A few more days and we have completed a full three months of fantasy football. Is anyone else amazed by how quickly we’ve arrived at this point? Hopefully, I am not the only one. In many leagues, the playoffs are just a few short weeks away. It is a 100 percent certainty that there are managers whose postseason hopes are hanging on by the thinnest of threads. Without doubt, questions of who to start or who to sit are in the air. If you find yourself in this situation, no need to worry! My weekly Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits edition is here to help!

To be clear, as has been the case the past several weeks, all position rankings are taken from ESPN. Surely, there will be disagreements about the players listed below. If that is the case, let’s talk about it! Equally sure, there will be managers that have questions about players that not being discussed here. That’s easy enough: simply give me the names of the players you are having trouble deciding upon and I will do some research and get back to you.

In weeks ten and eleven, there were four teams on bye. This week, the NFL wants to make everyone playing fantasy football miserable. The reason? There are six teams taking time off in week 12. For the record: those teams are Atlanta, Buffalo, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Jacksonville and the New York Jets. Assuredly, it is a certainty that all managers will have players that can’t be used, so it would be wise for everyone to start planning now.

Week Twelve Starts

Quarterbacks

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos at Las Vegas Raiders

Last week, I recommended starting Bo Nix. Of course, it’s a new week, but I am going right back to the well with Nix. Why wouldn’t I? After all, he only completed 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns last week. Nix has now thrown for six TDs in his last two games. Additionally, he has just a single interceptions in his last five contests.

Best of all, the good news continues in week twelve for those that have Nix on their roster. Even with the Broncos on the road, they face a Raiders defense ranked just 27th against fantasy quarterbacks.

Further, Vegas is a team that Nix threw for two touchdowns in week five. With so many teams on bye, the choices are slim. Even if they weren’t, Nix is a full go this weekend. Get him into your lineups.

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions at Indianapolis Colts

If there was ever a quarterback that needed some redemption, it was Jared Goff. Despite leading the Lions to what many consider the best team in the NFC, Goff had a lot to answer for after week ten. Five interceptions will do that to you. Fortunately for Goff and the Lions, Detroit won the game despite all of the turnovers.

Certainly, after week eleven, Goff has no further need for redemption. Jacksonville made sure of that after giving up 412 yards and four touchdowns to Goff on Sunday. He only had five incompletions the entire game. Additionally, he’s had a scoring pass in every game except one this season. No question, all is well now with Goff, Detroit and his fantasy managers.

Looking ahead, it should be all smiles for all involved this weekend. Detroit faces the Colts in Indy. Despite the game being on the road, Goff almost assuredly will cash in against the 24th rated QB defense. This Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits edition is clear: fire up Goff in all formats.

Running Backs

Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

When it comes to running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson has been a frustrating player at times. There have been games where he gets eight or less fantasy points. Even with that being the case, Stevenson gets the start recommendation this week. In three of the last four weeks, he has had 20 carries. Certainly, any fantasy manager will take that.

Against the Rams, Stevenson rushed for 73 yards and caught four passes for another 16. In week 12, he faces Miami on the road. For the record: the Dolphins field the 17th ranked defense against running backs.

Granted, there may not be a lot of choices available with so many teams on bye this week. Whatever the situation, though, Stevenson should be in starting lineups, at least for this week.

Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When last seen, Tyrone Tracy fumbled the football against Carolina overseas. The turnover essentially sealed the Panthers overtime win over the Giants. The play was really too bad for Tracy, who was having a very productive day. Carrying the ball 18 times, Tracy gained 103 yards and scored a touchdown.

In two of the three games before the bye, he picked up a rushing TD. Obviously, New York is having a nightmare season, but they have discovered a quality running back in the rookie.

Despite the fumble, there is no reason for managers to turn their backs on Tracy. In fact, this Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits edition has complete confidence in him. So should you.

Wide Receivers

Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings

No doubt, we could sit here for quite some time discussing the issues with the Chicago Bears offense. I will not do so in this article, however, as the facts are well known. No, instead I will turn my attention to Rome Odunze. I will argue why, despite all the team’s problems, Odunze will be featured on this Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits edition.

First, let’s look at his production. Against Green Bay on Sunday, Odunze produced 65 yards on six catches. The eye opening stat, though, was he was targeted ten times. Over the past four games, he has seen 29 passes thrown in his direction. Even better: he has four games in which he’s averaged 19 yards a catch.

The best news was held in reserve until the end, however. This weekend, the Bears welcome in divisional rival Minnesota to finish a three game homestand. The Vikings are having a successful season, but it isn’t because of how they defend wide receivers. Their 30th ranking is in the ditch.

In the final analysis, overlook the Bears’ offensive problems for the moment and get Odunze into starting lineups. 

DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs at Carolina Panthers

The last choice at wide receiver on this Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits edition is DeAndre Hopkins. To be completely honest, Hopkins is being recommended simply because of the opponent. His play in three of the four games he’s been in since arriving in Kansas City has been less than inspirational.

Despite that, the Panthers being next on the Chiefs’ schedule demands attention. Even with them beating the Giants in Munich before their bye, the Panthers have been stuck in the mud since the season began. There is every reason to believe that will continue to be true in week 12.

The Chiefs are coming off their first loss of the year to Buffalo and clearly will be motivated in this game. Even better for KC: Carolina ranks exactly middle of the pack against WRs at 15.

Unfortunately, those two facts don’t mix well for Carolina. It will work for fantasy managers, though. Get Hopkins into your lineups this Sunday.

