What We Saw: Week 12

The QB List staff catches you up on everything you missed during Week 12 of the 2020 NFL season.

Ben Brown
What We Saw 3 Years Ago
Series Navigation
Introduction
Texans @ Lions
Washington @ Cowboys
Dolphins @ Jets
Titans @ Colts
Giants @ Bengals
Panthers @ Vikings
Chargers @ Bills
Raiders @ Falcons
Cardinals @ Patriots
Browns @ Jaguars
Saints @ Broncos
Chiefs @ Buccaneers
49ers @ Rams
Bears @ Packers
Seahawks @ Eagles
Ravens @ Steelers

Panthers @ Vikings

 

Inspired by a fantastic performance from Kirk Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings scored 18 points in the 4th quarter to edge past the Carolina Panthers 28-27, and stay in touch for a wildcard berth in the NFC. When Chad Beebe muffed a punt deep inside Minnesota territory with just 2:18 remaining it looked like the game was over, however, he picked himself up and earned hero status with his first NFL touchdown, capping a 7 play, 75-yard drive from Cousins with just 50 seconds left. Joey Slye missed a 54-yard field goal as time expired to hand the Vikings the win and spoil Teddy Bridgewater‘s return to Minneapolis.

 

Carolina Panthers

 

Quarterback

 

Teddy Bridgewater: 19/36, 267 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 2 carries, 12 yards

 

It was a disappointing return to Minnesota for the affable Teddy Bridgewater (14.88 fantasy points), who struggled to get this offense going both on the ground and in the air against an improving Minnesota defense. Teddy struggled mightly to connect with his receivers from the start (he started off 1-of-7 in the 1st quarter) and was lucky to be going into halftime with just a 3 point deficit. He threw short to an open D.J. Moore on the 2nd drive of the game and then threw into traffic down the middle of the field resulting in an interception on the next drive in the redzone.

 

 

The 2 defensive touchdowns for the Panthers should have allowed Bridgewater to lean on the running game but he failed to convert 4 3rd-down attempts in 4 2nd half drives to set up the run game. He again missed a wide-open Moore in the endzone with just 1:54 on the clock to ice the game. To be fair, Teddy did lead the team into field goal territory on the final drive thanks to a couple of lovely throws to Curtis Samuel and Robby Anderson. He got up very gingerly after taking a hit before scurrying downfield to clock the ball. It is not his fault Joey Syle missed the kick.

It is hard to trust Bridgewater as any more than an “if needs must” option at the position for fantasy purposes. He desperately needs the return of Christian McCaffrey. Then we can talk.

 

Running Backs

 

Mike Davis: 15 carries, 55 yards | 6 targets, 3 receptions, 24 yards

Rodney Smith: 7 carries, 18 yards | 1 target

Trenton Cannon: 3 carries, 17 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 1 yard

 

Mike Davis (10.90 fantasy points) has been admirable in spelling McCaffrey but today was not his day at all against 2 of the better linebackers in the league at stuffing yards-after-contact (YAC) from running backs, Erik Kendricks and Eric Wilson. Davis (153) came into the day trailing just Alvin Kamara (243) in total YAC but was well marshaled today on limited opportunities. It remains to be seen as to whether Matt Rhule will activate CMC for the rule in. Feelings are that they should sit him for the season and concentrate on 2021. That would make Davis a must-stash in the coming weeks.

Neither Rodney Smith nor Trenton Cannon deserves mention after pedestrian performances today.

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Robby Anderson: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 94 yards, 1 TD

Curtis Samuel: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 72 yards | 1 carry, 5 yards

D.J. Moore: 9 targets, 4 receptions, 61 yards

Chris Manhertz: 1 target, 1 reception, 11 yards

Ian Thomas: 2 targets, 1 reception, 4 yards

 

The free-agent acquisition of Robby Anderson (19.40 fantasy points) in the offseason looks to be one of the best pieces of business from any NFL franchise this season. Despite Anderson putting up solid numbers all season, he registered just his 2nd receiving score of the season today by taking advantage of a complete mismatch as the Vikings tried to drop a defensive lineman, Ideadi Odenigbo, into coverage against him.

 

 

Anderson showed elite route-running skills all day (and all across the formation), giving the young Vikings secondary the runaround for much of the contest. He only had one target in the first half, which limited his production. And that has been the issue all season. He is a guy who does more with less. We cannot expect a high TD rate for Anderson from a Bridgewater-led short passing offense.

 

 

Teddy’s two favorite targets, D.J. Moore (10.10 fantasy points) and Curtis Samuel (12.70 fantasy points) had quieter days. The bigger worry is Moore, who went off limping near the end of the game after reaching up for an errant Bridgewater pass and coming down awkwardly. Ironically, it was in the end zone and should have resulted in a score that clinched the game for the Panthers.

