Whatever you got in your stocking probably was cool, but not as awesome as another big time NFL goal. Drew Brees passed enough to bump his total career yardage over 70,000 yards, becoming just the third QB ever to achieve that number. Brett Favre and Peyton Manning are the other two, and Brees achieved the feat in fewer games, so our helmet is off to you, Mr. Brees.
And, well, if this holiday time is one for reflection, I acknowledged Jimmy Garappolo last week, but man, his team that was 1-10 when he took over is now 5-10 with the QB winning his sixth straight start. Whatever is going on in San Francisco, it is catching, and clearly Garappolo has found a home and some believers. Amazing. Just amazing. And, of course, worth noting.
So, this holiday weekend, as we wind into the final week of the regular season, I am noting players who just caught my eye for whatever reason over this week, or just over the year and I neglected. I’m starting with the amazing Ted Ginn, Jr. In his 11th year, the 32-year-old Ohio State alum just does it, week in, week out, catching four passes for 76 yards last week and running the ball a couple of times for 16 more. Ginn wound up with 50 receptions for 754 yards this year and four TDs, giving him three-straight years of similar production. Steady and underrated is the name of the game.
As we continue to pay homage to some greats, Antonio Gates, relegated to the spotlight by virtue of injury to Hunter Henry, showed his value this past weekend bagging six balls for 81 yards and a TD. At 37, Gates is in his 15th season, and though he has only nabbed 26 balls for 270 yards this year, the All Time Great Tight End still has three scores, giving him 923 lifetime receptions, 11,462 yards, and 114 touchdowns. Just more awesome man.
If you listened to The Tout Wars Hour this past Thursday (9-11, PM, ET), my mate Justin Mason of Friends With Fantasy Benefits and I each made sleeper picks at the end of the show. Justin named Gates, and I went for Eric Ebron, who caught five balls for 83 yards, bringing his solid but quiet season-long totals to 52 receptions with 565 yards and four scores. And both were indeed great sleepers over the weekend, with Gates earning 21 points while Ebron had 19 to lead tight ends Week 16.
Looking at one more tight end, Jacksonville’s James O’Shaughnessy is a third-year player out of Illinois State. O’Shaughnessy had his biggest NFL day Sunday with five catches for 39 yards and a score, bringing his career total to 22 receptions for 235 yards and that Sunday TD. He has eight receptions over the last month, meaning more playing time and opportunities seem to abide. So, watch his participation.
The Dolphins’ Jakeem Grant also emerged this last week with four catches for 107 yards and a TD. A second-year player from Texas Tech, Grant has 10 receptions on 17 targets this year, but seven of those catches have been in December, again suggesting as the season progresses that the understudies are getting some playing time and potentially poised for more highlight work in 2018.
Finally, rookie WR Corey Davis is another getting more and more time and looks. Davis, who grabbed six passes Week 1, was otherwise pretty much dormant till mid-season, but since then he has caught 27 passes for 302 yards. With just one game to go this year, it is hit and miss for Davis, but remember his name when you are drafting receivers next year as a second line guy — who was a first round pick and #5 overall — who could indeed become a first line player.
Remember to tune into the Tout Wars Hour on the FNTSY network, hosted by me, with Justin Mason and featuring Lord Z every Thursday night at 9 PM ET.
Follow me @lawrmichaels.
