Returner Recap and Latest News: Week 13

Photo: Tim Fuller, 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

Marcus Thigpen was released by Tampa Bay, and then picked up from waivers by Buffalo. There's a good chance Thigpen may handle returns for Buffalo this week.

With Thigpen gone, Bobby Rainey and Mike James are two players who may see returns for Tampa Bay, though like most of these situations, unless the coach reveals his plans to the media, it is difficult to predict with confidence who the returner will be.

Oakland has said that Travis Carrie will resume handling punts but that Charles Woodson will handle kickoffs. However, since then George Atkinson has been activated from the practice squad. Atkinson is a returner as well and could see some of the kickoff returns.

Week 12 Recap

Top Performers

The Chargers own the league's worst touchback percentage on kickoffs, which often spells good news for opposing kick returners. That was the case in Week 12 when Benny Cunningham of the Rams returned 5 kicks for a league best 133 return yards. Second behind Cunningham in total yards was a very familiar name: Josh Cribbs. Cribbs was signed by the Colts to bolster their special teams, and responded with 2 kick returns for 64 yards and 5 punt returns for 48 yards for a total of 112 return yards.

Josh Huff was not only third in total return yards, but was the lone returner to find the end zone. Huff took a kickoff back 107 yards for a score as the Eagles topped the Titans.

Dwayne Harris led all punt returners with 68 yards gained on his 4 returns for the Cowboys, followed by the 50 punt return yards of Philadelphia's Darren Sproles.

Baltimore Ravens returner Jacoby Jones continues to lead the NFL in total return yards. Another Jones, this one Adam Jones of Cincinnati, has been steadily climbing the leaderboard and is now in fourth behind Jarvis Landry and Devin Hester.

All Week 12 Returners

Here are all returners for Week 12.

Returners Year to Date

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

Week 13 Outlook

Job Changes

De'Anthony Thomas lost some punt returns to Frankie Hammond after losing a dozen yards on one return. He also returned a kickoff after that point, so is definitely still in the mix for Kansas City.

Danny Amendola continued to see more punt returns for the Patriots in Week 12. The Patriots have tended to stick with punt returners in the past, but are quicker to pull a kickoff returner. The return of LeGarrette Blount to the team may spell some risk for Amendola as a kickoff returner. Blount rated highly in yards per kickoff return last season though he failed to produce on special teams in Pittsburgh this year.

In the wake of a season ending injury to Brandin Cooks, the Saints signed Jalen Saunders to handle punt returns. Saunders was highly regarded in the draft as a returner, but failed to produce on the field for the Jets and was released. Travaris Cadet continued to handle kickoff returns.

The Bills have a wealth of potential returners, and this week used running back Fred Jackson to handle punt returns. Though the box score will show Marcus Easley as having the lone kickoff return, Easley was a blocker who handled a short kick. Bryce Brown was the player that Buffalo had intended to handle the return.

Omar Bolden replaced Andre Caldwell as the Broncos kick returner. Bolden had 3 returns for 100 yards, likely enough to give him another chance at the job this week.

INJURIES OF NOTE

Marlon Moore missed Week 12 with a hamstring injury. In his place the Browns used both Taylor Gabriel and Travis Benjamin on kickoff returns.

Chicago's Chris Williams also was inactive due to a hamstring. The Bears brought in Marc Mariani, who returned 2 kickoffs for 46 yards and also 3 punts for no gain.

Oakland is dealing with multiple injuries amongst their returners. Travis Carrie missed his team's game as he deals with an ankle injury. Running back Latavius Murray handled kickoffs before leaving the game with a concussion. The Raiders then turned to Darren McFadden. Head coach Tony Sparano has said that Carrie might return to duty Week 13, though anyone counting on Carrie should keep an eye on the news for any mention whether an increased role on defense may cut into his return duties.

Tennessee was another team dealing with the injury bug. Dexter McCluster suffered a concussion during the Titans game against the Eagles. He will have to progress through the league's concussion protocol to be able to play Week 13. Shonn Greene and Michael Griffin handled punts while McCluster was out of the game. Meanwhile, running back Bishop Sankey handled a few kickoffs in place of Leon Washington before suffering a stinger and being replaced by Antonio Andrews.