Week 12 Fantasy: Who Should you Start and Sit?

Authors: Andrew Bennett, Heath Mckeown

Start: Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be a strong week 12 fantasy start, especially given that they play the Cardinals who rank 21st in total defence, allowing 346 yards per game. The Cardinals passing defence is also ranked 21st, giving up approximately 218 yards per game. With this mediocre defence, it should be a good opportunity for JSN as he has constantly been involved in the Seahawks offense. Smith-Njigba is ranked 14th among wide receivers in PPR formats for week 12, showing his value as a fantasy option. JSN is averaging 67.8 receiving yards per game and is coming off a big week 11 performance, where he got 10 receptions and 110 yards. With the team leading 86 targets on the season, it is proven that Geno likes to find him. Although JSN only has 3 touchdowns on the season, he can rack up many receiving yards to balance his performance out, providing a good starter for fantasy owners. The Seahawks rank 2nd in passing offence, averaging 261 passing yards per game, which shows a throwing-heavy offense. Due to this, JSN is more likely to have opportunities to contribute, especially in a divisional matchup where the teams are fighting for playoff spots. With a struggling Cardinals defence against the pass, JSN will have opportunities to capitalize, making him a good week 12 fantasy start.

Sit: Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle should be on your bench in week 12 as the Cowboys are set to face the Commanders in a divisional matchup. While Washington’s defence has not been great this season, ranking in the middle of the pack in most categories, the Cowboys offense is not performing well right now making it hard to trust any of their players. With Cooper Rush starting at quarterback, Dallas has struggled to have good drives or establish a solid ground game, limiting Dowdle’s potential. Rico’s production has been lackluster, averaging 44.6 rush yards per game with 0 rushing touchdowns on the season. He also averages around 10 carries per game, which is not enough volume to produce meaningful fantasy points. Additionally, Dowdle is ranked 25th in fantasy ranking for running backs in PPR formats for week 12, again demonstrating his low ceiling compared to other running backs. His role in the passing game has given him a bit of a boost, but still not much because he averages approximately 19 receiving yards per game with 3 receiving touchdowns on the season through nine games. He is coming off two disappointing performances where in his last game against the Texans he had 10 carries for 28 rush yards and caught 2 of 5 targets for 6 yards, showing no sign of turning things around. Because of the Cowboy’s recent struggles, it is simply unlikely that Dowdle will have the opportunity to put up good fantasy points. Although the Commander's defence may not be elite, they should be able to stop this insufficient offense. Having Dowdle as a starter for week 12 is too risky with this disappointing Cowboys offense.

Start: Tyrone Tracy Jr

Tyrone Tracy Jr. should be a strong start this week as he comes off a bye week and is well-rested. Over his last six games, Tracy has averaged an impressive 14.87 points per game. He’ll face a Tampa Bay defence that ranks as the 5th worst against the run in the league, providing an excellent opportunity for him to continue his efficiency. Rookies often gain trust and show noticeable growth as the season progresses, and with the Giants releasing Daniel Jones and starting an inexperienced Tommy DeVito, the team is likely to lean heavily on the running game. Despite his consistent production, Tracy has only been started in 56% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, making him a sneaky good option for Week 11.

Sit: Xavier Legette

Xavier Legette should stay on your bench for week 12 as the Panthers are set to face the Kansas City Chiefs, one of the league’s best defences. The Chiefs rank 5th in total defencFe, allowing 297.5 total yards per game, and are ranked 8th in scoring defence, allowing approximately 19 points per game. The strong Chiefs defence creates a tough matchup for Xavier Legette, especially with the Panthers offensive struggles. Carolina is ranked 31st in the league in passing offense, averaging 170.7 pass yards per game. Legette’s production this season has not been great. In 10 games played, he is averaging 28.4 receiving yards and just 2.9 receptions per game, providing minimal chances to make a fantasy impact. Another concern for Legette’s fantasy performance is Bryce Young. Bryce Young is averaging 117.14 yards through 7 games and was benched earlier in the season, showing the instability of Carolina’s offense. In PPR formats, Legette is expected to put up 8.66 points and is ranked as the WR50.

Against a solid defence like Kansas City’s, Legette is better to stay on the bench for week 12.\

Start: Dallas Goedert

Dallas Goedert has been a reliable option at tight end this season, averaging 12.62 points per game despite missing four games due to a hamstring injury. Since returning, he has looked solid, scoring over 10 points in both games. Impressively, he has produced consistent fantasy numbers with only one touchdown this season, showcasing his ability to rack up points through volume and yardage. Goedert's 20.6% on-field target share is pacing for the best mark of his career, indicating that he is a key part of the Eagles' offense. This week Goedert faces the Rams, who rank 7th worst in the league at defending tight ends, making this a highly favorable matchup. Goedert has scored at least 10 points in each of his last four games, proving his consistency and reliability. Despite these strong numbers, he is only started in 54% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, leaving a major opportunity for savvy managers to take advantage. With his combination of volume, efficiency, and a great matchup, Goedert is a must-start for Week 11.

