Sunday Scene, Week 11
November 20, 2011 · 0 Comments
Opening Drive
OK, let’s just begin by stating the obvious: None of the available running backs in your league’s free agent pool are capable of replacing Adrian Peterson‘s fantasy production.
Peterson suffered a left ankle injury in the first half against the Raiders, while Michael Huff was dragging him to the turf. Here’s the lowlight. He limped off the field, assisted by trainers, and was then carted to the Minnesota locker room for X-rays. Peterson is officially questionable to return, but he wasn’t putting much weight on the ankle. This is basically a nightmare injury, a situation you can’t easily manage around.
Toby Gerhart is Peterson’s understudy, but he obviously doesn’t possess AP’s skill set, or anything close to it. Gerhart will be a popular waiver add, assuming Peterson can’t return this week, but he’s a fairly ordinary back with a difficult match-up ahead at Atlanta. Christian Ponder actually led the Vikes in rushing at halftime (54 yards) and Percy Harvin has four carries for 13 yards. (Harvin also had a nifty touchdown run negated by a holding penalty, a play that seemed to fit perfectly within the context of his season). Peterson managed to find the end zone before checking out, rushing for 26 yards on six carries. So at least his owners weren’t shut out this week. Let’s just hope he can make it back by Week 12.
• Aaron Rodgers entered the day with a completion percentage of 72.9, which is ridiculous. I’m pretty sure that another 7.1 percent of Rodgers’ passes were deliberately thrown away to avoid sacks, and the other 20 percent have been dropped by James Jones. If Jones woulda caught that perfect back-shoulder throw from Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter against Tampa, he could still be running. At half, Rodgers had 164 yards through the air against the Bucs, with TD passes to Tom Crabtree and Jordy Nelson.
And here’s a fun fact: BJ Raji now has as many rushing touchdowns as James Starks this season.
• Maurice Jones-Drew carried three Browns defenders into the end zone on his 6-yard TD in Cleveland, then delivered a LeBron James/chalk toss celebration. Uncalled for. Seems deserving of a penalty, though I don’t think you can actually draw a flag for taunting a city.
• This run right here by LeGarrette Blount is … well, it’s pretty badass. I counted six guys who legitimately should have tackled him and a seventh who had a shot at Blount’s feet. That play could have gone for no-gain, but instead it’s a 54-yard score.
• Up until last week, it seemed like the best fantasy scenario for the Bills’ offense was a three-touchdown deficit. But when the Cowboys got Buffalo down by three scores, they buried ‘em. We’ll just see if the Bills can get anything going against Miami in the second half, trailing by 22. After two ugly quarters from Ryan Fitzpatrick (9-for-21, 2 INTs), I don’t really have a good vibe. Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas have evenly split the carries and the rushing yards for the Dolphins &mash; both players have eight for 23 — and Reggie has his second short rushing score in as many weeks. When he’s getting carries inside-the-5, you basically have to start him. Matt Moore is having a day for Miami, passing for three scores in the first half. Brandon Marshall has been shut out thus far, but it’s worth noting that he had a touchdown overturned by replay review.
• Here’s your update on the Washington backfield: Ryan Torain got the start, Anthony Armstrong got the first carry, Tashard Choice got most of the first-half carries, Roy Helu got the first touch near the goal line, and Rex Grossman had the rushing score. Hope that clears things up. Helu, per his usual, looks like the liveliest of the bunch.
• Matthew Stafford is having another messy week, tossing a pair of early picks. The first interception didn’t appear to be related to his fractured finger; it was just a miserable read. The second pick was off a tipped pass. The Lions trailed Carolina at half, 27-14, but they’re getting an impressive performance from recently signed Kevin Smith. Check the tape. Smith scored off a screen pass early in the second quarter, darting 28 yards. He gained an even 100 yards on his first six touches. With Jahvid Best out indefinitely, Smith is clearly a pick-up of interest.
-posted at 3:05 pm ET
Pregame
Well, thanks to Shonn Greene’s one-point effort on Thursday night, many of us are comfortably in the driver’s seat in Week 11. Way to deliver in prime time, Shonn. That was huge. Really took the pressure off.
But not everyone is so well-positioned for victory. Some of you are facing a critical battle, fighting to earn the little * next to your team name that indicates a clinched playoff spot. They look just like this…
…and it feels pretty good when they show up, I’m not gonna lie.
For your benefit, we now offer updated Week 11 position ranks and a full post-practice injury wrap. As always, we’ll have last-minute updates and late-breaking injury info on Fantasy Football Live, beginning at noon ET. Ask a sit/start question, maybe make a friend.
The Eagles have already resolved a couple of this week’s big injury questions, officially ruling out Michael Vick (ribs) and Jeremy Maclin (shoulder). Vince Young will lead the Dream Teamers on the road against the Giants. Young’s rushing potential obviously puts him in the fantasy discussion, but you’ll recall that his lone pass attempt this season was … well, it was uncommonly bad. Here’s the clip. My forecast calls for a turnover or two and at least a 20 percent chance of Mike Kafka. (But I hope he’s better than that, because I’m starting DeSean Jackson somewhere).
Please check back with Sunday Scene throughout the day for the usual updates. The first is usually posted in the third quarter of the early games. Remember, we’re not here to deliver play-by-play, just fantasy spin. We’ll end the day with an early look at waiver plays for Week 12.
Let’s go get a win, then reconvene in the fellowship hall for cake and punch…
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Photo via US Presswire
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