Biggest Unused Fantasy Outings

In honor of Jerome Harrison’s 286-yard, three-touchdown outburst on Sunday, I’m reviewing the biggest fantasy football outings of 2009 that nobody* used.

(*I realize that some people, somewhere started Harrison yesterday. In fact, I used him as a flex play in a 14-team league. But the percentage of teams that employed Harrison and the other guys I mention below was extremely low)

1) Harrison: 286 rushing yards, three scores (Week 15 at KC)

–Why not start with yesterday’s monster outing? Harrison posted the third-highest single-game rushing total in NFL history. Most fantasy owners were focused on Chris Jennings, who ran well against the Steelers in Week 14, or Josh Cribbs, whose role as a rusher increased in recent games. Harrison came into Week 15 with 301 rushing yards on the season.

2) Miles Austin, Cowboys: 10 catches, 250 receiving yards, two scores (Week 5 at KC)

–Roy Williams missed this contest due to injured ribs, and Austin made his first career start. He made a good impression. Austin broke free for a 60-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and he broke tackles on his way to a game-winning, 59-yard score in overtime. The 250 yards were a franchise record. Austin came into Week 5 with only five catches over the opening four games and 435 receiving yards over three-plus years in the NFL.

3) Ryan Moats, Texans: 126 rushing yards, three scores (Week 8 at BUF)

–Prior to Week 8, Moats had carried the ball only 15 times – all in Week 4. Steve Slaton fumbled the ball on his first touch against the Bills, and head coach Gary Kubiak yanked his starter from the game. Moats came in, ran well, and scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Prior to the game, Moats owned four career scores over four-plus seasons.

4) Ricky Williams, Dolphins: 80 rushing yards, three scores (Week 7 vs. NO)

–By this point in the season, Williams made enough of an impression to be considered a flex option in many leagues, but I doubt he was in many lineups. The Dolphins were coming off a bye and facing the 5-0 Saints, who were rolling over opponents. Williams scored two first quarter touchdowns and added a third quarter score in the 46-34 loss.

5) Vernon Davis, 49ers: 7 catches, 96 yards, two scores (Week 3 at MIN)

–Formerly known as a bust, Davis began his breakout campaign in Week 3. He caught seven passes for 72 yards over the first two contests, and nobody predicted a huge outing in the Metrodome. Davis nearly led the Frank Gore-less 49ers to an upset win over the Vikings. It took a last-gasp, amazing touchdown pass from Brett Favre to Greg Lewis for the Vikes to come out victorious. For Davis, it was the beginning of his move to the top of the tight end heap.

6) Matthew Stafford, Lions: 422 passing yards, five scores (Week 11 vs. CLE)

–Who knew that a November clash between two of the NFL’s worst teams would be a classic? Stafford’s fifth and final touchdown pass came with no time left on the clock. He also completed the play despite a left shoulder injury that has limited him since this victory. Stafford came into the game with only six touchdown passes over seven games.

7) Pierre Thomas, Saints: 126 rushing yards, two scores (Week 3 at BUF)

–Fantasy owners had high hopes for Thomas coming into the season, but he missed Week 1 due to a knee injury and didn’t carry the ball despite being active in Week 2. This game in Buffalo opened with Lynell Hamilton (remember him?) rushing for a touchdown, and the Saints turned to Thomas in the second half. All 126 rushing yards came in the final two quarters.

8 ) Jermichael Finley, Packers: 7 catches, 79 yards, two scores (Week 13 vs. BAL)

–I could have also picked Finley’s Week 4 outing in Minnesota (128 yards, touchdown), and I’m putting him here because he is a repeat customer. Fantasy owners may have noticed his obvious talent during the preseason, but inconsistency and injuries have hindered Finley’s campaign. Heading into the Week 13 game, he had been active the previous two weeks, but he hadn’t scored since Week 4 and had only one touchdown on the season.

9) Ahmad Bradshaw, Giants: 110 rushing yards, 55 receiving yards, two scores (Week 5 vs. OAK)

–Like Ricky Williams, Bradshaw established some flex value prior to Week 5, but most fantasy owners still had him on the bench. After all, Bradshaw didn’t score over the first four games. The backup replaced Brandon Jacobs at the end of the opening drive and scored a one-yard touchdown. He then capped off the second drive with a 19-yard score. By the end of the first quarter, Bradshaw already had 117 total yards and two touchdowns.

10) Shonn Greene, Jets: 144 rushing yards, two scores (Week 7 at OAK)

–The Raiders don’t like second-string New York running backs. Greene owned only seven carries heading into Week 7, but the Jets lost Leon Washington to a broken leg during this contest. The Jets beat the Raiders 38-0 and rushed for 316 yards on the day. Thomas Jones ran for 121 yards, and Greene did a lot of the heavy lifting in the second half.

Others:
–Jonathan Stewart, Panthers: 123 total yards, two scores (Week 15 vs. MIN)
–Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers: 165 rushing yards, two scores (Week 4 vs. SD)
–Bruce Gradkowski, Raiders: 308 passing yards, three scores (Week 13 at PIT)
–Kevin Kolb, Eagles: 327 passing yards, two passing scores, one rushing score (Week 3 vs. KC)
–Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks: 241 passing yards, four scores (Week 5 vs. JAC)
–Willis McGahee, Ravens: two touchdowns in Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 14

Tags: NFL