Tag: fantasy-football-week-12

With six teams on bye, the player pool is skinnier than it has been all season. Plus, the Primetime slate is pulling away four premium offenses. This could get ugly as we piece together our lineups. So, let’s start things out with a bang … QB Tommy DeVito …What could go wrong?

Recommended DFS lineups

*Note: FanDuel and Fanball include the Sunday night game on their Main Slate. DraftKings doesn’t include them, so the pricing is listed as N/A.

DK Lineup: QB Tommy DeVito ($4.0k), RB Rhamondre Stevenson ($5.9k), RB De’Von Achane ($7.5k), WR Malik Nabers ($7.4k), WR Calvin Ridley ($5.7k), WR Rome Odunze ($4.8k), TE Travis Kelce ($5.8k), FLEX Kareem Hunt ($5.7k), DST Denver Broncos ($3.2k)

FD Lineup: QB Baker Mayfield ($7.9k), RB Rhamondre Stevenson ($6.4k), RB De’Von Achane ($9.1k), WR Mike Evans ($8.0k), WR Josh Downs ($6.9k), WR Rome Odunze ($5.4k), TE Ja’Tavion Sanders ($4.9K), FLEX Kareem Hunt ($7.5k), DST Chicago Bears ($3.9k)

FB Lineup: QB Baker Mayfield ($6.0k), RB Christian McCaffrey ($8.1k) RB Rhamondre Stevenson ($5.7k), WR Mike Evans ($7.0k), WR Malik Nabers ($6.7k), WR/TE Travis Kelce ($5.9k), TE Ja’Tavion Sanders ($3.3k), FLEX De’Von Achane ($7.1k), SUPERFLEX Tommy DeVito ($5.1k)

*Note: Player salaries are color-coded based on expected output. Red = Less than 2.5x value, Black = 2.5x value, Green = Greater than 3x value.

Quarterback

Weekly strategy – Jayden Daniels, Patrick Mahomes, and Jared Goff are this week’s top choices. Baker Mayfield is the cheaper pivot. If you punt this week, go with Caleb Williams or Cooper Rush, or better yet, embrace the glorious aura of Tommy DeVito.

Fantasy four-pack

Jayden Daniels, Commanders vs. DAL ($7,000 DK, $9,000 FD) Dallas has allowed the second-most QB rushing scores. Daniels has been mostly quiet since returning from an injury sustained in Week 7. Still, this will be a get-right game. Look for Daniels to account for three scores.

Jalen Hurts, Eagles @ LAR (N/A DK, $9,300 FD) Hurts has 15 total TDs over the last five weeks. Most have come via the “Brotherly Shove.” Unfortunately, the Rams have not allowed a QB rushing score this season. Still, Hurts has proven he can get it done through the air as well. Pencil him in for another three TDs, with at least one going to A.J. Brown.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs @ CAR ($6,800 DK, $8,400 FD) Mahomes will take it upon himself to make up for the Chiefs’ loss last week. With JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeAndre Hopkins both healthy and with Travis Kelce looking for a rebound, we should expect a floor of three passing TDs as KC dominates.

Jared Goff, Lions @ IND ($6,600 DK, $8,500 FD) Goff didn’t have to throw the ball last week to lead his team to victory. Still, he did as the team piled it on versus the Jaguars. Only six teams are allowing more passing yards per game than Indy, and the Colts have sucked against TEs. This makes Sam LaPorta (shoulder) a great stack if he returns from his injury as expected.

Sleepers

Caleb Williams, Bears vs. MIN ($5,100 DK, $7,000 FD) The coaching change for Chicago has Williams back on track. Unfortunately, he still doesn’t have a TD in his last four games. He should fare better here as Minnesota gives out passing yards like Halloween candy. Plus, Minnesota will have to stop Williams’ legs and hasn’t faced a running QB since Week 1.

Tommy DeVito, Giants vs. TB ($4,000 DK, $6,000 FD) When attempting to cover the opposition’s passing attack, Tampa Bay just says “Fuggedaboutit.” They have allowed the fourth-most passing yards and the fifth-most passing TDs. DeVito has nothing to lose here. Expect the Giants to let him just grip it and rip it. Use him in a double stack with some combo of Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton (concussion), and Theo Johnson.

Running back

Weekly strategy – Christian McCaffrey and De’Von Achane are your options at RB1. Use one of the two. The Lions’ duo, Joe Mixon, and James Conner are the only pivots to consider. Either Commander, Rhamondre Stevenson, or Tyrone Tracy Jr. are the top RB2 choices. Kareem Hunt reverts to a timeshare this week, but he remains a brilliant play considering the price. For a punt, consider Trey Benson or one of the Buccaneers.

Fantasy four-pack

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ GB ($8,500 DK, $9,500 FD) Over the last four games, Green Bay is allowing just under 24 PPR points per game to opposing RBs. McCaffrey has topped 100 total yards in back-to-back games since his return, but he has not made it into the end zone yet. That changes this week. 

De’Von Achane, Dolphins vs. NE ($7,500 DK, $9,100 FD) The New England Patriots knocked Achane out of the Dolphins’ previous matchup with only 17 total yards. The rest of the backfield posted 187 total yards and a TD in that game. Over the last two weeks, Achane has handled 69% of the Miami RB opportunities, so most of the work is going to him now.

Joe Mixon, Texans vs. TEN ($8,000 DK, $9,300 FD) Over the last four weeks, Tennessee has allowed the second-most total TDs to the position. Meanwhile, Mixon has ten total TDs over the last six weeks.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions @ IND ($7,300 DK, $8,600 FD) Gibbs, and David Montgomery have very similar stats. Montgomery has 160 opportunities, while Gibbs has 162. Gibbs has nine total TDs while Montgomery has ten. Gibbs has 23 receptions to Montgomery’s 21. So how do you choose? Gibbs has 272 more total yards. Over the last four weeks, Indy allowed an average of 132 total yards and one TD to the position.

Sleepers

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs @ CAR ($5,700 DK, $7,500 FD) Isiah Pacheco (leg) should return this week. In his first game back, I expect KC to limit his touches. Against this defense, both backs may top 100 yards and score. For the season, Carolina is allowing greater than 30 PPR points per game to opposing RBs. 

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ MIA ($5,900 DK, $6,400 FD) Miami has allowed the fourth-most total RB touchdowns. This includes a rushing TD allowed to Stevenson back in Week 5. He finished with only 92 total yards in that game, but that was when Antonio Gibson was still a factor.  

Wide receiver

Weekly strategy – The high-priced options are all in shaky territory. Amon-Ra. St. Brown has a good matchup, but won’t see as many targets as last week. Nico Collins should see more targets this week, but Tennessee is tough against the pass even without their top two CBs. Both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua might eat into each other’s usage versus a tough Eagles secondary. Malik Nabers and Tyreek Hill become the top WR1 options by default. A returning Mike Evans (hamstring) and Terry McLaurin are the WR1 pivots. At WR2, use Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Josh Downs,  Courtland Sutton, or Calvin Ridley. I’d also consider using two of the above if I save at RB. Otherwise, use Rome Odunze, one of the Chiefs, or Wan’Dale Robinson at WR3. You can also consider Kendrick Bourne, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, or Sterling Shepard as a punt option.

Fantasy four-pack

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions @ IND ($8,300, $9,500 FD) Only seven teams have allowed more receiving yards to opposing WRs than Indy. St. Brown is coming off of a monster performance, and he has scored in eight straight games. With Sam LaPorta returning, St. Brown’s numbers won’t equal last week’s, but he will still post 8-110-1

Malik Nabers, Giants vs. TB ($7,400, $8,200 FD) Do we trust Tommy DeVito? Yes, heck, I’d trust Uncle Rico versus this secondary. The only way Nabers doesn’t pay off here is if DeVito and Drew Lock get hurt and the team is forced to turn to Tim Boyle.

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins vs. NE ($7,200 DK, $8,300 FD) In Week 5, Hill posted 6-69 versus New England despite having Tyler Huntley throwing him wounded ducks. Since the return of Tua Tagovailoa, Hill has caught 20 of 26 passes and scored in back-to-back games. Expect him to continue his resurgence here.

Nico Collins, Texans vs. TEN ($7,600 DK, $8,900 FD) Collins shook off the rust last week. This week expect a more traditional stat line. Before his injury, Collins had scored and/or topped 100 yards in three of five games.

Sleepers

Calvin Ridley, Titans @ HOU ($5,700 DK, $6,300 FD) Since Week 6, Ridley ranks third overall among WRs in targets. Meanwhile, over the last four games, Houston has allowed opposing WR1s to average 20.2 PPR points per game.

Rome Odunze, Bears vs. MIN ($4,800 DK, $5,400 FD) Minnesota has allowed the fifth-most WR receiving yards. They have particularly struggled with field stretchers, like Odunze. Meanwhile, Odunze was the target of 10 passes in the first game under the new play-caller for Chicago.

Tight end

Weekly strategy – Travis Kelce and Trey McBride are the top options this week. George Kittle (hamstring) and Brock Bowers are a little pricier, but each should fare well with lesser ownership. A healthy Sam LaPorta (shoulder) also gets a cake matchup at a much lower price than the other four. Theo Johnson, Luke Schoonmaker, and Ja’Tavion Sanders are the punt options.

Fantasy four-pack

Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ CAR ($5,800 DK, $7,200 FD) No team has allowed more TE touchdowns than Carolina. Kelce will score at least once as KC looks to remedy his dud from last week.

Trey McBride, Cardinals @ SEA ($5,600 DK, $6,700 FD) Seattle has faced only five TEs of McBride’s caliber this season. Those five TEs have averaged 5.6-63 with three total TDs. Over his last six games, McBride is averaging 14 PPR points per game. That feels like his floor here.

Sam LaPorta, Lions @ IND ($4,300 DK, $5,800 FD) Reports suggest that LaPorta (shoulder) will return this week. Before his injury, he had scored in three of five games. Indy has allowed the third-most receptions and the fourth-most TDs to the position.

George Kittle, 49ers @ GB ($6,000 DK, $7,700 FD) Kittle (hamstring) has already announced that he is playing this weekend. Despite missing a pair of games, because of injury, Kittle leads all TEs in touchdowns. He is also averaging 70 receiving yards per game played.

Sleepers

Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers vs. KC ($3,400 DK, $4,900 FD) KC ranks dead last in TE receiving yards allowed, and only one team has allowed more TE receptions. Meanwhile, since Week 6, Sanders has led the Panthers in receptions and receiving yards.

Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys @ WAS ($2,500 DK, $4,400 FD) Jake Ferguson (concussion) is expected to miss this week’s game. He also missed most of last week’s game during which Schoonmaker stepped in and posted 6-56 on 10 targets. The Commanders have allowed three TE scores over their last four games, so Schoonmaker may score here.