Insert comment on how it’s already week 12. Seriously though. We wait the entire year for football then it’s over in a blink of an eye. This time of year you can already see how the season has unfolded. We are seeing the start of what could be great careers. With rookies like CJ Stroud and Jordan Addison having phenomenal years. We are also watching the digression of some guys like Derrick Henry who has taken a big step back this season. Let’s just enjoy it while it happens. Let’s also set our lineups for these big week 12 matchups with the playoffs right around the corner.
Starts
QB Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (@Det)
When you don’t have one of the top QBs in fantasy all you are really looking for is consistency. You don’t need a high ceiling but having someone with a high floor can be the difference between wins and losses. Jordan Love is exactly that, with only one game this year with fewer than 13 fantasy points. In fact, he has scored multiple TDs in 7 of his 10 starts this year. He’s now playing the Lions for a second time this year. In his previous matchup, he scored 17 fantasy points. Make sure Love is in your lineup for this important divisional matchup.
RB Gus Edwards, Baltimore ravens (LAC)
I don’t know why but some people still don't trust Gus Edwards in their lineup. He’s also still available in about 20% of leagues. Which is astonishing because he’s a literal TD machine at the moment. He's on a 5-game TD streak and a total of 9 TDs during that span. He’s not a guy that’s gonna hit the 100 mark but the odds of him getting a TD are nearing Christian McCaffrey level. The matchup also bodes well for him with the Charges giving up a near league high 12 rushing TDs on the year. Playing him while his hot streak continues.
WR Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers (@Ten)
I know not a lot of you are watching Panthers games. I mean I doubt even Panthers fans are. If you tune in anytime while they are on offense this savvy veteran is getting the ball in his hands. He’s cooled off a bit since his hot streak from weeks 2-6 and he’s probably been sitting on some benches. He should be in your lineup every single week due to volume. He’s not the flashiest play but that doesn’t matter if he’s getting double digits targets on a regular basis. That might even be underselling it a bit. He’s seen double digit targets in 6 of his last 8 games. If you take away his Week 1 performance, he’s averaging 10.5 targets a game on the season. Pretty much that's all that needs to be said. Wait, look at his matchup as well. Playing a bottom 5 unit against WRs this week. He’s a lineup lock this week.
TE Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders (KC)
I gotta say finding a starting TE is difficult every single week. We see a lot of new names throughout the year and yet here’s another guy that I hope can solidify your TE position. In Week 10, Michael Mayer got his first TD on the year. He followed that up with a solid 4 catches for 46 yards. Which in today's TE environment is a more than solid performance. He’s also seen a bump in targets with 5 in his last two games as well. Up against the Chiefs this week I see him being pretty involved. The Chiefs have been locking WRs up all season so the dump offs for Mayer will be there. If you need a TE lock him into your lineup.
Defense Denver Broncos (Cle)
The Broncos are pretty low on the defensive rankings this year. Mostly due to the fact they gave up 70 points in Week 3. They have improved quite a bit since then and are available in over 90% of leagues. They are a great streamer this week. Allowing 23 or fewer points in 6 straight. They played the Cheifs twice during that span and held them to a combined 28 points in those matchups. They have increased forcing turnovers as of late as well. With a shocking 12 turnovers in their last 3 games. Now up against the Cleveland Browns playing their 3rd string QB the Broncos will be a top ten unit this week.
Sits
QB Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (Cle)
Early we were talking about QBs with a good floor. Russell Wilson would make that list. He hasn’t exactly balled out this season but he’s also only scored fewer than 13 points once this season. This could be that game where he has a bust performance due to the matchup. The Browns have been more than dominating on defense. Now fresh off a game against the Steelers allowing Kenny Pickett to throw for just 106 yards. Wilson has 6 games this year with fewer than 200 yards passing and it will no doubt be 7 games after this matchup. Keep him on the bench.
RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans (Car)
This truly saddens me. I touched on it a little bit in the intro. We are watching the downfall of one of the greats. For years we didn’t think it was possible but Derrick Henry is officially benchable. In his last two games he’s combined for 21 carries for 62 yards and no TDs. He now has 4 games this year with fewer than 50 yards and 0 TDs. The Titans offense has done him zero favors. He is up against the Panthers this week which might give you a glimmer of hope due to them being terrible against RBs this year. He’s not a must bench this week but he is no longer a must start.
WR Marquice Brown, Arizona Cardinals (LAR)
Marquice Brown started off hot this year. At one point he was one of the most targeted WRs in the league. Now that Joshua Dobbs is out of the picture he’s seem to have lost some spark. 13 catches for 103 yards over his last 4 games just isn’t going to cut it for starting lineups. He was an easy top 20 play in PPR leagues but now with just 3 catches over his last two games it’s not looking well for the veteran WR. Regardless of matchup Brown shouldn’t be in any lineups for the foreseeable future.
TE Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (@ Cin)
Now sometimes bad TE play has a direct correlation to bad QB play. Case in point is the Steelers offense. Kenny Pickett is averaging 116 passing yards over his last 4 games. No, that’s not a misprint. Not only that, they only have one passing TD since their Week 6 bye. Pat Freiermuth came back from IR this week and caught just 1 ball for 7 yards. He’s a good TE in a bad offense. Stay away from anyone catching the ball In Pittsburgh.
Defense New York Jets (Mia)
The Jets defense is one of the best in the league and keeping this team afloat as a whole. Against top talent they should still see the bench. They still aren’t quite on that level to dominate good teams. Case and point they are coming off a game where the Bills scored 32 points. You can even look back to Week 2 where Dallas scored 30 points on them. They play well against most teams but they shouldn’t be in lineups against top units. Such as playing the Dolphins this week. That should be enough said. Find a better option.
