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Bye Weeks: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Seattle
Grab a Helmet
Zac
Stacy v. CHI: If you had told me in early September that Stacy
would be a major player come fantasy playoff time, I’d have directed
you to the nearest psychiatrist. If you’d have further informed
me he’d be performing so well with Kellen Clemens and not Sam
Bradford under center, I’d have urged you to skip the psychiatrist
and head straight for the loony bin. There’s no logical explanation
for Stacy’s success, but there’s no logical explanation for lots
of things that happen in this crazy league. The bottom line is
that he’s produced solid (and occasionally spectacular) numbers
against some very good teams for a month solid now and just got
two weeks off to recuperate and prepare for a very questionable
Bears defense. I think Stacy might be the best RB option in a
week missing the top two fantasy performers at the position (Marshawn
Lynch and LeSean McCoy).
Last week against the Raiders was just
a warm up for Ben Tate.
Ben
Tate v. JAX: I gave Tate an enthusiastic endorsement last week
and he didn’t completely disappoint (19 carries for 88 yards and
four catches for another 29). That’s another way of saying he didn’t
completely amaze, either, but there were certainly some extenuating
circumstances. For starters, Houston trailed almost immediately
thanks to some early turnovers and had to play catch-up all game
long. Then, for some absurd reason, Coach Kubiak replaced Case Keenum
with Matt Schaub in the third quarter, hoping to spark a stagnating
offense. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t. Keenum’s back under center in
Week 12 and that, coupled with a juicy matchup (Jacksonville’s league-worst
rush defense), should provide stability and opportunities galore
for the stud-to-be. Last week was just an appetizer, methinks, and
Tate should score at least once (and maybe twice) this Sunday. Keep
him in your lineup as we head into the fantasy postseason.
Shane
Vereen v. DEN: The Pats indicated they were going to ease Vereen
back into the rotation last Monday night. Maybe they just meant
they weren’t going to HAND him the football much? The Woodhead-esque
hybrid back commanded only one official carry on the evening, but
he was targeted a whopping 11 times in the passing game and turned
8 of those targets into receptions (for 65 yards). In other words,
there wasn’t a lot of easing going on and you should never ever
trust Bill Belichick et al. The Pats ultimately lost the battle
in Charlotte and now welcome the NFL’s most explosive squad to Foxboro,
Denver’s Broncos. If New England intends to match scores with Peyton
Manning and Co., Vereen’s going to have to be an even bigger part
of the game plan. Expect more rushing attempts, more targets, and
more production all the way around in his second game back from
injury.
Grab a Gatorade
Bobby
Rainey @ DET: You already know this, but I watch a lot of
football. I mean a LOT of football. Saturday and Sunday sunup-to-sundown
marathons used to be SOP when I was younger and less responsible,
but they’re still not completely a thing of the past. Imagine
how surprised I was, then, to discover just yesterday that Bobby
Rainey and Chris Rainey are actually two different people. Ha!
What gave it away, Shot Caller, the fact they don’t play for the
same team or the fact they don’t have the SAME FIRST NAME? It’s
difficult to sit down a guy who just notched 163 yards on 30 carries,
but if I’d been astute enough to grab him and start him last week
(I’m not), that’s exactly what I’d do in Week 12. He’s facing
a tough Lions’ front that’s allowed the fifth fewest rushing yards
this season and Rainey won’t be sneaking up on anybody this time
around. Resist the urge, folks.
Lamar
Miller v. CAR: Miller hasn’t been the breakout candidate most
expected him to be this season, but through nine weeks, he wasn’t
a terrible option at the position. Save for an inauspicious debut
against the Browns (1 point) and a Week 5 dud against Baltimore
(1.5), the former Hurricane actually hit double digits four times
through his first nine games despite never tallying more than
18 carries. That all changed in Weeks 10 and 11 when Miller recorded
a total of 19 yards on 11 carries. Man, you’d think the Dolphins
lost half their offensive line or something. One of them is a
creep and the other an enigmatic “weirdo,” but both Richie Incognito
and Jonathan Martin are better linemen than the guys who replaced
them. The damage in South Florida, to put it another way, is more
than just collateral. The product on the field is suffering too.
Trent
Richardson @ ARZ: We’re almost done talking running
backs and that can only mean one thing: It’s time for my
weekly thrashing of the phenomenally disappointing Richardson.
Nothing much changed in the Week 10 win over Tennessee as he rushed
for just 22 yards on eight carries, almost right on his YPC average
since joining the Colts. Though he added five receptions and 31
more receiving yards, Richardson failed to score for the sixth
consecutive game, a failure made all the more glaring when his
unsung backfield mate, Donald Brown, scored TWICE in the contest,
including the game-clincher with three minutes left. Brown averages
almost twice as many yards per tote than Indy’s “prized”
acquisition and that’s ultimately going to be what condemns
him to part-time (or less) duty. You can’t have made it
this far starting Richardson and if you did, you’re probably
so loaded elsewhere it doesn’t matter whether he plays or
not.
Wide Receivers 
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