Mostly NFL Notes: Talking Thomas Rawls, Cam Newton and a look around the league
It’s too bad the news of Marshawn Lynch being inactive didn’t come until the later games Sunday, as Thomas Rawls totaled 255 yards and two scores during the most impressive performance of the day. Rawls got 7.0 YPC, finishing with 209 rushing yards while securing all three of his targets, taking one 31 yards to the house. Rawls is a star in the making and will be a must-start RB1 every week in which the diminishing Lynch misses. Lynch has the most carries (1,331) in the NFL over the last four seasons, is approaching 30 years old and appears to be breaking down, with his latest injury a real chance of sidelining him for weeks. Lynch will be the bellcow whenever active, but Rawls has far more upside at this stage of their careers and is definitely going to be the RB taken earlier in 2016 drafts. More importantly, those who stashed Rawls on their rosters have a real chance of owning a player who will carry you to fantasy titles down the stretch.
Russell Wilson entered having thrown exactly one touchdown during seven straight games, but he ruined that by tossing three Sunday. He’s still searching for his first rushing score after recording six last season...Seattle has now had a lead in 58 straight games...Jimmy Graham hasn’t scored since Week 3, topping 75 yards just once over that seven-game span...I’m depressed Colin Kaepernick has played his last down for the Niners.
Lamar Miller entered as the No. 2 fantasy back since Dan Campbell took over, but he’s rushed for fewer than 45 yards in four straight games. His problem Sunday was lack of receiving (just 11 yards), and he was held out of the end zone for the first time since Week 4...Darren McFadden is going to be a top-five fantasy back as long as he’s healthy with Tony Romo (and Dez Bryant) back...Speaking of Romo, here he is escaping a safety with a left-handed throw.
“Fargo” is so ridiculously good and is easily the best show currently on TV.
Todd Gurley has averaged just 3.3 YPC over the past three games, and he wasn’t targeted in Week 11. The rookie has scored in five straight games, but it would help if the Rams got a competent quarterback. Case Keenum sure didn’t look like much of an upgrade...Javorius Allen is now a top-20 fantasy RB after Justin Forsett’s injury thanks to pure volume, but an already limited offense now without Joe Flacco limits upside. The Ravens have lost Flacco, Forsett, Terrell Suggs and Steve Smith this season...During the final two minutes of this game, kickers went 1-for-3 on field goal attempts and there was a turnover.
I recently tried what’s called the best burger in America here and highly recommend you do the same if you’re ever in the Bay Area.
There was a time this season I thought the Jets were a really good team, but that’s no longer the case...Meanwhile, the Texans are tied for the division lead after going 4-1 over their last five games...After DeAndre Hopkins had Darrelle Revis beat for a long touchdown earlier in the game only for T.J. Yates to overthrow him, Hopkins did this. And after Revis left with an injury, Houston wasted no time going after his replacement...Here’s the cleverest play of the day...Ryan Fitzpatrick had just three fewer carries than Chris Ivory.
Here’s a 15-year-old who’s 7-foot-6 playing basketball.
Brock Osweiler got 9.3 YPA and was an immediate upgrade over Peyton Manning...Demaryius Thomas entered with one touchdown on 103 targets before scoring in the first three minutes Sunday...Jeremy Langford had a rushing TD and nearly had another score via a pass, but I pegged him as a top fantasy RB this week and both Ka’Deem Carey and Jay Cutler finished with more rushing yards. Matt Forte should be back in Week 12...Martellus Bennett managed just 26 yards despite the absence of Alshon Jeffery...Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson both averaged 4.9 YPC with a long of 15 yards, but Hillman is clearly the leader of this committee.
Headlines of the Week: Man Who Gave Psychics $718,000 ‘Just Got Sucked In’...Amusement Park Lets Chimpanzee Smoke Cigarettes...Florida Mayor Sued For Trying To Pay $4,000 Ethics Fine With Coins
Washington continued its streak of not allowing a 300-yard passer this season, but Cam Newton threw five touchdowns without a pick. Newton sports an 11:1 TD:turnover ratio over the past three weeks, which is even more impressive when you consider he’s attempted an average of just 30.0 pass attempts over that span...Matt Jones got zero yards on five rushes while losing yet another fumble...One positive takeaway from this game for Washington was DeSean Jackson, who looked healthy during this 56-yard touchdown catch.
