Fantasy owners are jockeying for seeding while trying to hold off would-be challengers while keeping one eye on the playoff schedules. I expect to see a ton of activity this week, particularly because of the three Thanksgiving Day games and the myriad of injuries and meltdowns. We’ll definitely see a ton of activity at the quarterback position given the Vince Young injury.
I make a quick note to advise you to do a player search on the wire. Both Vincent Jackson and Sidney Rice inexplicably remain available in a number of leagues. I shan’t belabor the point.
Let’s get things started in Dallas.
Jon Kitna, QB, Dallas
Don’t expect Kitna to tuck the ball and rush for a touchdown again anytime soon. However, he will continue to keep gunning downfield if the pass protection holds up. He’s thrown three touchdown passes in back-to-back games and 10 overall since taking over for the injured Tony Romo. Kitna is front and center for a huge Thanksgiving Day game against the Saints. Will he be able to withstand the Saints’ aggressiveness?
Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City
Cassel has thrown multiple touchdown passes in five of the past six games. He’s also done well to remind fantasy owners and NFL fans just how good Dwayne Bowe can be. During this period, Cassel has thrown 14 touchdown passes with one interception and one lost fumble. He’s averaged 222.9 passing yards per game in the past nine weeks.
Shaun Hill, QB, Detroit
Hill has looked good at the helm for the Lions in place of Matthew Stafford. He has averaged 287 passing yards in his six complete games this season with 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He’s also averaged 45.2 pass attempts in these games.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle
Hasselbeck has produced back-to-back 300-yard games against the Cardinals and Saints. He’s on the radar this week against the Kansas City pass defense that ranks 25th against the pass (244.3 yards and 1.6 touchdowns allowed per game). Mike Williams’ foot injury is problematic, but Deon Butler and Ben Obomanu (see below) are capable receivers.
Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis
Bradford passed for 233 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta, his third multi-touchdown game in the past four weeks. Overall, Bradford has produced five two-touchdown games this season and has been shut out only once. He’s averaged 215.8 passing yards per game while taking excellent care of the ball in recent weeks. Bradford has turned the ball over twice in the past five weeks.
Mike Goodson, RB, Carolina
Fantasy owners ignored Goodson’s first game as a starter, dismissing the 100-yard game against the struggling Tampa Bay run defense as just another in a line of big efforts against them. It’s hard to look past his efforts in Week 11, when Goodson ran with purpose and cut back effectively to log 120 rushing yards against the Ravens. He’s averaged 4.9 yards per carry in these games and has caught three or more passes in four consecutive games. Regardless of the quarterback situation (Brian St. Pierre or Jimmy Clausen), Goodson is going to pile up touches against the Browns.
Christopher Ivory, RB, New Orleans
Ivory stood as the lead back in the Saints’ win over the Seahawks in Week 11. Reggie Bush was not cleared for the game, and Pierre Thomas remains sidelined because of his ankle injury. Both players returned to practice in the short week, and Bush is likely to get back onto the field this week. Thomas’ return isn’t as clear-cut.
Either way, Ivory warrants a speculative pickup for the long-term following his 99-yard, one-touchdown effort in Week 11. We’ve seen him shine on several occasions this season, and he’ll remain the battering ram while working alongside Bush as Thomas sits.
Keiland Williams, RB, Washington
Williams returned to the top spot in Sunday’s win over Tennessee when Clinton Portis aggravated his groin injury. He rushed for 68 yards on 23 carries, adding six receptions for 27 yards. Ryan Torain is unlikely to play in Week 12, and Portis is questionable, at best. Will the Vikings rally under new coach Leslie Frazier?
Maurice Morris, RB, Detroit
Kevin Smith was placed on injured reserve because of a thumb injury. Jahvid Best remains affected by his turf toe injury. As such, the veteran tailback out of Oregon rises to the top of the depth chart for Thursday against the Patriots. Morris led the Lions with 10 carries for 31 yards against the Cowboys in Week 11, adding four receptions for 40 yards. Given his ability as a receiver (five receptions in a game earlier this season), Morris pops onto the radar this week for a spot start.
