NFL Week 12 Round Up

Welcome back to the Weekly Roundup. As always, we will be highlighting this past week’s injury report, top performers, underperformers, and surprise producers. There was no shortage of stunning storylines during Week 12 of the 2023 NFL Season, so let’s recap the action.

INJURY ROUND UP

Amari Cooper (WR) - Ribs 

Cooper’s X-rays came back negative so he shouldn’t miss much time, if any. 

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB) - Concussion 

DTR exited the game with a concussion and will have to clear protocol to play in Week 13. He shouldn’t be expected to miss more than one game. 

Demario Douglas (WR) - Head 

Douglas was doubtful to return and then ruled out with a head injury. There is currently no indication that he will miss any games from this. 

Rashid Shaheed (WR) - Thigh 

Shaheed was questionable and then doubtful to return to the game against the Falcons after suffering a thigh injury. There is currently no update on his availability going forward. 

Chris Olave (WR) - Concussion 

Olave exited the contest early in the 3rd quarter with a concussion. He will need to clear the league’s concussion protocol if he wants to play next week but shouldn’t miss more than one week. 

Baker Mayfield (QB) - Ankle 

Mayfield suffered an ankle injury during a goal-line rushing attempt and briefly stepped out of the game. He returned shortly after and finished the game. Mayfield is not expected to miss any time. 

Weekly Weigh-In 

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions 

● Even in their best season in decades, the Lions cannot escape a brutal NFC North loss.

● The hilarious Jay Cuda pointed out before the game that the Lions were 0-12 on Thanksgiving when the moon is in a waxing gibbous phase heading into that game. They lost once again during a waxing gibbous. Whether or not that’s a predictable stat is up to you. 

● Jordan Love is really starting to heat up again and is showing signs of being the franchise QB that the Packers want him to be. He threw for 268 yards and 3 TDs while posting his highest single-game QB Rating (minimum 10 pass attempts). 

Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys

● Dak Prescott is a rising MVP candidate facing a gauntlet not too dissimilar to what the Eagles have had to face. Over his last 5 games, Prescott has averaged 320.4 passing yards per game and has thrown a combined 17 TDs to only 2 INTs. 

● The Cowboys are 8-3 and while the Eagles are rolling, they can still steal a divisional win. 

● Sam Howell hasn’t attempted fewer than 42 pass attempts in a game since the middle of October. Although his games and final stats aren’t always pretty, this kind of volume is great for fantasy football. All Commanders continue to get a bump and a decent floor. This defense is forcing them to throw to keep up, even against bad teams. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks 

● Zach Charbonnet hasn’t had a great opportunity to show off as the RB1 in this offense. In his past two games he has run the ball at least 14 times but only reached 47 rushing yards each time. The rookie is still seeing a bump in receiving work which is good for his floor but the schedule only gets harder. A juicy matchup with the Cardinals is unfortunately in Week 18, when most fantasy leagues have ended. 

● Geno Smith’s breakout season last year is looking a lot more flukey with each passing game. The veteran is still an incredible story, but for fantasy - and even the Seahawks offense in real life - it’s just not clicking each week. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt coming off an injury on a short week against an insanely good team, but this has been the case before. He is very matchup dependent. 

● The 49ers continue to steamroll opponents post-bye. When Brock Purdy has his elite weapons healthy, nearly nobody can stop him. He will lead the 49ers into Philly to try and make up for an injury-riddled and embarrassing playoff loss to the Eagles last year. This could be for the #1 seed. 

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets 

● Not even I could write a more embarrassing end to the first half for the Jets. New York picked off Tua and then tried a hail mary with time expiring in the 2nd quarter, only to throw a pick of their own that was returned 99 yards for a TD. The Jets were only down 4 before that play and at least looked like they could keep this close if their defense hung on. Unsurprisingly, my false hope could not hold up for even a minute. 

● With De’Von Achane out, Raheem Mostert continued to show out. Despite being in the league since 2015, Mostert’s career has been filled with unfortunate injuries and we finally get to see multiple seasons of him performing at an elite level. He’s on pace to shatter his previous career-highs in rushing attempts and yards. His 13 rushing TDs this year is more than nearly all of his other seasons combined and currently leads the league. Miami’s rushing game is a spectacle. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Indianapolis Colts 

● Tampa lost their divisional lead in an expected loss but they kept it close. Outside of some elite teams beating down on them, the Bucs have been very competitive compared to how people perceive them.

● Mike Evans continued to be a TD machine, catching two against the Colts and pushing his season total to 9. 

● This was a nearly perfect situation for Colts pass-catchers as they faced a banged-up Buccaneers secondary. Although the team was often storming down the field, Gardner Minshew was doing a little too much at times. Michael Pittman Jr. was the main beneficiary but it was a disappointing day for Josh Downs. Rushing TDs limited upside and Alec Pierce got quite a bit of work too. 

● Rachaad White and Jonathan Taylor ate despite a heavy passing attack for both teams. Both backs are really starting to heat up and should be in your lineups every week. 

