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Fantasy Mad Libs: Starts and Sits for Week 12

Most of us are writing on a quicker deadline this week, anxious to get our fantasy advice out into the world, copying and pasting some thoughts on why we are thankful (usually something about how we are beyond excited to be writing fantasy football advice instead of just shouting moves at our friend).

But I was reminded of something today as I hurriedly figured out my lineups; we have three Thursday games. It's our annual "Who Will Get Tired And Underperform First" contest, figuring out who will disappoint us first; will it be Rob Kelley or maybe an uncle, passed out on the couch? Let's take a look.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up Now!

 

A Thursday Thanksgiving Preview

The Minnesota Vikings draw the short straw and have to visit Detroit on Thanksgiving. Detroit has the advantage of being a Thanksgiving host every year, which is the only advantage of playing for Detroit, and kicks off at 12:30 AM ET. It's great, because unless you're one of those people who drinks whiskey in a garage as you deep fry a turkey first thing in the morning (that's not projecting, we actually did that last year. God bless Texas) it's impossible that you're drunk at that point. Enjoy a fully healthy Vikings defense that will give the Detroit Lions hell, meaning that unless you're a defensive enthusiast AND Minnesota resident, you will not enjoy the first game.

Next up is Redskins vs. Cowboys! Everyone's favorite afternoon match-up, this game will guarantee one random fantasy football blowout for someone at the table (likely in the form of human bullet Ezekiel Elliott or oddly-resurgent Dez Bryant). Enjoy the uncle you didn't really know that well until your aunt brought him from eHarmony bitch and moan about fantasy advice. He may ask you if you have anything to help his buzz, and then make some sort of hand motion towards drugs. Avoid this person and his bad fantasy drafting.

And then, Steelers vs. Colts at 7:30 PM ET. This will be the game that is arguably the least entertaining, due to Andrew Luck's injury, but it will be a good time for your grandfather to learn who Le'Veon Bell is and why he's "the shit" before your brother/brother-in-law bitches about Luck being hurt and the Colts being bad despite their record. Everyone will be asleep at halftime, due to a classic Thanksgiving case of the "itis." If you've eaten enough, you will not wake up until the next slate of games on Sunday.

Enjoy the holiday!

 

Running Back

Carlos Hyde will either be on my bench or will ruin my week.

Carlos Hyde is unquestionably the RB1 in San Francisco, and has a very exciting fantasy schedule going forward, so now makes a very interesting time to buy Hyde low... or you can wait a week, because Hyde is not going to find much daylight against the Miami Dolphins. My column seems to keep finding offensive players to bench due to the Dolphins' defense, and Hyde may become a flex play at best in hopes he falls into the end zone.

Dear Terrance West, do you like like me? I like like you this week.

It's hard to get overly excited about anyone running in Baltimore, but since Week 5 the run defense in Cincinnati has been incredibly porous and showed no sign of improvement following their bye week. The issue with starting West is obvious; he's not guaranteed to hold onto the workload, but Week 12 is a do-or-die moment for the Ravens. Some RB will succeed, and if it's not West it could be a Kenneth Dixon coming out party. West still holds the snap count advantage, so it's his job as a decent RB2/flex.

Am I going to really start James Starks in Week 12?

It's a strange week when I'm calling a 30-year old Packers RB an "overlooked talent," but Starks has been largely overlooked (though increasingly more owned). Despite the offensive problems in Green Bay, Starks is seeing consistent fantasy work and could be worthy of a flex position if you owned one of the many RBs who went down last week.

 

Wide Receiver

Don't hand me my money back, I'm going double-or-nothing on Tyrell Williams.

I'm a huge fan of Tyrell Williams in fantasy; an increasing number of targets, two of his last three games started have resulted in over 100 yards receiving, and as of now Travis Benjamin is likely to see a matchup with human nightmare A.J. Bouye in this game against Houston. All systems are go for Williams, and he's arguably a WR1 in Week 12.

I will be discarding my Randall Cobb and replacing him with two cards from the deck

I have a hard time recommending anyone playing in green and yellow who catches the ball, but the guy who went from 15 targets a month ago to never topping 9 targets in November is a really hard start in Green Bay's third straight road game, this time in Philly. Randall Cobb may not be startable again save for a Jordy injury or a breakout week.

