Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 12: Advice Before Fantasy Football Lineup Deadline

With only a couple of weeks remaining in the regular season of most fantasy football leagues, this weekend's NFL action promises to be huge for owners who are looking to either maintain or earn their way into the playoffs.

Plenty has already happened this week due to the Thanksgiving slate of games, which means some may be playing catch-up. That generates even more pressure to make smart lineup decisions, but luckily there are some intriguing matchups on the board that can be exploited.

As Sunday's lineup deadline for the 1 p.m. ET games quickly approaches, here is a look at the top starts and sits to consider for the remainder of Week 12.

Start 'Em

QB Jameis Winston (TB)

On the heels of his best performance as a pro thus far, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston has an opportunity to have another big day Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

The talented rookie threw a career-high five touchdown passes last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, and while it will be difficult to repeat that showing, the numbers suggest that the Colts can be exploited.

Indy is allowing 278.9 passing yards per game, and it has also surrendered 19 touchdowns through the air, which is tied for the seventh-worst mark in the NFL.

On top of that, Winston's confidence seems to be building with each passing week, and Colts head coach Chuck Pagano is well aware of what his team is about to go up against, according to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com:

"

There's a reason why he was the No. 1 overall pick. (He) plays with great confidence. We know the skill set. He's got all the intangibles. That team believes in him. He can make all the throws. He can extend plays. He's doing a lot of things really well. ... He's big and strong and courageous and tough as damn nails. He'll stand in there and keep his eyes downfield. He'll take hits. If he's got to lay it on the line to get the ball across the goal line to win a game, he'll do whatever he has to do. He's playing really good.

"

Winston has thrown for 15 touchdowns on the season, and his receiving corps is finally fairly healthy and together as both Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson played last week.

In addition to that, Winston can make things happen on the ground with four rushing scores to his credit.

The former Heisman Trophy winner from Florida State can beat the opposition in myriad ways, and there is a lot to like about his prospects in Week 12.

RB Javorius Allen (BAL)

Nick Wass/Associated Press

No team has suffered more significant injuries than the Baltimore Ravens this season, but that means the door is open for many to make the most of their opportunities, and rookie running back Javorius Allen is near the top of the list.

Starter Justin Forsett broke his arm last week and has been ruled out for the rest of the year, which means Allen is in line to receive the bulk of the touches out of Baltimore's backfield.

Allen's production has been modest to this point with 249 rushing yards and a yards-per-carry average of just 3.9. He also has 13 catches for 106 yards, though, which suggests he could be a factor in the passing game, especially with Matt Schaub under center after Joe Flacco also went down for the season.

The Ravens face the Cleveland Browns Monday night, and the Browns are the NFL's worst team against the run, as they are allowing 138.8 yards per game to go along with nine touchdowns.

Baltimore figures to employ a fairly conservative game plan with Flacco out, and that should benefit Allen in the form of a ton of touches.

TE Delanie Walker (TEN)

Weston Kenney/Associated Press

He may not receive the same accolades as tight ends like Rob Gronkowski and Greg Olsen, but Delanie Walker has undoubtedly been among the best players at his position this season.

The Tennessee Titans tight end is rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota's favorite target, and that has manifested itself in the form of 53 receptions for 617 yards and three touchdowns. In fact, Walker entered Week 12 with more catches than any tight end in the NFL this season.

According to the Titans' official Twitter account, Mariota has the utmost confidence in Walker and believes he is a huge part of the team's continued development:

Walker has made himself into a weekly fantasy starter, but it is especially important to get him in the lineup against an Oakland Raiders team that has been torched by tight ends in 2015.

Per ESPN.com, Oakland has given up the third-most fantasy points to tight ends, and its 10 touchdowns allowed to tight ends is the worst mark in the league.

The Raiders also surrender 290.5 passing yards per game, so look for Mariota to throw early and often, with Walker on the receiving end of many of his attempts.

Sit 'Em

QB Matt Ryan (ATL)

The Atlanta Falcons have been on the decline since a red-hot start to their season, and the same can be said for quarterback Matt Ryan.

