Each week there are some obvious starts and sits in fantasy football. Other decisions are not quite so simple. Here are some of my picks for Week 12 in the latest edition of Studs, Duds & Sleepers.
STUDS
QB: Dak Prescott (DAL vs. WAS): Over the last five weeks no fantasy signal caller has scored more fantasy points per game (31.8) than Prescott. During that same span the Commanders have yielded the sixth most fantasy points to quarterbacks and just let Tommy DeVito a top 10 finish at the position a week ago.
RB: Rachaad White (TB at IND): The volume is always there for White, who enters Week 12 as RB6 in PPR league (total points). The Colts have ceded the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs on the season, including four instances of 20+ .fantasy points in week, a mark White should approach here.
WR: A.J. Brown (PHI vs. BUF): This more of a hunch play than anything else after Browns’ 1-catch dud last Monday night in Kansas City. Overall the Bills haven’t been terrible vs. wideouts, but many of the elite receivers they have faced have fared well. Brown will be the next in that line.
TE: George Kittle (SF at SEA): Kittle has scored twice in two of his last three meetings with his NFC West counterparts and in those contests he combined 274 yards on 13 catches. Seattle has only allowed one tight end to score all season and just three tight ends to reach double digit PPR points. I am banking on Kittle doing both Thursday night.
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DUDS
QB: Russell Wilson (DEN vs. CLE): Wilson has been pretty steady of late as the Broncos have risen from the dead and back into the AFC playoff picture. However, the matchup with the Browns this week is one to avoid. Only the Ravens have allowed fewer fantasy points to quarterbacks on the season.
RB: James Cook (BUF at PHI): Cook finally saw an uptick in volume last week which was encouraging, but he isn’t getting enough work near the goal line to count on much scoring and a matchup versus an Eagles’ defense that is allowing the fewest scrimmage yards to running backs on the season gives him a lower than normal ceiling. He’s a flex option at best for me in Week 12.
WR: George Pickens (PIT at CIN): The change of play callers is expected to benefit Pickens and fantasy managers can hold out some hope that comes to fruition. However, given his recent slump and matchup with one of the lowest totals of the week I’d let Pickens play his way back into your lineups. With no teams on bye this week most of his fantasy managers should have that luxury.
TE: Tyler Conklin (NYJ vs. MIA): Conklin has actually been a solid PPR floor tight end in deeper formats of late, but with the move from Zach Wilson to Tim Boyle I think there are better options available for owners to consider in Week 12.\
SLEEPERS
QB: Brock Purdy (SF at SEA): Purdy enters Week 12 as QB11 which makes him a starter to consider weekly. In his two matchups last year with Seattle he averaged 274.5 yards per game with five TD passes and a rushing touchdown to boot. Expect another top 10 finish this time around.
RB: Khalil Herbert (CHI at MIN): His numbers were a bit underwhelming in his return from I.R. last week, but with a game under his belt and D’Onta Foreman dinged up loop for an uptick in numbers this time around for Herbert. He’s in the flex conversation for Monday night’s matchup in Minnesota.
WR: Rashid Shaheed (NO at ATL): Shaheed always has big-play ability and he is expected to get a big boost in targets with Michael Thomas put on injured reserve.
TE: Isaiah Likely (BAL at LAC): Likely was a popular waiver wire pick up after Mark Andrews went down to a season-ending injury last week. While I expect the targets to be spread around, Likely should see enough of a role to offer desperate managers and new upside option for their lineups..
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