Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 12: Smart Sleepers to Exploit and Lineup Advice
For the first time since Week 5, there won't be any NFL teams on a bye this weekend. There are 16 games on the Week 12 slate, although they'll be a bit more spread out than usual.
There are three Thursday matchups set for Thanksgiving Day and 12 games on Sunday's schedule. And the week will culminate with a Monday night matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.
So, fantasy football managers will have all of their healthy players at their disposal for Week 12 contests.
However, that could make for some difficult lineup decisions, and it will be vital to make the right ones, considering there are only three weeks to go in the regular season for most fantasy leagues.
With Week 12 action approaching, here's some start/sit advice for the packed slate of upcoming games.
Start 'Em: Rachaad White, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Leonard Fournette suffered a hip injury in Week 10, which led to an increased workload for Rachaad White in the Buccaneers' victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
The 23-year-old capitalized on the opportunity and totaled 105 yards on 22 carries for the best performance of his rookie season.
After Tampa Bay's Week 11 bye, Fournette could be healthy enough to play in the team's Week 12 matchup in Cleveland on Sunday. However, White has already proved he should have a larger role, which could lead to him getting plenty of touches again this week.
Even if Fournette and White are both involved in the backfield mix, this matchup presents a great chance for both to have fantasy value. The Browns are giving up the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs this season, per NFL.com.
White has a high ceiling (as he proved in the Bucs' most recent game), and the Arizona State product could soon get into the end zone for the first time since Week 4.
So, if you're looking for an RB to take a flier on in Week 12, it's worth going with the emerging White, whose stock is on the rise.
Sit 'Em: Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
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In Week 11, Isiah Pacheco notched the first 100-yard game of his rookie season.
The Chiefs running back had 15 carries for 107 yards in a Sunday night win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and the 23-year-old has clearly become the No. 1 option out of Kansas City's backfield.
However, it's never easy to trust a Chiefs RB in fantasy lineups. After all, that was the first time since Week 4 of the 2021 season that Kansas City had a player rush for more than 100 yards. Typically, its offense is predominantly powered by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the aerial attack.
Pacheco likely has a bright future, but he still hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 1. It's also quite possible the Chiefs will mostly pass the ball during their Week 12 home matchup against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Even though the Rams have struggled during a 3-7 start, they've still been effective at stopping the run, as they're allowing only 95.3 rushing yards per game (the fourth fewest in the NFL).
So, it's best to find a safer option with a better matchup than Pacheco, who may be in line for a down performance this week.
Start 'Em: Demarcus Robinson, WR, Baltimore Ravens
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With Rashod Bateman out for the season due to a foot injury, the Ravens have needed other wide receivers to step up in their offense. In Week 11, that was Demarcus Robinson, who recorded nine catches for 128 yards (both season highs) in a win over the Carolina Panthers.
The 28-year-old's play has been inconsistent, as he had only one catch for 12 yards in Baltimore's previous game (a Week 9 win over the New Orleans Saints). But he appears to have gotten more comfortable in his first season in the Ravens' offense, which could lead to some big performances the rest of the way.
In Week 12, Baltimore is going on the road to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, which are giving up the ninth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers this year, per NFL.com.
So, the Ravens should have plenty of success through the air, and quarterback Lamar Jackson is likely to get Robinson involved quite a bit.
The Florida product has been targeted at least four times in each of Baltimore's past four games, and he's had eight or more twice during that span.
If Robinson continues to stay this involved, he could end up being worthy of every-week starting consideration for fantasy lineups.
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Sit 'Em: DJ Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers
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It's no surprise DJ Moore's fantasy production has been up and down throughout the 2022 campaign. That's been the case for much of his five seasons in the NFL. Plus, the Panthers have had quarterback issues, with several players rotating through at the position.
In Weeks 7 and 8, the 25-year-old had back-to-back games with a touchdown, totaling 221 receiving yards over the two matchups. But he's been much less productive in recent weeks, as he hasn't had more than 29 yards in any of Carolina's past three games. He also hasn't gotten into the end zone once during that stretch.
The Panthers' passing offense has a challenging matchup in Week 12, when the team hosts the Broncos on Sunday. Although Denver is 3-7, it has one of the best pass defenses in the league, allowing only 186.8 yards through the air per game (the third fewest in the NFL).
If Moore is covered by top Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II, he'll likely struggle to get open. And it doesn't help that the Maryland product doesn't have any momentum coming into the contest.
So, it's best to leave Moore on the bench this week.
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