We’re on to Week 12. I’ll have a Thanksgiving slate article following this one and a DFS article as usual. Let us enjoy the holiday season and push forward to the fantasy playoffs that are near. There are no bye weeks this week because of the holiday, so make sure you look forward to the byes in Weeks 13 and 14. Now is also a good time to project forward on defenses. Kicking out one of your depth bench pieces for that second, or even third, defense to set you up before the waivers run in the playoffs is an overlooked edge every year. Let me know if you have any questions on which defenses to look forward to in the upcoming weeks. 

Upcoming Bye Weeks

Week 12: NONE

Week 13: ARI, CAR

Week 14: ATL, CHI, GB, IND, WAS, NO

QB

Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans) – 0% 

Tannehill shredded the Green Bay Packers last TNF for 333 yards on 22/27 passing with two scores. He will face the Cincinnati Bengals, who just let Steelers QB Pickett have one of the best games of his young career. Pickett threw for 265 yards and a score while adding 14 running yards. Coming off of a mini-bye, I like Tannehill’s chances this week of continuing his streak of 19+ fantasy points per game. His running skills are an underrated aspect of his game. 

Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) – 0%

Jimmy G offers to be a good streamer this week. He faces the middling New Orleans Saints at home. Given an embarrassment of riches and arguably the greatest collection of offensive skill players ever assembled, Jimmy has been consistent over the last five games. He has averaged almost 17 points per game over that stretch, never topping 18.02 and having at least 15.9 in each of those games. It is safe to say that Jimmy is going to pull in around 16-17 points for you if you fire him up Sunday, more than enough to get you by if you need a streamer.

Mac Jones (New England Patriots) – 0%

Mac Jones is visiting the Minnesota Vikings who just got smashed by the Dallas Cowboys, 40-3. The Vikings made Dak Prescott look like his elite self, letting him go 22/25 for 276 yards and two scores in a little over a half of football. Mac Jones is going to be free after the waivers run and should offer a solid floor. You get the added bonus of this game being played on Thanksgiving evening, so you have something extra to root for as you sit on the couch, full of turkey. 

Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns) – 0%

You should have Watson by now if you need a QB. This will be the last week I’ll have him on the waiver article.

RB

Latavius Murray (Denver Broncos) – 15%

It seems that Murray has all but taken the lead back duties as the Broncos have cut ties with Melvin Gordon. Murray has now scored at least 10 PPR points in four of his seven games with the Denver Broncos. He has double-digit touches in every game except Week 7 against the Jets. Murray has a neutral matchup in Week 12 against the Carolina Panthers but I expect the volume to be there in a now Klint Kubiak-led offense. 

Cam Akers (LA Rams) – 2%

This addition isn’t going to be pretty and likely isn’t going to yield immediate results. I am viewing this as a high ceiling pick up with the potential to be cuttable in three weeks. The Rams lost 27-20 in Week 11 to the New Orleans Saints, which brings the Rams’ record to 3-7. The wheels have fallen off of the wagon and this team is spiraling. However, this could present a golden opportunity for Cam Akers to get some extended looks.The Rams lost Matthew Stafford to another concussion in Sunday’s loss and are now down to their third string QB, Bryce Perkins. Perkins is a dual threat QB with limited passing upside, which could bode well for Akers in an adjusted offense style. Akers finished the game with 14 carries for 61 scoreless yards but showed some promise. After the midseason issues he had with the coaching staff this is a perfect chance for the Rams staff to make him go prove it in low leverage situations. They aren’t going to throw in the towel as the Lions have the Rams 2023 1st round pick but also they will want to be talent evaluators for the 2023 season. The Rams face a ton of below average run defenses to end the year with KC, SEA, LV, GB, DEN, LAC and SEA to finish their season. Every one of them is average to below average with above average passing defenses. 

Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons) – 1% 

Allgeier has confirmed to make this a dual backfield moving forward. He actually out-snapped Patterson in Atlanta’s Week 11 win over Chicago. He took 30 snaps to Patterson’s 27. Allgeier finished with an uninspiring 7.4 PPR points but I do think better things are ahead. This is a very weak week for RBs on the waiver wire so we’re salvaging what we can get. 

James Cook (Buffalo Bills) – 0%

James Cook earned a 25% snap share against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11. He ran the ball 11 times for 86 scoreless yards and showed a ton of burst on his runs. I want to take this performance lightly as the Bills were playing with a lead the majority of this game, which is when almost all of Cook’s touches came. The Browns are also one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. However, the Bills do get to face the Detroit Lions in Week 12 on Thanksgiving. After that, they will have to face the Patriots and Jets. These both are games you can’t start Cook, even during bye week pinches.I am viewing Cook as a Thanksgiving DFS flier and low end FLEX in a pinch if you need him in deeper leagues. With no byes this week, I hope you don’t have to dig that deep to play Cook.

WR

Treylon Burks (Tennessee Titans) – 15%

Burks had somewhat of a coming out party in Green Bay against an above average pass defense. With 51 of his 111 receiving yards coming on the last actual play of the game where Jaire Alexander was caught sleeping thinking the Titans were going to run it, Burks still would have posted a 6/60 receiving line. Burks still has a long way to go as an actual WR out there running routes but the Titans are manufacturing touches for him and being a wizard to get open isn’t a concern right now. With how well they are running the ball, he is going to see a ton of one-on-one man coverage in short areas to get the ball in his hands and he should have no problem excelling in that scenario. 

