The season is racing towards the playoffs, and there’s a great diversity of scoring in games. There were seven teams with over 30 points scored, and they produced many fantasy stars for the day, but the bad teams are getting worse and some offenses are starting to change as the reality of a futile season is inescapable.
Bill Belichick was just shutout for the second time this year, and both were in home games. The Chiefs already had less offense this year but at least improved their defense. At least until Sunday. We’re starting to see rainy games and that could accelerate.
We also just got a reminder for the oldest fantasy football adage of them all ‘ always start your studs. Puka Nacua against the Browns? Yeah – 70-yard score in the first quarter. The Panthers have the No. 4 defense against wideouts and the No. 1 versus quarterbacks. So Mike Evans just toasted them with 162 yards and a 75-yard score.
You cannot get them all correctly picked. But you can avoid the pain of seeing one of your best players go off while you benched them.
Denver 17, Houston 22
The Texans took a 16-3 lead midway through the third quarter but the Broncos would not go away. They drew to within five points in the fourth quarter and took over at their own 20-yard line with 4:36 left to play. They drove 15 plays to reach the HOU 8-yard line where Russell Wilson threw two incompletions and an interception with only nine seconds left to play.
Russell Wilson ended with 186 yards and a touchdown, plus three interceptions. Courtland Sutton led the receivers with 77 yards and a score on two catches, while Jerry Jeudy logged three catches for 51 yards, Javonte Williams rushed for 46 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes for 24 yards. The interceptions were killers and the Broncos run of wins is over. They fall to 6-6 and head to play the Chargers in Los Angeles this weekend.
C.J. Stroud passed for “only” 274 yards and a score to Nico Collins (9-191, TD). Brevin Jordan (3-64) was the only other receiver with more than 14 yards since Tank Dell was injured and Noah Brown failed to catch his two targets. Dameon Pierce (15-41, TD) and Devin Singletary (8-36) swapped their usual roles and the Texans’ offense was just good enough to get the win thanks to the defense keeping the Broncos out of the end zone at the end of the game. Stroud was less effective with Dell out and Dalton Schultz already on the sideline. They rise to 7-5 and head to New York to face the Jets on Sunday.
Los Angeles Chargers 6, New England 0
The only points in the entire game came in the second quarter with a pair of field goals. Credit is due to the defenses, obviously, but the lack of offense by the Patriots let a bad Chargers defense record a shutout, in Foxborough. And a shutout by one of the worst defenses in a home game is not only a new low, but maybe as low as it gets.
Justin Herbert passed for 212 yards and no scores. Keenan Allen was held to five catches for 58 yards while Quentin Johnston (5-52) and Gerald Everett (4-44) were the only receivers with more than 23 yards. Austin Ekeler has been far less effective this year and only managed 18 yards on 11 rushes and caught only two passes for nine yards. There was a minimum of offense here but the Bolts got the “W” and rise to 5-7. They host the Broncos on Sunday.
Brian Zappe passed for 141 yards but had no turnovers, so he didn’t make things any worse. DeVante Parker (4-64) was the only receiver with more than 15 yards despite facing a Bottom-3 secondary. Rhamondre Stevenson (9-39) left with an ankle injury and Ezekiel Elliott (17-52) became the primary back and even added four catches for 40 yards. The Pats offense has become unimaginably bad, and that after last year when it was erroneously thought they had hit bottom. Not so. This team keeps digging. The Pats fall to 2-10, and they play in the Thursday night game in Pittsburgh. Bill Belichick is ending with a whimper.
Detroit 33, New Orleans 28
What a great game. The Lions took a 21-0 first quarter lead and still led 24-7 at halftime. But the Saints scored two third-quarter touchdowns to draw within 21-23. The Lions kicked a field goal at the end of that quarter and Derek Carr lost a fumble on their first play. That was converted into a Jameson Williams’ 19-yard touchdown run for a 33-21 lead. The Saints scored with seven minutes left and held the Lions to a three-and-out with 5:54 left to play but Derek Carr had been knocked from the game and Jameis Winston led a final drive that fizzled at the DET 40-yard line and the Lions were able to run out the clock.
