Welcome into Week 12 of the 2022 season, and the latest in our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. Happy thanksgiving! That gives us two ‘slates’ of games, which is always nice and we also have no teams on bye!
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. All stats refer to 1/2 PPR, 6 point per passing touchdown leagues.
Start’Em
Geno Smith @SEA
After posting three consecutive weeks with at least 23 fantasy points Geno find himself looking into the face of the 30th ranked pass defense. The Raiders allow an average of 21.12 points per game to opposing quarterbacks and in conjunction with Geno’s average of 19.78 fantasy points Geno provided a safe floor with a limitless ceiling this week. Fire him up safely as a QB!.
Justin Herbert v ARI
Herbert has seen his struggles this season, but with the Chargers finally starting to get healthy they are set to face off against the 27th ranked Cardinals defense. The Cardinals can’t stop anyone and Herbert figures to reconnect with Keenan Allen in a massive explosion this week. Justin Herbert is my prediction to finish week 12 as the QB1.
Jimmy Garoppolo @NO
Jimmy finds his way into my starts for the second week in a row which is surprising since I’m not really a fan. However, the Saints pass defense is banged up and incapable of stopping the most incompetent team and Jimmy G is loaded with weapons at his disposal. Look for Jimmy G to be a sneaky top 10 QB this week, and beyond!
Sit’Em
Aaron Rodgers v PHI
Rodgers has looked disinterested this season and has done very little to contribute to fantasy teams. This week he gets the best defense in the league that I avoid wherever possible, The Eagles. Philly is such a terrible matchup that no amount of Christian Watson touchdowns will be able to save the Packers this week. Steer clear of Rodgers in Week 12….. and probably for the rest of his career.
Jacoby Brissett v DEN
Jacoby has served admirably as a fill in while the Browns wait to get Deshaun Watson into their lineup for the first time. Sadly his finally start will be one he will want to forget as he gets the fierce Broncos defense as his Week 12 opponent. Denver’s offense is so bad that the defense simply just pummels opposing teams in an attempt to keep them in it. This game figures to see lots of the ground game and be yet another slow and boring Broncos game that you will want to avoid for fantasy. Sorry Jacoby, it was good while it lasted, see you next year when you start for the Colts….. again!
Start ‘Em
Jeff Wilson @HOU
In two games with the Dolphins since coming over from the 49ers Wilson has been RB10 and RB6. He is simply the most slept on RB1 in the league, his reward…. the juiciest of matchups against the 32nd ranked Texans defense. The Texans are the definition of a run funnel and Wilson could have a career game in store this week. Not only should you start Wilson this week, you should trade for him in any league you can while he is the most undervalued running back in fantasy.
Ken Walker @LV
Coming off a bye Walker squares off against the 30th ranked Raiders defense. The Raiders allow 28.11 points per game to opposing running backs and Walker is simply going to run all over them. Walker is my prediction for RB1 of Week 12. Start him….. EVERYWHERE!
James Conner v LAC
My advise here…. fire up Conner against the 29th ranked Chargers and then go take a shower. Conner will always feel like a dirty start but the only thing worse than the feeling of seeing Conner in your lineup is the Raiders run defense. Look for Conner to be an easy top 10 running back in this matchup of teams who will soon have new coaches.
Sit ‘Em
Alvin Kamara @SF
The 49ers are simply going to load up the box against Kamara and bring blitz after blitz. The Saints look lost on offense and seem content to go down with the Andy Dalton ship. So with that in mind look for Kamara to be highly inefficient and be a touchdown dependent RB2. Sit him if you can.
Saquon Barkley v NYG
Much like Kamara, Barkley is probably a guy you can’t afford to sit. So play him if you own him but expect a capped ceiling much like with Kamara. The Cowboys defense is firing on all cylinders and with no real pass catching threats on the Giants the Cowboys are sure to key in on Barkley and limit his effectiveness. All you can do here is play him and hope he falls into the endzone.
Start ‘Em
Terry McLaurin v ATL
With Taylor Heinicke at quarterback, Terry has been back to being Scary Terry. Scary terry will make another appearance this week to feast on the 31st ranked Falcons defense. The Falcons are an easy matchup and Heinicke has formed a great connection with McLaurin peppering him with target after target. Look for Terry to be a surefire WR1 in week 12, and for as long as Heinicke is in at quarterback.
Jakobi Meyers @MIN
As we seen in Week 11, the Vikings are frauds. The Cowboys scored early and often and while the Patriots are nowhere near as potent on offense they will nevertheless put up points themselves. Look for Meyers to rack up 100 yards or more and even score a touchdown that seems to elude him in most weeks. Meyers has been a safe WR2 and will be a great play this week.
