Happy Thanksgiving! We’re heading into the home stretch and need to throw out our priors on players. At this point in the season, we must ride the hot hands to make it to the promised land: the fantasy playoffs! Let’s get into our Week 12 edition of Dynasty Start/Sits.
Starts – Quarterbacks
Joshua Dobbs– Minnesota Vikings
Vs. Chicago Bearsjosh dobbsDobbs has had at least six rush attempts and scored a rushing touchdown in his last five games. Regression is likely coming, but I don’t think it’ll be this week. Chicago is giving up the fifth most fantasy points to QBs this season. They’re also allowing 285.7 passing yards per game on the road this season. All signs point to a fun, productive day from Dobbs this week.
Justin Fields– Chicago Bears
@ Minnesota Vikings
Staying in the same game, Justin Fields is an auto-start for me this week. I wanted to see how Fields performed in his first game back, and for fantasy purposes, I was not disappointed. This may surprise some, but Minnesota allows the third-fewest rushing yards per game over their last three games. If that trend continues, the lack of ability to move the ball on the ground could benefit Fields’ fantasy prospects this week.
Trevor Lawrence– Jacksonville Jaguars
@ Houston Texans
Lawrence is coming off a strong QB1 overall performance against the Titans. I’m thinking that the train keeps on rolling this week. The Texans have allowed a top-10 finish to QBs in their last three games. I’ll take an educated guess and say Lawrence will make it four top-10 finishes in a row.
Sits – Quarterbacks
Sam Howell — Washington Commanders
@ Dallas Cowboys
Sam Howell has been one of the most pleasant surprises this fantasy season. Is he a buy, or is he a sell? I don’t know, but he’s a sit this week. Dallas is a force to be reckoned with at home. They average 2.3 takeaways per game at home, and Howell is fresh off a 3-interception game against a QB-friendly Giants defense.
Geno Smith—Seattle Seahawks
Vs. San Francisco 49ers
Smith is a sit this week due to a culmination of two factors. First, he took a hard shot last week from Aaron Donald and had to exit his Week 11 matchup with an elbow injury. Secondly, the 49ers are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to QBs this year. It’s also a Thursday night game, which hasn’t been very offense-friendly this season.
Jared Goff – Detroit Lions
@ Green Bay Packers
Jared Goff was doing a whole lot of Jared Goff things last week. This week, he draws a Green Bay defense, giving only 15.2 fantasy points to QBs this season. If they hit that mark, Goff would likely finish outside the top 15 QBs. Goff is currently projected to finish as the QB8, according to Sleeper. I find it unlikely he hits or comes close to that mark, so he’s landed on my sit list for week 12.
Starts – Running Backs
Jaylen Warren – Pittsburgh Steelers
@ Cincinnati Bengals
Warren has been on fire recently, posting back-to-back top-10 finishes. He’s been the more explosive RB in the Pittsburgh backfield all season. Matt Canada just got fired (thank god), and Warren could see decreased work in the pass game. I’m not overly concerned about that, though. Cincinnati has been a plus matchup for RBs this season, and Warren has earned his spot in the rotation. As long as he continues to get a similar amount of opportunities, Warren is going to be a weekly start for the foreseeable future.
Raheem Mostert— Miami Dolphins
@ New York Jets
Achane re-aggravated his knee injury, which led to an IR stint. Although he’s been seeing reps in practice, I believe the Dolphins will want to get Achane back to full health before the playoffs. When Achane left the game, Mostert saw 24 rushes and targets. I expect Mostert to see the lion’s share touches again against a physical Jets defense.
Jerome Ford— Cleveland Browns
@ Denver Broncos
Ford has been one of the most consistent RBs this season. In 10 games, he’s finished as a top-24 RB seven times. He’s finished inside the top-10 as often as outside the top 24 (3). Denver is allowing 143 rush yards per game over their last three games. There should be plenty of fantasy points to split between Ford and Hunt this week.
Sits – Running Backs
Javonte Williams— Denver Broncos
@ Cleveland Browns
Cleveland was abnormally bad against the run last week, giving up 172 rushing yards. I’m going to take it as an outlier week. Williams is currently projected as the RB15 this week, and I cannot get behind this. In nine games, Williams has finished outside the top 24 in six of them. Cleveland is by far the best run defense Denver has played this season. Williams will need a lot of volume and see the end zone to make a difference in your fantasy lineups this week.
AJ Dillon – Green Bay Packers
@ Detroit Lions
Time and time again, we get excited about AJ Dillon getting the backfield to himself, and every time, we leave disappointed. Well, not this time. He’s shown us what he is—an average RB with hardly any standalone value. Truthfully, I’d try to trade him the first chance I get. But for this article, I wouldn’t play him if you have a better option.