I ranked Derek Carr as a top-five QB and both Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree as top-10 receivers this week, so it was disappointing to see them total zero touchdowns. The Raiders have dropped three straight games, with Carr failing to best 7.0 YPA in any of them...The Lions’ run blocking is so bad it’s comical...Cooper had two brutal drops. The rookie is going to be a star but drops have been a persistent problem...Speaking of drops, Eric Ebron had one himself in the end zone, helping the Raiders not add to their league-leading total against tight ends for the second straight game (Kyle Rudolph did the same last week).
Canelo Alvarez vs. Miguel Cotto was a good not great fight, but Saul was impressive in victory. Alvarez vs. GGG next, please.
The Eagles entered as 6.5-point favorites yet lost 45-17, as Jameis Winston tossed five touchdowns with zero picks. Winston had totaled four TD passes over his previous five games and was on my bench in the $10K Stopa Law Firm League in which you can start 2 QBs...In a plus matchup at home, Jordan Matthews, Zach Ertz and Nelson Agholor combined for 36 yards on 12 targets. The Eagles are 5-9 over their past 14 games...Doug Martin entered having gained 165 rushing yards on 52 attempts (3.2 YPC) over the past three games and was facing an Eagles defense that yielded the fifth fewest fantasy points to opposing backs, so naturally, Martin ran for an NFL season-high 235 yards (top-25 all time), although he still hasn’t scored since Week 5, which is especially hard to fathom considering he had an 84-yard run.
This Tom Brady interview takes an interesting turn and is worth checking out.
After starting 5-0, the Falcons have gone 1-4, with their last three losses coming as big favorites. It’s arguable this 6-4 squad is one of the worst teams in football...Having said that, Tevin Coleman would be a must-start weekly fantasy RB if Devonta Freeman were to miss time after suffering a concussion...It’s Patrick DiMarco’s world, and the rest of us are just passing through...There were three turnovers and a missed field goal in the first 5.5 minutes of this game...Julio Jones has just two touchdowns since Week 3, but he’s still on pace for 142 catches, 1,902 yards and 10 scores...Over his last 14 games, Ahmad Bradshaw has nine TD catches, which is the same amount as Calvin Johnson over that span.
Police Blotter: Somerset Woman Arrested For DUI Crashes Twice In One Day...Woman Admits She Stabbed Boyfriend For Eating All The Salsa...Man Arrested 30 Times For Bus And Train Thefts Just Wants To Work On The Subway...Thieves Steal Car With A Boy Inside And Drop Him Off At School.
Aaron Rodgers entered just 8-19 during his career when on the road against winning teams, but he led the Packers to victory despite Randall Cobb committing a couple of egregious drops and somehow getting just 24 yards on nine targets...Welcome back, James Jones...Kyle Rudolph had more yards (109) than he combined for during his previous seven games...All six of Adrian Peterson’s fumbles this year have come at home...Green Bay recorded six sacks Sunday after totaling zero over its previous three games...Eddie Lacy has clearly retaken the role as the Packers’ lead back. He looked the best he has all season Sunday and is suddenly a must-start in Week 12 on Thanksgiving at home against the Bears.
Song of the Week: Sufjan Stevens – Get Real Get Right
I had Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, Stevie Johnson, Melvin Gordon, Charcandrick West and Travis Kelce all going in the same league (and Alex Smith in another), so to say this game was frustrating would be an understatement. Those seven players combined for zero touchdowns (the same amount Gordon has totaled over 151 touches this year). And if that wasn’t enough, West left with an injury. If serious, Spencer Ware could be a major difference maker down the stretch. KC has a favorable schedule, and it’s clearer than ever just how beneficial it is to be the featured back in this offense. So go all out to get Ware if West’s injury looks like it might cost him time...Smith has now thrown a franchise-record 253 straight passes without an interception...The 5-5 Chiefs have the fifth highest point differential (+59) in the NFL, which speaks to just how wide open the league is after the Patriots. I went BIG on the Steelers at 25/1 to win the Super Bowl before their bye this week, so wish me luck!
Longread of the Week: Biography Of A Face
There hasn’t been a week since 2000 in which no quarterbacks threw for 300 yards, which was the case until Andy Dalton and Carson Palmer both topped that mark Sunday night...Jeremy Hill is on pace to finish with 10 touchdowns, and his 63 rushing yards in Week 1 were a season high...Meanwhile, Tyler Eifert is on pace to finish with 18 receiving touchdowns, which would tie for the third most in NFL history, behind only Jerry Rice and Randy Moss and ahead of any other tight end in NFL history.
