Week 12 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Sunday Matchups to Exploit and Avoid
Just like everyone predicted, Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins led all Thanksgiving scorers after every game went final.
Cousins, who is owned in just 78.8 percent of ESPN leagues, tossed a trio of scores for the second week in a row alongside 449 passing yards in a rather unfavorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
The rest of Week 12 won't be so simple for owners.
To help stem the tide, here is a look at updated matchup comparisons and a highlight of some of the most notable players at each position.
Quarterback
| Aaron Rodgers (at PHI) vs. Matt Ryan (vs. ARI) | Aaron Rodgers |
| Tom Brady (at NYJ) vs. Russell Wilson (at TB) | Russell Wilson |
| Derek Carr (vs. CAR) vs. Marcus Mariota (at CHI) | Marcus Mariota |
| Jameis Winston (vs. SEA) vs. Drew Brees (vs. LA) | Drew Brees |
| Blake Bortles (at BUF) vs. Cam Newton (at OAK) | Cam Newton |
Matchup to Exploit: Eli Manning, NYG (at CLE)
Another NFC East quarterback could have a monster day before Week 12 concludes.
This refers to Eli Manning of the New York Giants, a guy who has turned it on after an iffy start to the year. He has 17 or more points in four of his last five games, with two of those coming in at 22 or more.
Twenty-two seems like a safe floor against the Cleveland Browns, who allow the fourth-most points to quarterbacks on average. Five of the last seven opposing quarterbacks have gone for 20 or more points against Cleveland, so Manning looks like a lock for quality production.
Matchup to Avoid: Philip Rivers, SD (at HOU)
San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers hasn't hit 20 or more points since Week 5, yet he is owned in more leagues than Manning or Cousins.
Granted, Rivers has been consistent while scoring 19 and 17 points over his last two games. But he's not a high-ceiling player given the hobbled roster around him, so it's best to avoid him in Week 12 against the Houston Texans.
The Texans allow the fifth-fewest points to quarterbacks on average this year. As a result, the Chargers seem likely to lean on Melvin Gordon and the ground game on the road.
Rivers isn't terrible in most matchups, but owners can find better streaming options.
Running Back
| David Johnson (at ATL) vs. LeGarrette Blount (at NYJ) | David Johnson |
| Melvin Gordon (at HOU) vs. DeMarco Murray (at CHI) | DeMarco Murray |
| Todd Gurley (at NO) vs. Matt Forte (vs. NE) | Todd Gurley |
| Devonta Freeman (vs. ARI) vs. Jonathan Stewart (at OAK) | Jonathan Stewart |
| Jay Ajayi (vs. SF) vs. Terrance West (vs. CIN) | Jay Ajayi |
Matchup to Exploit: Jonathan Stewart, CAR (at OAK)
More often than not, Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart is dynamite in a good matchup.
Stewart hobbled into the season and didn't make any noise, but he does have a pair of 20-plus performances in quality matchups. Coming off a week in which he scored a touchdown, Stewart looks like a great play against the Oakland Raiders in Week 12.
The Raiders allow the 12th-most points to backs this year on average, with four backfields hitting on 21 or more points.
This looks like a heavy-usage week for Stewart, who has had 15 or more carries in four of his last five outings.
Matchup to Avoid: Jordan Howard, CHI (vs. TEN)
Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard has been an unexpected boon for owners this year, hitting double digits three times since Week 4 and getting 15 or more carries six times.
The surprise workhorse stays on the field in all situations, yet he doesn't find the end zone enough for owners to trot him out in all matchups—hence single-point outings in each of the last two gameweeks despite rushing for 100 and 77 yards respectively.
This makes Howard a sit against the Tennessee Titans, who allow the ninth-fewest points to backs on average.
Since Tennessee has surrendered just five rushing touchdowns to backs this year, Howard's chances of scoring in Week 12 seem slim.
Wide Receiver
| Julio Jones (vs. ARI) vs. Jordy Nelson (at PHI) | Jordy Nelson |
| Julian Edelman (at NYJ) vs. Doug Baldwin (at TB) | Doug Baldwin |
| Mike Evans (vs. SEA) vs. Terrelle Pryor Sr. (vs. NYG) | Terrelle Pryor Sr. |
| Randall Cobb (at PHI) vs. Larry Fitzgerald (at ATL) | Larry Fitzgerald |
| Michael Crabtree (at CAR) vs. Kelvin Benjamin (at OAK) | Michael Crabtree |
Matchup to Exploit: Jordan Matthews, PHI (vs. GB)
Owners have to keep banking on Philadelphia Eagles wideout Jordan Matthews when he gets matchups like this.
Matthews is beyond frustrating, having hit double digits just twice this year. He's seen 10-plus targets for four consecutive weeks but has reached two figures just once.
It sounds miserable, but Matthews has to break out in a potential shootout with the Green Bay Packers. Those Packers are coughing up the most points to wideouts on average this year.
Considering Green Bay has allowed three touchdowns to wideouts in each of its last two outings, Matthews should have a path to turn volume into quality points.
Matchup to Avoid: Mike Wallace, BAL (vs. CIN)
Baltimore Ravens receiver Mike Wallace surprisingly sits as a top-15 scorer so far this year thanks to four double-digit outings as a deep threat for quarterback Joe Flacco.
That's great, but Wallace is as inconsistent as it gets. Want proof? He had five paltry points against the Browns in Week 10.
He next has to deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, who concede the sixth-fewest points to wideouts on average.
While an AFC North battle such as this can have its moments on offense, Wallace hasn't shown enough consistency to be started in an unfavorable situation.
Tight End
| Jared Cook (at PHI) vs. Delanie Walker (at CHI) | Delanie Walker |
| Jimmy Graham (at TB) vs. Travis Kelce (at DEN) | Jimmy Graham |
| Martellus Bennett (at NYJ) vs. Coby Fleener (vs. LA) | Martellus Bennett |
| Cameron Brate (at SEA) vs. Antonio Gates (at HOU) | Antonio Gates |
| Greg Olsen (at OAK) vs. Tyler Eifert (at BAL) | Tyler Eifert |
Matchup to Exploit: Greg Olsen, CAR (at OAK)
When the Panthers don't slam it on the ground with Stewart, tight end Greg Olsen will be the main target through the air.
Olsen, fantasy's leading scorer at the position, has four trips to double digits this year and gets to feast on a Raiders defense that is surrendering the eighth-most points to tight ends on average.
Granted, Olsen has disappointed by putting up just three points in each of his past two outings. But he has seven or more targets in every game this year, so a favorable matchup should produce a day worthy of the position's top scorer.
Matchup to Avoid: Lance Kendricks, LA (at NO)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Lance Kendricks was a nice depth option for owners and at times a quality starter, posting a couple of nine-point outings.
With a new quarterback under center, the veteran has disappeared, though.
Kendricks has one total point over his last two outings. Those who are hoping for him to benefit from playing with rookie quarterback Jared Goff need to look elsewhere as the Rams go into a matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
While they're viewed as a weak defense, the Saints have allowed only three touchdowns to tight ends this year. Outside of those double-digit performances, no set of tight ends has scored more than four points against the unit.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
.jpg?w=600 "Cards Had Wrong Love Number 😅")
.jpg?w=600 "Fans React to Simpson Pick 😱")
.jpg?w=600 "Vet Wideout Landing Spots After Draft 📍")
.jpg?w=600 "Top WR Trade Landing Spots After Rd. 1 📍")
.jpg?w=600 "Full Eagles-Cowboys Trade 🤝")