There were plenty of storylines from Sunday’s NFL action for the fantasy circuit. We had an explosion of big QB performances, some reliable running stats put up by some reliable sources. Plus we have the curious case of Robert Meachem.
Week 13 In Fantasy A Wild One
Meachem had 142 yards receiving on 8 catches and 1 receiving TD. A stellar day by any measure. But, if you own Meachem, you need to check your league rules because Meachem also scored a TD on a fumble recovery. After the Redskins had intercepted the ball, Meachem stripped it and took it to the house for six points. But who gets the six-points in your league scoring. Over at ESPN, it plays out like this:
The play will not be counted as an offensive or defensive touchdown (sorry, those of you who started the Saints D/ST), but will count instead as a fumble return for a touchdown, basically a return touchdown. So Meachem will get credit for the six points and a touchdown, even though it won’t be a receiving touchdown.
That’s great, unless you are playing in a CBSSports.com league:
This is scored as a defensive fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown for the Saints DST. Meachem will not be awarded any Fantasy points for this play. By rule, when there is a change of possession via turnover, the offensive team becomes the defense and the defense becomes the offense.
The moral of the story, check your league rules. Either Meachem or the Saints DST picked up 6 points on the play.
As mentioned above, a slew of QBs had big days, like Tony Romo (392 yards, 3 TDs), Kurt Warner (285 yards, 3 TDs), and Drew Brees (419 yards, 2 TDs). But how about the day of Bruce Gradkowski. From Tristan Cockcroft at ESPN.
Bruce Gradkowski (308 yards, 3 TDs passing at Steelers): Who? Whaaaaaa? This might have been the shocker of the day, the Raiders behind little-known Gradkowski rallying for one of the season's biggest upsets. The Steelers are clearly a different defense when Troy Polamalu sits; they have averaged 13.8 points allowed in the five games he has played and 23.1 in the seven he has missed. But let's give Gradkowski a little credit here. He has turned around the seemingly "un-turnaround-able" Raiders, passing for 691 yards and six scores the past three weeks combined. It's not enough yet to make him a fantasy option except in the deepest of two-quarterback leagues, but it bears watching.
Gradkowski was so good, he actually made a Raiders WR relevant. Louis Murphy had 128 yards and 2 TDs.
Jason Campbell was another surprise QB performance (367 yards, 3 TDs). He made Devin Thomas fantasy-relevant for one week (100 yards, 2 TDs).
Meanwhile, some QBs are not putting up the numbers and may have to ride the pine in fantasy playoffs, take Carson Palmer for example:
The Cincinnati Bengals are rolling, but Carson Palmer isn’t posting numbers you expect from a top fantasy quarterback: 220 yards and a touchdown vs. the Detroit Lions’ NFL-worst defense after 110 yards and a touchdown a week before vs. the Cleveland Browns.
Or running backs, like Frank Gore. The sudden rise of QB Alex Smith in San Fran (310 yards, 2 TDs) is taking its toll on Gore’s numbers.
Gore had 25 rushing yards Sunday, his worst total since getting hurt in Week 3. Gore helps as a receiver he caught TD passes in weeks 11 and 12 but he appears unlikely to be a premier back.
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