The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 12
Is there a better week of football than Thanksgiving week? Three games on Thursday, now there is a Friday game, and typically, there are no bye weeks! Now, that gets my mouth watering more than the food ever does. That means you need to ensure you get those players from Thursday (Lions, Packers, Cowboys, Commanders, 49ers, and Seahawks) into your regular positions and out of your flex spots. Of course, injuries are still plaguing the season, and more studs are missing these games, but that provides some opportunity to other players if you can navigate which ones to play. That is where The Fantasy Footballers’ Megalodon episode will come into play. Andy, Mike, and Jason shove all the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday shows into one incredibly massive show. The Ballers brought the Starts of the Week somewhere amid the two-and-a-half-hours. If you want to check out the full episode on YouTube, click the link below.
If this isn’t enough fantasy goodness for you, go to jointhefoot.com and become a member of the #FootClan. Also, head to our Discord community, where you will find many like-minded people who love to talk about fantasy football. Let’s get into The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 12.
Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB – Derek Carr/Jameis Winston vs. ATL
It doesn’t matter to Andy who plays against Atlanta because the Falcons are bleeding points to QBs. You don’t even have to be an excellent quarterback to be able to put up tons of points against Atlanta. Over the last five weeks, Atlanta ranks dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. On Tuesday, the guys talked about that in the previous three weeks: Will Levis was QB6, Josh Dobbs was QB5, and Kyler Murray was QB6. Whatever QB plays will affect which pass catchers are utilized, but all of the pass catchers are quality, so either one of the QBs should be successful.
RB – Raheem Mostert @ NYJ on Black Friday
Raheem Mostert looked like he could be entering a heavy timeshare, but Devon Achane is injured again, and Salvon Ahmed is on IR now. He is right back into being the lead ball carrier for the Dolphins. The Jets’ defense seems scary, but they quietly allow the third most rushing yards per game at 137.6 yards. New York ranks 27th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. This game is a first-time “holiday” game and should be fun for Mostert managers.
WR – Brandin Cooks vs. WAS on Thanksgiving
The Commanders are terrible at defending WRs. How bad are the Commanders? Dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. Brandin Cooks could be in for a boom game this week. Andy even guaranteed a touchdown for Cooks on the week. Over the last month, he has led the team in yards per reception at 16.9 yards. Cooks is also a close second in intermediate area receptions to CeeDee Lamb. He may not be as consistent as CeeDee, but everyone should get involved against Washington.
TE – Isaiah Likely @ LAC
We don’t know what role Likely will fill in this offense. However, the matchup could not be much better. The Chargers rank 28th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. Likely is a very talented tight end and we have seen him make big plays for the Ravens. 21% of the opponents’ targets have gone to the tight end position against Los Angeles. That target amount is the sixth-highest rate in the NFL. The Ravens love to target the TE, and this matchup could leave Likely headed in the right direction without Andrews for however long this year.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB – Brock Purdy @ SEA on Thanksgiving Night
Purdy is on an absolute heater right now. Jason has him behind the typical superstars, but that is it, as he ranks him seventh on the week. He leads the NFL in QBR, passer rating, and expected points per pass attempt. Teams are throwing on Seattle at the fifth-highest rate in the NFL at 37.4 attempts per game. As a TD favorite on Thanksgiving night, you should be able to relax with a full belly, feeling Purdy good about your prospects.
RB – Rachaad White @ IND
Despite White having only five touchdowns on the year, he is the RB7. He has hit that rank because he averages 18.5 opportunities per game and is on pace for 70+ receptions. The Colts are plain bad against the run. Since Week 4, they are dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. They have allowed 15 rushing touchdowns, tied for the third most in the NFL. This matchup could be one where White adds to his TD totals.
WR – Michael Pittman vs. TB
During the season, Pitty City has a 30% target share. Since Week 6, Pittman has averaged 13.5 fantasy points, 10 targets, and 76 receiving yards per game. Colts home games average 57 combined point totals. That point combo ranks first in the NFL. Tampa Bay allows the third-highest yards per attempt and ranks 29th in the schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. He is the dude for this team and should be a monster in this matchup.
TE – Taysom Hill @ ATL
Coming off the bye, we should expect the Saints to mix in Taysom a bit more, with Derek Carr potentially out or limited. Historically, Taysom has destroyed the Falcons in his career. In those 12 games, he registered four rushing TDs, four passing TDs, and a receiving TD while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. He is being used all over the field this year, not just as a gadget player. Last year, when Taysom faced Atlanta, he was the TE3 on the week when he carried it four times for 81 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB – Dak Prescott vs. WAS on Thanksgiving
Mike isn’t just making a case to tell you that you need to play Dak; he is telling you that he could be the QB1 on the week. He has been crushing it recently, cruising right now, averaging 8.7 yards per attempt and a 71% completion rate since Week 6. Dallas has the highest team-implied total of 29.3 points this week. The Commanders made Tommy DeVito look like an All-Pro last week. Washington ranks 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs, which means Dak should be ready to torch the world this week.
RB – Derrick Henry vs. CAR
It is Yeti time. The last few weeks have been rough, with Henry in Week 10 scoring 2.5 points and Week 11 scoring 4.9 points. The biggest key in those games was that they were tough matchups, and the team got blown out. He is at a point in his career where you can play him if they are favorites and the matchup is good. Otherwise, Spears can take a lot of the work, and Henry doesn’t get the number of carries needed to put up a good week. We will get an update about snow in Vermont closer to game time, but the good news is Carolina let every RB get in the end zone, even Tony Pollard, last week. The Panthers rank 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. The Titans are 3.5-point favorites. Henry averages 18.4 fantasy points per game when the Titans win, with 23 rushing attempts and 101 rushing yards. Mike is rolling with Henry with some confidence.
WR – Zay Flowers @ LAC
It has been a challenging ride for Flowers. He had the explosion in Week 1 with the target surprise. Since then, he has had one other top-24 wide receiver finish. However, Week 1 is vital to bring up because it was the last time Flowers played without Mark Andrews. That week, he had 10 targets leading to nine catches for 78 yards. He was a focal point of the offense. The Chargers are a premier matchup for WRs. Last week, three Packers WRs caught TDs against Los Angeles. LAC ranks 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to wide receiver position. The storm is brewing for Flowers to have an explosive game.
TE – David Njoku @ DEN
Last week, Njoku saw fifteen targets with Dorian Thompson-Robinson locked onto him and force-feeding him with targets. This week, he has the best matchups for TEs on the season, as Denver ranks dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points for TEs and last in TE in receiving yards allowed. With his incredible schedule, Njoku can be a top-five TE for the rest of the season, and that starts this week.
Comments
Listened to yesterdays insights and went for it. Offered up CJ Stroud, Josh Jacobs and Pickens to get Henry and Thielen. Trade accepted. I have Fields as my QB. Looking for Henry and Thielen as WR 3 to take my team over the top.