Week 13 Booms and Busts: Tre Mason ambushes the Raiders
Week 12 was about validation for the Oakland Raiders. Week 13 was about postage.
Talk about a team mailing it in.
The St. Louis Rams have endured a hellish schedule for much of 2014, but they finally found a chippie on the schedule this week and they didn't miss it. The Rams laid waste to the Raiders for three hours on Sunday, a 52-0 pummeling that felt more lopsided than the final score. St. Louis opened the game with five straight touchdown drives, needing just 22 scrimmage plays en route to a quick 315 yards and 35 points. Game over. Thanks for coming, Oakland.
Rookie running back Tre Mason was the fantasy headliner, jitterbugging for 164 total yards and three touchdowns on a modest 17 touches. Mason's snappy 35-yard catch-and-run started the scoring, on a perfectly-designed screen, and he added an 89-yard jaunt in the second quarter. No Oakland defender gets a hand on him. A physical eight-yard scoring run capped Mason's day in the fourth period.
Mason's been struggling with the schedule as much as anyone. Although he logged a whopping 78 carries over the four previous games, the result was an ordinary 288 yards (3.7 YPC). That can happen when you're up against teams like Denver, Arizona and San Francisco. Mason also had just one touchdown entering Week 13.
But you can see why the Rams mothballed Zac Stacy, last year's rookie darling, in favor of Mason. Stacy was a straight-line plodder and pounder all the way. Everyone knew was what coming. Mason's 17 pounds lighter, but his speed opens up the playbook – and will lead to some home runs.
The yards won't be easier in the fantasy playoffs, with two decent run-stopping opponents (Washington, Arizona) on the way. If Mason owners advance to Week 16, the Giants await, a friendly draw. At least we can feel good about Mason as a volume monster; he's touched the ball 102 times over the last five games. Not many backs see that type of workload these days.
If the Rams have to air it out down the stretch, maybe Shaun Hill and friends can do something for deep-league fantasy owners. Hill was a tidy 13-for-22 against Oakland, throwing for two scores and running for a third. Rookie wideout Stedman Bailey racked up 100 yards in Sunday's first half, and wasn't needed after that.
The St. Louis defense has also come to play, finally. The Rams collected six sacks and three picks against an overmatched Derek Carr and Matt Schaub; it was fun to see DL Chris Long back on the field. One of the picks was returned for a touchdown, and the Rams also scooped up two fumbles. It's one thing to dominate the hapless Raiders, but keep in mind the Rams also did it against the Broncos back in Week 11. All the preseason hype came true eventually, you just had to wait for it.
In Other Week 13 Booms (early games):
-- All those quarterbacks. Pinball was alive and well in Week 13. Ryan Fitzpatrick, benched by the Texans in early November, rolled up six touchdowns passes and 358 yards against Tennessee. It's almost like passing is pretty darn easy in the 2014 NFL. Or maybe Fitzpatrick did this all the time against his Ivy League rivals, I don't remember.
Super soph DeAndre Hopkins did most of the downfield damage, scoring twice and racking up 238 yards on nine catches, securing every target. Fitzpatrick completed 24-of-33 passes, and wasn't sacked or intercepted. Check the Faustian Pact detals before the game at pesky Jacksonville next week.
Andrew Luck (five touchdowns, 370 yards in a romp over Washington) and Drew Brees (257 yards, five touchdowns) weren't far behind. You expect it from those guys. Phil Rivers was in fine form (383 yards, three touchdowns), leading the Chargers to an impressive comeback victory at Baltimore. I still don't think he's 100 percent, but apparently it doesn't matter. Colt McCoy (393 yards, three scores) had some fine moments in the loss at Indy. No one missed Robert Griffin III on this afternoon.
-- Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers: We'll give Big Ben his own category for a garbage-time effort for the ages. Although the Saints were comfortably ahead throughout their 35-32 victory at Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger hung around for a 32-for-58, 435-yard afternoon. He threw two touchdown passes to Antonio Brown in the final 2:34 (one on the final play), and added a pair of two-point conversions as well.
No one can deny Big Ben's warrior mentality, but should the Steelers have been playing their franchise quarterback? Roethlisberger took a shot to his right hand or wrist in the first half and it seemed to be affecting him throughout the game. A number of throws were off target or lacking the proper velocity. Again, no one can question the quarterback's toughness or dedication. But should the Steelers have exposed Roethlisberger to continual punishment in a blowout loss? Toss it around in the comments.
-- Keenan Allen and Torrey Smith, WRs, Chargers & Ravens: We'll link them together because they've been connected much of the season, disappointing wideouts who cost a pretty penny on draft day. Both of them scored twice at Baltimore in Week 13, looking like the players we expected back in August.
Allen was uncoverable just about every step, snagging 11 passes for 121 yards in all. All those crosses and drag routes, so pretty. Smith wasn't quite as dynamic (6-65-2), though he narrowly missed a third touchdown in the fourth period (it did draw a pass-interference flag, something he's rather good at).
We'd love to have Allen and Smith in the Circle of Trust for the stretch drive, but the schedules arent easy. Allen faces the Patriots, Broncos and Niners over the next three weeks, while Smith draws the Dolphins, Jaguars and Browns. Tough sledding.
Also Booming (Early Games): Le'Veon Bell, Coby Fleener (despite one awful drop), Donte Moncrief, Kendall Wright, Antonio Gates, Justin Forsett, Kenny Stills, and a bunch of defenses (looking at you, Buffalo, Minnesota, and Jacksonville)
As for the Week 13 Busts (early games):
-- Brian Hoyer, QB, Browns: The loss at Buffalo gets pinned on Hoyer's shoulders. He was late and inaccurate with the ball, he made poor decisions, he turned the ball over. It added up to a messy 18-30-192 line, with two picks.
The Browns scored just three points on Hoyer's watch, and he was unable to unleash the freak that is Josh Gordon. This is a fantasy problem. The Browns actually have a solid group of skill players; we can't have the quarterback taking down the entire offense. Call it Hoyer Paranoia.
The Browns gave Johnny Manziel the reins for the final period and he sparked the offense (76 total yards, one rushing TD). Cleveland won't make a QB decision until the tape is examined, but it would be a surprise if Johnny Football doesn't get a shot. The Colts, Bengals, and Panthers are waiting.
-- Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints: Here's a shocker no one saw coming – Graham had a catchless and targetless day in Sunday's victory at Pittsburgh. Remember, Brees threw five touchdowns and the Saints scored 35 points. The Graham tape review is Monday morning's first assignment.
Also Busting (Early Games): Martavis Bryant, Kenny Britt, Josh McCown, Jeremy Hill, Trent Richardson (same as always), Cam Newton.
