Welcome back to the Week 12 Blitz Pickup! After a one-week holiday hiatus, we’ve returned to review the most interesting facts, figures and notes from every NFL game this past week. Just like a running back hitting a crucial chip on a blitzing linebacker, we’re going to make sure nothing gets by, all so you can make the plays you need to reach fantasy football paydirt. It’s down, it’s dirty. It’s the Week 12 Blitz Pickup!

Note: All point totals and rankings are PPR unless otherwise noted.

Check out the Blitz Pickup from previous weeks

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Week 12 Blitz Pickup: Thanksgiving Day

Bills 28 at Lions 25

In his past five games, Josh Allen has thrown as many redzone interceptions as redzone touchdowns… Despite being out-snapped by Devin Singletary 60-14 in Week 12, James Cook saw five targets to just one for Singletary… Although Isaiah McKenzie was third on the team for wideout snaps, he put together his best fantasy outing of the year. McKenzie led Buffalo in receiving yards and caught his first score since Week 4… Dawson Knox has only one redzone target and no redzone receptions since Week 9. On the year, he has just five redzone targets in 10 games played…

Jared Goff had his best passing performance and fantasy score in a month, but failed to record a single rushing attempt… Jamaal Williams scored his league-leading 13th rushing touchdown. Williams has already set a career high for fantasy points scored… Williams is averaging almost 57 rushes per 100 snaps, but under four targets. D’Andre Swift is averaging just over 23 rushes, but over 16 targets… Amon-Ra St. Brown had his best fantasy score and first touchdown since Week 2… After just one target in his Week 11 return, D.J. Chark saw five targets and scored in Week 12… Despite dominating snaps since the T.J. Hockenson trade, Brock Wright has not separated himself from James Mitchell in target share at tight end…

Giants 20 at Cowboys 28

Daniel Jones‘s three rush attempts were his fewest in a game this season. Jones is sixth among quarterbacks in rush attempts this season… Saquon Barkley is second in rush attempts this season. His seven rushing scores are already behind only his rookie season for a yearly tally… Richie James has become a redzone threat, with two touchdowns on two targets in the past two games… Daniel Bellinger is expected back from an orbital socket injury possibly as soon as Week 13…

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott won his 10th straight game against the Giants and snapped a three-year Thanksgiving Day losing streak… While Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard have split backfield work almost equally when healthy, distinct usage patterns have emerged. Elliott is seeing the bulk of short yardage/redzone/early down rushes. Pollard is seeing much more work in the passing game… Pollard continues to lead Elliott in efficiency metrics, however… CeeDee Lamb saw double-digit targets for the sixth time in 11 games. Lamb is second in the NFL in target share… Dalton Schultz caught two touchdowns for the first time since Week 18 of last season. Schultz now has three scores on the year, all in the past three weeks…

Patriots 26 at Vikings 33

Mac Jones had a career-high 382 yards passing. It was only his fourth career 300+ yard day… Rhamondre Stevenson had career highs in targets (10) and receptions (nine)… Damien Harris was injured in the game and was ruled out for Week 13’s divisional game versus Buffalo… Nelson Agholor scored for the first time since Week 2 and had New England’s best wideout fantasy score in over a month… Patriot tight ends have not had a redzone reception since Week 8…

Kirk Cousins had his first three touchdown game of the season. Cousins is QB13 on the season and ranks in the top-10 in pass attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns… Dalvin Cook is fourth in rush share this season. He has finished in the top four in the stat each of the past two seasons… Cook’s relative health this season has meant that Alexander Mattison has averaged the fewest fantasy points per game of his career… Adam Thielen had his first 10 target game and touchdown of the season… T.J. Hockenson scored his first touchdown as a Viking…

Week 10 Blitz Pickup: Sunday Early Games

Bengals 20 at Titans 16

Joe Burrow was sacked just once after suffering nine sacks in the teams’ last meeting in the 2021 playoffs… Joe Mixon missed the game under concussion protocols and may still miss Week 13… Samaje Perine scored a touchdown and now has four in his past two games, largely in relief of Mixon… Ja’Marr Chase missed his fourth straight game with a hip injury, but could return in Week 13… Chase is still seventh among wideouts in fantasy points per game… Tee Higgins is WR9 in receiving yards on the season… Hayden Hurst is seventh in tight end targets in the league this year…

