When I look back on week 12 the notion of taking advantage of one’s opportunities comes to mind.
Players who we didn’t really have on our radar during the preseason REALLY stepped up and emerged as late to help provide managers with hope this week. And quite frankly some of the players mentioned in this week’s 4-EYED OBSERVATIONS have the potential to help you beyond this past week and could even help lead you to a fantasy football championship.
Don’t be afraid to take a chance on some of the players listed below (I’ll tell you which ones) the final week of the regular season as well as during the fantasy playoffs.
**DISCLAIMER**
As always when discussing fantasy point production we’re referring to 0.5 PPR scoring. IDP fantasy point scoring is solely based on our very own IDP scoring rubric which will be presented to you when we discuss IDPs later on in the article.
Here are my 4-EYED OBSERVATIONS from Week 12!
Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill is a thing, folks, and he isn’t going away
On Sunday versus the Jaguars, Ryan Tannehill posted:
- 2 passing touchdowns (6th in the NFL)
- 2 rushing touchdowns (1st in the NFL among QBs)
- A passer rating of 155.8 (1st in the NFL)
- 32.4 fantasy points (2nd in the NFL)
- 259 passing yards (9th most in the NFL)
- 40 rushing yards (5th most in the NFL among QBs)
During the last four games played by all quarterbacks this season, Tannehill is 3rd in average fantasy points per game and total fantasy points scored behind Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.
Over the next 4 weeks he faces the Colts (12th in pass coverage/allows 16.6 fantasy points per game to the position), the Raiders (25th in pass coverage/allows 22.1 fantasy points per game to the position), and Texans (26th in pass coverage/allows 20.8 fantasy points per game to the position, and Saints (16th in pass coverage/allows 19.2 fantasy points per game to the position).
I mean….I’ve only been hyping Tannehill since our AFC South Preview podcast back in August and have mentioned him a LOT in my 4-EYED OBSERVATIONS and PREVIEWS all season. If everything I mentioned doesn’t convince you to roll with him now throughout the end of the fantasy football season I don’t know what will.
START HIM!
Running Back: Benny Snell, Jr. took the ball and ran with it…literally
Benny Snell, Jr., the rookie out of the University of Kentucky, on Sunday posted:
- 21 rushing attempts (tied for 4th among all RBs)
- 98 rushing yards (7th among all RBs)
- Averaged 4.7 yards per carry
- Scored 10.3 fantasy points
As long as James Conner is out of action for the Steelers, Snell is the running back you want to roster in this backfield. Why? VOLUME and EFFICIENCY. You see it’s not just volume alone. Any running back can have tons of volume/opportunity. It’s what he does with that opportunity that matters, and getting plenty of volume and being very efficient behind the 15th best run-blocking unit in the NFL bodes well for his immediate outlook.
In week 13, he’ll face Browns who rank 29th in run defense and have allowed 17.6 fantasy points per game to the position. After that, he’ll face the Cardinals (allow 20 fppg to RBs), the Bills (allow 18.7 fppg to RBs), and the Jets (allow 16.3 fppg to RBs). If Conner is out during this stretch of the season Snell could be a league winner for you. Pick him up off waivers, if available, and insert him into your lineup ONLY if Conner is out.
Wide Receiver: Cole Beasley is proving his worth in 0.5 PPR and PPR formats
In week 12, Cole Beasley posted:
- 6 receptions (1st on the Bills)
- 76 receiving yards (1st on the Bills)
- 16.6 fantasy points (1st on the Bills)
On the season Beasley has been 2nd on the Bills both in targets, receptions, and yards (as expected) behind John Brown, and this week faces a Dallas team that allows the most fantasy points per game to slot wide receivers. For THIS WEEK Beasley is a solid FLEX option in 0.5 and full PPR leagues.
Linebacker: Alexander Johnson has been a bright spot for Denver’s LB corps
While Todd Davis gets most of the “tackling” notoriety among Denver linebackers, Alexander Johnson, hasn’t done too poorly for himself as of late and on Sunday posted:
- 15 total tackles (10 solo/5 assisted)
- 1 QB hit
- 1 Tackle for a loss
- 20.8 fantasy points (utilizing our IDP scoring rubric)
Over the past quarter of the season, Johnson has really stepped up his game ranking 2nd on the Broncos in solo tackles with 22, tied for 1st on the team with total tackles 41, and is averaging 10.3 total tackles (5.5 solo/4.8 assisted) per game. This week the Broncos will face their divisional foe the Los Angeles Chargers which rank 28th in run blocking proving another solid outing opportunity. For this week, pick him up and start him if you need an IDP with high tackle number potential.
Defensive Lineman/Edge Rusher: Ansah got Ziggy with it in Philly on Sunday……sorry I had to.
No Jadeveon Clowney to rush the passer, no problem. Ziggy Ansah took care of business against the Eagles in week 12 positing:
- 4 total tackles
- 1.5 stuffs
- 1.5 sack
- 11 sack yards
- 2 QB hits
- 1 forced fumble
While this is an IMPRESSIVE stat line, Ansah has been completely unreliable as an IDP asset all season and should definitely not be in your lineups this week. Sorry, Ziggy
Defensive Back: Adoree Jackson did pretty darn well for a cornerback in IDP this week
Against the Jaguars on Sunday, Adoree Jackson posted:
- 12 total tackles (10 solo/2 assisted) (2nd in the NFL)
Over the past 4 games played, Jackson is 2nd on the Titans with 20 solo tackles (1st in total tackles). Clearly in passing situations, Jackson has been the cornerback offenses having been targeting as of late which, for IDP, is fantastic due to the tackle opportunity that goes with that. Over the next weeks Jackson does face some decent pass-heavy offenses, but being ranked the 3rd cornerback on the team, despite his recent performance as of late, does not merit weekly consideration going forward. But still, it was a good showing for him on Sunday.
Those were my 4-EYED OBSERVATIONS from Week 12!
Be sure to read our 4-EYED PREVIEWS for WEEK 13 on Wednesday, our 4-EYED ASSESSMENT on Thursday, and our HEROES & VILLAINS article from the previous week’s action this week as well!
ALSO, our Week 12 Fantasy Preview podcast will be dropping this week PLUS a BONUS fantasy playoff primer episode will be dropping just in time for the fantasy playoffs!
ALSO, ALSO we’ll be debuting our new 4-EYED WAIVER CLAIMS series of articles this week.
Make sure to follow us Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram as well as reach out to us to get your personalized fantasy football questions answered!
Thanks for visiting Fantasy In Frames!
*Stats provided by FantasyData.com, ProFootballFocus.com, and FantasyPros.com
Did you hear the news about Darren Sproles? It looks like he decided to retire. He was with the Eagles for 15 years! That’s crazy! I guess that means the Cowboys will be the last team he plays against. Good for him!