Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there in Fighting Chance Fantasy Country, and we are now heading to crunch time for the fantasy football season. There are just two weeks left in the fantasy regular season, and most of you probably really need to win to get you near the playoffs or solidify your spot. Roster decisions got you down? Don’t sweat it. Carry on and read below to see who you should start and who you should avoid in the always important Week 12. Eat, eat, eat, and then eat some more, enjoy your football.
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Fantasy Football Start/Sit Week 12
Quarterbacks
Start: Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears. It’s been a hell of a run for the Titans and especially Mariota in the last two months as he has had multiple touchdown passes in seven straight games. He has thrown for 290 yards or more in three straight weeks with nine touchdowns. The Bears defense isn’t as bad as you would think given their record, but I totally expect Mariota to continue this roll for another week. I’m hoping that the weather isn’t a factor on Sunday, if not, the Titans should roll.
“I’m Marcus Mariota. You stay classy, Nashville” pic.twitter.com/e3eZl7q7uK
— Everything TN (@Everything_TN) November 21, 2016
Sit: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals. It has been an awesome season for Matt Ryan, and he’s even had some good games against some of the best defenses. That fact makes him a bit of a risky sit, but the Cardinals are the best pass defense in the league, allowing just 175 yards through the air per game. They also don’t let you score often, as only six touchdown passes through the air in nine games. He has a chance of being the MVP of the league, but I see him maxing out at 225 yards and maybe two scores. If you don’t have a guy you think can do better than that I would play him, but I bet on your bench you have someone who will.
Running Backs
Start: Jay Ajayi, Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco 49ers. This one is a no brainer. Ajayi is one of the breakout stars of 2016, and the 49ers are an epic tire fire of a natural disaster on defense against the run. Ajayi legitimately could run for 2,000 yards with ten touchdowns on Sunday alone.
Start: Spencer Ware, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos. Ware was slightly better last week against the Buccaneers, but it has been a solid four or five weeks since he’s been effective. He definitely is the main back for the Chiefs for the rest of the season, and while Denver is one of the best pass defenses in football, they give up almost 125 yards on the ground per week. The Chiefs and Ware should be able to move the ball on the ground and I can see him having 125 total yards and a touchdown.
Sit: Rob Kelley, Washington Redskins vs. Dallas Cowboys. It has been a dynamite three weeks for Kelley as he has taken over the running back role from Matt Jones. He literally has run with this job, and has increased his rush yards in each of the three weeks, with four touchdowns in that time. He will definitely be the bell cow back for the rest of the season, but I don’t see him having a 100 yard game or a touchdown this week as the Cowboys have allowed only four rushing touchdowns this season. Kelley might be tough to sit, but I think this is going to be a subpar game for him.
Fantasy Football start/sit Week 12: ‘Fat Rob’ Kelley is about to disappoint https://t.co/ggrSTX6obi pic.twitter.com/ojEH3ooUtD
— Neil Greenberg (@ngreenberg) November 23, 2016
Sit: Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings. The injury to Giovani Bernard finally means that Hill is in line for a great number of carries. However, opportunity doesn’t always mean prosperity, as the Bengals face on of the tougher run defenses in the league. They have been a little more porous of late, but Minnesota still has given up just four rushing touchdowns this season. Hill is a good player, but far from elite, and even with the loss of Bernard if you have another option I would look that way.
Wide Receivers
Start: Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Baldwin has been pretty good this season, but he has just five touchdowns and three were in the same game. He has been consistent in that he has at least 50 receiving yards in every game but two. The Bucs aren’t a terrible defense, but they are giving up almost two passing touchdowns per game. Russell Wilson has all of a sudden gotten on a real role and I expect him to look Baldwin’s way a lot on Sunday and for it to pay off with a great game.
After a lull in the middle of the year, Sterling Shepard is becoming a great guy to start!
Start: Sterling Shepard, New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns. It has been three straight weeks that Shepard has caught a touchdown pass, and with the crap ass Browns on the schedule, I would be shocked if it isn’t a four game streak. The Browns have given up a mind blowing 25 passing touchdowns in just ten games, and I’m sure that Eli Manning is going to add three or four to that total. I think Shepard has a solid chance at 100 yards and a definite touchdown.
Sit: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Seattle Seahawks. I know, this one seems hard to swallow. I thought about taking him off because he is by far the biggest part of the Tampa offense, but I really think that Jameis Winston is going to struggle with the intensity of the Seattle defense. The Seahawks are in your face, high energy, and hard hitting. It helps that the game is at home, but I can see Winston having under 200 yards passing, and given that info, I think it will be hard for Evans to top 70 yards and I would not expect him to score.
Sit: Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos. While I suggested for a Chief running back, I am going to suggest against a Chief receiver. Hill has become a popular target for Alex Smith over the past month, and he is getting some solid fantasy attention recently. While he is a nice option with the uncertainty surrounding Jeremy Maclin, the Broncos pass defense is one of the best in the league and is allowing under 200 yards and one pass touchdown per game. I just don’t see the Chief passing game doing much this weekend.
Tight Ends
He’s never a huge contributor, but Rudolph is a solid prodcer
Start: Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions. It was not Rudolph’s best week against the Cardinals in Week 11, but he has had five catches in three of his last five games. He had just one catch in their last meeting with the Lions, but it was for a touchdown. With Stefon Diggs all but out for the game, look for Sam Bradford to use his safety blanket of Rudolph a number of times on Turkey Day. The Lions have surrendered 20 passing touchdowns in nine games so far in 2016. I’m expecting six catches for 76 yards and a score for Rudolph while you are starting to eat your appetizers on Thanksgiving.
Sit: Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers vs. Houston Texans. Gates scored a touchdown in three straight games before the Chargers went to their bye, and now the old timer has had a week to rest. With the receiving group all banged up, Gates has been a popular target. Tyrell Williams should be healthy, and Travis Benjamin looks like he will return this week. The Houston defense hasn’t quite been the powerhouse in the last couple of weeks, but they are still a good unit. A healthier Chargers team and a Texan team that desperately needs to win makes me think that this might be a quiet one for Mr. Gates.
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