The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Report: Week 12

“You see, in this world there’s two types of people, my friend: Those with loaded guns and those who dig. You dig.”

Oddly enough, this immortal quote from Clint Eastwood, a.k.a “Blondie”, in “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” also applies to fantasy football. You see, in our fake little world there’s two types of people: those that play IDP and those who don’t. If you find yourself getting all warm and tingly inside when a linebacker brings down a ball carrier or when a lineman comes off the edge and takes off the opposing quarterback’s head, then you know full well of the joys that accompany playing the superior version of fake football. If that doesn’t happen to you…well, you can keep digging…

Each week, the “GBU Report” will rundown what transpired in the previous week of IDP; highlighting some of the good, bad, and you guessed it, maybe even some ugly performances from the “other” side of the ball. And then, in addition to reminiscing on what was, I will also give you a brief preview of what to possibly expect in the upcoming week.

The Good

Cameron Jordan DL/NO: 6 total tackles (3 solo), 2.5 sacks, 1 pass defended

Making his first appearance for this column, the Saints defensive end did so in emphatic fashion as he dismantled the Falcon offensive line last Thursday night. Jordan, on a real life level, has been out of this world and is second only to JJ Watt for PFF’s 3-4 defensive end ranks. For fantasy he hasn’t been quite as consistent, but his 31 total tackles and 9.5 sacks are good for a low-end DL1. A tough matchup against the Panthers awaits next week, but you gotta roll with him.

Von Miller LB/Den: 8 total tackles (6 solo), 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 sacks, 1 TD

Last week’s “ugly” performer, Miller rebounded nicely against New England. Ahhh the life of a game-changing, edge rushing linebacker. If you had him in your lineup, chances are pretty good you were victorious, but be prepared to be disappointed next week as Miller gets the Chiefs who held him to 1 assist a week ago.

Lavonte David LB/TB: 12 total tackles (9 solo), 1 FF, 1 Int, 1 pass defended

He made the “Gruden’s Grinders”, need I say more? On a serious note, he’s second only to Von Miller in PFF’s 4-3 OLB ranks. He’s a legit stud and top 5 linebacker for the foreseeable future.

Barry Church DB/Dal: 13 total tackles (8 solo)

To put is simply, Church has been dominant this year; he’s totaled 93 tackles so far ( 75 solo), 3 forced fumbles, 1 INT, 6 pass deflections, and 1 TD. But the stat that jumps out to me is his 7 or more solo tackles in all but 3 of his 11 games thus far. His PFF won’t reflect it, but he’s been a stone wall for that shaky Dallas defense, and absolutely vacuums up tackles. In tackle-heavy leagues, he’s your #1 overall DB.

The Bad

Greg Hardy DL/Car: 3 solo tackles

After posting back-to-back games with a sack, Hardy slipped back into his den of mediocrity in week 12. I’ve been rather critical of Hardy this year, and fell victim to his trap in several leagues. All the signs were there for a dominant year, but it just hasn’t happened. However, a very lovely matchup against Tampa Bay looms ahead in week 13; whom he already posted a sack against earlier in the season.

Cameron Wake DL/Mia: 2 solo tackles

Keeping with the disappointing theme, Wake continues to frustrate those that drafted him as a high-end DL1. His week 12 was most frustrating as he hurried the quarterback a whopping 7 times (hitting him twice), but unfortunately nothing landed. He will face a week Jets o-line in week 13; one who has surrendered 29 sacks thus far.

The Ugly

Dayrl Washington LB/AZ: 2 total tackles (1 solo)

So much was expected of Washington after coming off his suspension, and even after his first game back in week 5 he seemed to pick back up right where he left off last year. But outside of that one game he really hasn’t been that other-worldly player that fantasy owners expected, and the reason some still spent a relatively high pick on him and stashed him on their roster. Karlos Dansby has become oh so much more than just a fill in for those 4 games Wash missed at the beginning of the year. He, not Washington, is dominating in the desert.