Fantasy Football Week 12 Lineup Cheat Sheet: Starts, sits and sleepers
Need help selecting a starter for your Week 12 lineup? Dave Richard combines film study, stats and confidence to help put your best foot forward.
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Dave Richard
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11 min read
Week 12 Rankings: Standard | PPR
The Lineup Cheat Sheet combines Fantasy analysis and game-flow predictions with a confidence scale to give you a definitive answer on who to start in your leagues.
The higher the number next to a player's name, the more confident you should be to start him. If a player isn't listed, don't start him.
Numbers are based on non-PPR scoring but are typically applicable to PPR formats.
To find a specific player, use your 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.
If you're still unsure, just send a note on Twitter (@daverichard) using #CBSFLCS and I'll give it a look, time permitting.
Vikings at Lions
| Vikings | Lions | ||
| Sam Bradford | (4.3) | Matthew Stafford | (4.6) |
| Matt Asiata | (4.5) | Theo Riddick | (6.0) |
| Jerick McKinnon | (4.2) | Golden Tate | (6.2) |
| Stefon Diggs | (7.9) | Marvin Jones | (1.8) |
| Adam Thielen | (4.6) | Eric Ebron | (8.5) |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | (2.5) | Lions DST | (4.8) |
| Kyle Rudolph | (7.1) | ||
| Vikings DST | (7.4) |
Start Them
There's a good shot both tight ends feast on Thanksgiving. Rudolph had a score called back against a tough Cardinals defense but lands a plum matchup against a Lions defense that's allowed a touchdown to a tight end in seven games this year. Rudolph scored on them in Week 9.
Ebron will test a Minnesota defense that's given up a score to a tight end in each of its last two and 14.8 yards per catch to tight ends over its last four. He's a must-start given his current hot streak that started at Minnesota three weeks ago.
Redskins at Cowboys
| Redskins | Cowboys | ||
| Kirk Cousins | (8.4) | Dak Prescott | (8.5) |
| Rob Kelley | (6.9) | Ezekiel Elliott | (9.7) |
| Chris Thompson | (4.6) | Dez Bryant | (9.5) |
| Jamison Crowder | (8.4) | Cole Beasley | (5.9) |
| DeSean Jackson | (5.4) | Jason Witten | (5.0) |
| Pierre Garcon | (4.1) | Cowboys DST | (5.2) |
| Jordan Reed | (6.9) | ||
| Redskins DST | (4.0) |
Start Him
Too obvious? Prescott should be considered a must-start given the run he's been on over his past five (27.0 Fantasy points per game on average). Washington's pass defense has struggled of late, allowing minimums of 275 yards, two total touchdowns and 21 Fantasy points to quarterbacks in each of its last three.
The matchup is also really favorable for Cole Beasley in the slot and Jason Witten at tight end, making it pretty clear that Prescott should come through with another big game. He's worth starting over Marcus Mariota, Derek Carr and Matt Ryan.
Steelers at Colts
| Steelers | Colts | ||
| Ben Roethlisberger | (9.4) | Scott Tolzien | (4.9) |
| Le'Veon Bell | (10.0) | Frank Gore | (8.4) |
| Antonio Brown | (9.7) | T.Y. Hilton | (7.7) |
| Eli Rogers | (6.5) | Donte Moncrief | (5.7) |
| Jesse James | (3.5) | Jack Doyle | (4.3) |
| Steelers DST | (6.4) | Colts DST | (3.2) |
Start Him
Everyone for the Steelers should put up big numbers, but Rogers' role in the slot should lock in some nice numbers. The Colts have allowed an average of 219.0 yards per game just to receivers over their past three with six touchdowns in that span. Blustery winds won't blow away Rogers' sleeper potential in Week 12 -- he's a better start than ...
Sit Him
Moncrief has been pretty good this season, scoring in four of five games, but that's with Andrew Luck under center. If Scott Tolzien starts for Indy, Moncrief just won't have the same kind of potential. Of his 13 career scores, only one came from a quarterback not named Luck. Tolzien has one career passing touchdown ... and five interceptions.
Cardinals at Falcons
| Cardinals | Falcons | ||
| Carson Palmer | (6.0) | Matt Ryan | (8.1) |
| David Johnson | (9.8) | Tevin Coleman | (6.5) |
| Larry Fitzgerald | (7.4) | Devonta Freeman | (6.3) |
| Michael Floyd | (4.3) | Julio Jones | (9.3) |
| John Brown | (3.0) | Taylor Gabriel | (4.7) |
| Cardinals DST | (5.6) | Mohamed Sanu | (2.0) |
| Austin Hooper | (2.9) | ||
| Falcons DST | (5.8) |
Start Him
Call it a hunch play more than anything else. In the three games Coleman missed, Devonta Freeman never had more than 77 rush yards, one game with more than 100 total yards, and one rushing touchdown. Freeman didn't separate himself from Coleman as the must-use running back for Atlanta, so don't expect him to stay too far ahead of Coleman in terms of touches.
