By @JorgeBEdwards
This week’s slate of NFL action took the fantasy football world by storm! From surprise performances by unproven players to future football Hall of Famers showing you why they are indeed just that, Week 12’s NFL Fantasy Football action was something to behold making narrowing down just four players for this week’s 4-EYED OBSERVATIONS a tricky endeavor. Yes, my friends, it’s a tough gig, but someone’s got to do it!
As is my custom every week I’m entrusted to present to you four players that performed well in each week, discuss with you how they, in fact, did well, and give you my assessment of their fantasy potential going forward. So with that sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s 4-EYED OBSERVATIONS FROM WEEK 12!
4-EYED OBSERVATION #1: Amari Cooper was worth a first round pick!
The last time the Dallas squared off against the Washington Redskins they were lacking in one department on offense: Wide Receiver.
The very next day they pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Oakland Raiders for Amari Cooper in exchange for a 1st round pick in the NFL Draft. Since then, slowly but surely, Dallas’ offense has benefited from having an all-pro wide receiver in their receiving corps due to opposing defenses having to, now, defend not just against the run but the passing game as well. For weeks since the trade, the Cowboys and Cowboys fan alike have been waiting for the day that everything finally clicked on offense both in the rushing and receiving department. Fitting it is that on Thanksgiving they finally got their wish.
Amari Cooper’s NextGenStats are quite remarkable. Cooper practically caught every pass thrown his way with an 88.9 catch percentage on 9 targets with an amount of cushion between him and his defender of just 4.9 yards. After the catch, he immediately accelerated to gain an additional 2.2 yard of separation between his defender. During his 90 yard touchdown run Cooper reached a top speed of 20.82 miles per hour.
OH and I forgot his most important stat, he scored 34 fantasy points in 0.5 PPR leagues for his fantasy managers.
Going forward I’m not saying Cooper is a viable WR1 or WR2 (due to his previous body of work), but given his fantasy schedule going forward you can safely insert him into your FLEX spot without regrets.
4-EYED OBSERVATION #2: Christian McCaffery put in his best fantasy performance of the season!
With 41.2 fantasy points, in 0.5 PPR scoring leagues, Christian McCaffery put forth his best fantasy performance on the season for a combined 18 touches for 237 yards and two total touchdowns on Sunday! Spending only 2.45 seconds behind the line of scrimmage despite facing 8 or more defenders in the box 23.53% of the time McCaffery ran ferociously and decisively, even it was only for a minimal gain at times. If the running game didn’t work, the receiving game did. When the receiving game didn’t work, the running game did. Norv Turner, the Panthers O.C., masterfully utilized the entire repertoire of McCaffery’s skill set on Sunday against a resurgent Seahawks defense.
With a favorable fantasy football playoff schedule ahead of him and no one to share backfield duties with McCaffery is on the short list of running backs who should be termed “championship winning” players. If you’re one of his fantasy managers give yourself a pat on the back!
4-EYED OBSERVATION #3: Eric Ebron is one of the best tight-ends in fantasy football!
I know, I know, I know, “He doesn’t have the targets. You can’t give people faith in him because he doesn’t get a lot of targets, therefore, his performance is unpredictable.”
THAT is what you hear from all of the big names in the fantasy football industry. With all due respect, you all are wrong that I can’t predict his performance. Not quantitatively, but qualitatively. Even someone with the worst vision on the planet can see that Eric Ebron only gets the most quality of targets with Andrew Luck throwing him the ball. as they always seem to be for big chunk plays or red zone opportunities.
Andrew Luck’s chemistry with Ebron can’t be denied and as long as Luck understands the concept of a defensive mismatch, which Ebron is, Ebron will always be his go-to guy in scoring situations. Given that the Colts always seem to be in scoring situations, Ebron is one of the best-situated tight-ends in the NFL and a top three tight end in fantasy football!
Ebron ended the day with 5 receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns for 20 fantasy points in 0.5 PPR scoring leagues!
4-EYED OBSERVATION #4: Jamal Adams is an elite IDP defensive back!
Jamal Adams is GROWN 😤 @TheAdamsEra pic.twitter.com/oPknoHZkyL
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) November 25, 2018
7 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 6 passes defensed, 14.5 fantasy points, using FANTASY IN FRAMES IDP scoring settings, one hell of a hit on Rob Gronkowski later and Jamal Adams had a HECK of a day at the office on Sunday!
In 11 games Adams has scored double-digit fantasy points six times. Whether it’s defending the pass, playing the run, or both Adams is the swiss army knife of this Jets defense and has become one of the top starting safeties in the NFL and in fantasy football! Facing Buffalo, Houston, and Green Bay in the fantasy playoffs Adams will have plenty of opportunities to attack a couple high scoring offenses and WILL be one of the factors why some fantasy managers will win a fantasy football championship!
Those are my 4-EYED OBSERVATIONS from past week!
Check back later this week for our week 13 podcast and our 4-EYED PREVIEWS!
Thanks for checking out FANTASY IN FRAMES!
*Also don’t forget to go back and read over our previous IN SEASON ARTICLES. You might find some nuggets of fantasy football gold that could propel you into the fantasy playoffs and even help you win a fantasy football championship!*
