Week 12 featured plenty of dramatic endings (and, in Monday night’s case, a merciful ending), but it was also one of the more exciting fantasy weeks. With injuries to top quarterbacks and one of the league’s better receivers, it’s looking like the waiver wire will need to be hit up a bit more than owners may have hoped. Here are the biggest stories that came out of Week 12.

In the game of starting the right Falcons RB, everybody lost.

I advised readers Sunday morning to refrain from starting Jason Snelling after word emerged that Michael Turner would play. I then told a reader to take a chance with Turner over the likes of Steve Slaton. Long story short, Turner reinjured his right ankle after racking up just 33 yards, Snelling got just four carries, and the spotlight was stolen by Jerious Norwood. The fourth-year back was also returning from injury (hip) and though he received just six carries, he added a receiving touchdown that made him the most productive of the three. Snelling likely will still be the better option over the scat back Norwood should Turner miss more time, but that remains to be seen.

I said Laurence Maroney would have a big game, but I certainly didn’t think he’d be the only Patriot to do so.

There were plenty of deceiving statistics that game out of Monday night’s game. For example, Maroney would have had just one touchdown rather than two had Tom Brady led Randy Moss better on their 47-yard hookup in the third quarter. Another deceiving statistic– this one has irked me all season as the Saints continue to be praised as being defensively sound– is Tom Brady’s two interceptions. Obviously, this was far from Brady’s best performance, but he– like many quarterbacks who have faced the Saints this season– threw plenty of balls in the second half that he obviously wouldn’t have thrown in a closer game. Fear not, Brady owners. Your quarterback won’t be in that situation in the remaining weeks. As for Maroney, the Minnesota product is finally the fantasy stud that people who drafted him in the first round in 2007 (his sophomore campaign) hoped he would be. Six straight games with at least one touchdown (eight total in the span) makes him the real deal.

Drew Brees: five touchdowns to five different receivers. Anyone surprised?

Brees is one of the few players that rarely needs to be mentioned in fantasy. If you have him, you start him– it’s as simple as that. While I will leave the real football analysis to Christopher Price and Mike Petraglia, Brees’ wizardry (he’s thrown TD passes to 10 different receivers, as I look it up and seconds later hear it on ESPN) truly makes him the most statistically fascinating quarterback in the league.

Eagles WR update: N/A

Maclin: 7 targets. Jackson: 2 targets, 35 yard TD. Those numbers would suggest that things are back to normal, but they are partially the result of DeSean Jackson suffering a concussion in the third quarter of Philadelphia’s 27-24 victory over the Redskins. I was actually planning on leaving the Eagles receivers alone this week, but depending on what happens with Jackson, this could mean big things for the rookie Maclin.

Just when it was starting to look logical to sit Miles Austin…

…Thursday happened. As we’ve documented, there were slight concerns regarding the targets and Roy Williams’ re-emergence, but Austin was targeted 11 times Thursday and took advantage of it. His seven catches and 145 yards went well with his second-quarter touchdown, and though Williams added a score himself, he was only thrown to four times. Austin had just one catch Week 2 against the Giants. My guess is the numbers will be a bit different next week when the Cowboys head to the Meadowlands.

Justin Forsett was the man Matt Hasselbeck couldn’t be.

In what was supposed to be Hasselbeck’s big day against an easy defense, the Boston College product threw for his 102 yards, sat back, and watched Seattle’s backup running back steal the show. There was plenty of discussion regarding Forsett’s potential in the Sunday chat (see below), but the numbers for Julius Jones’ backup (130 yards, two TD) were so staggering that one had to wonder whether it was a product of the Rams’ miserable defense or Forsett’s underestimated ability. As is usually the case, it was likely a combination of the two, but even if Jones recovers from his leg injury in time for next week’s bout with the 49ers, Jim Mora Jr. should consider that Forsett— easy matchup or not— turned in a performance better than that of any Seahawks back this season. The second-year back should continue to eat away at Jones’ playing time.

If you own Chris Johnson, you own the best running back in football.

I have nearly made this a realization for a few weeks now, but when Johnson ran for his 85-yard touchdown— his third such score of the season (!)— he did so against a legitimate Cardinals run defense.  Care to guess the last time Johnson went for less than 130 rushing yards in a game? Try Week 6 against New England, when went for 128. There isn’t even an argument for anyone else at this point. Nobody can touch Johnson.

The bye came and Chad Ochocinco’s production went bye-bye.

Ochocinco hasn’t had the receptions or yards since Week 7, but what he has lacked in those two statistical categories he has made up for in… nothing. The author/receiver had 10 catches for 118 yards and two scores against the Bears in the Week 7 game prior to the Bengals’ bye week, but in four games since hasn’t had more than five catches and has yet to see the end zone. What appeared to be an easy matchup against the Browns on Sunday turned into yet another no-show. It’s safe to say the boisterous receiver’s big season has come to a halt.

Chris Brown is cramping Steve Slaton’s style.

Well, not so much Slaton’s as much as his owners’. Sunday’s loss to the Colts marked the second consecutive week in which Brown touched the ball 14 times (11 carries, three catches in each), and it was Brown who got the ball on the five yard line in the first quarter for the team’s lone rushing touchdown. In comparison, Slaton received only 10 carries against the Colts and had five in Week 11 against the Titans.

Pierre Garcon is the man… for now.

Sunday’s win over the Texans marked the third consecutive week in which Garcon either scored or totaled over 100 yards receiving. It was the former this time, and heading into a matchup with the Titans, Garcon seems to be on Peyton Manning’s good side at just the right time. Everyone knows that Manning will always target Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark before anyone else, but with the remaining tosses split between Garcon and Austin Collie, there is plenty of fantasy glory to be had via Manning’s third option.

I was right about:

Forsett— Phew. I recommended Forsett over too many good backs to too many people for me to not have been biting my nails all day. It was go big or go home for Forsett, and he delivered with 130 yards and two touchdowns. It certainly would have been an uncomfortable chat next week had Forsett turned in a stinker.

Fred Jackson— Total technicality here, but I begrudgingly recommended Jackson (116 total yards, two touchdowns vs. Dolphins) to a reader who really had no healthier options. My genius was hard at work.

Ricky Williams— He was going against the Bills, so 115 yards and a touchdown was really the least he could do.

LaDainian Tomlinson: Who needs yardage (39) when you can have the touchdowns (2)?

I was wrong about:

Terrell Owens— I made some snarky comment in the chat about lightning not striking twice for Owens and Harvard product Ryan Fitzpatrick. 96 yards and a touchdown later I’m still not recommending Owens next week against the Jets.

Hasselbeck—I pointed out above that Hasselbeck was a letdown. I left out that I had listed Hasselbeck as a close call in Can’t-Pass-Up Matchups. Never again (until Week 15).

Vince Young— I’m going to be a man and own up to being wrong about Young all season (since Week  8 when he took the job at least) and not just this week. The Cardinals have been up and down against the pass (more down than up lately), but I don’t think anyone saw 387 yards out of Young. He might not be a great start against the Colts next week, but Young is now— dare I say— a legitimate starting fantasy quarterback.

That closes the book on Week 12. Have questions as you gear up for the playoffs? Send all your fantasy questions and thoughts to me throughout the week at djbean@weei.com.

Leave a Reply