Mike Tolbert, RB, San Diego
Tolbert took advantage of another starting opportunity and barreled over the Broncos. He earned his second 100-yard performance of the season (111) and scored for the sixth time in his past seven games. Tolbert also rumbled down the field after the catch, earning 42 receiving yards on two receptions. With the return of Ryan Mathew seemingly nowhere in sight, keep the bulldozer and goal-line monster on the radar for the stretch run.
Danny Woodhead, RB, New England
On Sunday, the versatile running back amassed 90 total yards on 11 touches, including a touchdown run (69 rushing yards on seven attempts). He’s averaged 66 total yards and 9.8 touches per game in the past eight weeks. BenJarvus Green-Ellis obviously remains the lead back, but Woodhead’s weekly workload puts him in consideration for a flex slot in PPR leagues.
Steve Breaston, WR, Arizona
Fantasy owners are clearly hesitant to endorse Arizona quarterback Derek Anderson, but he has effectively gotten the ball downfield to his speed options. In four games since returning from injury, Breaston has averaged five receptions and 91.3 receiving yards. Breaston warrants consideration as a WR3 option against the 49ers.
Mike Thomas, WR, Jacksonville
Thomas scored for the third straight game in Sunday’s win over Cleveland. The 5-foot-8 receiver from Arizona caught five passes for 36 yards, his eighth game with at least four receptions (57.2 yards per game). Thomas is the top option for David Garrard for Week 12 against the Giants with Mike Sims-Walker still hobbled by a high-ankle sprain.
Nate Burleson, WR, Detroit
Burleson has acclimated well to the Detroit offense while serving as a tremendous complement to Calvin Johnson. He shone as Shaun Hill’s top option in Week 11 against Dallas with seven receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. Burleson has averaged 5.8 receptions and 68.3 receiving yards with four touchdowns in six games since returning from an early-season injury.
James Jones, WR, Green Bay
Jones scored for the second straight week, posting three receptions for 51 yards in the blowout win over Minnesota. He’s caught three or more passes in four of the Packers’ past six games. Jones averaged 86.5 receiving yards in the four games during this period in which he recorded a catch (two 100-yard games). However, he was shut out twice. Donald Driver’s return to the field clouds his long-term prospects, but the Packers are doing well to stretch the field.
Brian Hartline, WR, Miami
Hartline has quietly pieced together a strong campaign, and has had value in PPR leagues for weeks. He’s now front and center for Tyler Thigpen following Brandon Marshall’s injury against the Bears. Hartline has caught three or more passes in nine consecutive games. He’s averaged 4.3 receptions and 60 receiving yards during this period.
Blair White, WR, Indianapolis
White stepped to the forefront of the Indianapolis passing attack in Week 11 once Austin Collie departed because of a concussion. He’s on the radar for Week 12 in what could become a shootout with the now-healthy Chargers. White caught three passes for 42 yards in Week 9 before getting hurt himself.
Ben Obomanu, WR, Seattle
Obomanu scored for the second time in three weeks (his third of the year) in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans. He caught five passes for 87 yards (six targets), a nice follow-up to his four-reception, 60-yard effort of Week 10. With Mike Williams slowed by a foot injury, Obomanu may take on an expanded role in Week 12 against the Patriots.
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Detroit
Pettigrew logged another big day against the Cowboys with eight receptions and 75 receiving yards. He’s caught multiple passes in nine consecutive contests, including six games with at least 44 receiving yards.
Bo Scaife, TE, Tennessee
Randy Moss isn’t piling up numbers (a gross understatement, I know), but he’s opening the field for the rest of the Tennessee receiving corps. Nate Washington topped 100 yards for the second time in three weeks, but Scaife is the short-term play with Rusty Smith under center. Scaife caught four passes for 51 yards against the Redskins, his second straight week with 51 receiving yards. He’s recorded 11 receptions in the past two weeks, and has registered multiple receptions in nine of 10 games overall. Scaife warrants a look-see this week as a spot play with Houston on the slate.
