Returner Recap and Latest News: Week 13

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 there.

Week 12 Recap

Kaelin Clay was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in large part due to his return abilities, but failed to make it through final roster cuts. Clay ended up in Baltimore, where he notched Week 12's only return touchdown when he took a punt 82 yards for the score on Monday Night Football. Clay was second in total yards behind Marcus Thigpen who regained the return job in Buffalo at least for a week, and long enough to notch 7 kickoff returns which were the bulk of his 169 total yards. Tyler Lockett was third in total return yards this week, which was enough to regain the overall lead for the season after a stretch of midseason games where he was kept mostly bottled up.

Overall, the number of kick returns are down in the NFL by nearly 20% compared to the past two seasons totals. The glut of return touchdowns early in the season has evened out, and 2015 is on pace for 21 return touchdowns, in the same ballpark as the 19 and 20 return touchdowns from the previous two seasons. Kick return prospects for the remainder of the year tend to look upwards though, as the changing weather nearer to the end of the season tends to increase the number of kick returns. This glut of returns at the end of the year is likely part of why 2015 is trailing previous seasons by so much. At this point of the season the last two years, 69% of regular season games had been played but only 64% of the kick returns for each season had taken place.

All Week 12 Returners

Below are all returners for Week 12.

Returners Year to Date

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

Week 13 Outlook

Job Changes

With Taiwan Jones missing time for Oakland, newly-signed Jeremy Ross is filling in on kickoff returns. Ross also handled punts, which had previously gone to Travis Carrie or Amari Cooper. 

Baltimore was previously using Kaelin Clay on punts and Raheem Mostert on kickoffs. Clay took over on kickoffs this week as well, though only managed returns of 22 and 16 yards. Clay did, however, add a punt return touchdown to the conversation for keeping him as the primary returner.

The Dolphins split punt returns between Jarvis Landry and cornerback Brent Grimes. Grimes picked up 44 yards on his 3 returns, which may be enough to continue to get a share of the pie.

The Rams are giving Wes Welker some opportunities on punt returns, though Tavon Austin is still their primary returner.

Justin Gilbert was back to handling kickoff returns for the Browns before suffering a concussion. He has just over half of the team's kick returns this season, but Marlon Moore and Duke Johnson Jr will continue to be options that Cleveland may turn to.

Buffalo turned back to Marcus Thigpen to handle return duties. The Bills have changed up returners almost weekly of late, making it risky to depend on them for anything other than a fantasy Team Return unit.

INJURIES OF NOTE

There are reports that Patriots punt returner Danny Amendola should be able to play Week 13. Amendola had been dealing with a knee injury.

Chief's returner De'Anthony Thomas missed Week 13 due to a concussion. His status should be watched for Week 13.

There is speculation that Ty Montgomery could miss the rest of the season with his ankle injury, as Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Montgomery is not making much progress.

Dexter McCluster missed Tennessee's game against Oakland. He is week to week and his status will need watching. As one of the returners who had taken over both punts and kickoffs, McCluster had a brief spike in fantasy value before his injury.