Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 12
SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 12 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 12 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.
Start
Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
vs. Raiders
We can all agree there's no way Jackson rushes 27 times again, but against the Raiders' defense, he won't have to. Even if the rookie carries the ball half as many times, he should be able to boost his fantasy numbers by finding the end zone, something he wasn't able to do in his first start. The Raiders have given up multiple touchdown passes to all but one quarterback they've faced this season. It will be a sad day for fantasy owners if the Ravens decide to go back to Joe Flacco once the veteran is healthy, so enjoy Jackson's run while it lasts, he's a low-end QB1 with top-five upside.
Boone's projection: 170 passing yards, TD, 84 rushing yards, TD
Other QBs to start
- Jameis Winston vs. 49ers
- Baker Mayfield at Bengals
- Eli Manning at Eagles
Marlon Mack, RB, Colts
vs. Dolphins
Mack's fantasy star has dimmed slightly since his 150-yard, multi-touchdown games in Weeks 7 and 8 - largely due to matchups. He excelled against lower-level opponents like the Bills and Raiders, then found less room to run versus the stronger run defenses of the Jaguars and Titans. On Sunday, he gets his best matchup of the season, squaring off with a Dolphins defense that's allowed 133 rushing yards or more to Kerryon Johnson, Lamar Miller, and Aaron Jones over the last month. Mack is safely ranked as an RB1 this week.
Boone's projection: 102 rushing yards, 8 receiving yards, TD
Other RBs to start
- Matt Breida at Buccaneers
- Gus Edwards vs. Raiders
- Josh Adams vs. Giants
DJ Moore, WR, Panthers
vs. Seahawks
A week after his 157-yard, one-touchdown game, the best performance of his rookie campaign, Moore is set up to potentially assume the Panthers' No. 1 receiver role. Devin Funchess hasn't been able to practice this week due to a back injury, opening the door for Moore to replicate or even top his season-high eight targets from Week 11. Carolina's first-round pick should be able to capitalize on a favorable schedule over the next five weeks, giving him WR2 upside.
Boone's projection: 88 receiving yards, TD
Other WRs to start
- Marquise Goodwin at Buccaneers
- Sterling Shepard at Eagles
- Keke Coutee vs. Titans
Cameron Brate, TE, Buccaneers
vs. 49ers
OJ Howard's season-ending injury makes Brate a low-end TE1 for the remainder of 2018. It's easy to forget after Howard's sophomore breakout, but Brate finished last season with the eighth-most fantasy points among tight ends, in part due to his chemistry with Jameis Winston. Even in limited action together this year, Brate caught a pair of touchdowns from Winston. Their connection should continue as long as the quarterback can avoid turnovers and stay under center.
Boone's projection: 54 receiving yards, TD
Other TEs to start
- Vance McDonald at Broncos
- Jonnu Smith at Texans
- Jeff Heuerman vs. Steelers
Sit
Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers
vs. Cardinals
There aren't a lot of star quarterbacks to avoid this week, given six teams played on Thanksgiving Day and two teams are on bye. Rivers isn't going to have a bad game, he just won't be asked to do much as 13-point favorites at home against a Cardinals team coming off a loss to the lowly Raiders. The Chargers have been leaning on Melvin Gordon and their rushing attack all season, which has resulted in a 7-3 record and the slowest paced offense in the NFL, according to Football Outsiders. Rivers has thrown for 228 passing yards or less in three of his last five games and there's a good chance that happens again here.
Boone's projection: 227 passing yards, TD
Other QBs to sit
- Marcus Mariota at Texans
- Case Keenum vs. Steelers
- Derek Carr at Ravens
Dion Lewis, RB, Titans
at Texans
Just when the Titans' offense appeared to be finding its rhythm, it was shut down by the Colts in a game Marcus Mariota was forced to exit due to a stinger. The injury has kept him limited in practice this week and it's unclear if he'll be available for Monday night's divisional battle with the Texans. With or without Mariota, Tennessee could have a hard time moving the ball on the ground, considering Houston is permitting the sixth-fewest rushing yards on the year. They also contained Lewis to 43 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches in Week 2, a game Mariota did not suit up in. With declining numbers since the Titans' bye, Lewis is best left on your bench for this one.
Boone's projection: 46 rushing yards, 12 receiving yards
Other RBs to sit
- Kenyan Drake at Colts
- Doug Martin at Ravens
- Isaiah Crowell vs. Patriots
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals
at Chargers
Though his targets saw an immediate increase after Byron Leftwich took over as offensive coordinator, Fitzgerald has still only topped 50 yards once since the season's opening week. He saved his fantasy day last Sunday by turning both his catches into touchdowns, but that's not sustainable, especially against a Chargers team that's only given up one touchdown to a receiver since Week 5. Treat Fitzgerald as a risky WR3 when setting your lineup.
Boone's projection: 48 receiving yards
Other WRs to sit
- Corey Davis at Texans
- Golden Tate vs. Giants
- Demaryius Thomas vs. Titans
Evan Engram, TE, Giants
at Eagles
The Eagles haven't played championship-caliber football this season, but they have dominated opposing tight ends. Only one has eclipsed 41 yards on them and they've sacrificed just two touchdowns to the position. That doesn't bode well for Engram, whose fantasy totals have been on the rise entering this game. Avoid Engram on the road in Philly, if possible, in favor of options like Brate or McDonald.
Boone's projection: 35 receiving yards
Other TEs to sit
- Kyle Rudolph vs. Packers
- Antonio Gates vs. Cardinals
- C.J. Uzomah vs. Browns
Stash
Gerald Everett, TE, Rams
With Cooper Kupp out for the season, Everett was an immediate beneficiary, posting his best outing of 2018 with 49 yards and a pair of scores. The former second-round pick has all the tools to emerge as a star in his sophomore campaign and has 48 yards or a touchdown in each of his last three contests. His schedule isn't the easiest in the fantasy playoffs, but that might not matter in the Rams' high-powered offense. After his Week 12 bye, he'll be a fringe TE1 with significant upside the rest of the way, perfect for owners who lost OJ Howard.
Jaylen Samuels, RB, Steelers
Samuels was a player of interest we discussed in the offseason due to the uncertainty around Le'Veon Bell's situation and the rookie's RB/TE eligibility in some leagues. With Bell ruled out for 2018, Samuels is the back to own behind James Conner and deserves to be prioritized with other high-ceiling handcuffs like Spencer Ware and Malcolm Brown. If Conner went down and you deployed the Steelers' starting running back in your tight end slot, your fantasy team would be unstoppable.
Quit
Doug Martin, RB, Raiders
Martin has performed adequately after taking over for Marshawn Lynch, but he's been helped by a softer schedule that allowed the Raiders to at least hang around in several games over the last month. That's about to change as he gets the Ravens' tough run defense this week, followed by games against the Chiefs and Steelers in which Oakland is almost guaranteed to be trailing early. We already know Jalen Richard is the main pass-catcher in that backfield, and John Gruden spoke last week about wanting to involve DeAndre Washington more in the offense. You shouldn't have confidence starting Martin in your lineup, so use his roster spot on a player with more fantasy upside.
Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles
Agholor was held without a catch as he saw a season-low two targets in Week 11. This directly coincides with newly acquired Golden Tate taking on a bigger role in the offense; Tate led with eight targets in that game. It's a sign of things to come for Agholor, who is now behind Tate, Alshon Jeffery, and Zach Ertz in the Philly's receiving pecking order. Barring an injury, there's no reason to roster Agholor at this point.