Fantasy football advice, Week 12: Who to start/sit for New England Patriots vs. New York Jets

Fantasy owners already had 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 Patriots take on the Jets during the second slate of Sunday’s football games, it’s best for fantasy owners to at least attempt avoiding that outcome.

With Rob Gronkowski’s status up in the air, a target-heavy day for Julian Edelman could be in order once again. Edelman drew 17 targets in Week 11 without Gronkowski in the huddle and the Patriots’ slot man now has 15 catches over his last two games and is in the WR2 conversation. With the Jets still playing horrendous pass defense, Martellus Bennett can also be in consideration as a TE1 despite his unusually quiet game against the 49ers. Tom Brady is Tom Brady, and he will be in lineups regardless of who his opponent is.

James White may get plenty of chances in the receiving game with the Jets’ defense being able to clamp down on the run as well as any team in the NFL. As a result, LeGarrette Blount may not have the efficiency to warrant RB2 status, but a touchdown could very well be in the cards for the Patriots’ bruiser. Blount and White deserve flex consideration, especially if Gronkowski suits up as a mere decoy. As for Gronk owners, they have had other options at tight end throughout the season and can hopefully deploy another in a week with zero teams on bye. That is the advised option until Gronkowski can demonstrate that he can produce with this injury.

Gronkowski, Malcolm Mitchell and Danny Amendola can remain on benches in all formats. With the Patriots playing the later slate of games, fantasy owners would be advised to give up on Mitchell due to Chris Hogan’s status being up in the air.

Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall continue to have the offense go through them, and volume alone puts both into starting consideration at their respective positions. With the bye week to rest, Forte has an encouraging defense lining up across from him despite a game script that could have the Jets playing catch up. But Forte’s prowess in the receiving game keeps him in RB2 territory, even if the carries aren’t at the number they would be at during a less lopsided contest.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is back under center, and fantasy owners cannot expect much fantasy production from the Harvard product (did you all know Ryan Fitzpatrick went to Harvard? /eye roll). He, along with Quincy Enunwa and Bilal Powell can remain on fantasy benches.