Ryan Tannehill had his third game of the season without a touchdown pass… Derrick Henry had just 38 rushing yards, his lowest total since Week 3, but had a season-high 79 receiving yards… Treylon Burks has 14 catches on 20 targets since returning from injury three weeks ago. Both figures lead the Titans during that timeframe… Rookie Chigoziem Okonkwo is averaging 18.8 yards per reception, tops among tight ends with at least 20 targets this season…

Buccaneers 17 at Browns 23 (OT)

Tom Brady had just his second multi-touchdown game of the season without an interception but was sacked three times. The Buccaneers were held to just 4-15 on third down conversions… Rachaad White started in place of an injured Leonard Fournette. White had career highs in targets (9), catches (9), and fantasy points (19.9)… On nine targets, Mike Evans had just two catches for 31 yards, both season-lows. Evans has not scored since Week 4… Chris Godwin now has a higher target share on the year than Evans, despite playing one fewer game… Ko Kieft scored his first career touchdown. It was just the second tight end score of the year for the Buccaneers. Rob Gronkowski scored six in 12 games last season…

Jacoby Brissett won his final start for Cleveland before Deshaun Watson returns from suspension for the Browns in Week 13… Nick Chubb had over 100 total yards for the eighth time in 11 games this season… Kareem Hunt is averaging just 9.0 fantasy points per game. His previous career low is 12.7 points per game in his first year with Cleveland… Amari Cooper has averaged a career-best 16.0 fantasy points per game this season… Rookie David Bell has set season and career-highs in both receptions and targets each of the past two weeks, ranking second on the team in each behind Cooper… David Njoku scored for the first time since Week 3, but has been ruled out for Week 13 with a knee injury…

Texans 15 at Dolphins 30

Kyle Allen started in place of Davis Mills and had his first 200 yard passing game since Week 6 of 2020… Dameon Pierce was held to just eight rushing yards for the second straight week and has not scored a rushing touchdown since Week 5… Dare Ogunbowale scored his first touchdown since Week 17 of last season… Leading receiver Brandin Cooks has been ruled out for Week 13 with a calf injury… Teagan Quitoriano has led the team in tight end snaps for two straight games, but Jordan Akins continues to see the most pass game usage. Akins scored his second touchdown of the season in Week 12…

Tua Tagovailoa leads the league in quarterback rating with a mark of 115.7. His previous career high was 90.07 last season… Jeff Wilson Jr. has led the backfield in snaps and usage in each game since the Dolphins traded for him at the deadline… The Dolphins rank as the third-best passing offense in the league and just 28th in rushing. But Wilson ranks as RB12 over the past three games, elevating the entire Miami offensive attack… Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle rank as WR3 and WR6 in total fantasy points, based largely on ranking as WR1 and WR5, respectively, in receiving yards…

Bears 10 at Jets 31

Despite starting and playing the entire game, Trevor Siemian was lost to IR due to an oblique injury suffered in pre-game warmups… Justin Fields is on-track to start in Week 13… David Montgomery has now totaled over 100 yards in back-to-back games since Khalil Herbert was placed on IR… Leading receiver Darnell Mooney was lost to IR due to an ankle injury suffered in Week 12… Chase Claypool led the team’s wide receivers in targets for the first time since Chicago acquired him at the trade deadline… Cole Kmet led the team overall in targets…

Mike White had three touchdowns without an interception in his first start of the season… In Zach Wilson‘s only multi-touchdown game this season, he also threw three interceptions… Michael Carter was injured and is doubtful for Week 13… Ty Johnson scored his first touchdown on the year and Zonovan Knight totaled over 100 yards in his pro debut with James Robinson a surprise healthy scratch… Garrett Wilson scored his first two touchdowns since Week 2…

Falcons 13 at Commanders 19

Marcus Mariota remains a top-10 option at quarterback despite recent struggles, based mostly on the strength of his rushing numbers… While Caleb Huntley seems to have lost ground in the competition for backfield touches, Tyler Allgeier has maintained steady usage since Cordarrelle Patterson‘s return to the lineup. Patterson, however, seems to have a regular role in the pass game, where Allgeier is used mainly as a rusher despite being a perfect 10 for 10 on his receiving targets thus far… Drake London has a target share of 25.9 percent. That share has been limited, however, by his receiving percentage of just 59.4… Kyle Pitts is out for the remainder of the season following surgery…