New England Patriots @ New York Giants 

● This Super Bowl rematch might be the saddest one we’ve ever seen. Although both teams would have been ecstatic to beat their rival, the Patriots may have gotten the last laugh with a boost in their draft slot. This is a great draft class to need a QB or WR and both teams are hurting badly at both positions - and elsewhere. Even if the Giants wanted to stick with Daniel Jones or grab a free agent, being able to trade back from a premium slot would help a lot. They aren’t ruined by winning twice in a row but it doesn’t help them much. 

● Jalin Hyatt had his best career game, catching 5 of 6 targets for 109 yards. Hyatt is a speedster who isn’t always going to produce with a massive aDOT but today it worked out. Although he may not be the WR1 of the future, he clearly has a role in this offense and it’s encouraging to see him and Tommy Devito find some success, despite the circumstances. 

● Rhamondre Stevenson ate in one of the best matchups of the week. This was his best rushing performance all year and it’s a shame that his talents are being wasted on such an awful offense. You can’t rely on many players in this offense but Stevenson still has a couple of plus matchups before the year ends. 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals 

● You can’t please everyone. With Matt Canada fired, the Steelers offense looked its best in the Kenny Pickett era. Many fans complained that the team only scored 16 points despite the win. 

● Pat Freiermuth wasn’t a factor in the receiving game in his return last week facing the Browns. Against the best TE matchup in fantasy, though, he set a career-high in receiving yards with 120. It’s unlikely that the Steelers get him this involved every game but they look a lot more comfortable using him down the middle. Pittsburgh faces Cincinnati again in Week 16 on Saturday afternoon. 

● Najee Harris looked like a new man in this offense and looked like he was finally using his large frame to his advantage. Jaylen Warren may not have stolen the starting role just yet but continues to impress despite the split in carries. 

● Jake Browning is probably not going to bring out the best in this offense but at least Ja’Marr Chase looked good. Two of his four receptions came on tipped passes that could have easily been picked but elite players make elite plays. The Bengals don’t have the easiest schedule to end the year but we may see better games for Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd as Browning gets more starting experience. Until then, Chase is the only player you can trust on this team. 

Carolina Panthers @ Tennessee Titans 

● The Panthers drop to 1-10 but don’t have their own 1st round pick. Things have been a disaster in Carolina and HC Frank Reich has been fired. Bryce Young’s rookie contract is going to be wasted on this team if they can’t turn things around quickly. Whether or not he’s the answer is irrelevant when he has no chance to shine every week. 

● Chuba Hubbard is probably the only RB worth rostering on this team despite minimal success. The Panthers don’t have many opportunities to lead in games but Hubbard is often good for double-digit carries, decent receiving work, and the occasional TD. You’d need an excellent matchup to trust him, though. 

● Jonathan Mingo could be in line for a 2nd half breakout. The rookie isn’t on an explosive offense but his target numbers have been encouraging and he had his second 60-yard game this week. If you believe in the future of this team, he’s a player worth watching. Adam Thielen isn’t getting any younger. 

● Outside of Derrick Henry and DeAndre Hopkins, you don’t want any part of this offense. Treylon Burks is still hurt but nobody has emerged as a great 2nd option. Chris Moore and Chigoziem Okonkwo are far too inconsistent and haven’t shown any ceiling in fantasy.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans 

● This game deserved OT. C.J. Stroud did nearly everything he could to keep the Texans in this game. An ill-timed sack late in the 4th led to a long FG attempt for kicker Matt Ammendola that just barely missed. The Texans have a light schedule but might have lost any shot at the division crown on Sunday. Fans deserve to see Stroud and this incredible offense in the playoffs. 

● Trevor Lawrence may look inconsistent this season but, outside of a big loss to the 49ers, he has led this team to victory almost every week since losing to the Texans in Week 3. Lawrence’s stats aren’t eye-popping but he’s steadily improving and looked excellent in a massive divisional win. His 364 yards were 5 shy of his single-game record. You’d like to see some more TDs and fewer picks but they’re winning games and that’s all that matters. 

● Is Calvin Ridley back? After putting up 101 yards and a TD in Week 1, the former Falcon was almost never worth starting in fantasy. Over the past two weeks, though, Ridley has combined for 192 yards and 3 TDs on only 12 receptions. The Jaguars passing attack has been looking a lot more palatable and Ridley is getting hot at the right time. Although he faces the Browns and Ravens in consecutive weeks, you’re almost never benching him now. 

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons 

● Chris Olave entered halftime with 8 targets, 7 receptions, and 114 receiving yards. He finished the game with…9 targets, 7 receptions, and 114 receiving yards. The young receiver was looking like he could have a day similar to Julio Jones’ 300-yard performance but suffered a concussion that saw him miss most of the second half of the contest. Olave will need to clear concussion protocol to play in Week 13 but shouldn’t miss more than one game. Expect him to continue to dominate with Michael Thomas out. It’s just unfortunate that his next game against the Falcons is after the fantasy playoffs end. 

