Week 12 has arrived, and with it comes a full slate of NFL games, as all 32 teams are in action for the first time since September.
Fantasy football, Week 12: Who to start and sit across the NFL
A look at the biggest decisions facing your fantasy football team with Thanksgiving week now here.
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
You will have no more bye weeks to worry about down the stretch, so you should have all of your players available heading into the fantasy playoffs. With that in mind, here is a look at the toughest start-sit calls to make on your team for Week 12.
START
Washington QB Kirk Cousins vs. New York Giants
Washington may be struggling to win games, but Kirk Cousins has won fantasy owners a lot of games this season with his play. He enters Week 12 ranked fourth in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks. He now gets to throw against a Giants defense surrendering the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks over the last five weeks. Cousins is an easy call to start in Week 12.
The Panthers’ resurgence has happened in large part due to Cam Newton playing like his 2015 MVP self. He enters Weeks 12 ranked fifth among fantasy quarterbacks. Up next is a date with a Jets defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks over the last five weeks. Get him into your starting lineup.
The Browns cannot buy a win, but Duke Johnson has been a consistent producer for fantasy owners, especially in PPR leagues. Johnson enters Week 12 ranked 15th in PPR scoring among running backs. He now faces a Bengals defense allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs over the last five week weeks. Find a way to start him this Sunday.
Trying to figure out which Ravens receiver is going to produce on a week-to-week basis is a crapshoot, but Mike Wallace has been the most consistent option this season. He has caught eight balls on 11 targets for 75 yards and two touchdowns over the last two weeks. It’s nothing big, but it’s decent production that should be even better against a Texans defense surrendering the most fantasy points to receivers over the last five weeks. It’s a risk, but get Wallace into your starting lineup this week.
The Bills’ offense is a mess between all of the injuries to pass-catchers and quarterback changes. However, one of the combinations that helped them race out to a 3-1 start was Tyrod Taylor to Charles Clay, and both will be on the field this Sunday when they face a Chiefs defense allowing the eighth-most receiving yards to tight ends this season. Clay should be the Bills’ top passing target this Sunday with Kelvin Benjamin likely out, so get the veteran tight end into your starting lineup.
SIT
Jared Goff’s breakout season hit a bit of a road bump last week, as the Vikings held him to just 225 passing yards and no touchdowns. Goff has feasted on bad passing defenses this season while struggling against teams like the Vikings, Jaguars, and Seahawks. He will get another tough test this week when the surging Saints come to Los Angeles. New Orleans has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks over the last five weeks. This is a good week to keep Goff on the bench.
The Eagles’ offense gets most of the hype, but their defense has been on another level in recent weeks, including last week’s 37-9 win at Dallas. They have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, as they have consistently shut down opposing backs. That’s bad news for Jordan Howard, who is one of the better fantasy backs this season, but playing in a one-dimensional Bears offense, he is liable to get shut down in Philadelphia this week. Keep him benched for Week 12.
Houston Texans RB Lamar Miller vs. Baltimore Ravens
The Texans’ season is coming off the rails, and Lamar Miller has struggled ever since DeShaun Watson was lost to a torn ACL. He has failed to break 90 all-purpose yards in two-straight games. He will now face a Ravens defense allowing the fifth-least fantasy points to running backs over the last five weeks. Put Miller on the bench this week.
Arizona Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Whether it’s been Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton or Blaine Gabbert throwing him passes, Larry Fitzgerald has stayed fantasy relevant throughout the 2017 season. But as consistent as Fitzgerald has been at producing, Jacksonville has been even better at shutting down opponents’ No. 1 receivers. They remain the No. 1 fantasy defense vs. receivers, so it’s an easy call to bench Fitzgerald in Week 12.
As bad as Denver has been this season, its defense has remained consistently stout against the pass, ranking third in fantasy points surrendered to receivers. It allowed just 134 passing yards to receivers in their Week 12 loss to Cincinnati, and they have consistently shut down Raiders receiver Amari Cooper, who has just six grabs for 47 yards and one score in his last two matchups with Denver. Keep Cooper on the bench this week.
