Shonn Greene is putting the green back in Gang Green and just time in for the playoffs -- both Fantasy and NFL.
Greene is having a December to remember -- sorry Lexus. First came his three-touchdown outburst in Week 13 against the Redskins. He followed that up with 187 total yards and another score in Week 14 against the Chiefs.
The third-year back has been a catalyst during New York's three-game winning streak, and it's about time the former Hawkeye basks in the spotlight.
"I've pointed the finger at myself this year," Greene told The Associated Press on Friday. "There were times where I was like, 'Man, I need to do better. I need to do this and that much better.' I'd stay after practice every day and watch film and try to figure what was going on."
Jets coach Rex Ryan touted Greene as the team's featured back heading into 2011. With Ryan's patented pound-and-ground motto, that made Greene a popular Fantasy sleeper on Draft Day. He ended up as the 17th-most drafted running back in CBSSports.com leagues.
Unfortunately, the Jets had trouble running the football to begin the season, and Fantasy owners cooled on Greene, who was only started in 35 percent of Fantasy leagues by Week 4. The Jets then got back to running the football as Greene totaled 20-plus carries in three straight games from Week 5-7, but after a shaky November in which Greene averaged 56.3 rushing yards per game, Fantasy owners cooled again on the 26-year-old back.
Well, it's time to jump back on the Greene bandwagon down the stretch.
Left on the docket are games against the Eagles (Week 15), Giants (Week 16) and Dolphins (Week 17). Miami presents a tough challenge, yielding 11.8 Fantasy points per week to running backs, but a small percentage of Fantasy championships are decided in the final week.
Both the Eagles and Giants are yielding 17.6 or more Fantasy points per week to running backs. Also, the two teams have allowed a total of 12 running backs to rush for 100-plus yards this season.
Fantasy owners could be looking at a Greene light on their way to a championship.
First Quarter -- Surprises of the Week
Look at the names that were top 12 Fantasy performers at the quarterback position -- Mark Sanchez, Jake Locker, John Skelton, T.J. Yates and Joe Webb. Not one of those quarterbacks was started in more than 24 percent of Fantasy leagues and they all had 20-plus Fantasy points ... Packers running back Ryan Grant, filling in for the injured James Starks, needed only 11 touches to produce 21 Fantasy points, highlighted by two rushing touchdowns ... Despite a few costly mistakes late in an overtime loss to Denver, Bears running back Marion Barber also proved to be a capable injury replacement, rushing for 108 yards in place of Matt Forte (knee) ... Reggie Bush has rushed for 100-plus yards in consecutive games for the first time in his career ... Brandon Jacobs torched one of the best run defenses in the NFL for 101 yards and two touchdowns ... Marques Colston became just the second receiver this season to total two touchdowns in a game against the Titans ... Julio Jones, who was started in 37 percent of leagues, recorded two touchdowns on just three catches for the second time this season ... Hobbled ankle and all, Titans receiver Nate Washington produced 130 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game with back spasms ... Greg Olsen became just the fourth tight end to score against the Falcons ... Kevin Boss finally scored a touchdown in Week 14 that wasn't thrown by a punter ... Owen Daniels proved he could be a reliable target for rookie quarterback T.J. Yates by producing a 100-yard game against a Bengals defense allowing tight ends to average just 44.7 yards per game ... Look at the tight ends that found pay dirt in Week 14 -- Visanthe Shiancoe, Joel Dreessen, Dennis Pitta, Jacob Tamme, Jeremy Shockey, Ryan Taylor and John Phillips.
