By Dalton Del Don
With most speculating (rightfully so) how the early Thanksgiving game will finally be worth watching with the Lions being so improved, naturally, the third quarter ended with the score 24-0. Of course, the game was actually much closer than that, with the Lions arguably outplaying the Packers in the first half. Also, the following two games Thursday didn’t disappoint, so it wasn’t a disaster…Speaking of disasters, not only did someone from “American Idol” totally mess up the National Anthem, but this happened earlier in the day. Not exactly the best day for Fox’s promotional team, although they totally redeemed themselves by having Nickelback perform at halftime…I actually found Ndamukong Suh’s explanation afterward more offensive than his actions beforehand. And this is coming from someone who backed Detroit ATS (what a killer penalty). Speaking of which, since I had the Lions in a teaser, that was one of the sickest backdoor covers ever. And the Lions obviously should have gone for two there (to make it an 11-point game and bring the FG into play, and yes, any comeback there is 99.9% unlikely, but still, I appreciate Jim Schwartz thinking of my tease)…I personally didn’t have the FAAB, but I would have gone all in on Kevin Smith last week, which looked right when he racked up 57 yards though one quarter. It didn’t look so smart after he suffered an injury while making a handoff (toss) during a non-contact play shortly thereafter, reiterating just how brittle a player he is.
Pilot cheats death after his helicopter snaps in half.
The Cowboys are typically a pretty frustrating franchise, but it’s refreshing to see them give DeMarco Murray a full workload and make the inferior Felix Jones irrelevant. This type of decision-making, while obvious to most, shouldn’t be overlooked in a league that often fails in such situations…What a terrific 35-yard touchdown catch by Brandon Marshall…If you saw my teaser I mentioned above, this outcome meant I won the first two games by a total of two points, with each one coming down to the final 10 seconds. I got my money’s worth either way…But enough bragging, as an owner of Dez Bryant and Hakeem Nicks, it’s pretty frustrating watching guys like Laurent Robinson and Victor Cruz blow up facing lesser coverage. I’m certainly not saying the latter two aren’t talented in their own right, which is clearly not the case, but unlike fantasy baseball in which you should usually bet on talent and ignore roles, football is different. Then again, maybe I’m just bitter and recognizing isolated situations. Cruz is pretty damn good.
This is one of the craziest stories I’ve ever read. I strongly recommend it.
The score of the 49ers game could have been much different if not for two questionable calls, one coming on a Ted Ginn 75-yard touchdown (the call was technically correct, but it was close and had zero affect on the play) and the other being a PI on an interception in which both players went for the ball. Personally, I’d prefer refs make errors of omission than commission and let the players decide the outcome, but still, the 49ers took a whopping nine sacks while recording none, so it’s hard to argue they deserved to win, losing the line of scrimmage battle so badly…San Francisco hasn’t allowed a TD in the first half in any of its past five games…Remarkably, each team had just one possession in the third quarter…Not only did Mike Mayock drop the word “verticality,” but he also called the game “incestuous.”
This public drag race didn’t go exactly as planned.
Call me crazy, but I thought Toby Gerhart was a downgrade from Adrian Peterson…As someone who backed the Vikings +9.5, I didn’t appreciate them going for it on 4th-and-1 down two scores at the Falcons’ 1-yard line with 4:16 left in the 4th quarter, but to be fair, I thought it was the right decision…Speaking of Minny’s aggressiveness, I loved them going for it on 4th-and-13 earlier in the fourth quarter, and it has nothing to do with the result (a 39-yard TD pass to Percy Harvin). That situation was too long for a FG, but there was no reason to punt from there either…Speaking of Harvin, he’s totaled 200 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns over the past two games, and his role in the offense grows when Peterson is out, a likely scenario for Week 13. Harvin can be a frustrating fantasy player, as he doesn’t see a full complement of snaps you’d expect for a receiver with his talent, and the touchdowns over the past two weeks were his first of the season (as a receiver). He’s actually got 7.1 YPC on 33 rushing attempts this year, and among wideouts with at least 30 catches, only Julio Jones has averaged more yards after the catch than Harvin’s 7.3 mark this season. He’s a playmaker whose role should only continue to increase.
Two 73-year-old CFL legends get into a fight.
