Most fantasy league playoffs start in just a few weeks, leaving precious little time to make a big move. Get your lineup right with these Week 12 recommendations.
The window to determine whether a fantasy championship is among your presents this holiday season is rapidly closing. With just three weeks left to earn a fantasy playoff berth (under the assumption that postseason play begins in Week 15) — making the right lineup decision is of the utmost importance now more than ever.
With the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets all on bye, we’re here to help ease the stress with our Week 12 waiver wire breakdown and our start/sit suggestions below.
This list of Week 12 suggested starts (all of whom are being started in 70% or less of Sleeper leagues at time of writing) kicks off with a veteran quarterback who was widely undrafted this summer due to losing his top two starting wide receivers and his starting running back in the offseason.
STARTS
QB Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
vs. Baltimore; Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
We listed Herbert among our suggested starts for the first time in 2024 last week, and he rewarded managers with a 24.4 point effort (overall QB8) against the Bengals.
On the strength of four consecutive 19+ fantasy-point efforts, Herbert is quietly moving up the QB rankings. While having now scored more fantasy points than C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love, the gun-slinger trajectory is pointed at surpassing three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes next. And if you’re looking for a positive trend, since Week 8, Herbert is the overall QB6.
On Monday night, Herbert boasts a favorable matchup against a Ravens defense that has allowed the most passing yards (3,351) and second-most passing touchdowns (22) in the league.
Herbert, who is averaging 37 rushing yards per game over his last four games, is quietly on pace to rush for the most regular season yards in his career – all despite suffering a midseason ankle injury. Do not sleep on his ground production.
With Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins all on bye, Herbert needs to be inserted into starting lineups in Week 12.
QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
at Indianapolis; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
It continues to be baffling that Goff is only being started in 54% of Sleeper leagues, despite being at the helm of a high-powered 9-1 Lions club that leads the NFL in scoring (336 points). After his four-TD, overall QB1 performance in Week 11 against Jacksonsille, Goff has now thrown for 2+ touchdowns in seven of his last eight games, landing him fourth among all QBs with 20 touchdown passes on the year.
Goff, who has led the Lions to a 5-0 mark on the road this season, has thrown for 1,179 yards and 10 TDs away from the friendly confines of Ford Field. In Week 12, he faces a road showdown with a Colts defense that has surrendered the second-most passing plays of 40+ yards (8) and ninth-most 20+ yards plays (32) this season. Goff, who leads the NFL in 20+ yard completions (38) and 50+ yard completions (8), will improve upon those gaudy statistics in this matchup.
WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
at Green Bay, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Jennings, who leads the 49ers in targets (58) and receiving yards (588) on the year, was outstanding against the Seahawks in Week 11, hauling in 10 of 11 targets for 91 yards and a TD.
Jennings continues to thrive as a starter since replacing Brandon Aiyuk (knee) in the lineup. Jennings, who is only starting in 61% of Sleeper leagues, ranks as the overall WR20 after producing 41.4 PPR fantasy points over his last two games.
In Week 12, he draws a favorable matchup against a Packers defense that has allowed 14 WRs to post double-digit PPR fantasy points. The underrated talent should soar beyond Sleeper’s WR26 (10.9 PPR-points) projection, a number he has eclipsed five times this season.
QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
at Las Vegas; Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
We suggested Denver’s rookie signal-caller in this section last week, and he was outstanding, finishing as the overall QB3 (28.8 points) against the Falcons. Since Week 5, Nix quietly slots in as the overall QB4 – behind only Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts.
Nix, who has catapulted up to overall QB7, has more fantasy points than more heralded quarterbacks like Mahomes, Stroud, Goff and Kyler Murray, all of whom were drafted way ahead of the former Oregon standout.
In Week 12, he draws a favorable matchup against a Raiders defense that has surrendered 801 passing yards and 10 TD passes to opposing QBs over their last three games.
The rookie sensation, who has also rushed for 294 yards and four TDs on the ground, is poised to crush Sleeper’s projection of 15.9 points, a number he has eclipsed in six of his last seven games.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
vs. Arizona; Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
Seattle’s red-hot slot wideout, who has posted an amazing 58.8 PPR points over his last two games, is now the overall WR10. That is not a typo.