Coleman's return comes with a tough matchup versus the Cardinals, but they have allowed a rushing touchdown in each of their road games this season. Arizona is on the road for the second straight week, Atlanta's coming off a bye and Coleman's coming back after a month's rest. I'd take my chances on Coleman making a big play or three and start him over Freeman.
Bengals at Ravens
| Bengals | Ravens | ||
| Andy Dalton | (5.8) | Joe Flacco | (5.6) |
| Jeremy Hill | (5.2) | Terrance West | (6.6) |
| Rex Burkhead | (3.8) | Kenneth Dixon | (4.9) |
| Brandon LaFell | (6.6) | Steve Smith | (8.3) |
| Tyler Boyd | (5.6) | Mike Wallace | (4.2) |
| James Wright | (2.8) | Dennis Pitta | (3.9) |
| Tyler Eifert | (7.3) | Ravens DST | (6.8) |
| Bengals DST | (3.8) |
Sit Him
The Ravens run defense is legit. Holding Ezekiel Elliott to 127 total yards should be considered good given how well the rookie has played. Holding Le'Veon Bell to 70 total yards is downright nasty.
The Ravens did that over a three-week span and now host Hill, who has been below 30 rush yards in three of four career meetings. Without A.J. Green stretching the field, bank on Hill struggling against a very good Ravens front seven. Rashad Jennings, Isaiah Crowell and Dion Lewis have more upside.
Jaguars at Bills
| Jaguars | Bills | ||
| Blake Bortles | (6.5) | Tyrod Taylor | (6.2) |
| Chris Ivory | (6.1) | LeSean McCoy | (9.6) |
| Allen Robinson | (9.1) | Mike Gillislee | (4.8) |
| Marqise Lee | (4.4) | Marquise Goodwin | (5.5) |
| Allen Hurns | (2.4) | Charles Clay | (3.3) |
| Julius Thomas | (4.7) | Bills DST | (7.2) |
| Jaguars DST | (2.4) |
Risky Starter
In 10 career games with 20-plus carries, Ivory has come through for 100 rush yards, a touchdown or both. Perhaps that number is possible since T.J. Yeldon isn't a lock to play. The Bills' run defense has been a mixed bag, having allowed a score to a running back in three of their last four but have done a great job containing rushers' yardage.
Only two teams have averaged over 4.0 yards per carry against the Bills. Ivory's workload should push his numbers past, say, 60 total yards, and he's got a fair chance to score. Use him as a No. 3 running back.
Titans at Bears
| Titans | Bears | ||
| Marcus Mariota | (8.3) | Matt Barkley | (1.0) |
| DeMarco Murray | (9.3) | Jordan Howard | (6.7) |
| Rishard Matthews | (7.0) | Jeremy Langford | (4.4) |
| Tajae Sharpe | (4.9) | Cameron Meredith | (2.3) |
| Kendall Wright | (3.6) | Eddie Royal | (1.7) |
| Delanie Walker | (9.1) | Bears DST | (3.4) |
| Titans DST | (7.9) |
Risky Starter
Maybe if he were facing a softer opponent this wouldn't be the case, but Howard's stuck in an awful situation. The Bears are down to their third-string quarterback, their top two offensive linemen are hurt, their receiving corps is rotten and the coaches let Jeremy Langford handle goal-line work last week.
There's no doubting Howard's workload -- it's the production that is hard to figure when the first focus of the Titans defense will be to stop him. You'll be lucky if Howard totals 100 yards.
Giants at Browns
| Giants | Browns | ||
| Eli Manning | (9.0) | Josh McCown | (4.7) |
| Rashad Jennings | (7.4) | Isaiah Crowell | (5.4) |
| Odell Beckham | (9.6) | Duke Johnson | (3.9) |
| Sterling Shepard | (7.1) | Terrelle Pryor | (6.9) |
| Victor Cruz | (2.2) | Corey Coleman | (3.1) |
| Will Tye | (5.7) | Gary Barnidge | (4.9) |
| Giants DST | (9.0) | Browns DST | (2.2) |
Risky Starter
Pryor has scored 10 Fantasy points or less in each of his past five and seven of his past eight. That's the case despite some really gaudy target totals from the merry-go-round of Browns quarterbacks.
