The Eagles besting the Bills in overtime may have been the game of the year, but don’t let that distract you from the rest of the fantasy football landscape. A busy Week 12 was full of action – read on to find out who’s rising and who’s falling in dynasty.
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Week 12 Dynasty Risers & Fallers
Risers
Christian Watson (WR – GB)
The Packers’ offense has left fantasy managers hungry for more production throughout the season. Christian Watson has operated on an empty stomach, mostly left with scraps through 11 weeks of the season, but he showed up to Thanksgiving a hungry man, and he feasted before Grandma finished saying grace. Watson broke loose for a 53-yard gain on the first play of the game and caught four passes on the first two drives, marking a season-high reception total. He caught just one more pass through the remainder of the contest, but it went for a touchdown in the third quarter, leading to a line of five catches for 94 yards and a score.
Watson’s 20.4 fantasy points nearly double his previous season-high. It’s notable that Dontayvion Wicks missed the game, which may have benefited Watson, but it’s encouraging the team made it a priority to get him involved, regardless.
Kyren Williams (RB – Los Angeles Rams)
The Los Angeles Rams released Darrell Henderson last week, making it clear that Kyren Williams would be ready to go for the matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday. After bursting onto the scene in the first six weeks of the season, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Williams returned as if he hadn’t just missed four games (plus a bye week) with a sprained ankle.
Williams handled 41 of 67 snaps but toted the rock just 16 of 32 running back carries. Still, he turned those attempts into 143 rushing yards while running 21 of the 29 running back routes, converting those into six grabs for 61 yards and two scores. His 38.4 fantasy points marked his highest total of the year and the fourth-best score from a running back this season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Offense
The Steelers’ list of risers is headlined by Pat Freiermuth, who enjoyed 11 targets on Sunday, the second most of his career, which he turned into nine grabs for 120 yards. It was his second game back from an IR stint following a hamstring injury, and gives managers some reassurance after one catch for seven yards last week.
However, the increased productivity doesn’t stop with Freiermuth, as everybody seemed to benefit after Matt Canada was relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator. It’s felt like a long time coming, but it was impressive to see it pay such quick dividends, with the Steelers offense clearing 400 yards for the first time in 59 games. Najee Harris ran for 99 yards and a touchdown, while the rest of the production was spread out rather evenly among Jaylen Warren, Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. Kenny Pickett threw for 278 yards and played turnover-free football. The performance fell short of an offensive explosion, but the entire offense deserves a boost in the post-Canada era.
Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAX) & Calvin Ridley (WR – JAX)
Like peanut butter and jelly or spaghetti and meatballs, Trevor Lawrence and Calvin Ridley cook together. After starting the season hot, Ridley and the Jaguars’ offense faced constant questions following inconsistent performances mid-season. Lawrence, scheduled to make another leap this season, has been unable to take a step forward, let alone a leap. With two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns in Week 11, Lawrence posted 32.18 fantasy points and followed that up with 24.56 this week, his two best totals of the season and the only games he’s topped 20 points. His 364 passing yards this week are his best of the year, while he added another passing and rushing touchdown to his stat sheet. Ridley has regained his role as the top option in the passing offense, finding the endzone three times in the last two games. He’s posted 192 yards and 53 fantasy points, easily his best two-game stretch of the season.
Tony Pollard (RB – DAL)
After scoring two touchdowns in Week 1, Tony Pollard failed to cross the goal line again until week 11 and has now found paydirt two weeks in a row. He rushed 13 times for 79 yards this week, good for 6.1 yards per carry, his best mark of the season. He added six receptions for 24 yards, his second-most receptions in a game this year. The usage has been strong for Pollard all season, but he has struggled to generate results. With the passing offense taking off in recent weeks, it’s taken some pressure off Pollard, who seems to be responding.
Michael Carter (RB – ARI)
Pop quiz! Who does Michael Carter play for? If you answered with the Arizona Cardinals, you are correct. But did you know that he played 27 snaps to James Conner‘s 30, ran 19 routes to Conner’s 15 and rushed four times to Conner’s six, while both caught five passes? This came in Carter’s first game as a Cardinal and with Emari Demercado also active. The production was modest, with 34 total yards, but it appears the team has a plan to utilize Carter.
Fallers
Adam Thielen (WR – CAR)
After dominating the first seven weeks of the season, Adam Thielen averaged 20.2 fantasy points per game. Over the last four games, Thielen’s per-game average has fallen to 8.7 points per game. In addition, Jonathan Mingo‘s usage has increased during this time, as he topped Thielen in snaps today, 68 to 66, and doubled his target total, six to three. It always felt unlikely that Thielen would continue to produce at the level he was earlier this season. At 33 years old, it just might be the beginning of the end for Thielen.
Dameon Pierce (RB – HOU)
The Texans’ second-year running back made the fallers list earlier this season for his declining production, but the downfall hasn’t slowed since then as Pierce officially lost his starting job this week. With Devin Singletary shining in Pierce’s absence the last three weeks, Singletary took the first snap and tallied 49 of them compared to just 11 for Pierce. Singletary rushed just six times for 18 yards but caught six passes for 54 yards, while Pierce mustered 14 yards on five carries and four yards on one reception. With the offense soaring to new heights in recent weeks, it’s unlikely the backfield shifts back in the favor of Pierce unless he makes a big impression.
Jamaal Williams (RB – NO)
Jamaal Williams is a non-factor in the Saints’ offense, hitting a season-low with two carries on Sunday. He caught two passes, but operating as a receiver out of the backfield would never be his game with Alvin Kamara healthy. However, it’s been Taysom Hill who has cratered Williams’ value more than anybody. Williams has out-carried Hill in just two of the seven games in which they’ve both been active. Hill is effective as a short-yardage runner and is often used as a receiver or to throw a pass, giving him the nod over Williams more often than not.
Justice Hill (RB – BAL)
Justice Hill averaged 8.4 fantasy points per game through his first seven games. Through the last four, that average has slid to 2.38. It’s no coincidence that Keaton Mitchell broke out in Week 9 when the downfall began for Hill. His dynasty value was never very high, to begin with, but Hill certainly had value in the Ravens’ rushing attack. Mitchell is doing what Hill was doing next to Gus Edwards but is doing it better.
Tyler Boyd (WR – CIN)
Even with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in town, you could always count on Tyler Boyd to come through when one of the two missed a game and even pop next to them every now and then. On Sunday, Boyd didn’t play at all in 12 personnel, as Trenton Irwin played opposite of Chase in that formation. Although Boyd saw five targets compared to one for Irwin, it was Irwin who led in snap count with 31 to Boyd’s 27. It’s not an overly significant difference, especially when Boyd registered more targets. Still, it’s notable that Boyd is falling into more of a rotational role, even with Tee Higgins out. This is also partially due to Andrei Iosivas becoming a rotation piece, playing 14 snaps of his own.
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