Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to Starts and Sits Week 12! Being based in the UK it is a dream of mine to experience Thanksgiving in America. Food, Football and Fantasy, what more could you ask for.

We march on to week 12 and as always, we are here for you. Week 12 Starts and Sits, Let’s Go!

Byes: Cardinals & Chiefs

Starts and Sits Week 12 Quarterbacks

My top-ranked Quarterbacks for Week 12 are:

1. Jackson vs CLE
2. Brady @ IND
3. Allen @ NO
4. Hurts @ NYG
5. Prescott vs LV

Start QB 1- Kirk Cousins @ SF

Cousins faces a decent match up here against San Fran. He’s on a hot streak right now, averaging 28 fantasy points through his last 3 games. He is set for a top 10 finish.

Start QB 2- Cam Newton vs MIA

Cam is back! If he doesn’t fizzle out, I feel he will be relevant for the rest of the year. He faces the Dolphins who are giving up an average of 20 fantasy points per game. He racked up 29 fantasy points last week and I like him to be a top 10 QB here. 

Sit QB 1- Tua Tagovailoa @ CAR

Would have liked to have seen more from Tagovailoa in week 11 and his matchup against the Panthers this week is not a good one. The Panthers are holding opposing quarterbacks to 16 fantasy points per game. Sit Tua, he is in the QB 2 range this week.

Sit QB 2- Matt Ryan @ JAX 

Ryan has averaged just 2.3 fantasy points over the past 2 games, it’s been hard to watch. Sit him here against a Jags defense that is getting better and better every week.

Starts and Sits Week 12 Running Backs

My top-ranked Running Backs for Week 12 are:

1. Taylor vs TB
2. McCaffrey @ MIA
3. Cook @ SF
4. Ekeler @ DEN
5. Harris @ CIN

Start RB 1- Antonio Gibson vs SEA

Since returning from his bye Gibson has seen consistent touches and I feel we can trust him here in week 12. He faces Seattle, they can’t stop the run and are giving up a juicy 26.73 fantasy points to running backs per game. Gibson could be a low-end RB1 in this matchup.

Start RB 2 – Saquon Barkley vs PHI

With a change in offensive coordinator up in New York I imagine the Giants will lean on the run game against an Eagles side who are allowing 23 fantasy points per game. This should be the start of a decent run of matchups for Barkley, start with confidence.  

Sit RB 1- Leonard Fournette @ IND

Fournette has been solid in most weeks, you should be happy with his production so far. If you can, sit him here, the Colts have the best-run defense in the league. They are giving up just 16.15 points to the running position.

Sit RB 2- Miles Gaskin @ CAR

My two concerns here are the Panthers are only allowing 16.75 fantasy points to running backs per game. They have been solid all year and with the arrival of Lindsay, I’d pump the breaks on Gaskin to see how it all plays out.

Sit RB 3- Alex Collins @ WAS

Collins struggled in week 11, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, added no receptions and failed to find the end zone. His last 4 games have resulted in single-digit fantasy point finishes. Sit him in week 12, he is an RB 3 here at best. 

Start and Sits Week 12 Wide Receivers

My top-ranked Wide Receivers for Week 12 are:

1. Kupp @ GB
2. Adams vs LAR
3. Samuel vs MIN
4. Diggs @ NE
5. Jefferson @ SF

Start WR 1- D.K Metcalf @WAS

I see Wilson having a day here and D.K Metcalf will benefit, I have him as a top 10 receiver on the week. Washington are allowing the 4th most fantasy points to the wideout position. An easy start in week 12 for me.

Start WR 2- DeVonta Smith @ NYG

Smith heads into week 12 with high upside, he has averaged 16.26 fantasy points over his last 3 games. The Giants offer an easy matchup for Smith and I fancy him to be a mid-receiver 2 option this week.

Start WR 3- Elijah Moore

Moore has burst on the scene over the past 4 games, and I like him against the Texans in week 12. The Texans are allowing 30.57 fantasy points to opposing receivers. We will have to see how he is with Wilson but I like the production to continue.

Sit WR 1- Jarvis Landry @ BAL 

After a 4 game run of single-digit fantasy points, Landry logged 12 points last week. He is questionable this week so may not be 100 percent against the Ravens. Baltimore are middle of the pack against receivers so far on the year and with Mayfield slightly banged up I will be sitting Landry here.

Sit WR 2- Kenny Golladay vs PHI

Golladay will see more production this week than his week 11 matchup against Tampa Bay but the Eagles are the 3rd best against wide receivers on the year. For me, this is an easy sit.

Sit WR 3 – Tee Higgins vs PIT

I expected more from Higgins in 2021, his fantasy production has been poor average at best. He is averaging 8.05 fantasy points per game over his past 6 games. The Steelers are a decent matchup but the production can’t be trusted. 

Start and Sits Week 12 Tight Ends

My top-ranked Tight Ends for Week 12 are:

1. Waller @ DAL
2. Andrews vs CLE
3. Kittle vs MIN
4. Pitts @ JAX
5. Gesicki vs CAR

Start TE 1 – Dalton Schultz vs LV

It’s wheels up for Schultz in week 12. The matchup is solid, the Raiders are allowing 13.65 fantasy points to tight ends and with Cooper and Lamb out, Schultz should be a key feature in the Dallas offense.

Start TE 2- Rob Gronkowski @ IND

Gronk returned in week 11 and saw eight targets, had 6 receptions for 71 yards and against the Colts he is in with a chance to find the end zone. Start him and he should come through as a top 10 Tight End.

Sit TE 1- Jared Cook @ DEN

This is an easy sit for me, Cook has averaged just 5.25 fantasy points across his last 4 games and hasn’t found the end zone since week 6. The Denver defense is giving up just 5.96 to Tight Ends on the year. 

Sit TE 2- C.J Uzomah vs PIT

Unless Uzomah scores he is non-existent to fantasy owners, he is averaging 5 points over the last 3 games on just 12 targets. The Steelers are one of the better defenses against Tight Ends, making Uzomah an easy sit.

– Colin (@ukfantasyballer)