There are a couple theories about how to build a fantasy backfield and neither of them are right or wrong. Some owners are so fed up at watching their running backs get injured or ignored that they focus instead on QB's and WR's in the early rounds. Other owners know the value of having two solid RB's can be immense and do what they can to find reliable running backs whenever possible. We know the running back is being diminished in the NFL and week 11 highlighted just how bleak it's gotten for backs everywhere. Out of the 61 running backs on our active rosters, five of them scored a touchdown this week. It's been a pretty shitty season for running backs in general as after the top 10 or so, it's hard to trust anybody. It was a pretty depressing football week in general if you're into touchdowns and fun stuff like that as we saw only two out of twelve teams top triple digits on the scoreboard. Let's break down the bad, the worse, and the ugly.
Nerf Turbos vs. Ahwatukee Drunk Cactusman
Nerf's Notes
Nerf Turbos vs. Ahwatukee Drunk Cactusman
Nerf's Notes
- One of these days Aaron Rodgers is going to have to play in a complete 60 minute football game. The Packers have now outscored their opponents 128-9 in the first half of their past four home games.
- Who knew Eddie Lacy was going to be the new Marshall Faulk. That's back to back weeks of taking a screen pass to the hizzy and looking good while doing so.
- C.J. Anderson might be behind an o-line in flux but he's going to be the man for Denver and that has value no matter what. He can get points even if it's not all on the ground.
- Nice to see Alshon Jeffery make some plays on Sunday to help get some points for a receiving trio that is as exciting as a tetanus shot.
Cactus Notes
- Dave's batting average now sits at .200 on the season in terms of playing the higher scoring QB. Has to be infuriating.
- 36 combined rushing yards and 5.1 combined fantasy points from Stewart and West helped turn this game into a laugher.
- Montee Ball's lost season gets worse somehow.
- Last week I said Mike Evans was in WR2 range. After a 32.9 point game, it might be time to put Evans in the WR1 tier. Evans is a big piece of really nice group of rookie receivers this year.
- Every time I read about Travis Kelce, I hear stuff like "The next Gronk" and "Uncoverable". Then the dude proceeeds to put up another single digit fantasy game. What am I missing?
Denver Donkey Punches vs. Foles Gold
Donkey Notes
- Can't think of two other teams moving in completely opposite directions at the time of their matchup, ever.
- Zach got 17.6 combined points from Manning and Julius and still won pretty easily. It's not a formula that Zach ever wants to repeat but it has to be a little reassuring to know that this team can score more than 90 points with two awful games from key players.
- Kelvin Benjamin keeps scoring. He's also representing the 2014 receiver draft class well.
- Boom, roasted.
Gold's Notes
Demaryius Targaryen vs. Ambiguously Gay Duo
D.T.'s Notes
- This was another fantasy team that got close to nothing out of their backfield. Combined 67 rushing yards and 9.6 fantasy points from Ellington and Hyde.
- I'm kind of surprised that Ryan Tannehill didn't tear both ACL's by halftime based on the QB injury luck this team has endured.
- Nice to finally see A.J. Green look like A.J. Green out there.
- As the movie Gladiator taught us; people should know when they're conquered.
Demaryius Targaryen vs. Ambiguously Gay Duo
D.T.'s Notes
- Jordan was one of the billion fantasy owners that was enraged while Jonas Gray kept scoring touchdowns on Sunday night. Patriots score 42 points but Tom Brady only gets 18 fantasy points. How bizarre.
- Demaryius might not be getting into the endzone as much as Jordan was expecting but it's hard to argue with D.T.'s streak of seven games with over 100 yards receiving.
- This team either scores 120+ points or 75.
- I have to think Jordan was extremely hungover on Sunday and watching his fantasy team probably added to the nausea and headache he was suffering.
- Gore had a nice game and really laid his nuts on the ground for this team.
Duo's Notes
Ray's Elevator Service vs. Dirk Diggler
Ray's Notes
Diggler's Notes
Graham's Crackers vs. I'm Your Huckleberry
Cracker Notes
Huck's Notes
That's My Forte vs. Westminster White Devils
Forte's Notes
- The Points Against gods are smiling down on these two but seven wins in a row is seven wins in a row.
- That gust of wind you felt at 1:45 PM on Sunday was from the collective sighs of relief the Pep's had after watching Jay Cutler get back on track.
- The Impotent Backfield of the Day Award was handed to this team. Rainey and Riddick combined for 7 carrries, 6 yards, and 3 fantasy points. These two probably need to do something about this.
