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Each week, the Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet will combine analysis, data and game predictions with a confidence scale to help owners get a definitive answer on who to start in their leagues.
Nice. But what about those numbers all over the place? That's our confidence scale. It slides from 10.0 for an amazing start to 5.0 for an average rating to a 1.0 for a nauseous rating.
Is the confidence scale based on a specific scoring system? It is based on standard leagues but is (mostly) applicable to PPR leagues. You should probably consult our PPR-specific rankings for more detail.
Who is listed below? Everyone that matters, but anyone already starting in 90 percent or more of CBSSports.com leagues is considered an obvious must-start. We're not going to waste your time trying to convince you to start Tom Brady.
What if someone isn't listed below? If someone's missing, it's not an accident. Anyone missing is a definitive must sit, if not a must-cut player. Or they're on bye.
What's the best way to find a specific player on this page? Use your personal search function -- CTRL-F on PCs and Command-F on MACs. If neither of those are options, or if you're on a mobile device, you can search by game. Games are listed by starting times.
But what if I am still unsure who to start or sit after reading this? Ask me! Shoot me a note on Twitter (@daverichard) (I'll keep an eye out for the #CBSFCS hashtag). You can also always consult our rankings, which constantly reflect our feelings on players around the league. They're pretty much updated every day.
Let's stuff this turkey.
Giants at Redskins, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Eli Manning (8.3): Four of the last five quarterbacks to face Washington have posted at least 21 Fantasy points. Manning has at least 250 yards and two touchdowns in each of his last three against the Redskins including once this season already. He should be just fine.
Kirk Cousins (5.1): We've seen Cousins take advantage of easy matchups at home already a handful of times this season. This one's another -- the Giants are allowing a league-worst 309.9 pass yards per game along with a third-worst 19 passing touchdowns. Turnovers could be a problem for Cousins -- the Giants have collected 15 of them from quarterbacks -- but this sets up for Cousins to have a decent game.
Running backs
Shane Vereen (6.1) & Rashad Jennings (4.9): The Giants' mish-mash run game will likely lean on three, maybe four, running backs. If it were just one, that guy would be a Fantasy hero because of how rotten the Redskins run defense has become. But because all of these guys split, there's no promise any of them do any better than, say, seven Fantasy points.
Matt Jones (6.0): The Giants run defense will come to FedEx Field rested but it doesn't mean it'll be ready to slam on Jones. He seems to be doghouse proof -- he fumbled again last week and should still be on the field more than Alfred Morris. The Giants run defense has given up 4.4 yards per carry and four scores in the seven games since their last matchup.
Alfred Morris (4.4): Because there's no guarantee that the Redskins will play with a lead in the second half, it's tough to expect a nice game from Morris. He had zero rush yards on two carries last week. Even after the fumble last week, Jones looks like the lead rusher in Washington's backfield now.
Wide receivers
Odell Beckham (9.6): Obvious must-start.
Dwayne Harris (5.7) & Rueben Randle (5.1): In the Giants last three games one of these guys had 10-plus points while the other had five or fewer. Harris was the better receiver in two of the games and the matchup this week should be plentiful for one of these guys. Which one? The hunch is Harris, who has performed better despite playing fewer snaps than Randle. Neither register as anything more than fringe starting Fantasy receivers anyway.
DeSean Jackson (6.1) & Pierre Garcon (3.2): No one wants to start these guys but there's a matchup wrinkle to know about. In their last three games the Giants have allowed over 200 yards to receivers. Two wideouts had more than 100 yards to themselves but it's sufficient evidence that these guys can be functional -- and potentially score to enhance their Fantasy outlook. Jackson's upside, which was on display in Week 11, makes him more appealing.
Tight ends
Jordan Reed (8.7): At this point Reed should be considered a near must-start. It only helps him that he takes on a Giants defense that's been shredded by tight ends all season (including by Reed in Week 3).
Larry Donnell (2.3): The Redskins pass defense got whipped by the Panthers every which way in Week 11, including a score to a tight end. It was just the second score allowed to a tight end by the Redskins this season. It's not safe to go with Donnell.
Defense/Special teams
Giants (4.6): Big Blue's DST has been very good over the last five games, owning at least nine points in each game and 10-plus in four of five. Washington's offense tends to play better at home (27.0 points per game) than on the road (17.2) but their propensity for turnovers helps the Giants defense.
Redskins (2.6): All but one DST to play the Giants has posted eight Fantasy points or less. If not for a kick-return for a touchdown last week Washington would have posted six points or fewer in three of its last four.
Chargers at Jaguars, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Philip Rivers (6.7): There shouldn't be much doubt here. Sure, the Jaguars did a nice job against the Titans last week but before then they gave up 20-plus Fantasy points to four straight passers. Rivers is likely to keep on throwin' and this week he'll take advantage of a weak secondary. Hopefully his offensive line holds up -- this week he's missing two starters (D.J. Fluker and King Dunlap).
Blake Bortles (7.5): Forget about Bortles' bumbling last Thursday and focus on him playing with a few extra days of preparation against a defense flying across the country. It's also a defense that has allowed multiple touchdowns and 20-plus Fantasy points to four of the last five quarterbacks they've faced. He should rebound.
Running backs
Danny Woodhead (5.4): Woodhead's best games have come in San Diego and the Jaguars are a no-nonsense run defense. He remains a 12-touch candidate who is a little safer in PPR leagues than standard.
Melvin Gordon (4.6): The Jaguars have allowed 3.5 yards per carry to running backs all season and Gordon has proven to be a total bust so far. There's no good reason to think about starting him unless totally desperate.
T.J. Yeldon (8.3): Could this be a game where the Jaguars play from the lead and give Yeldon a slew of carries? San Diego has allowed at least 13 Fantasy points to a running back in all but one of its games this season. So the upside is there, it's just a matter of him getting the work. He should be viewed as a solid No. 2 running back.
Wide receivers
Steve Johnson (6.3): Game flow should dictate more targets for Johnson. Last week the Jaguars secondary didn't allow a passing touchdown to a receiver for the first time since Week 5 -- expect Johnson to fit in as a decent No. 2 WR.
