The Fantasy Football Winner’s and Loser’s column provides users with the recent weeks winners and losers, while also including analysis of the previous weeks Fantasy performances.
- Disclaimer – All Fantasy Football articles are written with the information given by ESPN Standard PPR scoring.
The Winners
Keenan Allen – LAC - WR
40.2 Fantasy Points
Keenen Allen owners who have stuck with the “average” performances he has put up this year were rewarded with a hefty workload. The Chargers went up huge early with the help of 5 INT’s from first time starter Peterman; however, that didn’t stop the Chargers from throwing the ball to Allen, who brought in a season high 12 receptions for 159 yards and 2 TD’s. The Chargers nonetheless still have a crowded receiver core in which everybody gets a fair share of targets. Don’t be expecting this volume from Keenan Allen every week.
Samaje Perine – WSH - RB
19.6 Fantasy Points
Nobody likes seeing players go down with an injury, although it seems like it happens a lot in today’s NFL. Samaje Perine took advantage of the opportunity he got when starting RB Chris Thompson went down, rushing for 117 yards on 23 carries while also finding paydirt on the ground as well. With both Thompson and Kelley out potentially long term, Samaje Perine needs to be picked up off the waiver wire in your league if he’s available, sitting currently at a 28.4% own percentage in ESPN leagues.
Kenny Stills – MIA – WR
31 Fantasy Points
The Matt Moore/Kenny Stills effect was in full motion last Sunday, it’s clear that Kenny Stills is Moore’s favorite target when Moore is in the lineup, pulling in eight catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. Jay Cutler will possibly be out with a concussion for next weeks match up against the Patriots, look at adding Kenny Stills to your lineup, available in over 70% of leagues. It’s important to note that even though the Patriots are a poor ranked pass defense, they’ve improved a lot over the past couple weeks.
Blaine Gabbert – ARI – QB
19.6 Fantasy Points
Blaine Gabbert finished week 11 as QB7 while only being owned in 4% of ESPN leagues. I do not think this performance is sustainable, especially with a match up against the Jaguars coming up; they’re the #1 fantasy scoring defense in the league. Gabbert might be worth stashing for the playoffs as an emergency option, week 13 against the Rams and week 14 against the Titans; while they aren’t great match ups, Arizona has the weapons to make Gabbert successful. Be aware that Drew Stanton has been ruled out for Week 12, but may come back for 13 or 14.
Ricky Seals-Jones
20.4 Fantasy Points
My reaction when he came down with his first touchdown this weekend was “who is that guy?”, Sealy-Jones the Texas A&M product is currently owned in 0.0% of leagues and might be worth picking up as a flyer this week just incase they ride the hot hand. No catches until Week 11, he brought down 3 catches for 54 yards and two TD’s in an Arizona offense that likes to spread the ball.
Honorable Mention
D’Onta Foreman – HOU – RB
23 Fantasy Points
I was reluctant to put this guy on my list because he potentially receiving a season ending injury at the end of his touchdown run; hee’s getting an MRI for a ruptured Achilles and it really didn’t look good on the field. Foreman had a massive game for a backup RB, and there’s been some rumblings this year that he’ll overtake Miller for the starting job in Houston. It’s unfortunate he got hurt after such a big day, but 10 rushes for 65 yards and 2 TD’s, he’s an interesting look to pickup on the waiver wire in keeper leagues.
Fantasy Football Losers
Alex Smith – KC - QB
7.9 Fantasy Points
While the Giants defense on paper isn’t a pushover, they have been under performing all year giving up the most points to QB’s in the NFL. Alex Smith looked pedestrian in Week 1 throwing 2 interceptions and not connecting with anybody in the end zone. It’ll be tough sledding for Alex Smith in Week 12 as they’ll face a Buffalo Bills secondary that has shown some signs of brilliance this year.
Isaiah Crowell – CLE – RB
1.8 Fantasy Points
Just when Isaiah Crowell shows some signs of life with recent performances of 16.5 and 19.8 points, he puts up a dud, albeit against a tough Jacksonville defense. However, 11 rushes on 18 yards simply isn’t going to cut in today’s NFL; the Cleveland RB to own in PPR formats is still Duke Johnson Jr who has a much safer floor due to his receiving work. Expect Crowell to perform better next week in a divisional match up against Cincinnati; hell, maybe the Browns will even get a win.
Golden Tate – DET – WR
6.2 Fantasy Points
Golden Tate has been a PPR dream this year with more than 5 receptions in 7 out of 9 games, though I was really expecting him to have a better performance in a tough divisional game against the Bears. Golden Tate is the type of receiver that struggles if he doesn’t get volume, evident by the fact that every week he’s had less than 5 receptions he’s put up less than 7 points. Things aren’t going to get any easier next week against Minnesota, one of the best passing defences in the league.
Zach Ertz – PHI – TE
2.8 Fantasy Points
While it was his only down performance this year, it’s enough to land him in the losers column. Ertz - who has been one of the best TE’s in the league this year averaging 14.4 points a game - put up a mediocre 2 catch, 8 yard performance against Dallas. We’ll chalk this one up as a result to game script as the NFC leading Eagles dominated the Cowboys from beginning to end.
Adrian Peterson – ARI – RB
4.9 Fantasy Points
Back to back poor weeks means that Adrian Peterson is back on the losers side of this article; while dominating both in carries and yards Week 9 against SF (37 carriers and 159 yards respectively), he has combined for 35 carries and 55 yards since. With Andre Ellington being waived maybe it opens up Adrian Peterson to dominate the snap count even more than he already has and hopefully leading to better production for the first ballot future Hall of Famer.
Make sure to check back every week for the remainder of the Fantasy Football scene for the winners and losers column, and good luck in the last week of the regular season for most leagues! Hopefully you can lock down your playoff spots.
The Fantasy Football Winners and Losers column is written every week by Arik Krause who can be contacted on Twitter (@KrauseArik).