Things won't get any easier for him when he takes on a Giants pass defense that has yielded only seven touchdowns and one 100-yard game to receivers all season. Start him knowing that 10 Fantasy points is the maximum. DeVante Parker, Willie Snead and Jordan Matthews all have rosier Week 12 outlooks.
Chargers at Texans
| Chargers | Texans | ||
| Philip Rivers | (7.6) | Brock Osweiler | (3.0) |
| Melvin Gordon | (9.5) | Lamar Miller | (7.6) |
| Tyrell Williams | (8.1) | Alfred Blue | (3.5) |
| Travis Benjamin | (4.0) | DeAndre Hopkins | (6.0) |
| Antonio Gates | (7.0) | Will Fuller | (3.3) |
| Chargers DST | (7.6) | C.J. Fiedorowicz | (5.5) |
| Texans DST | (4.2) |
Risky Starter
Rivers' track record against the Texans is ridiculously good -- at least three touchdowns in three career meetings. His track record against defenses coached by Romeo Crennel isn't quite as good -- only one big game with over 300 yards and two touchdowns out of eight tries. He's had plenty of modest performances and a few stinkers.
On one hand, his familiarity with the scheme and the Texans playing on a short week should help him out. Then again, the Texans defense is pretty good and matches up well with the Chargers offense. Rivers is an OK starter this week, but not ahead of Eli Manning, Dak Prescott or Derek Carr.
49ers at Dolphins
| 49ers | Dolphins | ||
| Colin Kaepernick | (7.4) | Ryan Tannehill | (7.2) |
| Carlos Hyde | (8.7) | Jay Ajayi | (9.4) |
| Quinton Patton | (1.6) | Damien Williams | (3.6) |
| Vance McDonald | (5.1) | DeVante Parker | (7.8) |
| Garrett Celek | (3.1) | Jarvis Landry | (5.8) |
| 49ers DST | (3.0) | Kenny Stills | (3.5) |
| Dolphins DST | (7.0) |
Start Him
Jarvis Landry's hobbled, Jay Ajayi's slowing down a little bit and the 49ers have allowed multiple touchdowns to wide receivers in six of their last seven games. If that's not enough to get you fired up about Parker, then maybe his back-to-back games with 10-plus Fantasy points will.
Parker has come alive because he's healthy and Ryan Tannehill has rediscovered him. Oozing with big-play potential against a bad defense, Parker should be an easy choice as a No. 2 wideout -- better than T.Y. Hilton without Andrew Luck.
Rams at Saints
| Rams | Saints | ||
| Jared Goff | (2.5) | Drew Brees | (8.7) |
| Todd Gurley | (7.0) | Mark Ingram | (5.8) |
| Kenny Britt | (3.2) | Tim Hightower | (5.3) |
| Lance Kendricks | (3.7) | Brandin Cooks | (8.9) |
| Rams DST | (5.4) | Willie Snead | (7.6) |
| Michael Thomas | (6.3) | ||
| Saints DST | (6.6) |
Start Him
I talk about Snead just about every week in this space. For this matchup, he's worth trusting. The Rams pass defense has allowed some numbers to slot receivers like Anquan Boldin and Jarvis Landry. Snead's next in line.
He was very close to scoring last week as Drew Brees has come to lean on him in the red zone. With the Rams good against the run, against tight ends and certainly holding their own against outside receivers, the matchup to exploit for the Saints is on the inside. Snead's worth trusting as a No. 2 option.
Seahawks at Buccaneers
| Seahawks | Buccaneers | ||
| Russell Wilson | (9.3) | Jameis Winston | (6.9) |
| Thomas Rawls | (8.5) | Doug Martin | (6.8) |
| Doug Baldwin | (9.0) | Mike Evans | (8.5) |
| Tyler Lockett | (2.9) | Russell Shepard | (3.8) |
| Jimmy Graham | (8.9) | Cameron Brate | (5.9) |
| Seahawks DST | (7.8) | Buccaneers DST | (2.8) |
Start Him
This seems pretty obvious, no? The Seahawks backfield is basically in Rawls' hands -- only rookie Alex Collins is around to help him shoulder the load. This should not only lead to a lot of carries but also more catches than normal for Rawls.
In the Bucs' past four games they've allowed 4.8 yards per carry and 9.2 yards per catch but no rushing touchdowns to backs. That should change this week as Rawls is a prime candidate to score and total over 100 yards.
