As many people fight for their fantasy playoff lives, some owners made it in on the backs of their stars, while others watched as their hopes and dreams were squashed with dismal performances. Chris Johnson is the first name that comes to mind as he finished the game with a staggering five yards rushing and two yards receiving… that's it! Unless you also own Tom Brady, Peyton Hillis and Dwayne Bowe, you probably lost in Week 12.
That is what is so frustrating thing with fantasy football, depending on players to defend your league honor. Too bad there are no glove slaps and challenges anymore; now all we can do is call them out in the message board and smack talk until the next season starts.
Winners
Matt Cassel: I am not a Cassel owner or fan, but this weekend he came through for the 21 percent of people who started him. Cassel finished the game with just 233 passing yards, but he threw four TDs with no INTs and ran for another 28 yards. Only Brady beat him this weekend, so hang your head high if you rolled the dice and started him in this one.
Kyle Orton: Orton is having a magical season, but I keep waiting for it to end because he has burned me so many times in the past. That being said, he threw for 347 yards and three TDs this weekend, good enough to take a top 3 finish for fantasy QBs.
Peyton Hillis: If there is anything that Browns fans can brad about, Hillis is it. The guy has been nothing short of amazing for fantasy owners as they drafted him at the start of the 10th round, yet this weekend he put up 131 rushing yards, 63 receiving yards on six receptions and scored three times.
Brian Westbrook: Another disappointing week for Frank Gore means Brian Westbrook got to dust off his cleats and pretend he mattered to fantasy owners once again. Westbrook finished the game with 136 rushing yards and a TD, but the worst part for Gore owners is that he reportedly fractured his hip and will miss the remainder of the season. Go ahead and cut Gore loose and pick up Westbrook.
Dwayne Bowe: When your QB makes the list, and you are the only WR of note, you are most likely going to make the list also. Bowe hauled in 13 passes for 170 yards and three TDs, good enough to take the #1 spot for all fantasy football players this weekend.
Ben Obomanu: I still don't even know who the guy is, and neither does anyone else since he is owned in just four percent of all fantasy leagues. However, this weekend he managed to snag five passes for 159 yards and a TD. You can be sure that there will be a waiver wire frenzy to pick him up Tuesday morning, just make sure you aren't in that line of customers because even a broken clock is right twice a day!
Billy Bajema: This must be the week of no-name players coming through for the three people that own them because Bajema racked up 32 yards and two scores in Week 12. He won't ever do this again and shouldn't even be owned by the three people that have him, so just shake your head and move on.
San Diego Chargers defense: Most people think that the Colts will just beat whoever they play because they have Peyton Manning on the roster. But, that simply isn't true as the Chargers have owned the Colts in recent years and their defense held the Colts to 14 points while amassing four INTs, two defensive TDs, a fumble recovered and a sack.
Losers
Philip Rivers: Rivers had some high expectations this weekend with the return of Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates, but he was unable to come through for his owners. He finished the game with an empty 187 yards passing, netting his owners about eight points in standard scoring formats.
Mark Sanchez: Every time I think about starting Sanchez, a little birdy on my shoulder slaps me up side my head and brings me back to reality. Lucky for me I have that assault and battery bird too because this weekend the Bengals defense held him to 166 yards passing, one TD and one INT.
Chris Johnson: What else can I say about seven all-purpose yards? Even in PPR leagues, Johnson got his owners just two points. I mean wow… really? If I were the Titans, I'd put out a press release right now saying he pulled a hamstring and he will miss next week's game because of it.
Keiland Williams: Williams was projected as Yahoo.com's #4 ranked RB heading into this weekend. Really… why? He has yet to break even 90 yards rushing and has just three TDs in seven games, on a sub .500 team. This weekend he finished with five yards rushing and 21 yards receiving, not even worth a flex play in deep leagues.
Reggie Wayne: Another victim of the Colts thrashing Sunday night was Wayne and his fantasy owners. Wayne finished this one with five receptions for 42 yards and no endzone visits, good enough for a modest 6-7 point effort.
Dez Bryant: People were going crazy for Bryant and benching Austin because he looked like the new man in Big-D. The problem with doing that is John Kitna is still your QB, and Bryant was shut down and shut out this weekend. He is starting in 77 percent of fantasy leagues, which means 77 percent of owners had someone on their bench that did better.
Aaron Hernandez: If you look up boom or bust in the fantasy dictionary, I bet there is a picture of a Patriot's player next to it. This week it was Hernandez, who finished the game with one catch for 18 yards, despite being projected second for fantasy TE's.
Philadelphia Eagles defense: The Eagles were supposed to beat the Chargers, but apparently someone forgot to tell their defense. After being projected #1 heading into Week 12, the Eagles defense allowed 31 points, while getting just four sacks for their owners. Of the 89 percent of people who own the Eagles defense, 75 percent of them started them and now regret it.
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