In spite of his pedestrian offensive and fantasy numbers, Taylor Heinicke has led Washington to three straight wins and a current playoff spot… Brian Robinson had his first career 100 yard rushing game… Antonio Gibson is questionable for Week 13… Curtis Samuel recorded four rush attempts but did not see a target in the pass game for the first time this year… Logan Thomas led the Washington tight ends in snaps, but John Bates was the leading receiver at the position and scored his first touchdown of the season…

Broncos 10 at Panthers 23

The Broncos scored under 20 points for the ninth time in 11 games… Russell Wilson has scored fewer than 18 fantasy points in all but one game this season… Wilson averaged 17.3 fantasy points per game in 2021, his lowest since 2016… Latavius Murray is the unquestioned leader of the Denver backfield at this point, despite only joining the team in Week 6… The Broncos released Melvin Gordon, who leads the team’s backfield in total yardage… Courtland Sutton has been the team’s leading receiver in the absence of Jerry Jeudy. Both are questionable for Week 13- Jeudy with injury and Sutton with an illness… KJ Hamler was lost to IR after Week 12… While he is still the unquestioned TE1 in Denver, Greg Dulcich has cooled off and has just 12.2 points combined in his past three starts…

Sam Darnold had a touchdown passing and rushing in his season debut starting in place of Baker Mayfield… D’Onta Foreman had over 100 yards rushing for the fourth time since Week 7, but has only four receptions in that timeframe, and none since Week 9… D.J. Moore scored his third receiving touchdown since Christian McCaffrey was traded… The Panthers are on the bye in Week 13…

Ravens 27 at Jaguars 28

Lamar Jackson had his best rushing game and highest fantasy score since Week 3… A healthy Gus Edwards saw the only significant backfield usage in Week 12… J.K. Dobbins is not expected back in Week 13… DeSean Jackson led the team’s wideouts in receiving yards, but Devin Duvernay led in targets and receptions… Josh Oliver was the leading fantasy tight end for the Ravens, scoring a touchdown and leading the team in receiving yards. Mark Andrews led in snaps and targets, however…

Trevor Lawrence had his best fantasy score since Week 3, as he threw three touchdowns without an interception for the second time this season and had a season-high 321 yards… Travis Etienne missed the second half with an injury. In his absence, Jamycal Hasty scored his first career receiving touchdown… Snoop Conner had 11 yards on his first three career carries… Zay Jones had a career day with 11 catches on 14 targets for 145 yards, all career highs… Since scoring his only touchdown of the season in Week 8, Evan Engram has just 26 yards receiving on five catches…

Week 12 Blitz Pickup: Sunday Late Games

Raiders 40 at Seahawks 34 (OT)

Derek Carr had his first three-touchdown day since 2020… Josh Jacobs had a career day with 303 total yards and 48.3 fantasy points, including the game-winning 86 yard touchdown in overtime… Jacobs is the overall RB1 on the season thus far… Davante Adams leads the league in target share with a mark of 32.0… Mack Hollins already has career highs in almost every receiving category, and also in fantasy points… Foster Moreau has two receiving touchdowns in his past three games and ranks as TE12 in that timeframe…

Geno Smith has at least 19 fantasy points in four straight games and is second in passer rating in that span behind only league leader Tua Tagovailoa… Since taking over as starter in Week 6, Kenneth Walker has eight rushing scores. Walker is RB9 on the season… D.K. Metcalf tied a career high with 15 targets and had a season-best 11 receptions… Metcalf ranks tenth in target share among wide receivers this season… Tyler Lockett has scored in four straight contests…

Chargers 25 at Cardinals 24

Justin Herbert threw three touchdowns for the third time this year and had a season high in rush yardage en route to his best fantasy score of the season to date… Austin Ekeler (RB1) leads all running backs in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns… Keenan Allen scored his first touchdown on the season… Mike Williams has been ruled out in Week 13 once again…

Kyler Murray (QB8) had two passing scores and a rushing touchdown for the second time this season… James Conner scored for the third game in a row and had a season high in yardage… DeAndre Hopkins was the Cardinals’ leading receiver and scored, but Marquise Brown led the team in targets in his return to the lineup… Arizona is on the bye in Week 13…

