Smart starts and sit decisions have gotten us this far and now, it is time to reach the playoffs. This fantasy football season has been tighter than ever. If you read Week 11’s starts and sits, then players like Darrell Henderson, Tank Dell, and Devin Singletary helped you out. There are no byes in Week 12 which means these lineup decisions will be very tough with a plethora of options.
Week 12 Starts and Sits
Quarterback Sits
Sam Howell @ Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are top 12 in fewest ppg allowed to Quarterbacks over the past month. Arguably, the Cowboys have been playing like a top-three team in recent weeks. With that being said, Sam Howell is a QB1 this season but will face the Cowboys for the first time. The Cowboys’ defense has also been giving up the fourth fewest ppg to receivers. This will be a tough game for the Commanders and Howell should be on the bench in such a crucial week.
Tua Tagovailoa @ New York Jets
The New York Jets’ defense is no joke. They have given up 142.7 ypg to Quarterbacks in the past month of football. They have also given up just two touchdowns to four interceptions in that period. Look for more passer-friendly defenses. A mistake in starts and sits can cost you that coveted playoff spot everyone is fighting for.
Running Back Sits
Brian Robinson @ Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have given up 107 total ypg to Running Backs the past month and just 16.95 ppg. It is yet to be determined how much volume Brian Robinson will get in Week 12. My guess is that the Cowboys will be up the majority of the game as they are already -12.5 favorites. Everyone on the Commanders is a bad play for Thanksgiving and I’d bench Robinson as he is an RB1 BUT with just two RB1 weeks.
AJ Dillon @ Detroit Lions
Once again, Aaron Jones will be out and people will look to start AJ Dillon. I am here to save you from that disappointment. Dillon has filled in for Jones in three games this season. He finished as the RB13 in one of those. In the other two games, Dillon finished as the RB33 and RB56. Against an average Lions run defense plus the Lions being favored by -7.5, I cannot help but think that the Packers will be throwing A LOT on turkey day.
James Cook @ Philadelphia Eagles
James Cook might be a top 15 Running Back in total points, but he is the RB26 on a ppg basis. It does not get easier as the Bills travel to face the Eagles. The Eagles are the best team in football and have the best front seven in the NFL. Giving up just 15.2 ppg the past month (3rd best), this feels like a Josh Allen vs. Jalen Hurts shootout. Keep Cook on the bench as not much will come out of this game unless he finds the end-zone. The Eagles have given up zero touchdowns to running backs in the past month.
Wide Receiver Sits
DeAndre Hopkins vs. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are an awful team, but they have a solid secondary. They held Dak Prescott to under 200 passing yards. Prescott has been a top-two Quarterback for the past five weeks of fantasy football. The Panthers also held his top option, Ceedee Lamb to just six catches and 38 yards. A touchdown is what saved Lamb from having a bad outing to a decent one. With that being said, DeAndre Hopkins is not better than Lamb at this point in his career. Also, Will Levis is not better than Dak Prescott. This will be a Derrick Henry game. Sit Hopkins against the team giving up the third least ppg to receivers the past month.
Amari Cooper @ Denver Broncos
The number one defense in the past month against Wide Receivers gets a rookie Quarterback in Week 12. The only Cleveland Browns player to be started should be Jerome Ford. Amari Cooper will be shadowed by Patrick Surtain II, one of, if not the best Cornerback in the NFL. Cooper has had just two good games this season. With no more Deshaun Watson, I am sitting Amari Cooper for the rest of the season.
Tight End Sits
Cole Kmet @ Minnesota Vikings
I stated a few weeks ago that Cole Kmet was dependent on touchdowns and that has been the case. The Vikings have given up less than 60 ypg the past month to Tight Ends and just one touchdown. With no touchdowns, Kmet is averaging just 7.1 ppg in games he does not find the end-zone. Find a better option in Week 12.
Sam LaPorta vs. Green Bay Packers
Sam LaPorta started his rookie season on FIRE but he has combined for just 14.8 points in the past two weeks. One of those match-ups was a shootout against a bad Chargers defense and he came away with just 8 points. Now, against a Packers team that has been average against Tight Ends, I do not like this match-up. As I wrote in the AJ Dillon write-up, the Lions will be up most of this game. Expect the Running Backs of the Lions to carry them this game and downgrade the pass-catchers.
