Week 13 is almost over and the AFC appears destined for a dogfight for seeding teams in the playoffs. The Ravens lead with 9-3 but the Chiefs, Jaguars, and Dolphins are all 8-3 and can make a four-way tie for the No. 1 seed if they all win next week. Six teams in the conference are 6-5 or better and in contention.
The 10-1 Eagles are probably going to rest players right when you need them most. The Lions and 49ers tie for No. 2 at 8-3 and both have two-game leads in their division. The Cowboys look like a lock for a wildcard but the other three are wide open. The NFC South still lacks any team with a winning record.
Half of the teams this week failed to score more than 17 points. There are still weekly fantasy stars, but overall the scoring is down and not likely to improve.
New Orleans 15, Atlanta 24
The Saints were unable to punch in any touchdowns, settling for five field goals and missing the sixth attempt at the end of the game. Derek Carr passed for 304 yards and an interception,. Chris Olave (7-114) was the only wideout with more than 20 yards, while Taysom Hill (2-55) and Alvin Kamara (4-50) were the only receivers with 50 yards. Michael Thomas’ replacement A.T. Perry only caught one pass for seven yards. Hill seemed to take up the slack from Thomas being gone. Kamara ran for 69 yards on 15 rushes. The Saints fall to 5-6 and host the Lions this week.
The Falcons mostly rode their backfield for the win. Desmond Ridder passed for 168 yards and a score with two interceptions. Drake London (5-91) enjoyed one of his best performances and Bijan Robinson caught three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown as the only other receiver with more than 22 yards. Robinson also ran for 91 yards and a score on 16 carries while Tyler Allgeier rushed for 64 yards on his ten attempts. It was a plus that they relied heavily on Robinson and London, and amazing that they haven’t done that every week. The 5-6 Falcons play at the Jets this week.
Pittsburgh 16, Cincinnati 10
Not a lot of points here, but that was expected after Joe Burrow was lost and neither team had a quarterback. Kenny Pickett passed for 278 yards and Pat Freiermuth (9-120) quickly became the primary target. George Pickens (3-58) and Diontae Johnson (4-50) were the only other receivers with more than 13 yards. Jaylen Warren is the No. 1 back and rushed for 49 yards on 13 carries while Najee Harris gained 99 yards and a touchdown on his 15 rushes. Harris added three catches for 13 yards but Harris was the better rusher. The Steelers rise to 7-4 and host the Cardinals this weekend.
Jake Browning took over for Joe Burrow and was terrible with 227 yards and a touchdown and an interception. His first start let Ja’Marr Chase still lead the receivers with four catches for 81 yards but Tee Higgins was out and no other receiver did much. The Bengals’ run game was held to only 16 yards on eight rushes by Joe Mixon, who added 44 yards on two catches to salvage some minimal fantasy value. The Burrow-less Bengals were sluggish but faced a tough Steelers defense. The Bengals drop to 5-6 and head to Jacksonville for Week 13.
Jacksonville 24, Houston 21
This AFC South matchup delivered the fantasy points and went down to the wire before the Jags held off the Texans who missed their 58-yard field goal attempt to tie the game. Trevor Lawrence passed for 364 yards and a touchdown to Calvin Ridley (5-89, TD) while Christian Kirk (4-89) and Evan Engram (5-49) helped to keep the sticks moving. Travis Etienne ran for only 56 yards on 20 rushes but added four receptions for 30 yards. D’Ernest Johnson handled seven carries for 19 yards and caught a 42-yard pass. The win lifts the Jaguars to 8-3 and they host the Bengals this week.
The Texans were in this game throughout and drew to within 24-21 with five minutes left to play. C.J. Stroud threw for 304 yards and two scores, plus rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown. Nico Collins (7-104, TD) and Tank Dell (5-50, TD) caught the touchdowns while Devin Singletary added six receptions for 54 yards. He only rushed for 18 yards on six carries and Dameon Pierce (5-14) was held to only 19 total yards. Dalton Schultz (1-2) had an invisible game this week. The 6-5 Texans are still in the wildcard race and host the Broncos for Week 13.
Tampa Bay 20, Indianapolis 27
On a day where so many teams and players had mediocre production, this was a meeting where all the right players delivered solid fantasy points. Baker Mayfield threw for 199 yards and two scores and both scores ended up with Mike Evans (6-70, 2 TD) while Cade Otton (4-45) and Chris Godwin (3-45) were the only receivers with more than 20 yards, Rashaad White rushed for 100 yards on 15 carries despite being questionable to play and he added two receptions for 10 yards. The Bucs were as close as 17-20 at the start of the fourth quarter but only managed a 24-yard field goal with four minutes left to play. They drop to 4-7 and host the Panthers this week.
