The entire Kansas City Chiefs team is hot, Arian Foster has been carrying fantasy teams to victories all season, and quarterbacks have proven to dominate the fantasy football landscape in 2010. So, what is next? The fantasy playoffs are just a week away, but we are not quite there yet, fantasy owners. Some fantasy teams have either clinched a playoff spot or waved goodbye to playoff hopes in their respective leagues, but Week 13 still holds many tickets to the fantasy playoffs.
Though hope is lost for some, playoff spots and seeding are on the line more than ever in Week 13, the typical finale for fantasy regular seasons. Another victory can imply a first round bye, while a loss can knock a team out of contention. Either way, the stretch run of the fantasy season is nearing its conclusion, and nobody wants to be left out.
Topping the charts in Week 12 were two 35-point scorers who have been churning up huge stats for owners the past few months. Peyton Hillis was the top scorer on Sunday, with 37 points. Hillis ran all over the Panthers, with 131 rushing yards and three touchdowns. All of his scores took place in the first half as the Browns created a big lead. Hillis entered the season as the second-string running back in Cleveland, but has developed into the starter and scored in every game but one.
Dwayne Bowe was the other big scorer on Sunday, scoring 35 points in helping the Chiefs blow out Seattle. Targeted 17 times by quarterback Matt Cassel, Bowe caught 13 passes for three touchdowns and 170 yards. Bowe entered the season with questions about his ability to return to his 2008 form (86 receptions, 1,022 yards, 7 touchdowns). Through the first four games, Bowe only tallied a single score, but over the past eight games he has snagged 13 touchdowns and is likely the hottest commodity in fantasy football.
Though the top two scorers in Week 12 were a running back and a wide receiver, the next seven came from the quarterback position. This is not a new trend for 2010, as only one running back can boast better totals than the top six quarterbacks. As 2010 has proven, having the names Brady, Brees, Rodgers, Rivers, or Manning in a fantasy lineup can guarantee consistency at the quarterback position for an entire year.
Consistent running backs are normally just as great, but in Week 12, two of the best were injured. Adrian Peterson left his game on Sunday with a bum ankle, and Frank Gore left the field on Monday night with a hip injury. Gore was recently placed on injured reserve, and Peterson is questionable while missing practice.
Having major starters go down with injury brings up the common practice of fantasy owners–picking up backups. Both Toby Gerhart and Brian Westbrook were thrown into bigger roles in their respective games, and both shined, with 13 and 19 points respectively. If a fantasy owner is struggling with an injury to a consistent starter, then who better to pick up for them than the man that replaced him? If there is a better option, so be it, but both Gerhart and Westbrook should be picked up.
Westbrook will be the first must start for Week 13 since Gore is out for the season, and that San Francisco offense operates most smoothly through the running game. In his expanded role, the former fantasy stud averaged just below six yards per carry. Though he faces a tough Packers defense, Westbrook should put up solid numbers both running and receiving the ball.
The second must start is Giants wide receiver, Mario Manningham. Manningham is normally the third wide receiver for the Giants, but has found his way into the must start realm due to injuries of other players. Both Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith have been relocated to the sideline with serious injuries, and the healthy Manningham has been forced to step up in their place. He was the only Giants receiver to catch a touchdown last week, and will likely catch another in Week 13.
Fantasy Friday did take a week off to eat turkey with the family, but we are back offering help for Week 13. Strongly consider that backup running back tactic as well as Mr. Manningham in New York to get that extra push into the fantasy playoffs.
