Happy Friday fantasy followers and welcome back to my weekly Start/Sit HUB! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and have an even better week 12. Mike Hubbard Jr here, providing you with information that can help you win your fantasy league week in and week out. For all things fantasy football, follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) and Instagram (@fantasyhubbard). You can tweet me or message me on either social media with any questions you might have regarding the fantasy football season.
Fantasy playoffs are within reach and hopefully you’ll be in them. No matter how your team is doing, I hope you’re enjoying the experience and continue to fight for wins. Stay informed and play smart.
Week 12 began yesterday with a feast of 3 Thanksgiving games. Andy Dalton and the Bears escaped a winless Lions team with a last second field goal. Derek Carr and the Raiders went into Dallas, never trailed, withstood a Dallas comeback, and won on a field goal in OT. Finally, the Bills reestablished their dominance in a blowout win against the Saints. All 3 road teams won.
Week 12 BYEs go to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Arizona Cardinals who both are leading their divisions and have a combined record of 16-6. Remember to check your lineups and manage accordingly. The matchups I look forward to watching the most this Sunday are the Buccaneers/Colts game and the Rams/Packers game.
I’m here every Friday with start and sit suggestions that can impact your team each week. My decisions as always include obvious and not so obvious picks. I would also like to clarify that my sit suggestions are based on the assumption you have or can add a player that has a better chance at success. Good luck this week and continue to check out my weekly articles.
Eagles @ Giants
Start – Jalen Hurts – Jalen Hurts and the Eagles had a great week 11 scoring 40 points taking down the Saints. Hurts had a 72.7 QBR, no passing TDs, failed to hit 150 passing yards, yet still finished top 3 in fantasy QBs. He ran for 69 yards and scored 3 rushing TDs. This is the 3rd time Hurts has recorded multiple rushing TDs in a game this season. Hurts can hurt defenses in multiple ways, and he is only getting better. He gets the Giants this week who don’t scare anyone. Hurts should dominate this game and get a 3rd consecutive win, but this season you just never know. I’m firing up Jalen with confidence and expecting top 5 fantasy QB results.
Sit – Kenny Golladay – Golladay is having a season to forget. He can’t stay healthy and hasn’t put up promising numbers. His only good game this season came in week 4 where he had 6 receptions for 116 yards. Other than that, he has no more than 4 receptions and 64 receiving yards in any game. Golladay returned from an injury in week 9 and played the Giants last 2 games. He has caught 3 of 4 targets for 40 receiving yards total in those games. Golladay hasn’t been fantasy relevant in about 7 weeks and the Giants offense has looked ugly averaging under 19 points per game.
Steelers @ Bengals
Start – Diontae Johnson – Diontae Johnson had under 10 targets in just 2 games this season. 1 of those games he had 5 receptions for 56 yards and the other he scored a TD with 72 receiving yards. Johnson has double digit targets in 7 games this season including 5 games where he was targeted 13 times. In week 11 he caught 7 passes for 101 receiving yards and scored a TD. The Steelers face Cincinnati this weekend where I expect big games by Najee Harris and Diontae Johnson. Johnson has shown no signs of regression and is 7th in the NFL in targets.
Sit – CJ Uzomah – CJ has cooled off since his 4-game stretch where he scored 5 times and had a couple of 90+ receiving yard games. Uzomah had just 2 receptions for 9 yards on 3 targets in week 11. That makes 10 receptions for 66 receiving yards and no scores in his last 3 games. The Steelers defense has been good against TEs this season but has struggled to contain WRs. The Bengals have Chase, Higgins, and Boyd at WR and the stud Joe Mixon at RB. There are 5 offensive Bengals I would start over Uzomah and probably 20 better TE options this week.
