Thinking Inside the Box: Week 12

Every Monday, Senior Editor John Paulsen takes to Twitter (@4for4_John) for Thinking Inside the Box, where he tweets different stats and tidbits from Sunday's box scores. There's always a wealth of interesting information, so we decided to compile it here for subscribers.

Eddie Lacy made back to back grown man plays in the 4th quarter. Stopped for a loss on a 4th and 1, but kept his legs going for the 1st.

Then he lowered his shoulder at the end of a 13-yard run on the next play. Lynch-esque.

Since Week 7 (when he moved into a starting role), Jarrett Boykin is the #12 WR in fantasy, posting 33-470-2 in 6 games.

Cordarelle Patterson is leading the Vikings in targets (20) over the last two weeks. John Carlson is next with 12 targets.

Since Week 3 (after his two game suspension) Josh Gordon has been the #2 WR in fantasy (132 FP). Calvin (158.5) is #1. A. Brown is #3.

Fozzy Whittaker led the Browns’ RBs in touches (7) and snaps (39). Ogbonnaya had 6 touches and 33 snaps.

Jordan Cameron was more involved (10 targets) but only posted 3-32. Just missed on a TD catch that could have been reviewable.

Only three targets for Vincent Jackson (2-61) against a very shaky DET pass defense.

I thought Nate Burleson might be limited in his first game back, but he played on 72/80 snaps, posting 7-77-1 (10).

Ryan Mathews (16 touches, 65 yards, TD) had another solid game, but re-injured his hamstring.

Dwayne Bowe 5-51-1 (6) is the #29 WR in fantasy over the last four weeks, and that includes his bye.

Ladarius Green has back to back 80+ yard games. He looks like a stud in the making.

PPR owners should take note - Dexter McCluster has scored 10.3+ in four of his last five games.

Martellus Bennett 4-62-1 (5) scored his first TD since Week 7. Non-elite TEs are like playing Whac-A-Mole.

Benny Cunningham could be a strong pickup pending Zac Stacy’s concussion. Cunningham has 181 rushing yards in the L2 games.

Tavon Austin is the #6 WR over the past three weeks, and that includes a bye.

The Daniel Thomas injury opens the door for big touches for Lamar Miller, but that O-line is in shambles. 1.2 YPC for MIA RBs in W12.

Since Week 8, Greg Olsen 5-34-1 (9) is the #3 TE.

In a terrible matchup, Mike Wallace posts great numbers 5-127-1 (10) on his owners’ benches.

Chris Ivory has an ankle injury that requires an MRI. Bilal Powell (13 touches, 65 yards) has a great matchup with MIA in Week 13.

From a fantasy perspective, the Jets WRs strongly resemble the zombies on The Walking Dead.

The BAL running game didn’t suddenly get better against the Bears, but the Ravens do have two nice matchups (PIT, MIN) coming up.

Thought we’d see a much better game from Case Keenum in a great matchup with the Jaguars (#31 in QB aFPA). Andre Johnson too.

Since Week 5, Maurice Jones-Drew (144 total yards, TD vs. HOU) is the #12 fantasy RB. He was left for dead, but clearly isn’t.

Ben Tate brutal (12 touches, 27 yards) in a great matchup. He’s costing himself some money in free agency a la R. Jennings last year.

The #SqueakyWheelTheorem at work — Cecil Shorts with 8-71 on a team-high 11 targets.

If you’re streaming QBs, you can do a lot worse than Ryan Fitzpatrick (320 yards, 2 TDs), who has a nice remaining schedule.

Rod Streater has 11-177-1 in two games with Matt McGloin.

Since taking over in Week 9, Rashad Jennings is the #2 RB in fantasy football (553 total yards and two TDs).

Don’t give up on Delanie Walker 5-46 — he had a team high nine targets, and is averaging 9.0 over the last three weeks.

Donde esta Donald Brown? He had just three touches for -1 yards. It was a bad matchup, but it’s not like T-Rich tore it up (9-26).

Coby Fleener 4-55-1 (8) is starting to get it. Since Week 7, he is the #6 TE, and that includes his bye.

Michael Floyd is breaking out. 13-297-1 (18) over the last two weeks. Great matchup in Week 13 vs. PHI.

Since Week 7, Rob Housler is the #14 TE. 4-51 (5) against the Colts in Week 12.

Looks like Terrance Williams’ nice run may be over. Just 1-10 (2) and Miles Austin saw slightly more snaps (48 to 41).

Victor Cruz 2-27 (4) was largely a non-factor in a terrific matchup against the Cowboys. Boo.

Aaron Dobson is either injured or he’s been passed on the depth chart by Kenbrell Thompkins. Weather may have been a factor as well.

Jacob Tamme 5-47-1 (5) is the TE to own if Julius Thomas is out.

Knowshon Moreno (230 total yards, TD) finished the game but was spotted on crutches. I’d guess Montee Ball is next up, but he fumbled again.

Stevan Ridley fumbled for the 3rd straight game. Then Blount fumbled. So it was Brandon Bolden (13 carries, 58 yards, TD) who got the call.

Danny Amendola owners must have been frustrated seeing Julian Edelman 9-110-2 (11) thrive in what’s supposed to be DA’s role.

Over the past two weeks, Shane Vereen is the #9 RB in PPR and #27 in standard.

And that wraps up Thinking Inside the Box for Week 12. Thank you for reading.