Fantasy Football Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Who should you start in Week 12?
Happy Thanksgiving! Wherever you follow football from in the world, Thanksgiving is a big deal. However, despite the celebrations and excitement around multiple games on Thursday, nailing your fantasy football lineups remains crucial. With just a couple of week remaining in the league part of the 2020 fantasy football season, who should you be looking at as start ’em and sit ’em options in Week 12.
Quarterback
Automatic Starts: Kyler Murray, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Tom Brady, Deshaun Watson, Justin Herbert
Start of the Week: Daniel Jones @ Cincinnati Bengals
I’ve included a theme running through my selections at each position this week. Spoiler alert, I like the Giants going into Cincinnati Bengals and coming out with the win this week to creep toward the top of the NFC East. The reason I like New York so much is they seem to have a new QB under centre…. Wait that’s Daniel Jones not turning the ball over?! His numbers haven’t been massive over the past few weeks but he’s not been committing the huge turnovers and it’s resulted in two wins in a row. The Joe Burrow-less Bengals are giving up the 12th most points to fantasy QBs, and riding some positive momentum I expect Daniel Jones to have a productive outing.
Other notable starts:
Cam Newton vs. Arizona Cardinals
Wait Cam Newton has thrown a TD pass in back to back games?? Steady on Cam don’t burn out your arm! Newton went off last week, throwing for 365 yards against the Texans in Week 11. Only throwing for one TD it didn’t really relate into fantasy points but this is positive momentum he’ll carry into the home fixture against the Cardinals who have seen opposing QBs throw two or more TDs in each of the last four games. Get Newton in your lineups.
Derek Carr @ Atlanta Falcons
Derek Carr likes playing against the Super Bowl champions. In two matchups with the Chiefs his TD/INT ratio is 6/2, while throwing for over 600 yards. He shouldn’t have any problems putting up big numbers against this Falcons defense either. In his first start Taysom Hill managed to have a 78% completion rate and 233 yards on them as well as another 51 on the ground. As long as the Falcons can score points themselves (the Raiders D is not very good either) then Carr will have a very productive day.
Taysom Hill @ Denver Broncos
Hill was extremely productive for fantasy in his first career start last week. Close to a combined 300 yards alongside two rushing TDs. If you started him, he repaid your faith. The good news is the rolling Saints haven’t got a very tough matchup this week either as they travel to a Denver to face the Broncos. The Broncos play tougher at home but two weeks ago the Raiders ran in four rushing TDs against them which sets up well for the rushing skillset of Hill.
Sits – Carson Wentz, Ryan Tannehill, Baker Mayfield
Running Back
Automatic Starts: Alvin Kamara, Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Chris Carson (If healthy), Josh Jacobs, James Robinson, Ezekiel Elliott, Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Start of the Week: Jonathan Taylor vs. Tennessee Titans
Am I crazy to feature Jonathan Taylor as my ‘Start of the week’? Maybe but I liked what I saw last week against Green Bay. Taylor dominated the backfield with 59% of the carries for a healthy 90 yards, he also caught four passes for another 24 yards. But will they go back to Nyheim Hines you may ask? Maybe. Frank Reich has been a hard man to work out when it comes to his back field, he’s often said they ride the hot hand, and Taylor’s hand was close to being on fire last week and this matchup is great on paper, Tennessee is giving up the seventh most points to fantasy RBs. I said he was worth dropping to the bench a few weeks ago but now he’s firmly in my starting lineup this week.
Other notable starts:
Wayne Gallman @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Giants are dominating my picks this week and Wayne Gallman is another I’m firmly tipping to have a great game in Week 12. He may not catch many balls but on the ground Gallman is doing the business having taken over the backfield in Week 7. The Bengals are middle of the pack against fantasy RBs, but let Antonio Gibson have a day last week, rushing for just under 100 yards a score.
Zack Moss vs. LA Chargers
This is Moss’ backfield with three games in a row out-snapping Devin Singletary. The Bills should have made this move earlier in the season. It was rough last time out against the Cardinals but a bounce back game is on the menu this week against a Chargers side that has been terrible against RBs lately and allowed Perine & Gore to each get into the end zone last week.
Mike Davis @ Minnesota Vikings
Mike Davis owners this is your swansong. You want Davis to go out with a bang and luckily this week is a decent week to disappear into the distance with. Dallas ran over the Vikings for 180 yards last week in what many saw as a shock result. Mike Davis was given his highest workload of the season last week and repaid owners with his third rushing TD of the year for a 15+ point game. Christian McCaffrey will most likely be given the bye week to get fully healthy so you can start Davis with confidence in Week 12.
