Week 11 stars: Rodgers throws 4 TD

We can be sure that Aaron Rodgers learned one thing while serving as Brett Favre’s understudy in Green Bay.

He learned how to be giddy and dance around following a touchdown. Perhaps his giddiness helped to seal Brad Childress’ fate during Sunday’s blowout win.

Rodgers completed 22-of-31 attempts for 301 yards and four touchdowns, his sixth multi-touchdown game of the season. He also added 22 rushing yards and was sacked thrice. Interestingly, this was only Rodgers’ third 300-yard game of the season.

Greg Jennings was on the receiving end of three of Rodgers’ touchdown strikes against the Vikings. It was his second 100-yard game of the season and first with multiple touchdown receptions (nine overall). Jennings has caught six or more passes in five consecutive games. He’s averaged 6.4 receptions and 104 receiving yards per game during this period.

Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills started slowly and found themselves in a horrible hole at halftime. Fitzpatrick then rallied the Bills to a resounding 18-point victory. He completed 21-of-34 attempts for 316 yards with four touchdown passes, two interceptions and 11 rushing yards.

“Why so serious?!” I loved the shirt reveal done by Steve Johnson in the end zone during Sunday’s comeback win. Obviously, he’ll get fined for it, but people definitely know his name now. Johnson caught eight passes for 137 yards with three touchdowns. He’s ripped off three games of at least 137 yards in his past five starts (nine overall). This waiver-wire hero has been one of the best finds of the season.

I’ll break out a detailed analysis of the crumbling Bengals later on Monday night, but I have to keep Carson Palmer above the line as a hero. Palmer passed for 230 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 12 rushing yards in the horrific collapse. The Bengals have lost seven straight games. Palmer has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of those games.

Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco both scored early for the Bengals, as they built their lead. Owens caught three passes for 63 yards. Ochocinco scored for the second straight week, although he registered only 28 receiving yards on three receptions.

Cedric Benson contributed to the Bengals’ epic collapse on Sunday with a lost fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Benson carried the ball a season-high 25 times for 124 yards and a touchdown. His 22 receiving yards on three receptions offset the lost fumble. This was Benson’s second 100-yard game of the season and fourth rushing touchdown of the year.

“Scoreboard.” I guess that’s the appropriate response to Richard Seymour’s blow to Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger posted his second straight three-touchdown game in the blowout win against the Raiders. He completed 18-of-29 attempts for 275 yards. He also scrambled for 55 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown of the year. Roethlisberger was sacked twice and did not commit a turnover.

Speedster Mike Wallace will rise to the ranks of the “must-starts” for Week 12 after posting his third straight 100-yard game against the Raiders. He caught three passes for 116 yards and scored his eighth touchdown of the season. Wallace has scored in five of the six games played since Ben Roethlisberger’s return to the field.

I won’t belabor the point. Peyton Hillis’ greatness in the 2010 season has been well-established. Hillis rushed for only 48 yards on 21 carries, but he was a terror in space against the Jaguars. He caught six passes for 95 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown reception. Hillis has scored a total of 10 touchdowns this season while averaging 112.5 total yards per game.

Maurice Jones-Drew earned his third consecutive 100-yard game in Sunday’s win over Cleveland and scored for the second straight week. Jones-Drew rushed for 133 yards on 23 attempts, adding 87 receiving yards on three receptions. He did lose a fumble, which was momentarily problematic, but Jacksonville closed out the win.

Marcedes Lewis returned to the end zone in Week 11 to help propel the Jaguars to first place in the AFC South. Lewis caught five passes for 66 yards in Sunday’s win, the second straight game in which he’s caught five passes. He’s recorded multiple receptions in every game this season (44.5 yards per game) with eight touchdowns.

Mike Thomas scored for the third straight game, although in far less dramatic fashion than he did in Week 10 against the Texans. Thomas caught five passes for 36 yards, his eighth game with at least four receptions (57.2 yards per game).

Donovan McNabb passed for a season-high 376 yards against the Titans. He completed 30-of-50 attempts with one touchdown and one interception. McNabb has thrown a touchdown pass in nine consecutive games (10 overall) while averaging 264.2 passing yards. He’s also thrown at least one interception in eight consecutive games.

Santana Moss rebounded from his Week 10 disappearing act against the Eagles (he did not share in the garbage time love) with a tremendous effort against the Titans. Moss caught six passes for 106 yards and scored for the third time this season. He’s caught six or more passes in seven games this season.

Chris Johnson rushed for 130 yards in defeat, his second straight 100-yard effort and sixth of the season. He needs 32 yards to reach 1,000 yards for the season.

