Quarterback
Carson Wentz (vs Tampa Bay)
Wentz has been quiet as of late as Jonathan Taylor has been more than enough for the Colts offense. This week, they get the stout Bucs run defense that will get back Vita Vea after he missed Monday night’s game. The Colts should also be forced to throw more if Tom Brady is successful passing, which he should be now that Rob Gronkowski is back out there. Wentz could easily end up in the highest scoring game of the week.
Daniel Jones (vs Philadelphia)
Jones is facing an Eagles pass defense that allowed five 80%+ passers already this year, and he should get a boost from the firing of Jason Garrett. Freddie Kitchens oversaw one of the best stretches of Baker Mayfield’s career when he was named interim offensive coordinator in 2018. One would think there is a lot more to work with than Garrett made it look, and the Eagles should see some new looks from the Giants that they aren’t prepared for. Jones legs and the quality of the weapons in the offense could create some excitement.
Zach Wilson (at Houston)
Wilson has been disappointing so far this year, but since he last played, Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, and Mike White have all turned the Jets pass offense into a fantasy fountain of production. Hopefully Wilson learned something during his time on the bench, including how to get the ball to breakout rookie Elijah Moore. The Texans defense is hot right now, but on paper they should be a good matchup for the Jets pass offense.
Taysom Hill (vs Buffalo) **Thanksgiving**
Hill might not even start, so taking advantage of this possible sleeper will require some attention cutting through your tryptophan nap to watch the news out of New Orleans. Hill is back at a full practice for the first time in weeks, and the Saints just signed him to an extension that contemplates the possibility of him taking over as the starting quarterback. The team has probably seen enough of Trevor Siemian, but Sean Payton will likely keep this decision under wraps until the Saints first drive. Hill has been a high ceiling QB1 when he starts, so he could be worth the wait.
Running Back
Matt Breida (at New Orleans) **Thanksgiving**
Sean McDermott said that Breida has earned more opportunities, so he has a real chance to pull away from Zack Moss and Devin Singletary. The Saints vaunted run defense gave up over 200 yards on the ground to Eagles last week, and they should be weary after such a short rest. Breida is fresh after barely playing until two weeks and the Saints defense should be leaving him light boxes to attack as they try to contain Josh Allen and the passing game.
Tony Pollard (vs Las Vegas) **Thanksgiving**
Ezekiel Elliott isn’t on the injury report for Thursday’s game, but he is clearly not 100% as he plays through a knee injury. The Cowboys should have designed on playing deep into the playoffs, so it makes a lot of sense to ease up on Elliott’s workload, especially with a short rest, and instead to give more work to Pollard, who has been one of the most dynamic players in the offense all season. Amari Cooper being out and CeeDee Lamb possibly sitting if he doesn’t clear concussion protocol is another development that could give Pollard a few more touches this week.
Dontrell Hilliard (at New England)
The team said Hilliard has earned more opportunities and their actions spoke louder than their words when they released Adrian Peterson and officially signed Hilliard to the active roster. He is their best passing down back as Jeremy McNichols hasn’t returned from a concussion yet, and the Titans are shorthanded in the passing game. It’s not outlandish to think he could approach the eight catches he got last week, especially with the Patriots likely doing everything they can to take away A.J. Brown - that is if Brown is active this week after he left last week’s game twice with injuries.
Ty Johnson (at Houston)
Michael Carter is out for a few weeks with a high ankle sprain, so opportunity knocks for Johnson and Tevin Coleman. Coleman is more experienced in offensive coordinator Mike Lafleur’s running game, but he is injury prone and has been an inefficient runner of late. Johnson has more to offer in the passing game and he is the Jets back to put a chip on if you want to gamble on them having a good offensive day against the Texans.
Deejay Dallas (at Washington)
Dallas scored on his drive against the Cardinals and was one of the only bright spots for the Seahawks offense. The team wanted Rashaad Penny to take over and gave him the start last week, but he left with a hamstring injury. Alex Collins is a solid backup who can start in a pinch, but coming off of a good, albeit brief performance, they could be looking to give Dallas more opportunity on Monday night against Washington.
Wide Receiver
Emmanuel Sanders (at New Orleans) **Thanksgiving**
Sanders should be in line for a bounceback game in the Superdome. Marshon Lattimore is likely to draw Stefon Diggs to try to avoid repeats of the Minneapolis Miracle, a low point in Saints history, which will leave Sanders against lesser coverage. Cole Beasley hasn’t been as effective lately, so Sanders should be in Josh Allen’s crosshairs as they try to get back on their feet after the Colts flattened them in Buffalo last week.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (vs Los Angeles Rams)
Valdes-Scantling will be looking to follow up his dramatic last second 75-yard score against the Rams, and he probably won’t have to beat Jalen Ramsey to do it. Ramsey should draw Davante Adams and force Aaron Rodgers to look elsewhere, which leads directly to Valdes-Scantling. The Rams secondary has given up big games to Deebo Samuel, Kalif Raymond, and Brandin Cooks over their last four contests.
Michael Gallup (vs Las Vegas) **Thanksgiving**
CeeDee Lamb could play on Thursday even though he suffered a concussion on Sunday, but it is not certain yet. Even if he does, Gallup played well last week and could have had a big game if the Chiefs weren’t so good at generating pressure. Gallup will still be on the field in almost all two wide sets and get more snaps and targets than usual, so he’s still a strong play with or without Lamb in the lineup.
Rashod Bateman (vs Cleveland)
Marquise Brown is set to return this week, but that shouldn’t hamper Bateman too much. Tyler Huntley’s start dampened excitement for putting Bateman in your lineup last week, but this week he’ll be catching balls from Lamar Jackson against a Browns secondary that has allowed multiple scores to opposing wide receivers in three of the last six games. Bateman has at least six targets in every game he has played in this year.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhene (at New England)
A.J. Brown isn’t a sure thing for Week 12, but what is sure is that Bill Belichick is going to make sure Ryan Tannehill has to throw to someone else to regularly move the ball on Sunday. That someone else could be Westbrook-Ikhene, who had his second eight target game of the year in Week 11. Both resulted in fantasy relevant starts, with a 4-53-1 line in Week 3 and a 7-107 lin e last week.
Tight End
Austin Hooper (at Balitmore)
The Browns are likely going to be down to Rashard Higgins of their top four wide receivers, so Baker Mayfield is going to have to use his tight ends more in the passing game this week at Baltimore. Hooper had seven targets last week and he’s a good bet to lead the team in targets this week against a Ravens defense that has allowed six touchdowns to opposing tight ends this year.
Juwan Johnson (vs Buffalo) **Thanksgiving**
Adam Trautman is out for at least a few weeks with a sprained MCL, which should create more opportunity for Johnson, a converted wide receiver who started the season with a two touchdown bang. Trevor Siemian has been targeting the tight end more often than Jameis Winston, so as long as he’s starting, Johnson should get a chance to have a fantasy impact with the backfield weakened and the defense dragging coming into this one.
Gerald Everett (at Washington)
Pete Carroll was very positive about Gerald Everett and seemed intent on getting Everett even more opportunities after he caught 11 of his 12 targets over the last two weeks. “It just screams that we have to keep going to him” Carroll said, and since nothing is really clicking in this offense right now, it makes sense. There has also been buzz that Carroll is interfering in the offense, which could actually boost Everett if true since it appears Carroll is his #1 fan.
