NFL Week 12 Picks: Projecting Top Star Performances in Victories

With big games from these soon to be mentioned players, the Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans will all move to 8-3 this week.

Here are the individuals who will be the driving force behind their team's crucial victories in Week 12.

Matthew Stafford 

I'm taking a risk predicting the Lions to upset the Packers, but if they do, Matt Stafford will have a huge game. 

Green Bay's secondary is the second-worst in the NFL, and although that number is a bit skewed because teams have been forced to pass against them, they have a lot of holes. 

Stafford should be able to get into a rhythm. With the addition of Kevin Smith adding a threat in the running game, Green Bay will defensively be on its heels all game. 

There will be more double coverage on Calvin Johnson, but he'll get free down the field on a few occasions and Nate Burleson can take advantage of single coverage. 

Jimmy Graham 

When doesn't Graham have a good game, right? 

Against the Giants, he'll keep pace with Rob Gronkowski for the title of league's best tight end.

Facing Philadelphia last week, New York allowed Brent Celek to catch six passes for 60 yards. The game before that, Vernon Davis caught three passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Graham is the most targeted tight end in the NFL. He'll continue to exploit the middle of the field where the Giants are the most susceptible because of their young linebacking corps.

I'm talking eight catches, over 100 yards and a score.

Arian Foster 

The Jaguars have a respectable run defense that allows just a shade over four yards a carry, but the Texans are most likely the best running attack they've faced this season.

Arian Foster will be given a big workload while Matt Leinart tries to settle into the starting role.

Leinart will look for Foster in the screen and check-down game, too, as he's shown incredible yards-after-the-catch ability during his time in Houston.

This game will start off slow with both defenses dominating. However, Foster will open things up in the second with a few huge gains and will close out the game late.