Mark Sanchez made two of the finest throws that you’ll see to vanquish the Texans in Week 11. He completed 22-of-38 attempts for 315 yards with three touchdowns, one interception and 22 rushing yards (three sacks). Sanchez has thrown six touchdown passes in the past three weeks. In his past five games, Sanchez has averaged 290 passing yards.

Santonio Holmes was Sanchez’s leading receiver once again. Holmes caught two of Sanchez’s three touchdown passes while registering his second 100-yard game in the past three weeks. He’s averaged 4.5 receptions and 74.5 receiving yards per game since returning from suspension.

Braylon Edwards caught four passes for 86 yards and scored for the second time in three weeks. He’s caught three or more passes in seven of 10 games this season while averaging nearly 60 yards per game.

Arian Foster scored twice in a tough spot against the stout New York Jets run defense. Foster rushed for 84 yards on 22 carries while adding six receptions for 59 yards. He did lose a fumble, but that hardly takes away from the otherwise dominant effort. Foster eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in this game and has scored in five consecutive games.

Tight end Joel Dreessen caught Matt Schaub’s lone touchdown pass of Sunday’s loss. Dreessen caught four passes for 106 yards. His touchdown reception was his third of the year. Dreessen has caught 11 passes in the past three weeks while stepping in for the injured Owen Daniels.

Ray Rice broke his four-game scoring drought against the Panthers. Rice rushed for only 65 yards on 19 carries (3.4 yards per carry) while adding six receptions for 66 yards.

Mike Goodson posted another strong performance for the flailing Panthers. He rushed for 120 yards against the Ravens, his second straight 100-yard effort, including a 45-yard sprint. Goodson also caught five passes for 31 yards. Go find him on the waiver wire for Week 12 against Cleveland.

Matt Cassel continued his strong fantasy run with a two-touchdown performance in the commanding win over Arizona. Cassel passed for 193 yards (15-of-24) and did not turn the ball over. He’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in five of the past six games. During this period, Cassel has thrown 14 touchdown passes with one interception and one lost fumble.
 

Dwayne Bowe posted another monster game in Sunday’s win against the Cardinals. He caught six passes for 109 yards, including two touchdowns. Bowe has scored 10 touchdowns in the past six weeks, including four multi-touchdown efforts. During this period, he’s averaged six receptions and 93.8 receiving yards per game.

Thomas Jones produced a huge game from most owners’ benches. After all, he’d generated three yards on four carries in Week 10 against Denver. Jones rushed for 71 yards on 15 carries, including two end zone plunges. He broke his three-game scoring drought and left Jamaal Charles owners despondent.

Charles started Sunday’s game against Arizona slowly, but picked it up in the second half. He rushed for 88 yards on 12 carries while adding four receptions for 38 yards. He’s amassed at least 100 total yards in seven of the past eight weeks.

Larry Fitzgerald found the end zone late, much to the surprise of his fantasy owners who had turned the game off. Fitzgerald finished Sunday’s loss with six catches and 90 receiving yards. In the past four weeks, Fitzgerald has averaged 6.5 receptions and 90 receiving yards per game with three touchdowns.

Jon Kitna was efficient in picking apart the Lions. He completed 18-of-24 attempts for 147 yards with three touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown. Kitna was sacked twice and did not commit a turnover.

He threw two touchdowns to Miles Austin and one to his favorite target, Dez Bryant. Austin and Bryant combined for 15 receiving yards (seven and eight, respectively).

Shaun Hill passed for 289 yards with two touchdowns and one interception with three sacks against the Cowboys. Hill has averaged 287 passing yards in the seven games that he’s started and completed.

Nate Burleson was his top receiver with seven receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. Burleson has averaged 5.8 receptions and 68.3 receiving yards with four touchdowns in six games since returning from an injury.

There was no doubt that the Saints would be ready to put up points against the Seahawks. It was just a matter of who would be the recipient of Drew Brees’ touchdown strikes. Brees completed 29-of-43 attempts for a season-high 382 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in six consecutive games (22 overall) and has yet to be shut out this season.

Marques Colston caught eight passes for 113 yards and scored twice. Following a quiet start to the season, Colston is heating up for the stretch run. He’s scored each of his four touchdowns in the past four weeks.

Robert Meachem didn’t log a huge yardage total, but ended a three-game mini-drought with two touchdown receptions. Meachem finished the game with three catches for 50 yards, his fifth game this season with at least three receptions.

Christopher Ivory took control of the New Orleans running attack and scored early in the blowout win over Seattle. He rushed for 99 yards on 23 attempts, by far his largest workload of the season. It will be interesting see whether Reggie Bush and/or Pierre Thomas will be available for Thanksgiving Day. If not, Ivory represents a solid spot start.

