Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 12: Who should I start, lineup advice, best matchups, DFS picks

Vinnie Iyer

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Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 12: Who should I start, lineup advice, best matchups, DFS picks image

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Welcome to the Week 12 edition of fantasy football starts and sits from AllSportsPeople.

"The Decider" is your one-stop shop for fantasy start/sit lineup advice in 2025 -- a unique mashup of rankings and matchup breakdowns to help you make those tough decisions on whom to play and not to play:

  • There are several high-drafted fantasy players who should be in lineups every week when they're active. Those are the "regular starts."
  • For those borderline options with favorable matchups, they are "stronger starts," while the recommended sits are "weaker starts."
  • We're also basing our advice on 12-team, half-point PPR to split the difference between shallow and deep leagues and full-PPR and standard formats.

Going beyond the redraft league starts and sits, "The Decider" also includes some DFS picks for different styles of daily fantasy sports games on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Keep scrolling for how to put the best fantasy football lineups on "the field" for your critical seventh game with tips on starts and sits this week.

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Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks

Must-start Week 12 QBs

  1. Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at DAL)
  2. Drake Maye, Patriots (at CIN)
  3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens (vs. NYJ)
  4. Josh Allen, Bills (at HOU)
  5. Matthew Stafford, Rams (vs. TB)
  6. Jared Goff, Lions (vs. NYG)
  7. Jaxson Dart, Giants (if he plays. At DET)

Strong Week 12 QB starts

8. Brock Purdy, 49ers (vs. CAR): The Panthers cannot cover his elite tight end or elite running back and that's plenty to spark another nice day back at home.

9. Caleb Williams, Bears (vs. PIT): Williams will need to air it out more here and the Steelers will be giving at Soldier Field.

10. Sam Darnold, Seahawks (at TEN): Chalk last week up to the Rams' D. The Titans are a total mess in relation to that.

11. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. IND): He needs to come through in desperation and will go old-school gunslinging to get it done.

12. Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals (vs. JAX): The volume should be there again this time at home vs. A strong run defense but weak pass unit and he also may get his top wide receiver back.

13. Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. PHI): He was roughed up in the Philly Week 1 opener but you can't sit him at home after a hot play in Vegas despite what the Eagles did to the Lions last week.

DFS QB Week 12 pick

  • Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at DAL, $6,600 on DraftKings, $9,000 on FanDuel): Hurts is a little cheaper than expected on DK while you're still playing him at top dollar on FD. He should rip Dallas for a big game putting the Philly offense on his back as a passer and runner.

Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks

Weaker Week 12 QB plays

14. Jordan Love, Packers (vs. MIN): The Vikings can still keep things messy for passing games, especially those inconsistent ones missing key elements.

15. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (at LAR): In theory, he should rebound in dueling Matthew Stafford, but the Rams' defense just destroyed Darnold.

16. Daniel Jones, Colts (at KC): The run will be contained on the road, meaning Jones could see the pressure caving and forcing him into too many mistakes.

17. Bryce Young, Panthers (at SF): It's tempting based on what Brissett did and Young also throwing for near 400 yards, but you can't go there on the road in prime time.

18. Joe Flacco, Bengals (vs. NE): This is likely one last lumpy start before Joe Burrow plays out the string and also no Ja'Marr Chase hurts.

19. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (at ARI): He's just a backup QB guy on the roster at this point.

🗒️ BEST PICKUPS: Week 12 Waiver Wire

Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Running backs

Must-start Week 12 RBs

  1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (vs. NYG)
  2. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (vs. CAR)
  3. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. KC)
  4. Bijan Robinson, Falcons (at NO)
  5. Derrick Henry, Ravens (vs. NYJ)
  6. Kyren Williams, Rams (vs. TB)
  7. Saquon Barkley, Eagles (at DAL)
  8. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots (at CIN)
  9. Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars (at ARI)
  10. James Cook, Bills (at HOU)
  11. Javonte Williams, Cowboys (vs. PHI)
  12. Jaylen Warren, Steelers (at CHI)
  13. Josh Jacobs, Packers (If he plays. Vs. MIN)
  14. Rico Dowdle, Panthers (at SF)
  15. Breece Hall, Jets (at BAL)
  16. Quinshon Judkins, Browns (at LV)
  17. D'Andre Swift, Bears (vs. PIT)
  18. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (vs. IND)
  19. David Montgomery, Lions (vs. NYG)
  20. Chase Brown, Bengals (vs. NE)

Strong RB Week 12 plays

21. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (vs. CLE): Jeanty has underwhelmed in even smash matchups all season but he should get big volume here in a grinding game in which neither team will run away.

