Week 12 of NFL action has no bye weeks, leaving fantasy managers with plenty of choices to make in their lineup. This weekly article is meant to make those lineup decisions a little bit easier. You can always listen to The Footballguys Fantasy Football Show, which releases episodes every weekday - also, check out the free Week 12 Player Rankings.
QUARTERBACKS
START: Joshua Dobbs vs CHI
- Avg Fantasy Points: 18.1
- Opponent vs QBs: 20th
- Week 12 Rank: QB10
- Projected Points: 18.5
The Bears have done better against fantasy quarterbacks as of late, but they've still been a great matchup for opposing passers. They've allowed two or more passing touchdowns to seven different quarterbacks this season. Chicago hasn't faced many quarterbacks with rushing ability, so we could very well see Josh Dobbs give the Bears fits on defense. Dobbs has been averaging over 43 rushing yards per game since joining the Vikings, giving him a safe floor for fantasy and a skill-set that the Bears defense hasn't had to face much this season.
SIT: Russell Wilson vs CLE
- Avg Fantasy Points: 17.4
- Opponent vs QBs: 3rd
- Week 11 Rank: QB21
- Projected Points: 13.8
It's become a weekly tradition to bench quarterbacks that play against the Cleveland Browns. On the year, the Browns have only allowed two quarterbacks to score more than 13 fantasy points in a single game despite facing a list of quarterbacks that includes Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Geno Smith, and Brock Purdy (I won't mention Kenny Pickett, Ryan Tannehill, or Clayton Tune). This season, Russell Wilson has been... fine. He's the QB17 in fantasy points per game, and his good performances still haven't been that good - Wilson has just three finishes inside the Top 12 this season. If you absolutely can't find any other streamer in place of him, I'd bench Wilson for guys like Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, and Gardner Minshew.
TIGHT ENDS
START: David Njoku @ DEN
- Avg Fantasy Points: 13 (Since Week 7)
- Opponent vs TEs: 32nd
- Week 11 Rank: TE12
- Projected Points: 10.5
I've made the mistake of benching David Njoku a couple of times over the last few weeks - not anymore. Njoku has been pretty good over the last five weeks, averaging 13 PPR points per game regardless of the starter at quarterback. Njoku has been a Top-7 TE in three of the last four weeks while averaging 9.5 targets per game. The volume is there even if the quarterback play isn't the best.
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