I’ve written off Donald Brown in the past, but it was clear just how much more explosive he is than Joseph Addai on Sunday, and even with the caveat of opponent, he’s on the fantasy radar. Brown has proven to be a better option than rookie Delone Carter, and while his upside is obviously limited while playing on one of the NFL’s worst offenses, he no longer looks like a total bust. Although that’s little consolation to Indy fans…The Colts scored their first offensive touchdown in November on Sunday…I haven’t ran the numbers – because I’m too lazy, and math is hard – but I’d say the odds of the Colts not winning a game this season are around 87.5%…I’m sure plenty of fantasy owners have both Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams and went with the former this week, and I certainly wouldn’t have blamed them. What a frustrating situation.
I would love to call Chris Johnson back, but his matchup was so well set up, it’s tough to do so. Still, hard not to give him credit for such a great game. Maybe there’s hope after all…The same could be said for Mike Williams, whose fantasy value might not be dead either…Though he lost two fumbles Sunday, LeGarrette Blount is one of the better players in the NFL with the football in his hands…Tennessee and Tampa Bay combined for three turnovers over a six-play stretch. They totaled nine overall…The Titans’ kickoff return for a touchdown was one of the better coaching calls I’ve seen all season – brilliantly executed as well.
Man breaks into White Sox GM home, defrosts lobster.
As someone who relies heavily on Arian Foster (and even Ben Tate to an extent), it’s pretty clear these QB injuries hurt his fantasy value. Although Jacksonville’s defense is good, and it’s worth pointing out T.J. Yates is more athletic and showed a greater willingness to throw downfield than Leinart. The rookie may actually have more upside…I’m beginning to think Blaine Gabbert might have been a bad draft pick…Houston has now recorded an interception in 10 straight games…Marcedes Lewis’ drop (and subsequent missed play in the end zone) was the worst I’ve seen this season. He was wide open on an easy toss from the 3-yard line. Inexcusable.
Arnold Schwarzenegger gives the best DVD commentary ever. Especially if you’re blind.
Beanie Wells erupted for a franchise-record 228 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 carries in Week 12, getting 8.4 YPC in the process. He continues to play at less than 100 percent and with a knee brace and briefly left Sunday’s game with what appeared to be a serious injury, but he returned and certainly looks more explosive than he did a month ago. The performance came against a Rams defense that has allowed 5.1 YPC on the year, which is the second-highest in the NFL, but Wells broke off runs for 71 and 53 yards in an impressive outing. After scoring six touchdowns over his first four games this season, Wells has hit pay dirt just twice over seven games since, but the return of Kevin Kolb should help the offense. Wells’ schedule down the stretch isn’t exactly favorable, but at least he has a home matchup against the Browns in Week 15…It’s safe to say it would be a long shot if Steve Spagnuolo is still a head coach in 2012…Patrick Peterson tied an NFL record with his fourth punt return for a touchdown in a season, and he’s the only one with all of them coming from 80 yards or more. He’s been a travesty in coverage, but that’s pretty impressive.
Man with UK’s biggest feet is a hit with the ladies.
I call running back a fungible position quite often and would usually argue for a younger player to replace a more established one, but wow is C.J. Spiller so clearly a downgrade from Fred Jackson. Not that it should have been unexpected at this point, but still…Stevie Johnson’s drop on the final drive that would have almost certainly resulted in a game-winning touchdown was far more egregious than his antics celebrating his earlier TD…Mark Sanchez’s four touchdown game had to be one of the least impressive in NFL history.
NBC’s I-Team wants to warn you about this new dangerous game called beer pong.
Peyton Hillis was questionable to play in Week 12, but after Montario Hardesty suffered a setback in pregame warmups, not only did Hillis see his first action in six weeks, he started and was given 21 touches. He certainly wasn’t overly impressive, gaining just 61 yards on those touches, but Cleveland’s playbook expands with him in the backfield, so as long as he doesn’t reinjure his persistent hamstring problem, he should be a workhorse from here on out. While that makes him once again relevant in fantasy terms, the problem is Cleveland’s upcoming schedule, which features the Ravens and Steelers in four of the next five games (although the latter comes in Week 17, so really it’s three of the next four in most formats, but that’s still brutal)…Cleveland scored a touchdown in the first quarter for the first time this season…I’m not sure I’m ready to live in a world where both Cedric Benson and Marshawn Lynch are top-15 fantasy backs.
Amazing 60-yard goal in last minute of soccer match.
