Bills 37, Jets 14
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard, Park, N.Y.
It was a tale of two rookie quarterbacks here, with the Bills’ EJ Manuel (20-of-28-245-2 TDs-0 interceptions) emerging as a fantasy feel-good story after his poor Week 10 return, while it was a tale of woe for the Jets’ Geno Smith (8-of-23-103-0 TDs-3 picks), who was replaced in the fourth quarter by Matt Simms (4-of-6-60-TD). Smith also lost a fumble in the game, giving the up-and-down QB a league-high 20 turnovers.
Extra points: Manuel was without injured starting WRs Stevie Johnson and Robert Woods, but both Marquise Goodwin (6-81) and T.J. Graham (2-74) hauled in scoring passes. … Neither Fred Jackson (14 touches-39 yards) nor C.J. Spiller (15-16) got anything going despite the rout. … Chris Ivory was the Jets’ fantasy standout with 98 rushing yards and a TD on 15 carries, while TE Jeff Cumberland (3-25) accounted for the team’s other TD. … WR Santonio Holmes only had two receptions for 71 yards on eight targets playing for the first time since Week 4. … The Jets’ defense got more pre-game fantasy love, but it was the Buffalo D which came up big, forcing the four turnovers, notching four sacks and scoring a TD.
Buccaneers 41, Falcons 28
Raymond James Stadium; Tampa, Fla.
Guess we got the answer as to who will step up as the Bucs’ No. 1 RB as explosive-looking rookie Bobby Rainey blistered the Falcons with 163 rushing yards, two catches for four yards and three TDs on a whopping 32 touches. Brian Leonard, meanwhile, got all of eight touches and had 37 total yards.
Extra points: Tampa rookie QB Mike Glennon was on-target with 20 completions in 23 attempts, throwing for 231 yards and a pair of scores with no turnovers. … Wideout Vincent Jackson’s fantasy owners reaped the benefits of his 10-catch, 165-yard, one-TD day but will be lamenting the fact that the WR won’t face the Falcons again this season as he finished with 20 receptions, 303 yards and three scores in the two contests against Atlanta. … In the latest loss of the Falcons’ disaster of a season, Matt Ryan (254-2 TDs,-2 picks) had his third straight sub-300-yard passing game and has four TDs to five interceptions over that span. … Someone named Antone Smith (2-88 yards, TD) was Atlanta’s leading rusher, while Steven Jackson (11-41) and Jacquizz Rodgers (6-22) again did next-to-nothing. …Thanks to an 80-yard scoring reception, Harry Douglas (6-134) had a big day, while fellow wideout Roddy White (3-36) caught his first TD of the season.
Steelers 37, Lions 27
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh
Both Ben Roethlisberger and Matthew Stafford came out firing in this one, but only Big Ben finished strong, winding up with 367 yards and four scoring tosses — his second four-TD game over his last three outings. Stafford, meanwhile, had 327 yards and two TDs at halftime, but was only able to add 35 yards over the final 30 minutes to finish 19-of-46 for 362 yards, two TDs and a pick.
Extra points: Mirroring Stafford, Calvin Johnson finished the game with the six receptions, 179 yards and two TDs he had in the opening half. … As for the Detroit RBs, Joique Bell (12 touches-97 total yards-TD) outshined Reggie Bush (14-54, fumble). … Steelers’ wideout Antonio Brown continued his tear with seven receptions, 147 yards and two scores, while Jerricho Cotchery (3-48) hauled in his seventh TD catch of the season. … Fellow WR Emmanuel Sanders (1-2) departed in the third quarter with a foot injury. … Le’Veon Bell had 88 total yards — 52 receiving — on 22 touches but was unable to find the end zone despite several goal-line chances.
Eagles 24, Redskins 16
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Nick Foles entered Sunday’s game with 16 TD passes and no interceptions and didn’t add to either category. He did, however, throw for 298 yards and rush for a career-high 47 yards and a TD on nine carries in guiding Philly to its first home win in their past 11 games in the Linc.
Extra points: LeSean McCoy looked as if he might’ve suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter and left the game. He returned, though, and delivered 77 rushing yards, 73 receiving yards and a pair of TDs to his relieved fantasy owners. … Eagles’ wideouts DeSean Jackson (4-82) and Riley Cooper (3-37) were quiet after their fantasy fireworks of recent weeks. … For the Skins, RGIII finished with a decent 264 passing yards, two passing TDs, 44 rushing yards and a two-point conversion run — most of it coming as he tried to lead his team back from a 24-0 second-half deficit. … Alfred Morris led Washington with 93 rushing yards on 20 carries but wasn’t involved in the passing game and saw FB Darrel Young score on a 62-yard reception. … WR Pierre Garcon (6-68) led the Skins in receiving, while Aldrick Robinson (2-60) was on the receiving end of Griffin’s other scoring pass. … TE Jordan Reed (1-12) left in the third quarter with concussion symptoms.