Jared Goff only passed for 213 yards and two scores between Sam LaPorta (9-140, TD) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (2-49, TD) but no other receiver caught more than one pass for 12 yards. David Montgomery ran for 56 yards and a score on 18 rushes while Jahmyr Gibbs gained 60 yards on eight runs. Jameson Williams only caught one pass but ran an end-around for a 19-yard touchdown. The Lions started out like the game was going to be a laugher and were lucky to squeak out the win. They rise to 9-3 and head to Chicago for Week 14.
Derek Carr was blasted while throwing a pass and left in the fourth quarter. Jameis Winston filled in with marginal results. Chris Olave led the team with five catches for 119 yards though 33 came when he caught a batted pass. No other Saints receiver gained more than 30 yards and the lone passing touchdown was caught by Jimmy Graham on his only catch. Alvin Kamara ran for 51 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, and added 58 yards on six receptions. Taysom Hill added 59 yards and a score on 13 runs and caught two passes for 15 yards. Kamara and Hill were an effective tandem. The Saints drop to 5-7 and host the Panthers on Sunday.
Atlanta 13, New York Jets 8
Another game that was just field goals and one touchdown, plus a safety when Bijan Robinson was immediately tackled in the endzone. This snore-fest was only 10-5 at the half and then traded third-quarter field goals. It was just as exciting as the score suggested and when Breece Hall is held to 16 rushing yards, chances are very high that the game did not go well for the Jets. HC Robert Saleh is perfecting that look that says your neighbor just ran over your daughter’s cat.
Bijan Robinson gained 53 yards on 18 rushes and caught three passes for 26 yards. Tyler Allgeier (8-26) and Cordarrelle Patterson (5-11) were also involved, though why eludes most people. Desmond Ridder completed just 12-of-27 passes for 121 yards and a score to MyCole Pruitt (1-20, TD). Kyle Pitts led the team with four catches for 51 yards while Drake London (1-8) mostly disappeared. The Falcons rise to 6-6 and host the Buccaneers in Week 14.
The Jets defense cannot get out of first gear. Tim Boyle passed for 148 yards and an interception and eventually was replaced by Trevor Siemian who was no better with his 66 yards. Garrett Wilson was limited to three receptions for 50 yards and Xavier Gipson (5-77) led the receivers. Tyler Conklin (3-35) had a down game. Breece Hall was limited to 16 yards on 13 rushes but caught six passes for 29 yards. Dalvin Cook was given nine rushes to gain 35 yards. They said that Aaron Rodgers wouldn’t return this year if the Jets were out of contention. At 4-8, see you next year, Aaron. The Jets hosts the Texans on Sunday.
Arizona 24, Pittsburgh 10
Hard to believe that losing Kenny Pickett would make the Steelers’ offense crumble, but here we are. The Cardinals led 24-3 midway through the fourth quarter before the Steelers finally logged their only touchdown. It couldn’t have been a trap game with the Steelers only facing the Patriots this week.
Kyler Murray passed for 145 yards and one score to Trey McBride (8-89, TD). No other receiver gained more than 21 yards in the passing-starved offense. Marquise Brown was injured before he could catch a pass. James Conner ran for 105 yards and two scores on 25 carries as the hero of the offense. The Cards rise to 3-10 and head onto their bye.
Kenny Pickett left with an ankle injury and Mitchell Trubisky finished the game but they combined for only 187 yards and one score. George Pickens led the team with 86 yards on four catches which was almost entirely at the start of the game. Diontae Johnson (4-33, TD) and Pat Freiermuth (3-29) helped out with the meager passing. Najee Harris ran for 63 yards on 16 carries while Jaylen Warren gained 59 yards on his nine rushes. The Steelers were remarkably sluggish, even with the quarterback change, going against one of the worst defenses in all the land. The Steelers fall to 7-5 and host the Pats on Thursday night.
Indianapolis 31, Tennessee 28 Overtime
Nothing like a 59 total-point overtime game to drive up the fantasy points. The Titans led 17-7 in the second quarter and the Colts kicked three field goals and returned a blocked punt to take a 22-17 lead. The Colts attempted a two-point conversion for that touchdown and instead let the Titans take the two points when they intercepted the attempt. The Titans tied the sore 25-25 with a touchdown with 5:26 left to play but they missed the extra point that would have won the game. Once they entered overtime, the Titans drove the field and kicked a 46-yard field goal but the Colts threw a touchdown to Michael Pittman to win 31-28.
