If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re fighting for a championship this weekend. And if you’re fighting for a championship, there’s an even better chance getting there wasn’t easy.
Fantasy football is a maze of injuries and endless series of impossible to answer questions. Oftentimes, it really is better to be lucky than good.
But nevermind all that. It doesn’t matter how you got here — you’re here. Just remember one thing: stick with those who made it possible
(unless it’s Chris Johnson).
Benching your WR2 for someone you plucked off the waiver wire last Wednesday (
Doug Baldwin anyone?) might seem smart in theory, but almost never works in practice. Football is filled with random acts of...randomness. The ebbs and flows of baseball and rhythms of basketball are nowhere to be found. Those who aren’t the cream of the crop are almost always only as good as their next matchup. Try not to forget that Saturday morning when you’re contemplating benching
Dez Bryant for
Greg Little.
FELIX JONES FACTSFelix Jones — and the fact that he hasn’t been able to get on the practice field — has dominated the championship week news-cycle. As you await word on his Week 16 status, you might as well get to know the man.
Jones has 521 yards rushing this season.
DeMarco Murray gained 17.5 percent of that on the first carry of his first start.
Jones has rushed for 100 yards in a game four times during his four-year career, or as many times as
Reggie Bush has in his past eight games. Bush’s 203 yards in Week 15 were 88 more than Jones has ever gained in one afternoon.
Since coming into the league in 2008, Jones has dealt with hamstring, ankle, shoulder, shin, hip, forearm, knee, thigh and toe injuries, missing 16 of a possible 62 games. His (second) hamstring, ankle, shoulder, shin, hip and forearm injuries have all occurred since the beginning of the 2010 season.
Jones has rushed for eight touchdowns in his 46 career games, or as many as
Marshawn Lynch has rushed for since Week 9.
John Kuhn has rushed for eight touchdowns in his past 30 games.
Jones has two rushing touchdowns since the beginning of the 2010 season, or as many as
Cam Newton scored in one 11-minute span of Carolina’s Week 13 win over the Bucs.
Of Jones’ 95 career receptions, only one has gone for a touchdown. Here is a list of a few other players with at least one career receiving score:
Toby Gerhart,
Jeff King,
LaRod Stephens-Howling,
Michael Robinson,
Bruce Miller,
Charles Clay,
Ryan Taylor,
Colin Cochart and
David Johnson.
THURSDAY NIGHT ROUNDUPPredictably, the immediate reaction in most quarters to Houston’s last-second loss was, “what’s happened to the Texans?” Last I checked, winning with a fifth-round rookie quarterback making just his fourth NFL start wasn’t easy, particularly when his best options in the passing game are
Kevin Walter and a banged-up
Owen Daniels. … Coming off easily the best game of his up-and-down career,
Donald Brown was rewarded by...being de-emphasized in favor of
Joseph Addai. Unless Addai wakes up stiff on Friday — which is a distinct possibility — there will be little reason for those in leagues that go beyond Week 16 to consider starting Brown next weekend. …
Reggie Wayne has lost a step, but still has the hands and body control to be an impact receiver. The free-agent-to-be is unlikely to fall off the fantasy map in 2012. …
Dan Orlovsky on a game two-game winning streak?
C'est la vie say the old folks... BIZARRE/ULTIMATELY MEANINGLESS STATS OF THE WEEKDarrius Heyward-Bey has more receptions and receiving yards than
Jermichael Finley — and six fewer drops.
The Broncos gained more yards rushing against the Patriots in the first quarter last Sunday than
BenJarvus Green-Ellis has in his past four games.
Aaron Rodgers has out-rushed
LaDainian Tomlinson this season.
Kenny Britt — who last played in Week 3 — has as many receiving touchdowns as
Chad Ochocinco and
Hines Ward combined.
Since the Eagles’ Week 7 bye,
DeSean Jackson has 230 fewer receiving yards than
Laurent Robinson, and 467 fewer than
Victor Cruz.
Out since Week 12,
Fred Jackson still has two more rushing yards than
Adrian Peterson in one fewer game.
Jake Locker has two fewer touchdown passes than
Sam Bradford.
INJURY QUICK SLANTSVincent Jackson (groin) missed his second straight practice. Coach Norv Turner is no longer “expecting” his No. 1 receiver to play, but “hoping” he does. Hold your breath. …
Chris Johnson (ankle) returned to Titans practice, getting in a limited session. CJwhateverK is still unable to cut with his normal authority, but coach Mike Munchak has said his feature back is “fine and a go” for Saturday. What the Dose recommended on Thursday still stands. …
Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) is officially a game-time decision. Expect for that decision to ultimately be Roethlisberger propping his ailing left foot up on the sideline while
Charlie Batch struggles to lead the Steelers past the 2-12 Rams. …
Willis McGahee (hamstring) turned in a full practice, and is expected to be near 100 percent health against the Bills. …
Roy Helu (toe, ankle) was limited for the second straight day, but “felt a lot better.” Even in a poor matchup with Minnesota’s stout run defense, he’ll be a rock solid RB2 for the fantasy finals. …
Marion Barber (calf) missed his second straight practice. It will be the
Kahlil Bell show at running back for the Bears against the Packers. …
Deion Branch (groin) was limited for the second straight day. He’s shaping up to be a game-time decision. …
Brandon Marshall (knee soreness) returned to practice, and won’t be limited against the Patriots’ 32nd ranked pass defense.
FOUR PICKS FOR WEEK 15Big game: Saints 31, Falcons 28
The Saints trip Atlanta for the second time this season, putting pressure on the 49ers as
Drew Brees closes in on NFL history.
Big game II: Jets 17, Giants 10
The Jets subdue the Giants’ passing attack while generating just enough offense against a defense that’s woefully thin outside of
Jason Pierre-Paul.
Upset of the week: Seahawks 23, 49ers 13
The Seahawks continue their late surge while the 49ers’ confidence is further shaken heading into their first postseason since 2002.
The I really don’t have a clue but will pretend I do game: Eagles 41, Cowboys 21
The Eagles continue their “Too Little, Too Late 2011” march while the Cowboys finally convince everybody they’re simply not that good of a team.
