Quarterbacks
Brian Hoyer (Saints) or Drew Brees (@Texans)
The Case for Hoyer: After missing last week with a concussion, Hoyer is going to return with an extremely favorable fantasy matchup. Hoyer will lead the Texans against the New Orleans Saints, a team that has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Opposing signal callers have a 7:1 TD/INT ratio against the Saints this season, making Hoyer a positive streaming play in Week 12. If you do away with Week 10, Hoyer had thrown multiple touchdowns in five straight games, all against better defenses than New Orleans. The Houston signal caller should be able to throw all over the Saints defense and when in doubt, chucking it up to DeAndre Hopkins is never a bad play call.
The Case for Brees: New Orleans spotty defense has allowed Brees to throw the ball often in his games. He has 12 touchdowns over his last three, which masks the fact that he has thrown five picks during that span. Not only is Brees going up against Brian Hoyer in reality, but he is also facing him here in this article’s playing field. The Texans defense has been stingy of late, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game over the last three weeks. Houston has allowed just 29 points during that same span, so Brees is going to have his handful on Sunday. Brees is a QB1 in all formats, but perhaps this week, Hoyer is the better play. Especially in DFS, saving some money by going with Hoyer might pay off in the end.
The Verdict: Hoyer. I have him as a low-end QB1 this week, mainly due to the matchup. Look for Hoyer to rack up the passing yards and touchdowns against a poor New Orleans defense.
Running Backs
LeSean McCoy (@Chiefs) or Thomas Rawls (Steelers)
The Case for McCoy: Buffalo is going to run the ball, and even though he didn’t run for over 100 yards on Monday Night Football, Shady looked explosive. He saw a season-high 26 touches and barring any injuries, he should see a similar workload on a weekly basis. He continues to catch passes out of the backfield and as long as he is doing that, he has the upside of a RB1 in PPR formats. His Week 12 opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, have been stingy against the run this season, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing backs. Over the last three weeks, they have allowed just 2.8 yards per carry, but with such a heavy usage rate, there are going to be plenty of opportunities for McCoy to rack up the yards.
The Case for Rawls: Mr. Rawls, this week’s waiver wire darling, has a much tougher opponent this week than he did in Week 11. He did exactly what he was supposed to do against a poor San Francisco defense, totaling 257 yards and two touchdowns. However, he will face a Pittsburgh defense in Week 12 that has allowed just two 100-yard rushers all season and the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Like McCoy, even though it’s a tough matchup, a high-volume workload will keep Rawls’ Week 12 fantasy value afloat. With Marshawn Lynch out of the picture for at least a few weeks, Rawls is a must-start across the board.
The Verdict: Rawls. I’m in on the hype. Both guys are going to get their touches, but I like Rawls’ ability against Pittsburgh. Go with Rawls.
Chris Ivory (Dolphins) or Chris Johnson (@49ers)
The Case for Ivory: Ivory’s carries have gone down each of the last three weeks, but unless he gets injured, he will surely see more than eight carries against the Dolphins on Sunday. His last matchup against the Dolphins went very well, seeing as he rumbled for 166 yards and a touchdown on a season-high 29 carries. Like many running backs this season, he has experienced success against the Dolphins, making him a low-end RB1 in fantasy formats in Week 12. In the last two weeks, the Dolphins have allowed three (McCoy, Karlos Williams, Darren McFadden) running backs to rush for over 100 yards, which bodes well for Ivory in Week 12. I like Ivory on Sunday and he has high upside for a mid-priced running back in DFS.
The Case for Johnson: Johnson has struggled the last two weeks, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry. In his defense, he has faced two of the stiffest run defenses in the league, the Seattle Seahawks and the Cincinnati Bengals. However, Johnson owners can rejoice because he has a date with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12. Over the last five weeks, the 49ers are allowing a smidge under five yards per carry. Not to mention the fact that they have allowed a 100-yard rusher in each of their last three games. Just last week Thomas Rawls went bananas against San Fran, to the tune of 209 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. Johnson will get his fair share of carries in this game and should have no problem topping 100 yards.
The Verdict: Johnson. With an easy matchup against San Fran, Johnson is the guy to play. Ivory’s recent struggles aren’t as justified as Johnson’s. Go with Johnson.
Wide Receivers
Mike Evans (@Colts) or Larry Fitzgerald (@49ers)
The Case for Evans: Well, the Jameis Winston to Mike Evans connection has been on full tilt since the team’s bye in Week 6. Check it out.