Sits – Broncos RBs, Rams RBs, Chase Edmonds
Wide Receiver
Automatic Starts: Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Terry McLaurin, Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones, Allen Robinson, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Michael Thomas, AJ Brown, Diontae Johnson, Justin Jefferson
Start of the Week: DJ Moore @ Minnesota Vikings
The Panthers seemed to have remembered that they have one of the best young wide receivers in the game on their roster these past couple of weeks. If you kept patience with DJ Moore’s inconsistent production then you were delighted with the last two weeks’ results – 223 yards and one TD, good enough for just over 40 points. Minnesota give up the fourth-most points to fantasy WRs, and although they have been improved of late, this matchup is juicy and Moore’s increased workload (18 targets total in weeks 10 & 11) looks set to continue.
Other notable starts:
Michael Pittman vs. Tennessee Titans
One of my favourite rookie WRs coming into this season was Michael Pittman so I’m delighted to see him being a big part of the offense finally. 18 targets in his last three games for 223 yards is a good return for any receiver and there is buzz around Pittman being a go to guy now for Rivers. Tennessee are giving up the sixth-most points to fantasy WRs, and the arrow is firmly pointing up for USC product.
Sterling Shepard @ Cincinnati Bengals
Shepard has been one of the most consistent NFL receivers over the past four weeks and established himself as Daniel Jones No.1 target. He averages eight targets and over six catches in that span, as he has become a weekly fantasy starter in all formats. The Bengals concede the ninth most points to fantasy WRs, so the Jones-Shepard connection should be in full force in Cincinnati on Sunday.
Cole Beasley vs. LA Chargers
The week 10 WR1 overall enters the week 12 contest in great shape to continue where he left off. Fellow WR John Brown is listed as out, and if he were to sit out the contest then Beasley could see an increased workload, adding to his fantasy appeal. A repeat anywhere near the 13 targets last time out against Arizona would equal another great fantasy play. I have him as a low end WR2 with upside this week.
Sits – Travis Fulgham, Tim Patrick, Jamison Crowder
Tight End
Automatic Starts: Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, TJ Hockenson, Mark Andrews, Rob Gronkowski
Start of the Week: Evan Engram @ Cincinnati Bengals
The TE landscape is rough. I don’t usually recommend drafting TEs early but I may have to re-think my strategy going forward. If you drafted Engram this season you have definitely been disappointed with his production (TE16 on the year PPR) but I can see a glimmer of hope this week. Engram has reached over 10 fantasy points in three of the past four contests. This week he faces a Bengals defense that gives up the fifth-most point to fantasy TEs. He’s my favourite TE this week outside all of the automatic starts.
Other notable starts:
Dallas Goedert vs. Seattle Seahawks
But wait isn’t Zach Ertz reportedly eligible to return this week? I actually don’t care if he does. Ertz production has fallen off a cliff this season, is he washed? Is it the QB play? Whatever it is he’s one of the biggest busts of the season. Dallas Goedert returned in Week 8 and they have increased his snaps from 83 to 93 to 100 last week and his production has followed. Last week he posted a line of six targets for 77 yards and one TD. That’s more like it for one of my favourite TEs in the game, and this week Wentz is going to have to get the ball out and early and Goedert could be his No.1 target.
Robert Tonyan vs. Chicago Bears
Robert Tonyan had faded into the abyss since his big three week stretch earlier in the season. That ended last week when he posted a productive five catches for 44 and a TD against a tough Indianapolis side. Adams is again banged up but ‘should be good to go’. Any danger of him missing the game only increased Tonyan’s fantasy appeal. The Bears defense plays tough but they give up plenty of points to the TE position, Tonyan is a great TE streamer this week.
Hunter Henry @ Buffalo Bills
Hunter Henry has climbed up to the PPR TE7 on the season which is right about where you expect him to finish. He’s been really good of late too catching a TD pass in each of his last 2 games and he’s a great bet to make it three In a row against the Bills who rank 30th against fantasy TEs. This game has a high over/under with both teams hitting the over at a +70% rate. Expect fireworks from these twp exciting QBs and plenty of opportunities for all playmakers involved.
Sits – Rams TEs, Jared Cook, Jimmy Graham
Alastair Cook
Fantasy Football Analyst
ALASTAIR, A DIE-HARD BUCCANEERS FAN FROM NORWICH AND UP AND COMING FANTASY CONTRIBUTOR CAN BE FOUND ON HIS TWITTER PAGE The Dynasty Grill (@FFDynastyGrill)