While Matty Ice is coming off his first game with three or more touchdowns in 2015, he also threw three interceptions last week against the Colts, and his poor play down the stretch in that contest is a big reason why Atlanta blew the lead and lost.

Ryan's touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio of just 15-10 this season isn't overly impressive, and a big reason for it may be his overall lack of weapons. Julio Jones is arguably the best wide receiver in football, but the likes of Roddy White, Leonard Hankerson and tight end Jacob Tamme haven't provided consistent support.

That could be an issue Sunday against a Minnesota Vikings defense that is giving up just 224.8 passing yards per game, and has allowed 13 passing touchdowns, which is tied for the fifth-best mark in the NFL.

Minnesota's defense is a huge reason why it is currently in a playoff position in the NFC, and Ryan understands that he is in for a major challenge, per Craig Peters of Vikings.com:

"

I think on the whole, this is an outstanding defense. They tie-in well, the front end and back end. Their scheme allows them to play very aggressive and they're very sound in what they do. I've been very impressed with them when you watch them on film. ... You certainly take a look at as much as you possibly can and try and have yourself prepared for their entire package, but you also have to be able to adjust in game. It comes down to us being on top of our scheme and understanding what we need to do offensively, regardless of what they throw at us.

"

Running back Devonta Freeman is not expected to suit up for the Falcons after suffering a concussion last week, which could make life even more difficult for Ryan.

Without a strong running game to keep the Vikes honest, and without Freeman's presence as a safety valve out of the backfield in the passing game, look for Matty Ice to struggle once again.

RB Lamar Miller (MIA)

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Running back Lamar Miller is a supremely talented player and undoubtedly the Miami Dolphins' best offensive weapon, but inconsistent usage coupled with a poor matchup in Week 12 make him an extremely risky start.

Miller entered last week's game having scored a touchdown in five straight contests, but that streak ended in a 24-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Miller averaged 6.3 yards per carry, but as pointed out by Bleacher Report's Ian Wharton, Miami neglected him after a hot start:

Miller ended last week's game with only nine touches, while rookie Jay Ajayi came away with six, which is somewhat disconcerting for Miller's fantasy owners.

Ajayi has been worked into the offense to much greater effect in recent weeks, and that has limited Miller's potential to some degree.

More importantly, though, the Dolphins face the New York Jets in Week 12, which likely means tough sledding for every running back on the roster.

The Jets are No. 4 in the NFL against the run, as they are allowing 91.6 yards per game, and they have given up a league-low two rushing touchdowns as well.

Seemingly every factor is working against Miller in Week 12, so it is tough to imagine him regaining the form he displayed leading up to Week 11.

WR Jeremy Maclin (KC)

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Although they came out on the losing end in Week 11, the Buffalo Bills stymied Tom Brady and the New England Patriots offense due to a great pass-rush and strong play from their secondary, which doesn't bode well for the Kansas City Chiefs' skill players in Week 12.

KC and Buffalo will clash in a huge game for playoff positioning in the AFC, but don't expect a ton of scoring, especially in the form of the Chiefs' passing game.

The Bills arguably boast the NFL's best cornerback tandem in the form of Stephon Gilmore and rookie Ronald Darby. Head coach Rex Ryan has been around some great defensive players over the course of his career, and he sees plenty of greatness in his corners, according to ESPN.com's Mike Rodak:

"Those two are probably playing as good as I've ever seen, for two corners," Ryan said. "They are doing a tremendous job."

The main area of focus for Buffalo in Week 12 will likely be keeping wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in check. The Chiefs have a fairly conservative offense with quarterback Alex Smith at the helm, but Maclin's presence certainly gives them an element of explosiveness.

He has been a big-play guy throughout his career. However, Gilmore and Darby simply don't allow big passing plays down the field, per NFL.com's Gil Brandt:

The Bills defense as a whole has been somewhat inconsistent this season, but it finally seems to be coming into its own.

Now that Ryan's system appears to be hitting home, it isn't advisable to rely on opposing skill players. That includes Maclin, as he promises to be shadowed by top-flight corners all day long.

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