The smell and taste of turkey and pumpkin pie accompanied a great day of NFL football last week for many Americans. Thanksgiving provided NFL fans with one of the best games of the week -- no I am not talking about the boring Lions and Bears. The second game of the holiday featured the (6-5) Raiders’ 36-33 upset of the (7-4) Cowboys on a field goal in OT.
The (7-4) Bengals have flipped the narrative of years past as the AFC North’s “bullied team” by dominating the (5-5-1) Steelers 41-10 -- completing the first season sweep of the Steelers since 2009 for Cincinnati. The Bengals’ new commitment to the run game has made Joe Mixon the Fantasy star of the team -- his second-quarter TD improved his impressive TD streak to eight games.
The NFC’s top-matchup of this past Sunday was won by the (9-3) Packers 36-28 over the (7-4) Rams. Matthew Stafford has now thrown a pick-six in three consecutive games -- uncoincidentally the Rams have lost all three of those games.
Fantasy News to Note
Leonard Fournette was the star of Sunday’s action, scoring four total TDs -- one of which came in the final minute of the (8-3) Buccaneers 38-31 thrilling victory over the (6-6) Colts.
What a difference a week can make for some players in fantasy football. Cam Newton went from being Superman in Week 11 to getting benched in the second half of the (5-7) Panthers’ embarrassing 33-10 loss to the (5-7) Dolphins in Week 12. I hope you didn’t listen to my advice to start Newton last week.
Cordarrelle Patterson continued his breakout-season with career highs in carries (16) and rushing yards (108). Patterson scored two rushing-TDs and posted his second-best fantasy game of the season in the (5-6) Falcons 21-14 win over the (2-9) Jaguars.
Notable Week 12 Injuries that Impact Fantasy
49ers’ WR Deebo Samuel suffered a groin injury in the second half and did not return.
Vikings’ RB Dalvin Cook was carted off late in the third quarter with what was later termed a shoulder injury. Cook suffered a torn labrum and a separated shoulder. It's unclear how much time he'll miss, but this is not expected to be a season-ending injury.
Panthers’ RB Christian McCaffrey was seen in a walking boot after Sunday’s loss. McCaffrey was placed on the IR for the second time this season, ending his 2021 campaign.
Lions’ RB D'Andre Swift looked as if he'd suffered a serious shoulder injury against the Bears on Thanksgiving, but he's been ruled "day-to-day," and could play in Week 13 -- although it seems doubtful.
Jaguars’ TE Dan Arnold did not return after suffering a knee injury against the Falcons. Arnold has been placed on the IR with a sprained MCL and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Steelers’ TE Pat Freiermuth remains in the team's concussion protocol.
Teams on a Bye in Week 13
The teams on a bye this week possess four of the top-ranked running backs leading up to the 2021 season. Injuries have derailed each of their individual seasons which has left their teams searching for answers -- other than the Packers who inserted A.J. Dillion and kept on winning.
Green Bay Packers (9-3)
Tennessee Titans (8-4)
Cleveland Browns (6-6)
Carolina Panthers (5-7)
QB to Start
Derek Carr, Raiders -- Start vs WTF
Carr is the NFL’s passing-yards-leader through Week 12. The Raiders’ playoff hopes were in jeopardy leading up to their Thanksgiving matchup with Dallas. They kept their playoff hopes alive and snapped a three-game losing streak on Thursday with their thrilling OT victory. Carr has been consistently good for the Raiders in a year that has been extra hectic.- which is saying a lot for a franchise that is the face of turmoil in the NFL. Washington’s defense has given up the most fantasy points to opposing QBs, making Carr a definite top-12 option in Week 13.
QB to Sit
Matt Ryan, Falcons -- Sit vs Buccaneers
In the three games since Week 9 Ryan is averaging four fantasy points per game. That is bad for a TE let alone a QB. The Falcons seem to be shifting to a run-first approach as long as they are not in a negative game script -- which they probably will be against the Bucs in Week 13. Ryan will probably have to throw over 30 times to try to keep up with Brady and the Bucs but that does not mean he will have success. Ryan threw three interceptions in Week 2 when the Falcons took on the Bucs the first time.
