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Week 12 was really a microcosm of the two Bay Area teams' seasons, with the Niners going into a very tough environment in New Orleans and throttling the Saints while the Raiders fell yet again on the road. As you might imagine, the studs are all Niners this week.
STUD: Niners defense. After a few lackluster performances in the middle of the year (Giants, Rams, Vikings) the Niners have had two ridiculously great defensive performances in a row. They may not be the top defense in the actual NFL but they are certainly the best for fantasy week in and week out. This week they had two pick-sixes and five sacks. That is fantasy gold for a defense.
STUD: Frank Gore. He rushed for 83 yards, which itself isn't spectacular but he added a receiving touchdown which puts him above the Mendoza line for the week. He doesn't always score but is still one of the most reliable backs in the NFL today, and one of the greatest in 49ers history.
STUD: Colin Kaepernick. He proved that last week was not a fluke, making good decisions in the pocket and gaining valuable yards with his legs. The Niner offense no longer appears mired in quicksand with Kaep at the helm, and until he has an awful game he is a great fantasy play. He threw for a TD and ran for another (which is great for a fantasy quarterback), while throwing for 231 yards and rushing for another 27. Ride the Kaep train while you can.
And now the the disappointments:
DUD: The Oakland Raiders. Everybody sucked today. Carson Palmer was inefficient, the running game was ineffective, and the team could not sustain any drives, going 3-12 on third down. The defense let the Bengal receivers run wild and nobody did anything good. Yuck.