Fantasy Football Week 12: Sunday Morning Game-Day Preview

Week 12 of the fantasy football season is (still) here, and we're on the verge of the playoffs beginning.

This week with the Thanksgiving games, every team is in action with just one bye week remaining.

The most notable injury to keep an eye on is New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, as it's sounding like he'll be a true game-time decision. According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Gronk has made the trip to New Jersey. So it's possible he plays, but the question is how much?

As always, there are picks with the spread here in the game preview section—I have to try to please everyone!

For DFS players, my favorite value/contrarian plays from each position are San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Ivory (if T.J. Yeldon is out), Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Cecil Shorts III and Chicago Bears tight end Logan Paulsen.

Have fun this week. Good luck. And lock up a playoff berth.

Fantasy Football Week 12: Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears

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Game Preview

Oh man. Talk about two teams going in opposite directions. For the Tennessee Titans, you have a 23-year-old quarterback—some guy named Marcus Mariota—who is taking the league by storm in his second season. For the Chicago Bears, you have Matt Barkley at quarterback, and No. 1 wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is suspended.

On the road, the Titans are a 5.5-point favorite in a game with a total set at 41.5.

Give the Bears the points, I don't care. The Bears may not be able to move the ball.

Prediction: Titans 23, Bears 10.

Injury Updates

Titans

None.

Bears

Wide receiver Eddie Royal (toe) is questionable, and quarterback Jay Cutler (shoulder) is doubtful. (Don't worry, he won't play.)

Fantasy Fixtures

Titans

Mariota, running back DeMarco Murray, wide receiver Rishard Matthews and tight end Delanie Walker are all must-plays, with Murray perhaps having the most upside. The Titans should win this game, lead for most of it and dominate time of possession, setting Murray up for a ton of work.

For Matthews and Walker, Mariota will still throw, but I'd give the edge to Matthews here—he could have a similar performance from Week 11 where he caught nine passes for 122 yards.

However, we have yet to see Mariota in a bad weather/cold game this season. We'll find out how it impacts him, if at all.

Bears

You could convince me that running back Jordan Howard is a must-play in a game where he'll be the Bears' best shot at moving the ball, but I'm not going to chase that narrative. Don't get me wrong—I'd play Howard, but he's far from a fixture.

Sleepers and Streamers

Titans

Fellow wide receiver Tajae Sharpe is a nice streaming option if you're without the Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green. Sharpe is also a nice guaranteed prize pool (GPP) option in daily fantasy.

Over the past three weeks, Sharpe has been on the field virtually every snap, playing in just 20 fewer than Matthews. He has seen 19 targets and caught two touchdowns.

He'll be behind Walker and Matthews in the pecking order, but it would not surprise me to see Sharpe get close to double-digit targets.

Bears

I'm not as gung-ho about wide receiver Cameron Meredith as I was before the news about Cutler potentially being done for the season.

Barkley is going to be a train wreck—we know that. But that guy has to throw the ball, and some of those passes have to be caught, right? There's just no one else that Barkley will throw to more than Meredith, and Royal has been banged up this week in practice.

Give Meredith a shot as a flex or as a potentially low-owned GPP dart.

Fantasy Football Week 12: Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills

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Game Preview

This has a chance to be perhaps the most boring game of the slate.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are not a good team led by not-great quarterback Blake Bortles, who is tied for the league lead in interceptions with 13. It feels like he throws a pick-six every week while also not throwing to wide receiver Allen Robinson 20 times per game. Seriously, Robinson should get the same treatment that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans gets—double-digit targets each week.

For the Buffalo Bills, their best wide receiver this week could be Sammy Watkins, who hasn't played in 20 years, or Percy Harvin, who hasn't played in 25—fantastic.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor will need to rely on his legs and the legs of running back LeSean McCoy in this one.

This game has a total of 45, and the Bills are a 7.5-point home favorite.

There's no way I'd bet this game, but Bortles and his garbage-time magic strikes again.

Prediction: Bills 24, Jaguars 18. 

Injury Updates

Jaguars

Running back T.J. Yeldon (ankle) is questionable. If he doesn't play, fellow running back Chris Ivory is a must-play. Tight end Julius Thomas is out with a back injury.

Bills

Watkins returns this week, but fellow wide receiver Robert Woods is out with a knee injury. 

Fantasy Fixtures

Jaguars

Robinson, no doubt. He's been targeted in the double digits in six out of the team's 10 games (though it should be every game).

