Week 12 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

Where did the season go?

Thursday night's contest between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans marked the beginning of Week 12, which means the last three weeks of the fantasy regular season are here.

Of course, the playoffs have already arrived for some managers—after a fashion. Barring an epic collapse, fantasy squads sitting on eight wins are likely headed to the postseason. Those with nine wins are all but locked into the playoffs.

However, for every one of the teams rolling along or those that don't want to talk about how the 2025 campaign went as they play out the string, there are two teams sitting at 5-6 or 6-5 for whom nothing has been decided.

We're here to help you have something to be thankful for headed into next week by offering up recommendations for players who should be in starting lineups in Week 12 and others who shouldn't be.

Quarterbacks

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett

Start 'Em

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (at JAX) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]

All aboard the Brissett bandwagon—though, to be clear, the Arizona Cardinals are a terrible football team. However, after setting an NFL record with 47 completions in last week's loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the 32-year-old is fantasy football's fourth-ranked quarterback over the past three weeks.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (vs. PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]

The Bears got the win last week against the Minnesota Vikings, but Williams had his worst fantasy outing of the entire season. Look for the second-year signal-caller to bounce back Sunday against the Steelers. Pittsburgh sports the NFL's worst pass defense and has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to QBs this season.

Sit 'Em

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at LAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]

The Buccaneers have scuffled a bit over the past couple of weeks, and Mayfield has now dropped from the top 10 in points for the season. Now the Buccaneers head west to take on a formidable young Rams front seven and a defense giving up the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2025.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]

Prescott torched the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11, completing over 75 percent of his passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns. The sledding is going to be much harder this week against the rival Eagles. Philly ranks outside the top 20 in fantasy points per game allowed to quarterbacks and has allowed fewer than 215 passing yards per contest.

Sleeper

Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (at SF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]

Young may have been replaced by an extraterrestrial pod-person—it's the easiest way to explain his 448-yard explosion last week against one of the stingiest pass defenses in the NFL in the Atlanta Falcons. Now he takes on a 49ers team that ranks 30th in defensive success rate and has surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Running Backs

AP Photo/David Becker

Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty

Start 'Em

Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (at ARI) [DraftKings DFS Value : $5,900]

Etienne came up big in last week's trouncing of the Los Angeles Chargers, carrying the ball 19 times for 73 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He ceded quite a bit of work to Bhayshul Tuten, but the rookie sprained his ankle in that game and the Bills have the second-worst run defense in the league.

Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,500]

Kamara has disappointed most of this season, but he racked up 25 touches for 115 total yards two weeks ago. He should be as healthy as he has been in weeks coming out of the bye. The Falcons have also struggled against the run, allowing the fifth-most yards (138.5) per game on the ground.

Sit 'Em

Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]

Brown started the season slowly, but the third-year pro has peeled off four straight games with over 100 total yards. However, no team in the league has surrendered fewer rushing yards per game this season than New England, and no team in the AFC has surrendered fewer PPR points per game to running backs.

Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,300]

The "B" word is getting thrown around quite a bit with Jeanty, but it's not his fault he has averaged 1.3 yards before contact per attempt—dead last among qualifying running backs. The Browns aren't a great football team, but they do have a very good defense.

Sleeper

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (at NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]

With Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. now done for the season, the Falcons are going to lean that much more heavily on the ground game. Allgeier has had double-digit carries five times this season, and the Saints have given up 123.8 rushing yards per game. Allgeier and Robinson will both find the end zone in Week 12.

Wide Receivers

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith

Start 'Em

DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers (at CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]

The Steelers have some rather large questions at the quarterback position. However, the Bears have surrendered the ninth-most PPR points per game to wide receivers, and Mason Rudolph has the sense to know Metcalf is far and away the Steelers' best option in the passing game. Look for 100 yards and a score. Book it.

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (at DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

While A.J. Brown got a "squeaky wheel" game last week with double-digit targets, Smith was a complete non-factor with one catch for eight yards on five targets. He'll rebound this week, though, as the Cowboys have the NFC's worst pass defense and lead the conference in PPR points per game surrendered to wide receivers.