Chuba Hubbard– Carolina Panthers
@ Tennessee Titans
Tennessee has been a reasonably neutral matchup for RBs this year, but truthfully, I don’t believe in Hubbard’s talent. Carolina tried to make him the primary RB after their bye week and learned he’s not the one they want. Miles Sanders has seen his snap share increase in four straight weeks. He will need to see abnormal work in the passing game this week for fantasy relevance.
Starts – Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua– Los Angeles Rams
@ Arizona Cardinals
Mathew Stafford is healthy, and Cooper Kupp is likely out. Puka WR1 season is back, baby!
Brandin Cooks– Dallas Cowboys
@ Washington Commanders
Cooks could be on the start list more often as the season winds down. His play has been a little sporadic this season. However, the remainder of the Cowboy’s schedule is a plus matchup for WRs. After finishing as a top 24 WR in three of his last four matchups, Cooks is one of the best boom/bust options available. From Weeks 6-11, Washington allows 26.5 fantasy points to WRs lined out wide, where Cooks plays approximately 55% of his snaps. He could be in line for a boom week.
Nico Collins — Houston Texans
Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Noah Brown has yet to practice this week. Last week, with Brown out, Collins tied his season high for targets in a game. However, he also saw his second-lowest yards per target and yards per catch in a game this year. If Brown cannot go again this week, Collins could be in line for a big game against division-rival Jacksonville, who has been a plus matchup for WRs this year.
Romeo Doubs — Green Bay Packers
@ Detroit Lions
In six games where Aaron Jones was out or played less than 40% of snaps, Romeo Doubs has finished as a top 24 WR in four. There’s a strong probability of a positive game script for Green Bay WRs and with Jones out yet again. I’m looking at Doubs to be the go-to target for Jordan Love.
Sits – Wide Receivers
Amari Cooper – Cleveland Browns
Vs. Denver Broncos
It will be hard to trust Cooper moving forward with Deshaun Watson out for the year. As the number one WR, he’s likely to continue seeing high volume, but the quality of the targets is expected to plummet. In four away games this season, Cooper only has one top-24 finish. This game should be a low-scoring affair, with Cooper having a higher chance of under-performing.
Terry McLaurin — Washington Commanders
@ Dallas Cowboys
Dallas is allowing the fourth fewest fantasy points to WRs this season. McLaurin is on a streak of three straight games under ten fantasy points. Despite Washington’s high-volume passing attack, McLaurin is an optimal candidate to under-produce this week.
Jakobi Meyers — Las Vegas Raiders
Vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Myers draws a tough matchup this week against the Kansas City Chiefs. Since Aidan O’Connell took over as starting quarterback, Myers has yet to earn more than five targets in a game. If this trend continues, Myers won’t be a flex-worthy option for the remainder of the season.
Starts – Tight Ends
Evan Engram– Jacksonville Jaguars
@ Houston Texans
Although he’s steadily seeing good usage, Engram hasn’t finished as a top-12 TE since week four. He has an outstanding matchup this week against the Texans. Calvin Ridley hasn’t been a reliable option All season. If Ridley disappears from the Jaguars game plan, look for Ingram to have a bounce-back game.
David Njoku– Cleveland Browns
@ Denver Broncos
Njoku has quietly had four straight top-12 TE performances in a row. Denver is allowing the most fantasy points to TEs in the league. Cleveland is playing with a backup quarterback, and Njoku could be heavily involved in the game plan. He’s a prime boom candidate this week.
Isaiah Likely– Baltimore Ravens
@ Los Angeles Chargers
This could be a high-scoring matchup, and Baltimore doesn’t have many threats in the past catching department. Look for likely to play a significant role this week. He’s a solid streaming option for TE-needy teams.
Sits – Tight Ends
Donald Parham Jr— Los Angeles Chargers
Vs. Baltimore Ravens
Every week, Parham is liable to score a touchdown, which is why it’s hard to make him a sit candidate this week. With Gerald Everett likely to return to action this week, Parham could return to a sub-50% snap share. He’ll be highly touchdown-dependent this week.
Cade Otton — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
@ Indianapolis Colts
Otton has only scored more than eight fantasy points twice this season. In both games, he scored a touchdown. His upside is limited and probably not worth a start in most situations.
I hope you all benefited from this article, and I thank you for reading. I find true enjoyment in sharing my experience and helping others. So, I’m always more than willing to answer any fantasy football questions via Twitter @FF_Reez. Thanks for reading! #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
