Lineup locks for Week 12:
Quarterbacks:
Jared Goff (vs. NYG):
In a weird contest against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jared Goff threw for one touchdown and one interception. He doesn’t add any yards on the ground, but this odd Sunday Night Football game only gave him 12.1 fantasy points. Goff should be able to turn his season around against a very below-average New York Giants secondary that allows 21.28 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Jalen Hurts (vs. DAL):
The Eagles have been horrendous offensively in their last two primetime games, winning by a combined score of 26-16. Hurts has had back-to-back games with under 15 fantasy points for the first time all year, but his rushing upside has been tremendous with six rushing touchdowns this year. This division matchup should be a great game, and the Eagles could put up a lot of points as the Dallas Cowboys’ defense allows 29.3 points per game this season, which is one of the worst in the NFL.
Running Backs:
TreVeyon Henderson (vs. CIN):
The New England Patriots are a surprising story this year, winning their last eight games, and finally, TreVeyon Henderson has been put into a workhorse role. Henderson has five touchdowns in his previous two games, and is going against the worst defense in the NFL, which has allowed 34.09 fantasy points to running backs. Henderson should have another legacy game against an easy opponent.
Kyren Williams (vs. TB):
The Los Angeles Rams are playing phenomenal football, and against a feisty Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, they should have the edge in the rushing game. The Buccaneers have allowed 600 receiving yards to running backs, which is the most in the NFL by a wide margin. Kyren Williams has been quietly putting together a fantastic season, and against the Buccaneers, Williams should have a field day on the ground and through the air. He is a lineup lock this weekend.
Wide Receivers:
Tee Higgins (vs. NE):
With the one-game suspension of superstar Jamaar Chase for spitting on Jalen Ramsey being official, Tee Higgins is poised to be a top-three fantasy player this week. Higgins has scored a touchdown in his last four games and is looking to add to that streak against the Patriots, who have a middle-of-the-pack defense against receivers. Higgins is a must-start this weekend, and could win matchups as he is slated for nine or more targets this week.
A.J. Brown (vs. DAL):
Having two Eagles on this list wasn’t a part of the plan, but facing the third-worst defense against wide receivers, A.J. Brown is geared up to explode this week. The Cowboys stonewalled Brown in their week one matchup, allowing only one catch to the superstar. Brown had a season high in targets last week against the Lions with 11, and should be penciled into lineups this week.
Tight Ends:
Travis Kelce (vs. IND):
The Kansas City Chiefs face a must-win game against the eight-win Indianapolis Colts, who allow 16.80 fantasy points a game to tight ends. The veteran tight end had his best game last week, seeing 13 targets and scoring a touchdown in a loss to the division rival Denver Broncos. Kelce is in a position to turn back the clock and have a season-defining game against one of the best teams in the NFL.
Lineup Flops:
Quarterbacks:
Daniel Jones (vs. CLE):
The Colts have a big game against the Chiefs this Sunday, and Daniel Jones should be on the bench, as the Chiefs have allowed only 15.08 fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Jones has been serviceable for the Colts, but for fantasy managers, he has been a borderline bench candidate after throwing four interceptions in his last two games. Jones is a lineup flop this week and should be left on the bench.
Runningbacks:
Ashton Jeanty (vs. CLE):
The Las Vegas Raiders have been one of the most confusing teams to watch in the NFL this season, and Ashton Jeanty’s season has taken a toll due to that. The Raiders face a Cleveland Browns defense that is the fifth-best against fantasy running backs. Jeanty only had six carries last week for seven yards, which is his worst rushing performance of the season, and that was against one of the worst rush defenses in the NFL, the Cowboys, so leave him on the bench or in the flex spot.
Wide Receivers:
Michael Pittman Jr. (vs. KC):
At the start of this section, Daniel Jones made the list because the Chiefs’ defense has been very stiff against the pass this season. The same reason applies to the Colts’ star receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who is 11th in wide receiver scoring, but the Chiefs allow the eighth fewest points to receivers this season. Pittman is a fringe flex play this week, but should be benched.
Tight Ends:
Jake Ferguson (vs. PHI):
The Philadelphia Eagles are the third-best defense against tight ends this season, and the Cowboys might have a hard time getting him the football. Ferguson has been quiet lately after Ceedee Lamb returned to the lineup. Ferguson is a lineup flop because the Eagles’ defense has allowed only one touchdown to tight ends and only 284 yards in 11 games, and the Cowboys’ star tight end relies heavily on touchdowns to be relevant.