Roy Helu racked up 162 yards and a touchdown on 30 touches during the Redskins’ win Sunday, acting as the team’s workhorse in the backfield. He’s now up to 4.8 YPC on the season and is a weapon as a receiver as well. It’s obviously risky trusting a Mike Shanahan running back at this point, but the coach did declare Helu the team’s clear starter after his recent performance, a label Shanahan has previously refused to declare. Helu has fresh legs, and the Redskins offense has improved with Rex Grossman retaking QB duties from John Beck, so the rookie back could be a major difference maker in fantasy leagues down the stretch…Not only does Red Bryant have three blocked field goals this season, but he also blocked an extra point Sunday as well.
Colorado man sues couple he kidnapped.
Darren McFadden’s return date from his foot sprain continues to be pushed back, and at this point, it wouldn’t be too wise to expect much from him in 2011. We are already approaching the fantasy playoffs, and McFadden has yet to return even to a limited practice, and since the injury was to his foot, he hasn’t been able to stay properly in shape. So he’d likely be limited for a game or two even if he were able to return to action. Moreover, with Michael Bush such a strong alternative, there’s no need to rush Oakland’s franchise player, especially if they think he can get back to 100 percent come playoff time. McFadden remains one of the most productive fantasy players when on the field, but he also continues to be one of the more injury-prone backs in the league. He’s never played more than 13 games in any of his four seasons in the NFL…Not only did Sebastian Janikowski go 6-for-6 on field goals, but Shane Lechler also had an 80-yard punt…Caleb Hanie was an obvious downgrade from Jay Cutler, but his 50 rushing yards mean he’s someone to keep an eye on in fantasy leagues moving forward.
Historian attacks congressman for attending crappy community college.
After being suspended in Week 10, DeSean Jackson was benched in Week 12 after committing a couple of ugly drops that would have resulted in scores, as his nightmare season continues. He hasn’t scored since Week 5 and has just two touchdowns all year, and he’s also averaging only 7.3 yards per punt return, which is easily a career-low. Moreover, his nine drops are tied for the fourth-most among wide receivers in the NFL, while he’s managed to break just one tackle all season long. Still, especially with no Jeremy Maclin (hamstring), fantasy owners shouldn’t give up on the frustrating Jackson, and it wouldn’t shock if he had a big game in Week 13…I’m not sure what happened to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who didn’t do much at all after a big start over the first quarter and a half Sunday, but it’s remarkable he’s yet to fumble a single time during his career.
Man has 16 children with 14 different women.
Tim Tebow’s 22 rushing attempts were the most ever by a quarterback since the merger…Wide receiver is a position that’s inconsistent by nature, but Vincent Jackson has taken it to extreme levels this season. He’s racked up 586 receiving yards with seven touchdowns over four games. In the other seven contests, Jackson has managed 239 receiving yards with zero scores. That’s pretty crazy…There were a comedy of errors at the end of this game, starting with referee Jeff Triplett announcing before overtime that “each team must have the opportunity to possess the football…and score.” I enjoyed Dan Fouts’ response: “He just misspoke, that’s all. I do it all the time. Although probably not as much as him.” And then there was Nick Novak relieving himself on the sideline. Finally, Norv Turner called a timeout with just two seconds left on Denver’s play clock when the Broncos were unsettled and not ready to hike on the final field goal attempt (Denver had no timeouts). Are you kidding me? It doesn’t get much more incompetent than that.
Jackie Battle has averaged only 9.0 touches over the past three weeks, so his role has become much more shared than once hoped, when it appeared he might be KC’s feature back. It’s possible the Chiefs offense improves once Kyle Orton takes over, but as of now, with Tyler Palko at quarterback, it might be the worst in the league. They have scored just one touchdown in their last 45 offensive drives…Since entering the NFL, no one in the league has been sacked more than Ben Roethlisberger.
The Saints won a coin toss for first time this season Monday night…Victor Cruz is out of control good. He’s going to be a member of a lot of winning fantasy teams this year…Drew Brees put on an absolute clinic Monday night. He didn’t take a sack and would have approached 500 passing yards had New Orleans not stepped off the gas pedal up 35-10 entering the fourth quarter. As someone who faced him in my home fantasy league in a matchup that came down to MNF, it was a pretty brutal experience watching him surgically pick a part a helpless New York secondary. As if the four TD passes weren’t enough, he also added a rushing score for good measure – his first since 2009. Brees is on pace to finish the season with 5,366 passing yards, which would break the NFL record by 282 yards.
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