Sit: D’Andre Swift

D'Andre Swift faces a challenging matchup this week against the Minnesota Vikings, who boast the second-best run defence in the NFL allowing just 74.4 rushing yards per game. Swift has been dealing with a groin injury, which limited his participation in practice earlier this week. In the Bears' recent game, his carry share dipped below 60% to 58.3%, and excluding one significant run, he averaged just 2.46 yards per carry. With the Bears recently firing their offensive coordinator and new OC Shane Waldron calling plays, the backfield distribution was more evenly split. Given these factors, including the likelihood of the Bears relying more on the passing game if they fall behind, Swift may have limited opportunities to produce. Despite being started in 67% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, it would be beneficial to sit Swift this week.

Week 11 NFL Fantasy: Who Should you Start and Sit?

Authors: Heath Mckweon, Andrew Bennett

Graphic: Liban Rizvi

Start: Puka Nacua

Despite being out on the IR earlier this season, Puka should be ready to have a big game against the New England Patriots. His chemistry with Stafford has been evident, with Puka getting a good amount of targets along with Kupp. These targets have allowed for Puka to maintain a steady fantasy production. New England is allowing around 209 pass yards per game, but with the duo of Puka and Kupp, it should be hard on the Patriots defense to stop them. Puka has played in four games this season and has had 2 big games and 2 mediocre games, but with this struggling Patriots team, Puka should be in for another big game.

Source: CNN

Sit: Brian Thomas Jr

Brian Thomas Jr, the rookie out of LSU, should be on your bench for week 11 as the Jaguars go up against the Lions. The Lions have been decent defensively this season but with Mac Jones as the Jaguars starter for week 11, Brian Thomas Jr is in trouble. Mac Jones does not have much arm strength and was only able to put up 7 points for the Jaguars last week against the Vikings. Thomas Jr is questionable as of now for week 11, but if he plays, Thomas Jr should remain on your bench no matter what just because of Mac Jones as his quarterback. Last week Jones kept throwing short as his second longest throw was 18 yards. This is not a good scene for the Jaguars and Thomas Jr.

Start: Bo Nix

Bo Nix is in his rookie season at quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Surprisingly to some, Nix has been having a solid season. The rookie is averaging 197 pass yards per game with 10 passing touchdowns in ten games. Nix can rush as well as he is averaging 29 rush yards per game with 4 rushing touchdowns. Bo handled the Kansas City defense pretty well last week where he threw for 215 yards, 2 touchdowns and had a 73% completion percentage. Although Nix and the Broncos did not win the game, he showed a lot of promise. Nix has averaged 20.3 fantasy points per game in his last six games, showing signs that he is able to stay consistent and have another good game. Atlanta is averaging 223 pass yards per game, allowing for Nix to throw the ball this week, but also rush when needed as the Falcons ranked 24th in rush

Sit: Pat Freiermuth

Pat Freiermuth is not your best option for the tight end position in week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens. Freiermuth has been inconsistent this season, with a lack of involvement with the Steelers offense. He is averaging around 30 yards per game, which is not what someone needs as their TE position in fantasy. Even with Wilson joining the team and playing well, Freiermuth will not see as many targets because of George Pickens and Darnell Washington who is the other tight end on the Steelers. In this divisional matchup, there does not seem like there will be much success for Freiermuth against the Ravens defense.

Start: Calvin Ridley

Calvin Ridley has been a top-performing receiver over the last three weeks, averaging 20.1 points per game in PPR formats. This impressive production coincides with the trade of DeAndre Hopkins three games ago, which has opened up more opportunities for Ridley to shine. Facing a Minnesota secondary ranked third worst in the league against opposing receivers, Ridley is primed for another big game. While his first six games of the season were underwhelming at just 7.33 points per game, this recent surge highlights his potential as a must-start option this week. Currently starting in only 54% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, Ridley deserves far more attention in lineups.

Sit: Najee Harris

Najee Harris has been on a hot streak over the past four weeks, averaging 15.95 points per game. However, his momentum is likely to stall this week against a formidable Baltimore defense. The Ravens boast the 8th best run defense in the league, presenting the toughest challenge Harris has faced this season. His recent success has heavily relied on touchdowns, with three in his last four games. Prior to this stretch, he had zero touchdowns on the season, highlighting the unpredictability of finding the end zone. Given the strength of Baltimore's defense and Harris's reliance on scoring, it's a risky bet to start him this week. Currently started in 57% of Yahoo Fantasy leagues, we recommend sitting Harris for week 11