November 22, 2017

Thursday football starts/sits and matchups analysis for Week 12 of the NFL season. Which Vikings, Lions, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Redskins to start or sit for fantasy football lineups.

Will the real Steelers offense please stand up? It took a while, but the Pittsburgh Steelers' high-powered passing attack that we are readily used to seeing has finally shown up eleven games into the regular season. Big Ben Roethlisberger threw for 299 yards and four touchdowns, three of which going to stud fantasy wideout Antonio Brown, on route to the Steelers' first 30-plus point performance of 2017.

Tennessee, on the other hand, spent much of the night chasing down quarterback Marcus Mariota's four interceptions in the 40-17 loss. Fortunately, his passing yardage and rushing touchdown helped to salvage what could have truly been a devastating night for owners needing a serviceable performance. Much like the No. 1 wide receiver on the opposing side, the Titans' Rishard Matthews dominated with five receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown and should be a serviceable WR3 for the foreseeable future.

Believe me fantasy owners, we are getting a real treat this Thursday with three exceptional matchups to compliment our turkey and stuffing! I won't waste any time before diving into the games and the numerous players, so let's get started.

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions

Date and Start Time: Thursday, November 23 at 12:30 PM ET

Notable Injuries and Status:

• Ezekiel Ansah (DE, DET) - Back - Questionable

Offensive and Defensive Rankings (2017):

Los Angeles Chargers @ Dallas Cowboys

Date and Start Time: Thursday, November 23 at 4:30 PM ET

Notable Injuries and Status:

• Tyron Smith (OL, DAL) - Back/Groin - Questionable
• Sean Lee (LB, DAL) - Hamstring - Out

Offensive and Defensive Rankings (2017):

New York Giants @ Washington Redskins

Date and Start Time: Thursday, November 23 at 8:30 PM ET

Notable Injuries and Status:

• Orleans Darkwa (RB, NYG) - Hamstring - Questionable
• Sterling Shepard (WR, NYG) - Illness - Questionable
• Jordan Reed (TE, WAS) - Hamstring - Doubtful
• Trent Williams (OL, WAS) - Knee - Questionable

Offensive and Defensive Rankings (2017):

Must Starts

Top Performers That Have To Be In Your Lineup

Latavius Murray / Jerick McKinnon (RBs, MIN)

The one-two punch of Murray and McKinnon has managed to dominate opposing defenses, accumulating a total of 156 total yards in a Week 11 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. The return of Ezekiel Ansah will no doubt help the Lions' 18th ranked rushing defense that has given up 200-plus rushing yards in their last two weeks, but both backs should get a significant amount of work for fantasy purposes.

Adam Thielen / Stefon Diggs (WRs, MIN)

There are clearly enough passes to go around in this Minnesota offense for both Thielen and Diggs, but Thielen has out-targeted Diggs 31-17 over their last three games together. Further, Thielen currently ranks fourth in total targets and sixth in red zone targets across the NFL, meaning he sits squarely in the start your studs category. Diggs is certainly a clear start and should bounce back from his four receptions for 32 yards to post a great game for fantasy owners.

Melvin Gordon (RB, LAC)

Concerns over whether Gordon was losing a grip on his workload should mostly be alleviated now, as he has received no less than fourteen carries in his last three contests. The Cowboys also look to be without starting linebacker Sean Lee for another week, meaning one need look no further than the damage Philadelphia caused to them on the ground (215 total rushing yards) to be reassured that Gordon will have success. Lock him in as an RB1 for Week 12.

Keenan Allen (WR, LAC)

Owners who have stayed the course with Allen were rewarded last week when he caught 12 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns. It's safe to say quarterback Philip Rivers is starting to lean on Allen more to help bolster the passing game, which only adds to his fantasy value for the future. He should have a relatively easy time getting open against the Cowboys' middle-of-the-pack defensive back group.

Evan Engram (TE, NYG)

As one of the few big-play threat tight ends in fantasy football, Engram has made his way onto the scene thanks to a number of circumstantial losses to the Giants' offense. Despite a lackluster performance in Week 11 where he saw one reception for nine yards, his six targets reflect how heavily involved he is and that the volume is virtually guaranteed on a weekly basis. Add into the equation that the Redskins have allowed six tight ends to finish in the top 10 in PPR formats and you get a virtual must start.

Kirk Cousins (QB, WAS)

Cousins draws yet another favorable matchup against the Giants' 29th ranked pass defense and is coming off of two gunslinger performances with over 300 passing yards and a touchdown in each. As a poor man's Tom Brady, he has managed to be incredibly efficient with his weapons while spreading the ball around to exploit key mismatches on route to scoring 20-plus fantasy points in six of his last eight starts.