Quarterback Starts
Jordan Love @ Detroit Lions
The Packers will be down this entire game. The Lions have been a bottom-12 team the past month in PPG given up to Quarterbacks. The run game will most likely not be working for the Packers on Thanksgiving. Love has had six QB1 finishes in ten games. The hate has gone on for too long. Jordan Love just went to battle against Justin Herbert and the Chargers and got the win. Start Love in a game where he will have to throw 35-plus times.
Trevor Lawrence @ Houston Texans
This is going to be the best game in Week 12. The division lead is on the line as the Jacksonville Jaguars face off against the Houston Texans. Trevor Lawrence just had the best game of his season with an overall QB1 performance in Week 11. The Texans have been very friendly to Quarterbacks the past month (8th most ppg). Kyler Murray finished as the QB6 against the Texans in Week 11. Baker Mayfield finished as the QB7 against the Texans in Week nine and let Joe Burrow finish as the QB7 in Week 10. START TREVOR LAWRENCE IN WEEK 12.
Running Back Starts
Gus Edwards @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have given up four touchdowns and the fifth most ppg to Running Backs in the past month. Gus Edwards is this year’s Jamaal Williams with the way he is finding the end zone. Edwards should see more volume as Mark Andrews is out for the season. This will have the Ravens relying on their run game more than ever. A ton of points should be scored between the Ravens and the Chargers. Start Edwards with the most confidence as he will find the end zone two times in Week 12.
Jaylen Warren @ Cincinnati Bengals
Five touchdowns and 113.5 ypg. That is what the Bengals have been giving up to Running Backs the past month. Jaylen Warren broke out with the best game so far in his young NFL career. He had 145 total yards and 23.5 fantasy points. Against a Bengals team with no Joe Burrow, I think we see a new Steelers look especially with Matt Canada being relieved of his duties. Expect the Steelers to play with a new attitude as the man holding them back is no longer calling plays.
Devin Singletary vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
If you still are holding onto Dameon Pierce in fantasy football, I am sorry. Out of all people, Devin Singletary has taken over the RB1 duties for the Houston Texans. This is my favorite start in starts and sits. He has delivered BIG in consecutive weeks. He has finished as an RB1 in consecutive weeks and has had 279 total yards in both weeks combined. In a highly anticipated divisional game, I’d start most of the weapons on both offenses in Week 12.
Wide Receiver Starts
Nico Collins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
With the emergence of Tank Dell, he would be too easy of a choice in starts and sits. Nico Collins started the season strong, but since Week 5, has had no WR1 finishes. CJ Stroud is a top 5 dynasty asset and it will show in Week 12. Look for Stroud to get all his playmakers involved, led by Tank Dell. Start Collins as all eyes will be on Dell, leaving Collins to have a fabulous Week 12 outing.
Tyler Lockett vs. San Francisco 49ers
Tyler Lockett has seen seven or more receptions with 68 or more yards in his last three games against the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners also have given up 41.07 ppg to Wide Receivers the past month which is the sixth worst in that span. In a game where the Seahawks will be without Kenneth Walker III, Geno Smith will be passing a lot. Insert Lockett as a flex play and expect top-20 production.
Zay Flowers @ Los Angeles Chargers
No Mark Andrews means more volume for Zay Flowers. Against a Chargers defense that is allowing the second most ppg to Wide Receivers this season and tenth most the past month, this is Zay Flowers’ breakout game. I predict a top-12 finish from Flowers with no Andrews and his first 100-yard game of his career.
Tight End Starts
Isaiah Likely @ Los Angeles Chargers
Isaiah Likely has finished as a TE1 in all but one game that Mark Andrews missed or left early in. Now, facing a Chargers defense giving up 168ypg this season to Tight-Ends, Likely might be a league winner. The date is there and Likely needs to be started in ALL FORMATS in what can possibly be the highest-scoring game of Week 12.
Pat Freiermuth @ Cinncinatti Bengals
Pat Friermuth has been out most of the season due to injury. Luckily, Matt Canada was relieved of his duties and they face the Bengals. The Bengals are a bottom-12 team against Tight Ends the past month. I think Freiermuth finds the end zone in what should be a very sloppy game. The Bengals will play very hard on defense trying to support Jake Browning. I still think Freiermuth finds the end zone and has a top 12 week in his second back from injured reserve.
Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty