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5 must starts for fantasy football in Week 12

Who to put in your line up to secure a Week 12 victory.

Getty Images/Pete Rogers Illustrations

Overall it was a good Week 11 for my must starts. A couple of under performances from the running backs, with Tevin Coleman giving you 9.2 points (RB31) when he was poised to carry the load for the 49ers. However they then they fell behind to the Cardinals and Jimmy G had to throw it all over the yard to bring the Niners back for the win. Elsewhere, Brian Hill in his first start for the Falcons was robbed of a touchdown by a holding penalty, which was the difference between him finishing as a top-30 RB and the 54th overall with just 4.8 points.

DJ Moore (17.5 points) didn’t quite explode as planned, despite getting 15 targets as Kyle Allen threw 4 passes to the Falcons defense, but he and Jamison Crowder (18.6 points) both finished as top-15 receivers last week. The Raiders didn’t disappoint as a defense steaming option as they put up 14 points in the victory over the Bengals to finish as the D/ST6 on the week. I’ll save the best for last as Josh Allen smashed with 33.8 points to finish as the fantasy QB1. 5 total touchdowns, including one with his legs saw Allen sit atop the fantasy tree and from here to the end of the season, Allen is a must start in all leagues.

Onto Week 12 and the final bye week of the season. Here are my must starts to help you towards the fantasy playoffs.

RB Miles Sanders, Eagles vs Seahawks - 76.1% owned

If you watched the Eagles/Patriots game last week, you might have been screaming at the screen for Carson Wentz to throw the damn ball to Miles Sanders. Sanders is turning out to be a shifty route runner and found himself open many times against what has been the league’s top pass defense this season. Facing a Seahawks pass defense that is league average, I’m pushing for positive regression and more targets and catches for Sanders who has started to establish a floor of around 13-15 touches per game and should be seeing a bigger share in what has been an underwhelming Eagles offense so far this season.

WR Taylor Gabriel, Bears vs Giants - 8.8% owned

Love, love, LOVE this match up. Gabriel saw his highest number of targets of the season last week (14!) and coming into Week 12, faces a Giants pass defense ranked 25th against the pass. With speed to burn, Gabriel should see his third consecutive double digit fantasy outing in a row.

WR Calvin Ridley, Falcons vs Buccaneers - 93.6% owned

Calvin Ridley is coming off his best game of 2019 where he caught 8 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers. The Falcons have been a different team since their bye, playing with a freedom that almost certainly being eliminated from the playoffs brings. Playing their divisional game in a row, the Bucs offer unlimited riches, having allowed the most fantasy points to receivers and the most double digit fantasy receiving games. Both Ridley and Julio can have monster games and can be top-15 receivers this week.

TE Vance McDonald, Steelers @ Bengals - 55.3% owned

There’s slim pickings in the receiving corps for the Steelers this week with JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson likely to miss out through injury this week. McDonald has seen 7 targets in each of the last 3 weeks so brings a solid floor that could increase with less options around. The Bengals are a bottom 10 team in fantasy points allowed to tight ends so get McDonald in your line up and don’t look back.

WR Jarvis Landry, Browns vs Dolphins - 90.2% owned

I nearly chose Odell Beckham for this must start as his connection with Baker Mayfield has had you questioning his suitability to start every week (you definitely should by the way). However in recent weeks, Landry has jumped ahead as the more reliable fantasy receiver with 5 more targets and catches than his more illustrious BFF in the last 4 weeks. With double digit points in 6 of his last 7 starts, Landry should be in your lineup every week to the end of the season.

Tennessee Titans D/ST vs Jaguars - 32.3% owned

My streaming defense of the week. They don’t do any one thing brilliantly but they are a swarming, suffocating defense that can morph to take away what their opponent’s do best. Against a Jaguars offense that doesn’t really do anything that well, the Titans should be able to shut down Foles et al and bring home the fantasy bacon for you this week.

Poll

Which must-start will have the biggest week?

This poll is closed

  • 20%
    Miles Sanders
    (24 votes)
  • 7%
    Taylor Gabriel
    (9 votes)
  • 37%
    Calvin Ridley
    (45 votes)
  • 6%
    Vance McDonald
    (8 votes)
  • 23%
    Jarvis Landry
    (28 votes)
  • 4%
    Titans defense
    (5 votes)
119 votes total Vote Now