Note: Fantasy highlights are from the early Sunday games.
Poor weather was the theme of the day in several NFL cities in Week 11, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that a player named Bobby Rainey – on his third team of the season after getting cut by the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns – poured it on in the Tampa Bay Buccaners’ blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Rainey – the fourth Bucs’ running back to see significant work in a game this season after Doug Martin and Mike James suffered season-ending injuries – shredded the Falcons for 167 total yards and three touchdowns.
As Rainey dominated the ground on a clear day in Tampa, WR Vincent Jackson ruled the air with 10 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown against the hapless Atlanta defense. In two games against the Falcons this season, Jackson has 20 receptions for 303 yards and three scores. In his other eight games combined, he has 36 catches for 524 yards and two scores.
The box score will suggest that Atlanta QB Matt Ryan (254 yards and two touchdowns) and WR Harry Douglas (six receptions for 134 yards and a score) had their way against the Bucs, but most of that production came after Tampa Bay was leading by 32 points late in the third quarter. WR Roddy White (three catches for 36 yards) even found the end zone for the first time this season in garbage time – something the Falcons and fantasy owners of players like Ryan, Douglas and White should get used to down the stretch.
Elsewhere in Week 11:
Antonio Brown was the beneficiary of Big Ben’s big day.
— While Bucs-Falcons lacked any hint of drama over the last 2 ½ quarters, the Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers lit up Heinz Field with offensive fireworks in less-than-ideal conditions. Pittsburgh WR Antonio Brown (seven catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns) enjoyed most of his success in the first quarter and QB Ben Roethlisberger (367 yards and four scores) sealed the deal with two fourth-quarter touchdown passes. Meanwhile, Detroit QB Matthew Stafford (362 yards and two touchdowns) and WR Calvin Johnson (six receptions for 179 yards and two TDs) did virtually all their damage during a 27-point second-quarter explosion.
— Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer toyed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, throwing for 419 yards and two touchdowns. WR Larry Fitzgerald (six catches for 61 yards and a TD) and TE Rob Housler (six receptions for 71 yards) each pleased their fantasy owners, but Michael Floyd (six catches for a career-high 193 yards) stole the show with a 91-yard touchdown catch that broke the game open.
— Several fantasy defenses had a field day in the early wave of games, particularly the Cincinnati Bengals in one of the contests that was affected greatly by heavy rain. Over a 1:54 stretch of a franchise-record 31-point second quarter in their victory over the Browns, Tony Dye returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and Vontaze Burfict recovered a fumble for another score. All told, the Bengals forced four turnovers and tallied four sacks.
— QB Nick Foles (298 yards passing) had a great matchup on tap this week against the Washington Redskins, but wasn’t really needed as the Philadelphia Eagles held a 24-0 lead midway through the third quarter. Foles saved his day with 47 yards and a touchdown on the ground, but Philadelphia leaned more heavily on RB LeSean McCoy (77 yards rushing, 73 yards receiving and two total touchdowns).
— Backup quarterbacks were all the rage in Houston, where it was anticipated the Texans’ Case Keenum would continue his unlikely rise from third-string signal-caller. Instead, Keenum (170 yards and a touchdown) was benched for Matt Schaub in the fourth quarter and watched fellow undrafted free agent QB Matt McGloin (197 yards and three scores) of the Oakland Raiders tear apart Houston’s top-ranked pass defense. WR Rod Streater (six catches, 84 yards and a TD) was his favorite target, although both players got plenty of help from RB Rashad Jennings, who rushed for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown.
