Sunday Six Pack: Week Twelve

Ken Kelly

We’re with you every Sunday to provide the Sunday Six Pack, an article featuring six of the biggest story lines heading into each and every week of the season. Keeping tabs on these events will keep you prepared and informed throughout the season – just don’t drive within six hours of reading this.

Can #1)  Southern Comfort

With the Blaine Gabbert era all but over in Jacksonville, Chad Henne will get what his coaches are saying will be a six game audition to be the Jaguars quarterback of the future.  Henne has played well in relief of Gabbert this season and last week he was great en route to 354 passing yards and four touchdowns against the Texans. If he can spark the offense of the Jags, the late season values of Cecil Shorts and Justin Blackmon could get a boost right in time for the fantasy playoffs.

Can #2)  Desert Disaster

The Cardinals are in real trouble at the quarterback position. Kevin Kolb is hurt (again) and John Skelton has been ineffective at best – that means Ryan Lindley will get his first career start this week. We’ve seen some amazing rookie performances from quarterbacks this year, but Lindley playing well against the Rams or beyond this week would be a real shock. Of all the rookie signal callers, he’s arguably the most raw. While he has a great deal of talent, his footwork needs help and he’s not the most accurate passer in the world, either. Let’s see just how much of an upgrade he is over Skelton and Kolb.

Can #3)  49ers Strike Gold?

Speaking of quarterbacks, it looks like Colin Kaepernick is going to get the start for San Francisco this week, even though Alex Smith is healthy again. There’s little doubt Kaepernick brings an added dimension to the offense. After all, he completed 16-of-23 passing for 243 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions against the vaunted defense of the Bears under the lights of Monday Night Football last week. However, it’s one thing to do it for a week and it’s a whole different thing to do it once teams have some tape on you – if he does start, let’s see how Kaepernick fares at New Orleans against a hot Saints team.

Can #4)  DX Factor

It seems that somewhere out there in the world there’s a cadaver missing a knee because Danario Alexander seems to have a new one. After battling countless knee ailments and surgeries, Alexander is finally looking healthy and putting up the numbers some thought he was capable of years ago. DX is an easy player to root for and he’s making it even easier for those who own him after posting 12 catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns over the past two games. He’s already put Robert Meachem in his rear view mirror and had 11 targets in last week’s game alone. What does DX have in store for game three as a starter in San Diego? If he continues to play this well, he’s going to end up being the waiver wire addition of the year in many dynasty leagues.

Can #5)  What you worried about Willis?

With Willis McGahee on the shelf for the rest of the regular season, Ronnie Hillman will get a golden opportunity to show the Denver coaching staff he’s capable of handling a large volume of carries. Many dynasty owners have openly wondered if Hillman can be a featured back or if he’ll end up being no better than a third down option down the roaed. While we likely won’t have that answer in the next six weeks, we should have a much better idea of what his future holds. He’ll still share some carries with Lance Ball this year, but make no mistake, it’s his job to lose.

Can #6)  The Book of Eli

Eli Manning has been atrocious over the past three weeks, making his owners a bit nervous. While Manning has been known to have some poor stretches, this has been an epic trio of fantasy duds he’s posted as of late. He plays in the nightcap, so it should be a must see game against Aaron Rodgers and the red hot Packers. Owners of Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz hope the bye week will spell the end of “Bad Eli.”

Have a great Sunday! Follow Ken on Twitter.

ken kelly