Quick hits week 13 2017

By Chad Stapley

The Vikings run will go as long and as well as Case Keenum has been playing lately. Keenum is having a bit of a resurgence year and has catapulted to the upper echelon of QBs in the fantasy football this season. This week in a win over the Lions on Thanksgiving Keenum threw for 282 yards and two TDs while also running for 20 yards and a TD.

Latavius Murray has been playing well above average since he was given the starting RB job for the Vikings a few weeks back. Over the last two weeks Murray has ran the ball 35 times for 179 yards and three TDs, he is an excellent FLEX option as the Vikings continue on this hot run.

The Lions have absolutely no running game and a sad stat that was told during the game is that in Matthew Stafford’s entire NFL career he has only had a RB eclipse the 100 yard mark in a game seven times, that is wild considering he was drafted way back in 2009. Even given that tidbit Stafford still dominates opposing defenses, this week he threw for 250 yards and another two TDs to add to his resume.

If you have Marvin Jones Jr. and you don’t start him every week in fantasy football then shame on you. Jones Jr. is quietly becoming one of the best WRs in the NFL and easily Stafford’s favorite target. Jones Jr. dominated the Vikings for six catches for 109 yards and two TDs. One of his TDs was caught between two defenders absolutely making them look foolish.

The Chargers have made a dominate run over the last six games and their QB Phillip Rivers is a huge reason why. He has the offense firing on all levels and is having one of his best seasons yet. Rivers threw for 434 yards and three TDs in an easy win over the lifeless Cowboys.

Keenan Allen is on a tear lately as he rounds back into 100% healthy form from the injury sustained last year. Allen is dominating as of lately and this week he caught 11 passes for 172 yards and a TD. Allen looks like he is unstoppable right now. Start him in fantasy every week.

Youngster Hunter Henry is looking like the real deal at TE for the Chargers. This week he caught five passes for 76 yards and a TD. He isn’t quite TE1 material yet but he is inching his way there.

If you are in a large fantasy football league, the Cowboys have a RB that might be available in FA in Rod Smith. The Cowboys have used him early and often lately since Zeke got suspended and he looks more than capable.

Washington found another steal at RB in Samaje Perine. In a closer than expected win over the Giants, Washington needed every bit of his 100 rushing yards and thirty passing yard, he didn’t find the end zone this week but has easily proven his value. For fantasy football he is a high end RB2 with starter potential.

Kirk Cousins threw for another 242 yards and two TDs. He is undoubtedly a top 10 QB in the NFL and he has some good young WRs to throw to. Jamison Crowder has been on a tear lately and caught another seven passes for 141 yards and a TD.

Josh Doctson is finally slowing showing his worth at WR for Washington. He only caught two passes for 28 yards this week but one went for a TD. He is a scary threat to have in the red zone.

If the Falcons play offense like they did this Sunday every week they will be tough to stop. It all started with Julio Jones massive game catching 12 balls for 253 yards and two TDs. When Jones wants to, he is clearly unstoppable.

It took a few weeks but Joe Mixon finally had a game that makes you go, WOW. Mixon did it against the lifeless Browns but still you could see his game breaking abilities. Mixon ran for 114 yards and caught three passes for 51 yards.

Tom Brady makes it look too easy. In an far too easy win over the Dolphins Brady threw for 227 yards and four TDs. It’s a no brainer to start him each week for fantasy football.

It makes your job easy when you have a TE like Rob Gronkowski to throw to. This week he caught fives balls for 82 yards and two TDs.

Dion Lewis has clearly taken over the RB1 duties for the Patriots. He is still a RB2 in fantasy terms since the Patriots use an army of RBs, but he did break out a 112 yard rushing game this week.

The Panthers have been surprising everyone lately with their offense and a huge reason why they have been winning games is the continued improvements from youngsters Devin Funchess & Christian McCaffrey. Funchess by osmosis is the Panthers #1 WR and he has played the role well this season, this week he caught seven passes for 108 yards. McCaffrey the RB of the future ran the ball seven times for 62 yards and had two catches for 35 yards.

The Jets keep finding ways to lose but that has nothing to do with how well Josh McCown has been playing all season. McCown threw for another 207 yards and three TDs this week in a seven point loss to the Panthers. For the season McCown has thrown 2,549 yards and 17 TDs.

The biggest reason for McCown’s resurgent season is due to two WRs that their previous teams didn’t even want. Robby Anderson & Jermaine Kearse have made a solid 1-2 punch at WR for the Jets. Anderson caught six passes for 146 yards and two TDs this week and Kearse caught seven passes for 105 yards and a TD. They both are worth starting at the FLEX position in any league.

Carson Wentz is making it look to easy in only his second NFL season. This week in an absolute beat down of the Bears, Wentz threw for 227 yards and another three TDs.

When you have a trio of pass catchers like Zach Ertz, Nelson Agholor, & Alshon Jeffrey, your job as a QB is seemingly easy. They combined to catch 18 passes for 187 yards and all three of Wentz’ TD passes.

Alvin Kamara should run away with offensive rookie of the year and he is a HUGE reason why the Saints have been winning games all season. In a close loss Kamara still came up huge, he ran the ball five times for 87 yards to go with six receptions for 101 yards and a TD. Kamara is going to be a nightmare for opposing teams for years to come.

Another rookie who continues to impress lately is rookie WR Cooper Kupp. The Rams got a solid WR in Kupp and this week he caught eight passes for 116 yards. He has quickly became one of Jared Goff’s favorite targets.

The Cardinals ought to give a long hard look to two players this offseason. Blaine Gabbert & Ricky Seals-Jones. Gabbert who originally was the third string QB has played great the last two weeks given the circumstances. Gabbert has thrown for 498 yards with five TDs to three INTs in two games. It makes you wonder what he could do with a full season and all the offensive starters. Seals-Jones has caught three of those TD passes and he quickly proven he is a capable TE and should be given as many reps as possible to finish out the season.

Jamaal Williams who many pegged as the future RB for the Packers in preseason, finally lived up to that billing this week. Williams who started the season as the RB3 finally was given the opportunity to start and did above average. Williams ran the ball 21 times for 66 yards and a TD to go with four receptions for 69 yards and a TD.

Ben Roethlisberger & Antonio Brown are too good for most teams to handle the majority of the time. Big Ben threw for 351 yards and four TDs and Brown caught 10 passes for 169 yards and two TDs.