By The Numbers - Week 12

It’s time for a look at the fantasy numbers for week 12. Some lucky people hit the WR and TE jackpot, and some others wish they were starting the likes of Mark Brunell at QB …

The Goods

RB: After a couple of netherworld performances by mythical RBs, the cream again rose to the top. Too bad for the Redskins! LaDanian Tomlinson used late/OT defensive lapses by Washington to add 73 yards and two TDs to his totals for the day. Chalk up 28 fantasy points for his owners – that’s me in one public league, anyway.

WR: Yeah, sure, you had Marcus Robinson in your lineup because you just knew the match up was great for him. This guy sleeps all day except for three plays – they just all happen to be catches for TDs! Nice way for his owners to put up 19 fantasy points. Of course, I didn’t start Joe Jurevicius on the day that Hasselbeck helps him roll up 137 receiving yards and two TDs for 18 fantasy points.

TE: What idiot said to start Ben Watson (me)? The plays this week were Todd Heap (20 fantasy points in a late Ravens rally) and Alge Crumpler (17 fantasy points). These two made winners out of some very happy owners.

Moaning Fodder

Drew Brees did his best to make the Redskins defense feel better, with three picks and a modest 215 yards passing. That negative 2 fantasy point performance is bound to be the low-water mark for his season.

Kerry Collins made the Dolphins defense look like studs. He couldn’t muster a passing TD, got sacked 7 times, threw two picks, fumbled once and got sacked for a safety. His owners’ only saving grace was a goal-line dive for a TD and a mean 5 fantasy points. Of course, I started Collins over Trent Green.

That had to be Greg Brady at QB for NE (or was that Marsha?). Four picks in one game, and Tom Brady looked lost as he eked out two fantasy points for his disappointed owners. Oh, for the friendly confines of Foxboro …

The QB carousel turns in St. Louis and Jacksonville, where Marc Bulger owners are crying over the early exit of their Jamie Martin handcuff and Byron Leftwich owners are, well, just crying (that includes me). Who the hell is Ryan Fitzpatrick?

This Week in Fantasy History

This week, we take a look at two lucky week 13 performances by quarterbacks who no one would argue are the greatest of all time (or any time).

In the 1999 season, Jeff Blake guided the Cincinnati Bengals to a 44-30 victory over the 49ers and Jeff Garcia. Although Garcia owners were quite happy with 437 yards passing and three TDs, Blake owners (you know who you were) were ecstatic with a mistake-free 334 yards passing and four TDs.

On the same day, our friend Kerry Collins threw for 3 TDs and dove for another (sound familiar?) in a Giants 41-28 victory over the cross-town rival Jets. His total of 341 yards passing compared quite nicely to Blake’s, and he also managed to avoid mistakes.

Not too shabby when your QB gets you 30 fantasy points!