Returner Recap and Latest News

Photo: Eric Hartline, USA Today Sports

Week 11 Recap

Top Performers

All it takes is one week to go from potentially losing your job, to being the top returner for the week. This was the case for Houston's Keshawn Martin, whose ball control issues gave Dennis Johnson and Deji Karim chances in the last two weeks. When the Texans turned back to Martin he made good with 187 total return yards including an 87-yard punt return that went for the only return touchdown of the week.

Other than Martin it was a lean week for punt returners. Ace Sanders ran for 48 yards on his 6 punt returns for Jacksonville, while Micah Hyde returned 3 punts for 34 yards to go with his 69 kick return yards for the Packers.

Kick returners fared better as they usually do. Jordan Todman's 144 kick return yards paired with the output of Sanders made it a nice day overall for the Jaguars return unit, and was the second most total return yards behind Martin in Houston. Cordarrelle Patterson had 117 kick return yards for the Vikings, while Josh Cribbs had 115 kick returns yards and 16 punt return yards in the Jets losing effort against Buffalo. 

Troubling for Devin Hester owners is that teams have begun to consistently kick away from him. Hester saw only one kick return and no punt returns for Chicago. It was still enough for Hester to hold on to the season lead in total return yards as he went over 1000 yards for the season.

All Week 11 Returners

Here are the top returners for Week 10 sorted by total return yards:

Top THIRTY to Date

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

Week 12 Outlook

Job Changes

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll did not want Percy Harvin returning kickoffs yet, but an injury to Jermaine Kearse forced the issue. Harvin responded with a 58-yard return. Carroll has said that Harvin will not be limited on offense going forward and will be involved as a returner.

As mentioned previously, Keshawn Martin has likely regained his grasp on both returner jobs for Houston with a solid day on kickoff returns and also a long punt return touchdown.

A fumbled return the week before by Jerrel Jernigan gave the Giants reason to take another look at other return options including Michael Cox and Reuben Randle. Cox won out and was given an opportunity against Green Bay, but only managed a 17.5 yard average on his two returns.  Consider the situation still in flux.

Washington continued to play the returner version of musical chairs as they left Josh Morgan inactive, leaving receiver Nick Williams to handle punt returns. Morgan may suit up this week due to an injury to starter Leonard Hankerson. Niles Paul continued to handle kickoff returns.

Receiver Josh Boyce was sent deep to handle all of the kickoffs to the Patriots, though every kick by Graham Gano of the Panthers resulted in a touchback.

INJURIES OF NOTE

Darren Sproles lost some return opportunities as he left the game with an injury, but was able to return. He is likely to be ready to play Week 12, but should be watched closely as New Orleans has the Thursday game.

Devon Wylie handled return duties for the Titans as a quad injury to Damian Williams kept the starter sidelined. Williams' status for Week 12 is up in the air though not looking good. Wylie will likely get another shot at laying claim to the return jobs, something he failed to do with a middling Week 11 performance.

Week 12 Team Return Projections

Week 12 Player Return Projections