Tight End Start

Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders vs. Dallas Cowboys

As is usually the case, I am recommending one tight end to start this week. This time around, it is Zach Ertz. He is coming off one of his best offensive games of the season with six catches of seven targets for 47 yards and a score. Most impressively, Ertz accomplished that against the fourth ranked tight end defense in the Philadelphia Eagles.

Next up, the Commanders welcome Dallas into town. The Cowboys rank in the middle against fantasy tight ends at 15.

Of course, that’s not dreadful, but certainly worse than fourth. Expect that Ertz will continue with his positive production and get him off the bench and into your lineups.

Fantasy Football Week Twelve Sits

Quarterbacks

Drake Maye, New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

By any measure, Drake Maye is having a successful rookie season. Against the Rams, Maye completed 30 of 40 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. In the six games since becoming the starter, Maye has thrown for nine TDs. Additionally, he has a rushing score.

Above I recommended Stevenson as a starter. After careful consideration, I cannot do the same for Maye, however. The biggest reason for that is the opponent. Maye’s assignment on Sunday afternoon is to beat Miami on the road.

As noted above, the Dolphins have had issues this season, but defending quarterbacks isn’t one of them, as they rank third.

In truth, asking for fantasy gold from a rookie on the road against a tough defense is just too much to ask. That is especially true considering that Maye has four interceptions and two fumbles in the last three games.

As such, this Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits definitely says to place him on the bench.

Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

For the second consecutive week, I am going to the bench option when it comes to Sam Darnold. I am doing so even though Darnold threw for 246 yards and two TDs against the Titans. He also scored on a one yard run. Further, he didn’t turn the ball over, after throwing five interceptions in his previous two games. However, Darnold wasn’t turnover free as he did have a fumble in this game.

As has been well chronicled, the Bears have suffered through severe issues of late. Most, if not all, of those problems have been associated with the offense. The defense, however, especially against quarterbacks, is in fine shape.

Chicago comes into this game with the top ranked D against QBs in fantasy. If at all possible, it is highly advised that Darnold be kept on the bench this weekend.

Running Backs

Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans

Last week, I highlighted Tony Pollard as a sit. That is also true this week. However, I decided to expand the sits portion to include Pollard’s backfield mate Tyjae Spears. Unfortunately for Spears, he suffered a head injury against the Vikings. He left the game and didn’t return. Before the injury, Spears rushed three times for no gain and caught two passes for a scant eight yards.

Truly, Pollard and Spears haven’t had much luck in their opponents of late. In week ten, it was the Chargers and their fourth ranked run defense. Last week, it was the Vikings bringing their third rated D versus runners to the party. This week, it is Houston, which has the worst D of the three, ranking all the way down at number six.

Whether we are talking about Pollard or Spears, keep both far from starting lineups in week twelve. You will especially want to monitor Spears’ health. As of Friday morning, he hasn’t practiced at all. If he is not cleared for game action, that takes any worry about starting him out of the equation. If Spears doesn’t play, keep the temptation to bring Pollard off the bench under wraps.

Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens

Usually, one would think that a player going up against a former team would be a good reason to start him. While possibly true, that is not the case this time with Gus Edwards. With Baltimore next up, Edwards will be facing the team he spent his first five NFL seasons with.

Even with being the situation, this Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits edition advises keeping Edwards away from lineups. The Ravens defense has had its share of problems in 2024, but defending the run hasn’t been one of them. They come into this game ranked eighth in such situations. Bench him.

Wide Receiver Sits

Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals

Without question, you don’t have to be a Seahawk fan like me to appreciate the career that Tyler Lockett has had. The ten year veteran has established himself as one of the greatest wide receivers Seattle has ever had. Even with that being true, Lockett has not distinguished himself on the field in 2024.

Somehow, the Seahawks beat the 49ers this past Sunday. While that is certainly great news to someone like myself, Lockett had little to show for the day. First, he was only targeted three times, of which he caught two for 19 yards. In the last three games, Lockett hasn’t been targeted more than four times in any of them. Further, he has just two TDs on the year to his credit.

Just like this past Sunday, the Seahawks have a crucial NFC West division rival clash set for this week. Arizona comes into Seattle with first place in the division at stake. It should be an exciting matchup. Even so, Lockett should be bench bound in all formats for this game.

Diontae Johnson, Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers

There are a few examples of wide receivers getting traded and providing positive production to their new teams this season. Baltimore and Diontae Johnson, however, isn’t one of them. In three games since joining the Ravens, Johnson has just a single catch. In fact, over his past four games, Johnson has a grand total of two receptions.

Unfortunately, it gets no easier moving forward. Baltimore has to travel all the way across the country to face the Chargers in LA. Johnson will have to operate against the 16th ranked WR defense in this game. However, they were ranked eighth just last week.

Until he shows something, anything, positive in his game, this Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits edition says keep Johnson locked on benches until further notice.

Tight End Sit

Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers

It seems like it was years ago since Tucker Kraft was recommended as a starter in one of my articles. However, not that much time has passed since, but Kraft’s play has really fallen off of late. FYI: if you are looking for a stat line for Kraft after Sunday’s game against Chicago, don’t bother. Simply stated: there isn’t one to be found. He was completely shut down, resulting in no catches. He was targeted just once.

In week twelve, Kraft finds himself going up against San Francisco, as the 49ers invade Green Bay. Honestly, it isn’t a blessing for Kraft or the Packers, as SF ranks sixth defensively against tight ends. Having lost his early season magic and facing an excellent defensive unit, it is highly advisable to give Kraft no starting consideration whatsoever in week twelve.

The Last Word

Thank you for joining me for this Week Twelve Fantasy Starts/Sits edition! Follow me on X (formerly Twitter)  @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Be sure to turn to bellyupsports.com and bellyupfantasysports.com for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news!