The Biggest Start/Sit Decisions for Week 12 (Fantasy Football)
Happy Thanksgiving, Footclan! Welcome to Week 12 of the Start/Sit series, where we’ll discuss your most commonly asked “Who should I start?” questions for the week.
The projections between any two players on your roster may appear similar, but this “simple” choice could be the difference between your team’s victory or defeat. Luckily, the Fantasy Footballers have created an amazing Start/Sit tool to easily compare any two (or more) players with insight from the Ballers themselves, and trust me — it’s a precious asset that will help you make these crucial lineup decisions that could ultimately lead you to your #FootClanTitle.
In this article, you’ll find your most popular Start/Sit questions of the week, along with the Ballers’ projections and my personal opinions on the matter. Please note that the Footballers’ rankings are constantly being updated as news breaks, so make sure you check out the tool for yourself to catch any last-second changes.
So, without further ado, let’s kick things off with the biggest Start/Sit questions for Week 12:
QB:
Kyler Murray (ARI) or Justin Fields (CHI)?
This is essentially a tossup since both guys have a great floor thanks to their affinity with taking off at the slightest scent of trouble. And while Justin Fields has the marginally better matchup, it’s Kyler Murray who should see more production with a higher implied team total and better weapons in his arsenal. Don’t get me wrong, Fields has been a madman with his legs in his return to action, rushing more times than anyone else has had since…himself. Both are top-10 options this and every week, but Murray’s historical consistency compared to Fields’ volatility makes him the safer choice.
The Verdict
Kyler Murray
TE:
Taysom Hill (NO) or Isaiah Likely (BAL)?
In Weeks 6-9, Taysom Hill averaged 16 ppg. In all other weeks, he averaged 3.3 ppg. That’s the Russian roulette that you agree to take part in when you roll the dice with Hill. But to be fair, he was certainly on a roll in his recent games, only to stumble when QB Derek Carr was knocked out in Week 10 (concussion). If Carr is back in the starting lineup, then it’s a decent bet to play with Hill again, though you must be prepared to accept the consequences. It doesn’t hurt that he’s historically destroyed the Falcons, all of which is why he’s Jason’s TE Start of the Week.
On the other hand, Isaiah Likely was the belle of the waiver ball after Mark Andrews‘ unfortunate injury (ankle). If you picked him up, then you probably already know that his usage without Andrews has been all over the map, so we certainly can’t expect the same type of production. Luckily, he will be gifted one of the best possible matchups with the Chargers, whose anemic defense will be worsened without standout LB Joey Bosa (foot), making him Andy’s TE Start of the Week.
Likely’s expected involvement makes him a “safe” yet uncertain pick, while Hill remains a volatile boom-bust option. But we can’t dismiss the latter’s recent production. If Carr is active, then Hill is the consensus winner, though it’s definitely close.
The Verdict
Taysom Hill
RB:
Rhamondre Stevenson (NE) or Kyren Williams (LAR)?
If Kyren Williams is healthy, you play him. Unless you have a bona fide RB1, then you should do whatever you can to make sure he’s in your lineup, because he is a bona fide RB1. Sure, he’s had some hiccups along the way, and he’s dealing with an ankle injury, but this season has been the year of Kyren. His coach trusts him, his QB relies on him, his team needs him, and your roster needs to start him. Not to mention, he gets to face the Cardinals in his return game? Come on, people. START HIM.
The Verdict
Kyren Williams
WR:
Puka Nacua (LAR) or Tank Dell (HOU)?
I have absolutely no qualms with anyone who wants to stay in the red-hot flames of Tank Dell. Since his Week 7 bye, he’s averaging nearly 10 targets, six receptions, 83.8 yards, and a TD per game. This is not just a waiver wire hero, but a true league winner. And yet, the same could and should be said about Puka Nacua, who is the WR10 in average PPG and the WR4 in TPRR (27.53%), both of which surpass Dell (WR12 and WR20, respectively). Nacua should see an increased workload with Cooper Kupp presumed out, while Dell may see reduced usage if Noah Brown manages to make the field.
The Verdict
Puka Nacua
D/ST:
New England Patriots or Denver Broncos?
Commanders’ QB Sam Howell is on a record-breaking 17-game pace for 78.8 sacks taken. Meanwhile, in the four games he’s played in, Giants’ QB Tommy Devito is on a 17-game pace for 93.5 sacks. If we only consider the games he’s actually started, then Devito is on pace for 119 sacks. I get that DTR has been shaky at best, but he doesn’t come close to these numbers.
The Verdict
New England Patriots
Good luck Footclan! If you have any questions, hit me up on Twitter. And don’t forget to tune in to the Sunday Live broadcast where Mike will answer your last-second Start/Sit questions!