We all know how great Robinson is—get him 13-plus targets this week and let's score some points.

As mentioned in the injury update portion, you need to start Ivory if Yeldon is out.

Bills

McCoy. McCoy. McCoy.

This is the Bills offense this week. Their No. 1 receiver could Watkins, Harvin, Walt Powell or whoever suits up.

Based on volume alone, McCoy is a must-play. 

Sleepers and Streamers

Jaguars

You could go with wide receiver Marqise Lee in points-per-reception formats, I suppose. Over his last three games, he's averaging seven targets, so the potential is there. As a flex option, if he can get you four catches for 60 yards in a PPR league, you would be happy with that result.

Bills

No one.

Fantasy Football Week 12: Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

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Game Preview

Not only are the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens in the same division, but they've scored the same exact number of points this season—199.

This just doesn't feel like the same Bengals, as they sit at 3-6-1 on the season and are now without star wide receiver A.J. Green and running back Giovani Bernard.

They gate a date with Baltimore, which shuts down the run, and unless my eyes are deceiving me, Andy Dalton is not good without Green in the fold.

Hey, at least we'll get to see if Bengals rookie wide receiver Tyler Boyd is actually good.

The total is 40.5, and the Ravens are favored by four points at home.

Prediction: Ravens 21, Bengals 16. 

Injury Updates

Bengals

Wide receiver A.J. Green is out with a hamstring injury but should return this season, according to Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Bernard has been placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL.

Ravens

None.

Fantasy Fixtures

Bengals

With Green out, the No. 1 option is tight end Tyler Eifert. Though he started out the year injured, we know what Eifert is capable of. Since he's the main target in the offense now, we'll see that in full effect. Also keep in mind that tight ends against the Ravens essentially disappear—they allow the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends and have given up just one touchdown to the position all season.

Just to deal with the situation, I'd play running back Jeremy Hill, but Baltimore features a stout run defense. He's going see a ton of volume, but he's not a must-start for me. This feels like a game in which we could see one of Hill's classic 50-yard rushing, three-touchdown games, but I'm not counting on it. I'd play Hill, but I'd lean toward a guy like Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood. 

Ravens

There are no fixtures here for me. The Ravens don't run the ball enough, and the passing attack is all over the place, though it tends to favor veteran wide receiver Steve Smith Sr.

Sleepers and Streamers

Bengals

You didn't think we were going to get through this whole thing without mentioning Boyd's fantasy prospects, did you? 

While Eifert is the No.1 option, Boyd is the No. 1 wide receiver. Five catches for 75 yards and a score seems right.

Ravens

Nah.

Fantasy Football Week 12: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons

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Game Preview

With the highest game total on the slate at 51, we can expect some scoring when the Arizona Cardinals take on the Atlanta Falcons on the road.

This is going to feature the best cornerback vs. wide receiver matchup of the day with the Cardinals' Patrick Peterson and the Falcons' Julio Jones.

These are two quarterbacks who are heading down different trajectories. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has played well and should lead the team to the playoffs, while Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is a shell of himself. I'm not sure what happened to him, but ever since that NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers, things just aren't the same.

Is this the end for Palmer? Will Tony Romo be the quarterback in Arizona next season?

The Falcons are six-point home favorites, and I see them winning by a touchdown. Peterson should handle Jones as well as any corner can.

Prediction: Falcons 31, Cardinals 24.

Injury Updates

Cardinals

Wide receiver Michael Floyd (hamstring) is questionable and expected to be a game-time decision, per Kent Somers of AZCentral.

Falcons

None.

Fantasy Fixtures

Cardinals

Running back David Johnson. Do I have to say anything more?

Also take a look at wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. He's the WR6 in PPR leagues and the main pass-catching option for a team in a game with the highest total on the board. Thirteen targets here?

Falcons

I go with Jones by default, but here's a bold prediction: He finishes as a WR2 this week.

In PPR leagues, I'm going back to the well on running back Devonta Freeman. Even with fellow running back Tevin Coleman back, Freeman sees a ton of work. I love him in DFS this week, too. He could be underowned with Coleman back.

Sleepers and Streamers

Cardinals

No one piques my interest here.

Falcons

As mentioned previously, Coleman should see enough work to be at least a flex option. This season he's averaging more than 17 yards per catch, albeit on 19 of them, and he's averaging a solid four yards per carry. The only question is, How much work will he get in his first game back since Week 7?