Allen Robinson (8.7): Robinson's hot streak with 11 or more Fantasy points in a non-PPR (16 or more in a PPR) marches on against a San Diego secondary that shouldn't be considered dangerous, even if they haven't allowed a touchdown to a receiver in three straight games.
Allen Hurns (7.7): His 19-yard week was an eye-opener, as were his four targets and 70 percent of snaps played. All of those stats are dramatic downturns that might be tied to his injuries. San Diego has struggled with teams that have strong receiving duos -- we just don't know if the Jaguars still have that.
Tight ends
Antonio Gates (6.6): Gates hasn't had a big game since he hurt his knee over a month ago but the matchup is pretty juicy. The Jaguars have allowed exactly 10 Fantasy points to three tight ends over their last two games. This is a good time to confidently plug and play Gates in lineups.
Julius Thomas (6.0): It was encouraging to see the Jaguars manufacture a play for Thomas to have a mismatch and thus a touchdown. The Chargers have given up a touchdown to a tight end in three of their last four (and were very close to making it four straight games), so there's some optimism for Thomas to get back in the end zone again this week. If Hurns truly is banged up you'll see Thomas continue to get more targets.
Defense/Special teams
Chargers (3.0): Expecting a high-scoring game, the Chargers could pick off Bortles once or twice and sack him a few times but otherwise struggle to keep the Jaguars offense from moving.
Jaguars (6.0): Only one of the last seven DSTs to play the Chargers finished with 10-plus Fantasy points. The Jags have at least 12 Fantasy points in each of their last two games but San Diego's offense presents a bigger challenge than the ones they faced recently.
Raiders at Titans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr (7.0): With 20-plus Fantasy points in five of his last six games, there's still a lot of optimism in Carr. Last week was rough, and he's on the road for the second straight week, but three of the last four passers to go up against the Titans have posted over 20 points.
Marcus Mariota (4.8): We saw it last week and we'll see it again -- Mariota's a good quarterback with suspect targets. Still, getting Kendall Wright back will help against a Raiders pass defense that couldn't get a turnover of Matthew Stafford last week. Playing on the road in consecutive weeks will further tire out Oakland.
Running backs
Latavius Murray (7.6): It's true that the Titans have allowed 3.2 yards per carry to running backs over their last four games, but the only really impressive effort came against the Saints. Jonathan Stewart climbed past them in Nashville for 91 yards and a touchdown in Week 10. It wouldn't be totally surprising to see Murray do that well -- he's a fair No. 2 running back candidate. Not having center Rodney Hudson will sting.
Antonio Andrews (6.2): Bank on Andrews remaining the Titans' lead rusher for the rest of the season. That should mean between 15 and 20 touches this week against a Raiders run defense that's been wrecked by great running backs but more than capable against inferior ones. Unfortunately, Andrews skews toward the inferior side. He's fine as a No. 3 running back.
Wide receivers
Amari Cooper (7.4): The Titans might not allow a ton of touchdowns to receivers, even with their banged up secondary, but there's no doubting their inability to contain yardage. In three games without top cornerback Jason McCourty the Titans have allowed 15.1 yards per catch and 68.6 of targets caught by receivers. Cooper is due for a big game.
Michael Crabtree (6.7): The last two weeks have been ugly for Crabtree, too. He did have 11 targets against the Lions but had just 50 yards on six grabs. It doesn't seem like he's been figured out -- he's still a candidate for a good game, if not a great one. He's in the mix as a low-end No. 2 wideout.
Kendall Wright (5.6): Wright's expected back this week and will sink his teeth into a phenomenal matchup against what should be a worn out Raiders defense playing on the road for the second week in a row. Because there's concerns about how much rust he'll need to knock off, Wright is at best a low-end No. 3 Fantasy option.
Dorial Green-Beckham (3.7): You can sort of see the makings of a potential field dominator when you watch Green-Beckham play. Last week he was thrust into a big role and between him and his rookie quarterback there were too many miscommunications. Even with a fairly favorable matchup, Green-Beckham is too risky to start this week.
Tight ends
Clive Walford (3.4): It's another incredible matchup for Walford -- the Titans have let tight ends put up 8.8 yards per catch and at least one touchdown in each of their last three games. Perhaps Walford could get back on the board after not doing so last week. He's in the mix if you're streaming tight ends.
Delanie Walker (8.9): Basically considered the Titans' most reliable pass-catcher, Walker should build on his nice game last week and potentially smash the Raiders. You already know the Raiders stink covering tight ends, but did you know Walker has caught 53 of 66 targets (80.3 percent!) on the year and has 10-plus Fantasy points in each of his last two very favorable matchups. He's essentially a must-start.
Defense/Special teams
Raiders (3.8): It's no secret that the Titans have a hard time scoring points, but the return of Kendall Wright and playing at home should help push them past their season averages of 18.2 points and 321.0 total yards per game. The Raiders aren't a great option.
Titans (2.2): If there was still a need for bye-week replacement DSTs then the Titans would fit the bill. They have 13 sacks in their last three games and should rack up another three or four or five sacks this week. But otherwise the matchup isn't that great -- Oakland has posted over 30 points and 400 yards in four of its last six games.
Buccaneers at Colts, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Jameis Winston (6.5): Seeing Winston throw five touchdowns last week was pretty incredible, but don't expect it to happen again. Before then he had just three games with two or more passing touchdowns. Indy has allowed three straight quarterbacks to toss multiple touchdowns but they've racked up at least one interception in six straight games. Winston's an okay starter if you're streaming but that's about it.
Matt Hasselbeck (4.0): Would you believe the Bucs have held three straight quarterbacks to under 18 Fantasy points? Granted, two of them were backups but what do you think Hasselbeck is? He'll end up throwing a decent amount but he'll get picked off a couple of times. Playing without left tackle Anthony Costanzo isn't good.
Running backs
Doug Martin (9.3): Practically a must-start at this point, Martin has clearly re-established himself as the lead back in Tampa Bay. The Colts run defense isn't anywhere near as good as the stats made them look last week -- Devonta Freeman was on his way to steamrolling them before getting concussed last week.
Charles Sims (5.2): The 10 carries he had last week were because of a runaway victory for Tampa Bay. That's not a normal workload for Sims, who truly has been good for five Fantasy points or less unless he scores. Indy did give up two receiving scores to a fullback last week, so maybe there's something there the Bucs could copy with Sims. Now that the bye weeks are gone, he's a low-end No. 3 rusher and that's really it.
Frank Gore (6.3) & Ahmad Bradshaw (4.3): Both backs had a lot of work last week but Bradshaw's receiving touchdowns made him the best (and really trolled the peeps who started Gore in the process). The mix-and-match figures to continue against a really good Bucs run defense -- no running back has run for a score on them or even had 90 rush yards in seven straight weeks. Gore has minimal upside as a No. 2 running back and Bradshaw remains touchdown dependent.
Wide receivers
Mike Evans (9.0): Obvious must-start.
Vincent Jackson (7.5): The matchup is already good for Jackson -- it's just a matter of Winston looking for him. He did it seven times last week, hooking up for a score in the process. He's unlikely for a ton of yardage so it will take a touchdown to help your Fantasy team. The Colts have allowed just one touchdown to a receiver in each of their last three games, and it's been a non-No. 1 receiver each time. Jackson's worth riding as a mid-range No. 2 option.
T.Y. Hilton (6.9): By now your expectations for Hilton should be way lower than where they were months ago. The combination of a backup quarterback throwing short to him against a pretty good pass defense puts Hilton into low-end No. 2 receiver territory.
Donte Moncrief (4.4): Moncrief led all Colts receivers in targets, receptions and yardage last week with eight looks, five grabs and 41 yards. For a guy who was automatic for a touchdown earlier this year, that's gross. He's a desperation receiver option given who his quarterback is.
Tight ends
Coby Fleener (4.2): Fleener's biggest contribution last week might have been the game-clinching interception on a Hail Mary pass. Otherwise he had just five targets from Hasselbeck. The Buccaneers' biggest weakness in the secondary seems to be against playmaking tight ends, but Fleener's been pretty unreliable.
Defense/Special teams
Buccaneers (6.8): If you're into streaming DSTs, the Buccaneers should be considered. Three of the last four DSTs to play Indy have had 12 Fantasy points, including the Saints! They should match up well against the Colts and are worth using if you don't have a slam-dunk DST already rostered.
Colts (5.0): The Indianapolis DST stunned last week with 17 Fantasy points thanks in part to a defensive touchdown and three interceptions. They're not as good as they looked last week, but the Bucs offense isn't as good as the scoreboard suggested last week. The Colts DST is a very, very low-end sleeper.
Bills at Chiefs, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Tyrod Taylor (3.6): Ever since he came back from his knee injury he's been awful. The Chiefs have held opposing quarterbacks to 11 Fantasy points or less over their last five games. Run away from Taylor.
Alex Smith (3.8): People are more excited to visit the orthodontist than start Smith in Fantasy as a non-bye week quarterback. Buffalo's pass defense has improved over its last four games, holding quarterbacks to 18 or fewer points per game. Funny, Smith has had 18 or fewer Fantasy points in six of his last seven matchups. Steer clear.
Running backs
LeSean McCoy (8.8): Obvious must-start, even if the Chiefs run defense is allowing only 3.8 yards per carry.
Karlos Williams (4.95): Williams isn't worth the risk this week as the Chiefs run defense has posted some incredible numbers lately.
Spencer Ware (8.7): Last week we saw Ware go wild in a blowout win over the Chargers, who are easily the worst run defense in the league. The matchup is tougher this week, but it's nowhere near impossible. The Bills have allowed a rushing score in five of their last six games and backs with big touch totals have come through easily for quality stats. That could be Ware if Charcandrick West is sidelined with his hamstring injury.
Wide receivers
Sammy Watkins (6.2): Over the last few weeks the Chiefs have contained big-time receivers like Calvin Johnson and Demaryius Thomas. Given how Taylor has thrown the ball for the Bills, Watkins will need either a ton of targets or one very fortuitous play to finally put up the Fantasy points we've expected over the past few weeks. He's best as a third receiver.
Jeremy Maclin (5.4): The good news: Maclin appears to be okay after taking a shot to the head last week. The bad news: he continues to underdeliver statistically. It's sickening -- he has six targets or less in four straight games and hasn't had 10-plus Fantasy points since Week 4. He's risky as a No. 3 receiver even with the matchup -- the Bills have allowed a wideout to get 11-plus Fantasy points in four of their last five. That's a fancy stat that means nothing if Smith doesn't throw him the ball.
Tight ends
Travis Kelce (5.7): Kelce nearly had a touchdown last week but couldn't hold on to the ball. Had he held on he would have hit 10 Fantasy points. That seems to be his ceiling even if he scores as the Chiefs have become a run-loving offense. With under 50 yards receiving in three straight and the Bills solid against tight ends (just ask Gronk), Kelce isn't a very reliable choice but still in the Top 12 by default.
Defense/Special teams
Bills (5.4): The last four DSTs to play the Chiefs recorded four Fantasy points or less. That suggests a big challenge for the Bills unit, particularly if they play without pass rusher Mario Williams. Consider some other options before trusting the Buffalo DST.
Chiefs (8.5): Kansas City is pretty much a must-start -- the unit has notched 25 Fantasy points in consecutive games and 10-plus points in six straight. The Bills offense will have a hard time racking up numbers against them.
Saints at Texans, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Drew Brees (8.8): Obvious must-start.
Brian Hoyer (8.0): The matchup dictates Hoyer as the quarterback to stream this week as well as lean on in Daily Fantasy play. The Saints have allowed at least four passing touchdowns in three straight, multiple passing touchdowns in eight of 10 games and 300-plus yards in seven of 10 games. Don't lose sight of the fact that Hoyer had five straight games with 21-plus Fantasy points before getting hurt.
Running backs
Mark Ingram (8.1): Hopefully the bye week did Ingram some good as minor injuries and some perplexing running left him just below 10 Fantasy points in consecutive games. This is a tough matchup for him -- in two games since the bye the Texans have held quality run offenses to 3.5 yards per carry with no touchdowns. He's still worth starting but there's a little concern he'll fail to get more than a dozen Fantasy points in a standard league.
