Welcome to Week 12. This is the last week of teams on a bye so we’re in the home stretch. With this week’s byes, some crucial fantasy players could be missing from your lineup in a week where you might be hanging onto your fantasy lives.
Once again, I have you covered on some good streaming options. Here are my starts and sits for Week 12.
Quarterback Starts Of The Week
Baker Mayfield vs. Miami Dolphins
Mayfield is a tough one to figure out. A lot of hype going into this season, but he really hasn’t delivered. Last week he finally had his first 20+ fantasy point performance this year and a Top 10 appearance.
He’s a great streaming option this week against the Dolphins, who are allowing close to 22 fantasy points per game, including Josh Allen’s 32 point performance last week.
Jacoby Brissett at Houston Texans
Brissett is someone that is barely talked about but is putting up a really good season.
He gets a good matchup this week against a Texans defense that has been getting burned by quarterbacks this year, including Brissett, who threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns in their previous matchup.
Other Quarterbacks To Start
Matt Ryan, Derek Carr, Carson Wentz, Sam Darnold,
Quarterback Sleeper Of The Week
Jeff Driskel at Washington Redskins
Driskel ranked as QB5 last week and has 478 passing yards, 88 rushing yards, and three touchdowns in his two games as the Lions’ quarterback.
The Redskins are allowing an NFL worse 71.4% pass completion and the seventh-worse passer rating. Driskel has the opportunity for another strong game.
Quarterback Sits Of The Week
Jared Goff vs. Baltimore Ravens
If we take a look at Goff’s fantasy numbers, he’s at best a matchup based quarterback. His three 20+ fantasy performances have come from teams ranked in the bottom five in points-per-game to the quarterback, his last three matchups against the top five defenses he’s averaging 4.35 fantasy points.
The Ravens are the ninth-best team against the quarterback and just shut down Deshaun Watson last week.
Jameis Winston at Atlanta Falcons
Winston is coming off a game where he threw four interceptions. This week he’s facing what’s probably the hottest defense in the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons.
The same Falcons defense that hadn’t given up less than 20 points all season has only allowed 12 in the last two games along with 11 sacks four interceptions.
You might see some more turnovers from Winston this week.
Other Quarterbacks To Sit
Jimmy Garoppolo, Daniel Jones, Kyle Allen, Nick Foles
Quarterback Bust Of The Week
Tom Brady vs. Dallas Cowboys
Brady has struggled the last couple of weeks; you clearly see the velocity and accuracy of his throws have started to dissipate.
He gets a tough matchup this week against the Cowboys; they’re allowed the fourth-fewest net yards per pass attempt and have the fifth-highest quarterback knockdown percentage.
He’s already struggling with his passing game, and going up against this defense does not help.
Wide Receiver Starts Of The Week
Tyrell Williams at New York Jets
Williams has failed to see the end zone in three straights game after scoring in five consecutive.
He has a great opportunity to start a new streak this week against the Jets, who are allowing the second-most touchdowns to receivers this year.
Jamison Crowder vs. Oakland Raiders
On the other side, the Raiders are giving up 25.7 points-per-game to receivers. There will be lots of receiving yards in this game.
Other Wide Receivers To Start
Calvin Ridley, Jarvis Landry, D.K. Metcalf, James Washington
Wide Receiver Sleeper Of The Week
Zach Pascal at Houston Texans
We thought Pascal would get the benefit of T.Y. Hilton’s absence, but that didn’t happen. I believe Pascal will have a better day with Hilton back in.
The Houston pass defense has given up the third-most touchdowns to wide receivers this season and second-most yards after the catch. With Hilton in, it takes the attention away from Pascal, and he’ll see plenty of opportunities.
Wide Receiver Sits Of The Week
Brandon Cooks at Baltimore Ravens
Cooks will make his return after missing the last two games with a concussion.
He will not be eased back in with a tough matchup against the Ravens as he will probably see former Ram Marcus Peters in coverage. In fact, Roberts Woods and Cooper Kupp will all struggle for points this week.
John Brown vs. Denver Broncos
I’m a huge John Brown fan. I’ve put Brown on my roster every year since he was a Cardinal. That dedication has paid off as he has been a consistently good receiver all year, including last week’s top fantasy spot.
I’m reluctant to put him in my lineup this week; the Broncos are allowing the third-fewest yards per game to wide receivers.
Don’t expect the defensive implosion that Denver had last week,
Other Wide Receivers To Sit
Terry McLaurin, Darius Slayton, Michael Gallup, Tyler Boyd
Wide Receiver Bust Of The Week
Marquise Brown at Los Angeles Rams
He had a surged game against Cincinnati, and we thought he could be making a comeback. Being ahead for most of the game last week, game script hindered his performance.
Although Hollywood will be under the bright lights of his namesake, his performance will be a box office flop. He will see a lot of Jalen Ramsey, Baltimore has so many playmakers that they don’t need to Brown to win this game.
Running Back Starts Of The Week
Kareem Hunt vs. Miami Dolphins
The Browns have effectively found a roll for Hunt as he sees snaps in passing down situations. He has 13 receptions in two games and faces the Dolphins, who have allowed 15 receiving touchdowns to running backs this year. Good chance he sees his first score of 2019 this week.
Derrius Guice vs. Detroit Lions
Guice made his return from the IR, and thanks to a 45-yard touchdown it got him close to 15 fantasy points.
He gets a favorable matchup against the Lions who are giving up the most points to the running back position this year.
He will probably lose some snaps to Adrian Peterson, but I think his snap count will highly increase from last week.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5BtKt7n98N/
Other Running Backs To Start
Jaylen Samuels, Tevin Coleman, Phillip Lindsay, Joe Mixon
Running Back Sleeper Of The Week
Jordan Wilkins at Houston Texans
Jonathan Williams was the one that was the hot waiver wire pickup, but I think it will be Wilkins with the better day on Sunday.
Wilkins didn’t play on Sunday, that’s why Williams was getting the touches after Mack was injured. Wilkins has been the number two for the Colts all season, and that will reflect this week with no Mack.
Running Back Sits Of The Week
Jamaal Williams at San Fransisco 49ers
Although not the lead back, Williams has still been a strong flex starter as the Packers have found a way to include him in the offense.
Aaron Jones is a start regardless of the opponent, but I can’t say that about Williams against San Fransisco.
Devin Singletary vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos just shut down Dalvin Cook last week with 57 total yards and are allowing an NFL second-best 3.7 yards-per-rush over the last four games. Singletary should be on your bench this week.
Others Running Backs To Sit
Sony Michel, Ronald Jones, Kalen Ballage, Carlos Hyde
Running Back Bust Of The Week
Brain Hill vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hill took the honors for biggest bust last week with that dud performance against the Panthers, and on paper, that was a great matchup.
This week, he faces one of the best running defenses in football. The Buccaneers are giving up the second-fewest amount of fantasy points to running back. He doesn’t care about your fantasy team, so you shouldn’t care about having him in it.
https://twitter.com/Heezy2Liv5/status/1196181925599367168
Tight End Starts Of The Week
Ryan Griffin vs. Oakland Raiders
Griffin had the best game of his NFL career last week with 109 receiving yards and a touchdown. With Chris Hernon out for the season, Griffin will continue to be the starting tight end.
He gets a great matchup against Oakland, who is the third-worst against the tight end this year.
Jacob Hollister at Philadelphia Eagles
If you play tight end for the Seattle Seahawks, Russell Wilson loves you. Will Dissly and now Hollister has been must start at tight end.
Wilson targets the tight end heavily in the red zone. Hollister has three touchdowns in the two last games; he’ll see the opportunity to score this week.
Other Tight Ends To Start
Greg Olsen, Vance McDonald, Ross Dwelley, Dallas Goedert
Tight End Sleeper Of The Week
Jaeden Graham vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Austin Hooper out, Graham was the one who saw some action as the tight end spot.
The Bucs are allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Graham is a strong streaming option for this week.
Tight End Sits Of The Week
Jared Cook vs. Carolina Panthers
Cook struggled to start the season, but has surged over the last few weeks; he now has four straight games with double-digit points.
I’m reluctant to start him this week against the Panthers, who are only allowing 5.3 points to the position this year.
T.J. Hockenson at Washington Redskins
Weeks 9-11 Hock has played against defenses ranked in the bottom ten against the tight end, and he’s only been able to be the 23rd best tight end. George Kittle is just above him, and he hasn’t played in two weeks. I’m not confident in playing Hock for the foreseeable future.
Other Tight Ends To Sit
Gerald Everett, Jimmy Graham, Cameron Brate, Jonnu Smith
Tight End Bust Of The Week
Noah Fant at Buffalo Bills
Fant has an upside going forward for the Broncos; we’ll definitely be talking about him as a top tier fantasy tight end.
This week he has a tough matchup against the Bills who are allowing only 3.6 fantasy points-per-game and one touchdown.