I am out of options, and will be swiping right on Dorial Green-Beckham (owned in less than 5% of leagues)

In that same matchup, we find a very interesting offensive situation. In the last month, the Eagles have lost Josh Huff, have not committed fully to Jordan Matthews, and have misplaced Nelson Agholor's hands entirely... so may I interest you in some DGB? Matthews escaped a tough match-up against Seattle with five receptions on eight targets after not being targeted once the week before. Beckham's role may be expanding or he may have just had a good week, but this week's "If You're Desperate" pick is.... well, it's certainly desperate.

 

Tight End

Parachute? I don't need no parachute, I have Zach Ertz

Zach Ertz may be the biggest offensive beneficiary of an easy matchup against the Packers, who just gave away a "buy one, get one free" touchdown deal to the Titans tight ends. Philly is in a bit of a predicament right now, but Ertz has been widely dropped in many leagues and if you just lost Zach Miller (be still my heart...) consider Ertz.

Don't cry kids! We will bury Julius Thomas in the yard

As a Julius Thomas owner in too many leagues, I couldn't be less thrilled with this matchup for the Jaguars against the Buffalo Bills. Thomas is not getting the targets in any situation and this will be a nail in the coffin of a tough week for tight ends.




REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Rasmus Hojgaard

a Player to Avoid at Charles Schwab Challenge
Hideki Matsuyama

Needs Solid Driving Week at Charles Schwab Challenge
Justin Thomas

Trending Well Ahead of Charles Schwab Challenge
Akshay Bhatia

Lacking Driving Prowess Needed at Colonial Country Club
NFL

NFL Unlikely to Expand to 18 Regular-Season Games by 2027
Sahith Theegala

Searching For Swing at Charles Schwab Challenge
Lamar Jackson

in Attendance at OTAs This Week
Bucky Irving

Expected Back in the Summer or Fall
CFB

DJ Lagway Looking to Rebound at Baylor
CFB

Josh Hoover Tasked With Leading Indiana Back to the Playoffs
CFB

Braylon Staley the Next 1,000-Yard Tennessee Receiver?
Jalen Tolbert

Does Jalen Tolbert Have Short-Term Dynasty Appeal?
CFB

Ahmad Hardy's Return Timeline Remains Unclear
Travis Etienne Jr.

Is Travis Etienne Jr. Still a Dynasty RB1 Following Change of Scenery?
Breece Hall

Extension Solidifies His Dynasty Outlook
Devin Singletary

Faces a Difficult Path to Relevance
Jordan Whittington

Does Jordan Whittington Have Any Dynasty Value Left?
Caleb Williams

Bears Want Caleb Williams to "Do Less"
Xavier Worthy

Has Xavier Worthy Become a Post-Hype Dynasty Sleeper?
DeMario Douglas

A Playing-Time Blockage Could Make DeMario Douglas a Dynasty Drop Candidate
Elijah Sarratt

Can Elijah Sarratt Emerge From the Middle Rounds of Dynasty Rookie Drafts?
Antonio Williams

a Borderline First-Round Pick in Dynasty Rookie Drafts
Joe Flacco

a Low-Cost Dynasty Handcuff with Immense Upside
Evan Mobley

Finishes Season-Ending Loss With 15 Points
James Harden

Wants to Stay in Cleveland
Donovan Mitchell

Remains Committed to Cavaliers
Mikal Bridges

Cools Off in Game 4 Against Cavaliers
OG Anunoby

Active on Both Ends in Blowout Win
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads Knicks in Scoring During Series-Clincher
Jalen Brunson

Named Eastern Conference Finals MVP
Ivan Demidov

Contributes an Assist in Losing Effort
Lane Hutson

Records Power-Play Goal in Game 3 Loss
Frederik Andersen

Enjoys Another Easy Night at the Office in Game 3
Shayne Gostisbehere

Scores First Postseason Goal
Taylor Hall

Ends Four-Game Goal Drought
Andrei Svechnikov

Scores Game 3 Winner in Overtime
Gage Jump

Athletics to Promote Top Pitching Prospect Gage Jump to Major Leagues
Dont'e Thornton Jr.

Falling Out of Favor Already in Dynasty Formats?
Roman Wilson

Worth Holding in Dynasty Leagues After Offseason Additions?
Luke McCaffrey

a Cut Candidate in Dynasty Leagues
Roman Hemby

Does Roman Hemby Have a Chance to Make Raiders Roster?
NFL

Eric McAlister Worth Drafting in Rookie-Only Dynasty Leagues?
Caleb Lohner

Impresses Sean Payton During Offseason Program
Tatsuya Imai

Two Relievers Combine to No-Hit the Rangers on Monday
Dennis Schröder

Dennis Schroder is Ruled Out for Game 4 on Monday
Michael Porter Jr.

