It was an interesting weekend on the gridiron for Week 12 as we saw two running backs in their first starts combine for over 300 total yards. We also saw the Patriots get tested by the A.J. Feeley-led Eagles and we saw a two-time MVP throw for a career-best 484 yards… and lose. With Brett Favre, Tony Romo and Peyton Manning, Thanksgiving featured possibly the No. 2nd, 3rd and 4th place finishers in the MVP balloting behind record-breaking Tom Brady (39 TD, 4 INT).
Week 13 will likely be the final week or two of your regular season. Several teams have now mathematically been knocked out of contention and others continue to desperately hang on to their lives. The teams that dominated the regular season are now sitting back, patiently waiting to attack in the playoffs. Anything can happen in fantasy football though. Weird things typically happen in the final few weeks and unheralded players can become very important parts in determining your fantasy leagues championship.
Chutes ‘n’ Ladders breaks down the waiver wire possibilities, discusses some injuries on the gridiron and looks ahead at next week’s schedule. This week, guys like Kolby Smith, Andre Hall and Anthony Gonzalez will be major pickups after fantastic performances. Week 13 will also feature two starting running backs named Adrian Peterson, as the Vikings rookie will return and the Bears have a new starting running back. We’ll break it all down now…
Quarterbacks
Free Agent Possibilities
Kurt Warner, ARI 34-for-48, 484 yards, two TD, two INT
A.J. Feeley, PHI 27-for-42, 345 yards, three TD, three INT
Trent Dilfer, SF 25-for-39, 256 yards, two TD, 10 yards rushing
Matt Schaub, HOU 22-for-36, 256 yards, two TD, two INT
Phillip Rivers, SD 25-for-35, 249 yards, three TD
David Garrard, JAC 23-for-37, 296 yards, TD
Tarvaris Jackson, MIN 10-for-12, 129 yards, TD, 38 yards rushing
Kyle Boller, BAL 21-for-33, 191 yards, TD, FL
Gus Frerotte, STL 20-for-32, 161 yards, TD, INT
Trent Edwards, BUF – DNP, taking over again in Week 13
Rex Grossman, CHI 17-for-33, 193 yards, TD, INT, two FL
Daunte Culpepper, OAK 15-for-22, 170 yards
Bruce Gradkowski, TB 9-for-19, 106 yards, 24 yards rushing
Matt Moore, CAR 8-for-14, 66 yards, INT
Major Offensive Injuries
Warner suffered some bruised ribs during Sunday’s OT thriller with San Francisco. He left, but was able to return and post a career-best 484 yards in the air today. If he’s unable to practice this week, Tim Rattay would get the nod against the Browns this weekend … The Bills have decided to go back to Edwards at QB and bench J.P. Losman. Buffalo has definitely given Losman plenty of chances and can’t be too happy with their return. It's sounds like we'll get a sneak preview at a new era in Buffalo … After Feeley’s dramatic performance against the mighty Patriots Sunday night, coach Andy Reid said Donovan McNabb will not play again until he’s 100%. That sounds like Feeley will get another start in Week 13 vs Seattle, making him a decent No. 2 QB option for the week.
Panthers coach John Fox said Vinny Testaverde (back, Achilles’) is his starting quarterback when he is healthy. David Carr started last week before being replaced by Matt Moore. Carr didn’t complete a single pass in the first half and looks absolutely horrible this year. There's even been some talk that might have been the former No. 1 selection's final game because of his absolute lack of heart … Joey Harrington will start next week against the Rams and it’s uncertain what kind of a role Byron Leftwich will have the remainder of the year … Jeff Garcia left Week 12 with a back injury and is being considered day-to-day. He is expected to return for next week’s contest, but there’s a slim chance Gradkowski could get the nod if Garcia isn’t healthy enough … Daunte Culpepper will start in Week 13, but it likely won’t be long before we see JaMarcus Russell behind center … Kyle Boller will also get another start over Steve McNair in Week 13.
Running Backs
Andre Hall and Kolby Smith each put together amazing performances in their first career starts. Smith rambled for 150 yards and two scores, while Hall posted 167 total yards. With Priest Holmes now retired and Larry Johnson likely out for the season, Smith is a fantastic pickup this week. If Selvin Young gets healthy again, he’ll likely see the brunt of the carries for Denver, but Hall definitely earned a prominent role heading forward. Look for him to be the third-down back and change of pace option.