The Colts took the win via the run, with Jonathan Taylor gaining 91 yards and two scores on 15 carries and Gardner Minshew also ran in a score. Zach Moss gained 55 yards on eight rushes as the Colts’ ground game carried the offense. Minshew passed for 251 yards with Michael Pittman (10-107) and Josh Downs (5-43) as the top receivers. This was a coin-flip game that the Colts needed to stay in contention and they took the win through their two running backs and two wideouts. They rise to 6-5 and play at the Titans this week.
New England 7, New York Giants 10
How the mighty have fallen. Maybe it more like digging a hole and they are still digging. The Patriots’ offense has no idea who their best quarterback is because there isn’t anyone on the roster that merits the top spot on the depth chart. As the final stage of offensive death, both Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe took turns being inadequate and combined for 143 yards and three interceptions. Demario Douglas (6-49) was the top receiver until, of course, he was injured. Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 98 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries as the only notable Patriot player. Ezekiel Elliott chipped in 46 yards on nine runs and caught two short passes. As the perfect ending to the Pats painfully bad performance, they missed the 35-yards field goal to tie with six seconds left to play.
The Giants have won two in a row, which is another way to say that the Patriots are bad, and Tommy DeVito passed for 191 yards and one touchdown. Jalin Hyatt (5-109) had his first 100-yard game but no other receiver gained more than 26 yards. Saquon Barkley ran for only 46 yards on 12 rushes and caught a 6-yard pass. With only ten offensive points, the Giants were lucky enough to face an even worse offense. The Giants are 4-8 and head onto their bye when they can realize that they’re just worsening their draft pick in April.
Carolina 10, Tennessee 17
Another low-scoring affair that contained nearly zero passing production and it became Derrick Henry vs. the Carolina backfield (advantage – Henry). Bryce Young passed for 194 yards but Jonathan Mingo (4-60) was the only wideout with more than 34 yards. Adam Thielen only caught one pass for two yards. Chuba Hubbard (14-45, TD) and Miles Sanders (15-28) handled the backfield carries and Hubbard added five catches for 37 yards to boost his weak fantasy points. The loss drops the Panthers to 1-10 and they play in Tampa Bay this week.
The Titans’ passing effort was pedestrian, with Will Levis throwing for 185 yards while DeAndre Hopkins (3-49) was the top of four receivers who all gained around 40 yards. Derrick Henry was the star of the game with 18 rushes for 76 yards and two scores. That was the entire story of this game. Both teams sport two of the worst offenses and two touchdowns was all they needed to win. The Titans rise to 4-7 and host the Colts for Week 13.
Los Angeles Rams 37, Arizona 14
The Cardinals’ inability to stop the run proved their undoing. The Rams passed for 229 yards and four short touchdowns that were split between Kyren Williams (6-61, 2 TD) and Tyler Higbee (5-29, 2 TD). TuTu Atwell (3-76) led the receivers while Cooper Kupp (3-18) and Puka Nacua (4-27) were not factors. Williams returned from injured reserve and was supposed to be slowly introduced back into the offense but he also ran for 143 yards on 16 carries for a monster game – just like he had in Week 6 when he was injured against the same Cardinals. Royce Freeman also tacked on 77 yards and a touchdown on 13 rushes, The win lifts the Rams to 5-6 and they host the Browns on Sunday.
The Cardinals led 8-7 at the start of the second quarter but never scored again until deep in the fourth quarter when the contest was already over. Kyler Murray passed for 256 yards and one score to Greg Dortch (3-27, TD) while Marquise Brown (6-88) and Trey McBride (7-60) were the only receivers with more than 35 yards. The backfield mixed James Conner (6-27), Michael Carter (4-19), and Emari Demercado (3-15) who were effective but little used. Murray ran in a touchdown to ensure that no running back mattered. The Cards fall to 2-10 and head to Pittsburgh for Week 13.
Cleveland 12, Denver 29
The Broncos’ turnaround has been dramatic, and the Cleveland decline in offense has also been dramatic. Dorian Thompson-Robinson was possibly concussed and P.J. Walker finished the game. They combined for only 190 yards and one touchdown. David Njoku (6-59) and Cedric Tillman (4-55) led the receivers while Harrison Bryant (1-2, TD) caught the only touchdown. Jerome Ford (9-65) and Kareem Hunt (7-22) shared the backfield to little effect but Ford added four catches for 14 yards. Amari Cooper (2-16) left with a rib injury. The loss ends the Browns’ three-game winning streak and drops them to 7-4. They travel to Jacksonville next week.
