Week 12 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Advice on Fantasy Football Stars to Play or Bench
Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season is here—in all its unique glory.
There are three games on the Thursday docket, and one more slated for Friday, so fantasy football managers have to make their start-or-sit decisions earlier than normal.
Let's start settling some debates, then, with one play and one bench recommendation at each of the three marquee positions.
Start: Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Washington Commanders)
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Prescott was solid in Week 11 (two passing touchdowns with no interceptions), but it felt like a letdown because he'd been in such a groove before then. In his three prior outings, he had averaged 360.7 passing yards while throwing 11 total touchdowns against two interceptions.
This could be the game that gets his stat sheet singing again. No defense has allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks than Washington's, per Yahoo.
Sit: Russell Wilson, QB, Denver Broncos (vs. Cleveland Browns)
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In Week 11, Wilson topped 250 passing yards for the first time since September. It didn't really matter, though, as he managed just a single passing touchdown and a single rushing yard. If he isn't throwing for multiple scores or racking up rushing yards, he isn't worth using in fantasy.
Don't look for him to post fantasy-relevant stats on Sunday. The Browns have been the worst matchup for quarterbacks.
Start: Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans (vs. Carolina Panthers)
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It's been tough sledding for Henry this season, who hasn't seen his normal workload nor been as efficient with the touches he's received. He used to feel like a lock for triple-digit rushing yardage, and his stats could get a whole lot sillier than that. Now, though, he's managed all of two games with 100-plus rushing yards and four—including each of his last two outings—with fewer than 50.
Still, he has popped off for big numbers every now and then, and this should be one of his good weeks. The Panthers, who've allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs, just helped Tony Pollard snap out of his funk and could do the same for Henry.
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Sit: James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills (at Philadelphia Eagles)
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Cook has produced in back-to-back games. Each yielded better than 100 scrimmage yards, and in Week 11, he scored his third touchdown of the season and first of the month.
Still, his situation isn't great, as he's sharing field time with Latavius Murray and Ty Johnson. Cook's matchup is even worse. The Eagles have allowed fewer points to the position than anyone, and the gap between them and the rest is substantial.
Start: Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers (at Tennessee Titans)
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Thielen's catches and yardage had been tumbling in recent weeks, but the ship was righted Sunday. With coach Frank Reich calling plays again, Thielen got back on track with eight catches on 11 targets for 74 yards.
If that's how he looked in a tricky matchup with the Dallas Cowboys, he could really put up numbers against a Tennessee defense that has yielded the sixth-most fantasy points to the position.
Sit: Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns (at Denver Broncos)
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Cooper, through no fault of his own, is suddenly someone who can't be trusted in fantasy. Again, that's not on him, it's just the reality of no longer catching passes from Deshaun Watson and now getting them from rookie fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson. DTR has started twice this season; Cooper's output in those contests has been just five receptions on 14 targets for 50 yards and no scores.
Cooper will be a shaky option from here on out, but he's extra risky this week for the chance he sees a lot of lockdown cornerback Pat Surtain II.
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