NFL Reactions: Week 12

Reflecting on Sunday's NFL slate, one word comes to mind in my football-focused brain: Loss. 

For some, it could mean the loss of Christian McCaffrey to an ankle injury. How long will he be out? Is my push for the fantasy playoffs in jeopardy?

For others, it could mean the loss of Dalvin Cook to a shoulder injury. Will he miss time? Will he be back before the fantasy playoffs if he does miss time? 

For the Vikings and their fans from Minnesota and beyond, it means just another gut-wrenching defeat in 2021. The Vikings fell to the 49ers 34-26, bringing their record to 5-6. It sounds crazy, but if a few balls bounce a different way, we could be looking at an undefeated team — or at least close to it. 

How is that possible? All six of the Vikings' losses were within one score. They have been in every game right to the end. What may be even more impressive is that Kirk Cousins is playing some of the best ball of his career. After 11 games, Cousins has thrown 23 touchdowns passes and just three interceptions. He is surrounded by great talent on offense, but his defense isn't doing him any favors. 

Nothing is more haunting to a fan than the thoughts of what could have been. Vikings fans have been forced to confront those ideas more often than not this season, looking up at their "big brother" Packers team in the standings. While Green Bay leads the NFC North, Minnesota leads the league in heartbreak.

Despite not reaching their potential in reality, the Vikings consistently help us to reach our potential in fantasy. Even Vikings fans can at least take comfort in that — right?

And as Thanksgiving weekend ends, we can be thankful that there's always next week. For the Vikings, that means a date with the Lions.

Sunday Takeaways

• Leonard Fournette is not just "Playoff Lenny" anymore. Fournette did his best Jonathan Taylor impersonation in a come-from-behind win over the Colts, accounting for 24 of the Buccaneers' 38 points Sunday. The veteran running back carried 17 times for 100 yards and three touchdowns, adding seven catches for 31 yards and a score. Fournette is experiencing a bit of career revival in 2021 and is a true workhorse for the high-powered Tampa Bay offense. A threat to score every week, Fournette gets a great matchup with the porous Falcons defense in Week 13.
• Joe Mixon's stretch of fantasy dominance continued in Week 12, as he rushed 28 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns in a big win over the Steelers. Mixon has been plagued with injuries and inconsistency, but those issues are far behind him. The running back has become a key part of the Bengals' improved offense in 2021. Look for his hot streak to continue in Week 13 when Cincinnati takes on a Chargers defense that is very friendly to  running backs.
• Cordarrelle Patterson returned from his ankle injury and had another impressive performance in a win over the lowly Jaguars. The veteran carried 16 times for 108 yards and two scores, adding two catches for 27 yards. Outside of tight end Kyle Pitts, Patterson seems to be the only reliable weapon for the Falcons, at least for fantasy purposes. He continues to be a locked-in starter, but fantasy managers should temper their expectations for his next game. The Falcons face off against the Buccaneers' tough run defense in Week 13.
• Jaylen Waddle continues to prove why he was taken sixth overall in this year's draft. The rookie caught nine balls for 137 yards and a touchdown in a blowout win over the Panthers. Waddle's 10 targets were a team-high, as his chemistry with Tua Tagovailoa appears to be improving each week. Week 13 presents another opportunity for the University of Alabama product to build on his strong second half of the season when the Dolphins take on the Giants.
• A combination of Dontrell Hilliard and D'Onta Foreman appear to be the answer at running back for the Titans — at least for now. Both backs surprisingly rushed for more than 100 yards in a loss to the Patriots, with Foreman gaining 109 yards on 19 carries and Hilliard rushing 12 times for 131 yards and a touchdown. Tennessee has a bye in Week 13 before playing host to the Jaguars in Week 14. It wouldn't be surprising if both backs are used in tandem again as the Titans attempt to fill Derrick Henry's shoes.
• DJ Moore had a solid fantasy performance despite the Panthers' awful loss to the Dolphins. Since Cam Newton has been under center, Moore has become his favorite option in the passing game. The wideout's 10 targets led the team, and he turned them into four catches for 103 yards. Although things won't always be pretty when relying on Newton's arm, it's at least promising to see that Moore should continue to benefit from his target share.
• Mac Jones is firmly on the streaming radar. The rookie signal caller threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Titans. Jones is making plays when the Patriots need him to, and he was helped by the play of both Kendrick Bourne and Jakobi Meyers on Sunday. Meyers caught five passes for 98 yards, and Bourne had five catches for 61 yards and two scores. Jones will have a tough test against the Bills defense in Week 13, but he should at least be in consideration for anyone in need of a streaming option at quarterback.
• Not many wide receivers can have one catch for 12 yards and still have a strong fantasy day. Deebo Samuel is one of those receivers. In a win over the Vikings, Samuel rushed six times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. His versatility makes him a dream for fantasy managers, and it's clear the 49ers love to scheme up creative ways to use him as a weapon in the offense. Samuel's groin injury is one to monitor ahead of a favorable matchup with the Seahawks in Week 13.
• Elijah Mitchell carried 27 times for 133 yards and a touchdown, while adding five catches for 35 yards. Mitchell's usage appears to be a good sign for fantasy managers hoping that the running back would cement himself as San Francisco's top option out of the backfield for the remainder of the season. The 49ers are a run-first offense, and Mitchell seems to have done enough this season to hold the trust of the team's coaching staff.
• Although Cooper Kupp is the alpha in the Rams' passing game, the battle for the No. 2 spot between Van Jefferson and Odell Beckham is underway. Jefferson caught three of nine targets for 93 yards and a touchdown. Beckham reeled in five of 10 targets for 81 yards and touchdown. Their numbers were similar and both of their touchdowns were on deep shots, a part of their game that also appears to be quite similar. As the fantasy season approaches its end, both wideouts make for good options as members of the Rams' aerial attack.

Injury Notes

• Christian McCaffrey rolled his ankle late in the second quarter of the Panthers' blowout loss to the Dolphins. The star running back did not handle a single carry in the second half. Although the injury did not appear serious, McCaffrey was spotted wearing a walking boot as he left the stadium. With a Week 13 bye on tap, fantasy managers would be wise to add Chuba Hubbard in the event that McCaffrey is sidelined after the bye week.
• Dalvin Cook exited the Vikings' loss to the 49ers with a shoulder dislocation in the second half. Cook was in a great deal of pain after the hit and was eventually carted off the field. Coach Mike Zimmer said the running back will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury. If Cook misses time, Alexander Mattison has proven he can carry the load for the Vikings as the team's lead back.
• Deebo Samuel left the 49ers' win over the Vikings in the third quarter with a groin injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Samuel will undergo an MRI on Monday. If the wideout misses time, Brandon Aiyuk would likely benefit by stepping into the No. 1 wide receiver role.
• Dan Arnold was ruled out of the Jaguars' loss to the Falcons in the second quarter after suffering a knee injury. James O'Shaughnessy and Chris Manhertz would be the uninspiring options at tight end if Arnold remains out in a Week 13 matchup against the Rams.
• Randall Cobb exited the Packers win over the Rams with a groin injury, missing the second half. Before being ruled out, Cobb had four catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. The Packers have a bye in Week 13, giving the veteran extra time to heal.