 

 

Those who have rostered Moore should wait with bated breath for news on what looked like a significant injury. If he does miss time then Samuel is sure to benefit. After touchdowns in 3 of his last 4 games, Samuel failed to make an impact despite hauling in all his 5 targets for 72 yards, including a nice grab on the final drive to set up the field goal attempt.

 

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Samuel is still only 64% rostered after being a popular waiver wire add last week. Look out for him on the wire as you push for the playoffs.

 

Minnesota Vikings

 

Quarterback

 

Kirk Cousins: 34/45, 307 yards, 3 TDs, 2 sack, 1 FUM lost | 3 carries, 19 yards

 

It was a virtuoso performance from Kirk Cousins (26.18 fantasy points) once again, and the much-maligned quarterback has elevated his game to a new level in the past 6 weeks as he has emerged as a viable fantasy QB. Attempting a season-high 45 passing attempts, Cousins bombarded rookie sensation Justin Jefferson with whom he connected for 2 passing scores.

 

 

Opening up the 3rd quarter, Cousins was strip-sacked for the 2nd time in as many weeks and the fumble was returned for a score by rookie safety Jeremy Chinn. Ball security has always been an issue for Cousins and he looked like a deer in the headlights on this play.

 

 

On the 1st play on the following drive, Dalvin Cook fumbled and Chinn once again gobbled up the takeaway and scored a defensive touchdown. A 3-point lead for Cousins was suddenly an 11-point deficit. He responded with aplomb, finding Jefferson in the end zone to cap another impressive drive (this time 11 plays, and 75 yards) before hitting Chad Beebe on paydirt late in the 4th quarter when it counted the most.

Cousins is well worthy of a stream in the fantasy run in, especially if Thielen returns next week against a hapless Jacksonville defense.

 

Running Backs

 

Dalvin Cook: 18 carries, 61 yards, 1 FUM lost | 4 targets, 4 receptions, 21 yards

C.J. Ham: 1 carry, 10 yards

Alexander Mattison: 2 carries, 6 yards

 

It was a frustrating week for the NFL’s leader in total scrimmage yards. The Panthers defensive front performed admirably to restrict Dalvin Cook (10.20 fantasy points) to under 100 yards on the day. Cook did break off a couple of productive runs once the Vikings went behind.

 

 

However, Cook has now fumbled in 2 consecutive weeks after losing the ball in a huddle while trying to push for extra yardage. It shouldn’t impinge on his workload going forward but it is something to note. Given the volume Cook receives, you should expect a couple of indiscretions through the season.

 

 

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

 

Bisi Johnson: 7 targets, 7 receptions, 74 yards

Justin Jefferson: 13 targets, 7 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TDs

Kyle Rudolph: 8 targets, 7 receptions, 68 yards

Chad Beebe: 7 targets, 7 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TD, 1 FUM lost

Brandon Dillon: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards

Tyler Conklin: 2 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards

Tajae Sharpe: 1 target

 

A star is emerging in Minnesota – rookie 1st-round receiver Justin Jefferson (26.00 fantasy points) gave further proof to his pedigree as an Offensive Rookie of the Year nominee with a sensational performance against this Panthers secondary. His route-running ability was far too much for Rasul Douglas and Jermaine Carter, who scrambled haplessly around after the receiver all afternoon.

 

 

Jefferson saw a healthy 13 targets in the absence of Adam Thielen and more importantly for fantasy output, Jefferson was Cousins’ replacement for him in the red zone. The former LSU wideout rewarded him with 2 excellent grabs, his second showing both toughness and desire.

 

 

The turn to the passing game in the 3rd quarter meant that the Vikings supporting cast all logged 7 catches – Kyle Rudolph (13.80 fantasy points), Bisi Johnson (16.40 fantasy points), and Chad Beebe (17.30 fantasy points) whose touchdown catch at the end of the 4th quarter proved to be the difference between the two teams. Beebe worked a nice route out of the slot and went up to grab another perfect Cousins throw.

 

 

It is hard to justify any call to roster these guys in your fantasy league as Thielen is likely to return next week and nullify all their relevance. Out of them, only Rudolph is a decent add as a TE streamer.

 

— Benjamin Haller (@benjaminhaller1 on Twitter)

Series Navigation
Introduction
Texans @ Lions
Washington @ Cowboys
Dolphins @ Jets
Titans @ Colts
Giants @ Bengals
Panthers @ Vikings
Chargers @ Bills
Raiders @ Falcons
Cardinals @ Patriots
Browns @ Jaguars
Saints @ Broncos
Chiefs @ Buccaneers
49ers @ Rams
Bears @ Packers
Seahawks @ Eagles
Ravens @ Steelers

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