Fantasy Football Studs & Duds

QB Reports: Week 12 - Carson Palmer threw for 302 yards and three scores and it just doesn't matter who he faces. Palmer is now officially an elite stud because he is always better than his opponent is. With Marc Bulger (shoulder) out for an indefinite period and Jamie Martin sustaining a concussion against the Texans, the St. Louis passing game was in the hands of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Who? All Fitzpatrick did Sunday was shred the Texans for 310 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. David Carr re-emerged from the dead as he and and Andre Johnson appear to be trying to make up for lost time. Carr targeted Johnson 17 times on Sunday, completing 12 of those passes for 159 yards and a TD. The Texans still lost however.

Steve McNair had a rather MVPish type of game, to bad its a year or two late. 23-41, 343 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT, makes for a rather nice statline for the veteran QB. Did any of you stay up late enough to watch the SNF game consisting of two bad teams? The Jets vs the Aint's isn't exactly what we love to see in primetime is it? What would possess someone to say, "Yeah, let's put the Saints and Jets on in the primetime slot, that should be a good one." That wasn't a good one last year, isn't a good one this year, and won't be a good one next year. In his defense Brooks did throw 3 TD passes on Sunday night.

Brad Johnson doesn't do anything to win games, but, he doesn't do anything to lose them either. I think his favorite target Sunday was Marcus Robinson. Next week? Who knows.

Lastly I've just got say this about Eli Manning. WOW, he's going to be great.

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Running Backs Report: Week 12 - See Above for more comments on our weekly stud of the week honors to L.T. Just give him the damn ball!!!!

I'm not throwing Alexander up here this week as all he did was score 1 TD, and was really held in check by the Giants. He'll always get his. Lamont Jordan had another nice week for the Raiders and is clearly the main weapon in that offense now that Moss is stinking it up in Oakland.

Rudi Johnson rushed for more than 100 yards for the first time since Week 1 in Sunday's 42-29 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals' running back finished the game with 114 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Chris Brown was forced to leave after spraining his ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's win over the San Francisco 49ers. However, he returned to the Titans' lineup in the second half and finished with 30 yards on 10 carries, along with three catches for 105 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown grab. He could be in weekly fantasy start status now.

Jamal Lewis rushed for 113 yards Sunday, Nov. 27. It was his first 100-yard game of the season. Impressive eh? What happens when Taylor is active? On the season, Larry Johnson now has 968 yards and nine TDs on 191 carries, along with 20 catches for 220 yards.

Wideouts Report: Week 12 - Good things came in 3's this week for Minnesota wideout Marcus Robinson. Despite his solid outing, he's a bit inconsistent to start on a weekly basis for your fantasy squad. In 11 games this season, he has 24 receptions for 392 yards and five TDs. The same has to be said for the Seahawks leading TD machine at wideout Joe Jurevicius. He had his second huge game this season. Catching 8 balls for 137 yds and 2 big touchdowns in a crazy game up in Seattle. The first of two TDs on Sunday exemplified why his height and outstanding hands can be so dangerous. Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck threw a 35-yard lob pass to Jurevicius, who went right over the top of CB Corey Webster and stole the ball for the TD.

Enjoy Johnson's performance while you can owners. Andre now has 31 catches in the four games since his return but he won't likely face an easier matchup than the Rams' squad that he faced in Week 12. On the other side of the ball Torry BigGame Holt for the second consecutive week posted double-digit receptions and topped the century mark, hauling in 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's overtime victory over the Houston Texans. The Rams' veteran receiver has found the end zone in seven of his last eight games.

Tight Ends Report - Week 12 - Turkey day brought us some early performances this week and the best in my opinion was the performance by Alge Crumpler in 3 quarters of work (he was rested in the 4th). It was the best game of the season for Crumpler, who continues to maintain a good rapport with QB Michael Vick. Also on Turkey Day Witten hauled in a great days worth of passes from Bledoe against a tough Denver defence. He grabbed a game high nine catches for 82 yards and one crucial touchdown.

Down by 34 points in a game to a division rival when your playoff hopes are over might spell disaster. To a fantasy football owner that means garbage time points. Well Heap got those and more to the tune of 87 yards and 2 Td's. Are there more good times ahead for Heap owners? After all Kyle Boller threw for 211 yards and 3 td's.

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Fantasy Dud News: Dud Of the Week: If I don't give this to Tom Brady I'm absolutly crazy aren't I? Well Ok the dud of the week is Brady. He finished up a horrible game against the Chiefs at Arrowhead at (22-40, 248 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs. 4 Int's??? Are you kidding me? Joe Montana Jr. you should be ashamed.

Other Duds
QB
Drew Brees, Chargers: 23-44, 215 yards, 3 INTs;
Brett Favre, Packers: 15-33, 171 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

RB
Mike Anderson, Broncos: 11 carries, 31 yards
Stephen Davis, Panthers: 6 carries, 22 yards
Kevin Jones, Lions: 4 carries, 32 yards; 1 catch, 12 yards
Willis McGahee, Bills: 21 carries, 53 yards

WR/TE
Michael Clayton, Bucs: 0 catches, 0 yards
Antonio Gates, Chargers: 3 catches, 39 yards
Ashley Lelie, Broncos: 0 catches, 0 yards
Brandon Lloyd, 49ers: 3 catches, 30 yards
Randy Moss, Raiders: 3 catches, 28 yards
Muhsin Muhammad, Bears: 4 catches, 38 yards

Conclusion:

It appears we have lost Leftwich and Franks at least for a few weeks if not more so those of you heading towards your league playoffs, stock up on those back-up players for when the waiver wire shuts down for the season and you "play what you got". Early waiver wire pickups could include Ricky Williams, Deshaun Foster, grab Sam Gado again if someone dumped him, and perhaps Maurice Morris to back up Shaun Alexander if he's rested at all down the stretch. (Unlikely if he's going for 2000 yards)

Here's a basic strategy tip for the stretch run, if you're in the hunt for the playoffs - don't overanalyze or gamble too much. This applies to your primary skill positions as you roll with the players that got you to this point. Your elite players are elite players for a reason.

However, you can afford to gamble at secondary positions like kicker and team defense based on your league's scoring format. This is where taking advantage of matchups in order to maximize points comes into play. Look over your waiver wire carefully because you could find potential gems.

At kicker, go with players on teams experiencing problems in the red zone. Obviously, Neil Rackers is a prime example but there's no way he's on the waiver wire. However, you could probably find Joe Nedney, who was on fire and the 49ers' consistent scorer before a groin injury forced him to miss Week 12. Another kicker to consider if you need to maximize points is Robbie Gould of the Bears. Consider paying special attention to weather reports in coming weeks, as indoor kickers could begin playing in adverse weather conditions.

As for team defense, look for defenses facing offensively challenged teams like the Jets, Ravens or Texans. Also consider defenses with games against error-prone quarterbacks. The Vikings have been coming on generating turnovers and sacks in recent weeks and face the Lions and Rams in Weeks 13-14. The Vikings also get Kyle Boller and the Ravens in Week 16. If the Patriots are on your waiver wire based on their disappointment from a fantasy perspective, consider grabbing them now because they could come up big in Weeks 14 and 16 against the Jets.