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Dose: Le'Veon Back On Track

Nick Mensio
Le'Veon Bell has been criticized for holding out, but maybe he's the smart one. Jesse Pantuosco looks at the situation in his Week 5 Power Rankings

Le’Veon Bell came into Monday night’s game against the Titans having managed 56 scoreless rushing yards on 21 attempts the past two weeks versus the Jets and Ravens. New York and Baltimore field a couple strong front-fours. RotoPat had Bell as a top-three fantasy back for the week, and Bell delivered 222 total yards and his first rushing score since Week 1.

Bell reported to the Steelers in the best shape of his life over summer, and it’s translated to the field. He, Jamaal Charles, and Matt Forte may be the best all-around backs in the league at the moment. And Bell has to be the No. 1 running back in moving-forward Dynasty rankings. Looking at the immediate future, no running back may have a more favorable schedule for the fantasy playoffs. In Weeks 13-16, the Steelers host New Orleans, travel to Cincinnati and Atlanta, before coming back home to face Kansas City. The Saints just got gashed by Jeremy Hill for 152 yards on Sunday. The Bengals have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, while the Falcons have yielded the second-most. The Chiefs are giving up over 5.0 YPC. Ride Bell to a championship trophy. He’s sure to be on a number of winning squads.



Monday Night Football Quick Hits

Delanie Walker (concussion) wasn’t cleared in time by an independent neurologist and was inactive. Consider him questionable for Week 12. Chase Coffman filled in with 3-32-1 on four targets. … Zach Mettenberger had his best game of his rookie season against a defense that was without starters Troy Polamalu, Ryan Shazier, Ike Taylor, and Steve McLendon. The “Mett Show” still has a long way to go with his long windup and immobility. … Antonio Brown has caught at least five passes in 27 straight games and is already over 1,100 yards on the season heading into the Week 12 bye. #Elite. … The Titans mind-bogglingly refused to ride Bishop Sankey after he delivered an impressive eight-yard touchdown run on the second possession. We don’t understand what they see in Shonn Greene and Dexter McCluster. … Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton each saw five targets. Bryant appears to have seen his snaps cut back a bit in recent weeks after surging onto the scene. He’s a boom-or-bust WR3/4. … Justin Hunter continues to be a massive pain. He stumbled on his first route, the first play of the game for the Tennessee offense, leading to a pick-six for William Gay. He then couldn’t get both feet in bounds on a sideline catch later in the game. He’s impossible to trust, though the matchup next week in Philadelphia is very favorable. But most of them have been in recent weeks. … Titans DC Ray Horton made it a point to stop Ben Roethlisberger, dialing up blitz after blitz. He was sacked five times and hit on a dozen drop-backs.

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In Other News…

Adrian Peterson had his grievance hearing Monday. A ruling is expected by Wednesday. If Peterson’s welcomed back with no suspension from the NFL, it would give him enough time to practice ahead of Week 12. In a week we get Josh Gordon back from suspension, we may also get Peterson.

Several Broncos went down with injuries against the Rams. Emmanuel Sanders is in the league’s concussion protocol. Julius Thomas’ ankle injury isn’t believed to be severe, and it isn’t to the same ankle that bothered him in previous years. The Broncos are calling him day-to-day. Montee Ball is expected to miss 2-3 weeks after aggravating his groin injury. We’d consider that good news. With Ronnie Hillman (foot) also out for Week 12, it’s C.J. Anderson’s backfield.

Brandin Cooks broke his thumb Sunday and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. He can safely be dropped in 12-team leagues. Look for the Saints to lean more on Kenny Stills and Marques Colston behind Jimmy Graham.

After shredding the Saints for 152 yards Sunday, coach Marvin Lewis called Jeremy Hill a “complete” running back. Giovani Bernard (hip) is expected back this week, but Hill should remain a key cog in the offense with Bernard possibly playing a Shane Vereen-type role. Bernard worked out with the receivers ahead of the Week 11 game.

Josh Gordon is back, baby! He was reinstated from suspension Monday and should slide right back into the lineup as the Browns’ X receiver in OC Kyle Shanahan’s offense that likes to pepper the X with targets. If activated — and we’d expect the Browns to make the move this week — Gordon is a must-start against an already-weak Atlanta pass defense that lost RCB Robert Alford to a broken wrist in Week 11.

Ahmad Bradshaw suffered a fractured fibula in the Sunday night game against the Patriots. He may also be dealing with a broken ankle. Bradshaw is fully expected to be sent to I.R. and may be in question for the start of 2015 training camp. Dan Herron will take over as the No. 2 back behind Trent Richardson. It’s a big blow to the Colts on and off the field.

Quarterback & Running Back Slants

Coach Mike McCoy denied Philip Rivers is dealing with a rib injury, as Antonio Gates alluded to following Week 11. … Reggie Bush (ankle) is expected back for Week 12. … Coach Bruce Arians said the Cardinals “need more” from Andre Ellington, who is averaging 1.75 YPC the past two games. … The Redskins will continue to roll with Robert Griffin III at quarterback. … The Falcons placed RB Antone Smith on I.R. with a broken leg. … Coach Doug Marrone gave Kyle Orton a vote of confidence. The Bills aren’t going back to E.J. Manuel this week. … Ryan Mathews’ knee appears to be fine. … Zac Stacy hasn’t played on offense since Week 8. … Rashad Jennings avoided setbacks in his return from a sprained MCL. … Mike Tolbert (leg, I.R./recall) is expected back after the Panthers’ Week 12 bye. … Latavius Murray is expected to have a bigger offensive role moving forward. … Marshawn Lynch admitted he doesn’t know if he’ll be back with Seattle in 2015. … Fred Jackson (groin) expects to play Week 12. … Charles Sims led the Bucs’ backfield in snaps Sunday. … Coach Mike Pettine declined to name a starting running back Monday. Isaiah Crowell is the preferred back to own. Ben Tate has fallen behind he and Terrance West.

Wide Receiver & Tight End Slants

The Jaguars activated TE Marcedes Lewis (ankle) from I.R./recall. … The Colts are calling Dwayne Allen (ankle) day-to-day. He hopes to play Week 12. … Jordan Reed is battling another hamstring injury. … Anthony Fasano (knee) returned to practice Monday. Bad news for Travis Kelce. … Larry Fitzgerald expects to play through his sprained MCL. … Allen Hurns has yet to be cleared from his concussion. … Kyle Rudolph played just 14 snaps in his return from hernia surgery.