Fact or Fiction: Fantasy Football Outlooks for Anthony Richardson, Jerry Jeudy, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Taysom Hill, Jonnu Smith

Justin's fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 12 of 2024. He looks at surprising performances from Anthony Richardson, Jerry Jeudy, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Taysom Hill, Jonnu Smith.

Week 11 of the NFL is behind us, and it's time to look ahead to next week's action. There were some surprising performances in the 11th week of the season, but were those surprising performances a sign of things to come for players?

Every week, I'll examine five NFL players whose numbers from the previous week were better than expected. I'll analyze their games and consider their showings in the larger scheme.

Below, you'll find an analysis of the biggest fantasy football surprises of Week 11. Are those surprising results a fact, i.e., a sign of good things to come, or a fiction, i.e., an anomalous result?

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Anthony Richardson - QB, Indianapolis Colts

Week 11 stats: 20-of-30 for 272 yards and one touchdown, 10 carries for 32 yards and two touchdowns - overall QB4

The Colts benched Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco in Week 9, but after two poor games from the Indianapolis offense, the Colts changed their mind. Flacco's back on the bench and Richardson is back in the starting lineup.

Like there should be absolutely no reason that Anthony Richardson is able to avoid this sack and convert the 3rd down, let alone make the decision to throw mid-sack.

But he can and he does because he’s an alien. pic.twitter.com/eLjiGoSvAP https://t.co/bHQbOMWupN

— Noah Compton (@nerlens_) November 19, 2024

He responded with his best game of the season, going 20-of-30 for 272 yards and one touchdown. Richardson also added 10 carries for 32 yards and two touchdowns. Back in the preseason, Richardson was highly ranked in fantasy because of his arm strength and athleticism, two things that were on display in Week 11.

This was just the second top-10 fantasy finish all year for Richardson, who struggled in his other starts. I'm a believer in the talent, but I'm not sure we can expect consistent fantasy production yet from him. He's a high-upside, high-end QB2 right now.

Verdict: Fact-ish

Jerry Jeudy - WR, Cleveland Browns

Week 11 stats: 11 targets with six catches for 142 yards and a touchdown - overall WR4

Two major things have changed in Cleveland over the last month. One is that Jameis Winston is now the starting quarterback, increasing the upside of this offense. The other is that Amari Cooper was traded.

That's opened up opportunities in this offense. Winston's throwing the ball better than Deshaun Watson was, increasing the available targets and yards, while Cooper being gone has elevated the role of the team's top three receivers.

One of those guys is Jerry Jeudy. Jeudy had a huge Week 11, catching six of his 11 targets for 142 yards and a touchdown. It was the second game in a row with 11 targets for Jeudy and his third game in a row with at least five catches and 70 receiving yards.

Jeudy still has to contend with Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore for targets, so I don't expect a top-5 finish most weeks. However, Jeudy is playing his best football since entering the NFL and is worth a roster spot and a lineup spot going forward.

Verdict: Fact

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine - WR, Tennessee Titans

Week 11 stats: six targets with two catches for 117 yards and one touchdown - overall WR9

Another week, another visit to the end zone for Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. He now has a touchdown in five of the last six games. That's the good stuff.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has scored 5 touchdowns on 25 targets this season pic.twitter.com/xLnbW6spss

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) November 18, 202

But here's the bad: NWI has two or fewer receptions in four of the last six games and 50 or more yards just twice in that span.

Westbrook-Ikhine feels like the definition of a boom-or-bust play right now. He's currently riding the boom, but we could see some regression soon back to his expected performance.

The Titans receiver is good at finding the end zone, but you can't guarantee anything else. There's fantasy value in that, but not enough.

Verdict: Fiction, but he's worth rostering

Taysom Hill - TE, New Orleans Saints

Week 11 stats: seven carries for 138 yards and three touchdowns, eight catches for 50 yards - overall TE1

What ... what was that? Taysom Hill went out and played a vintage Taysom Hill game against the Browns, with seven carries for 138 yards and three touchdowns as well as eight catches for 50 yards. Hill played a season-high 55% of the team's snaps.

Taysom Hill: The first player in NFL history with 100 rush yards, 3 Rush TDs, 50 receiving yards, & 10 passing yards in a game

(& a 42-yard kick return)

📺 https://t.co/KlYFEtTVGF pic.twitter.com/1T846DM7GN

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 19, 2024

It was a strong showing from Hill, a player who seems to have a few games like this every year, but is it indicative of more success for the 34-year-old out of BYU?

Honesty, I don't know. This isn't a copout answer -- I mean, when it comes to Hill, I genuinely don't know. He's never really been used consistently in the NFL so that probably won't suddenly start happening.

On the other hand, the Saints won this week and scored their most points since Week 2. Heavily relying on Hill was the main reason for that. So the team could certainly keep working to get the ball in his hands going forward.

Verdict: Fiction ... right?

Jonnu Smith - TE, Miami Dolphins

Week 11 stats: six receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns - overall TE2

I've been a believer in Jonnu Smith for a long, long time. I remember thinking that the Titans moving from Delanie Walker to Jonnu Smith was great for the franchise. That never really panned out. Smith has topped 500 yards in a season just once, catching 50 passes for 582 yards in 2023 with the Falcons.

But Smith's in the midst of what appears to be his best season. He likely won't hit his career-high in touchdowns -- eight back in 2020 -- but his 44.8 receiving yards per game are his best mark ever.

In Week 11, Smith was targeted eight times, catching six passes for 101 yards and two scores. It was his best game of the year, but it wasn't a complete surprise. Smith has now finished with over 40 receiving yards in five of the last six games and has six or more targets in five of six as well.

He's not a top-5 tight end, but you could argue that he's a high-end TE2 with upside. Depending on what your tight-end position looks like, that might make him an every-week starter for your team.

Verdict: I ... think it's a fact?

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