Alfred Blue (5.6) & Jonathan Grimes (3.5): The matchup is plenty enticing -- running backs against the Saints have averaged 5.0 yards per carry and 10.5 yards per catch on the season. The problem is trusting in the Texans run game -- will they play with a lead? Will Blue get enough work? And how desperate must you be to use any Texans rusher? Play it safe and call Blue a No. 3 Fantasy running back and Grimes a desperation play in PPR leagues.
Wide receivers
Brandin Cooks (8.2): Only one receiver has posted 10 Fantasy points against the Texans over the last three weeks -- everyone else has posted eight or less. That list includes A.J. Green and Eric Decker. Cooks has been red hot over the last three weeks but the Texans suddenly improving secondary (thanks to rookies Kevin Johnson and Charles James and veteran Jonathan Joseph) could make things a little tough on Cooks. He's worth starting but he's not promised a great game.
Willie Snead (5.8): Snead has one game with over 100 yards and another with multiple touchdowns. Every other one of his eight games has resulted in nine Fantasy points or less. That's where Fantasy owners should ballpark Snead for this game, and nine points could be on the high side given the matchup and any potential tweaks the Saints offense made during the bye.
DeAndre Hopkins (9.7): Obvious must-start.
Nate Washington (4.9): Six straight non-No. 1 receivers have scored on the Saints. With Hoyer back under center the hunch is that Washington re-emerges as the Texans' second-best receiver, though that doesn't put him in the No. 3 receiver mixture.
Tight ends
Benjamin Watson (4.6): Watson's not bad as a stream-worthy tight end starter. Houston's stats against tight ends are impressive but they haven't taken on a lot of great tight ends. Sixty yards is possible.
Defense/Special teams
Saints (2.8): The Saints DST went into the bye with three straight games of five Fantasy points or less. Even though the Texans offense has averaged 17.0 points and 310.0 yards in two games after their bye, they shouldn't have many problems with New Orleans' retooled defense.
Texans (5.8): Houston's defense has racked up 14 sacks, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and held opponents to 9.7 points per game over its last three. The Saints offense, with an extra week to game plan, will provide a major challenge. The matchup is such that it could keep the Texans DST from having another huge game.
Rams at Bengals, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Case Keenum (3.0): Carson Palmer was the first quarterback to punch in for over 20 Fantasy points against the Bengals since Week 6. Keenum won't be the second.
Andy Dalton (6.8): Dalton has another challenging matchup, and the pressure's on to win after consecutive losses. Only one quarterback has managed over 18 Fantasy points on the Rams this season and it took some gift plays from the Rams defense for that to happen. This is the same quarterback who decimated the Seahawks defense at home earlier this season and came out of the game at Arizona with 25 Fantasy points, so it's okay to give him the benefit of the doubt and call him a low-end starting option.
Running backs
Todd Gurley (8.5): It's a tough matchup for Gurley, compounded by the injuries to his offensive line. Gurley has averaged 3.3 yards per carry over his last three games and has been buoyed by his incredible touchdown production (at least one score in five straight). The challenge this week will be to score on a Bengals defense that has allowed just two rush scores to running backs this season. Gurley should still start based on his workload and potential but there's more risk with him this week than ever.
Giovani Bernard (7.1): Gio has posted 14, 13 and 14 touches in each of his last three games, so that's a steady expectation of what to expect workload-wise. Figure Bernard to catch a handful of passes against a Rams defense that has allowed 9.4 yards per catch to running backs this season. I'd bet against a big game for Bernard given the ceiling on his workload, the matchup and Hill swiping lots of work.
Jeremy Hill (5.1): Hill has 68 yards or less in four straight games despite getting some decent carries most weeks. He basically needs a touchdown in order to be relevant in Fantasy -- that's a problem since the Rams have allowed two rush scores to running backs in their last seven games.
Wide receivers
Tavon Austin (3.4): The matchup isn't all bad -- the Bengals allowed 275 yards and two touchdowns to Cardinals receivers last week. Maybe the Rams try to use Austin like the Cardinals used John Brown and J.J. Nelson and aim some deep lobs in his direction. Having the guts to start Austin, particularly with the bye weeks over, is another story altogether.
A.J. Green (7.1): This is another really tough matchup for Green, who has basically been more like a decoy and less like a Fantasy superstar. The Rams have allowed four touchdowns to receivers all season and only two had over 80 yards. Even with a dozen targets last week Green had four grabs. He's used best as a No. 2 receiver.
Marvin Jones (4.7): Jones has had some favorable opportunities lately and hasn't delivered, turning 18 targets into eight catches and 104 yards over the last two weeks. Expect more of the same in Week 12 against St. Louis.
Tight ends
Tyler Eifert (9.4): Eifert bested a tough matchup last week and should be in for a better time against the Rams. Over the last two weeks they've given up over 120 yards per game just to tight ends! Eifert should be a decent pick for at least 10 Fantasy points.
Defense/Special teams
Rams (6.6): The Bengals typically have put up good numbers against defenses this season but they haven't shut down consecutive DSTs since Weeks 1 and 2. After posting 31 points at Arizona last week there should be some regression against a good Rams defense. That keeps St. Louis' DST as a usable starting option.
Bengals (8.2): Against Case Keenum, an underperforming receiving corps and a run game unimproved with a bad offensive line, the Bengals DST should find some good numbers.
Vikings at Falcons, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater (3.2): Five of the last six quarterbacks to play against the Falcons have not been able to land 20 or more Fantasy points. Last week Bridgewater threw for over 200 yards for the first time since Week 7 and ran for over 40 yards for the first time as a pro. Don't expect a big game.
Matt Ryan (5.9): Four of the last five quarterbacks to play the Vikings have put up 21 or 22 Fantasy points. Ryan has bounced around 20 Fantasy points over his last five games and should be able to get close to 20 this week. It might not be enough to make him an iron-clad Top 12 quarterback, but he is okay to start.
Running backs
Adrian Peterson (9.4): Obvious must-start.
