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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.

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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

Chris Boucher

Active Thursday vs. Kings
Jalen Duren

Won't Return Thursday After Ankle Injury
Ryan Kalkbrenner

Ruled Out Again Friday
Josh Hart

Sidelined for Fourth Straight Game
Kyshawn George

to Miss Fourth Straight Game Friday
Joel Embiid

Cleared to Play Thursday vs. Mavericks
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Ruled Out for At Least Four Weeks
Bo Bichette

Yankees Showing Interest in Bo Bichette
D'Angelo Russell

Ruled Out Thursday With Illness
George Kittle

Listed as Questionable for Week 18
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Active Versus Nets
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Trending Towards Playing
Clint Capela

Steven Adams and Clint Capela Sidelined Thursday
Miles Wood

Blue Jackets Place Miles Wood on Injured Reserve
Dak Prescott

May Not Play Full Game in Week 18
Conor Garland

to Miss One Week
Egor Demin

Won't Suit Up Against Houston
Marco Rossi

to Miss at Least One Week
Ace Bailey

Still Out on Thursday Night
Tari Eason

Active on Thursday
Yegor Chinakhov

Set for Penguins Debut Thursday
Lauri Markkanen

Ruled Out on Thursday
Tanner McKee

Will Start for Eagles in Week 18
Shayne Gostisbehere

Misses Third Consecutive Game Thursday
Keyonte George

Unavailable on Thursday
Michael Porter Jr.

Out on Thursday
Auston Matthews

Returns From One-Game Absence
Josh Allen

Trending Towards Resting in Week 18
William Nylander

Remains Out Thursday
Lamar Jackson

Will Officially Return in Week 18
Tobias Harris

Won't Suit Up Against Miami
Lauri Markkanen

on the Injury Report for Thursday Night
Keyonte George

Battling an Illness, Might Miss Thursday's Game
Jusuf Nurkić

Jusuf Nurkic Won't Play on Thursday Evening
Houston Astros

Astros Sign Tatsuya Imai to Three-Year Deal
Jordan Love

Clears Concussion Protocol, Won't Start in Week 18
George Kittle

"Absolutely" Expects to Play in Week 18
Clayton Tune

to Start for Packers in Week 18
Chris Olave

Ruled Out for Week 18
Tom Wilson

Wraps Up 2025 With Gordie Howe Hat Trick
Valeri Nichushkin

Nets Second Career Hat Trick
Frank Vatrano

to Miss Six Weeks With Shoulder Injury
Conor Sheary

Noah Laba Exit With Injuries Wednesday
Brayden McNabb

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Wednesday
Miles Wood

Exits Early Wednesday
Gavin Brindley

Sustains Upper-Body Injury
Michael Porter Jr.

Battling Illness, Questionable Thursday
Davante Adams

Not Expected to Play in Week 18
Geno Smith

Won't Play in Week 18
Aaron Rodgers

Considering Playing Beyond 2025?
Sean Monahan

Sits Out Wednesday's Game
Zach Werenski

Misses Fourth Straight Game Wednesday
Dougie Hamilton

Questionable Wednesday
Radko Gudas

Expected to Remain Out Wednesday
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Play in Week 18
Ilya Lyubushkin

Back From One-Game Absence Wednesday
Alex Lyon

to Miss "Bit of Time"
Erik Cernak

Rejoins Lightning Lineup Wednesday
Christian McCaffrey

Trending to Play in Week 18
Jalen Hurts

Eagles Expected to Rest Jalen Hurts, Most Starters in Week 18
George Kittle

49ers Will be "Very Surprised" if George Kittle Doesn't Play on Saturday
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Ruled Out for Regular-Season Finale
CFB

Lane Kiffin Interested in Sam Leavitt, Brendan Sorsby at LSU
CFB

Deuce Knight Officially Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Kewan Lacy Expected to Be Full-Go Against Georgia
Stefon Diggs

Facing Strangulation, Assault Charges
CFB

Chip Kelly Named Northwestern Offensive Coordinator
Riley Leonard

Will Start Against the Texans
Bijan Robinson

Explodes for 229 Total Yards, Two Touchdowns on Monday Night
CFB

Penn State Working to Hire D'Anton Lynn as Next Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Omar Cooper Expected to be Full-Go for Rose Bowl
CFB

Marcus Freeman Staying with Notre Dame for 2026 Season
CFB

Star Wideout Cam Coleman Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Jay Hill Expected to be Next Michigan Defensive Coordinator

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