RADIO
Who should I start for Week 12? Fantasy football outlooks for DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Jayden Reed. Our expert fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks.
Week 12 is shaping up to be one of the toughest weeks of the fantasy football season, with six teams on bye and rosters stretched thin. Navigating these bye-week blues means finding value in players who might normally ride your bench but have the potential to step up when it matters most.
This week, we’re diving into the fantasy outlooks of DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Jayden Reed—three wide receivers with intriguing situations as we gear up for another pivotal slate of games. Each player presents their unique challenges and opportunities heading into Week 12.
In a week where options are limited, finding the right mix of reliability and upside is crucial, and these three receivers all bring something different to the table. Whether you’re pushing for a playoff spot or fighting to stay alive in your league, breaking down their outlooks will help you make those all-important start/sit decisions. Let’s dive into what you can expect from Hopkins, Ridley, and Reed in Week 12.
Should I Start DeAndre Hopkins for Fantasy Football?
DeAndre Hopkins has been a steady presence in fantasy lineups throughout the years, but he has yet to top more than 86 receiving yards in a game this season.
Mahomes passer rating with and without Deandre Hopkins:
With - 98.9
Without - 81.6— Gary McKenzie (@Super_G_Chiefs) November 21, 2024
While the trade from Tennessee to Kansas City was positive, we just still haven't seen enough from D-Hop at this point to feel great about him for fantasy.
Should I Start Calvin Ridley for Fantasy Football?
Meanwhile, Calvin Ridley has flashed big-play potential but has had an up-and-down season due to the inconsistent play of Titans quarterback Will Levis.
Calvin Ridley has had⚡ ELITE ⚡wr usage since DeAndre Hopkins was traded.
At least 6️⃣ targets in every game since week 7️⃣‼️
3️⃣2️⃣% Target Share
3️⃣ Games above 2️⃣.3️⃣ YprrIs he a must start wr2 rest of season⁉️
pic.twitter.com/83JP9E4rCy— PlayerProfiler NFL (@Profiler_NFL) November 21, 2024
However, since Hopkins was traded, Ridley has morphed into a target hog. Since coming off the team's bye in Week 6, Ridley has seen 55 targets over the team's last six games and has two Top 7 weekly WR finishes over that span.
Should I Start Jayden Reed for Fantasy Football?
And then there’s Jayden Reed, who’s shown flashes of brilliance and is starting to carve out a meaningful role in the Packers' passing game. Quarterback Jordan Love has been banged up throughout the year and missed two games early on.
Jayden Reed ranks No. 1 in the NFL this season with a 146.0 passer rating when targeted.
(min. 40 targets).
Per @Packers dope sheet pic.twitter.com/DrQCf7aYD0
— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) November 20, 2024
However, due to his role in the slot and the reality he gets more manufactured touches, Reed remains the best of three to start in Week 12 as well as the rest of the season.
While he had just two targets in the team's 20-19 win over the Bears in Week 11, Reed has a juicy matchup against the 49ers this week. He gets a slight bump over Ridley due to having a better quarterback under center.
Popular Week 12 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 12 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Jayden Reed compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Devonta Smith or Calvin Ridley
Jayden Reed or Marvin Harrisonjr
Jerry Jeudy or Deandre Hopkins
Courtland Sutton or Jayden Reed
Dj Moore or Deandre Hopkins
Jameson Williams or Jayden Reed
Jayden Reed or Josh Downs
Calvin Ridley or Jakobi Meyers
Jauan Jennings or Deandre Hopkins
Jayden Reed or Jauan Jennings
Bucky Irving or Jayden Reed
Cedric Tillman or Deandre Hopkins
Deandre Hopkins or Jayden Reed
Jauan Jennings or Jayden Reed
Quentin Johnston or Calvin Ridley
Quentin Johnston or Deandre Hopkins
Calvin Ridley or Josh Downs
Jauan Jennings or Calvin Ridley
Jayden Reed or Cedric Tillman
