Fantasy Football Matchups We Love - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 12 (2025)

Quincy's top fantasy football matchups for Week 12 of 2025. His favorite start 'em, sit 'em picks and predictions -- strong start/sit matchups that he loves.

For many fantasy football leagues, there are only two or three weeks left in the regular season. Many fantasy managers need a win or two to propel them into the fantasy playoffs. This is one of the most important stretches of the fantasy football season. All you have to do is make it into the dance. Unlike in real life, there is no home-field advantage. Anything can happen in the playoffs.

With so much at stake, it is as imperative as ever that we select the correct matchups. There is nothing like entering this stretch of the season and receiving a total bummer of a game from one of your players. You need just about everyone to smash so you can enter the playoffs with conviction.

It is a good thing we are here for you. If you have start/sit questions, then you have come to the right place. Let's dive in and see who to play and who to avoid in Week 12. Headliners include Jared Goff, Woody Marks, and Zay Flowers.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Quarterback Matchups We Love

Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: IND
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 12th

Patrick Mahomes is enjoying a resurgent fantasy season, but he could be extra special in Week 12. The Colts are allowing opposing offenses to light them up through the air. Perhaps the bye week allowed Indianapolis to further integrate cornerback Sauce Gardner on defense, but the Colts have not seen many offenses like the Chiefs this season.

If Indianapolis' offense is legit, then this game could turn into a shootout. Look for Mahomes to put together a vintage Mahomes game with over 300 passing yards and a couple of touchdowns. Buckle up, this should be a fun ride.

Jared Goff  - Detroit Lions
Opponent: NYG
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 31st

Jared Goff is notorious for putting together great games on his home turf. The Giants' passing defense has been in the league's cellar this season. As such, the fantasy points should flow from several members of the Lions' passing offense, with Goff orchestrating the magic.

If you need a streaming quarterback this week, look no further than Goff. He has a great chance to throw for multiple touchdown passes and rack up huge yardage totals. It is not every day that you get to stream Goff. Do so in a matchup that is as juicy as he will receive all season.

Quarterback Matchup to Temper Expectations

Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opponent: at LAR
Opponent Rank vs. QB: 6th

Baker Mayfield has been up and down after a stellar start to the season. He has become a bit of a matchup play over the last handful of weeks while the Buccaneers fight through a smattering of offensive injuries. As such, Mayfield is a riskier play this week with a visit to the stellar Los Angeles Rams defense on the docket.

There is, of course, the chance that this game turns into a shootout. However, the Buccaneers have struggled through the air over the last couple of weeks, and the Rams have a great chance to shut them down. There are a couple of streaming options in Week 12, including the aforementioned Goff, who may be a better play than Mayfield this week.

Running Back Matchups We Love

Woody Marks - Houston Texans
Opponent: BUF
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 30th

Woody Marks continues to take more command of the Texans backfield with each passing week. Even with quarterback C.J. Stroud not rejoining the lineup this week, Marks should be in a solid position. The Bills have been awful at stopping opposing running games in 2025. We just saw Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker dice this defense to the tune of 19 carries for 106 yards.

Marks has been relatively inconsistent this season, but he is seeing a consistent role in both the running and passing games. The Texans may keep this game close on Thursday with stellar defensive play. As such, the rushing attempts should be plentiful for Marks, and he should receive his fair share of targets.

TreVeyon Henderson - New England Patriots
Opponent: at CIN
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 32nd

TreVeyon Henderson has officially broken out. He has put together two massive multi-touchdown games in a row. Rhamondre Stevenson seems to be on the cusp of returning to the Patriots lineup this week, but Henderson's performances have been a bit too good for the Patriots coaching staff to ignore.

Cincinnati's defense did an alright job against the run in Week 11 against the Steelers, but it wasn't a world-beating performance. The Patriots should be able to do whatever they want against this defense. Look for Henderson to have plenty of chances for breakaway runs. He could be an RB2 even if Stevenson returns.

Running Back Matchup to Temper Expectations

D'Andre Swift - Chicago Bears
Opponent: PIT
Opponent Rank vs. RB: 3rd

Pittsburgh has found some mojo on the defensive side of the ball. The unit remains a bit inconsistent, but it's effective when it shows up. The Bears have found success with the one-two punch of D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. However, the sledding could be tough this week.

Pittsburgh is the No. 3 defense against opposing running backs in fantasy. It has been relatively stingy against the position and leaky to other positions. Swift could salvage his day in the passing game, but the Bears have not demonstrated enough consistency on offense quite yet to do away with matchup concerns. Swift can still be started this week, but do not expect a ceiling game.

Wide Receiver Matchups We Love

DeVonta Smith/A.J. Brown - Philadelphia Eagles
Opponent: at DAL
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 28th

Dallas cures all woes. The frustrations of A.J. Brown in recent weeks could very well melt away in Week 12. Additionally, DeVonta Smith, who has been excellent in recent weeks, should also have a nice game against Dallas.

These Cowboys vs. Eagles games often produce fireworks. Week 1 featured a bit of a shootout between the two teams. Unless the Cowboys' trade-deadline additions completely transform the unit, the Eagles offense should get right in this game. Look for both players to deliver high upside as potential WR1s in Week 12.

Zay Flowers - Baltimore Ravens
Opponent: NYJ
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 16th

Zay Flowers does not have a particularly high ceiling, but he is an awesome play in Week 12 against a depleted New York Jets team. The Jets signaled a hard rebuild when they traded away seemingly half of their defense at the trade deadline. Most of the players left in the Jets secondary are players you have likely never heard of. That is a dream for fantasy managers.

This game could very well turn into a blowout early, but the Jets have demonstrated an ability to put points on the board on occasion. Either way, Flowers should be able to rack up several receptions and at least PPR his way to a solid day.

Wide Receiver Matchup to Temper Expectations

Chris Olave - New Orleans Saints
Opponent: ATL
Opponent Rank vs. WR: 17th

Chris Olave seems to have a nice connection with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, but Shough has not faced a defense like Atlanta's quite yet. The Falcons do not show up in every game. In fact, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young just hung 448 yards on this defense. Still, most of the time, the Falcons can shut down opposing passing defenses, and this feels like one of those games.

With no Rashid Shaheed on this team anymore, opposing defenses only need to focus on Olave. The Falcons will do their best to take away New Orleans' best weapon. Proceed with caution with Olave this week. He could even be a potential bench candidate depending on who else you have at the wide receiver position.

Tight End Matchup We Love

Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs
Opponent: IND
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 26th

Travis Kelce is in a position for a nice game against a Colts defense allowing the 26th-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Kelce has been perfectly serviceable at tight end this season. However, he could have a huge day in a potential shootout among the AFC's best teams.

Look for Kelce's target volume to be high in this game. If the Colts can put points on the Chiefs defense, the fantasy points will flow from both sides. Kelce is in the top-5 tight ends this week, and he could very well end up finishing as the potential TE1.

Tight End Matchup to Temper Expectations

Dalton Schultz - Houston Texans
Opponent: BUF
Opponent Rank vs. TE: 1st

Dalton Schultz has enjoyed a massive resurgence over the last three weeks. That may come to a temporary end in Week 12 against a Bills team that is simply not allowing opposing tight ends to do anything. In what could be a low-scoring Thursday Night Football game, Schultz is not a great option.

The Bills have played several quality tight ends this season, yet they have really only allowed legitimate points to Kelce. If you have been riding Schultz over the last few weeks, proceed with caution in Week 12, or bench him altogether.

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