Buccaneers @ Colts
Start – Evans/Godwin/Gronk – I like all 3 of Tom Brady’s top pass catchers this week in Indianapolis. The Colts are 5th in points per game this season averaging 28+. The Bucs are 1st in points per game with 30+. I expect the Bucs to score a lot regardless of how the Colts play. The Colts defense is giving up a lot of points to opposing QBs, WRs, and TEs. Antonio Brown is doubtful yet again leaving Evans and Godwin as Brady’s top receivers. Gronk played well in his return in week 11 and should again this week. Monitor Evans and Godwin up until game time as Evans is having back issues and Godwin is having foot issues. I’m starting all 3 pass catchers with confidence as long as they’re active and healthy enough to play.
Sit – TY Hilton – Hilton is another WR struggling with injuries this season. TY has played in 4 games this season including the Colts last 2 games. Like I said above, the Colts score 28+ point per game on average this season. A heavy dose of Jonathan Taylor is expected every week now since Taylor has been dominating and become an MVP candidate and Wentz loves throwing to Michael Pittman in crucial situations. TY is averaging just 31 receiving yards per game in his 4 games this season without any TDs and this week isn’t looking promising for him even if he stays healthy.
Panthers @ Dolphins
Start – Cam Newton – Cam Newton is indeed back. He threw for 189 passing yards and 2 TDs, ran for 46 rushing yards scoring 1 TD, and didn’t turn the ball over. Newton has McCaffrey and DJ Moore on his side and he certainly has the experience and confidence to perform well. This week the Panthers travel to Miami. The Dolphins have been playing well defensively the last 3 weeks, even if 2 of the 3 teams they played were Houston and the Jets. This game could go in any direction, but Cam should have success in most of those directions. I like newton to finish a top 10 fantasy QB this week.
Sit – Myles Gaskin – Gaskin seems to be up and down every week with his performances. Last week he was up with 96 total yards and a receiving TD and I’m thinking this week he will be down against the Panthers. The Panthers defense has also been up and down but are currently a top 5 fantasy defense against opposing RBs this season. Gaskin needs a good performance, but I don’t have him in my top 15 fantasy RBs for week 12.
Titans @ Patriots
Start – Jakobi Meyers – Jakobi Meyers is the leader in targets and receptions for the Patriots this season and trails only Kendrick Bourne by just 40 yards for most receiving yards. Meyers scored his 1st ever TD in week 10 and gets a great matchup with the Titans this weekend who is one of the worst fantasy defenses facing WRs. Meyers has 4 receptions in all but 1 game this season and is averaging 7+ targets per game this season. Meyers and Bourne are both an option this week on a red-hot Patriots team.
Sit –Ryan Tannehill – The Titans lost to the Texans in week 11 and Tannehill is at least partly responsible. Ryan had a season high 52 passing attempts but 4 of those attempts resulted in INTs. He also fumbled 2 times but didn’t lose them. The Titans offense scored just 13 points and now gets to take on Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense. Tannehill will have to play perfect this week. Fading Tannehill this week.
Falcons @ Jaguars
Start – Cordarrelle Patterson – Patterson didn’t play in week 11 and the Falcons failed to score in that game. Patterson brings a lot to the offense including TDs which he has scored over a third of Atlanta’s total TDs this season. He has 2 of the 4 rushing TDs and 5 of the 15 receiving TDs. If the Falcons want to win, they know Matt Ryan has to get Patterson plentiful touches. The Jaguars defense has given up 20+ points to opposing teams in all but 1 game this season. I like Patterson’s chances this week as long as he stays healthy.
Sit – Russell Gage – Russell Gage has moved up the depth chart since Calvin Ridley decided to take time off from football. Gage has had struggles staying healthy and has missed 4 games this season. Gage has had 2 performances where he failed to record a catch and has only scored 1 TD this season which came in week 7. The Jaguars defense doesn’t allow WRs to score very often, and if it occurs in week 12, I assume it will go to Patterson. It is hard to trust a WR that is averaging just 30 receiving yards a game on a struggling team.
Jets @ Texans
Start – Tyrod Taylor – Tyrod struggled throwing in week 11 against the Titans but managed to score 2 TDs on the ground. He has only played in 4 games this season but has 6 TDs to show for it, 3 passing and 3 rushing. Taylor gets the Jets this week which is great news for Houston’s offense. Given a home game against the Jets, I have Taylor a top 10 QB this week.