Free Agent Possibilities
Kolby Smith, KC 31 rushes, 150 yards, two TD
Andre Hall, DEN 26 rushes, 98 yards, TD, two receptions, 69 yards
Anthony Thomas, BUF 15 rushes, 46 yards, eight receptions, 45 yards, TD
Adrian Peterson, CHI 17 rushes, 45 yards, TD, five receptions, 41 yads
Reuben Droughns, NYG 15 rushes, 46 yards, TD
Ron Dayne, HOU 16 rushes, 78 yard
Cecil Sapp, DEN seven rushes, 28 yards, TD
Kenton Keith, IND 17 rushes, 74 yards
Aaron Stecker, NO 13 rushes, 42 yards
Major Offensive Injuries
The Vikings are expected to get Adrian Peterson back in Week 13 after sitting out two weeks with a knee injury. He warmed up before Sunday’s victory against the Giants but the Vikings brass decided it was better to give him another day off. Chester Taylor will continue to play a prominent role despite All Day’s return.
Cedric Benson will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury after being carted off the field in Sunday’s overtime victory vs Denver. The other Adrian Peterson replaced him and ran admirably during the Bears dramatic comeback. Down 14 points with five minutes left, Peterson found the end zone by pushing a pile with about five Broncos. He’ll be the primary back there for the next month so pick him up immediately … With Jesse Chatman sidelined with an ankle injury, newly reinstated Ricky Williams will get the start Monday Night against Pittsburgh. After a year suspension for violating the substance abuse policy again, Williams is once again a viable fantasy alternative … Bills coach Dick Jauron didn’t seem too optimistic that Marshawn Lynch would be able to return in Week 13, meaning Anthony Thomas would get another start in the Bills backfield. Thomas also suffered a calf strain in the contest though, so Fred Jackson could see extended playing time … Coach John Gruden said Michael Pittman (ankle) has a chance to play in Week 13 against New Orleans. Earnest Graham will get the brunt of the carries regardless.
Wide Receivers
Free Agent Possibilities
Anthony Gonzalez, IND six receptions, 105 yards
Greg Lewis, PHI four receptions, 88 yards, two TD
Jabar Gaffney, NE six receptions, 87 yards, TD
Kevin Walter, HOU six receptions, 65 yards, TD
Isaac Bruce, STL six receptions, 63 yards, TD
Roscoe Parrish, BUF 24-yard rushing TD, four receptions, 25 yards
Sidney Rice, MIN three receptions, 82 yards, TD
Reggie Williams, JAC 59-yard TD reception
Arnaz Battle, SF 57-yards TD reception
Derrick Mason, BAL seven receptions, 99 yards
Justin Gage, TEN four receptions, 98 yards
James Jones, GB five receptions, 75 yards
Major Offensive Injuries
Javon Walker (knee) returned to action Sunday and didn’t see much action. He played in a few three-WR sets in the OT loss to the Bears, but didn’t catch any passes. Look for bigger numbers against the Raiders next week.
Tight Ends
Free Agent Possibilities
Vernon Davis, SF six receptions, 45 yards, TD
Owen Daniels, HOU seven receptions, 82 yards, TD, FL
Ben Utecht, IND four receptions, 38 yards, TD
Billy Miller, NO four receptions, 32 yards, TD
Ben Patrick, ARI two receptions, 19 yards, TD
Mercedes Lewis, JAC five receptions, 57 yards
Jeff King, CAR five receptions, 46 yards
Week 13 Schedule
Thursday, Nov. 29 8:15pm ET
Green Bay @ Dallas
Sunday, Nov. 2 1:00pm ET
Detroit @ Minnesota
Seattle @ Philadelphia
San Diego @ Kansas City
New York Jets @ Miami
Jacksonville @ Indianapolis
San Francisco @ Carolina
Houston @ Tennessee
Atlanta @ St. Louis
Buffalo @ Washington
4:05pm ET
Cleveland @ Arizona
Denver @ Oakland
4:15pm ET
New York Giants @ Chicago
Tampa Bay @ New Orleans
8:15pm ET
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh
Monday, Dec. 3 8:30pm ET
New England @ Baltimore