Rams 10 at Chiefs 26

Bryce Perkins made his first career start in place of Matthew Stafford (still in concussion protocol and with a neck injury) and threw his first career touchdown, but John Wolford has been named the starter for Week 13… Kyren Williams led the Rams’ backfield in snaps for the second straight game and led Cam Akers in carries and targets… With Allen Robinson II joining Cooper Kupp on IR, Van Jefferson operated as the lead wide receiver, leading in snaps, targets, receptions, and yards. Jefferson also scored for the second time in three weeks… Tyler Higbee did not see a target…

Patrick Mahomes continues to lead the league in passing yards and touchdowns and is third in passer rating. Mahomes is averaging 25.5 fantasy points per game, behind only his MVP season of 2018… Isiah Pacheco continues to lead the Chiefs’ running backs in snaps and carries, but has just four targets on the season… Melvin Gordon was signed to the practice squad after his release by the Broncos… Kadarius Toney (hamstring) has been ruled out for Week 13… Skyy Moore has caught five of six targets in each of the past two games… Travis Kelce (TE1) leads Mark Andrews by almost 100 fantasy points and is having his best offensive season at age 33…

Saints 0 at 49ers 13

Alvin Kamara lost two fumbles for the first time in his career, but has seen at least four targets in every game he’s played this season… Chris Olave (WR15) leads the team in target share at 24.0 percent… Juwan Johnson did not see a target and suffered an injury that has ruled him out for Week 13… The Saints were shut out for the first time since prior to Drew Brees‘s arrival…

After tying a career high with four touchdowns in Week 11, Jimmy Garoppolo threw just one score in Week 12… Christian McCaffrey continues to lead the backfield, but Elijah Mitchell was placed on IR after spraining his MCL… Jordan Mason saw his most extensive usage with Mitchell out… Brandon Aiyuk led the team’s wideouts in targets, but Jauan Jennings scored his first touchdown on the season… Deebo Samuel is questionable for Week 13…

Week 12 Blitz Pickup: Sunday Night

Packers 33 at Eagles 40

Aaron Rodgers left the game with a rib injury but is going to play in Week 13… Jordan Love threw a touchdown without an interception for the first time in his limited career action… AJ Dillon scored and had his best fantasy output since Week 1… Aaron Jones scored his fourth receiving touchdown on the year… Week 12 marked the first time this season both Jones and Dillon scored in the same game… Christian Watson scored his sixth touchdown in the last three weeks. Watson is the overall WR2 in that timeframe… Leading receiver Allen Lazard has been scoreless, however, over that same stretch… Robert Tonyan has not had over 35 yards receiving since Week 6 and has not scored since Week 4…

Jalen Hurts (QB3) continues to lead all quarterbacks in rush attempts and rushing scores. His rush share of 33.6 leads all signal callers as well… Miles Sanders had a season high in rushing yards and two scores en route to the second-best fantasy day of his career… Quez Watkins has scored in back-to-back games for the first time in his career… A.J. Brown ranks sixth in the league in target share, but DeVonta Smith has actually led the Eagles in targets for three games in a row… Dallas Goedert is targeting a return to the field in Week 15, when he is eligible to come off of IR…

Week 12 Blitz Pickup: Monday Night

Steelers 24 at Colts 17

Kenny Pickett did not throw a touchdown for the fifth time in eight games as the starter… After Najee Harris left with an injury, Benny Snell led the Steelers’ backfield and scored his first touchdown since 2020. Harris is expected to play in Week 13… Jaylen Warren missed the game, but is expected to be active in Week 13 as well… Diontae Johnson has still not scored a touchdown despite ranking eighth in the league in wide receiver targets…

Matt Ryan is second in the league in turnovers… Jonathan Taylor has now scored in three straight games after going scoreless since Week 1… With Kylen Granson sidelined with an illness, rookie Jelani Woods had career highs in targets, receptions, and yardage… Woods is questionable for Week 13, however…

Challenge Chase!

Still wondering how you stack up against the experts? I keep telling you, now’s your chance to find out! You can utilize what you learned in the Week 12 Blitz Pickup, and use teams you’ve already drafted to take me on for weekly bragging rights with Flex Fantasy. You know you want to. Visit https://www.flex.fan/bellyup to sign up and challenge me, as I’ll be using lineups from my own home leagues. You can play for fun, play for money, or play for both! Look for SttChaseFFB’s teams in the Flex Fantasy Arena and sign up today. I promise I won’t rub it in (much) when I win. Got something to say? Leave a comment below, follow me on Twitter @SttChaseFFB, and catch me on the Belly Up Fantasy Live podcast Sundays and Wednesdays all season long. Slàinte!