You can also take a shot with the other wide receivers not named Jones here. So yeah, both Mohamed Sanu and Taylor Gabriel are options. They'll draw favorable matchups, especially Gabriel, but he's more of a GPP play in DFS. I love Sanu this week with Peterson shadowing Jones.

Fantasy Football Week 12: New York Giants at Cleveland Browns

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Game Preview

It wouldn't surprise me if the Cleveland Browns finally win this week. Their quarterback Josh McCown can sling it (what a terrible cliche).

On the road, the New York Giants are a seven-point favorite, and it makes sense—wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. against that defense? Look out.

For fantasy purposes, the return of McCown opens up some doors for some other Browns skill position players.

I'm feeling a push here on the spread. Trap game.

Prediction: Giants 21, Browns 14. 

Injury Updates

None for either team.

Fantasy Fixtures

Giants

Beckham because he's Beckham. Though he draws a date with Browns cornerback Joe Haden, I'm not scared of that name anymore.

I also love Sterling Shepard this week. With Haden on Beckham, the rookie should have his way with whoever the Browns allow to play cornerback in the NFL this week. Fun fact: Shepard has seen at least seven targets in every game this season except in Week 1 (four) and Week 4 (six). Double-digit targets this week would be fantastic.

Before you comment below, no, I'm not on board with running back Rashad Jennings this week, and I'm not paying for him on DFS. In season-long fantasy, you should play him in a great matchup, but this has the feeling of a letdown.

Browns

With McCown at quarterback, I'm more confident in wide receiver Terrelle Pryor Sr., but this Giants defense is legit. Safety Landon Collins doesn't mess around. It's tough to sit Pryor, though.

Sleepers and Streamers

Giants

They have no sleepers. For streamers, quarterback Eli Manning is an obvious choice, but I'm not expecting a massive performance here even in a great matchup. If he can get you 250 yards and a couple of scores, that's a win.

Browns

Consider tight end Gary Barnidge. Last week, McCown came in to relieve rookie quarterback Cody Kessler who suffered a concussion and promptly delivered Barnidge his first touchdown of the season. I love him this week as a GPP option, but I'm not sure other DFS players are thinking the same thing. In season-long leagues, you can finally play Barnidge again!

Fantasy Football Week 12: Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints

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Game Preview

Drew Brees at the Superdome is always worth watching.

It's clear that the New Orleans Saints are going to win, but by how much?

The Los Angeles Rams will have rookie quarterback Jared Goff out there for his second career start. After his first start in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins, he showed little to be excited about.

Since Week 4, the Saints have allowed just over 81 rushing yards per game (fifth-best in the league), so with Goff being handicapped in his second start, it's not exactly a foregone conclusion that Rams running back Todd Gurley will run wild—their offensive line stinks. 

The Saints are a seven-point favorite. That seems fishy, but I don't see how the Rams score many points this week.

Prediction: Saints 24, Rams 13. 

Injury Updates

Rams

None.

Saints

Running back Mark Ingram has yet to be cleared from the concussion protocol and is questionable. He did practice Thursday, though. 

Fantasy Fixtures

Rams

I'd play Gurley based on volume alone. The Saints have been fairly tough against the run, though, and are most likely game-planning around stopping Gurley. Goff may have thrown 31 times last week, but he averaged just 4.3 yards per attempt. Gross.

Saints

I love Brees and both Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas at wide receiver. As Graham Barfield of FantasyGuru.com pointed out, Cooks has scored 17 or more DraftKings points in eight of his last 10 home games. For those who are not familiar, DraftKings gives one point per reception and a three-point bonus for 100 yards receiving. Thomas should see a ton of looks too.

I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I am revving up the Saints defense this week. They're my No. 1 defense on the slate. This is the only time this will happen for maybe another decade, so take advantage.

Sleepers and Streamers

Rams

None. You kidding me?

Saints

Running back Tim Hightower will get work whether or not Ingram plays. He's a solid flex play.

Fantasy Football Week 12: San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins

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Game Preview

Spoiler alert: The Dolphins are going to win this week and be led by running back Jay Ajayi.

I cannot believe we're going to live in a world where the Miami Dolphins are 7-4.

The San Francisco 49ers are just a brutal team to watch. They stink.

The Dolphins are a seven-point favorite in a game with a 44.5-point total.

Coming from the West Coast playing an early game, the 49ers will lose by 10.

Prediction: Dolphins 24, 49ers 14. 

Injury Updates

49ers

Wide receiver Torrey Smith is questionable. Expect an uptick in targets for fellow wide receiver Jeremy Kerley and Quinton Patton if Smith sits.

