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.
RUNNING BACKS
START: Kyren Williams @ ARI
- Avg Fantasy Points: 18.5
- Opponent vs RBs: 30th
- Week 12 Rank: RB18
- Projected Points: 13.8
He's Back! At least, we hope the same productive player is back for the Rams. When Kyren Williams was active across the first six weeks of the season, he was the RB4 in fantasy points per game. Now he gets a cupcake matchup against the Cardinals, who allow the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season. With Darrell Henderson back on the practice squad and Cooper Kupp potentially missing time with an injury, this could be a nice welcome-back game for Williams.
SIT: Alexander Mattison vs CHI
- Avg Fantasy Points: 10.3
- Opponent vs RBs: 15th
- Week 12 Rank: RB33
- Projected Points: 9.8
Alexander Mattison has just one finish inside the Top-32 fantasy running backs over the last five weeks. Mattison's zero rushing touchdowns and 3.7 yards per carry leave much to be desired at this point in the season. Ty Chandler has seen his role grow, especially in the passing game. The Bears run defense has improved dramatically as the season has gone on, but they're most susceptible to running backs that catch passes. Mattison has caught just five passes over the last four games, while Chandler caught four passes on four targets in Week 11.
SLEEPER: Keaton Mitchell @ LAC
- Avg Fantasy Points: 10.2
- Opponent vs RBs: 25th
- Week 11 Rank: RB34
- Projected Points: 9.6
Okay, let's do this one more time. With Mark Andrews out, the Ravens will need to find new ways to get other players involved. Sure, that could just mean more Gus Edwards and more Zay Flowers, but I think this opens the door for more receiving work for the rookie. Keaton Mitchell broke out in Week 9 with a monster fantasy performance that led to him being the RB3 that week. We know what kind of potential he has, and his coaches do as well. The Chargers remain susceptible to running backs that can catch the ball out of the backfield, allowing the second-most receiving yards to running backs in the NFL. If you're down by quite a bit after the Thanksgiving games, Mitchell can provide a boom-bust factor that could get you back into your matchup this week.
WIDE RECEIVERS
START: Zay Flowers @ LAC
- Avg Fantasy Points: 10.9
- Opponent vs WRs: 31st
- Week 12 Rank: WR24
- Projected Points: 13.3
The Ravens are going to be without Mark Andrews for the foreseeable future. That means Lamar Jackson will be looking for a new primary target he can trust in critical game scenarios. Flowers was the early target in last week's game, where had a 30-yard screen for a touchdown get called back on what could be the worst holding penalty I've ever witnessed. The Chargers are allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season while also allowing nineteen different receivers to reach double-digit fantasy points in just ten games.
SIT: Jakobi Meyers vs KC
- Avg Fantasy Points: 13.5
- Opponent vs WRs: 6th
- Week 12 Rank: WR52
- Projected Points: 8.6
The Chiefs defense has been much better than anticipated this season, specifically in the secondary. While Jakobi Meyers started out the season hot, scoring five touchdowns in his first six games, it's been bleak for him since Aidan O'Connell took over at quarterback. Since the switch to O'Connell in Week 9, Meyers has averaged fewer than three receptions per game, and he has been a Top-40 fantasy wide receiver just once in the last four weeks. Even if he has a decent game, the ceiling with O'Connell under center is much lower for Meyers.
SLEEPER: Josh Downs vs TB
- Avg Fantasy Points: 10.7
- Opponent vs WRs: 28th
- Week 12 Rank: WR35
- Projected Points: 11.3
In his last four healthy games without injury, Josh Downs averaged 6 receptions for 79 yards. In fact, from weeks one through eight, Downs averaged 12.5 PPR points and ranked as the WR36 overall. Now he gets a matchup against the Bucs, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to receivers since Week 8. Downs stands out in particular because he gets a nice matchup against Christian Izien, an undrafted rookie for Tampa Bay who has had his share of ups and downs this season. Coming off the bye week, Downs has had an opportunity to rest his knee and get back to full speed for Week 12.