Sit 'Em

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (at GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,400]

Despite the abysmal quarterback play of J.J. McCarthy, Jefferson has still posted top-15 fantasy numbers. But the wide receiver will be bracketed in coverage Sunday by a stout Packers pass defense that ranks outside the top 20 in PPR points per game given up to wide receivers. Temper expectations.

Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]

Like so many players in Indianapolis this year, Pittman has shined—he's 11th in PPR points among wide receivers after 11 weeks. However, the Chiefs are giving up less than 197 passing yards per game this season and have allowed the eighth-fewest PPR points per game to wideouts.

Sleeper

D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears (vs. PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]

Moore has had just one catch for 18 yards on seven targets over the last two games combined. However, Caleb Williams is going to remember the 28-year-old is on the team this week against a Steelers team that leads the league in PPR points per game surrendered to wide receivers.

Tight Ends

AP Photo/David Richard

Ravens TE Mark Andrews

Start 'Em

Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (vs. NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,800]

Andrews' long touchdown run last week against the Cleveland Browns no doubt pleased fantasy managers greatly. That's the problem with Andrews, though: He has become very touchdown-dependent in fantasy. He does draw a solid fantasy matchup for his position this week with the Jets at least.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]

Henry has been in something of a funk for the past month-plus and has just one touchdown since Week 4, which came in a one-catch, seven-yard game against the Browns. This week, however, the Patriots take on a Bengals team that leads the NFL in PPR points per game allowed to tight ends.

Sit 'Em

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]

Ferguson's 16 receiving yards on four grabs last week was his second-lowest yardage output of the season, although he did score a touchdown. Another slow week could be in the offing Sunday against the Eagles, who held him to just 23 yards on five catches in Week 1.

Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL) (DraftKings DFS Value: $4,000]

Johnson has been a very pleasant surprise for fantasy managers this season. He's seventh at the position in PPR points and had his best fantasy line of the season last time out. But no team in the NFC has given up fewer PPR points per game to the position than the Falcons.

Sleeper

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,200]

It has become evident Musgrave ain't Tucker Kraft—he has seven catches for 56 yards in the last three games combined. But the Packers need to get the tight end position more involved in the offense, and the Minnesota Vikings have given up the seventh-most PPR points per game to TEs in 2025.

Team Defenses

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Packers edge Micah Parsons

Start 'Em

Atlanta Falcons Defense (at NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,400]

The Falcons were immolated by Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young last week (no, really, this happened), while the Saints have had an extra week to prepare for this contest. However, Atlanta is quietly leading the NFC in sacks, and the Saints have given up the fourth-most PPR points per game to defenses in 2025.

Green Bay Packers Defense (vs. MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,600]

The Packers have been inconsistent at times on both sides of the ball this season, but the defense has been better than the offense. Green Bay now hosts J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings, who are tied for the NFC lead in sacks allowed and second in the NFL in giveaways.

Sit 'Em

Kansas City Chiefs Defense (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]

We may be witnessing the end of a dynasty, or at least a major bump in the road—the Chiefs are 5-5 and continue to play a brutal schedule. Coming out of the bye, this is a chance for Daniel Jones and the Colts to send a message, and no team gives up fewer fantasy points per game to defenses.

Philadelphia Eagles Defense (at DAL) (DraftKings DFS Value: $3,000]

The Eagles were dominant defensively against the Detroit Lions a week ago, and the addition of edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips is already paying dividends. However, the Eagles didn't sack Dak Prescott in Week 1 and managed just one takeaway. This game has the makings of a shootout, which is usually bad for fantasy defenses.

Sleeper

Cleveland Browns Defense (at LV) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,900]

The Browns are suffering through yet another awful season, but Myles Garrett could be the Defensive Player of the Year if the season ended today. Only the Tennessee Titans and the waking nightmare that is the Cleveland offense have surrendered more fantasy points per game to defenses this year than the Raiders.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.