Fantasy Football Week 12 Quarterback Preview: Streaming options, DFS plays, and more

Usually when we talk about the quarterback position we talk about players in the top 12 as 'starts' and players outside the top 12 as 'sits'. It's a simple way to look at things if you view a 12-team league as normal, but it's not always representative of the facts on the ground. This week is a good example of why, with Trevor Lawrence and Kyler Murray projected outside of the top 12.

I have Lawrence and Murray projected within a point of QB11 this week and less than two points away from QB9. They might be sits if you happen to have them on a team alongside one of my top-12 QBs, but I'm certainly not looking to sit them.

Lawrence in particular is in a promising spot. The 48.5 total in the Jaguars game against the Texans is tied for the highest on the slate and Lawrence is coming off the best start of his season from a Fantasy perspective. The only red light is that Lawrence has thrown one touchdown pass and four interceptions in his last three starts against the Texans.

Murray has looked exceptional as a rusher and I think that will be enough to keep him in the 20-point range. Just don't sleep on the elite upside he still possesses if he and Marquise Brown get on the same page again. 

Don't feel uncomfortable at all if Lawrence or Murray are your best option to start this week, despite their ranking.

My full set of projections for quarterback and every other position can be found at SportsLine. Here's everything else you need to know about tight end in Week 12:

Let's get to the rest of the preview:

Week 12 QB Preview

Numbers to Know

Matchups That Matter

Waiver Wire Targets

DFS Plays

Projections

QB Preview

Numbers to know

• 9.7 -- Brock Purdy leads the NFL with 9.7 yards per pass attempt and a 6.5% TD rate. 
• 1.7% -- Lamar Jackson has the lowest turnover-worthy rate at 1.7%. He should be fine even without Mark Andrews.
• 22.4% -- Tua Tagovailoa has only been pressured on 22.4% of his dropbacks. That will be pressured against the Jets.
• 18 -- Justin Fields ran the ball 18 times in Week 11. He's a must-start QB when he's running like that.
• 6 -- Joshua Dobbs has scored six rushing TDs this season. That ranks third amongst QBs behind only Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen.

QB Preview

Matchups that matter

Matchups that Matter

Dak Prescott QB

DAL Dallas • #4
Age: 30 • Experience: 9 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs WAS DAL -11 O/U 48.5

OPP VS QB 5th

PROJ PTS 26.1

QB RNK 2nd

YTD Stats
PAYDS 2604	RUYDS 141	TD 21	INT 6	FPTS/G 23.2

Geno Smith QB

SEA Seattle • #7
Age: 33 • Experience: 12 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs SF SF -6.5 O/U 43

OPP VS QB 1st

PROJ PTS 10.1

QB RNK 21st

YTD Stats
PAYDS 2404	RUYDS 65	TD 12	INT 7	FPTS/G 16

Gardner Minshew QB

LV Las Vegas • #15
Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs TB IND -2.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS QB 6th

PROJ PTS 15.3

QB RNK 17th

YTD Stats
PAYDS 1721	RUYDS 44	TD 10	INT 6	FPTS/G 11.3

Russell Wilson QB

PIT Pittsburgh • #3
Age: 35 • Experience: 13 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs CLE DEN -2.5 O/U 35.5

OPP VS QB 21st

PROJ PTS 15.7

QB RNK 19th

YTD Stats
PAYDS 2065	RUYDS 232	TD 19	INT 4	FPTS/G 20.5

Joshua Dobbs QB

SF San Francisco • #5
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs CHI MIN -3.5 O/U 43

OPP VS QB 5th

PROJ PTS 24.3

QB RNK 9th

YTD Stats
PAYDS 2216	RUYDS 389	TD 18	INT 6	FPTS/G 19.6

QB Preview

Waiver Wire Targets

Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)

Gardner Minshew QB

LV Las Vegas • #15
Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs TB IND -2.5 O/U 43.5

OPP VS QB 7th

QB RNK 17th

ROSTERED 29%

YTD Stats
PAYDS 1721	RUYDS 44	TD 10	INT 6	FPTS/G 11.3

Tampa Bay has allowed the fourth-most Fantasy points to QBs this season, but even that doesn't tell the full picture. Three of the last four quarterbacks who have faced the Buccaneers have scored at least 32 Fantasy points. Minshew and the Colts offense should be sharp coming off the bye.

Derek Carr QB

NO New Orleans • #4
Age: 33 • Experience: 11 year

Weekly Breakdown

@ ATL NO -PK O/U 42

OPP VS QB 21st

QB RNK NR

ROSTERED 63%

YTD Stats
PAYDS 2231	RUYDS 33	TD 10	INT 4	FPTS/G 14.3

If Carr clears the concussion protocol he may just be the best streaming option this week. The Falcons have allowed 22 or more Fantasy points to four of the last five QBs they have faced and Carr had 300 yards passing or two touchdowns in five straight starts before his injury.

One To Stash (QB Preview)

Kenny Pickett QB

PHI Philadelphia • #7
Age: 26 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ CIN PIT -1 O/U 34.5

OPP VS QB 3rd

QB RNK NR

ROSTERED 31%

YTD Stats
PAYDS 1722	RUYDS 46	TD 7	INT 4	FPTS/G 10.8

If you have QB concerns and an opening at the end of the roster, Kenny Pickett might be worth the space. He's been abysmal so far, but what if at least some of it actually was Matt Canada's fault? Pickett has Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and a fantastic closing schedule. Let's see how he looks in that first game without Canada.

QB Preview

DFS Plays

Top DFS Play

Jalen Hurts QB

PHI Philadelphia • #1
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs BUF PHI -3 O/U 48.5

OPP VS QB 15th

PROJ PTS 23.9

QB RNK 1st

YTD Stats
PAYDS 2497	RUYDS 345	TD 24	INT 9	FPTS/G 25.4

Hurts is only half a point behind Josh Allen in year-to-date FPPG and I like his matchup against Allen's Bills better than Allen's matchup against the Eagles. This is the top game to stack on the main slate and you should have a large chunk of it in cash games, starting with Hurts.

Contrarian DFS Play

Patrick Mahomes QB

KC Kansas City • #15
Age: 28 • Experience: 8 yrs.

With both Hurts and Allen on the slate, this is the rare chance to get Mahomes at somewhat of a low roster rate. He's been in a slump and the wide receivers may not get better, but if one of them steps up this week, Mahomes could go bananas indoors against the Raiders.

QB Preview

Heath's projections

My full set of Week 12 Fantasy Football projections for every position are now available on SportsLine. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don't live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 12. Projected stats for all starting quarterbacks are available, so be sure to check out the full set of projections at SportsLine.