Cardinals 27, Jaguars 14
EverBank Field, Jacksonville
Arizona wideout Michael Floyd was listed as questionable for the game with a shoulder injury but had a healthy 193 receiving yards and a TD on six catches to account for nearly half of Carson Palmer’s season-high 419 passing yards and two scores.
Extra points: Larry Fitzgerald (6-61) awoke from his recent slumber to catch Palmer’s other TD pass, while Rashard Mendenhall managed to find the end zone despite rushing for only 14 yards on 13 carries. … Fellow RB Andre Ellington, meanwhile, deeply disappointed with only 13 total yards on 10 touches. … For the Jags, Maurice Jones-Drew scored to help offset another lackluster yardage day (35 total), while TE Danny Noble (1-62, TD) and rookie WR Ace Sanders (8-61 on 10 targets) were the surprise top pass-catchers.
Raiders 28, Texans 23
Reliant Stadium, Houston
The flagging Texans appeared to be catching a break with undrafted rookie Matt McGloin starting for the injured Terrelle Pryor at QB for the Raiders, but instead they were dealt their eighth straight loss as McGloin completed 18 of 32 passes for 197 yards and three TDs without committing a turnover.
Extra points: The rookie QB wasn’t the only fantasy stud for the Silver and Black as RB Rashad Jennings rushed for 150 yards on 22 carries, thanks to an 80-yard scoring run out of the wildcat formation, to notch his third straight 100-plus-yard game in place of the injured Darren McFadden. Expect at least timeshare when McFadden manages to get back on the field. … WRs Rod Streater (6-84), Denarius Moore (2-11) and TE Mychal Rivera (5-54) had TD receptions for the Raiders. … The Texans, meanwhile, rankled many a fantasy owner by yanking apparently healthy starting QB Case Keenum (13-of-24, 170 yards, TD, pick) in the third quarter and replacing him with the previously benched Matt Schaub (12-of-25, 155 yards). … RB Ben Tate (117), TE Garrett Graham (7 catches-136, TD) and WR Andre Johnson (10-116) all topped 100 total yards for the Texans. Johnson (17) and Graham (13) were targeted a combined 30 times.
Bears 23, Ravens 20 (OT)
Soldier Field, Chicago
As if a game which featured a 1-hour, 53-minute severe-weather delay needed any additional time, the Bears and Ravens couldn’t decide things in regulation.
Extra points: Of course those who had benched the ineffective Ray Rice saw him top 100 rushing yards for the first time all season and finish with 131, a TD and three catches for 17 yards. … Ravens QB Joe Flacco continues to struggle, throwing for 162 yards, a score and two interceptions. … WRs Tandon Doss (3-37) and Torrey Smith (5-32, TD) were his top pass-catchers. … For the Bears, RB Matt Forte came through for his fantasy owners with 83 rushing yards and five catches for 42 yards and a TD. … Josh McCown, starting for the Bears for the second time in three games, threw for a sub-par 216 yards and a TD, targeting WRs Alshon Jeffrey (7-83) and Brandon Marshall (5-42) a combined 21 times.
Bengals 41, Browns 20
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
So in scoring 41 points and winning by 21 to snap out of a two-game skid, Cincy must’ve had a bunch of fantasy standouts, right? Not really, aside from the Bengals’ D/special teams which had four sacks, forced four turnovers and scored a pair of return TDs.
Extra points: QB Andy Dalton completed only 13-of-27 passes for 93 yards and two interceptions, but did toss a trio of TD passes. … BenJarvus Green-Ellis (10-62) led Cincy in rushing, while fellow RB Giovanni Bernard (4-41) paced the squad in receiving and added 45 yards on 10 rushes. … WR A.J. Green? Don’t ask after Cleveland CB Joe Haden helped limit him to two receptions for 27 yards on five targets. … Meanwhile, Cleveland QB Jason Campbell entered the game with five TD passes and no interceptions, but had only one score and three picks Sunday while completing only 27 of 56 passes for 248 yards. … In the backfield, Chris Ogbonnaya (14 touches-99 yards) looks like he’s ready to take over the No. 1 RB role from Willis McGahee (8-17), while WR Josh Gordon (5-125, TD) easily led the Browns in receiving.
Dolphins 20, Chargers 16
Sun Life Stadium; Miami Gardens, Fla.
The Fins got a much-needed win amid the continuing Jonathan Martin-Richie Incognito soap opera, but Ryan Tannehill (268 yards, TD, interception) didn’t do much for his fantasy owners.
