Ty Montgomery among a host of Week 15 fantasy surprises
The biggest problem with fantasy football's head-to-head format is the best team doesn't always win. One untimely injury, one bad matchup or an off day by a superstar can derail an entire season.
On Sunday, the touchdown vultures were out in full force -- and the timing couldn't have been worse for owners in the semifinal round of the fantasy playoffs.
-- Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn't throw a touchdown pass for the first time all season as wide receiver-turned-running back Ty Montgomery carried the offensive load, rushing for 162 yards and two TDs.
-- DeMarco Murray of the Tennessee Titans has carried his fantasy teams all season long, entering Week 15 as the third-ranked running back. He was solid once again, racking up 89 yards on the ground and 52 more through the air ... but backup Derrick Henry got the ball in the red zone and scored the Titans' only two TDs.
-- For Indianapolis Colts, backup running back Robert Turbin scored on a pair of short touchdown runs and third-string tight end Erik Swoope caught a touchdown pass, while season-long standouts Frank Gore and T.Y. Hilton never sniffed the end zone in a blowout win.
Back in action
Adrian Peterson has amazed fantasy owners before with his ability to return from injuries earlier than expected. So it was tempting to put Peterson back in the starting lineup when he made his first appearance since injuring his knee in Week 2. However, the Minnesota Vikings rank last in the NFL in rushing -- and not even Peterson could make a difference. He carried the ball six times for 22 yards and lost a fumble. Don't expect much more in Week 16 either.
Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery returned Sunday after serving a four-game suspension. He was held without a reception in the first half, but came on strong as the Bears rallied late. Jeffery finished with six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown -- just his second of the season.
QB switch
The Houston Texans have had trouble moving the ball on offense for most of the season. And with quarterback Brock Osweiler completing just 6-of-11 passes for 48 yards and throwing two interceptions, a change was in order.
Enter Tom Savage, a fourth-round pick in 2014 with a total of 19 pass attempts in his career. Savage didn't thrown a touchdown pass, but he didn't have any interceptions either as he completed 23-of-36 passes for 260 yards and rallied the Texans to a one-point win.
The Texans paid Osweiler a lot of money this past offseason to be their quarterback, but Savage sure made a case for increased playing time, if not a starting assignment next week.
Marching down the field
Despite having the league's No. 1 offense, the New Orleans Saints struggled mightily the previous two weeks. Quarterback Drew Brees failed to throw a touchdown pass in consecutive weeks for the first time in his career. But Brees rebounded with one of his best performances of the season, completing 37-of-48 passes for 389 yards and four touchdowns.
Brandin Cooks was Brees' favorite receiver with seven receptions for 186 yards and two scores. The big day came three weeks after Cooks was held without a catch in a game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Broad Shoulders Award
On a day several stars underachieved, our weekly award for the player who single-handedly carried his fantasy teams to victory goes to Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman.
Despite splitting touches with backfield mate Tevin Coleman, Freeman ran wild, gaining 139 yards on 20 carries and scoring three touchdowns. He also added another 16 yards on two receptions for a total of 31.5 fantasy points.