Tevin Coleman (5.5): With Devonta Freeman out, Coleman will get a chance to play. Unfortunately it comes against a good Vikings run defense unit, one that has allowed 3.8 yards per carry, 7.6 yards per catch and one touchdown to a running back in its last four games. Coleman could lose work to passing downs backup Terron Ward, making him a decent fill-in for Freeman if you couldn't get a better running back off waivers.
Wide receivers
Stefon Diggs (5.5): Wideouts have scored three touchdowns against the Falcons this year, including one over their last six games. That'll make things hard on Diggs, who has had 70 yards or less in each of his last three.
Julio Jones (9.1): Obvious must-start.
Tight ends
Kyle Rudolph (4.4): The Falcons came up strong against the Colts tight ends last week and will have to do it again versus Rudolph, who has been a big-time target of Bridgewater's. Even after scoring last week with his first-ever 100-yard game, he's not a tremendous Fantasy option, more like one you'll use if desperate.
Jacob Tamme (4.5): With Hankerson not expected to play, the door's kicked down for Tamme to pick up a bunch of targets. He's a decent sleeper for the week but not a premium streaming tight end play.
Defense/Special teams
Vikings (6.9): Five of the last six DSTs to play the Falcons have uncovered 10-plus Fantasy points. Expect the Vikings to be next in that line.
Falcons (3.6): It took the Packers six sacks to be the first DST in the last five games to earn double-digit Fantasy points against the Vikings. The Falcons haven't had more than two sacks in a game this season.
Dolphins at Jets, Sun., 1 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill (4.2): Tannehill has been great in just one of his last four games, a surprise win at Philadelphia. Playing at the Jets figures to keep his cold spell going -- he had just 15 Fantasy points against the Jets in London earlier this year.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (5.4): Fitzpatrick is doing that thing again where he scores twice but still doesn't get 20 Fantasy points. The bearded wonder has done it five times already this season. Now he'll face off against a Dolphins pass defense that has somehow held each of the last three quarterbacks it's faced to under 20 Fantasy points each. That figures to be a decent expectation for Fitzpatrick.
Running backs
Lamar Miller (6.7): It feels like we're back in the danger zone with Miller after he had just nine touches last week against Dallas. It's not even like he did poorly in the game -- over 6.0 yards per carry! -- the Dolphins just seemed to get away from him. Now he's in a tough matchup against a Jets defense that hasn't allowed a rushing score to a back in seven straight games. If there's a glimmer of hope it's that the Jets have given up 13.2 yards per catch and three touchdowns to running backs over their last four games, and we've seen Miller make an impact as a receiver out of the backfield. He's still okay as a No. 2 running back.
Chris Ivory (8.2): Game flow robbed Ivory of touches last week, but it shouldn't be as big of a problem this week. This is the kind of game where he should pick up 20 or more touches and finish with some nice numbers. Six of eight running backs with at least 18 touches against the Dolphins have posted 11 or more Fantasy points.
Bilal Powell (4.8): Powell saw a good dose of work last week as the Jets passing downs back and the team wound up playing from behind. Don't expect that to be the case this week against the Dolphins.
Wide receivers
Jarvis Landry (5.0): The Jets secondary has been chewed up by a number of recent opponents but this one figures to go Gang Green's way. Landry had 11 targets against the Jets in Week 4 but caught just four passes for 40 yards (and ran for 29 yards). He should do a little bit better than that but not much better.
Rishard Matthews (3.3): Figure Matthews to get the Revis treatment. That should spell limited numbers for Matthews, who hasn't scored in six of his last seven.
Brandon Marshall (8.5): Obvious must-start.
Eric Decker (7.9): Last week stunk but Decker still has very nice appeal. It helps that he's taking on a Dolphins defense that gave up touchdowns to two receivers last week and 10-plus Fantasy points to Decker and Marshall back in Week 4.
Defense/Special teams
Dolphins (3.2): Miami's DST is tough to trust after posting 10 or fewer Fantasy points over the last four weeks, giving up an average of 28.0 points per game in that span. The Jets scored 27 points on them back in Week 4.
Jets (7.8): The Jets DST has been really disappointing lately, posting 10-plus points in just one of its last four games. They're not getting many turnovers and they're also not holding opponents to below 21 points anymore. Enter the Dolphins, who have averaged 14.5 points and 291.5 total yards per game in their last four. The matchup is a good opportunity for the Jets DST to get right.
Cardinals at 49ers, Sun., 4:05 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Carson Palmer (9.3): Obvious must-start.
Blaine Gabbert (4.4): Consecutive 18-point Fantasy games is something to get excited about, and three straight quarterbacks have had at least 18 points against the Cardinals. Does this make Gabbert a great starting option?? No chance!! That is, unless you're in a deep league and are desperate.
Running backs
Chris Johnson (6.8): Johnson's last three games have been consistent disappointments even though he's had at least 19 touches in each of them. This is his first game with a favorable matchup since the bye, so unless the Cardinals coaching staff has soured on him he should be in good shape to find 100 total yards.
Shaun Draughn (5.7): This will sound nuts but Draughn has actually been decent as the Niners' lead running back. In two games he's had just 3.4 yards per carry and 6.5 yards per catch but at least 20 touches per game. Maybe there's a hint of sleeper appeal since the Cardinals have allowed two rushing touchdowns to backs in each of their last two games, but the reality is that the Niners don't figure to compete much and thus Draughn will have a limited statistical projection. He's actually a low-end No. 2 running back in PPR leagues.
Wide receivers
Larry Fitzgerald (8.6): Obvious must-start.
Michael Floyd (7.2): It looks like Floyd is on the comeback trail after missing last week's game. We've seen the Cardinals fool around with their injury reports when it comes to their receivers so there's no guarantee he'll be as good as he was pre-injury. But there's no doubt the matchup is fantastic -- the Niners have allowed 11 touchdowns to receivers in their last nine games and have allowed multiple scores to wideouts in four games (including at Arizona in Week 3).
John Brown (6.8): Brown's a tough one to gauge -- in each of the last four games he's caught a pass in he's delivered 10 Fantasy points. By that logic he's a Top 24 receiver with Top 12 potential. However, if Floyd is back then the targets could get spread around a little more and Floyd would need to come through with a big catch or two in order to find double-digit Fantasy points. The lack of consistent targets does make Brown a little nerve-racking to start.
Anquan Boldin (3.6): No one is starting a 49ers receiver with any confidence. But Gabbert leaned on Boldin for nearly 100 yards and could come close to those numbers if (and this is a big if) Patrick Peterson winds up missing the game.
Defense/Special teams
Cardinals (7.0): Since Gabbert has taken over as the Niners quarterback, DSTs have posted exactly eight Fantasy points. That includes the Seahawks in Seattle last week. Arizona's defense is a little banged up and should be a candidate for those same eight points, but perhaps not as many points otherwise.
49ers (2.0): The Cardinals have put up over 30 points and 375 yards in each of their last three games. There's no way the Niners DST should be in a lineup.
Steelers at Seahawks, Sun., 4:25 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Ben Roethlisberger (7.3): The matchup shouldn't scare anyone. Roethlisberger had an extra week to heal up and gameplan against a Seattle secondary that's been good but not dominant. The Steelers receivers match up very well against the Seahawks and the thinking here is that the Steelers just keep doing their thing.
Russell Wilson (6.6): Wilson built more chemistry with Tyler Lockett last week, but he's just not reliable for multiple touchdowns every week just yet. He last had multiple passing touchdowns in consecutive games in Weeks 3 and 4 of last year. The Steelers defense tends to play better at home than on the road. Seattle's always been tough to get a read on -- they'd probably prefer to run the ball a ton but if the Steelers put up some points then Wilson will throw against a secondary that has allowed some numbers. The hunch is Wilson is a good enough starter but not a Top 12 finisher.
Running backs
DeAngelo Williams (8.0): We have seen teams head to Seattle and find running room against the Seahawks, but it's been rare. With the defense mostly healthy, Williams would need a ton of carries and catches in order to pay off for Fantasy owners. You'll start him but he should have high-end No. 2 running back expectations.
Thomas Rawls (9.2): With Marshawn Lynch out, bank on the Seahawks leaning on Rawls. He's earned 10-plus Fantasy points in three of the four games he's had 15 or more carries and the team hasn't been afraid to lean on him for as many as 30 carries. The Steelers have given up just two touchdowns all season to running backs but five of six rushers with at least 15 carries against Pittsburgh have had at least nine Fantasy points. We're looking for a lot more than nine points from Rawls.
Wide receivers
Antonio Brown (9.2): Obvious must-start. He'll be a tough matchup for any Seahawks cornerback.
Martavis Bryant (8.4): Bryant will also be a difficult challenge for any Seattle defensive back because of his unique size/speed combination. Arizona just went into Seattle and had a pair of receivers get at least 13 Fantasy points each. Bryant (and Brown) should be the next duo.
Doug Baldwin (5.3) & Tyler Lockett (4.8): Not many Fantasy owners are ready to trust a Seahawks receiver but the matchup is actually pretty good. In their last five games the Steelers have allowed seven receivers to get at least 10 Fantasy points (at least one per game). It's typically been prominent receivers with lots of targets eventually break through against the Steelers. That would favor Baldwin, though it might mean Graham also gets going.
Tight ends
Jimmy Graham (7.0): The Steelers have allowed a touchdown to a tight end in two straight and have had problems with highly targeted tight ends all season long. Look, if you've been riding with Graham all season anyway, might as well keep it going.
Defense/Special teams
Steelers (5.2): Five of the last six DSTs to play the Seahawks have produced eight Fantasy points or less. The Seattle offensive line has played better of late and it's shown. The Steelers could be in for a tough night against a team quietly averaging 22.8 points and 367.6 total yards per game.
Seahawks (6.2): There is obvious concern about the Seahawks DST against the Steelers. Their offense is potent and they match up well in the passing game. Try to bench the unit if you can, but if you can't don't be too concerned since there's always a chance for a touchdown on defense or special teams.
Patriots at Broncos, Sun., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady (7.2): Most everyone will start him, but he's going to have a hard time finding open receivers against the Broncos. Denver's outside corners are deep enough to handle the likes of Brandon LaFell and they'll have flexibility in how they cover Chris Harper, the likely replacement for Danny Amendola, who was the replacement for Julian Edelman. The Bills did a great job of taking Gronk away last week and the Broncos are sure to follow suit. We're potentially looking at Brady's worst game of the year -- and the Patriots' first loss.
Brock Osweiler (5.5): It'll help him to play at home but this won't be an easy matchup for him. The Patriots typically allow a ton of points to opposing quarterbacks because they play from behind. This time they could struggle to cover the Broncos, especially if they use a two-tight end formation for much of the game. Osweiler should be a good game manager but not a candidate for a second-straight 20-plus-point Fantasy performance.
Running backs
LeGarrette Blount (7.0): This is a weird matchup for Blount as the Broncos have allowed 3.2 yards per carry to opposing running backs, but have given up a touchdown to them in each of their last four games. With their passing game expected to struggle, Blount should end up taking on a bigger role and potentially scoring from a yard or two out.
James White (5.8): There are two reasons to dig White this week. One, if the Pats are trailing then he figures to see extra snaps. Two, because the Patriots receiving corps is missing key starters, White could pick up some extra targets. He's a pretty good player for the Patriots to try and scheme into some open field plays. Denver has allowed a pair of receiving touchdowns to running backs over its last three games. He's a sneaky play in standard and especially PPR leagues.
Ronnie Hillman (7.7): The Patriots run defense typically isn't as good on the road as it is at home and Hillman has hit 10 or more Fantasy points in four of his last five games. He's a decent No. 2 running back.
Wide receivers
Brandon LaFell (3.9): With matchups against the likes of Chris Harris, it's a pretty safe bet LaFell won't break through. His quasi-benching last week doesn't exactly evoke confidence either.
Chris Harper (3.0): With Danny Amendola out, Harper will get a lot of work as the slot receiver for the Patriots. He's serviceable but not spectacular -- he's the kind of receiver you can grab as a desperation play in deep PPR formats.
Demaryius Thomas (8.3): Obvious must-start.
