Week 12 NFL Fantasy Cheat Sheet

Share

Tweet

Share

Share

Email

Comments

Running Backs

Top Picks – guys you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Saquon Barkley vs. Philadelphia – The Eagles have been gauged by running backs the last few weeks, if it’s not on the ground it will be through the air.  Especially since you figure Eli Manning will have to check the ball down a lot.
2. Melvin Gordon vs. Arizona – Arizona has been awful on Defense, and really the only worry here is that the Chargers get up too much and they pull Gordon.  But were that the case you figure Gordon will be a key reason why they are up.
3. Christian McCaffrey vs Seattle – McCafferey is getting too many touches to be ignored as a top threat every week.

Players to watch – players worth keeping an eye on

1. David Johnson vs. Los Angeles Chargers – He’s seeing more work, but I’m not sold the offense has gone back to being Johnson centric.  The Chargers are also good at shutting down the run.
2. Leonard Fournette vs. Buffalo – He came back with a vengeance last week, but I’m not sure he’ll be able to replicate against a good defensive front in the cold.

Players to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. Marshawn Lynch vs. Baltimore – The Ravens still have a stout defensive line that would match up well against a power run game.
2. Aaron Jones vs. Minnesota – The Vikings also have a great defensive line well suited to shut down a running attack.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Leonard Fournette vs. Buffalo – Even though I’m not necessarily expecting a big day he could have one, and he’s so cheap it’s worth a gamble.
2. Matt Breida vs. Tampa Bay – The Bucs give up so many rushing yards its hard not to see Breida as money this week.

Wide Receivers

Top Picks – guys you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Antonio Brown vs. Denver – Brown is one of the most consistent receivers in the game, and while Denver has some good defensive players I still expect a big day from Antonio.
2. Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Philadelphia – The Eagles secondary is so banged up you think they were a 1980’s station wagon fresh out of a demolition derby.  OBJ figures to have a solid day.
3. A.J. Green vs. Cleveland – The Bengals will lean on Green to get the bulk of the workload against a divisional opponent.

Players to watch – players worth keeping an eye on 

1. Golden Tate vs. New York Giants – Tate is still fairly new to the team, and he’s not on the field all the time. I want to see him with a higher snap share before I start him on the regular.
2. D.J. Moore vs. Seattle – Carolina may try to stretch the field and they will do so with Moore. The team is going to need to take their shots to open up the underneath passing and run game.

Players to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. Michael Crabtree vs. Oakland – With Jackson starting, or at the very least Flacco being beaten up Crabtree figures to get less targets than usual.
2. Julian Edelman vs. Indianapolis – Miami is in the habit of trying to play slow, and run the ball a lot.  It all means that Edelman is not a key cog in the offense.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Keenan Allen vs. Arizona – The Cards are sad on the back end, and Allen will take advantage of that.
2. Josh Gordon vs. New York Jets – With Gronk out this is a no brainer as Gordon becomes the primary red-zone target.  With him in it’s still a pretty safe play since he’s so cheap.

Quarter Backs

Top Picks – guys you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Ben Roethlisberger vs. Denver – Ben has been shredding defenses, and Denver hasn’t looked to be the elite level D that we’ve come to expect.
2. Philip Rivers vs. Arizona – The Cardinals defense is a myth, like the great pumpkin or peaceful Thanksgiving dinners.
3. Tom Brady vs. New York Jets – Brady is coming off a bye week and you know he’s itching to torch a defense.

Players to watch – players worth keeping an eye on

1. Lamar Jackson vs. Oakland – He played well this past week, and may get another start.  The team can’t keep running him 20+ times a game, can they?!
2. Jameis Winston vs. San Francisco – This team is back on forth on QB’s more than a yo-yo in a bouncy castle.  I want to see a few starts from one guy before I commit to anything.

Players to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. Eli Manning vs. Philadelphia – Manning hasn’t been great all season.  The Giants offensive line has been bad, and if there is one thing the Eagles can still do its rush the passer.  This sets up bad for Eli.
2. Jameis Winston vs. San Francisco – If he starts I’m thinking he’s an INT away from being pulled.  If he comes off the bench I’m not sure when or if he sees the field.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Baker Mayfield vs. Cincinnati – He’s too cheap, and while the Bengals are decent on defense Baker can make magic happen.
2. Russell Wilson vs. Carolina – In a game where you figure the Seahawks are going to have to score to keep up Wilson has a very high floor for a guy priced so low.

Tight Ends

Top Picks – guys you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Rob Gronkowski vs. New York Jets – Not a lock to play, but if he does you need to start him.
2. George Kittle vs. Tampa Bay – Tampa has been so bad at covering tight ends it should almost be an automatic play every week for the TE against their defense.
3. Zach Ertz vs. New York Giants –  Ertz had a monster game against Dallas, and then a horrible outing vs. the Saints last week.  Look for something more in the middle this week.

Players to watch – players worth keeping an eye on

1. Jared Cook vs. Baltimore – With so many players out in Oakland Cook is the stable guy who can catch passes for Carr.
2. Jack Doyle vs. Miami – With the team still sorting out the TE position I want to see the splits with Ebron and Doyle, especially who is getting targeted in the red zone.

Players to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. O.J. Howard vs. San Francisco – He might not even play, but if he does I think the SF defense does well against TE’s.
2. Eric Tomlinson vs. New England – The Jets are rarely looking at TE’s in the passing game, and that won’t change this week.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Antonio Gates vs. Arizona –  Gates is still putting up numbers, and the Cardinals are allowing them to TE’s in bunches.
2. Jeff Heuerman vs. Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh hasn’t been great on defense, and they are particularly vulnerable over the middle.

Defenses

Top Picks – teams you HAVE to start if you have them

1. Baltimore vs. Oakland – Someone should remind John Gruden that offense is when you try and score on the other team.
2. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona – The Cards have looked better as of late, but the Chargers are a good defense and appear to be healthy.

Teams to watch – teams worth keeping an eye on

1. Indianapolis vs. Miami – Miami likes to play slow, and this could be a spot where the Colts put the pressure on if they can take an early lead.
2. Tampa Bay vs. San Francisco – Tampa has a sorry defense, but the 49ers don’t have an amazing offense, so this could be interesting.

Teams to avoid – I’d rather not start these guys if I can avoid it

1. New York Jets vs. New England – Tom Brady is going to carve up the Jets like a Thanksgiving turkey.  Only on a Sunday.
2. Denver vs. Pittsburgh – The Steelers are rolling over teams offensively with a balance attack.  It will likely be too much for Denver.

Draft King Bargains – decent matchups you can pick up on the cheap

1. Cincinnati vs. Cleveland – Baker could shred this team, or he could make a lot of rookie mistakes and the Bengals could capitalize.  This is a risk vs. reward play.
2. Philadelphia vs. New York Giants – Another high potential return as Eli is usually a turnover machine, and the sacks could be fast and furious here.
3. San Francisco vs. Tampa Bay – Tampa has been turning the ball over more than anyone else.  The 49ers could be the latest to reap those rewards.