Extra points: RB Lamar Miller definitely didn’t, rushing only four times for 17 yards and catching two passes for 20 yards. Daniel Thomas, meanwhile, rushed 10 times for 57 yards and a caught a pass for 2 yards. … TE Charles Clay (6-90, TD) and WR Brian Hartline (5-65) paced the Miami pass-catchers, while wideouts Rishard Matthews (4-52) and Mike Wallace (4-39) did little. … For the Bolts, Philip Rivers (298 yards, TD, interception) and Ryan Mathews (127 rushing yards, 16 receiving) were decent in defeat. … As for Rivers’ targets, TEs Antonio Gates (4-52, TD) and Ladarius Green (4-81) figured heavily in the game plan. … Rookie WR Keenan Allen? Not so much, as he was held to less than 50 yards (3-45) and out of the end zone for the second straight game.
Giants 27, Packers 13
MetLife Stadium; East Rutherford, N.J.
Packers QB Scott Tolzien put up some decent numbers — 24-of-34 and 339 yards — in his first start, but his 0-3 TD-interception ratio turned a potentially good fantasy day sour and doomed the Pack to a third straight defeat.
Extra points: On the other side, Eli Manning threw for 279 yards and a TD — topping 275 yards for the first time in five games. … Both Victor Cruz (8-110) and Hakeem Nicks (4-50) had more catches and yards than fellow WR Rueben Randle (3-37), but Randle notched his seventh TD reception in the past six games, while Cruz and Nicks have combined for zero during that span. … Andre Brown followed up on his big Week 10 debut with 93 total yards — 66 rushing — on 21 touches but didn’t score. … Brandon Jacobs, however, had five carries for nine yards and a TD, while Peyton Hillis was a healthy scratch. … The Pack’s Eddie Lacy rushed for only 27 yards on 14 carries, but managed to score the team’s only TD. … WR Jordy Nelson (8-117) and Jarrett Boykin (6-91) paced the Packers in receiving.
Seahawks 41, Vikings 20
CenturyLink Field, Seattle
Percy Harvin’s much-anticipated 2013 debut amounted to one catch for 17 yards on his only target, but he showed plenty of explosion on his lone kickoff return, bringing it back 58 yards and nearly breaking it against his former team.
Extra points: Marshawn Lynch had his third-lowest total-yardage output (63 on 19 touches) of the season, but he found the end zone three times — twice on runs and a reception. … Russell Wilson was, well, Russell Wilson, completing 13-of-18 passes for 230 yards and two scores, adding 14 rushing yards on two carries and remaining unbeaten at home. … TE Zach Miller (5-69) and WR Doug Baldwin (2-63, TD) were Wilson’s most -productive targets. … For the Vikes, the top fantasy-points producer was WR Jarius Wright (3-69, 2 TDs), while RB Adrian Peterson (21-65, no receptions) was held in check. … Minnesota TE John Carlson (5-69) continues to see a lot of action with starter Kyle Rudolph sidelined.
Saints 23, 49ers 20
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
The Saints remained perfect at home, but for once, it was wasn’t a typical, huge Drew Brees day with the QB limited to 305 yards and only TD pass. He also threw an interception.
Extra points: A week after combining for five TDs in a rout of the Cowboys, Saints RBs Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram failed to score, leaving the team’s TDs to FB Jed Collins (2 rushes-3 yards) and TE Josh Hill (1 catch-3 yards). Thomas had the most touches (16) and most total yards (84) of the bunch. … WR Marques Colston (5-80) and TE Jimmy Graham (6-41) were targeted a combined 19 times. … For the Niners, QB Colin Kaepernick continues to disappoint, throwing for only 127 yards and adding only 25 more on the ground while throwing for a pair of TDs. It was his eighth sub-200-yard passing game in 10 outings this season. … WR Anquan Boldin (6-56) and TE Vernon Davis (4-33) each caught TD passes and have accounted for all 11 of San Fran’s scoring receptions this year. … Frank Gore (13-48 rushing, 2-8 receiving) failed to score for the second straight game.
Broncos 27, Chiefs 17
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver
The vaunted K.C. defense didn’t get to the limited Peyton Manning, but that didn’t necessarily help his fantasy owners as he failed to throw multiple TD passes for the first time this season, finishing 24-of-40 for 323 yards and one TD.
Extra points: Manning’s TD toss went to TE Julius Thomas (3-43), who looked to hyper-extend his knee in the third quarter. … Also unable to finish the game was slot receiver Wes Welker (8-72), who reportedly suffered a fourth-quarter concussion. … Wideout Demaryius Thomas (5-121) led the Broncos in receiving. … Knowshon Moreno had a game-high 27 touches — all rushes — for 79 yards, but rookie Montee Ball (11 for 41 yards) continues to get more late-season work and accounted for two of Denver’s three TDs. … For K.C., Jamaal Charles (18 touches-72 yards) was kept in check, while WR Dwayne Bowe (4-57, TD on 14 targets) had one of his better fantasy outings of the season for those few still starting him. … K.C. Alex Smith was forced to air it out a season-high 45 times and had 21 completions for 230 yards and two TDs while rushing five times for 52 yards.