Smith-Njigba, who leads the Seahawks in receptions (60) and receiving yards (678) heads into the Week 12 NFC West showdown with Arizona with massive target volume (six or more targets in seven consecutive games). Owning a 23.9% overall target share on the year from Geno Smith, JSN is primed to exceed Sleeper’s WR25 (11.8 PPR points) projection for the eighth time this season.
Started in 67% of Sleeper leagues, Smith-Njigba draws a favorable matchup against a Cardinals defense that has allowed 12 opposing wideouts to post double-digit PPR points this season. Stop leaving the tremendous output on the bench!
SITS
QB Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
vs. Detroit; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Despite a shocking 28.1-point outburst against the hapless Jets, A-Rich is still not allowed in the “circle of trust.” After Richardson was widely drafted as a top QB1 this summer, many fantasy managers are now lining up to reacquire him off the waiver wire. Don’t fall for the low-hanging fruit.
The second-year QB, who has posted fewer than 13 fantasy points in five of seven starts this season, is too inconsistent to trust with the fantasy playoffs only three weeks away.
In Week 12, he draws a tough Lions defense that has held opposing QBs to a league-low seven TD passes in 10 games. Over the last six games, Detroit has been downright stingy against the pass, only allowing an average of 232 passing yards and three TDs.
Despite a plethora of teams on bye, fantasy managers need to avoid falling for the allure of Richardson’s ground production, as the Lions’ have only surrendered a 78.3 rushing yards per game over the last three games – all this despite missing Pro Bowl defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.
WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
vs. San Francisco; Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
From Weeks 5-8, Doubs was the overall WR19, averaging 15.8 PPR points per game; however, since that span, the third-year wideout has posted a paltry 9.5 PPR points combined over his last two games.
On Sunday, Doubs draws a tough matchup against a 49ers defense that is allowing the fourth-fewest passing yards (2,101). And Doubs, who has only scored in one of nine games this season (two TDs in Week 6 vs. Arizona), will find it hard to improve on that meager total against a 49ers unit that has only allowed seven scores to opposing wideouts all season. A deeper dive reveals that since Week 2, San Francisco has only surrendered three touchdowns to opposing wideouts. Look elsewhere.
RB Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
at Carolina; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
The veteran back has been outstanding since Isiah Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula against the Bengals in Week 2. Since his return to K.C. in Week 4, Hunt is the overall RB18, averaging 15.2 PPR fantasy points per game. But he will now presumably take a backseat with Pacheco’s anticipated return, which could happen this week against Carolina.
Hunt may still have a role to play, but it figures to be significantly reduced. So despite a plus-matchup against a Panthers defense that is allowing the second-most rushing yards (1,601) and second-most rushing touchdowns (17), fantasy owners need to temper expectations.
WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
vs. New England; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Waddle’s involvement in Miami’s offense is arguably the most perplexing in all of fantasy football in 2024. Despite owning a solid 72.4% snap percentage, it has led to a disappointing average of 8 PPR points per game, resulting in an overall WR60 ranking.
Waddle, who has not topped 57 receiving yards since Week 1, has not scored in 13 of his last 15 regular-season games dating back to last season. In Week 12, Waddle draws a favorable matchup with a Patriots defense that is surrendering 12.6 receptions and 158.6 receiving yards per game to opposing receivers. However, trusting a WR who has fewer than 9 PPR points in nine of his last 10 games … is not wise.
WR Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders
vs. Denver; Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
Meyers has been a solid WR3/flex this season, averaging 13.1 PPR points per game. The veteran wideout, who is averaging 8.7 targets per game over his last six games, has become one of the Raiders’ top passing options alongside star rookie TE Brock Bowers.
But in Week 12, he draws a tough matchup against a Denver pass defense that has only allowed six touchdowns to opposing wideouts this season. In addition, Meyers is likely to draw Denver’s elite CB Patrick Surtain II. The Broncos’ top defender (who has played shadow coverage in 58.7% of the snaps this season) has only allowed 18 receptions and one touchdown.
In Week 5, Meyers hauled in six of nine targets for 72 yards against Denver, which is admittedly solid double-digit PPR production. However, have of those catches and 43 of those yards came in garbage time of a 34-18 loss with backup Aidan O'Connell under center. With the likes of Ja'Marr Chase, Garrett Wilson, Drake London, Tee Higgins, Davante Adams, Darnell Mooney, Brian Thomas Jr., Amari Cooper and Khalil Shakir all on bye, it will be tough to sit Meyers, but you should temper expectations.
