WEEK 12 RECAP
Texans 23, Bills 19: Jayden Higgins had four receptions on nine targets for 38 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Buffalo. Higgins is the overall WR27 in standard formats (WR29 in PPR) since Week 8 with at least four receptions for 55 yards or a touchdown in four of the last five games. The rookie also has at least seven targets in four of the five.
Bears 31, Steelers 28: Luther Burden III finally passed Olamide Zaccheaus in three-receiver sets for the first time in Week 11. He’s played at least 44% of Chicago’s offensive snaps in three straight games, and surpassed 50% for the first time against Pittsburgh on Sunday, after not topping 28.8% in his first seven games. The dynamic rookie is worth stashing just incase his role continues to grow in the Bears’ rapidly improving offense.
Patriots 26, Bengals 20: Rhamondre Stevenson was out-snapped by TreVeyon Henderson 46-22 in his first game back from a toe injury. The rookie also out-touched Stevenson 21-7. Henderson is the captain now.
Lions 34, Giants 27 (OT): Jahmyr Gibbs erupted for 264 total yards and three TDs in the come-from-behind win over New York. Gibbs has 44 total TDs in his first 43 career games, which ties him fifth all-time with Randy Moss, Marcus Allen and Abner Haynes for most TDs in NFL history for any player in his first three seasons. The only other players with more TDs than Gibbs in their first three seasons are Barry Sanders (47), Gale Sayers (46), Eric Dickerson (46) and Earl Campbell (45). All four are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Packers 23, Vikings 6: Jordan Addison had no receptions on one targets in the loss at Green Bay. Addison has essentially become TD-dependent in fantasy thanks to J.J. McCarthy’s struggles. He has three-or-fewer receptions in five straight games.
Seahawks 30, Titans 24: With Calvin Ridley out for the season, and Elic Ayomanor dealing with a hamstring injury, Chimere Dike returned a punt 90 yards for a TD, his second of the season, and had five receptions on seven targets for 44 yards and another TD against Seattle on Sunday. Dike is the overall WR18 in standard formats (WR26 in PPR) since Week 7 with at least 93 yards or a TD in three of the last five games.
Chiefs 23, Colts 20 (OT): Jonathan Taylor was bottled up by a good Kansas City defense. The Chiefs only allowed Taylor to run for 58 yards on 16 carries (3.6 yards per carry) and no scores. The last three games he failed to score a rushing TD, he returned the following week to score three rushing TDs.
Ravens 23, Jets 10: Adonai Mitchell has had at least six targets in both of his games since being traded to New York. If the Jets do one thing with the rest of this season, it will be figuring out if Mitchell and John Metchie III are worth keeping around next season. Metchie has at least three receptions for 45 yards and a TD in two straight games.
Browns 24, Raiders 10: I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a player more clueless of his surroundings or less aware on a football field than Jerry Jeudy when he was stripped from behind while high-stepping on his only reception of the game at Las Vegas on Sunday.
Jaguars 27, Cardinals 24 (OT): What more do you need to see? Jacoby Brissett is the overall QB5 since he took over for an injured Kyler Murray in Week 6. Brissett has weekly finishes of QB7, QB12, QB10, QB10, QB4 and QB8 in his six starts.
Cowboys 24, Eagles 21: Saquon Barkley had his worst game of the season running the football in the loss at Dallas with only 22 yards on 10 carries and a fumble. Barkley is only averaging 62.2 rushing yards per game this year after averaging 125.3 in his historic first year in Philly.
Falcons 24, Saints 10: Alvin Kamara suffered an MCL sprain against Atlanta on Sunday, and could miss multiple weeks. Devin Neal produced 61 total yards on 12 touches in his stead, including five receptions for 43 yards. The rookie has at least three receptions in three of his last four games, and should see a substantial boost in usage with Kamara sidelined. I’m also sure Swiss Army knife Taysom Hill will carve out a bigger role as well without Kamara.
Rams 34, Buccaneers 7: Matthew Stafford has thrown 308 consecutive passes without an interception and 27 TDs since he was last picked off in Week 3.
49ers 20, Panthers 9: Christian McCaffrey finished with 142 total yards and a TD on 31 touches in the victory over Carolina. It was McCaffrey’s fifth game with at least 30 touches this season. Jonathan Taylor, Rico Dowdle, Kareem Hunt and Emanuel Wilson each have one such game.
Feel free to hit me up @UTEddieBrown on X, formerly known as Twitter, with any specific lineup questions I don’t cover in my posts.
Here’s my best bets for Week 13:
GREEN BAY AT DETROIT
Obvious starters: Josh Jacobs (GB), Jahmyr Gibbs (DET), Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET).
Who to start: Jordan Love (GB) deserves streaming consideration against a defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, including multiple TD passes in eight of 11 games this season. Both Romeo Doubs (GB) and Christian Watson (GB) have WR3/flex upside against a defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including 11 TDs in the last seven games.
Who to sit: Emanuel Wilson (GB) remains TD-dependent when Jacobs is healthy. Matthew Golden (GB) remains a boom-or-bust candidate with three-or-fewer receptions in four of his last five games. There are better options this week than the Packers D/ST on the road against an offense allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing defenses. Jared Goff (DET) faces a defense allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, including only one TD pass in the last four games. David Montgomery (DET) is TD-dependent against a defense allowing the 10th-fewest fantasy points to running backs. Jameson Williams (DET) is a boom-or-bust candidate against a defense allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. The Lions D/ST face an offense allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing defenses.
Sleeper(s): Luke Musgrave (GB) faces a defense that has allowed at least 65 yards or a TD to tight ends in five of the last six games. Ross Dwelley (DET) is the next man up at tight end for the Lions with Brock Wright out (neck) and Sam LaPorta on the IR (back).
KANSAS CITY AT DALLAS
Obvious starters: Patrick Mahomes (KC), Travis Kelce (KC), Rashee Rice (KC), CeeDee Lamb (DAL), George Pickens (DAL), Javonte Williams (DAL), Jake Ferguson (DAL).
Who to start: Xavier Worthy (KC) has flex appeal against a defense allowing the most fantasy points to wide receivers. Both Isiah Pacheco (KC) and Kareem Hunt (KC) have flex appeal against a defense that has allowed the second-highest explosive run rate, and the seventh-highest yards after contact per attempt since Week 7 (according to Fantasy Pros).
Who to sit: JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) has three-or-fewer targets in seven straight games. The Chiefs D/ST face an offense allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing defenses. I’m fading Dak Prescott (DAL) against a defense that has only allowed multiple TD passes in three of 11 games this season.
Sleeper: Marquise Brown (KC) has flex appeal in deeper leagues against a defense that has allowed 18 TDs to wide receivers in 11 games this season.
CINCINNATI AT BALTIMORE
Obvious starters: Joe Burrow (CIN), Ja’Marr Chase (CIN), Chase Brown (CIN), Lamar Jackson (BAL), Derrick Henry (BAL), Zay Flowers (BAL).
Who to start: Mark Andrews (BAL) has scored at least one TD in three of the last four games and faces a defense allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends. The Ravens D/ST deserves streaming consideration at home as the third-highest scoring defense in fantasy since Week 9.
Who to sit: Samaje Perine (CIN) is TD-dependent in his return from an ankle injury. Both Noah Fant (CIN) and Mike Gesicki (CIN) are TD-dependent against a defense allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends — the Ravens haven’t allowed a TD to the position since Week 6. Rashod Bateman (BAL) remains TD-dependent with two-or-fewer receptions in eight of his nine games this season. DeAndre Hopkins (BAL) hasn’t topped 20 yards in a game since Week 5 and hasn’t scored a TD since Week 2.
Sleeper(s): Andrei Iosivas (CIN) has flex appeal with Tee Higgins out (concussion) against a defense allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Isaiah Likely (BAL) faces a defense that has allowed 13 TDs to tight ends in the last nine games.
CHICAGO AT PHILADELPHIA
Obvious starters: Jalen Hurts (PHI), Saquon Barkley (PHI), Dallas Goedert (PHI).
Who to start: D’Andre Swift (CHI) maintains RB2/flex upside as the overall RB17 in most fantasy formats through 12 weeks. Rome Odunze (CHI) maintains WR3/flex upside as the overall WR13 in standard formats (WR18 in PPR) through 12 weeks with at least nine targets in three of the last five games. Caleb Williams (CHI) is the overall QB2 since Week 9 (behind only Josh Allen). DJ Moore (CHI) is the overall WR8 in standard formats (WR19 in PPR) since Week 8 with at least 73 yards or a TD in three of the last five games. AJ Brown (PHI) maintains WR3/flex upside against a defense allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers. DeVonta Smith (PHI) also maintains WR3/flex upside if he’s active (shoulder/chest/illness). The Eagles D/ST are averaging the seventh-most fantasy points per game (8.4) since Week 7.
Who to sit: Colston Loveland (CHI) faces a defense allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. The Bears D/ST face an offense allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing defenses. Luther Burden III (CHI) remains a boom-or-bust candidate with three-or-fewer receptions in nine of his 10 games this season. Tank Bigsby (PHI) remains TD-dependent with Barkley healthy. Jahan Dotson (PHI) remains a boom-or-bust candidate unless Smith is out.
Sleeper: Kyle Monangai (CHI) has flex appeal as the overall RB13 in standard formats (RB17 in PPR) since Week 7 with a TD in four of the last six games.
NOTE: Sunday’s and Monday’s games will be updated by Friday afternoon.
SAN FRANCISCO AT CLEVELAND
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
JACKSONVILLE AT TENNESSEE
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
HOUSTON AT INDIANAPOLIS
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
NEW ORLEANS AT MIAMI
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
ATLANTA AT N.Y. JETS
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
ARIZONA AT TAMPA BAY
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
L.A. RAMS AT CAROLINA
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
MINNESOTA AT SEATTLE
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
BUFFALO AT PITTSBURGH
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
LAS VEGAS AT L.A. CHARGERS
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
DENVER AT WASHINGTON
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD
N.Y. GIANTS AT NEW ENGLAND
Obvious starters: TBD
Who to start: TBD
Who to sit: TBD
Sleeper: TBD