Gardner Minshew ended with 312 passing yards and two touchdowns that were split between Michael Pittman (11-105, TD) and Alec Pierce (3-100, TD). Josh Downs only caught three passes for 14 yards but Kylen Granson (3-72) had his best game of the year thanks to a 46-yard catch. Jonathan Taylor if gone for a few weeks and Zack Moss handled all 19 carries for 51 yards. The Colts got lucky with the Titans missing the extra point and rise to 7-5 and travel to Cincinnati for Week 14.
Will Levis threw for 224 yards and a score for DeAndre Hopkins (5-75, TD) but Chig Okonkwo (3-62) was the only other receiver with more than 28 yards. Derrick Henry (21-102, 2 TD) turned in a game like it was yesteryear but left with a possible concussion. Tyjae Spears (16-75) was an effective replacement. The home loss was painful since they should have won had they made a simple extra point kick but instead stretched it out to overtime and then lost. The Titans fall to 4-8 and head to Miami for Monday night next week.
Miami 45, Washington 15
This was as glorious as hoped. The Dolphins never trailed and led 38-7 before the Commanders managed to score their second and final touchdown. It was the return of that terrifying backfield for the Dolphins and yet nothing is going to cool down Tyreek Hill. The only mild surprise was how well the Dolphins defense continues to play.
Tua Tagovailoa passed for 280 yards and two scores that both went to – want to guess? – yes, Tyreek Hill (7-157, 2 TD). Jaylen Waddle (5-52) was the only other receiver with more than 16 yards. De’Von Achane returned and stayed healthy this time. He ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns on 17 rushes and added three receptions for 30 yards. Raheem Mostert gained 43 yards on his 11 carries with a touchdown as well. It was a complete win as expected and lifted the Fins to 9-3 and they host the Titans on Monday.
Sam Howell was held to only 127 yards and an interception but he ran in two scores on his four rushes for 21 yards just to ruin everyone else’s fantasy potential. Curtis Samuel (4-65)was the lead receiver but the meager passing yards left Jahan Dotson (2-23) and Terry McLaurin (zero catches) as bit players. Brian Robinson ran for 53 yards on just seven carries but left with a hamstring injury. Antonio Gibson (10-35) was the most productive back that also caught four passes for 37 yards. The Commanders are also involving Chris Rodriguez (7-29) to help replace Robinson. The Commanders fall to 4-9 and head onto their bye when they can grab a few Christmas catalogs and decide which new head coach they want for Christmas, even though they should be asking Santa for defensive players.
Carolina 18, Tampa Bay 21
The Panthers nearly had a win. They led the Bucs 10-7 with a third-quarter rushing score but then let Mike Evans catch a 75-yard on the next play. After Chris Godwin ran in a fourth-quarter touchdown, the Panthers got their second score from Chuba Hubbard with five minutes left to play. The Panthers had the ball with 3:31 left to play but Bryce Young threw an interception on a fourth-and-one and the Bucs ran out the clock.
Bryce Young isn’t any better with an interim coach. He passed for 178 yards and an interception, with Jonathan Mingo (6-69) and DJ Chark (3-56) as the top receivers and Adam Thielen (3-25) continuing to take a back seat to the young receivers. Chuba Hubbard ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. Mile Sanders (8-23) still plays a minor role, but Hubbard is growing in use. The Panthers fall to 11-1 and head to New Orleans on Sunday.
Baker Mayfield threw for 202 yards and one score, and much of that happened with the 74-yard touchdown catch by Mike Evans (7-162, TD). No other receiver gained more than 12 yards. Chris Godwin was held without a catch but ran in a 19-yard score. Rachaad White (20-84, TD) was the workhorse and added three receptions for 22 yards. The win raised the Bucs to 5-7 and they head to Atlanta for Week 14.
Cleveland 19, Los Angeles Rams 36
This matchup was always within one score, up until the Browns scored a second touchdown to make the score 19-20 midway through the fourth quarter. But the Rams threw a score to Cooper Kupp, let Kyren Williams rush a touchdown and wrap it all up with a safety on Joe Flacco to make the final score appear that the game wasn’t close.
