It’s hard to believe it’s already Week 12 of the NFL regular season, and we’re rounding the corner — headed for Thanksgiving soon and nearing the end of the fantasy football regular season.
We have six teams off this week, too, so Week 12 will be a challenging time for some fantasy managers. The Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets are off, which means some significant holes on fantasy rosters. Managers have to scramble for fantasy replacements, especially if you have a players from a combination of those teams.
We saw in Cleveland in the Thursday night game that weather can also start playing a factor this time of year, too, so make sure to be cognizant of that situation, as well. Nothing is worse sitting down with your popcorn and soft drink to watch your fantasy player(s) in a particular game, only to see a maelstrom out on the field, and a slow go on offense or in the kicking game.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 12:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys: The rookie has struggled the past couple of games against the Pennsylvania teams, averaging just 196.5 passing yards per contest with one total score and only 23 total rushing yards. It should be a return to top form against a Dallas defense that is really hemorrhaging yardage and points lately. The Cowboys give up the third-most fantasy points to opposing QBs among any team playing this weekend.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens: There were all kinds of reasons not to like Herbert at the beginning of the season, but he is back at as QB1 in all fantasy leagues. The new coaching regime wanted to run the ball down people’s throats, and that fact coupled with plantar fasciitis in the preseason and a high-ankle sprain in Week 2 really put him behind the eight ball early on. But, if you include his lone rushing score, Herbert has managed multi-TD games in four straight games after managing just one in the first six contests. He’ll face a leaky Baltimore pass defense Monday night, so look for more fireworks.
Sit ‘Em
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears: Given the bye weeks, you might be forced to the waiver wire with Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, etc. missing. Darnold has had a nice season, but he has fallen off a bit in recent weeks. Darnold is good for 246 or fewer passing yards in three of the past four games, while tossing five interceptions in the past three starts. He is up against a Chicago Bears defense that allows the fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs, so it should be a slow go.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Stafford is coming off a tremendous performance in New England, flirting with 300 yards while tying a season high with four touchdown strikes. However, the Eagles don’t play on defense, allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing signal callers, with only nine passing scores allowed to date. Stafford is likely to put up QB2-typer numbers in Week 12.
Running backs
Start ‘Em
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers: Hunt has had a tremendous resurgence in his second go-around with the Chiefs. He has scored five rushing touchdowns in the past six games, although none in the past two outings against quality defenses from Denver and Buffalo. Hunt should find a lot less resistance in Charlotte this weekend, as the Panthers allow the most fantasy points to opposing tailbacks, with an NFL-high 14 rushing scores allowed.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants: There is some upheaval on the offensive side of the ball for the Giants, as QB Daniel Jones was demoted before getting waived, and QB Tommy DeVito will be the new starter. That’s great news for Tracy, who is likely to be relied upon a little more out of the backfield. Tracy will be up against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushing defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs, so look for the rookie to excel as a RB2 in Week 12.
Sit ‘Em
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers vs. Kansas City Chiefs: There haven’t been a ton of bright spots in Charlotte again this season, although things are coming together a little bit lately. Hubbard has been one of the most consistent offensive performers, but he will be up against a brick wall of a Kansas City defense. The Chiefs do not give opposing tailbacks a lot of daylight, and they allow the fewest fantasy points in the NFL, too.
D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings: Even when Swift is off, he is still on, if that makes any sense. He has rushed for at least 51 yards in seven consecutive games, finding the end zone in five of those outings. He had a solid performance last week against Green Bay, but he has just one rushing score in the past three games, and that doesn’t figure to improve against a lockdown Minnesota Vikings rushing defense that ranks No. 1 in the NFL with only 74.4 yards per game allowed.
Wide receivers
Start ‘Em
Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans: Ridley and the Titans figure to be behind fairly early in this game, as the books have them installed as more than a touchdown underdog. An early hole likely means more of an aerial attack, which is great news for Ridley. He will be working against a Houston Texans defense yielding the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and fifth-most of any team on the board this week.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts: Williams was mediocre in Houston in his return from a two-game suspension, but he shined last weekend against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He posted a season-high 124 yards and a touchdown on four receptions, and his 31.0 yards per catch was his second-best mark of the season. He should find plenty of open spaces to operate against a Colts pass defense that is extremely giving, allowing 231.5 yards per game.
Sit ‘Em
Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles: While we talked about Stafford above, he won’t be the only one in the Los Angeles offense affected by the stifling Philadelphia pass defense. I expect WR Cooper Kupp will still get his on the short to intermediate routes, racking up plenty of catches. The fantasy points won’t be as plentiful for Nacua, who is likely to be blanketed with few downfield opportunities. As a flex option, you could certainly do worse, but Nacua won’t be much better than that.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders: Sutton and the Denver pass defense might face some struggles against the Raiders on The Strip. While the Denver offense could still hit jackpot, the Raiders’ pass defense has been pretty good this season. In fact, they allow the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Plus, if the Broncos get an early lead, they could rely more upon a ground-based attack. Las Vegas allows just 202.7 passing yards per game, so temper expectations and consider Sutton more of a low-end WR3 or flex fantasy option.
Tight ends
Start ‘Em
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Rams: The Rams have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, which is music to the ears of managers holding stock in Goedert. He had a couple of shaky performances along with an injury in the previous month, but he bounced back with five grabs for 61 yards last week against Washington in a Thursday night game. He is well-rested and ready to go against a Rams pass D indoors on a fast track.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts: LaPorta missed last the Week 11 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars, much to the dismay of his fantasy managers. The Lions were passing the ball up and down the field, while LaPorta looked on in street clothes. That won’t be the case this week, as he is cleared to return from a shoulder injury he picked up Nov. 10. Head coach Dan Campbell mentioned his “fresh legs” on Friday, and LaPorta should use those legs for big production against a very giving Indianapolis pass defense.
Sit ‘Em
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers: Kraft has disappeared as quickly as he emerged as a fantasy stud. For a hot minute, Kraft was squarely among the TE1 conversation, highlighted by an 88-yard, two-TD performance against the Rams on Oct. 6. He scored five times in five games, but then he suffered a groin injury, and he also faced the Bears. Kraft was blanked last week in a tough matchup, and he faces another tough 49ers D in Week 12. Kraft should only be trusted as a TE2 this Sunday.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants: Otton exploded onto the fantasy scene with three consecutive games of eight or more catches from Oct. 21-Nov. 4, stepping up big time with WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined. The latter is done for the season, but Evans is back, and will be the focal point of the offense again. That, couple with the fact Otton will be facing a Giants pass defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs screams stay away.