Jameson Williams (Detroit Lions) – 12%

Jameson is likely going to sit on Thanksgiving against the Buffalo Bills but is probably going to make his debut in Week 13. Williams was the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft in April and this was after he was only a few months removed from a torn ACL. That is pretty impressive given he was still a top 12 pick and goes to show how talented he is projected to be. It is worth giving him a ramp up game as when he does make his debut, it will be not only his season debut but his NFL debut. I don’t expect it to take him long to get acclimated and he should be good to go by Week 14, just in time for the fantasy playoffs.

Joshua Palmer – (LA Chargers) – 8%

I hope everyone waited to see how the Chargers WR core survived the SNF game against KC before cutting Palmer. Mike Williams looked to have reinjured his ankle and did not look good when he limped off the field. Palmer then proceeded to catch eight of his 10 targets for 106 receiving yards and two scores. With Williams being the WR to reinjure himself in this matchup and Keenan making it through seemingly healthy, Palmer is looking at assuming full time perimeter WR duties as the WR2 for the Chargers. He is a weekly staple whenever Williams misses time. 

Darius Slayton (New York Giants) – 5%

Slayton is virtually the last receiving option standing for the Giants now that Wan’Dale Robinson has torn his ACL. Slayton was on the field for 86.8% of the Giants offensive snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Lions. He saw 10 targets when the Giants were in comeback mode, catching five of them for 86 scoreless yards. The only receiver on the Giants with a larger share of targets the last three weeks was Wan’Dale so Slayton should at least absorb a small percentage of that and be looking at almost a 25% share of the targets. The only thing that could derail this as the season closes out is if the Giants were to sign Odell Beckham Jr. 

Odell Beckham Jr. (None) – 0%

I spoke about OBJ a few weeks ago when there was a big craze about him being cleared to return to football activities and why I could see the upside, but I wouldn’t be pressed to pick him up. I’m still viewing the situation similarly but we do now have a team that OBJ is interested in pop up with an immediate WR need. The New York Giants have lost Wan’Dale Robinson for the season and are left with guys like Darius Slayton and Ritchie James to run routes for them. On first glance, the Dallas Cowboys are more appealing for OBJ if he were to play with a better QB or have a better shot at a Super Bowl in 2022 but I’m not 100% convinced that is what OBJ is looking for. I have never personally spoken to OBJ. But I have read reports that OBJ wants to be paid like the talented WR he is and I don’t think the Cowboys will be willing to do that. If they were, they would have just kept Amari Cooper. If OBJ is looking for a multi-year deal, the Giants make a ton of sense. OBJ is worth a free, end of the bench flier in 12+ man leagues. If he signs by Week 13, he could be an asset during the fantasy football playoffs.

TE

Gerald Everett (LA Chargers) – 10%

I’ll be monitoring the Everett situation as he missed SNF with a groin injury. If Everett is logging limited practices leading up to waivers, I am buying. Hopefully some league mates had to drop him due to limited bench spots. Everett’s upcoming schedule paints a pretty picture as he will face three of the worst four defenses in the NFL against TEs over the next three weeks. As long as Everett is healthy, he should be viewed as a top 8 TE, especially with Mike Williams injuring himself again.

Foster Moreau (Las Vegas Raiders) – 3% 

Moreau caught only one of his three targets in Week 11 but that one reception went for 33 yards. We certainly want more out of our TE position and I think we will get that in the coming weeks with Moreau. The Denver Broncos were a tough matchup and this week he is getting the Seattle Seahawks, who give up the 2nd most PPR points per game to the TE position.

Jonnu Smith (New England Patriots) – 0%

If you’re looking for a dumpster dive, turn your attention to Jonnu Smith. Smith has seen at least three targets in each of the last four games and is facing the 23rd worst team in the NFL giving up fantasy points to TEs in Week 12. This game will be played on Thanksgiving so it gives the added bonus of a nightcap with turkey watching one of your players play. If you’re just looking for a flier on points, Jonnu has scored almost 6 points per game over his last three and put up 8.5 last week, catching all four of his targets for 40 scoreless yards. He should be viewed as a mid- to low-range TE2 in Week 12 and a solid showdown dart throw.

DST

Miami Dolphins – 2% 

The Texans got massacred by the Washington Commanders for five sacks, two turnovers and a defensive score. Coming off a bye, the Dolphins should have no issues dominating this game plan and Vegas agrees, making the Dolphins a 12-point favorite. Having added Bradley Chubb almost a month ago at this point and their projected ability to score points, the Texans are going to be forced to throw in this one and it could get ugly fast.

Kansas City Chiefs – 1%

Before the season started, we would have all circled this game on our calendars for a potential instant classic. However, the Rams are decimated with injuries. Their backups to backups on the offensive line are going down, an area that had a lack of depth to begin with. On top of that, Matthew Stafford’s season is likely coming to an end as he just suffered his second concussion in only a few weeks. The Rams could be pushed to start third string QB Bryce Perkins in this matchup, which could lead to things getting ugly.

Carolina Panthers – 0%

The Panthers will be at home this week against the flailing Denver Broncos. It is almost all but certain Nathaniel Hackett is going to be out as the Broncos head coach when the season concludes and it is because the offense is garbage.The Panthers defense has been playing well of late, holding the Falcons to 15 points in Week 10 and the Ravens to only 13 in Week 11. They have also accrued two turnovers and eight sacks over that time frame. The Broncos have scored more than 16 points only twice this season so traveling across the country against a defense that is playing well isn’t a good recipe for success.