22. Sean Tucker, Buccaneers (at LAR): The matchup goes from great to worrisome, but he's now the easy Tampa backup back of choice should Bucky Irving keep missing games.

23. Woody Marks, Texans (vs. BUF): He gets Tucker's matchup from last week and he should be a lot more impactful than any other Houston runner.

24. Kenneth Walker III and 25. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (at TEN): They should combine for.a nice big rushing effort in Nashville to ease plenty of pressure on Darnold.

26. Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. ATL): He was a lot more productive with Tyler Shough before the bye and keeps it up against the Falcons' often porous run D.

DFS RB Week 12 Pick

  • Quinshon Judkins, Browns (at LV, $6,000 on DraftKings, $7,700 on FanDuel)
  • TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots (vs. CIN, $6,700 on DraftKings, $7,500 on FanDuel)

Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Running backs

Weaker RB Week 12 plays

27. Bam Knight, Cardinals (vs. JAX): He feels more bust than bam with the Jaguars front ready to slow him down.

28. Rachaad White, Buccaneers (at LAR): You can't go here anymore with the Tucker takeover.

29. Jordan Mason and 30. Aaron Jones, Vikings (at GB): It's just not a good proposition when you're depending on a TD.

31. Tony Pollard and 32. Tyjae Spears, Titans (vs. HOU): The split will be interesting after the bye, but that is also a great unknown.

33. Tyrone Tracy Jr., and 34. Devin Singletary, Giants (at DET): They're back to a split we can't stand.

35. Nick Chubb, Texans (vs. BUF): Chubb can run OK on the Bills' defense, but he needs a TD to really come through as even as FLEX.

👮 PROTECT YOUR BACKFIELD: RB handcuff rankings and depth charts

Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Wide receivers

Must-start Week 12 WRs

  1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (at TEN)
  2. Puka Nacua, Rams (vs. TB)
  3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (vs. NYG)
  4. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (vs. PHI)
  5. Davante Adams, Rams (vs. TB)
  6. Tee Higgins, Bengals (vs. NE)
  7. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (at GB)
  8. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (at ATL)
  9. Nico Collins, Texans (vs. BUF)
  10. Jameson Williams, Lions (at PHI)
  11. George Pickens, Cowboys (vs. NE)
  12. Rome Odunze, Bears (vs. PIT)
  13. Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers (at LAR)
  14. Stefon Diggs, Patriots (at CIN)
  15. Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs. NYJ)
  16. Rashee Rice, Chiefs (at DEN)
  17. Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (at KC).
  18. Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (if he returns, vs. JAX)
  19. DK Metcalf, Steelers (at CHI)

Strong WR Week 12 starts

20. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (at DAL): Smith was quiet for much of the Lions game but he still is their best big playmaker and will get going in a pristine downfield passing matchup.

21. A.J. Brown, Eagles (at DAL): Here's a vibe that Brown will get going with a TD and at least one long play vs. The Cowboys' cornerbacks.

22. Chris Olave, Saints (vs. ATL): He's feeling it well with Shough with no Shaheed.

23. Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (if he plays, at ARI). The other receivers and showing more limitations which mean thy need him backly.

24. Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks (at TEN): He almost caught a long TD for his new team last week, and this week Darnold hits that for six off play-action.

25. Darnell Mooney, Falcons (at NO): He needs to take over as default No. 1 with Drake London down.

26. Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants (at DET): He'll go back to being a factor with his quickness vs. The Packers' cornerbacks.

27. Michael Wilson, Cardinals (vs. JAX): He's too hot to sit, even if you would be looking for WR3 returns playing off a healthy Harrison.

28. Jerry Jeudy, Browns (at LV): Should Shedeur Sanders start this week, Jeudy would get a nice boost playing the Raiders' cornerbacks.

DFS WR Week 12 picks

  • Tee Higgins. Bengals (vs. NE, 7,100 on DraftKings, $7,500 on FanDuel): Here/s going to back Higgins, how him going back to No. 1 with Chase serving his suspension.
  • Jameson Williams, Lions (vs. NYG, $5,700 on DraftKings, $7,100 on FanDuel): Williams came through in that rough Eagles game and the Giants give up a ton to speedy targets downfield.
  • A.J. Brown, Eagles (at DAL, $5,900 on DraftKings, $7,900 on FanDuel): This is one last golden chance for him to get on track, so might as well take the smart contrarian play based on the juicy Cowboys matchup.

Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers

Weaker Week 12 WR plays

29. Jauan Jennings and 30. Ricky Pearsall, 49ers (vs. CAR): The Panthers are tough on limited wide receivers and both are just that.

318. Jakobi Meyers and 32. Parker Washington, Jaguars (at ARI): Lawrence isn't playing well enough to sustain a No. 1 and No. 2 should BTJ return.

32. Jordan Addison, Vikings (at GB): There's just not much to see here between him and J.J. McCarthy

33. Xavier Worthy, Chiefs (vs. IND):  He's probably getting Sauced.

34. Christian Watson, Packers (vs. MIN). Watson showed greeat hands last week but the Vikings are a tough coverage matchup.

35. Alec Pierce, Colts (at KC): The Chiefs will get to Jones and keep. Him from stretching the field well.

36. Khalil Shakir, Bills (at HOU): It's a terrible spot for all the Texans' wide receivers.

37. DJ Moore, Bears (vs. PIT): He's just there, not doing much while Rome is the man.

📋 Week 12 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | ​​Flex Half-PPR Cheat Sheet

Fantasy Football Week 12 Start 'Em: Tight ends

Must-start Week 12 TEs

  1. Trey McBride, Cardinals (vs. JAX)
  2. George Kittle, 49ers (vs. CAR)
  3. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. IND)
  4. Brock Bowers, Raiders (vs. CLE)
  5. Tyler Warren, Colts (at KC)
  6. Mark Andrews, Ravens (at CLE)
  7. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (vs. PHI)

Stronger Week 12 TE starts

8. Hunter Henry, Patriots (at CIN): The Bengals gave it up to a Steelers tight end, it just was Darnell Washington instead. This week it is Henry's time to smash as a historically great matchup.

9. Cade Otton, Buccaneers (at LAR): The Bills are much better at covering the position than the Rams are.

10. Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at DAL): He should be busy helping Hurts stretch the f field more.

11. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (at GB): The QB sitch isn't helping, but the Packers cna be very vulnerable to tight ends of his lik.

12. Colston Loveland, Bears (vs. PIT): He should put together a solid catch day with a good chance to score.

DFS TE Week 12 pick

  • Mark Andrews, Ravens (vs. NYJ, $3,800 on DraftKings, $5,700 on FanDuel): He's scoring plenty as a receiver and runner of late and that continues as they pound the Jets.

Fantasy Football Week 12 Sit 'Em: Tight ends

Weaker TE Week 12 starts

13. Kyle Pitts, Falcons (at NO): It's been the pits for him with the QBs and the Saints are stingy.

14. Dalton Schultz, Texans (vs. BUF): The Bills contain this position best in all the NFL.

15. Theo Johnson, Giants (at DET): The Lions' safety and linebacker play says no vs. A potential Dart connection.

16. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (at LV): You can't go here at all because of not knowing what you'll get from Sanders or Dillon Gabriel.

17. Juwan Johnson, Saints (vs. ATL): The Falcons contain the position and big pass plays.

18. Mason Taylor, Jets (at BAL): This Ravens' defense has fixed those troubling issues from earlier in the season.

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Fantasy Football Week 12: Defense/special teams best starts

  1. Seattle Seahawks (at TEN)
  2. Cleveland Browns (at LV)
  3. Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)
  4. New England Patriots (at CIN)
  5. San Francisco 49ers (vs. CAR)
  6. Los Angeles Rams (vs. TB)
  7. Detroit Lions (vs. NYG)
  8. Buffalo Bills (at HOU)
  9. Baltimore Ravens (vs. NYJ)
  10. Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
  11. Atlanta Falcons (at NO)
  12. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL)
  13. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. IND)
  14. New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)

DFS Week 12 D/ST pick

  • Cleveland Browns (at LV, $2,900 on DraftKings, $4,400 on FanDuel): The Browns are very cheap in relation to what they can do, with sacks and picks there to be had against the reeling Raiders.

🎙️LISTEN: Get more of Vinnie Iyer's weekly fantasy football analysis five days a week by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast.

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