Other Notable Must Starts: Golden Tate (WR, DET), Jamison Crowder (WR, WAS), Jordan Reed OR Vernon Davis (TEs, WAS)

Must Sits

Players To Avoid Putting In Your Lineup

Case Keenum (QB, MIN)

Despite quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looming over his shoulder, Keenum has been playing well enough to secure his spot as the team's starter. However, he draws a particularly unfavorable matchup against a Lions' defense that has only allowed two QB1 weeks on the season and multiple touchdown passes in just three games. Other streaming options are certainly of greater appeal at the end of the day.

Ameer Abdullah (RB, DET)

Abdullah faces an incredibly tough matchup against Minnesota in a team that allows the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs and give up less than 3.5 yards per carry. Although his carry totals are promising for future production, I would be extremely cautious about firing him up as anything more than a low-end RB2/flex in Week 12.

Eric Ebron (TE, DET)

The increased target share for Ebron has been extremely promising in recent weeks, but this will likely mislead fantasy owners into expecting more from him than he can actually produce. Two defensive miscommunication issues resulted in his highest yardage total of the season in Week 11, but the Vikings have an exceptional group of coverage linebackers in Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr that won't be so easily confused. Temper expectations for Ebron, as he should regress to his typically sub-par production.

Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)

As much as I hate to do this to one of the NFL's most prolific young quarterbacks, fantasy owners will almost certainly regret starting Prescott against a Chargers defensive line that has been deadly off the edge. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram have a combined 19 sacks on the season and will have no trouble generating pressure even if left tackle Tyron Smith should manage to play. Expect Prescott to continue to struggle as a pocket passer in the absence of runner Ezekiel Elliott.

Shane Vereen / Wayne Gallman (RBs, NYG)

The Giants' backfield rotation doesn't have much room for fantasy success outside of their dominant lead back in Orleans Darkwa, meaning both Vereen and Gallman are the odd men out. Vereen hasn't received more than 10 total touches in a game this season and Gallman has struggled as of late to find his way on the field. Neither offers much value outside of hilarity from throwing an interception on a botched trick play, but that won't help much in fantasy football.

Other Notable Must Sits: Theo Riddick (RB, DET), Marvin Jones/T.J. Jones/Kenny Golladay (WRs, DET), Rod Smith/Darren McFadden (RBs, DAL), Jason Witten (TE, DAL), Roger Lewis (WR, NYG), Byron Marshall (RB, WAS)

Solid Options/Sleepers

Which Players Will Have Solid Games and Which Could Surprise?

Solid Option: Hunter Henry (TE, LAC)

The Cowboys will be once again without middle linebacker Sean Lee in Week 12, opening up the door for Henry to exploit an already vulnerable passing defense over the middle. Dallas allows an average of seven catches and 50.4 yards to the tight end position, making Henry a guarantee to produce with his combination of athleticism and receiving ability.

Solid Option: Sterling Shepard (WR, NYG)

I'm not happy that shutdown corner Josh Norman will be shading Shepard, nor am I ecstatic about the debilitating migraines that kept him out of the team's Week 11 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Shepard's track record as the No. 1 wide receiver for the Giants looks stellar from a fantasy perspective, with the sophomore accumulating 16 receptions for 212 receiving yards in said games. The target volume alone virtually guarantees owners to get a return on investment, but his game-time status will need to be monitored in a short week.

Solid Option: Samaje Perine (RB, WAS)

Running back Chris Thompson's season-ending fibula injury in Week 11 represents another serious blow to the Redskin backfield after the team had previously lost Rob Kelley to injured reserve back in Week 10. With no competition left to stand in his way, the pathway is paved for Perine to step up and run with the opportunity he is being given. His 23 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown last week should cause many running back-deprived fantasy owners to salivate at the thought of a repeat bell-cow performance in Week 12.

Sleeper: Alfred Morris (RB, DAL)

Despite the Cowboys falling out of their Week 11 contest with the Philadelphia Eagles by halftime, Morris managed to accumulate 91 yards on 17 carries as the clear lead back. San Diego ranks dead-last in run defense and should allow for the Dallas offensive line to open a few gaps, but quarterback Dak Prescott will need to play a lot better than he has in the passing game to prevent stacked boxes.

Sleeper: Eli Manning (QB, NYG)

You are really taking a gamble this week when you set Manning in your starting lineup, but it's one that could easily pay off in dividends. Manning has shown fluctuating reliability in 2017 that will assuredly be on the come-up with the return of wide receiver Sterling Shepard. That the Giants will be playing from behind at some point is all but guaranteed and Washington's bend, don't break-style of defense will give garbage time potential at the very least. He is a QB2 streamer option that could surprise in Week 12.

Other Notable Solid Options: Matthew Stafford (QB, DET), Philip Rivers (QB, LAC), Dez Bryant (WR, DAL)

Other Notable Sleepers: Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN), Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC), Mike Williams (WR, LAC), Orleans Darkwa (RB, NYG), Josh Doctson (WR, WAS)

More Week 12 Lineup Prep