Mike Williams of the Seahawks posted a big game against the Saints before leaving with a foot injury. Williams caught six passes for 109 yards in the road loss, his second straight 100-yard effort and third of the season.
 

Josh Freeman completed multiple touchdown passes for the third consecutive game in leading the Buccaneers to a shutout win over San Francisco. Freeman has become a weekly consideration for fantasy starts, as he’s been shut out only once this season and does not turn the ball over. He passed for only 136 yards against the 49ers, but the touchdown tosses take you into “Hero” territory. Freeman’s lone shutout came against the Steelers in Week 3.

Freeman continued his magical connection with rookie Mike Williams (three receptions for 54 yards) and completed a touchdown pass to the tackle. Williams has scored in three of the Buccaneers’ past four games.

It wasn’t a strong matchup on paper, but Matt Ryan and the Falcons shall not be denied. Ryan completed 26-of-39 attempts for 253 yards with two touchdowns. He hasn’t been shut out in nine consecutive weeks, and has produced four multi-touchdown efforts in the past five weeks.

Michael Turner started slowly against the Rams, but started to chew up yardage down the stretch en route to his fifth 100-yard game of the season. Turner carried the ball 28 times for 131 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown sprint, his sixth of the season. He’s got a tough matchup on tap this week against the Packers, and then embarks on a beautiful three-week road trip in which he’ll face the Buccaneers, Panthers and Seahawks.

Rookie Sam Bradford couldn’t vanquish the Falcons, but he posted another tremendous effort in what has been an impressive season. He passed for 233 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Bradford helped to offset the interception with 17 rushing yards. He’s been shut out only once this season.

Tom Brady lit up the scoreboard against the Steelers, and then followed it up by orchestrating a phenomenal effort against the Colts. Brady passed for only 186 yards, but tossed two more touchdown passes. He’s thrown multiple touchdown passes in three consecutive games (19 overall).

Trust “The Law Office.” It was one of the mantras of the week, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis delivered on Sunday against the Colts. Green-Ellis rushed for 96 yards on 21 carries, including his seventh touchdown of the season. The bruising tailback has rushed for at least 87 yards in three of the past four games.

Danny Woodhead is one of the heroes of the 2010 season. Jerseys will be flying off of the shelves this holiday season based on his recent efforts for the Patriots. On Sunday, the versatile running back amassed 90 total yards on 11 touches, including a touchdown run. He’s averaged 66 total yards per game in the past eight weeks.

Wes Welker didn’t have an overwhelming game, but he found the end zone. As a result, he earns a place on the honor roll this week. Welker finished Sunday’s win over Indianapolis with five receptions for 58 yards. Welker scored for the first time since Week 2.

Peyton Manning threw three interceptions in Sunday’s loss to New England, including a late errant toss to thwart a furious comeback effort. Manning still finished with 396 passing yards with four touchdown tosses, his seventh game with multiple touchdown strikes this season.

Blair White caught five passes for 42 yards, including two touchdowns. He’s on the radar for Week 12 with Austin Collie sidelined because of a concussion.

Owners of Reggie Wayne finally celebrated a touchdown reception in Sunday’s loss to New England. He also finished the game with 108 receiving yards on eight receptions. This was the first time this season in which Wayne recorded 100 receiving yards and scored. It was also only the second game in the past six weeks that Wayne finished with at least 80 receiving yards.

Michael Vick couldn’t replicate the pinball numbers of Week 10, but who expected such against the Giants? He and his receivers failed to connect on some early opportunities and things got interesting down the stretch. Still, he posted another solid day in the win against the Giants. Vick completed 24-of-38 attempts 258 yards and three sacks. He added 35 rushing yards, including an early 4-yard touchdown run. His lost fumble doesn’t negate a solid overall production. Do you dare move away from him in Week 12 against the Bears?

LeSean McCoy was contained virtually all night, but two huge sprints in the fourth quarter made for a tremendous day. McCoy finished with 111 yards on 14 carries, adding five receptions for 29 yards. He’s registered at least 85 total yards in seven consecutive games.

Jeremy Maclin didn’t find the end zone against the Giants. However, the New York secondary was unable to contain Maclin between the 20s. He finished the game with a team-high nine receptions for 120 yards. Maclin has caught four or more passes in six consecutive games, including three efforts of at least 95 receiving yards.

Finally, Matt Forte received a huge workload in Thursday’s game against the Dolphins. Forte carried the ball 25 times for 97 yards with a touchdown, his first since Week 6. In the past two weeks, Forte has amassed 46 carries.