Sit – Jamison Crowder – Jamison Crowder has a good matchup against the Texans this week, but he is in an offense that struggles more often than not. The Jets are starting Zach Wilson this week who has 4 passing TDs this season and 9 INTs. With the emergence of Elijah Moore and the consistency from Corey Davis, Jamison Crowder is outside my top 40 WRs this week and would be my 3rd option at WR in this game. Tread lightly.
Chargers @ Broncos
Start – Keenan Allen – All Keenan Allen does is produce. He finished week 11 with 9 receptions for 112 receiving yards on 13 targets. Allen has 100+ receiving yards in 4 games this season and has 11+ targets in 7 out of 10 games. Through 11 weeks Allen is 3rd in targets, 3rd in receptions, and 8th in receiving yards out of all pass catchers in the NFL. Denver’s defense is not to be taken lightly but neither is Keenan Allen’s ability to make positive plays.
Sit – Courtland Sutton – Sutton has underperformed recently for Denver. He has 2 or less receptions in each of his last 3 games with a total of 78 receiving yards. Courtland hasn’t scored since week 6 and has taken a backseat to Jerry Jeudy. Since Jeudy returned from injury in week 8 he has been targeted 21 times compared to Suttons 9. Tim Patrick has also taken away targets. Doesn’t help that the Chargers have shut down most WRs in fantasy this season.
Rams @ Packers
Start – AJ Dillon – AJ Dillon was RB1 in week 11 because of an injury that sidelined Aaron Jones. Aaron Jones could play this weekend but is currently questionable. Dillon is a top 10 RB for me in week 12 if Jones is unable to play. Dillon has 32 carries, 2 rushing TDs, and 106 receiving yards in his last 2 games. Dillon now has double digit carries in 5 games this season and has 44+ receiving yards in 4 games this season. Dillon has a pretty good matchup against the Rams. Both teams are going to want to score a lot as they both are coming off frustrating losses.
Sit – Sony Michel – Sony Michel is back up to Darrell Henderson who is having a good season. Michel gets his touches but is utilized most when the Rams have a big lead or when Henderson is unable to play. Michel has only 2 total TDs this season and doesn’t have much of a pass catch game. The Packers defense isn’t one to take lightly.
Vikings @ 49ers
Start – George Kittle – Kittle has been great since returning to injury in week 9. He has scored a TD in 3 consecutive games and is looking to continue that streak against Minnesota. Kittle has at least 4 targets and 4 receptions in all 7 games he has played in this season. As long at Kittle can stay healthy he is a must start TE every week.
Sit – Tyler Conklin – Conklin is another weapon for Kirk Cousins and the Vikings. The only problem is that he plays in an offense that has Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Both WRs are elite and are a threat to rack up targets, receptions, YAC, and TDs. The 49ers defense has also been great against opposing TEs this season.
Browns @ Ravens
Start – Marquise Brown – Marquise Brown missed week 11 due to a thigh injury but is on track to return in week 12 to face the Cleveland Browns. Brown has 6 TDs in the 9 games he’s played and has hit triple figures in receiving yards 3 times. He is a threat to score on any play and has 39 targets in his last 3 games. He also leads the Ravens in targets, receiving TDs, and receiving yards this season. I like his chances this week against Cleveland who will have to contain a mobile Lamar Jackson, an elite TE in Mark Andrews, and a few solid WRs. Look for Brown to capitalize on his chances.
Sit – Baker Mayfield – Baker Mayfield went from proving OBJ wrong in week 9 to having people suspect that Baker may have been the problem ever since. Mayfield has been playing through injuries and isn’t putting up appealing fantasy numbers. He has 10 TDs and 6 INTs in his 10 games this season. The Browns are a rushing team behind Nick Chubb. Mayfield has yet to attempt more than 32 passes this season and 23 completions is his season high. I expect the Ravens to try to take away the run game and force Baker to throw. I just don’t have confidence that his throwing will result in fantasy production. There should be at least 20 starting QBs you can trust more.