The Broncos didn’t do anything special in this fifth-straight win. Russell Wilson threw for only 134 yards and one score to Adam Trautman (1-8, TD). Courtland Sutton (3-61) was the only receiver with more than 24 yards. Javonte Williams (18-65) and Samaje Perine (7-55, TD) handled the rushing duties while Russell Wilson scored on his 11 runs for 34 yards. The Browns struggled to move the ball while having key players get injured. The Broncos happily took advantage of field position and the chance to just run the ball. The Broncos climb up to 6-5 and play in Houston this week.
Kansas City 31, Las Vegas 17
The Chiefs fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter before cruising to a win by outscoring the Raiders 31-7 over the final three quarters. Patrick Mahomes passed for 298 yards and two scores between Rashee Rice (8-107, TD) and Justin Watson (1-3, TD). Travis Kelce gained 91 yards on six catches but no other receivers were better than 35 yards. Isiah Pacheco had a great game, rushing for 55 yards and two touchdowns and catching five passes for 34 yards. The plus was Rashee Rice leading the offense since the wideouts have needed to step up. The win raises the Chiefs to 8-3 and they play at the Packers for Week 12.
The Raiders looked as if they would be a problem, scoring two touchdowns in the first 18 minutes but it all settled down quick enough. Jakobi Meyers surprised with six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown while Davante Adams (5-73) and Hunter Renfrow (4-38) were the top receivers. Josh Jacobs logged one of his best efforts, gaining 110 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against a Top-5 run defense, He also caught four passes for 15 yards. Aiden O’Connell passed for 248 yards and a score. He was 13-of-16 passing for 138 yards and the score at halftime before the Chiefs defense stiffened up. The Raiders drop to 5-7 and head onto their bye.
Baltimore 20, Los Angeles Chargers 10
The Ravens had a scare when the Chargers drew to within 13-10 in the fourth quarter but a touchdown by Zay Flowers on a 37-yard run with 1:36 left to play secured the victory. Lamar Jackson threw for 177 yards and one score while rushing for 39 yards on 11 runs. Zay Flowers caught the touchdown but only gained 25 yards on five catches, and added the scoring run. Isaiah Likely (4-40) was the top receiver, but no 1:1 replacement for Mark Anderson. Justice Hill (5-31), Gus Edwards (8-26), and Keaton Mitchell (9-64) with the rookie adding two catches for 25 yards. Mitchell added an exciting element to the offense, but lacks to volume to meet his fantasy potential. The 9-3 Ravens head onto their bye.
The Chargers ran into the buzzsaw known as the Ravens’ defense. Justin Herbert threw for 217 yards and one score to Gerald Everett (4-43, TD). Keenan Allen (14-106) dominated the receiving and caught almost all 16 targets. Austin Ekeler (5-32) was the only other receiver with more than 17 yards. He ran for only 32 yards on then carries. The Chargers struggled to move the ball and Herbert threw 44 passes. They had two series at the end of the game but could get past midfield. They fall to 4-7 and play at the Patriots for Week 13.
GAME-O-THE-WEEK: Buffalo 34, Philadelphia 37
To each a Merry Christmas and fantasy points for all!
This game was already a bounty of big numbers and then it went into overtime so both teams could boost their stats a little more. Josh Allen may have been the losing pitcher, but he threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns, plus rushed for 81 yards and two more scores. Gabe Davis (6-105, TD) and Stefon Diggs (6-74, TD) both delivered on their expectations and James Cook ran for 43 yards on 16 carries plus caught six passes for 57 more yards. Allen threw 51 passes, which alone says this game was a fantasy treasure. The Bills drop to 6-6 and head onto their bye to figure out where everything went wrong.
The Eagles trailed 17-7 at halftime but battled back to tie the game 31-31 with a 59-yard field goal in the rain. Jalen Hurts passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns, plus rushed for 65 yards and two more scores – the final being the 12-yard score that won the game in overtime. DeVonta Smith (7-106, TD). A.J. Brown (5-37, TD) and Olamide Zaccheaus (1-29, TD) caught the touchdowns but the Eagles successfully ran the ball. D’Andre Swift ran for 80 yards on 14 carries and Kenneth Gainwell added two runs for 26 yards.
This was a high-scoring shootout that wasn’t decided until the final two minutes of overtime. These two quarterbacks are the Top-2 fantasy scorers and acted the part out in the same game. How great is that?
Oh yeah, and in the driving rain, no less…