Patriots at Jets
| Patriots | Jets | ||
| Tom Brady | (9.5) | Ryan Fitzpatrick | (5.0) |
| LeGarrette Blount | (8.6) | Matt Forte | (5.7) |
| Dion Lewis | (5.6) | Bilal Powell | (4.7) |
| James White | (4.3) | Brandon Marshall | (6.8) |
| Julian Edelman | (8.2) | Quincy Enunwa | (2.6) |
| Malcolm Mitchell | (4.8) | Jets DST | (2.6) |
| Danny Amendola | (3.7) | ||
| Martellus Bennett | (6.2) | ||
| Patriots DST | (6.2) |
Sit Him
Forte's best games have come in Jets wins and close losses. His worst games have come in blowouts, which is certainly the expectation versus the Pats in Week 12 given the state of the Jets defense. He has scored six Fantasy points or less in the Jets' four losses by 10-plus points -- and Bilal Powell has outperformed him twice in those types of games. Moreover, the Jets haven't scored a rushing touchdown or fielded a running back with 100 total yards in three straight against New England.
Try to sit Forte this week.
Panthers at Raiders
| Panthers | Raiders | ||
| Cam Newton | (6.7) | Derek Carr | (8.2) |
| Jonathan Stewart | (5.0) | Latavius Murray | (7.7) |
| Kelvin Benjamin | (6.1) | Jalen Richard | (3.7) |
| Ted Ginn | (2.7) | Amari Cooper | (8.8) |
| Greg Olsen | (8.7) | Michael Crabtree | (6.7) |
| Panthers DST | (4.4) | Seth Roberts | (4.5) |
| Raiders DST | (6.0) |
Sit Him
Newton just hasn't regained his MVP form from 2015. He's completing just 56.5 percent of his passes, averaging 1.2 touchdowns per game and not running nearly as much as he has in the past. But the real problem is up front for Carolina -- both tackles are turnstiles and center Ryan Kalil's absence will absolutely shipwreck the entire offense. Additionally, the Raiders defense is rounding into form, giving up just 235.2 yards per game and six touchdowns through the air in its last five. Momentum is also on their side.
With just one game over 20 Fantasy points in his last four, the time has come to rest Newton -- and most of his teammates -- for a week.
Chiefs at Broncos
| Chiefs | Broncos | ||
| Alex Smith | (4.4) | Trevor Siemian | (4.8) |
| Spencer Ware | (6.4) | Devontae Booker | (5.9) |
| Tyreek Hill | (3.4) | Demaryius Thomas | (7.5) |
| Travis Kelce | (5.3) | Emmanuel Sanders | (6.4) |
| Chiefs DST | (8.3) | Broncos DST | (8.4) |
Risky Starts
Since left guard Parker Ehinger went down, the Chiefs run game has stalled. We're on four weeks now without a running back scoring for Kansas City, and it has been five weeks since a Kansas City running back had 10-plus Fantasy points in a game. The Broncos' run defense isn't up to Orange Crush standards, but with three rushing touchdowns given up in its past five -- and all in one game -- it's not exactly a rosy matchup for Ware, even with 16-plus touches expected.
Booker also doesn't have a good offensive line in front of him. He also has a stingy matchup because the Chiefs haven't let a running back hit paydirt in six straight. Playing at home and coming off a bye should give Booker a boost, but with a 2.9 yard rushing average in three games since C.J. Anderson got hurt, he's becoming increasingly harder to trust -- for Fantasy owners and potentially for Gary Kubiak, too.
Ware is the slightly preferred option over Booker.
Packers at Eagles
| Packers | Eagles | ||
| Aaron Rodgers | (8.8) | Carson Wentz | (6.4) |
| James Starks | (6.2) | Darren Sproles | (5.5) |
| Jordy Nelson | (9.4) | Wendell Smallwood | (5.1) |
| Davante Adams | (8.0) | Jordan Matthews | (7.3) |
| Randall Cobb | (7.2) | Dorial Green-Beckham | (3.9) |
| Jared Cook | (4.5) | Zach Ertz | (6.8) |
| Packers DST | (3.6) | Eagles DST | (5.0) |
Start Both
In short, this Packers defense is in rough shape. They can't get to the quarterback enough, they can't slow down the pass (11 pass touchdowns in their last four) and they can't keep points off the scoreboard (at least 30 points allowed in five of their last six). Even Carson Wentz should be able to find some success against Green Bay.
Specifically, slot receivers have scored on the Pack in consecutive weeks, as have top-targeted receivers in three of their last four. Matthews checks off both of those boxes. Tight ends have posted at least seven Fantasy points in two straight, which should be the floor for Ertz after he was rediscovered. Expect good games from both Eagles.
