Fantasy Football Week 12: 20 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Locks To Win Your Matchup
Here we are at Week 12 already, and what a fantasy football season it's been, eh? There have been the annual superstars, team-killers and breakthrough waiver wire wonders—and we wouldn't have it any other way.
It's about this time that teams start making that final push to the fantasy playoffs. Some teams are just looking to strengthen their team a couple notches (the over-confident ones), some are scrambling to salvage their season and go into the playoffs with a bang and others just don't care anymore.
To help you all out a little, I give you the 20 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em locks to win your matchup for Week 12.
I tried to cover all the bases, so both the Start 'Em and the Sit 'Em have three QBs, three RBs, three WRs and one TE.
Hope this helps you all. However, my team doesn't need any help (I'm one of those over-confident ones).
10. Sit 'em: Terrell Owens
1 of 20
It's hard to sit Terrell Owens given the season he's had for the Bengals. But against the Jets in New York, this may be one of those times.
The Jets defense has a guy named Darelle Revis, and he will most likely be covering T.O. for most of the game. That leads me to think the Bengals will look more Chad Ochocinco's way.
Plus, T.O. hasn't exactly been tearing it up the last two games.
10. Start 'em: Mike Williams (Tampa Bay)
2 of 20
The Baltimore Ravens have shown they can be beat opponents through the air this season, and Josh Freeman has become a capable quarterback.
Mike Williams is already exhibiting elite talent, on the field and in fantasy football. He has six touchdowns in 10 games and 681 yards—and is as consistent as they come.
9. Sit 'em: Carson Palmer
3 of 20
Carson Palmer hasn't been all that great this season. He just shed his walking boot after a foot injury, and he's playing the Jets in New York.
What reason is there to start this guy? You'd have to be pretty desperate.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
9. Start 'em: Sam Bradford
4 of 20
Sam Bradford has shown he's a capable NFL quarterback this season, with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions, and he's playing the Denver Broncos this week, who are horrible in nearly every facet of the game, including pass defense.
For those struggling at the QB position, you could do a lot worse than Sam Bradford.
8. Sit 'em: Fred Jackson
5 of 20
Fred Jackson has gotten a lot of attention the last few weeks, running for four touchdowns in his last three games and rushing for 133 and 116 yards against Detroit and Cincinnati respectively the last two weeks.
But he faces Pittsburgh this week—and very few RBs are safe to use against Pittsburgh.
8. Start 'em: BenJarvus Green-Ellis
6 of 20
Despite BenJarvus Green-Ellis having an awesome name, he's been a fairly consistent producer for the Patriots this season.
He's run for at least 85 yards the last two games and ran for 96 and a TD last week vs. Indianapolis.
BenJarvus plays Detroit this week. Start.
7. Sit 'em: Steve Johnson
7 of 20
Steve Johnson has been on a tear ever since he started receiving regular looks in Buffalo.
He had 137 yards receiving and three scores last week against Cincinnati.
But Pittsburgh is not Cincinnati. Johnson's due for a letdown game. After this game, the Steelers will be asking him, "Why so serious?"
7. Start 'em: Marques Colston
8 of 20
Marques Colston is finally starting to gel with Drew Brees again, and the results have been electric.
He has four touchdowns in his last four games, and he had 113 yards and two scores against Seattle last week.
He plays a forgiving Dallas secondary this week.
6. Sit 'em: Ryan Fitzpatrick
9 of 20
Ryan Fitzpatrick has had some gaudy throwing numbers since taking over in Buffalo, including a 316-yard, four TD performance last week against Cincy.
But he plays Pittsburgh this week, and I don't think he's the type of quarterback who can rise to the challenge.
6. Start 'em: Matt Cassel
10 of 20
Matt Cassel has quietly been having quite the year, with 18 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
He plays Seattle this week, who are horrid against the pass.
Start.
5. Sit 'em: Tony Gonzalez
11 of 20
Tony Gonzalez is clearly not the fantasy stalwart this season that he has been in seasons past. He's had over 50 yards receiving just twice this whole season and has just three TDs.
He plays Green Bay next. No thank you.
5. Start 'em: Brandon Pettigrew
12 of 20
Brandon Pettigrew has 50 yards and 75 yards the past two weeks and scored in the two games before that. Not bad tight end talent going into a shootout with New England.
A lot of balls should be thrown Pettigrew's way this week.
4. Sit 'em: Johnny Knox
13 of 20
Johnny Knox has 672 yards receiving this year, but only one touchdown.
He gets to play Philadelphia this week. I think it's safe to say he will still have one touchdown on the season after this game is through.
4. Start 'em: Santonio Holmes
14 of 20
How can you not start this guy right now with the chemistry he's exhibiting with Mark Sanchez?
He has three TDs in his last two games, and he's coming off a 126-yard, two TD performance against Houston in which he caught the game-winning TD.
He plays Cincinnati this week. Well, that should be fun for him...and his fantasy owners.
3. Sit 'em: LeSean McCoy
15 of 20
LeSean McCoy is a dynamic talent, and can be a dynamic fantasy force as evidenced by him running for 111 yards and a TD last week against the Giants.
But he faces a fearsome defense in Chicago that just shut out the Dolphins. If you have other options, I'd look elsewhere this week.
Chicago is allowing only 3.5 yards per carry, the third-best mark in the NFL.
3. Start 'em: Mike Tolbert
16 of 20
There's a good chance starter Ryan Mathews doesn't play for the Chargers this week. We all saw last week what Tolbert is capable of when given the reins as starter: 111 yards and a TD.
Tolbert has eight TDs in 10 games this season. He's like this year's Jonathan Stewart.
He faces an always-forgiving Indianapolis run defense this week. He should have good yardage numbers, and if he didn't score I would be shocked.
2. Sit 'em: Cedric Benson
17 of 20
Cedric Benson has been a solid fantasy contributor at the RB position all season long. He rushed for 124 yards and a score last week.
But that game was against Buffalo. Once again, New York's defense dissuades me. Look elsewhere.
2. Start 'em: Thomas Jones
18 of 20
Thomas Jones moved away from New York, and all of a sudden people seem to have forgotten about him.
He has five TDs this year and 644 yards rushing, not bad numbers.
He had 71 yards and two TDs against Arizona last week. He faces Seattle this week, which can't do much well defensively.
1. Sit 'em: Jay Cutler
19 of 20
Jay Cutler is not an elite quarterback, despite all the hype that has surrounded him throughout his career. He's been, in fact, a fairly mild quarterback in Chicago.
This year he's thrown 12 TDs to 10 interceptions. Not great numbers.
Plus, he faces Philadelphia next, a fast-paced, in-your-face defense.
I'll pass, thank you.
1. Start 'em: Donovan McNabb
20 of 20
Donovan McNabb has not had a very good year this year. In fact, his touchdown to interception rate is worse than Cutler's, throwing 10 TDs to 12 INTs.
But you look at his last two games, he's thrown for 295 and 376 yards and has three TDs in those games.
Donovan McNabb faces a Vikings defense that is so-so against the pass, and he will surely be airing it out with Brett Favre on the other end.
Minnesota is also good against the run, giving up just 3.7 yards per carry, so this could be somewhat of a shootout.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")