Tee Higgins or Jayden Reed
Austin Ekeler or Deandre Hopkins
Calvin Ridley or Jameson Williams
Calvin Ridley or Jayden Reed
Calvin Ridley or Jerry Jeudy
Calvin Ridley or Ladd Mcconkey
Cedric Tillman or Calvin Ridley
Jayden Reed or Jaxon Smithnjigba
Jayden Reed or Ladd Mcconkey
Jayden Reed or Tyrone Tracyjr
Ladd Mcconkey or Jayden Reed
Zay Flowers or Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley or Deandre Hopkins
Devonta Smith or Jayden Reed
Jayden Reed or Jameson Williams
Jerry Jeudy or Jayden Reed
Josh Downs or Jayden Reed
Marvin Harrisonjr or Deandre Hopkins
Quentin Johnston or Jayden Reed
Calvin Ridley or Jaxon Smithnjigba
Calvin Ridley or Marvin Harrisonjr
Dk Metcalf or Jayden Reed
Jakobi Meyers or Deandre Hopkins
Jameson Williams or Deandre Hopkins
Jayden Reed or Deebo Samuelsr
Jayden Reed or Najee Harris
Rico Dowdle or Calvin Ridley
Tank Dell or Deandre Hopkins
Xavier Worthy or Calvin Ridley
Xavier Worthy or Deandre Hopkins
Zay Flowers or Jayden Reed
Calvin Ridley or Courtland Sutton
Calvin Ridley or Quentin Johnston
Calvin Ridley or Tank Dell
Cedric Tillman or Jayden Reed
Courtland Sutton or Deandre Hopkins
Dj Moore or Jayden Reed
Jayden Reed or Bucky Irving
Jayden Reed or Rachaad White
Nico Collins or Deandre Hopkins
Rico Dowdle or Deandre Hopkins
Tank Dell or Calvin Ridley
Tee Higgins or Deandre Hopkins
Brian Thomasjr or Calvin Ridley
Calvin Ridley or Cedric Tillman
Calvin Ridley or Chuba Hubbard
Calvin Ridley or Darnell Mooney
Calvin Ridley or Dj Moore
Calvin Ridley or Jauan Jennings
Calvin Ridley or Mike Evans
Calvin Ridley or Terry Mclaurin
Calvin Ridley or Zay Flowers
Dandre Swift or Calvin Ridley
Deebo Samuelsr or Calvin Ridley
Dk Metcalf or Calvin Ridley
Jakobi Meyers or Jayden Reed
James Conner or Jayden Reed
Javonte Williams or Deandre Hopkins
Jayden Reed or Devonta Smith
Jayden Reed or Nick Chubb
Jayden Reed or Terry Mclaurin
Josh Downs or Calvin Ridley
Josh Downs or Deandre Hopkins
Kareem Hunt or Calvin Ridley
Khalil Shakir or Deandre Hopkins
Ladd Mcconkey or Calvin Ridley
Marvin Harrisonjr or Jayden Reed
Rico Dowdle or Jayden Reed
Tyrone Tracyjr or Deandre Hopkins
Brian Robinsonjr or Jayden Reed
Bucky Irving or Calvin Ridley
Bucky Irving or Deandre Hopkins
Calvin Ridley or Diontae Johnson
Calvin Ridley or Jordan Addison
Calvin Ridley or Michael Pittmanjr
Calvin Ridley or Rachaad White
Ceedee Lamb or Calvin Ridley
Ceedee Lamb or Jayden Reed
Christian Watson or Calvin Ridley
David Montgomery or Deandre Hopkins
Deebo Samuelsr or Deandre Hopkins
Devonta Smith or Deandre Hopkins
Diontae Johnson or Deandre Hopkins
Drake London or Calvin Ridley
Drake London or Deandre Hopkins
George Pickens or Deandre Hopkins
George Pickens or Jayden Reed
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Deandre Hopkins
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Jayden Reed
Jayden Reed or Calvin Ridley
Jayden Reed or Christian Watson
Jayden Reed or Deandre Hopkins
Jayden Reed or Demario Douglas
Jayden Reed or George Pickens
Jayden Reed or Javonte Williams
Jayden Reed or Jerry Jeudy
Jayden Reed or Malik Nabers
Jayden Reed or Rhamondre Stevenson
Jayden Reed or Rico Dowdle
Jayden Reed or Tyreek Hill
Jayden Reed or Will Dissly
Jayden Reed or Xavier Worthy
Jaylen Waddle or Jayden Reed
Jerry Jeudy or Calvin Ridley
Jk Dobbins or Jayden Reed
Malik Nabers or Calvin Ridley
Marvin Harrisonjr or Calvin Ridley
Rhamondre Stevenson or Jayden Reed
Terry Mclaurin or Jayden Reed
Tony Pollard or Jayden Reed
Tyreek Hill or Jayden Reed
Aaron Jones or Deandre Hopkins
Aaron Jones or Jayden Reed
Adam Thielen or Deandre Hopkins
Alec Pierce or Jayden Reed
Amari Cooper or Calvin Ridley
Audric Estime or Jayden Reed
Austin Ekeler or Calvin Ridley
Austin Ekeler or Jayden Reed
Cade Otton or Calvin Ridley
Cade Otton or Deandre Hopkins
Calvin Ridley or Adam Thielen
Calvin Ridley or Austin Ekeler
Calvin Ridley or Bucky Irving
Calvin Ridley or Christian Watson
Calvin Ridley or Dandre Swift
Calvin Ridley or David Njoku
Calvin Ridley or Deebo Samuelsr
Calvin Ridley or Demarcus Robinson
Calvin Ridley or Javonte Williams
Calvin Ridley or Jaylen Waddle