Before: 13 receptions for 174 and zero touchdowns in three games.
After: 31 receptions for 551 yards and two touchdowns in five games.
Evans’ numbers would be even better if he didn’t drop so many damn passes. Regardless, he faces the Colts in Week 12, and for the most part, they have been friendly to opposing wideouts. If Vontae Davis plays, things will come a bit tougher for Evans, but if he is unable to play due to his ailing hamstring, Evans’ potential skyrockets. Vincent Jackson will steal some targets from Evans, but the young wide receiver is the top dog in the passing game. Check the status of Davis before the team kicks off, but Evans is a WR1 the rest of the way.
The Case for Fitzgerald: Fitz is enjoying one of his better seasons and if you own him in a PPR format, he has been a WR1 all season long. He has at least eight receptions and 80 yards in the past three games and the 49ers don’t have a really good chance of slowing him down. They are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, and Carson Palmer’s right arm should have no problem shredding the San Francisco defense. Fitzgerald will once again enjoy a healthy volume of work in Week 12 and should be able to find the end zone on at least one occasion. However, if the game gets out of hand early, which it probably will, the team will likely abandon the pass. Regardless, Fitz is a WR1 this weekend.
The Verdict: Evans. I like Fitz this week too, but the fact that the game could get out of hand early is worrisome for Fitzgerald’s production. The Bucs-Colts game should stay close for the long haul, providing Evans with a bunch of opportunities to catch the football.
Martavis Bryant (@Seahawks) or T.Y. Hilton (Bucs)
The Case for Bryant: There might not be a more electrifying offense in all of football than the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. With Ben Roethlisberger in command of the offense, receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant are extremely dangerous. Bryant is a boom-or-bust receiver who is going to put up 30 points or 10 points. Bryant has torched some of the better corners in the league this season, so owners shouldn’t be too concerned with him facing against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. The team is coming off their bye, so they’ve had some extra time to prepare for what Seattle could possibly throw at them on Sunday. If you own Bryant, run him out there in your lineup and hope that he can break one loose during those 60 minutes on Sunday afternoon.
The Case for Hilton: Hilton has been boom-or-bust this season, however, it’s been more bust than boom. He hasn’t had a double digit scoring week in standard scoring formats since Week 7 against the Saints. The Bucs have allowed four receiving touchdowns the last five weeks, so they are exploitable outside. Also, Hilton hasn’t done as well with Matt Hasselbeck under center, compared to when Andrew Luck was under center. The speedy receiver was drafted by many earlier this year as a WR1, but he hasn’t been anything near that for the majority of this season. The matchup seems favorable for Hilton, but he’s become too hard to trust this season.
The Verdict: Bryant. Roethlisberger has a solid connection with Bryant, while Hasselbeck and Hilton are still trying to find their groove. Sure, Bryant is going up against Seattle, but don’t let that deter you from the possibility of a home run.
Tight Ends
Delanie Walker (Raiders) or Travis Kelce (Bills)
The Case for Walker: With Marcus Mariota under center, Walker is a surefire TE1, regardless of format. Believe it or not, he is the top receiving option in Tennessee. Mariota looks his way regularly, and that isn’t going to change in Week 12. Yes, the Titans play the Raiders and yes, the Raiders can’t keep opposing tight ends off the board. They have allowed 10 touchdowns in as many games this season, en route to allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2015. Walker and Mariota hooked up eight times for 109 yards last week against the Jaguars, which are numbers he could realistically achieve again this week. As I mentioned, with Mariota under center, Walker is a surefire TE1.
The Case for Kelce: Kelce has caught at least five passes in five straight games, but he’s only scored one touchdown following his impressive season opener. He’s going to get his receptions, but without the touchdown appeal, he’s a lower-end TE1 against the Buffalo Bills this weekend. Over the last five weeks, the Bills have allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. In fact, during that span, the team has surrendered just eight completions to tight ends, tallying 72 yards. Buffalo is going to make a point to slow down Kelce, because other than Jeremy Maclin, the team lacks receiving talent. Once again, he’s a low-end TE1 this week, but I don’t expect him to be worth the price tag in DFS.
The Verdict: Walker. I’m all in on Walker this week, and with a matchup against the Oakland Raiders, he is a must-start in Week 12.