It is a great time to be an NFL fan. Bye weeks are over, Thanksgiving is here and this year’s playoff race is as tight as ever. This is also one of the last weeks of the regular season in fantasy. Whether you are firmly seeded in the postseason, fighting for a playoff berth or hoping to play spoiler, there is much to consider this week in the NFL. Looking at all of Week 12’s games, here are the best starts and must sits.
Start of the Week Quarterback – Russell Wilson vs San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers best defensive effort against a quarterback this season came against Russell Wilson in Week 2, when they limited him to less than 200 yards passing and just a single touchdown. Wilson is playing better football since Week 2 and history points towards a better game from him in Week 12. In 11 starts against San Francisco, Wilson has thrown for at least one touchdown in every game. He has topped ten rushing yards in eight starts and has just six interceptions. Wilson is consistent against San Fran, but the Seahawks will need a big win on Sunday to stay in the Wild Card race. Expect big things from Wilson.
Sit of the Week Quarterback – Dak Prescott vs Los Angeles Chargers
With the Cowboys offensive line struggling to pass protect, Dak Prescott could be in for a long day against the Chargers and their fierce pass rush. The Chargers defense has come alive the last few weeks, even limiting Tom Brady to 19 fantasy on a whopping 47 pass attempts. Prescott will be terrorized all day by Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram and will likely have another dud performance.
Start of the Week Running Back – Mark Ingram vs Los Angeles Rams
The Saints backfield this season is turning into one of the best the NFL has experienced in the last decade. Both Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara are monsters in fantasy this season and must starts. Although both could have great games against the Rams this weekend, this matchup favors Ingram over Kamara. The Rams rush defense is weak, and they have given up a top five amount of points to running backs this season. However, they only allow 4.7 receptions to backs per game (seventh-fewest in the league), which should not impact Ingram as much as it does Kamara.
Sit of the Week Running Back – Bilal Powell vs Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are one of the best teams at stopping running backs this season, giving up under 70 yards rushing per game to the position and only five total touchdowns. They have held backs to under 4.00 yards a carry in six of their ten games this season and have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher. Powell has been underwhelming this season and should not be expected to have a big performance against the stout Panthers rush defense.
Start of the Week Wide Receiver – Julio Jones vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
All season we have been waiting for a big game from Julio Jones, and finally, we should get one in Week 12 against the Buccaneers, who rank second last in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. Jones has great career statistics against Tampa in ten games. The star wide receiver topped 100 yards receiving six times and never finished with less than 56 yards. Additionally, the Bucs secondary was torched last week by Kenny Stills and Matt Moore, which bodes well for Jones and Matt Ryan.
Sit of the Week Wide Receiver – DeAndre Hopkins vs Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens defense is amongst the best in the NFL this season, especially against opposing wide receivers, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. Hopkins is coming off a few good weeks with Tom Savage at quarterback, but the Ravens secondary leads the NFL in interceptions and has allowed only one wide receiver (Davante Adams in Week 11) to crack the 100-yard plateau.
Start of the Week Tight End – Vernon Davis vs New York Giants
Even though their illustrious streak of allowing tight ends to catch touchdowns finished in Week 11, the Giants are still the worst team in the NFL at stopping the tight end. With Christ Thompson out, Davis may now be the Redskins most reliable target. Expect him to see plenty of targets against the Giants who have allowed tight ends to catch a touchdown or top 100 yards receiving in every game this season.
Sit of the Week Tight End – Jack Doyle vs Tennessee Titans
Having played in the AFC South his entire career, Jack Doyle is quite familiar with the Titans. In Doyle’s last four starts against Tennessee, the tight end has two good games and two duds. In his most recent game, Doyle caught a touchdown but lost a fumble to which put him under ten fantasy points in standard scoring. The Titans have been efficient at stopping tight ends this season, allowing only Luke Willson to top double-digit points this season.
Start of the Week Defense – New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins
The Patriots defense has overcome its early-season struggles and now is startable in fantasy, especially this week against the Dolphins. Miami offense did well last week (when Matt Moore took over for Jay Cutler) but is overall one of the worst in the NFL this season (ranking second last in points and third last in yards per game). The colder weather in New England will not help the Dolphins and whichever quarterback they start.
Sit of the Week Defense – New Orleans Saints vs Los Angeles Rams
Even after last week, the Rams are tied for first for fewest fantasy points given up to opposing defenses in fantasy. The Saints defense is a little banged up going into Week 12 and could be susceptible to some big passes over the middle. Hamper expectations on the Saints until they are back home and healthy.
Start of the Week Kicker – Brandon McManus vs Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders give up the most points to kicker this season. The Raiders secondary has no interceptions this season. Can Osweiler keep some drives going long enough for McManus to kick some field goals in warm and sunny Northern California? That is what we are betting on in Week 12.
Sit of the Week Kicker –Chandler Catanzaro vs Carolina Panthers
Against one of the best teams in the NFL at limiting points to kickers (the Carolina Panthers), Chandler Catanzaro may have one of his worst games of the season. Also, weather forecasts are calling for a moderate amount of wind, which can play havoc on the kicking game.
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