Fantasy Football Guide: Must Starts, Sits During Week 12

Welcome to week 12 of the National Football League season. Will Matt Ryan throw five interceptions? Will Chad Henne go as Tom Brady to the masquerade ball? Heck, I don't know! The NFL is a weird league, but I'm going to do my best to find some guys who you should think about starting and sitting this week. Good luck!

Start

Quarterbacks

 Tony Romo – The Redskins pass defense is giving up over 300 yards passing a game along with two passing touchdowns per game. Romo has proven that he can’t be trusted for huge games week to week, but he has been throwing the ball enough to continue putting up top-10 fantasy numbers over the last six weeks. There’s a good chance his Thanksgiving matchup with the Redskins will give him fantasy value.

Colin Kaepernick – Of course this recommendation hinges on the possibility that Alex Smith’s concussion “lingers” into next week, but after Kaepernick’s solid performance on Monday night against the Bears, it wouldn’t surprise me.

The Saints are giving up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and their offense should keep the 49ers passing throughout the game.

Running Backs

Vick Ballard – Last week Ballard was on the field for 46 snaps compared to Donald Brown’s 19.  He ran for 72 yards on 16 carries against the Patriots and this week he faces a Bills run defense that ranks dead last in fantasy points allowed to running backs.

Ronnie Hillman – Willis McGahee is out for 6-8 weeks after tearing his MCL and Ronnie Hillman and Lance Ball will take over. Hillman is saw a few more snaps than Ball and 14 touches to 9. Kansas City is the seventh worst defense against running backs this season and have trouble scoring points. That’s good news for the Broncos and Hillman, who should be able to run often as the salt away the game.

Wide Receivers

T.Y. Hilton – The Colts rookie has three 100 yard games under his belt this season and with Donnie Avery most likely out due to a concussion, he will get a good shot at his fourth this week against the Bills this week.

Randall Cobb – Cobb is a must start every week. He has seven touchdowns in his last six games and this week the Packers face the Giants who are giving up the 4th most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers and are tied for the most touchdowns allowed with 15.

Tight Ends

Brandon Myers – Myers continues to get red zone targets and even though he sometimes drops them and the in-turn are intercepted, it doesn’t seem to matter because Carson Palmer is going to throw it his way anyway. The good news this week is that they face the Bengals and they are giving up the 5th most fantasy points to tight ends this season.

Vernon Davis – Vernon Davis had averaged 39 yards and no touchdowns over the last six weeks and then Colin Kaepernick stepped in and gave him eight targets in which he caught six for 83 yards and a touchdown. He is their best receiver and it seems that Kaepernick realizes this.

Sit

Quarterbacks 

Philip Rivers – Rivers is the 19th ranked fantasy quarterback this year. Don’t start him based on his name. The Ravens defense is not what it once was, but they are still the 10th best defense against quarterbacks this season.

Sam Bradford – Bradford has shown some ability this season having hit double digit fantasy points in eight of his 10 games. But Arizona just held Matt Ryan to no touchdowns and five interceptions and have been tough all season. Don’t risk him, even in two quarterback leagues.

Running Backs

Mikel LeShoure --  The Texans were just shellacked in the passing game by the Jaguars, but they still haven’t given up a rushing touchdown to a running back all season. They’ll be looking to take out some of their defensive frustrations on the Lions this Thanksgiving.

Mark Ingram – He’s finally starting to look like a real running back, but this week he faces the 49ers. Don’t even pretend like you might start him.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Lloyd – Antonio Cromartie has been shutting down wide receivers this season and Lloyd has not been living up to his preseason hype. Lloyd wasn’t even in the game on tw0-receiver sets last week. It’s time to relegate him to wide receiver four status.

Jeremy Maclin/Desean Jackson – There is a chance that Michael Vick might return this week, but even if he does, it will be hard to start either of these guys against the Panthers, who have actually been playing well in pass defense. They currently have the 8th best defense against wide receivers. Stay away.

Tight Ends

Martellus Bennett – The Black Unicorn as he likes to call himself, was injured then got healthy, but then Eli Manning regressed to the fetal position. The Packers have been playing well against tight ends this season. They’ve only given up three touchdowns all season to tight ends and not one has topped 76 yards. And that 76 yards was to Jimmy Graham.

Jacob Tamme – You really just need to drop him if he’s on your team. Over the last five games he’s averaging 2.2 fantasy points, or 40th overall. The hype is dead.

Chet Gresham writes for Rotoworld.com and is the founder of The Fake Football, where you can get all your start/sit questions answered in the comments.

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