20 Fantasy Football Studs and Duds from Week 12

20 Fantasy Football Studs and Duds from Week 12

Nov. 25, 2008 

Time creeps closer to the fantasy football playoffs. How are those studs holding up from your fantasy football draft? This week, we have some familiar faces returning to Team Stud and Team Dud, as well as some new faces.

Let’s look at the big dogs and some of the dogs that laid down for you in week 12 of the fantasy football season, including IDP.

TEAM STUDS

QB: Matt Cassel, Patriots

For the second week in a row, Matt Cassel has put up Tom Brady-like numbers. Again, he goes over 400 yards passing. He throws three TDs and runs in another one. Cassel and the Patriots starting to click right now is just in time for those teams that are in a fantasy playoff hunt themselves that have had these guys on their roster all year.

RB: Michael Turner, Falcons

This is the kind of performance that those fantasy owners that drafted Turner a little higher than others thought they should were hoping for. Turner’s four TDs and 117 yards were enough to make him the fantasy back of the week, and he is gaining on the top fantasy RB on the season!

RB: Matt Forte, Bears

Forte is at the top of the fantasy RB heap for the season so far. How shocking is that?  Although his stock rose when Cedric Benson was booted from the Bears' nobody expected him to be one of the top fantasy backs in the league at this point (if you say you knew and you didn’t draft him in the first round, you are lying). Two TDs, 132 yards, with a couple receptions for another 14 yards.

WR: Randy Moss, Patriots

Now this is where Randy Moss was supposed to be when owners drafted him high in the first round in may fantasy football drafts. Eight grabs for 125 yards and three TDs.  This is like 2007 Moss! The Patriots draw the Steelers next week but after that, in most fantasy playoffs he could have a couple good games for you.

WR: Terrell Owens, Cowboys

T.O. got the ball to the tune of seven receptions for 213 yards and a TD. Romo is back and this is good news for Owens owners as we inch toward the playoffs. The schedule during the fantasy playoffs is not looking pretty through with the Steelers, Giants, and Ravens.

TE: Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs

So, the second half of Team Stud is looking like the old studs right? Moss, Owens, Gonzo.  Tony G. is still putting those games together, and a decent season considering...well, being a Chief.  He gets double-digit catches with 10 for 113 and a TD.

DT/ST: Chicago Bears

Five sacks, four INTs, and only three points allowed. Good time to be a Chicago Bear’s D owner. They play one game indoors next week and the next three are at home in the cold. Just how they like it.

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE PLAYERS (IDP)

LB: Rocky Boiman, Chiefs

And this weeks hot IDP player on the waiver wire is...Actually Boiman has been looking decent for the last few weeks.  Wouldn’t hurt to grab him if you have the spot for him.

DL: Jamal Williams, Falcons

Williams looked solid with nine tackles, an assist, and a sack.  He has not been a big IDP factor this season so I guess we should pat him on his back for a good job.

DB: Antoine Winfield, Vikings

Once again Winfield is at the top of the D-Back list for the week.  Other than two weeks in a row that he had sub par numbers in weeks six and seven, he has been solidly consistent.  This week he logged his second best fantasy game of the season with 11 tackles, a forced fumble, and an assist.

TEAM DUDS

QB: Donovan McNabb, Eagles

Injuries happen, we know that. But did McNabb owners expect their QB to be benched after the first half?  Likely not. In leagues that go into negative points McNabb may have had them their with his three turnovers and just 59 yards. Word is he will be back on Thanksgiving, will he be in your lineup?

RB: Frank Gore, 49ers

Twenty-six yards on the ground. One reception for six yards. Ouch. This Un-Gore-like game can be contributed to his touches being cut after falling behind. Don’t fret, Gore is going to be a good back to have in your playoff campaign.

RB: Chris Johnson, Titans

Johnson makes his second appearance on team Dud in three weeks.  The Titans were owned by the Jets this last weekend. Johnson was held to 61 total yards and he lost a fumble. You may be able to get him from an owner if your trade deadline has not past. The Lions, Browns, and Texans are in the near future….hmmm.

WR: Reggie Wayne, Colts

After a couple solid weeks, Wayne is back on Team Dud again. Only 34 yards on two receptions. The next few weeks appear to lighten up for Wayne and the Colts so maybe he will live up to his draft spot if you are still in the playoff race in your fantasy football league.

WR: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals

Housh has spent a little time on both side of Team Dud and Team Stud this season.  Only 20 yards on four receptions. He was thrown at 12 times but the Steelers just didn’t let it happen for him. No signs of when Carson Palmer will return for certain.

TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys

Witten has not done much for owners since Week Seven. The passing schedule does not look good coming up so maybe he will be needed to bail Romo out. Let’s hope…

DT/ST: New York Giants

Yards and points allowed against the Cardinals were not acceptable from a starting defense or a Top five D.  The Giants have had two out of three bad weeks recently.  They are still a Top five D and now they get to play three in a row within the division.

INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE PLAYERS (IDP)

LB: Chad Greenway, Vikings

Greenway is a ball hawk who tends to find it no matter where it is on the field.  No so much this week. Only two tackles and an assist. You can certainly look for that to change as it is his worst performance of the season

DL: Shaun Rogers, Browns

Rogers has been a surprise this season as an IDP defensive lineman since the DE’s usually take the spot light. This week, Rogers didn’t post a tackle but did get a blocked field goal.

DB: Chris Gamble, Panthers

There really was not a noticeable Dud performance this year for the D-backs that are higher up on the yearly stat sheets so we will pick on Gamble. A forced fumble, a pass defensed, and two tackles.  Doesn’t sound bad, huh?  It was for him though, owners certainly (including this one) were expecting more from him against the Falcons.