Fantasy football readers give thanks for their seasons
Whether grateful for moves they made or for their guys who stayed healthy, readers are thankful.
JUST BECAUSE grace has been said and the leftovers have been divided doesn't mean we're done being grateful.
From Tom Brady to Tyler Eifert to Thomas Rawls, there were a lot of happy Thanksgivings in fantasyland.
And who would have thought that when the marriage ref said, "What God has joined together let no man put asunder," he was possibly talking about Bears running back Jeremy Langford!
We cast a net looking for things Daily News readers and webchat participants were particularly thankful for this fantasy season.
Here's a random sampling:
When it comes to fantasy football, my league is thankful for me. I traded Drew Brees for Peyton Manning the week before Brees threw for 7 touchdown (against me) and Cam Newton for Keenan Allen (four catches for me, then got hurt and is out for the year). - Bill Vaughan, Springfield, Pa.
I am thankful for announcing in the 10th round "Brady will not serve one game of that suspension, I'll take him." Also for drafting Todd Gurley in Round 6. It drew snickers at the time, but now who's snickering? - John Newswanger, Malvern, Pa.
I'm thankful for my top three picks of Andrew Luck, Jamaal Charles and Jimmy Graham being consistently underachieving and keeping me from stressing over making the playoffs. - Sean Tolbert, Abington, Pa.
I am thankful that when I called out Tyler Eifert in my auction league everyone passed and I got him for $1. - Paul Riley, Ardmore, Pa.
I am thankful that I am not on my own fantasy team. In the last four weeks I have lost Arian Foster, Le'veon Bell, Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman. With my luck, I would probably be the next injury. - Firm Whildin, Millville, N.J.
I am thankful for believing Bears running back Jeremy Langford would assume Matt Forte's role and rolling with him. My team was losing to my wife's by 14 going into a Monday night (Week 9), but I had picked Langford off waivers and played him on a prayer. (He had a touchdown and 142 total yards and) I won by eight. It was a bit chilly in the house the next couple of days and I don't mean from the weather. - Bruce Burns, Thorndale Pa.
Shirt winners
The three participants randomly chosen to win a Daily News fantasy football T-shirt were Sean Tolbert, of Abington, Pa.; Firm Whildin, of Millville, N.J.; and Bruce Burns, of Thorndale, Pa.
Getting to know . . .
. . . Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls, one of the most popular pickups on the fantasy waiver wire, in light of Marshawn Lynch's sports hernia surgery.
* Spent three seasons at the University of Michigan before transferring to Central Michigan, where he ran for 1,103 yards as a senior in 2014.
* Rawls was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Seahawks in May and started the season behind Lynch, Christine Michael and Fred Jackson on the depth chart.
* His running backs coach at Michigan also was named Fred Jackson.
* Had to perform 104 hours of community service as part of a plea deal following his involvement with a theft of an unattended purse while in college.
* Ran for 209 yards last week, the second-most ever by an undrafted player in his rookie season. The Rams' Tommy Wilson ran for 223 yards against Green Bay in 1956.
Position watch
Quarterbacks: Andy Dalton needs 262 yards to join Peyton Manning as the only quarterback in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards in his first five seasons. Dalton, who is averaging 273.8 this year, is going against a Rams defense Sunday that allows 229.4 ypg and has allowed only nine TD passes. Only Denver (eight) has allowed fewer . . . The last quarterback to start a game for the Ravens before Joe Flacco was Troy Smith in 2007. Smith, the 2006 Heisman winner, went 4-4 in eight career starts over four seasons . . . Last time Cleveland played Baltimore, in Week 5, the Browns' Josh McCown threw for 457 yards and two TDs. Maybe that's why Johnny Football was partying so hard.
Running backs: It's looking unlikely that Atlanta's Devonta Freeman (concussion) will play this week against Minnesota. The Vikes have given up only two rushing TDs in the last nine games to opposing backs, so consider Tevin Coleman a low-end RB2 . . . Raheem Mostert, one of the Eagles' final cuts, is now the backup in Baltimore. Buck Allen, who picked up the slack when Justin Forsett broke his arm last week, posted mediocre rushing numbers (22-for-67), but had five receptions . . . Charcandrick West (calf) did not practice Thursday.
