The games of Week 13 began on Thursday night with another crushing defeat for the Eagles. This time, Philadelphia was abused by Seattle tailback Marshawn Lynch, who continued to operate in “Beast Mode,” and Vince Young committed four turnovers. Even the heroics of running back LeSean McCoy, himself a game-time decision, couldn’t stop the Eagles’ slide in this road tilt.
Let’s get into the particulars.
- Lynch scored on 15 and 40-yard runs in the first half to thrust the Seahawks to an early 14-0 lead. He finished the day with 148 yards on 22 carries. Lynch has now scored in eight consecutive games and has logged three 100-yard games in the past four starts.
- McCoy started the game and reward trusting owners with a huge overall effort. He carried the ball 17 times for 84 yards, adding four receptions for 49 yards. McCoy accounted for the Eagles’ only points.
- As mentioned above, Young threw four interceptions, the last of which was returned for a touchdown. He passed for 208 yards, absorbed two sacks and threw that single touchdown pass to McCoy. Young did rush for 32 yards to offset some of the turnover damage.
- Riley Cooper led the Eagles with five receptions for 94 yards. DeSean Jackson flopped miserably again, offering owners just 34 yards on four receptions.
- Brent Celek’s six-game run of fantasy dominance came to an end. He produced 21 receiving yards on three receptions. Jason Avant was even more disappointing, yielding a single reception for 10 yards.
- Former “Biletnikoff Award” winner Golden Tate was the receiving star for the Seahawks. He caught four passes for 47 yards and was the recipient of Tarvaris Jackson’s lone touchdown pass. Gates has caught 12 passes in 2011 entering Thursday’s game.
With one game in the books (hopefully you avoided McCoy and Lynch to start the week), we dive back onto the field of play, take up residence to work past the pulling guard (never advisable) and offer this week’s “Lineup Calls” for the wide receiver position.
Exclude: Andre Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Wes Welker, Steve Smith (CAR), Mike Wallace, Calvin Johnson, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Brandon Lloyd, Marques Colston, A.J. Green, Brandon Marshall, Laurent Robinson, Dwayne Bowe, Dez Bryant
Click here for Harmon’s Week 13 QBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 13 RBs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 13 WRs
Click here for Harmon’s Week 13 TEs
Week 13 WR Heroes
Reggie Wayne at NE: Wayne posted his first 100-yard game since the opener in last week’s loss to Carolina. He also recorded his second touchdown reception in the contest. I look for a strong follow-up effort this week in New England. It’s not going to be pretty, no matter how many stars Bill Belichick names in his press conference responses. However, all stats count until the final gun sounds.
The Patriots rank 11th in scoring defense at 20.3 points allowed per game. However, they continue to cede a ton of yards (321.9 receiving yards per game). Take the points in frantic comeback mode.
Antonio Brown vs. CIN: Teammate Mike Wallace continues to draw double coverage and safety help, thereby affording Brown room to roam in the secondary. Brown has caught four or more passes in five consecutive games, a run that includes two 100-yard efforts. Although Brown has found the end zone just once, he’s been a consistent WR2 performer and will continue to amass a sizable target count.
The Bengals rank in the middle of the pack in terms of points allowed to receivers and absorbed a huge blow when Leon Hall was injured. I anticipate a strong effort from Ben Roethlisberger and his speed receivers.
Michael Crabtree vs. STL: Don’t look now, but Crabtree is starting to assert himself as a reliable target for Alex Smith. Crabtree has recorded 13 receptions for 174 in his past two games. Taken further, he’s snagged at least five receptions in five of his past six games. Granted, the yardage totals have been pedestrian (exception the 120 against Arizona in Week 11).
I’ll take the sizable target count and opportunity this week against the St. Louis pass defense. The Rams have allowed the seventh-most points to opposing wide receivers and, though this game will be won on the ground with Frank Gore, Crabtree will have his shots downfield.
Stevie Johnson vs. TEN: The numbers say to stay away from Johnson this week. The Titans have allowed the fourth-fewest points to wide receivers. I’m going to push that number to the side and trust the gut.
Johnson logged eight receptions and 75 yards with a touchdown against the Jets. I know that he dropped several passes and committed the silly celebration that dominated the news cycle. I still can’t look past his ability to find space in that secondary. He’s a prideful man and his quarterback has no fear. He’s back in the WR2 good graces.
