As Thursday night football approaches and Week 13 is in the books, here are some of the top fantasy performers from this past weekend's games.
Many fantasy leagues are entering the playoffs and some of these players may be the valuable starts that each squad needs to take home the championship. As playoff rounds come and go, every point is a premium, especially from players who's teams are fighting for the playoffs out in the "real" NFL world.
Scoring for this article is based on a Yahoo fantasy league with one point per reception, one point for every 30 passing yards, one point for 10 rushing yards, one point for 10 receiving yards and six points per touchdown.
QUARTERBACK
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
As a rookie, Andrew Luck has already set NFL records by leading his team to eight wins in his first season as a pro. If he continues to have games like he did on Sunday when the Colts defeated the Detroit Lions 35-33, he may set some fantasy records.
Luck led the Colts on a final drive to win the game and threw the game-winning pass as time expired to Donnie Avery for the victory. He passed for 391 yards and four touchdowns and also added 33 rush yards to earn 30.33 fantasy points, the second-most for his position this week.
In the past seven games Luck has had double-digit fantasy points, including 29.93 against the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 4. He has a favorable matchup in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans, who give up the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Luck is fourth in the NFL with 3,596 passing yards and has thrown 17 touchdowns this season. He is ranked seventh in the league among quarterbacks with 224 fantasy points.
WEEK 14 Status: START. Luck should have a great game against a weak Tennessee Titans secondary.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton has had a disappointing season after winning the Rookie of the Year award last year, but had a breakout game against Kansas City in Week 13.
Newton passed for 232 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 78 yards, posting his third-highest scoring game of the season. He scored 30.53 points, breaking the 30-point barrier for the second-straight game.
In the past three games, Newton has thrown six touchdowns and zero interceptions and has a seven game streak of double-digit fantasy points.
He has a tough matchup this week against the NFC South-leading Atlanta Falcons, but could post some good numbers against a secondary that allowed him score 31 points when they played in September. Newton threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for one score in the 30-28 loss.
WEEK 14 Status: SIT. But it's a CAUTIOUS SIT. It's really hard to not play Newton right now because he has been so hot. Act at your own risk.
RUNNING BACK
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
After going through surgery on both knees, Adrian Peterson was expected to be a step slower for the 2012 season. Instead he has been better than ever, rushing for a league-leading 1,446 yards and eight touchdowns.
In Week 13, Peterson had the most points of any fantasy player, posting 33 while rushing for 210 yards and one touchdown in Minnesota's 23-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Peterson had an 82-yard touchdown run in the game and has posted over 28 points in three of the past four games.
Peterson has scored double-digit fantasy points in every game this season and has gained over 108 yards rushing in six straight games. He has also been a valuable asset in points-per-reception leagues, catching 36 balls for 195 yards.
The Week 14 matchup against the Chicago Bears is tough, but the Vikings have been one of the top rushing teams in football and will continue that philosophy after losing wide receiver Percy Harvin to injured reserve on Wednesday.
The Bears give up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, but will be considerably weaker without starting middle linebacker Brian Urlacher, who will miss Sunday's game with a hamstring injury.
WEEK 14 Status: START. Although the Bears defense is one of the best in the NFL, the Vikings will continue to rush the ball at a consistent rate. Christian Ponder will be feeding the rock to Adrian Peterson all day.
WIDE RECIEVER
Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
No player has benefited more from the addition of quarterback Peyton Manning than Demaryius Thomas.
In Week 13 he was the second-highest scoring wide receiver with 26 fantasy points and made eight receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-23 win against Tampa Bay. Thomas has scored double-digit family points in nine straight games and has a season-high on Sunday.
Thomas has been a reliable target all season, posting single-digit fantasy points only once. He is the fourth-ranked wide receiver in fantasy points and faces a favorable matchup in Week 14 against the Oakland Raiders, who give up the 11th most points to his position.
WEEK 14 Status: START. Peyton Manning has been stellar and Thomas has been consistent al season.
SURPRISE PLAYER
Brandon Meyers, Tight End, Oakland Raiders
Meyers was the most surprising performer in Week 13, posting the sixth-most points of all players with 28 points after scoring just seven last week.
Carson Palmer has developed a good relationship with Meyers, who made 14 receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown in the teams 20-17 loss against the Browns on Sunday. He has made 69 receptions for 721 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Meyers is the fifth-ranked tight end in all of fantasy football and faces a decent matchup against Denver on Sunday. The Broncos give up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
WEEK 14 Status: START. Lighting just might strike twice against Denver.