- The relationship that Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson share is stronger than U.S. steel.
- Nice to see Michael Crabtree finally make a play.
- The younger Pep is now a father but most of this league has been calling the Pep's their daddy lately.
Ray's Elevator Service vs. Dirk Diggler
Ray's Notes
- Russell Wilson didn't throw for over 200 yards yet again but he finally exceeded 20 fantasy points for the first time in a month.
- Jeremy Hill looks like the real deal and could get himself 10-15 carries even when Bernard returns.
- Jordan Matthews looks like Mark Sanchez's favorite target. He's been a nice find for Petty.
- At the very least, this win means Kevin won't finish dead frickin' last.
Diggler's Notes
- I don't think J.P. had a starting backfield of Tre Mason and Maurice Jones-Drew in his head when this week started.
- The Mason and Floyd acquisitions paid off immediately for J.P. and he's going to need them to stay at that level if he wants to fend off Jordan for the final playoff spot.
- We're seeing the downside of going with a QB-WR combo from the same team. When it isn't clicking, it can bury you. Julio Jones hasn't scored a touchdown since week 3 and it's sending this team southbound in the standings.
- Another clunker from Gates, who might be slowing down just like the rest of the Chargers offense is lately.
- This was the third consecutive low scoring game from this team. J.P. is now pressing the panic button furiously.
Graham's Crackers vs. I'm Your Huckleberry
Cracker Notes
- I'm guessing this is the last season Chris will hitch his wagon to Matthew Stafford. He's just not getting any better at being a quarterback.
- Roddy White is somehow looking stronger and faster as the season progresses. Chris might have to start this guy no matter what going forward. Too bad he didn't trust Roddy this week.
- The Saints scored 10 points at home, which is all the proof you need that this offense isn't the same as we're accustomed to. That's bad news for Jimmy Graham, who was mostly ignored on Sunday.
- This fantasy team has gone from hosting a playoff game to fighting for their playoff lives since October.
- Can't tell if LaGarrette Blount walked off the field early due to his lack of carries or because he doesn't want to be associated with this fantasy team anymore.
Huck's Notes
- Castillo's backfield was 1.2 points away from outscoring Chris's entire starting lineup this week.
- I can't be sure that Sammy Watkins is still not 100% but he sure doesn't look great out there based off of his last two games. He also has Kyle Orton throwing him the ball.
- Got to like DeSean Jackson passive-aggressively calling out RG3 on social media. I'm sure his season and everyone else's in Washington is going to end well.
- Pretty sure we can call Castillo's team the second best in the league right now if you simply look at talent and points scored.
That's My Forte vs. Westminster White Devils
Forte's Notes
- Good thing for Meyer that he was able to pull out a 1.3 point win because there were lots of benched players outscoring starters for his team this week.
- Can't trust Big Ben on the road or in a bathroom stall.
- Tough break for Ahmad Bradshaw. I think we all predicted an injury was coming for this guy but he seemed to be a nice fit for the Indy offense and now Meyer's got a lot more uncertainty in his RB2 spot.
- I can't believe Emmanuel Sanders's upper body is still attached to his lower body after getting blasted in St. Louis.
- Is this the most disrespectful gesture a receiver can make towards a cornerback? Can't be too mad at Brandon for making a nice grab and having a nice 21 point game.
- This was another ultra close game that Fanning's pulled out all season long. The coin flip landed on the wrong side this week.
- Alfred Blue is no Arian Foster, not by a mile, but Fanning did a nice job of picking Blue up as insurance and Blue did a nice job of rewarding Fanning with 156 rushing yards.
- This is not a recording from the previous ten weeks; every single receiver on this team is poopy.
- Gronk is a manchild and probably the only New England Patriot I've ever liked.
Finally...
- CSU and CU football had a weekend like most of us did in college; no action.
- It looks like the inevitable Broncos-Patriots AFC title game is no longer inevitable. I'm trying to maintain my confidence in the Broncos but performances like that isn't helping. Hopefully they can get Sanders and J. Thomas back to full health and for the love of God can they stop shuffling the o-line every week and put these guys back in their natural positions? They went from home field advantage to a serious battle for the AFC West in a hurry.
- Thought I should spread the word that I'll be having a baby on Friday the 21st. I know it's not the most personal way to spread the news but thought I should let my fantasy buddies know one way or another and this site seemed like a good place.