Christian Kirk @BAL
Kirk is an easy player to predict. When the matchup is good you play him. When the matchup is bad you sit him. This is a good matchup against an improving but overall weak Ravens secondary. Look for Kirk to have a big day against Baltimore and fire him up as a high end WR2.
Sit ’em
Diontae Johnson @IND
Rookie quarterback. Tough opposing defense. Losing his job to a younger and more talented receiver. Yikes! I’ll pass on Diontae this week as the Colts are not an easy team for wide receivers to score on. Johnson has yet to be a top 24 receiver this season and I don’t see that slump coming to an end this week. Leave Diontae on your bench.
DJ Moore v DEN
There has been much excitement this week for the potential resurgence of DJ with the quarterback change to Sam Darnold. Think about that! The Panthers are switching to another awful quarterback and they will be sending him out to face one of the elite pass defenses in the NFL. Does that seem like a recipe for success? I don’t think so. Run as far away from DJ Moore as you can. I shouldn’t have to say this but Sam Darnold is not the savior you’re looking for.
Start ‘Em
Gerald Everett v ARI
Everett has been reliable for the majority of the season but the only selling point we need to focus on here is that he is a tight end who faces the Cardinals. The Cardinals are easily the best matchup for tight ends hemorrhaging an amazing 21.18 points per game to opposing tight ends. Everett simply cannot finish outside the top 10 this week, Kliff Kingsbury won’t allow it. Start Everett now, and said Kliff a thank you letter later.
Foster Moreau v SEA
Darren Waller remains on the injured reserve so Foster Moreau gets the pleasure of facing the other NFC team that is shameful in covering tight ends. The Seahawks allow 19.01 points per game to opposing tight ends and you can expect that to continue again this week as Moreau will have a solid day and likely find the end zone. Look for Moreau to be a solid starting tight end in Week 12.
David Njoku @TB
Assuming Njoku is fully healthy this week and suits up he gets a very favorable matchup with the Buccaneers. Tampa is a solid run defense and therefore forces opposing teams to pass to beat them. This will be evident in a huge game for Njoku. Look for David to replicate his multi touchdown effort from earlier in the season and find his way into the top 5 tight ends this week.
Sit ’em
Tyler Conklin @CHI
Conklin was very productive early in the season but has lately tailed off in the mess that has been Zach Wilson. While the Jets will make a change at quarterback this week to Mike White it’s very unlikely that Conklin will reap the benefits as he faces a Bears defense that is ranked third against tight ends. Look for this to be another slow paced game on the ground like their week 11 matchup with the Patriots and Conklin will be nothing more than a desperation tight who will need to score to be useful.
Cade Otton @CLE
Otton has flashed potential in his rookie season, but there are just too many mouths to feed in Tampa. Brady loves to throw the ball but that love doesn’t seem to translate into production for Otton. Add in a matchup with the Browns who are tough on tight ends and you get another touchdown or bust tight end that is best left on your bench barring the most desperate of circumstances.
Start ‘Em
Pittsburgh Steelers @IND
The Colts play slow, can’t score and frequently turn the ball over. This is a winning formula for a massive week for the Steelers D/ST. The Steelers should limit the Colts in points and if they are lucky enough to return one of the aforementioned turnovers for a touchdown they could be the top scoring defense on the week.
Kansas City Chiefs @LAR
With Stafford out once again with a concussion, the Rams will be starting Bryce Perkins at quarterback. Perkins has completed 6 passes for 61 yards in his NFL career. This matchup screams of a team about to pile up interceptions. Start the Chiefs and watch as they pummel a terrible offense with an inexperienced quarterback. This output by the Chiefs D/ST could be massive.
Sit ‘Em
Los Angeles Rams Chargers v KC
On the other side of the coin is the Rams defense, they are going to get lit up by Mahomes and the Chiefs and should be so exhausted by halftime that they just give up. This one is going to be messy and could very well lead to a negative fantasy points output. If the Rams are your D/ST and you don’t have any other options you may be better off leaving your D/ST slot empty.
New York Giants v DAL
The Giants appear to be in a downward spiral and this season is beginning to unravel, while the Cowboys appear to be gearing up to battle it out with the Eagles for the division. Look for the Cowboys to beat up on the Giants this week as they gear up for better opponents. The Giants simply won’t be able to stop this offense and must be sat in all leagues, as they too risk putting up a negative score for fantasy.
Well that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 12 of the 2022 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server.
Image Credit: Sam Navarro – USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 9
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 9