Wide receivers: San Diego's Stevie Johnson has seen 18 targets in the two games since Keenan Allen went out for the season with a lacerated kidney. Johnson, playing for his third team in three years, hasn't scored or cracked 70 yards in either of those games, but he has made seven catches in each . . . Danny Amendola (knee) was limited in Thursday's practice. The Pats could use him Sunday night against Denver and give him off next week against the Eagles . . . Denver's Emmanuel Sanders (ankle) and Miami's Jarvis Landry (knee) also were listed as limited.
Week 12 rankings (for players who have yet to play)
Quarterbacks
1. Drew Brees, Saints: at Hou.
2. Eli Manning, Giants: at Was.
3. Tom Brady, Patriots: at Den.
4. Carson Palmer, Cardinals: at SF
5. Blake Bortles, Jaguars: vs. SD
6. Jameis Winston, Bucs: at Ind.
7. Russell Wilson, Seahawks: vs. Pit.
8. Andy Dalton, Bengals: vs. Stl.
9. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers: at Sea.
10. Derek Carr, Raiders: at Ten.
11. Kirk Cousins, Redskins : vs. NYG
12. Philip Rivers, Chargers: at Jac.
Running backs
1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings: at Atl.
2. Todd Gurley, Rams: at Cin.
3. LeSean McCoy, Bills: at KC
4. Thomas Rawls, Seahawks: vs. Pit.
5. Doug Martin, Buccaneers: at Ind.
6. Spencer Ware/C. West, Chiefs: vs. Buf.
7. Mark Ingram, Saints: at Hou.
8. Ronnie Hillman, Broncos: vs. NE
9. DeAngelo Williams, Steelers: at Sea.
10. Chris Johnson, Cardinals: at SF
11. LeGarrette Blount, Patriots: at Den.
12. Chris Ivory, Jets: vs. Mia.
13. Buck Allen, Ravens: at Cle.
14. T.J. Yeldon, Jaguars: vs. SD
15. Latavius Murray, Raiders: at Ten.
16. Lamar Miller, Dolphins: at NYJ
17. Jeremy Hill, Bengals: vs. Stl.
18. Tevin Coleman, Falcons: vs. Min.
19. Danny Woodhead, Chargers: at Jac.
20. Alfred Blue, Texans: vs. NO
Wide receivers
1. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans: vs. NO
2. Julio Jones, Falcons: vs. Min.
3. Odell Beckham, Jr., Giants: at Was.
4. Antonio Brown, Steelers: at Sea.
5. Mike Evans, Buccaneers: at Ind.
6. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos: vs. NE
7. Allen Robinson, Jaguars: vs. SD
8. Michael Crabtree, Raiders: at Ten.
9. A.J. Green, Bengals: vs. Stl.
10. Allen Hurns, Jaguars: vs. SD
11. Brandin Cooks, Saints: at Hou.
12. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals: at SF
13. Brandon Marshall, Jets: vs. Mia.
14. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos: vs. NE
15. Amari Cooper, Raiders: at Ten.
16. Martavis Bryant, Steelers: at Sea.
17. Vincent Jackson, Buccaneers: at Ind.
18. DeSean Jackson, Redskins: vs. NYG
19. Brandon LaFell, Patriots: at Den.
20. Travis Benjamin, Browns: vs. Bal.
Tight ends
1. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots: at Den.
2. Tyler Eifert, Bengals: vs. Stl.
3. Gary Barnidge, Browns: vs. Bal.
4. Delanie Walker, Titans: vs. Oak.
5. Travis Kelce, Chiefs: vs. Buf.
6. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks: vs. Pit.
7. Ben Watson, Saints: at Hou.
8. Greg Olsen, Panthers: at Dal.
9. Jordan Reed, Redskins: vs. NYG
10. Julius Thomas, Jaguars: vs. SD
Added/Dropped (In leagues run by ESPN.com)
MOST ADDED PLAYERS
1. Buck Allen, RB, Ravens
2. Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks
3. Spencer Ware, RB, Chiefs
4. Tevin Coleman, RB, Falcons
5. Brian Hoyer, QB, Texans
MOST DROPPED PLAYERS
1. Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens
2. Joe Flacco, RB, Ravens
3. Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots
4. Peyton Manning, QB, Broncos
5. Kai Forbath, K, Saints