Mike Williams vs. CAR: Williams finally came alive for fantasy owners in the past two weeks. He’d been piling up receptions earlier in the season, but finally added solid yardage totals and two touchdowns (more than 80 yards in back-to-back weeks).
Williams (even if Josh Johnson starts) is worthy of a WR2 spot this week against the Panthers. Carolina has allowed 247 yards and 1.6 touchdowns per game to opposing receivers (eighth-fewest fantasy points). Take the high target count this week.
Eric Decker at MIN: Say what you will. Tim Tebow doesn’t complete many passes, but he has a knack for finding Decker downfield. The second-year pro returns to Minnesota (he was a Gopher) and will feast on the depleted secondary. Despite his infrequent receptions, Decker has scored in four of the past five games.
The Vikings have surrendered the fourth-most points to wide receivers. I know. Tebow and McGahee will run the ball. If they want to maximize returns on the ground, Tebow’s going to have to take his shots downfield.
Johnny Knox vs. KC: Knox burst back onto the fantasy radar in Week 12 against the Raiders and become Caleb Hanie’s go-to receiver. The former No. 1 option was targeted 10 times in the loss, producing four receptions for 145 yards with a touchdown. He punctuated a decent day with an 81-yard reception.
I expect to see Knox highly involved in the offense again this week. He and Hanie had been working together in the second unit as Knox tried to work his way back into the good graces of Mike Martz.
Week 13 WR Flop Alerts
Vincent Jackson at JAC: Fantasy owners have been blindly playing Jackson week after week. Alas, he has posted two huge games and five duds in his past seven games. Jackson caught three touchdown passes against the Packers and one against the Bears. He was shut out and recorded 49 receiving yards or fewer in the other five contests.
The Jaguars have allowed the second-fewest points to wide receivers. Jackson occupies the 19th slot in my wide receiver rankings this week.
Santonio Holmes at WAS: Holmes has been limited to fewer than 30 receiving yards in three of the past five games (four games with fewer than 40 receiving yards) with two touchdowns. He’s a dangerous play this week again a Washington secondary that has allowed the sixth-fewest points to wide receivers.
Anquan Boldin at CLE: Boldin has been a dicey proposition for fantasy owners in recent weeks. He’s scored just one touchdown in the past five games and has finished three games with 40 receiving yards or fewer.
The Browns have allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Boldin ranks 28th on my wide receiver sheet for Week 13.
Percy Harvin vs. DEN: Harvin has emerged nicely for fantasy owners in the past three weeks. Since the Vikings’ Week 9 Bye, Harvin has amassed 20 receptions and 220 receiving yards. He’ll continue to be involved in some capacity (a couple extra running plays?), but Harvin will also draw coverage from Champ Bailey. He ranks 26th among wideouts this week.
Week 13 WR Ninja Alerts
Deion Branch vs. IND: Branch popped back onto the fantasy radar with his six-reception, 125-yard effort in the blowout victory over the Eagles. He’s a strong WR3 play against the terrible Indianapolis pass defense that has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Branch obviously carries some risk because of Brady’s propensity to spread the ball around, but the match-up potential is outstanding.
Lance Moore vs. DET: As with Branch, you absorb some risk while diving into the New Orleans receiving corps. However, it’s hard to look away from Drew Brees’ efficiency and overall dominance, particularly in the red zone. Once in the red zone, only the indefensible Jimmy Graham stands in the way of targets. Moore has scored in three of the Saints’ past four games. He’ll make it four of five in a high-scoring home date with the Lions.
Nate Burleson at NO: I’ll take a player on the other side of that match-up to pick up a high target count and to load up yardage, even if it does potentially fall under the “garbage” tag. The Saints are operating at a high level offensively, and that portends to a ton of pass attempts from Matthew Stafford.
Burleson has logged 20 receptions for 185 yards in the past three games with a touchdown.
Chaz Schilens at MIA: Schilens operated as one of the few receivers standing for Carson Palmer in Week 12 against the Bears. He caught four passes for 58 yards in the Raiders’ 25-20 victory.
The Oakland receiving corps remains without several options in Week 13 for the trip to Miami. The Dolphins have allowed the 12th-most points to wide receivers. With running room sparse for Michael Bush, Palmer will be forced to take to the air. This former “Ninja” selection sneaks into a low-end WR¾ slot this week.
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