Nets Could Trade Michael Porter Jr.
Ajay Mitchell

is Ruled Out for Game 5
Jalen Williams

is Tagged as Questionable for Game 5
Valeri Nichushkin

Nathan MacKinnon, Valeri Nichushkin Uncertain for Game 4
Oliver Kapanen

Sitting as Healthy Scratch Monday
Max Domi

Out Indefinitely Due to Offseason Surgery Complications
Tanner Koziol

a Long-Shot Dynasty Tight End?
Dylan Cease

Heading to Injured List With Hamstring Injury
Daniel Suarez

Wins at Charlotte in Rain-Shortened Coca-Cola 600
Christopher Bell

Finishes as the Runner-Up in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte
Denny Hamlin

Falls Short of Winning and Places Third at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick

Places Fourth After Leading Laps at Charlotte
Kyle Larson

Strong and Consistent Day Ends in Fifth at Charlotte
Devon Toews

Logs Two Assists In Game 3 Defeat
Brett Howden

Nets 10th Postseason Goal
Mitchell Marner

Delivers Two Assists in Comeback Victory
Mark Stone

Returns With Multi-Point Effort
Valeri Nichushkin

Exits Early Sunday
Nathan MacKinnon

Hurt in Game 3 Loss
Isaiah Hartenstein

Provides Steady Production in Defeat
Chet Holmgren

Has a Quiet Offensive Night on Sunday
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Held Under 20 Points in Game 4
Stephon Castle

Hands Out Six Assists in Game 4 Win
Devin Vassell

Tallies 13 Points in Game 4 Win
De'Aaron Fox

Records Double-Double as Spurs Even Series
Victor Wembanyama

Sets Tone Early as Spurs Force a Pivotal Game 5
Jamal Murray

Earns First Career All-NBA Selection
Kevin Durant

Becomes First Player to Make All-NBA Team With Five Franchises
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Victor Wembanyama Lead All-NBA First Team
Taylor Hall

Enjoying Life in Carolina
Mark Stone

Returns to Action Sunday
Cale Makar

Rejoins Avalanche Lineup Sunday
Dylan Cease

Removed From Sunday's Start With Hamstring Discomfort
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Exits Sunday's Game Early with Elbow Contusion
MLB

Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Sunday
Edward Cabrera

Cubs Place Edward Cabrera on the 15-Day Injured List
Denny Hamlin

the Favorite to Win at Charlotte
Tyler Reddick

on Pole for Coca-Cola 600
Christopher Bell

Could Break Out of Slump
Kyle Larson

May have A Solid Day at Charlotte
Ryan Blaney

Is A DFS Risk for Charlotte Lineups
William Byron

Could have A Great DFS Performance at Charlotte
Chase Briscoe

Is A Solid Tournament Option for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Ty Gibbs

May not be Worth his Salary for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Chris Buescher

May be a Sneaky Tournament Option for Charlotte Lineups
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Has Favorable Upside for Charlotte DFS Lineups
Ross Chastain

Is A Strong Addition for DFS Lineups at Charlotte
Austin Dillon

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Austin Dillon for Charlotte DFS Lineups?
Chase Elliott

Should Be Strong at Charlotte
Carson Hocevar

Confident for Coca-Cola 600
Corey Heim

a Chalk DFS Pick at Charlotte
Michael McDowell

Is Michael McDowell A Tournament Option for Charlotte Lineups?
Phillip Danault

Extends Point Streak to Three Games
Josh Anderson

Nets Two Goals in Painful Loss
Jalen Chatfield

Delivers Two Assists in Crucial Win
MLB

Orioles-Tigers Game Postponed on Saturday
MLB

Rays-Yankees Postponed on Saturday
Mickey Moniak

Heads to Injured List With Ankle Sprain
Jackson Merrill

has Sore Ribs, Expected to Avoid Injured List
CFB

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Looking to Take Sophomore Leap
CFB

Jadan Baugh Primed to Lead Florida Offense in 2026
CFB

LSU Hires Ed Orgeron As Special Assistant
CFB

North Carolina and South Carolina Cancel Home-And-Home Series
CFB

Confidence High in Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor
MLB

Reds-Cardinals Game Postponed on Friday
Trevor Story

has Hernia Surgery, Expected to Miss 6-10 Weeks
Roman Anthony

Dealing With Sprained Ligament in his Finger
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Exits Early, X-Rays Come Back Negative
Robby Snelling

Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Jackson Merrill

Tweaks his Back on Wednesday, Pulled Early
CFB

Lincoln Riley Believes USC is Ready for Playoff Run
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF