Mostly NFL Notes: Talking Odell Beckham Jr. and a look around the league in Week 12
Wide receiver used to be one of the toughest transitions to make as a rookie, but the 2014 class has disproven that, with Odell Beckham Jr. leading the way (Mike Evans is right there too, admittedly), as the No. 12 pick of this year’s draft has totaled 537 receiving yards and four touchdowns over the past five games after missing the start of the year (and most of the preseason) while dealing with a hamstring injury. Sunday night’s effort featured him grabbing 10-of-11 targets for 146 yards and two scores, including one that’s indisputably the catch of the year. Beckham became the first rookie WR to record 10 receptions and two touchdowns in a game since Anquan Boldin in 2003 (and just the third ever to do so). He’s a weekly top-12 fantasy WR without question...DeMarco Murray has run for 100 yards or more in 10 of 11 games...Rashad Jennings saw 10 targets and should be viewed as a top-10 fantasy RB down the stretch...The Cowboys are the only team undefeated on the road this season...If only Tony Romo was “clutch.”
Blake Bortles has thrown an interception during every game in which he’s played, although after throwing 12 over his first six contests, he’s been picked off three times over his past three outings...It was an all around huge disappointment for those who started Indy players, as with Dwayne Allen out, Coby Fleener recorded just 28 yards on four targets, while Reggie Wayne somehow gained just 10 yards on nine looks. Trent Richardson scored a touchdown, but he got just 3.2 YPC at home on a team that was 14-point favorites, while Dan Herron actually got the “start” and averaged 5.4 YPC while securing all five of his targets for 31 yards. It’s not inconceivable Herron is a top-15 fantasy back from here on out (I’d rather own him than Richardson, that’s for sure)...Here’s T.Y. Hilton rocking the cradle.
The Bengals entered having allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and lived up to that mark, yielding a combined 75 yards on 21 targets to Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins...It’s safe to expect an even split between Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard from here on out.
This future rollercoaster is no joke.
Sunday marked the first time Teddy Bridgewater threw for multiple touchdowns in a game during his career...Cordarelle Patterson saw two targets, while Charles Johnson saw 11...Over the last five games, Eddie Lacy has totaled 625 yards and six touchdowns...Kyle Rudolph was much more involved and should be a factor down the stretch. The tight end landscape is pretty barren...I would’ve preferred another Lacy TD, but this play design was legit.
Here’s a would-be burglar getting chased off by a Yorkie.
One week after rushing for 200+ yards and four touchdowns, a fully healthy Jonas Gray didn’t see a single snap Sunday, which I imagine was a first in the NFL. You have to love (or hate) Bill Belichick. I’d value Gray and LeGarrette Blount similarly...Rob Gronkowski, Brandon LaFell, Julian Edelman and Shane Vereen saw a total of 45 targets with no touchdowns, yet Tim Wright was given six looks and recorded two scores...Calvin Johnson scored 12 touchdowns last season and two in Week 1. He’s hit pay dirt once since then.
I have no idea what’s going on here, but it’s mesmerizing nevertheless.
This was the Falcons first true home game since Week 6, but it didn’t exactly result in an inspired performance (although Julio Jones scored for the first time since Week 3)...Josh Gordon saw 16 targets and got 120 yards and should be treated as a top-five fantasy wide receiver moving forward (I admittedly had him ranked as a WR2 this week)...This play not only resulted in a Browns penalty, but Joe Haden was shaken up and Tashaun Gipson (who leads the league in interceptions) left the field on a cart...The NFC South now has a collective nine-game losing streak. The first team to seven wins will likely win this division...This TD run by Isaiah Crowell was pretty sick.
The Eagles’ DST continues to have an epic season, returning the opening kickoff 107 yards for a score (and also recording five sacks)...Jordan Matthews remained the team’s No. 1 wideout since Mark Sanchez has taken over, although Jeremy Maclin saw the same amount of targets (eight)...Where has this been all year Justin Hunter?... Nice to see some life out of LeSean McCoy, who had his best fantasy game of the year, including his first carry of the season that went for 30+ yards. Even still, fantasy owners had to be frustrated watching Darren Sproles steal a TD inside the five.
Headlines of the Week: Saudi Husband Tells His Bride He Wants A Divorce During Their Wedding After Seeing Her Face For The First Time When The Photographer Asked Them To Pose For Pictures...22-Year-Old Is Making $1 Million A Year Playing ‘Call Of Duty’ Professionally...Panic Among Dozens Of Female Mourners At Man’s Funeral When They Discover He Had HIV...Woman Trapped Inside CVS After Employees Allegedly Forget About Her Inside...Hot Cakes Are Actually Not Selling Well At All.
Jay Cutler got 4.8 YPA, while his former teammate Josh McCown got 7.1...The Bears were down 10-0 at halftime at home against a Bucs team that was 2-8, and yet they entered the fourth up 21-10. Chicago somehow won despite Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery securing just six of nine targets for 55 yards...Over his last four games, Mike Evans has 505 receiving yards and six touchdowns...The Tampa Bay running backs remain a situation to avoid at all costs.
This Key & Peele sketch is pretty great.
Ryan Mathews ran for 105 yards and a TD on just 12 carries against a tough St. Louis front seven yet exited with another injury. He later returned, so let’s hope it’s not serious, but durability has been the major obstacle when it comes to Mathews during his career...The Rams had an NFL-record low one sack over the first five games this season. They’ve recorded 21 since then...The Rams have faced a team with a winning record in nine straight games...Like clockwork, here’s St. Louis executing another fake punt.
Police Blotter: Drunken Bicyclist Arrested At Taco Bell Drive-Through After Tussle With Cops...Man Arrested On Charge Of Biting Off Bowler’s Ear...Rap Artist With No Criminal Record Faces Life In Prison For Album Lyrics...Husband Charged In Wife’s Fatal Fall Off Colorado Cliff Marked Spot Of Tumble On Map With An ‘X.’
Even without Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd saw just two targets, reeling in neither of them. The Seahawks entered having allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, but Floyd continues to disappoint...After getting 5.5 YPC last season, Andre Ellington has averaged 1.89 over the past three games. Since Week 2, he’s gotten more than 3.7 YPC in one game...Despite posting a 121.6 QB Rating, Russell Wilson took more sacks Sunday (seven) than he did during his previous four games combined...I expected Doug Baldwin to have a much bigger role once Percy Harvin was traded, but there’s no Seattle WR even close to being on the fantasy radar.
Song of the Week: Cold War Kids: “Drive Desperate.” I saw them in concert Friday night and they were really good.
The 49ers gave up 77 net passing yards yet needed their first fourth quarter touchdown drive of the season (not led by Blaine Gabbert in garbage time) to win this game, which again points to how much better the team’s defense has played compared to the offense. It’s easy to blame Colin Kaepernick, but he completed 69.0 percent of his passes and got 8.8 YPA, while Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde combined for 52 rushing yards on 20 carries while losing two fumbles...Vernon Davis had 850 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He has fewer than 200 yards over nine games this year and hasn’t scored since Week 1...Since returning from his injury, Robert Griffin has a 2:3 TD:INT ratio while taking 16 sacks over three games. During 119 passes this season, RG3 has two TDs. His last rushing score happened in 2012.
Longreads of the Week: “All Dressed Up For Mars And Nowhere To Go” and “An Oral History Of UHF.”
The Dolphins entered Week 12 having allowed six touchdowns to wide receivers in 2014. Demaryius Thomas proceeded to haul in 10-of-13 targets for 87 yards and three scores, which is half the amount of the total TDs allowed beforehand if you’re not adept at math. Wes Welker also added his second TD catch on the year for good measure, although he somehow managed just 18 yards on four receptions...Miami entered the fourth quarter up 28-17 in Denver facing a Broncos team that had lost two of their last three games, so give the Dolphins credit. This team shouldn’t be overlooked...Last week I said I’d take C.J. Anderson over LeSean McCoy, and while McCoy had a nice game Sunday, Anderson wasn’t so bad himself, totaling 195 yards and a touchdown, including this play to seal the game. I can’t promise a Broncos RB won’t get healthier quicker than expected, but right now, Anderson should be considered a top-five fantasy back.
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