Week 11 left many fantasy football gamers scratching their heads and rueing their decisions. Among these folks, you could find me. I remember feeling pretty confident about last week’s article, and the takes therein (Kyle Pitts notwithstanding, no one feels confident starting him anymore, do they?). Instead, the elderly quarterbacks I recommended as “Starts” applied their AARP discounts to fantasy point production. Then Kenneth Walker III miraculously got a goal-line carry (and converts!) and saw his highest number of targets since Week 1. Indeed, the bad outweighed the good considerably last week for yours truly. Let’s see if I can right the ship a bit this week. Here are the players to start and sit for Week 12.
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Quarterback
Start: Jared Goff
After a tough week on the road against one of the league’s top defenses, Jared Goff is back at home in the dome, where he has performed markedly better since becoming a Detroit Lion. In Week 12, Goff has a favorable matchup in addition to being back in Detroit, as the Lions are hosting the New York Giants. The Giants have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. While New York does have some talented pass rushers who could challenge Detroit’s offensive line, I expect Goff and his big men up front to have a bounce-back week, as the Lions begin to make their playoff push.
Honorable Mention: Jacoby Brissett
Sit: Bryce Young
The third-year quarterback from Alabama got his third QB1 finish of the year last week, throwing for 448 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers’ overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons. His Week 12 matchup looks good on paper, as the San Francisco 49ers give up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. But we just haven’t seen it from Bryce Young consistently enough yet. Add that to the fact that this is a prime-time game, in a tough place to play across the country, and it’s enough for me to fade the young quarterback this week.
Honorable Mention: Daniel Jones
Running Back
Start: TreVeyon Henderson
TreVeyon Henderson‘s Athletic Profile
Since Week 9, TreVeyon Henderson has played at least 75% of the offensive snaps for the New England Patriots in Rhamondre Stevenson‘s absence. Last week, he posted a season-high 88% snap-share and totaled 24 touches, resulting in three touchdowns. The explosive rookie has finally become a key cog in New England’s offensive game plan, even if it took an injury for it to happen.
In Week 12, the Pats travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals and their bottom-dwelling defense. The Bengals present the No. 1 matchup for opposing running backs, exhibited last week by Kenneth Gainwell. Even with Stevenson’s return, Henderson’s recent production boom will make it hard to keep him off the field. Let’s make sure to get Henderson into our lineups across all formats.
Honorable Mentions: Woody Marks, David Montgomery
Sit: Zonovan Knight
Last week, Zonovan Knight was able to come through for fantasy gamers on the back of his first-quarter touchdown. He was then game-scripted out of relevance, as the Cardinals got behind big quickly. He did catch all four of his targets, but he was just one of three running backs involved in the passing game. Besides, we know the Cardinals’ passing attack does not go through the running back position.
In Week 12, Knight and the Cardinals host the Jacksonville Jaguars, whose defense can be had through the air but presents a formidable challenge on the ground. The Jags are excellent at defending running backs in fantasy, allowing the fifth-fewest points per game to the position. Let’s leave Bam on the bench this week.
Honorable Mentions: Devin Singletary, Tony Pollard
Wide Receiver
Start: Rome Odunze
Being his team’s number-one target earner left Rome Odunze with just six targets last week. He caught two of them for 41 yards in one of the many lackluster performances across the league in Week 11. Still, Odunze has seemingly solidified himself as the Bears’ top pass-catching option.
Rome Odunze‘s Explosive Rating
Week 12 presents the opportunity for the former Husky to get back to the type of production we know he is capable of. The Bears host the Pittsburgh Steelers this week as part of Sunday’s early slate of games. The Steelers allow the most PPR points per game to opposing wideouts. Look for Odunze and quarterback Caleb Williams to get a rhythm going early on in this one.
Honorable Mentions: Rashid Shaheed, Darnell Mooney
Sit: Alec Pierce
Alec Pierce has been a pleasant surprise this season as the Colts’ big-play threat, usually needing only a couple of catches to come through as a flex option. They have a tough matchup coming out of their Week 11 bye, however.
In Week 12, the Colts travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs. The Chiefs allow the second-fewest PPR fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, and are also top ten against opposing quarterbacks. It’s hard to imagine Daniel Jones having enough time to get the ball downfield to Pierce. I’m fading him this week, as the Colts will again lean on Jonathan Taylor, along with some short-to-intermediate throws to rookie stud tight end Tyler Warren and their No. 1 wide receiver, Michael Pittman.
Honorable Mentions: Ricky Pearsall, Jordan Addison
Tight End
Start: Hunter Henry
Going back to “My Guy” Hunter Henry here one more time. Last week, Henry saw a season-high 94% snap share. Unfortunately, it resulted in only four catches on six targets for 45 yards. Perhaps the Week 12 matchup will help.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ defense can certainly give up enough yards and points to warrant two “Starts” from this article. Like TreVeyon Henderson above, Henry will also look to take advantage of this soft matchup. The Bengals are also the top matchup for tight ends, as they allow by far the most fantasy points per game to the position in all scoring formats. Henry is our #7-ranked tight end this week and is worth a start in most instances.
Honorable Mention: Colston Loveland
Sit: Dalton Schultz
In four of the last five weeks, Dalton Schultz has been a more-than-suitable bye-week replacement. This week, however, the veteran tight end draws the worst possible matchup. The Buffalo Bills allow the fewest fantasy points per game to his position. When we add this on top of the other myriad offensive woes for the Houston Texans, we’ve got ourselves a tight end to leave on the bench. Plus, it’s a Thursday night game. Let’s sit Schultz if at all possible.
Honorable Mention: T.J. Hockenson
That’s all for this week. As always, thank you for reading!
Feel free to hit me up on X, Instagram, or Bluesky to let me know if you agree or disagree, or to share your own lineup dilemmas!
Many Successes,
Kyle
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