● Bijan Robinson should be in the conversation for rookie of the year. Even though C.J. Stroud is basically a lock for it, just having your name mentioned is massive and he deserves the praise. Bijan didn’t get that many touches but still finished the game with 123 total yards and 2 TDs. This marks his 4th career game with at least 90 rushing yards and his first game with more than one TD. We all know that RBs tend to thrive in the winter and, despite playing in a dome, there’s no better time to ride him through the playoffs and into a championship. 

Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals 

● Kyren Williams didn’t miss a beat in his return. I’m sure many managers were cautious starting him despite one of the best matchups for him in the league. It seemed like the Rams could have limited his workload but that just wasn’t the case, and I don’t expect anyone to bench him going forward. Heading into MNF, Kyren is the RB1 this week and beat out most QBs in points. He gets an awful Giants run defense in the fantasy championship. 

● Although Stafford threw 33 times and targeted Cooper Kupp and Puca Nacua a combined 13 times, they combined for just 45 yards. Tutu Atwell and Kyren Williams had the best receiving days and Tyler Higbee scored 2 receiving TDs. It was a disappointing day for the star receivers but Stafford looks good post-injury and really didn’t need to rely on his best WRs in this game. The biggest concern is Kupp, as he hasn’t exceeded 50 yards in weeks after starting with 118 and 148 yards in his first two games this year. We may see a historic WR duo underperform and eliminate a lot of teams from the playoffs. 

● Although Hollywood Brown has had an uninspiring season without DeAndre Hopkins, he’s still one of the main focuses in this passing game. Kyler Murray is still looking fine and should continue to feed Brown and TE Trey McBride as the season ends. Rondale Moore just hasn’t emerged as a legitimate WR2. 

Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos 

● The Broncos are winning games. How it happens doesn’t seem to matter anymore. I could point to the multiple turnovers each game which shouldn’t be sustainable, but who even cares? This team has a solid offense and their defense is making plays. Luck is obviously a factor but every team gets lucky - or unlucky - every season. If this was happening to your team, you’d be doing cartwheels. At 6-5, Denver has become a serious contender for a playoff spot despite a loaded conference. This race is going to be one for the ages. 

● The Browns are 7-4 and still boast an amazing defense but how long can that last? The Bengals may not be real competitors in the AFC North but Cleveland may be looking to sneak into the playoffs as the 3rd best team in the division. With the Bills, Broncos, Colts, and Texans all breathing down their necks, it won’t be easy. Dorian Thompson-Robinson and P.J. Walker can’t win every week like this. This is still a playoff team but things can go south very quickly. 

● Courtland Sutton had a difficult matchup but still showcased his big play potential. His TD-streak ended at five games though. Sutton’s reception and yardage numbers may not be the best in the league but he’s still a high-upside player each and every week. 

Buffalo Bills @ Philadelphia Eagles 

● Despite defensive issues, the Bills are still one of the best teams in the league. This offense can go off at any moment and it showed in this possible SB matchup.

● Both of these QBs deserve to be in the MVP conversation, but at 10-1, Jalen Hurts has to get the most praise. His 5 total TDs will add to his already impressive resume.

● The Eagles almost lost this game but Jake Elliott nailed an impressive 59-yard FG to send it to OT. Even though Josh Allen got the ball first, the Bills could only score 3 before letting the Eagles score a TD to end the game. Philadelphia is in the driver’s seat for the #1 seed and division crown but they still face the 49ers and Cowboys before a much lighter schedule. Despite a daunting gauntlet, the only loss of the season has come against the Jets of all teams. 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders 

● The Raiders continue to show a lot of promise but ultimately can’t hang with great teams for long. The Chiefs were in danger of losing but cruised to a win to get to 8-3 on the year. They can still contend for the #1 seed and a much-needed 1st round bye in a wide-open and competitive AFC. 

● Rashee Rice is emerging as the WR1 on this team. Travis Kelce’s success is still badly needed every week but getting a more reliable option outside of him will benefit this offense immensely. It has been one of their biggest weaknesses all year. 

Baltimore Ravens @ Los Angeles Chargers 

● Is this the Chargers’ legacy? Incredible teams, some of the best QBs in the league, and nothing to show? Justin Herbert’s career is in danger of looking like Philip Rivers and Dan Fouts’. It would be disgusting to have 3 QBs in the HOF spanning over half a century and no Super Bowl wins to show for it. I wouldn’t even be that mad if they didn’t win the Super Bowl if they were actually competitive and didn’t throw games in spectacular fashion EVERY. SINGLE. SEASON. I’m not even a fan of this team and I’m tired of seeing them suffer. Herbert deserves better. Spanos needs to sell the team. 

● Lamar Jackson may not be lighting the world on fire every week but he’s doing just enough to win games. Although the team’s record and his general success will lead to MVP chants, he may need some more impressive showings to really cement himself as a true candidate. Conquering the AFC North and leading this team to the #1 seed would be a massive boost and is well within his reach.

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By Themi Michalakis