Who To Start for Fantasy Football in Week 12?

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is an excellent start for fantasy managers this weekend when he lines up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. Stafford has been incredible in 2025, having already eclipsed his touchdown totals from the previous three seasons. Since Week 4, the 37-year-old has racked up a 22:0 TD:INT ratio, and has averaged 22.4 fantasy points per contest (fourth-most).

On Sunday, he'll get another chance to keep his hot streak alive against a Buccaneers' defense that's allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to QBs (19). While the veteran had a down performance in their win over Seattle last weekend, his outlook is back on the rise with wide receiver Davante Adams further removed from an oblique injury.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that wide receiver Chris Godwin (leg) is trending toward playing on Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Godwin has not played since injuring his fibula in Week 5, but he was able to practice in full on Thursday and appears ready to return this weekend. The 29-year-old has only played in two games in 2025 after suffering a serious ankle dislocation in Week 7 of the 2024 season.

The Bucs have already said that Godwin will have his snaps limited in his first game back after the long layoff, so we wouldn't recommend starting him in fantasy if he's active on Sunday night in a tough matchup on the road. Still, fantasy managers should have Godwin rostered in most leagues for the stretch run, as he figures to be a key target for quarterback Baker Mayfield with Mike Evans (collarbone) likely done for the year.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Colby Parkinson has started to produce over the last four games and will be in line for an even bigger role moving forward, with fellow TE Tyler Higbee (ankle) on Injured Reserve. The 26-year-old has caught touchdown passes in back-to-back games and has six receptions on seven targets for 55 yards over that span. His six-yard touchdown catch in Week 11 proved to be the game-winner against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

The former fourth-rounder by Seattle in 2020 out of Stanford has been efficient in eight games this year, catching 15 of his 17 targets for 123 yards and two touchdowns. With Higbee out for at least the next four games, Parkinson will have an elevated role, but he'll also be fighting for playing time with rookie Terrance Ferguson and Davis Allen.

In a tough matchup on Sunday night against the Buccaneers, consider Parkinson a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE2 streamer.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard said that running back Sean Tucker's workload has been going up each week as he continues to play well, and Grizzard "expects that to continue," according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. Tucker played a season-high 44% of the offensive snaps in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills and carried the ball a season-high 19 times for 106 yards and two rushing touchdowns. The 24-year-old Syracuse product also caught both of his targets for 34 yards and another score.

He has looked much more explosive than Rachaad White in recent weeks, and he could continue to have a key role in Tampa's backfield, with Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) slated to miss another game. Tampa's backfield could evolve into a three-headed monster when Irving returns, but at least for Week 12 against the Rams, Tucker appears to be in line to get the first chance to show he's still the hot hand.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton followed up his season-best performance of nine catches for 82 yards in Week 10 with a two-catch, 28-yard dud in Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. In five games leading into the Week 11 contest, the 26-year-old had a healthy 29 receptions for 319 yards. Injuries to receivers Mike Evans (collarbone), Chris Godwin (leg), and Jalen McMillan (neck) have given Otton additional targets, which have made him a more interesting TE streamer in fantasy football leagues.

Although he's still searching for his first trip to the end zone in 2025, Otton has seen at least five targets in his last six games. The Bucs have a difficult road matchup in Week 12 on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams, but they should have to throw plenty to keep up with L.A.'s high-powered offense. The Rams have also allowed the 12th-most half-PPR points to TEs per game this year. Otton has a clear path for a nice bounce-back game this week.