Calvin Ridley or Kareem Hunt
Calvin Ridley or Kyren Williams
Calvin Ridley or Malik Nabers
Calvin Ridley or Najee Harris
Calvin Ridley or Rhamondre Stevenson
Calvin Ridley or Rome Odunze
Calvin Ridley or Tj Hockenson
Calvin Ridley or Tony Pollard
Calvin Ridley or Tre Tucker
Calvin Ridley or Trey Mcbride
Calvin Ridley or Tyrone Tracyjr
Calvin Ridley or Xavier Worthy
Calvin Ridley or Zach Ertz
Cam Akers or Calvin Ridley
Christian Watson or Deandre Hopkins
Christian Watson or Jayden Reed
Chuba Hubbard or Deandre Hopkins
Chuba Hubbard or Jayden Reed
Cooper Kupp or Jayden Reed
Courtland Sutton or Calvin Ridley
Dallas Goedert or Deandre Hopkins
Dandre Swift or Jayden Reed
Darnell Mooney or Calvin Ridley
Davante Adams or Calvin Ridley
Davante Adams or Deandre Hopkins
David Njoku or Deandre Hopkins
Deandre Hopkins or Calvin Ridley
Deebo Samuelsr or Jayden Reed
Dj Moore or Calvin Ridley
Dk Metcalf or Deandre Hopkins
Elijah Moore or Calvin Ridley
Elijah Moore or Deandre Hopkins
George Kittle or Calvin Ridley
Jakobi Meyers or Calvin Ridley
James Conner or Calvin Ridley
Jameson Williams or Calvin Ridley
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Calvin Ridley
Jayden Reed or Amari Cooper
Jayden Reed or Austin Ekeler
Jayden Reed or Brian Robinsonjr
Jayden Reed or Brian Thomasjr
Jayden Reed or Dj Moore
Jayden Reed or Jakobi Meyers
Jayden Reed or Jaylen Waddle
Jayden Reed or Jk Dobbins
Jayden Reed or Jonnu Smith
Jayden Reed or Keenan Allen
Jayden Reed or Khalil Shakir
Jayden Reed or Mike Evans
Jayden Reed or Quentin Johnston
Jayden Reed or Rome Odunze
Jayden Reed or Tank Dell
Jayden Reed or Tee Higgins
Jayden Reed or Tony Pollard
Jayden Reed or Zach Ertz
Jaylen Waddle or Deandre Hopkins
Jaylen Warren or Calvin Ridley
Jk Dobbins or Calvin Ridley
Jk Dobbins or Deandre Hopkins
Jordan Addison or Deandre Hopkins
More Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks
Kimani Vidal, Tyjae Spears, Travis Etienne Jr.: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 9
As we hit the halfway point of the 2025 NFL season, several backup running backs have emerged, some stepping in due to injury and others simply proving to be the more dynamic option. In this article, we'll look at three running backs in different situations. Los Angeles Chargers RB Kimani Vidal has filled in admirably […]
Khalil Shakir, Parker Washington, Troy Franklin: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 9
The midway point of the 2025 NFL season is upon us. Four more teams are on bye in Week 9, and more unexpected wide receiver injuries can throw things for a loop in fantasy. In this article, we will evaluate three fringe starters at wide receiver: Khalil Shakir, Parker Washington, and Troy Franklin. Both Shakir […]
DJ Moore, Tee Higgins, Jakobi Meyers: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 9
If you drafted Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore, Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins, or Las Vegas Raiders wideout Jakobi Meyers in fantasy football this season, you probably aren't very thrilled with their output to this point. But that doesn't make them useless in fantasy football. Quite the opposite -- each clearly has upside that's […]
Rashid Shaheed, Jameson Williams, Tre Tucker: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 9
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams, and Las Vegas Raiders wideout Tre Tucker have all been in the range of WR2s/WR3s this season. Each at least deserves some consideration for starting lineups. In deeper leagues, players like this are very important -- and it's especially important to try to […]
Alvin Kamara, Jordan Mason, Kyle Monangai: Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Picks for Fantasy Football Week 9
Week 9 is another difficult week for fantasy managers trying to find a running back. Once again, the position is ravaged by injuries and teams on bye. That means that fantasy managers will need to get creative on the waiver wire or lean on running backs that have struggled to provide consistent production in 2025. […]
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
