprise me anymore, but the 49er version of Crabtree is still firmly stuck in my mind.
Dez Bryant @ MIN
–4 receptions, 84 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets
Probably the best you can hope for against the Vikings defense. Dak is learning to trust Dez in jump ball situations.
Odell Beckham Jr. @ PIT
-10 receptions, 100 receiving yards, 16 targets
A score would’ve been nice with this volume, but hard to complain especially in PPR formats.
Tight Ends
Dennis Pitta vs MIA
-9 receptions, 90 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 11 targets
Joe Flacco is a strong advocate of the buddy system.
Ladarius Green vs NYG
-6 receptions, 110 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
This is my favorite thing from Sunday’s games. So much promise and hype finally paid off for a guy who struggled mightily with injuries in the offseason. Green had career highs in receptions, yards, and targets while playing 48% of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps.
Zach Ertz @ CIN
-9 receptions, 79 receiving yards, TD, 15 targets
Jordan Matthews missed most of this game, so the backup garbage man stepped in.
Travis Kelce @ ATL
–8 receptions, 140 receiving yards, 8 targets
Travis Kelce is uncoverable.
Cameron Brate @ SD
-6 receptions, 86 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
Brate is not an elite TE, but with so many struggles at the position, he is a capable, if barfy, TE you can use. Two out of his next 3 games are against the Saints.
Jimmy Graham vs CAR
–6 receptions, 63 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
I know Jimmy Graham’s secret: He’s always angry.
Honorable Mentions
Andy Dalton vs PHI
–332 passing yards, 2 TDs
Derek Carr vs BUF
–260 passing yards, 2 TDs
Spencer Ware @ ATL
–14 carries, 29 rushing yards, TD, 3 receptions, 23 receiving yards, TD
Ezekiel Elliott @ MIN
–20 carries, 86 rushing yards, TD, 4 receptions, 19 receiving yards
Julio Jones vs KC
-7 receptions, 113 receiving yards, 9 targets
Antonio Brown vs NYG
–6 receptions, 54 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
Julian Edelman vs LA
–8 receptions, 101 receiving yards, 12 targets
Jarvis Landry @ BAL
-11 receptions, 87 receiving yards, 14 targets
Coby Fleener vs DET
–5 receptions, 86 receiving yards, 7 targets