Second Quarter -- Busts of the Week
Coming off two strong performances, Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had a dud of a outing Sunday against the Chargers, who came into the game ranked in the top 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. So much for Fitzpatrick being a one-week sleeper. He was just simply asleep ... Carson Palmer had an even better matchup against a Packers team in the Top 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Palmer finished with eight Fantasy points thanks to four interceptions ... Michael Vick had a very disappointing return to the lineup with just 12 Fantasy points. Teammate Jeremy Maclin, who also returned from a three-game absence due to injury, was even more disappointing with just one catch before his hamstring injury flared up on him ... Willis McGahee averaged 2.0 yards per carry and totaled three Fantasy points, choking when Fantasy owners needed him the most ... Arian Foster also treated his owners to a rough performance (five Fantasy points) in a must-win playoff scenario in most leagues ... Chris Johnson's hot streak ended Week 14, as he rushed for just 23 yards on 11 carries against a Saints defense yielding 103.3 rushing yards per game to running backs ... Add Calvin Johnson to the list of high-end Fantasy options that couldn't get it done for Fantasy owners in crunch time. Johnson produced just three Fantasy points against one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL ... Malcom Floyd's starting percentage jumped from 3 to 26 percent following his third 100-yard game of the season in Week 13. For an encore in Week 14, he totaled two Fantasy points against a defense yielding 21.7 Fantasy points per week to receivers.
Third Quarter -- Injury Report
Fantasy owners wait with bated breath to learn the fate of Packers receiver Greg Jennings, who left Sunday's win against the Raiders with a sprained knee ... Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray fractured his right ankle against NFC East foe New York ... Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb is back on the shelf, but this time with a head injury ... Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore also sustained a head injury in Week 14 ... Matt Hasselbeck left the Titans loss against the Saints with a calf injury ... Lions running back Maurice Morris hurt his chest Sunday ... Titans backup running back Javon Ringer hurt his hand against New Orleans ... Patriots receiver Deion Branch had more injuries (groin) than catches against the Redskins ... Jaguars receiver Mike Thomas was knocked out against Tampa Bay with a head injury ... Browns tight end Benjamin Watson was also victim of a head injury on Thursday against Pittsburgh ... Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee couldn't finish out his team's Week 14 win because of a leg injury.
Fourth Quarter -- Early Look Ahead
Aside from the Thursday game, this week we also have a Saturday game, so Fantasy owners need to keep that in mind when setting lineups ... Two months ago the Patriots/Broncos showdown didn't have much appeal, but then Tebowmania happened. Now, Sunday's showdown between AFC division leaders is a marquee matchup and must-watch game ... Kansas City will play its first game without head coach Todd Haley, who was fired Monday, in Week 15 against the undefeated Green Bay Packers ... Oakland's playoff hopes are hanging in the balance as the Raiders look to stop a two-game losing skid against the playoff-hungry Lions on Sunday ... The Jets' playoff aspirations are also on the line down the stretch, and the next two weeks they will face formidable NFC East opponents, starting with a road trip to Philadelphia in Week 15 ... San Diego is riding high after two straight wins following a six-game losing streak, but the defensive-minded Ravens will be looking to cool them off Sunday ... The Monday night game in Week 15 should be a heavyweight defensive showdown between the Steelers and the surprising 49ers. Monday's game should be a good litmus test for San Francisco.
Overtime -- Q &A
Marion Barber, Toby Gerhart, Felix Jones and Ben Tate are on waivers in my 10-team league. I'm in the playoffs, so which of these running backs would you add? --Reed Drecksel
MH: Jones is my favorite among this group. The news surrounding DeMarco Murray isn't encouraging, and the Cowboys remaining schedule -- Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and N.Y. Giants -- is very favorable for a running back. All three of Dallas' remaining opponents are yielding 17.6 or more Fantasy points per game to running backs, which puts them in the top 10 for most Fantasy points allowed to running backs.
I have to start three receivers and a flex in my 12-team league. Is it time to trust Demaryius Thomas over the final weeks of the season? --Thomas Bentley
MH: Fantasy championships are definitely won sometimes by making unorthodox decisions. Rolling the dice on Thomas could put you in a position to win your league. My biggest concern with Thomas is teams are going to game plan to stop him after two straight strong performances, which could free up Eric Decker to make plays again and be the better Fantasy option. But the matchups are certainly working in Thomas' favor.
The Broncos remaining schedule features New England, Buffalo and Kansas City. Wide receivers haven't thrived against K.C. in the second half of the season, but that's been because teams have primarily had success running the football against the beleaguered Chiefs. But most Fantasy championships are decided by Week 16, so the next two weeks are favorable. Wide receivers average 21.7 or more Fantasy points per week against the Patriots and Bills. I could definitely get behind using Thomas a No. 3 Fantasy wide receiver the next two weeks.
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