Past results don’t predict future performance, of course, but here’s my analysis for NFL Fantasy fans who’ll make picks this weekend.
The Best
Courtesy: Bleacher Report
5. Kirk Cousins: Cousins is the only quarterback I’ll feature who played on a losing team. For the first time this season, the Redskins offense eclipsed 30 points. Cousins connected with eight different players and the offense produced the first 100-yard rusher since the win over the Packers last season. Even though Cousins outperformed Brees for most of the game, Brees’ final 8:30 won it.
Cousins shows he’s capable of performing against strong pass defenses. The Saints rank 10th best. But he can’t afford to disappear late in must-win games. In the end, the Redskins dropped a critical game in OT and the loss may have sealed their fate.
Cousins: 22/32, 322 yds, 3TDs, 0 INT, 132.6 rating
4. Case Keenum: Minnesota has the best QB scenario in the NFL. The Vikings’ offense dominated the Rams’ defense with balanced offensive production and a turnover-free game. While Keenum continues to rely on WR Adam Thielen (6 passes, 123 yards, one touchdown), he completed a pass to nine different receivers and was never sacked.
Big questions loom with Teddy Bridgewater returning from a torn ACL. Is there room to keep Bridgewater, Keenum, and Sam Bradford (currently on injured reserve)? I think it will be hard for the Vikings to turn away from Keenum for Bridgewater this season.
Keenum: 27/38, 280 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT, 100.8 rating
Courtesy: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images, etonline.com
3. Tom Brady: After last week’s Mile High showdown win against the Broncos, the Patriots remained in Denver to prepare for similar game conditions at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. In front of a sold-out crowd, New England beat the Oakland Raiders 33-8 and did so with minimal problems.
The Patriots offense continues to improve week-to-week and Brady looks anything like a 40-year old QB. Brady led the Patriots to seven scoring drives out of eight possessions … yet another efficient performance for this future Hall of Famer.
Bottom line: the Patriots find different ways to score every week and this team shows no signs of slowing down.
Brady: 30/37, 339 yds, 3 TDs, 0 INT, 131.9 rating
2. Ben Roethlisberger: The Steelers needed a breakout game after consecutive weeks of struggling. Although Big Ben has struggled to generate explosive passing numbers, he did find Antonio Brown for three touchdowns against the Titans. Pittsburgh’s passing game thrived against the 21st passing defense in the league. The Steelers’ defense also put on a clinic–intercepting Titans’ quarterback Marcus Mariota three times.
Roethlisberger targeted Brown and Le’Veon Bell on 24 of his 45 pass attempts, completing 19 of those attempts.
Courtesy UPI.Com
Roethlisberger: 30/45, 299 yds, 4 TDs, 0 INT, 115 rating
1. Drew Brees: Brees and the Saints trailed by 15 with 5:58 left in regulation. Brees was 0-30 in the previous 30 games when he trailed by 14 or more points in the fourth quarter.
But this time the Redskins gave him two possessions late in the fourth and Brees and Co. took advantage. They scored a late touchdown to tie the game with a two-point conversion. From there, the Saints took over after a Redskins’ punt and Mark Ingram’s two carries set up a Wil Lutz game-winning field goal.
Brees: 29/41, 385 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, 106.2 rating
The Worst
5. Dak Prescott: Prescott makes the cut at #5 only because Jay Cutler didn’t finish his start (head injury). The Eagles’ defense continuously disrupted the Cowboys’ offensive rhythm and the Cowboys missed Ezekiel Elliott’s presence. The result? Prescott was intercepted three times and sacked four times.
Elliott returns in Week 16 and Dallas faces Philadelphia again in Week 17. Will the rematch matter? We’ll see.
Prescott: 18/31, 145 yds, 0 TD, 3 INTs, 30.4 rating
Courtesy: The University Daily Kansan
4. Alex Smith: The jury is out on Alex Smith. While Smith is a big reason why the Chiefs started 5-0, the offense hasn’t scored more than 20 points in four of the last five games. The result? The Chiefs have lost four of the last five games, including last weekend’s OT loss to the Giants.
Smith: 27/40, 230 yds, 0 TDs, 2 INTs, 61.5 rating
3. Marcus Mariota: Mariota never got a chance to settle into this game. That’s because the Steelers put pressure on him early and often with four interceptions and five sacks. Miraculously, the Titans trailed by only two points at the half. But limited offensive production in the second half resulted in snapping Tennessee’s four-game winning streak.
Mariota: 22/33, 306 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 66.8
2. Brett Hundley: The Packers are 1-4 with Hundley since Rodgers broke his collarbone in Week 6. Hundley has yet to generate more than 23 points. The bottom came last weekend when Green Bay was shutout at home by the Ravens.
Should Green Bay begin reconsidering its approach? Playoff run or Tank? Will the Packers look to another quarterback? Maybe Colin Kaepernick?
Hundley: 21/36, 239 yds, 0 TD, 3 INTs, 43.6 rating
Courtesy: 247Sports
1. Nathan Peterman: Where to begin…. Maybe it was nerves. Maybe it was starting on the road. But, whatever it was, a 42.8% completion percentage with five interceptions made for a nightmare.
One interception was returned for a touchdown and, by halftime, the Chargers led 37-7. Peterman, who was then benched in favor of former starter Tyrod Taylor, may not see the field anytime soon.
Peterman: 6/14, 66 yds, 0 TDs, 5 INTs, 17.9 rating