Emmanuel Sanders (7.3): His return will greatly help the Broncos offense because he offers potential as a catch-and-run receiver. The Patriots have allowed multiple touchdowns to receivers in the same game just three times this season -- but all three times involved a speed receiver scoring and all three came on the road. Sanders is a good No. 2 receiver.
Tight ends
Rob Gronkowski (9.3): Obvious must-start, even if the matchup is really tough.
Vernon Davis (5.6): Davis could be a real thorn in the side of the Patriots. We've already seen over the last five quarters that Osweiler and Davis have some chemistry (eight catches on nine targets for 87 yards). How they cover him could impact some deficiencies elsewhere in the secondary. Davis is a borderline starter, especially in PPR.
Defense/Special teams
Patriots (4.8): No one expects the Broncos to pour on the points on the Patriots, but their last two road games against good offenses led to poor point totals. This should be another one, particularly since Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has a lot of experience putting up points on Bill Belichick-coached defenses.
Broncos (7.2): The unit is simply too good to sit, but what really raises its profile is the current state of the New England offense, which should make them easier to defend. Brady has been picked off in three straight games and the Broncos pass rush should get to Brady a few times too.
Ravens at Browns, Mon., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Matt Schaub (2.5): Yeah right.
Josh McCown (6.3): We'll see if McCown can reclaim his form from earlier this season. The matchup is a beauty -- five of the last six quarterbacks to play the Ravens have posted 19-plus Fantasy points and thrown multiple touchdowns, the lone exception being Case Keenum last week. Because the Browns won't be able to run the ball well, even if they have a lead, it should force McCown to attempt a slew of passes. McCown had 39 Fantasy points at Baltimore in Week 5. He's a sly Daily Fantasy pick and an even more intriguing streaming option.
Running backs
Javorius Allen (6.6): It's not a great matchup for Allen as the Browns have allowed 3.7 yards per carry to running backs over their last three games. Allen should fall into 20 touches, but the Browns will be aware of him and will probably often drop a safety into the box to contain him. His ceiling is still at 110 total yards or so.
Duke Johnson (4.5) & Isaiah Crowell (3.7): Neither guy should be counted on for more than 70 total yards. The Ravens run defense has been consistently solid (it just held Gurley to 2.6 yards per carry) and shouldn't have too much trouble with the Browns running backs, even if they have to kill the clock in the second half.
Wide receivers
Kamar Aiken (4.3): Aiken was fairly decent with Flacco as his quarterback. With Schaub, expectations shrink. The sentiment is that he gets 60 or 70 total yards, even against a suspect Browns secondary.
Travis Benjamin (6.6): A major sleeper if there ever was one. Baltimore has allowed two or more touchdowns to wide receivers in four of its last five, a streak that stopped last week against a weak Rams passing game. With McCown back under center, figure the Browns will throw it around a good amount at home. Benjamin should be plenty involved. He's a sensational No. 3 Fantasy receiver.
Tight ends
Crockett Gillmore (5.3): The Ravens offense favors tight ends and Schaub should lean heavily on Gillmore, especially since the Browns have allowed five touchdowns to tight ends in their last three games. He's a good streaming tight end choice.
Gary Barnidge (9.1): The decision to put McCown back on the field meant great things for Barnidge, who truly had a great run once already this season with the veteran quarterback. Barnidge caught eight passes for 139 yards and a touchdown at Baltimore in Week 5.
Defense/Special teams
Ravens (5.6): Five straight DSTs to play the Browns have posted 10-plus Fantasy points, but with the Ravens offense flooded with second-stringers there are probably going to be times where the defense is put into bad field position. This isn't a good week to confidently rely on the Ravens DST.
Browns (6.4): Unless you believe in the magic of a Matt Schaub-led offense, this is a good DST to take a chance on. Cleveland will come off a bye rejuvenated to make a big statement on national television against a team quarterbacked by Matt Schaub. It should be an easy game for the Browns, whose special-teams play could also pay off.
Eagles at Lions, Thu., 12:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Mark Sanchez (3.4): No one should feel good about starting Sanchez on a short week against a Lions defense that has come out of the bye for two weeks allowing an average of 5.8 yards per attempt.
Matthew Stafford (7.6): After giving up five touchdowns to Jameis Winston last week, the Eagles secondary must look like a giant green piñata to Stafford. He's averaged 19.5 Fantasy points per game in two matchups post-bye and should be able to exceed that number, perhaps significantly, on Thanksgiving.
Running backs
DeMarco Murray (7.2): A lot of people will start Murray but he's a very risky play. The Eagles offensive line is in rough shape -- two starters could play through some tough injuries -- and the matchup has actually turned tough. The Lions have allowed 2.5 yards per carry since their bye two games ago. He's better off as a No. 2 Fantasy running back.
Darren Sproles (5.9): Last week we liked Sproles figuring he'd get more reps, and he did -- and succeeded with them. Tack on the matchup on a short week indoors on fast artificial turf and he should be a useful flex play for those Fantasy owners desperate for running back help.
Ameer Abdullah (5.0) & Theo Riddick (4.7): Since the bye the Eagles have allowed a ton of numbers to running backs, including an embarrassing 5.6 yards per carry. Who will take advantage? The hunch is Abdullah gets the most touches for the Lions a week after he led them in that exact category despite playing about a third of the snaps. Riddick is a solid PPR bet while it seems like the Lions coaches finally realized Joique Bell stinks.
Wide receivers
Jordan Matthews (4.6): Last week was the much anticipated last straw for Matthews. Disappointing in what should have been a prolific matchup, many Fantasy owners dumped him. The Lions secondary has played great since the bye and Mark Sanchez is ... well, Mark Sanchez. If you haven't cut Matthews already you certainly can't start him on a short week against an improving opponent.
Calvin Johnson (8.9): Obvious must-start.
Golden Tate (3.0): Would you believe 50 percent of CBSSports.com Fantasy owners are still starting Tate?! Maybe those are PPR owners who are okay with Tate so long as he keeps hauling in plenty of targets. That could be the case this week but otherwise he's had seven or fewer Fantasy points in all but one of his last eight games.
Tight ends
Brent Celek (5.8): With Zach Ertz sidelined with a concussion we'll see Celek ramp up his workload. The Lions have allowed four touchdowns to tight ends over their last four games and Celek has 11 catches on 14 targets for 213 yards in his last two games. He's good enough to start and is pretty much the most intriguing Eagles pass catcher.
