Fantasy football advice, Week 12: Who to start/sit for Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions

Fantasy owners already have enough to deal with on Thanksgiving, whether it’s polarizing dishes, cliché racist uncles, or scalding themselves in the kitchen. So no one wants to add “being served a slice of awful fantasy lineup” to their list of gripes, which is completely understandable. So when the Vikings take on the Lions for the first slate of football games, it’s best to at least attempt to avoid that outcome.

Thursday presents a juicy matchup for the Vikings’ passing offense, but Stefon Diggs’ health puts a damper in its potential. Diggs is a true game-time decision, and it’s fair to wonder how effective he will be at less than 100 percent. Kyle Rudolph is the preferred option in the receiving game against a Lions defense that has hemorrhaged fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2016, even though Rudolph was held to a 1-1-1 line against them in Week 9.

If Diggs sits, Adam Thielen is worth a flier in leagues of all formats as a high-upside flex option. Thielen posted a 7-127-1 line in Diggs’ absence during a Week 7 rout of the Texans, and he would elevate to the top of the pecking order in the event Diggs sits. Even if Diggs plays, Thielen’s upside remains even if he has a lower floor.

No one needs to bother with the disaster of a backfield the Vikings have, nor should they need to start Sam Bradford in Week 12 or beyond. Cordarrelle Patterson can also have a seat on fantasy benches, despite showing signs of life throughout the season.

With high-performing slot corner Terence Newman listed as doubtful, Golden Tate draws more intrigue than usual against a stout Vikings defense. He, Theo Riddick, and Eric Ebron remain in play at their respective positions, even though the matchup at hand isn’t exactly favorable.

Matthew Stafford, on the other hand, would be difficult to justify as a QB1 on Thanksgiving Day. The Vikings have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and held Stafford to 219 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in the first meeting between these two teams. Stafford has the upside to thrive in any matchup, but this is a matchup that could also spell doom for him and his fantasy owners. Stafford is a boom or bust QB2 for Week 12.

Marvin Jones, Anquan Boldin, and Dwayne Washington can remain on the bench in a tough matchup that won’t likely spread fantasy wealth throughout the lineup. Jones’ fall from grace continued in Week 11 with just one catch on two targets.