Joe Flacco took the start and he brought back the pass with 254 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Moore (4-83), Harrison Bryant (5-49, TD), and Amari Cooper (3-34) were the top receivers and Flacco completed a pass to nine different receivers. Jerome Ford ran for only 19 yards on nine runs but scored on his three receptions for 33 yards. Kareem Hunt turned 12 rushes into 48 yards but had no gain on his one catch. The loss drops the Browns to 7-5 and they host the Jaguars on Sunday.
Matt Stafford faced one of the best defenses in the NFL and yet threw for279 yards and three touchdowns between Puka Nacua (4-105, TD), Demarcus Robinson (4-55, TD), and Cooper Kupp (6-39, TD). Nacua also ran for 34 yards on two carries. Kyren Williams posted a score on his 21 rushes for 88 yards and added three catches for 24 yards. The Rams looked sharp despite the feared defense and rise to 6-6 with a trip to Baltimore waiting on Sunday.
Kansas City 19, Green Bay 27
The question this game spawns is whether the Packers are this good, or the Chiefs are this bad? The answer appears to be yes. Yes. The Packers never trailed in this matchup with the reigning NFL champion but it was as close as 21-19 at the start of the fourth quarter. But the game ended with a couple of Packer field goals and an interception thrown by Patrick Mahomes. The game lacked the fireworks of many Sunday night games, but was certainly interesting to see the Packers start to connect with actual wide receivers while the Chiefs were morphing into a run-first offense until Isiah Pacheco went all Rocky at the end of a play.
Patrick Mahomes threw for only 210 yards and one touchdown, Travis Kelce (4-81) and Rashee Rice (8-64) were the only notable receivers. The lone passing score went to Noah Gray on his only catch in the game. The Chiefs turned to Isiah Pacheco (18-110, TD) who was effective and added 13 yards on three catches. Mahomes still suffered a few drops and was facing a Top-10 secondary but they did not have CB Jaire Alexander back from his shoulder injury yet. The scary part wasn’t that the Chiefs looked bad when they passed because they didn’t. They just looked average. And that’s a new facet to the offense this year.
The Packers suffered no turnovers and allowed only two sacks. Jordan Love was the better passer in this matchup, throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns. Romeo Doubs (4-72), Christian Watson (7-71, 2 TD), and Dontayvion Wicks (3-43) were the top receivers. With Aaron Jones still out, AJ Dillon shouldered the backfield work and gained 73 yards on 18 carries and added a 14-yard catch. The Packers had a balanced offense and saw success in all facets even though the Chiefs’ defense was Top-10 across the board and Top-5 versus quarterbacks. At least it used to be. The Packers rise to 6-6 and travel to the Giants for next Monday night.
GAME-O-THE-WEEK: San Francisco 42, Philadelphia 19
This was considered a probable precursor to the NFC Championship game. Or, at least the 49ers hope. The Eagles came out hot, with two scoring drives that had to settle for short field goals. That 6-0 lead quickly evaporated and the Eagles would not score again until the third quarter when they cut the 49ers lead down to 21-13. Two touchdowns later, the 49ers led 35-13 with ten minutes left in the game. The Eagles threw a touchdown with five minutes left but the 49ers scored 18 seconds later for the final score.
Brock Purdy completed passes at will, going 19-of-27 for 314 yards and four touchdowns. Deebo Samuel (4-116, 2 TD), Brandon Aiyuk (5-46, TD), and Jauan Jennings (3-44, TD) all scored while George Kittle (4-68) also mixed in. Christian McCaffrey (17-93, TD) added three catches for 40 yards. Every 49er fantasy player had a great game. The 49ers offense charged through the middle of the defense and passed with only minor adversity. The win lifts the 49ers to 9-3 and they host the Seahawks on Sunday.
The Eagles lost all ability to run. D’Andre Swift gained 13 yards on six carries though they had to abandon the run by halftime. Jalen Hurts threw for 298 yards and one score to DeVonta Smith (9-96, TD) while A.J. Brown (8-114) led the receivers. The two wideouts handled over half of the targets and only Kenneth Gainwell (5-42) offered any other meaningful yardage as a receiver. This matchup was troublesome that the Eagles, at home, were soundly beaten in all phases and had no answer to whatever the 49ers offense wanted to do. The Eagles are now 10-2 and have to travel to the Cowboys for their second meeting on Sunday night.