Eric Ebron (3.8): Man, did Ebron blow his chance at scoring last week when he bobbled a perfect target from Stafford. Now he'll roll against an Eagles defense that gave up a touchdown to a tight end last week -- the second such score of the season. That promise we saw from Ebron has been gone save for one week since his early-season injury.
Defense/Special teams
Eagles (3.4): It's a little disconcerting to see the Eagles get crushed at home by the Buccaneers, resulting in their worst DST performance of the year. It snapped a five-game streak of at least nine Fantasy points per game. Detroit figures to throw some numbers on the scoreboard and each of its opponents since the bye have had mediocre numbers. Try to stay away from the Eagles DST.
Lions (5.7): They've held the Packers to 16 points and the Raiders to 13 points. There's no way anyone can see the Eagles scoring a ton of points, especially after their pathetic effort last week.
Panthers at Cowboys, Thu., 4:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Cam Newton (8.9): Obvious must-start.
Tony Romo (5.7): It was great to see Romo come back from the injury and play mostly well despite some poor weather conditions and some turnovers. This isn't a great time to start him -- not only have his last two Thanksgiving games been total duds but the Panthers have given up 20-plus Fantasy points to one of the last five quarterbacks they've faced.
Running backs
Jonathan Stewart (9.1): Since the bye, Stewart has had at least 20 carries in six straight games. He's posted 12-plus Fantasy points in five of them. The Cowboys have allowed 4.6 yards per carry over their last three games and could struggle to slow Stewart down in a short week.
Darren McFadden (8.4): It's a tough matchup as the Panthers run defense has been good lately (and for much of the season) and allowed zero Fantasy points to Redskins running backs last week. But playing at home on a short week should count for something with McFadden. His streak of games with 20-plus touches and 10-plus Fantasy points is at four through his last five games.
Wide receivers
Devin Funchess (5.9) & Ted Ginn (4.1): We're looking for touchdowns from these guys since 100-yard games seem few and far between. That's not a great thing since the Cowboys defense has allowed just two touchdowns to a receiver in its last five games. Funchess seems to be coming on strong over the last few weeks.
Dez Bryant (8.1): Obvious must-start.
Terrance Williams (6.0):Josh Norman figures to line up on Dez Bryant, which will leave Williams in matchups against Carolina cornerbacks Bene Benwikere and Colin Jones. Williams has decent upside as a No. 3 receiver given the matchup and the return of Romo.
Tight ends
Greg Olsen (9.5): Obvious must-start.
Jason Witten (4.0): Witten's still six catches shy of 1,000 for his career. Maybe the Cowboys see him as within striking distance and make an effort for him to get there at home on Thanksgiving. The Panthers have been solid against tight ends this season.
Defense/Special teams
Panthers (7.4): Getting Charles Johnson back will help them ramp up the pressure on Romo. They should remain a helpful unit, though it's unlikely they'll finish in the Top 5.
Cowboys (4.2): A special-teams touchdown helped the Redskins become the first DST since Week 1 to land 10 Fantasy points on the Panthers. Everyone else has been in the single digits. The Cowboys shouldn't be trusted.
Bears at Packers, Thu., 8:30 p.m. ET
Quarterbacks
Jay Cutler (6.0): Lambeau Field has always been a house of horrors for Cutler. Maybe that changes a little bit with Jeffery expected to play, making him okay as a flex or No. 2 quarterback but not a traditional starter in a 12-team league.
Aaron Rodgers (9.5): Obvious must-start.
Running backs
Matt Forte (8.6) & Jeremy Langford (5.3): Forte's expected back and the Bears should lean heavily on him. Figure he'll lead the way with Langford picking up 10 touches or so. The Packers held Adrian Peterson to 61 total yards and 3.5 yards per carry last week.
Eddie Lacy (7.8): Lacy seemed to work better with a fullback last week, gaining enough steam to run for 100 yards on 22 carries. In four games since their bye the Bears have given up 4.7 yards per carry to rushers with every starter landing 10-plus Fantasy points against them. Lacy should be in that range too -- he's cautiously ranked as a No. 2 running back on the short week.
Wide receivers
Alshon Jeffery (7.8): Signs point to Jeffery coming back for the showdown at Lambeau. He's always been hit-or-miss against Green Bay, even when pelted with targets (Week 1 is an example). It's probably wise to give him the benefit of the doubt -- before he got banged up against the Rams in Week 10 he had at least 15 Fantasy points in three straight games. Count on him as a No. 2 receiver.
Randall Cobb (7.6): Everyone was happy to see Cobb score last week but he caught only two passes on nine targets. He's had single digit Fantasy point performances in six of his last seven games and isn't a cinch for a big party against Chicago. He's reliable as a No. 2 receiver.
James Jones (7.0): Jones kicked off the trend of big receivers scoring on the Bears, a trend that continued last week with two tall Broncos receivers finding the end zone. Jones' uptick in targets might be construed as a key to the Packers' success, so don't get too worried about using him as a low-end No. 2 wideout.
Davante Adams (3.1): Two weeks ago: 21 targets. Last week: four targets. Adams seems relegated to a No. 3 receiver for the Packers and thus a very low-end wideout for Fantasy purposes.
Tight ends
Zach Miller (6.9): This is a big opportunity for Miller with Martellus Bennett ruled out. The Packers just allowed Kyle Rudolph to have a career day against them last week and have given up a touchdown to a tight end in three straight (and four of their last five). Miller is a sneaky good starting tight end for Week 12.
Richard Rodgers (4.8): Only two tight ends have scored on the Bears this season, so Rodgers' chances of helping your Fantasy team seem low.
Defense/Special teams
Bears (2.4): The Packers have averaged 25.0 points and 364.7 total yards per game in their last three. Chicago's DST doesn't have much of a shot.
Packers (7.6): Three of the last four DSTs to play the Bears have hit the 10-point mark. Defensive touchdowns have played a big role in two of those three but it's entirely possible the Packers clean up on Thanksgiving night at home against the division rival they've dominated for years.