RBs to Start
Tony Pollard, Cowboys -- Start @ Saints
Pollard saved his fantasy day with a 100-kick-return. He was inches shy of a receiving touchdown on one of his four receptions, but he was stuffed at the goal line. He was replaced by Ezekiel Elliott. who punched in the one-yard score on the ensuing play. Elliott has been dealing with a knee injury that has been lingering and there are reports that he may rest in Week 13 or at least have his snap count reduced. If Elliott misses the game, Pollard instantly becomes a top-12 RB due to his explosive nature on a good offense. If Elliott does play, Pollard remains a flex play against the Saints on TNF.
Alexander Mattison, Vikings -- Start @ Lions
Another elite-handcuff that made the list this week is Mattison. Dalvin Cook is going to miss at least this week, which means Mattison will get the lion’s share of the Vikings’ backfield touches against the horrible Lions’ run defense. Over the years Mattison has shown he can produce when given the opportunity. Mattison has scored over 20-fantasy points in both the games he received more than 10 touches this year. Congrats if you had him stashed on your bench or were able to grab him off waivers this week. Just make sure he is in your starting lineup.
RBs to Sit
Patriots’ RBs -- Sit @ Bills
The Patriots’ backfield, once again, is horrifying for fantasy managers. Year-after-year, week-after-week. the Patriots have produced some of the highest RB-production. The problem is Bill Belichick’s running-back-by-committee approach leaves many fantasy managers wanting more. Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden are all getting touches now that they are all healthy. Bolden takes a lot of the receiving work from the other two backs who split the early down work. Harris gets the goal-line work so he is the only Patriots’ RB that can slightly be trusted heading into Week 13. I am staying away from all three of these backs this week against the stout Bills’ defense.
WRs to Start
Van Jefferson, Rams -- Start vs Jaguars
Jefferson is coming off a 9/3/93/1 game where the nine targets and 93 receiving yards were both season highs.The four games before the Rams’ loss on Sunday Jefferson received seven targets in three of them and six and the other. Jefferson is being used as the primary deep threat in L.A., which has resulted in low-catch efficiency with his larger target share. The former Florida Gator standout has carved his way into the three-wideout sets and has established his floor as a solid flex player with huge upside because of his big play ability. Jacksonville has not been able to slow many opposing receivers and with the Rams’ recent defensive struggles, it is not guaranteed that L.A blows-out the Jags.
Brandin Cooks, Texans -- Start vs Colts
Cooks has cooled since Tyrod Taylor has taken over as the starting QB for Houston. His targets may have decreased but the veteran WR did score his third TD of the season last week. Houston has been more run-heavy as of late but Cooks is still WR1 for the Texans and will be used when they fall behind. Houston is a two-score underdog against the Colts and will need to throw a lot to keep up. Cooks should be heavily involved against Indy’s weak secondary and will likely find the endzone for the second game in a row.
WR to Sit
Saints’ WRs -- Sit vs Cowboys
If you're trying to be cute and guess which Saints’ receiver will actually have a good day, then you probably aren’t anywhere near the top of the standings in your league. The Saints’ leading receiver on Thanksgiving against the Bills? You guessed it, Lil’Jordan Humphrey (yes, Lil’ is his actual name). Utility man Taysom Hill is expected to make his first start of the season at QB on TNF -- making things more unpredictable for the Saints. Please I beg you, if you have any Saints’ players not named Alvin Kamara, leave them on your bench or cut them.
TE to Start
Dallas Goedert, Eagles -- Start @ Jets
Goedert is coming off of his worst game since the Eagles traded Zach Ertz to the Cardinals. Goedert had turned into a top fantasy option at the position since he took over as TE1 in Philadelphia. Consider his Week-12 dud as an outlier and keep Goedert in your lineup for the juicy matchup with the Jets -- who are giving up the ninth-most points to opposing tight ends. Goedert is averaging over five targets over his last five games but he has not scored a TD since Week 4. I fully expect Goedert to end the scoreless streak.
TE to Sit
Evan Engram, Giants -- Sit @ Dolphins
Engram has yet to top 60 yards this season and has only recorded more than five catches once. The whole of the Giants’ offense is struggling and can be avoided. The 2017 first-round-pick has not lived up to the hype. The Giants have cycled through injured receivers this year and Engram has failed to produce. The talent is there but the dysfunctionality of the Giants’ offense makes him a bench player in most leagues.
