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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.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

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Masai Ujiri Hired as Mavericks Team President
Anthony Edwards

to Come Off Bench Monday
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Bryson Graham Hired as Bulls Lead Executive
Jalen Williams

Sidelined Tuesday vs Lakers
Carter Bryant

Unavailable for Game 1 Against Minnesota
Anthony Edwards

Set to Return Monday with Restrictions
Joel Embiid

is Cleared for Monday's Game 1
Kevin Huerter

is Questionable for Tuesday's Contest
Ayo Dosunmu

is Ruled Out for Game 1 on Monday
Jeremy Sochan

is Available for Game 1 on Monday
Roman Anthony

Pulled Early on Monday After Tweaking his Wrist
Jhoan Duran

to Come Off the Injured List on Tuesday
Owen Tippett

Remains Out Monday
Roope Hintz

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Expects to Be Ready for Training Camp
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Could Practice Tuesday
Alexander Nikishin

Won't Play Monday
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Rejoins Golden Knights Lineup Monday
Jackson Chourio

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Fernando Mendoza

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DJ Giddens

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a Prime Regression Candidate Entering 2026
Tarik Skubal

to Undergo Elbow Surgery
Cedric Tillman

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Xavier Legette

Dynasty Stock at an All-Time Low Entering 2026
Chase Elliott

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Denny Hamlin

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Tyler Reddick

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Scores his First Career Texas Finish in the Top Five
Rashod Bateman

Droppable in Many Dynasty Leagues
Mark Andrews

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Tyrone Tracy Jr.

Can Maintain Fantasy Relevance When Teammate Returns
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Raisel Iglesias

to be Activated on Tuesday
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Jamahl Mosley Out as Magic Head Coach
Chase Brown

Stock Back on the Rise After Surviving Another Offseason
Scottie Barnes

Caps Season with Efficient Game 7 Showing
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Finishes with 22 Points in Deciding Game
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a Depreciating Dynasty Asset
Jarrett Allen

Leads Frontcourt Effort with 19 Rebounds
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Can C.J. Stroud End His Dynasty Slide?
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Jalen Duren

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Tobias Harris

Stays Hot with 30 Points in Win
Cade Cunningham

Shines as Pistons Advance to Semifinals
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Gets Dominated At UFC Perth
Carlos Prates

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Owen Tippett

a Game-Time Decision Monday
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Practices Fully Sunday
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Noah Ostlund

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Remains Unbeaten
Bryce Eldridge

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Jonas Brodin

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Joel Eriksson Ek

Will Miss First Two Games of Colorado Series
Joel Kiviranta

Remains Out of the Lineup Versus Minnesota
Anthony Volpe

Reinstated From Injured List, Optioned to Triple-A
Josh Manson

Out for Game 1 Against Minnesota
Carter Bryant

Iffy for Game 1 Against Timberwolves
Joel Embiid

Considered Probable for Monday
Kyle Anderson

Available for Round 2 Opener
Ranger Suarez

Exits Sunday's Start With Hamstring Tightness
Agustín Ramírez

Marlins Demote Agustin Ramirez to Triple-A
Victor Hedman

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Noah Dobson

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Ben Rice

Exits Sunday's Contest With Left-Hand Contusion
Christopher Bell

Is Christopher Bell Worth Rostering for Texas Lineups?
Cal Raleigh

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William Byron

Might have the Speed to Compete for the Win at Texas
Joey Logano

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Joe Ryan

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Could Chase Briscoe be A Sneaky Pick for Texas Lineups?
Ty Gibbs

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Daniel Suarez

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Daniel Palencia

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Kyle Busch

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Ronald Acuña Jr.

Braves Place Ronald Acuna Jr. on Injured List With Strained Hamstring
Nick Lodolo

Expected to Make Season Debut on Friday
Tyler Reddick

One of the Favorites to Win at Texas
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Could Contend for Another Win at Texas
Carson Hocevar

on Pole at Texas
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Wrecks in Practice at Texas
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Austin Dillon

Blows Engine in Practice at Texas
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Ronald Acuna Jr. Exits With Left-Hamstring Tightness
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Returns At UFC Perth
Carlos Prates

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Set For Co-Main Event
Beneil Dariush

An Underdog At UFC Perth
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Looks To Remain Undefeated
Gary Woodland

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Jordan Spieth

Brings Boom-or-Bust Potential to Cadillac Championship
Adam Scott

Looks Poised for Another Strong Finish at Doral
Maverick McNealy

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Jameson Williams Files Lawsuit Against NCAA, SEC, Big Ten
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a Risky Value Play at Cadillac Championship
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a Scary Proposition at Cadillac Championship
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J.J Spaun Enduring Roller Coaster Start to 2026
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