Week 12 brings a break from byes with a full game feast starting with a tripleheader on Thanksgiving. Having a full complement of start 'em, sit 'em options sounds great, but it can actually create more headaches for fantasy football owners obsessing over every roster decision ahead of the stretch run. Fortunately, Sporting News' NFL writer Vinnie Iyer is here to help with his latest helping of lineup advice.
Even with no teams on bye, injuries remain an issue. Justin Fields (left shoulder), Matthew Stafford (concussion), Gus Edwards (hamstring), Leonard Fournette (hip), Joe Mixon (concussion), Mike Williams (ankle), Marquise Brown (foot), Ja'Marr Chase (hip), Jerry Jeudy (ankle), JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion), and Gerald Everett (groin) are among the key players iffy to play. We also have to factor in matchups, recent performance, weather, and other factors.
Navigating through all the potential starting options, here are our must-starts and start 'em sit 'em recommendations for Week 12. If you have specific lineup questions, check out RotoBaller's industry-leading "Who To Start?" tool below and compare up to four players across all positions.
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WEEK 12 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts
Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks
QB must-starts
Stronger starts
- Josh Allen, Bills (at DET)
- Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. LAR)
- Jalen Hurts, Eagles (vs. GB)
- Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (vs. HOU)
- Justin Herbert, Chargers (at ARI)
- Joe Burrow, Bengals (at TEN)
- Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at JAX)
Tom Brady, Buccaneers (at CLE). The GOAT after a bye means excellent digits on the Browns' defense.
Geno Smith, Seahawks (vs. LV). Seattle should be able to do whatever it wants downfield against the Raiders' porous pass defense.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (vs. NO). He's the ace distributor for a bunch of after-the-catch explosive weapons, and he will ride them to more nice production at home.
Derek Carr, Raiders (at SEA). He's going to put up plenty of garbage stats with high volume opposite Geno Smith.
Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. NE). He'll find his way to decent numbers, something like 250 yards and two TDs, grinding on the Patriots to reverse some of his majorly bad prime-time vibes.
Jacoby Brissett, Browns (vs. TB). He should be busy opposite Tom Brady, and this is his last chance to audition for a job with Deshaun Watson returning in Week 13.
Taylor Heinicke, Commanders (vs. ATL). He's done little in two big wins the past two weeks, but this matchup screams for big plays from his myriad versatile weapons.
Ryan Tannehill, Titans (vs. CIN). He's been solid playing off the run the past couple of games, and it continues here opposite Joe Burrow vs. a weakened pass defense.
DFS Targets
FanDuel cash game pick
Justin Herbert, Chargers (at ARI, $7,900). Herbert is the best of the elite QBs at the nicest price/matchup combination. Around 300 yards and three TDs is actually a reasonable expectation.
DraftKings tournament pick
Derek Carr, Raiders (at SEA, $5,700). He's bound to get the big volume, and he's been providing a good return on investment lately.
Streamer Special
Matt Ryan, Colts (vs. PIT). The Steelers' secondary still has plenty of holes in short-to-intermediate coverage, and that's Ryan's game at the moment. He can sneak into 250 yards and two TDs playing off the run.
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker starts
Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. NYG). This feels like a defensive-minded grinder of a game based on the rushing attack, and he might not get the TDs to please as a QB1.
Daniel Jones, Giants (at DAL). See the above Prescott analysis.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (vs. BAL). He can get some numbers with his wideouts and tight ends, but it's likely to be messy with limited yardage.
Marcus Mariota, Falcons (at WAS). The Commanders' defense has fixed many things of late, and now Mariota doesn't even have Kyle Pitts.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers (at PHI). The road has been brutal for them, and it will only get worse in Philly.
Jared Goff, Lions (vs. BUF). He isn't reliable for yardage or TDs at the moment, especially against the Bills.
Russell Wilson, Broncos (at CAR). Let Russ sit. Let's ride without him forever.
Andy Dalton, Saints (at SF). Don't chase the Rams game. It's not happening here.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Running backs
RB must-starts
- Austin Ekeler, Chargers (vs. ARI)
- Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. PIT)
- Kenneth Walker, Seahawks (vs. LV)
- Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. CIN)
- Saquon Barkley, Giants (at DAL)
- Nick Chubb, Browns (vs. TB)
- Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (vs. NO)
- Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins (vs. HOU)
- Rachaad White, Buccaneers (at CLE)
- Dalvin Cook, Vikings (vs. NE)
- Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (at MIN)
- Tony Pollard, Cowboys (vs. NYG)
- Josh Jacobs, Raiders (at SEA)
- Samaje Perin, Bengals (at TEN)
- Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars (vs. BAL)
- Dameon Pierce, Texans (at MIA)
- Aaron Jones, Packers (at PHI)
- Alvin Kamara, Saints (at SF)
- James Conner, Cardinals (vs. LAC)
Stronger starts
Devin Singletary, Bills (at DET). He should stay hot with another TD working ahead of James Cook in a run-heavier offense.
Miles Sanders, Eagles (vs. GB). Sanders is still the main guy in this backfield, and the Packers have been very giving on the ground of late.
David Montgomery, Bears (at NYJ). He's getting big volume without Khalil Herbert (hip), and that will continue with Justin Fields (left shoulder) also hurting.
Antonio Gibson, Commanders (vs. ATL). He's the top back still in this offense, and he can crush the Falcons from scrimmage.
Latavius Murray, Broncos (at CAR). He's the main man by default, and the Panthers wilt most against the run.
Michael Carter, Jets (vs. CHI). James Robinson isn't that interesting, but Carter's usage should be strong against a sieve of a run defense.
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (vs. NYG). Zeke tends to play the Giants well, and he'll find the end zone again with around 60 yards.
Damien Harris, Patriots (at MIN). Rhamondre Stevenson and Harris are the lifeblood of the Patriots' offense, and the Cowboys showed everyone the blueprint for success against Minnesota last week.
Elijah Mitchell, 49ers (vs. NO). He should be the closer again, and there's a good chance he pops in a TD, too.
DFS targets
FanDuel cash game picks
Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins (vs. HOU, $7,700). He was a great play before Raheem Mostert (knee) was ruled out, and he's even greater now, even with high ownership.
James Conner, Cardinals (vs. LAC, $7,000). He should be used well with the passing game back with its key downfield weapons and the matchup is too good to ignore.
DraftKings tournament picks
Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins (vs. HOU, $5,900). Wilson is a must-play in either format or any price on either site.
Kenneth Walker, Seahawks (vs. LV, $6,900). He has a chance to have another blowup game against the soft Raiders' run defense at home after a bye.
WEEK 12 DFS: Best values
Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Running backs
Weaker starts
Jamaal Williams, Lions (vs. BUF). He's been great around the goal line, but Williams can't be trusted with limited opportunities this week. D'Andre Swift also can't be trusted vs. the Bills' cover linebackers.
D'Onta Foreman, Panthers (vs. DEN). It's not a good matchup at home in what figures to be an ugly, low-scoring game.
Najee Harris, Steelers (at IND). It's hard to run on the Colts, especially on the road in prime time.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons (at WAS). The Commanders have become stingy against the run and can shut him down with his limited volume. Also, avoid Tyler Allgeier.
Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders (vs. ATL). The rookie runs well, but this is more of an Antonio Gibson game. Robinson doesn't do enough as a pass-catcher to supplement his rushing stats.
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (vs. LAR). The rookie runs well, but this is a passing team all the way. There's no indication he'll be more involved in the passing game either.
Kenyan Drake, Ravens (at JAX). The matchup seems OK, but he's hard to trust with Gus Edwards (hamstring) set to be back in the mix.
Cam Akers and Kyren Williams, Rams (at KC). Who knows what they will do on the ground with no passing game? Stay away.
Kareem Hunt, Browns (vs. TB) and AJ Dillon, Packers (at PHI). Why are we still playing these little usage complementary backs?