Dolphins

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry is questionable but practiced all week on a limited basis. 

Fantasy Fixtures

49ers

Not a soul. Do not trust a single player to produce this week, though the only one I'd consider is running back Carlos Hyde, since he's the only good player the 49ers have on offense.

Dolphins

I mentioned him a bit ago—Ajayi. The loss of center Mike Pouncey hurts, but the 49ers have allowed a 100-yard rusher in nearly every game this season. Ajayi gets 130 this week.

Sleepers and Streamers

49ers

The 49ers will be sleepers all right...on the sidelines. I'm not playing any of these guys.

Dolphins

Dial up the defense here—this could be ugly for the 49ers.

If you're desperate at quarterback, Ryan Tannehill isn't a terrible choice. However, I'm concerned this could turn into an Ajayi game and we get a 210-yard, one-touchdown game from Tannehill.

Fantasy Football Week 12: San Diego Chargers at Houston Texans

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Game Preview

Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler wasn't a total disaster in Week 11 against the Oakland Raiders down in Mexico. At home this week, this could be a higher-scoring affair with the San Diego Chargers coming to town.

The Chargers and quarterback Philip Rivers are coming off a disastrous loss to the Dolphins in Week 10 (bye in Week 11), where Rivers tossed four interceptions in the final quarter that ultimately led to a 31-24 loss. 

A fun, under-the-radar matchup to watch will be Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa against Texans offensive tackles Duane Brown and Chris Clark. If Bosa can create pressure on Osweiler, this could be a tough day for a not-so-great quarterback.

If the Chargers can avoid making goofy mistakes down the stretch, they should win this one by just under a touchdown.

Prediction: Chargers 27, Texans 21.

Injury Updates

Chargers

Wide receiver Travis Benjamin is questionable with a knee injury despite practicing in full all week.

Texans

None.

Fantasy Fixtures

Chargers

You have to love the Chargers offense in this one—Rivers, wide receiver Tyrell Williams and running back Melvin Gordon are all must-starts.

The Texans have allowed just 11 passing touchdowns all season, but they have to worry about Gordon. In a game with a 46-point total, Rivers should throw often. He also makes for a potentially low-owned DFS option.

Texans

Running back Lamar Miller is the only Texans skill position player I can trust at this point. There's no reason why he shouldn't be getting 20 carries per game.

Sleepers and Streamers

Chargers

I'm interested in Benjamin coming back from injury and both tight ends, Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry. Rivers is going to throw plenty this week.

Texans

Tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz appears to have a somewhat safe floor. This season, Osweiler is averaging just 5.7 yards per attempt—prime numbers for tight ends.

Fantasy Football Week 12: Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Game Preview

This game features another fantastic cornerback/wide receiver matchup: the Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans.

This will be just the 13th game all-time between these two teams, with the Seahawks leading the series 8-4.

Any time a team travels from the West Coast to the East Coast and plays an early game, there is a cause for concern, but Seattle shouldn't be too worried here.

With a 45-point game total and the Buccaneers being a six-point home dog, I'll give the Bucs the points and take my chances with a stout Seahawks team that is hot right now.

Prediction: Seahawks 27, Buccaneers 14.

Injury Updates

None.

Fantasy Fixtures

Seahawks

Wilson is my No. 1 quarterback on this slate. With his rushing ability and health improving on a weekly basis, coupled with the Buccaneers' beatable secondary, this could be a 30-point outing for Wilson.

With Wilson being my No. 1 quarterback option, it's only natural to like his No. 1 wide receiver, Doug Baldwin. He should see plenty of looks and get many opportunities. He's coming off a 100-yard performance in Week 11 and a three-touchdown performance in Week 10. Baldwin scores again this week.

Although he was reportedly beaten up after Week 11 in his first game back, according to News Tribune's Drew Perine, it's easy to like running back Thomas Rawls in a game in which the Seahawks should lead early and often. Rawls is going to get essentially all the work.

Buccaneers

I like Evans, but this isn't going to be a huge offensive output from him like we're used to. He'll still get a ton of passes forced to him, which could result in interceptions, which could then result in more throws to him.

Sleepers and Streamers

Seahawks

I've been waiting all year for wide receiver Tyler Lockett to do something, and this could be the week. It may take a deep shot, though.

Buccaneers

With Sherman on Evans, Cecil Shorts III should see plenty of targets on some underneath routes. He's coming off a seven-target outing in Week 11, and that could repeat again this week. The Buccaneers and quarterback Jameis Winston will have to throw in this one.

