Trending Wide Receivers and Running Backs- Week 12

The time is now to secure those fantasy playoff spots, but understanding who to value and who to avoid is the most important thing heading into crunch time.

The NFL can be a tricky place at times to predict leaving many of us looking for answers. However, following certain trends based on team circumstances will lead you in the right direction majority of the time. Many things change during the course of the year and rolling with the punches is what makes champions! Let’s review this week’s edition of trending players in hopes to secure wins to get one step closer.   

Trending Up

Michael Gallup (DAL)

At this point it’s impossible to ignore what the Cowboys Michael Gallup has done over the past several weeks. Granted his role has increased due to the situation with teammate Amari Cooper, rest assured this will be the standard for a little while longer.

With Cooper dealing with a great deal of pain in both his knee and ankle, the Cowboys have done a great job in using him as a decoy of sorts to lift other members of this receiving core. Gallup has seen his targets increase and opposing defenses literally have no choice but to keep the top talent to Cooper’s side. While the Cowboys have a tough test this week verse the Patriots great defense, Gallup is poised to have another strong showing. Until Cooper gets back to 100%, Gallup’s trend continues to soar.   

Royce Freeman (DEN)

It’s not often that we sing the good graces of the Broncos Royce Freeman, but this week we must provide his dues. Since coming into the league, Freeman has been overtaken by teammate and undrafted free agent Phillip Lindsay. Denver continues to use Lindsay more than Freeman in most contests, but this could be the week his value is off the charts.

The objective is to find trending players with great matchups while hoping it could pour over for multiple weeks. With that said, this might be a one hit wonder for us with Freeman. The Broncos play the Bills this week and with that comes a fabulous situation where Buffalo can’t stop the run. The potential for this two headed monster to work damage on the Bills defense is very real. You won’t see Freeman back on this list, so you better capitalize while you can.

Hunter Renfrew (OAK)

As the Oakland Raiders start to move in a more positive direction winning games in the process, rookie Hunter Renfrew has developed into a trusted player. Believing he would be the primary slot presence from day one, his maturation has taken quite some time.

Over the last four weeks, Renfrew has elevated his play which has rewarded him with more targets from the coaching staff. Derek Carr and this offense have found a formula behind the steady running of Josh Jacobs, which has allowed Renfrew to gain traction over the middle. While touchdowns will always be difficult to come by, Renfrew’s trends have placed him in a situation where 10-points in PPR formats could be a standard floor. As we climb to the last stages of the season, his trends are one to watch close.   

Tevin Coleman (SF)

Since his week eight explosion, Tevin Coleman has been somewhat locked down and underwhelming. So based on that fact, why should we place Coleman as a trend up you ask? Simply put, the 49ers Matt Breida is still dealing with an ankle issue which will limit him from returning to this week’s contest. With his absence clearly being felt, San Francisco has a glorious opportunity to establish the run this week verse the Packers.

And while week 12 should be a great showing, even when Breida returns to action, Coleman’s value and trend will continue to move forward. Coach Shanahan loves to employ a multi back system which is conductive for greater statistics, it almost appeared that both Coleman and Breida feed off each other. I have been a huge supporter of Coleman and could see his name attached to many fantasy championship rosters.    

Trending Down

James Conner (PIT)

Having players who are dealing with injury on a trend down is an obvious evaluation (yes we know), but in this case we must oblige. Going back to the midway point of last season, James Conner has been dealing with many trips to the medical room which is placing a very bad taste in our mouths. Based on where his services would’ve been secured, the return on investment is falling through the floor.

Once again, Conner is listed to not suit up for this week 12 showcase and more frustrated we could not be. The discouraging sign here is that Conner is dealing with an AC-joint injury which makes it very difficult to lift your arm let alone play the game of football. Even if the Steelers force the issue and attempt to rush Conner back on the field, his productivity and risk of re-injury will be very high. A potential season filled with many statistics has clearly fallen by the wayside as we take a giant sigh.   

Kenny Golladay (DET)

One of our lesser preached players heading back into the offseason, the Lions Kenny Golladay still was held in high regard in our circle. With Matthew Stafford throwing the ball, Golladay has proven to be the electric playmaker we all covet on a fantasy roster.

Now with the uncertainty of Stafford coming back any time soon, the production has been felt like shockwaves through the system. It’s not that Golladay doesn’t have the ability to make things happen on his own, it’s the fact that his achievements are now preset with Jeff Driskel behind center. Even with that, Driskel hasn’t played terribly, but the target share simply has fallen off a cliff in the direction of Golladay. There is always potential for him to snag a deep touchdown, but the risk is colossal as of now - hence the trend down.    

Sony Michel (NE)

Being fans of the Patriots Sony Michel coming out of college, this season has been a regrettable one to say the least. Appearing to be the afterthought in this offense of late, the sputtering nature of the group as a whole isn’t providing that warm feeling for the future.

At this point the Patriots are showing massive concern moving the ball with high regularity and they have abandoned Michel from any workhorse levels. Even when Coach Josh McDaniels orchestrates plays and schemes to help provide that push, Michel hasn’t provided much of anything since week seven. As it stands today, we have very little positive views to support Michel heading into the fantasy postseason. His trend has dropped and continues to fall.  

Terry McLaurin (WAS)

While being one of the largest supporters on this planet for his abilities, even we must pulse check and evaluate properly with no bias. The Redskins Terry McLaurin was one of our favorites coming out of college, but now the situation has become a disaster of grave concern.

Understandably the Redskins are trying to appraise what they have with rookie Dwayne Haskins, but with that change at the position, it’s McLaurin who’s suffered. In his first five games played of the season, McLaurin averaged a whopping 16.44 points per game. Over the last four weeks with Haskins throwing the ball, the average has plummeted to 5.63 points per game, enough said right? It’s unfortunate with how his year started, but based on situation, McLaurin could have no trend up for the rest of the year.