WEEK 12 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Wide receivers
WR must-starts
- Stefon Diggs, Bills (at DET)
- Davante Adams, Raiders (at SEA)
- Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs. HOU)
- Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. HOU)
- Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. NE)
- DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals (vs. LAC)
- A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. GB)
- Gabe Davis, Bills (at DET)
- Deebo Samuel, 49ers (vs. NO)
- Amari Cooper, Browns (vs. TB)
- CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (vs. NYG)
- Tee Higgins, Bengals (at TEN)
- Mike Evans, Buccaneers (vs. CLE)
- DK Metcalf, Seahawks (vs. LV)
- Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (vs. LV)
- Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. ATL)
- Chris Olave, Saints (at SF)
- Christian Kirk, Jaguars (vs. BAL)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (vs. BUF)
- Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (vs. NO)
- Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (at CLE)
- Courtland Sutton, Broncos (at CAR)
- Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs. PIT)
- DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. GB)
- Marquise Brown, Cardinals (if activated, vs. LAC)
Stronger starts
George Pickens, Steelers (at IND). Pickens is a tough matchup for any outside corner, even Stephon Gilmore.
Allen Lazard and Christian Watson, Packers (at PHI). The matchup isn't great vs. Darius Slay and James Bradberry, but they should see good volume and have a shot at a garbage TD.
Jakobi Meyers, Patriots (at MIN). He should get back on track against their shaky corners working inside or outside.
Curtis Samuel, Commanders (vs. ATL). He's getting the ball in scoring situations, and the Falcons can't slow down the former Panther much.
Josh Palmer and Keenan Allen, Chargers (at ARI). The Cardinals' coverage is deteriorating fast, and this duo will have another strong night together.
Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. CHI). He will benefit big-time if there's a QB change. Either way, he gets a nice matchup against a weak secondary.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns (vs. TB). He's been a solid WR3 for multiple weeks, and now he's even scoring. The Bucs aren't particularly scary in coverage either.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals (at TEN). He can work the slot well after what Randall Cobb did. If Chase (hip) remains out, Boyd will produce with good volume.
Parris Campbell, Colts (vs. PIT). He's too involved with high volume to avoid in this favorable spot on the home fast track.
Treylon Burks, Titans (vs. CIN). No Chidobe Awuzie means Burks will be busy again.
Drake London, Falcons (at WAS). He has a good chance to score a TD as the necessary main target for Marcus Mariota.
Allen Robinson, Rams (at KC). He's a good bet to score in garbage time with whoever is at QB as L.A.'s default No. 1.
Demarcus Robinson, Ravens (at JAX). He's the clear No. 1 outside, and his Week 11 performance was so promising.
DFS targets
FanDuel cash game picks
Christian Kirk, Jaguars (vs. BAL, $7,700). Kirk steps into another great slot matchup with probable high volume.
DK Metcalf, Seahawks (vs. LV, $7,200). Metcalf should crush the Raiders' outside coverage and do what Courtland Sutton couldn't do because Geno has been better than Russ.
Josh Palmer, Chargers (at ARI, $6,800). There's no Mike Williams (ankle) again, and he's locked into another massive role.
DraftKings tournament picks
Mike Evans, Buccaneers (at CLE, $6,700). He should have some major big-play potential outside playing off the run with a shot at multiple scores.
Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. ATL, $5,800). He can be very scary against the Falcons secondary with a floor of 100 yards and a TD.
Josh Palmer, Chargers (at ARI, $5,400). He also showed last week that he can absolutely blow up in the right matchup, and the Cardinals just gave up a pair of two-TD games.
Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers
Weaker starts
Darius Slayton, Giants (at DAL). This is a brutal spot for him with the coverage attention on him.
D.J. Moore, Panthers (vs. DEN). Pat Surtain II is certain to shut him down regardless of the QB.
Diontae Johnson, Steelers (at IND). It hasn't been happening, and it won't happen again against a good secondary.
Brandin Cooks, Texans (at MIA). He'll be quieted by Xavien Howard.
Darnell Mooney, Bears (at NYJ). Whether it's Sauce Gardner or D.J. Reed covering him, this is not a trustworthy spot for Mooney.
Nico Collins, Texans (at MIA). Anything in this passing offense is shaky because of Davis Mills.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs (at LAR). They still don't need him much relative to other healthy weapons.
Adam Thielen, Vikings (vs. NE). The Patriots' defense is better in the slot than outside.
Michael Gallup, Cowboys. In theory, Gallup has a good shot at a big play or two, but you can't trust his execution.
Devin Duvernay, Ravens (at JAX). In theory, Duvernay has a good shot at a big play or two, but you can't trust his execution.
