Week 12 is on the horizon and with that comes all of those tough decisions on who to start and who to sit. Here are our recommendations at each position for Week 12.
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (vs LAR) – Murray is back on the field and playing some great football. He impressed in Week 11, scoring 22.7 fantasy points in the process. This weekend he faces a Rams defense that have had their issues in coverage and who are allowing 16.7 points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Joshua Dobbs, Minnesota Vikings (vs CHI) – You might be surprised but Dobbs currently ranks as QB7 on the season. He has been incredibly reliable week-to-week too, finishing as QB14 or better in each of his last five games. That includes three games of 20+ points. I’d expect that to continue against the Bears.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (vs DEN) – It feels like Love is beginning to turn a corner in Green Bay. He has now managed to score 15+ points in four of his last five games, including an impressive 20.9 point showing against the Chargers last week. He faces a Lions team allowing 17.9 points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Sit ‘Em
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs CIN) – The Steelers’ passing attack is putrid and Pickett is clearly struggling massively. He hasn’t topped 160 passing yards in a game since Week 7 and has just one touchdown in that spell. Even with Matt Canada gone I’m steering well clear of this one.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (vs CLE) – Wilson has been a nice surprise this season but I cannot trust him against a ferocious Browns defense. Cleveland is allowing just 11.2 points per game to opposing quarterbacks and I don’t have confidence in Wilson or the Broncos to overcome that.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans (vs CAR) – After an electric debut, Levis has struggled to produce in recent weeks. He has not topped 13 points in any of his last three games and his 40.3% success rate is better than only Bryce Young and Zach Wilson.
Running back
Start ‘Em
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs CIN) – Warren has quietly been one of the better backs in football through recent weeks. He has also scored at least 14 points in each of his last three games. He’s the only thing that really works in this Steelers offense so I expect them to use him early and often.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (vs LAC) – The Gus Bus has been a touchdown machine for the Ravens, scoring nine in his last five games. He has finished as RB11 or better in four of those outings. This weekend he gets to face a Chargers defense that is allowing 24.8 points per game to running backs.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (vs SF) – With Kenneth Walker out with an oblique injury, Charbonnet is the go-to guy for the Seahawks this weekend. Seattle is also going up against a 49ers run defense that has had its issues this season and is currently allowing the fifth highest EPA per rush in the NFL.
Sit ‘Em
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears (vs MIN) – Herbert made his return last week but failed to make the most of the opportunity presented to him in the form of D’Onta Foreman’s absence. It sounds like Foreman and Roschon Johnson could be back this week. Add in a good Vikings run defense and I’m inclined to avoid.
Devin Singletary, Houston Texans (vs JAX) – Singletary has been on fire through recent weeks, but I’m a little wary for Week 12. For starters, it sounds like Dameon Pierce could be making a return. The bigger factor is the opponent – since Week 6 the Jaguars rank fourth in rushing success rate allowed.
Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns (vs DEN) – The Browns backfield now feels firmly like a committee, with Ford and Kareem Hunt receiving equal workloads in Week 11. Ford doesn’t have the upside of some backs and if his volume is now being eroded I’m going to avoid him, even with a good matchup.
Wide receiver
Start ‘Em
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (vs BUF) – Smith hasn’t always been as productive as you’d have liked this season, but he’s showing signs of improvement. He also has a very nice matchup against a banged up Bills defense so I’m willing to bet he will have another good performance this weekend.
Tank Dell, Houston Texans (vs JAX) – Dell’s mind-meld with CJ Stroud was on full display once again in Week 11. He logged his third straight game with double digit targets and scored a whopping 28.9 points. He’s on an exceptional run of form and you’ve got to be willing to back him this week too.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers (vs DET) – Reed is finding his feet in the Packers offense and is forming a nice connection with Jordan Love. He has now scored over 19 points in back-to-back weeks and is going up against a Lions defense that is allowing 56.9 yards per game to opposing WR2s this season.
Sit ‘Em
Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings (vs CHI) – Addison has not been able to form much of a connection with Joshua Dobbs. In their three games together, he has not scored more than 11 points and has not logged a single finish better than WR29.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (vs LAC) – I know this looks like a good matchup on paper, but you can’t ignore Flowers’ recent fantasy production. The rookie hasn’t logged a single finish better than WR28 since Week 6. He has failed to top eight points in three of his last four games too.
Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals (vs LAR) – Any hope that Kyler Murray’s return would see an uptick in Brown’s fantasy value seems to have been misplaced. He has now failed to score more than seven points in three straight games and has only finished above WR24 once since Week 5. I’d avoid this until we see something change.
Tight end
Start ‘Em
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (vs DEN) – Njoku has seen a real uptick in production over recent weeks. He’s scored double digit points in each of his last five games and finished as TE7 or better three times. His connection with Dorian Thompson-Robinson looked good last week and I’d bet that continues here.
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens (vs LAC) – There’s admittedly an element of risk here given the unknown quantity that is Likely’s role in Todd Monken’s offense. That said, this is a perfect matchup and we know that Lamar Jackson loves throwing to his tight end.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (vs JAX) – Schultz has been Mr. Reliable for Houston over the past few weeks. He has finished as at least TE8 in three straight games, scoring at least 12 points in each. I see no reason why that doesn’t continue this weekend.
Sit ‘Em
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (vs NO) – I’m not going anywhere near this one. Pitts has been underwhelming all season and hasn’t finished above TE16 since Week 6. There’s no sign of high volume or red zone work on the horizon either.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs CIN) – This might be a nice matchup, but I cannot trust the Steelers’ passing game when it comes to fantasy football. This is after all a team that ranks 31st in both passing yards and passing touchdowns per game.
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (vs NYG) – Henry has underwhelmed through recent weeks, only topping 10 points once since Week 4. His production this season has been hugely touchdown reliant, which isn’t great news against a Giants defense that has allowed just two touchdowns to tight ends this year.