Fantasy Football Week 12: Carolina Panthers at Oakland Raiders

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Game Preview

This is the game I'm most excited for on Sunday. We have the surging Oakland Raiders versus the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers—what a total 360-degree turn from just a year ago for both of these teams.

The Raiders secondary will be challenged this week with wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen coming to town, but the Panthers secondary going up against Raiders wide receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree will prove to be too much.

Can Panthers quarterback Cam Newton outduel Raiders quarterback Derek Carr on the road? I think not.

The Raiders are a three-point home favorite. This game will be somewhat close because of a Newton-Olsen connection, but the Raiders will prevail.

Prediction: Raiders 27, Panthers 21.

Injury Updates

Panthers

None

Raiders

Running back Latavius Murray and wide receiver Michael Crabtree are questionable but should be good to go.

Fantasy Fixtures

Panthers

Olsen is my No. 1 tight end option this week, and he's fairly cheap in DFS. Considering the tight end depth this week, I'd roll with Olsen and feel good about it. One hundred yards and a touchdown are coming his way. The Olsen-Newton connection will keep this game close.

Raiders

Carr and Cooper are must-starts. You could convince me Crabtree is a must-start, and I'd listen, but he's had just 32 yards receiving total the past two weeks.

Carr has posted some duds this year, but it's not happening this week, and Cooper is going to destroy whichever cornerback the Panthers roll out against him.

Sleepers and Streamers

Panthers

Wide receiver Devin Funchess is OK in a pinch, but you could do better.

Raiders

None.

Fantasy Football Week 12: New England Patriots at New York Jets

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Game Preview

The New York Jets are sticking with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback after letting fellow quarterback Bryce Petty start in Week 11.

There was some concern that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady may not play, but he's all set and ready to go.

This is going to be a total domination by the Patriots. They need to keep pace with the Oakland Raiders (I cannot believe I'm saying this).

Patriots are 7.5-point road favorites. Expect a blowout.

Prediction: Patriots 35, Jets 17. 

Injury Updates

Patriots

Brady will play. Tight end Rob Gronkowski is a game-time decision. Virtually all skill position players are listed as questionable but will play.

Jets

None.

Fantasy Fixtures

Patriots

Brady.

Gronkowski (if he plays).

Wide receiver Julian Edelman (if Gronk sits).

The only one I'll bother to explain is Edelman. In Gronk's absence last week, Edelman saw 18 targets.

If he's out once again, fellow tight end Martellus Bennett should see more time in the passing game as opposed to blocking, but Edelman will still see double-digit targets.

Jets

No one is a fixture, but I'm a fan of wide receiver Brandon Marshall this week with Fitzpatrick back.

Sleepers and Streamers

Patriots

Running back Dion Lewis could see more playing time this week, especially if the Patriots let this one get out of hand. It's all about touches with Lewis at this point, and fellow running back LeGarrette Blount will be a non-factor.

Jets

Choosing Fitzpatrick as a streamer isn't terrible, since he'll need to throw a ton to keep pace with the Patriots. Expect some turnovers, but it wouldn't shock me if he finished with 300 passing yards because of all the throwing he'll do.

Fantasy Football Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos

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Game Preview

A battle in the AFC West is the prime-time Sunday game.

The winner between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos will also determine second place in the division, with both teams being 7-3.

This is a position the Chiefs shouldn't be in, but when you lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home, these things happen.

On the road in Denver, I just don't see the Chiefs coming away with this one.

There's not a lot of fantasy goodness here in a game with a 39.5-point total. 

The Broncos are 3.5-point favorites at home, so this is set up to be a close game.

Prediction: Broncos 17, Chiefs 14.

Injury Updates

Chiefs

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin will miss his third straight game.

Broncos

None.

Fantasy Fixtures

Chiefs

None. Plenty of players between these two teams are worth a start, but no one is a can't-miss must-start.

Broncos

None.

Sleepers and Streamers

Chiefs

None. Their passing game stinks, and quarterback Alex Smith cannot run this year.

Broncos

Outside of possible starts from wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, there's not a single Broncos player I'd start. Running back Devontae Booker has been bad lately.

Statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus, ESPN.com and Pro-Football-Reference. Injury report news courtesy of the respective team's site. Betting odds courtesy of Odds Shark. All injury updates courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.

Follow me on Twitter @RichardJanvrin.