Mack Hollins, Raiders (at SEA). In theory, Hollins has a good shot at a big play or two, but you can't trust his execution.
Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Tight ends
TE must-starts
- Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. LAR)
- Mark Andrews, Ravens (at JAX)
- George Kittle, 49ers (vs. NO)
- Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (at IND)
- T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (vs. NE)
- Dalton Schultz, Cowboys (vs. DAL)
- Tyler Higbee, Rams (at KC)
Stronger starts
David Njoku, Browns (vs. TB). The Buccaneers can be giving to tight ends, and he should find more room than last week.
Dawson Knox, Bills (at DET). Knox led the team in receiving yards last week and steps into a nice spot on the same Ford Field.
Gerald Everett, Chargers (at ARI). If he can return from his groin injury, he would step into the league's most beautiful matchup for tight ends.
Evan Engram, Jaguars (vs. BAL). The Ravens are vulnerable in the middle of the field based on their coverage scheme.
Foster Moreau, Raiders (at SEA). This is another great spot for tight ends, and Moreau should find the end zone for the second time this season.
Logan Thomas, Commanders (vs. ATL). He's a sneaky streamer with full health in a favorable matchup.
Hayden Hurst, Bengals (at TEN). He's another sneaky streamer with full health in a favorable matchup.
Will Dissly, Seahawks (vs. LV). He is still sharing with Noah Fant, but he's the better TD shot in this matchup.
DFS targets
FanDuel cash game and DraftKings tournament pick
Mark Andrews, Ravens (at JAX, $7,300 and $6,500). George Kittle and Travis Kelce will get plenty of attention with folks chasing their multiple-score games, but it's Andrews' turn this week. Lamar Jackson will get the passing game back on track with his main man.
Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Tight ends
Weaker starts
Greg Dulcich, Broncos (at CAR). Dulcich is big-play-or-bust, and here's feeling the latter in a low-scoring game.
Juwan Johnson, Saints (at SF). Johnson is also big-play-or-bust, and here's once again feeling the latter. You can also avoid rolling the dice on Taysom Hill.
Cole Kmet, Bears (at NYJ). The over/under for this game is too low for us to be excited about a middling TE.
Tyler Conklin, Jets (vs. CHI). You can't go here with this ambiguous and bad passing game.
Hunter Henry, Patriots (at MIN). He should be more involved, but he just isn't.
Austin Hooper, Titans (vs. CIN). Don't chase the random Packers game.
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (vs. HOU). They won't need him to blow out the Texans.
Trey McBride, Cardinals (vs. LAC). He still needs a bigger role before we can trust him with Zach Ertz (knee) out.
Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Defenses
Defense must-starts
- 49ers (vs. NO)
- Cowboys (vs. NYG)
- Ravens (at JAX)
- Eagles (vs. GB)
- Chiefs (vs. LAR)
- Broncos (at CAR)
- Jets (vs. CHI)
- Bills (at DET)
- Patriots (at MIN)
Stronger starts
Dolphins (vs. HOU). Davis Mills on the road in Miami is bad news.
Colts (vs. PIT). Give them a home prime-time bump vs. a rookie QB.
Steelers (at IND). They can get after it a little with T.J. Watt.
Commanders (vs. ATL). Chase Young returns to help a much-improved group.
Seahawks (vs. LV). This is a fine spot at home to get points.
Panthers (vs. DEN). Let Russ get sacked and give up the ball.
DFS targets
FanDuel cash game pick
Broncos (at CAR, $3,900). They are in a terrific spot for making big plays on the road, and they are surprisingly cheap on FanDuel.
DraftKings tournament pick
Chiefs (vs. LAR, $2,800). They are in a smash spot at home to tee off against a reeling, injury-riddled offense.
Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Defenses
Weaker starts
Bengals (at TEN). Not against Derrick Henry.
Titans (vs. CIN). Not against Joe Burrow.
Buccaneers (at CLE). Tampa Bay won't get it done coming off a bye against a solid Browns' offense on the road.
Vikings (vs. NE). The Patriots will be careful with the ball with a run-heavy approach.
Bears (at NYJ). They are risky because they can easily be run on.
Saints (at SF). You can't chase the Rams' performance against a much better offense.
Get more of Vinnie Iyer's in-depth fantasy football advice for Week 12 by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast.
