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Week 12 was another solid effort from the Docs during this especially crucial time of the fantasy football season.   Fantasy owners are getting more nervous as the season is winding down.   Every bench / start call can make or break a season.   You might expect us to back away from the pressure of it all, but we have been with you all year and we aren’t about to abandon you now.   We hope that your season is going well.   If it isn’t all peaches and cream for you on the fantasy football front, it is never too early to think about who you would take #1 in 2005 … right?   Join us for the weekly fantasy bench/start wrap up as we take credit for our good predictions and own up to our blunders of the week.

Nostradamus (a.k.a. psychic)
Start:
Drew Brees – We suggested that you stick with Brees another week and ride him against the Cheifs.   We nailed this one to the tune of 378 yards passing, no interceptions, 2 TDs, and 23 yards rushing.   You won’t hear many fantasy owners complaining about a week like this from their QB.   Brees has been one of the big surprises of the year (even to his own team).

Isaac Bruce – We hope that you listened to us and gave Bruce the rock on Monday Night Football.   Bruce had 170 yards receiving and a TD.   We wish that he wouldn’t have fumbled, but we still like the fantasy results.   Bruce isn’t ready to be put out to pasture just yet.   Keep an eye on this savvy vet through the fantasy playoffs.

Miami Dolphins Defense – The Dolphins’ O has been giving out huge games to opposing defenses all year long.   This week we told you it was “time to turn the tables for the Dolphins.”   The Phins came through with a giant fantasy game.   8 sacks, 3 fumbles, 1 TD, and only allowing 17 points.   The Dolphins were one of the best fantasy defenses week 12 and we told you to give them the nod.

Michael Vick – Vick has been a little bit of a letdown considering where most fantasy owners drafted him.   We said that he would start to make up for some of those bad games with a solid fantasy game versus the Saints and his cousin, Aaron Brooks.   Vick did just that with 212 yards passing, 1 interception, 2 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD, and 69 yards rushing.   Vick put on a show week 12.   A show that many of his owners were very happy to see.

Michael Pittman – Pittman had a terrible day running the ball with only 29 yards!   With that being the case, how did he end up in the good calls of the week?   134 yards receiving and 2 receiving TDs will help make up for a lack luster day rushing the ball.   We feel like most fantasy owners didn’t care how he got his fantasy points week 12 just as long as he racked them up.

Chicago Bears Defense – Week 11 the Bears D had a terrible week, but we told you to shake that one off and just chalk it up to Peyton Manning.   The Bears rebounded with a solid effort on Thanksgiving with two interceptions, 2 sacks, and a TD.   That is a very solid effort from any fantasy defense.

Bench:
David Givens – Givens only had 42 yards week 12, so most of his fantasy owners were happy to have him on the pine.   With the return of Deon Branch, starting Givens will be a risky proposition from here on out.

Clinton Portis – It was a risky call to tell you to put this high draft pick on the pine, but we nailed this call.   Portis only had 17 yards rushing … that is it.   He had no other fantasy stats.   That is just about as bad as it gets.

Jerry Rice – Coming off of a great week 11, the greatest wide receiver of all-time only had 24 yards this past Sunday.   We recommended him for benching and it was a good call.

Justin McCareins – McCareins had a great week 11, but we said that he was another WR who would suffer a down week.   23 yards is just that.   Owners that followed this advice are feeling pretty smart today.


Farmer's Almanac (a.k.a. not so bad/not so good)
Start:
T.J. Duckett – Duckett didn’t live up to our expectations week 12.   No TDs and only marginal yardage made Duckett a so-so call week 12.

Roy Williams – Williams’ yardage was within one yard of Duckett’s yardage from Sunday.   We hope that whoever is the QB in Detroit can figure out a way to get this super rookie the football.

Trent Green – Green was almost a bust as far as QB fantasy points go, but he managed to add on a 2 point conversion to keep his head above water.   Still, we would have liked to have seen a better performance from Green against one of the weaker pass Ds in the league.

Muhsin Muhammad – Muhammad cooled off week 12 and he was only a so-so start call for us.   We would have liked to have seen a TD, but “you can’t always get what you want”.

Bench:
Onterrio Smith – Smith was named the Vikings starter late last week.   As a result, he had over 20 carries.   He didn’t score or break 100 yards, but he did have a good enough game to be a so-so bench call for fantasy week 12.

Michael Clayton – Clayton didn’t score but this rookie managed to get enough yardage to get out of our correct bench calls of the week.   He didn’t help or hurt team much week 12.


Weather Forecast (a.k.a. oops better luck next time)
Start:
Jeb Putzier – Keep in mind Putzier is a marginal TE, but we thought that you might be able to squeak a decent start out of this crony.   He did get 18 yards, but that was it.   Putzier was a busted call for us week 12.   However, Plummer had another good game.

Bench:
Nick Goings – Goings just keeps going.   He busted up our bench call by going just over 100 yards.   He didn’t score, but a 100 yard game is a busted call any day of the week.