Returner Recap and Latest News: Week 16

Photo: USA Today Sports

Individual returner projections for each week are included in your MyFBG projections and rankings automatically. My returner projections are included in the default projection set with David Dodds' offensive predictions. Choose David as the source, and then choose a scoring system in which you have included points for return yards.

The base return projections for a week can be seen on this page. You can also go to the content for the week and use the Returner Projections link to get to that page.

UPDATES

The TItans have placed punt returner Dexter McCluster on Injured Reserve. The team's depth chart was edited to show Leon Washington as both the punt and kick returner. Washington is an experienced returner who handled kickoffs earlier in the year before losing the job briefly and then regaining it last week.

Week 15 Recap

Top Performers

After letting two top returners leave in free agency after last season, the Kansas City Chiefs turned to the draft to find a replacement. In Week 15, De'Anthony Thomas showed the return ability that led Kansas City to select him as Thomas returned 8 punts for 156 yards including an 81-yard touchdown. Rarely does a player lead all returners for the week with just punt returns yards, but Thomas managed it as he beat out the 142 kickoff return yards of Chicago's Marc Mariani and the 116 yards of Benny Cunningham of the Rams.  Buffalo's Marcus Thigpen joined Thomas on the list of punt returners to find the end zone this week as Thigpen took a punt 75 yards for a score in a Bills win over the Packers.

In the race for the most total return yards for the season, Devin Hester extended his lead over Jacoby Jones as the Falcons returner broke 1200 total return yards for the fourth time in his career. As great of a returner as Hester has been, he has a long way to go to match the longevity of Brian Mitchell who had 10 seasons of at least 1200 return yards.

All Week 15 Returners

Below are all returners for Week 15.

Returners Year to Date

Here are the top 40 returners for the year based on total return yards.

Week 16 Outlook

Job Changes

Cleveland used four different kick returners, with Travis Benjamin, Marlon Moore, and Taylor Gabriel each getting one return before giving way to Shaun Draughn who handled all kickoffs in the second half.

Although Anthony Dixon shows in the box score with two kickoff returns for Buffalo, they were short kicks that did not make it to primary returner Marcus Thigpen.

Though Coach Rex Ryan said Percy Harvin would not be returning kicks in Week 15 due to an ailing ankle, Harvin saw one return late in the third quarter with the game close. New York went with receiver T.J. Graham on the other returns.

The Titans went back to Leon Washington for kick returns after having tried multiple other players in the previous weeks. Washington responded with four good returns including one of 46-yards, but muffed a kickoff after a safety.

INJURIES OF NOTE

Receiver Keenan Allen suffered a broken collarbone and is likely to go on Injured Reserve. The Chargers have used both Allen and Eddie Royal on punt returns this season, and so are likely to stick with Royal now.

Dexter McCluster is dealing with an ailing knee and his status for the week should be watched.