Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 12

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to 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

Baker Mayfield, Browns

vs. Dolphins

The Browns were one of the main topics we discussed on the podcast this week, since their matchup with the Dolphins is the ultimate get-right game for a team still trying to jell two-and-a-half months into the season. Miami is giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, including four total touchdowns to Josh Allen last Sunday. Mayfield is also coming off back-to-back games with two passing touchdowns against far tougher defenses in the Bills and Steelers. It's been a challenging season for Cleveland, but a relaxed schedule sets Mayfield up to be a QB1 over the next month.

Boone's projection: 268 passing yards, 3 passing TDs

Other QBs to start

• Matt Ryan vs. Buccaneers
• Derek Carr at Jets
• Sam Darnold vs. Raiders

Phillip Lindsay, Broncos

at Bills

It's rare for running backs who are teammates to appear in the start and sit sections of this column in the same week. However, reports suggested the Broncos would feature Lindsay more coming off their Week 10 bye, and that's exactly what happened. The near-even split that existed in the first half of the season vanished as Royce Freeman saw the field on less than 30% of snaps while Lindsay's playing time soared to a season-high 64%. Lindsay doubled Freeman's touches against the Vikings and now gets a Bills defense that's allowed over 100 yards from scrimmage to four different backs in the last month. He's a strong RB2 play moving forward.

Boone's projection: 97 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• Jaylen Samuels at Bengals
• Miles Sanders vs. Seahawks
• Kareem Hunt vs. Dolphins

Calvin Ridley, Falcons

vs. Buccaneers

With Mohamed Sanu traded away and Austin Hooper still sidelined, Ridley saw his highest target total since Week 2, catching all eight passes thrown his way for 143 yards and a touchdown. For an encore, he'll take on the league's worst pass defense as the Buccaneers make their way to Atlanta. In 10 games this season, Tampa has permitted at least 70 yards to 16 receivers. Ridley isn't just an excellent fantasy option for this contest - he's a low-end WR1.

Boone's projection: 112 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• DK Metcalf at Eagles
• Tyrell Williams at Jets
• Jamison Crowder vs. Raiders

Ryan Griffin, Jets

vs. Raiders

Griffin got his own writeup in the waiver wire column this week because it's hard not to like a player coming off a 100-yard outing at a position where fantasy managers often struggle to find quality options. A full-time player now that Chris Herndon is on injured reserve, Griffin shouldn't have a problem racking up numbers against the Raiders, who've gotten rocked by tight ends for the third-most fantasy points this season.

Boone's projection: 76 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Dallas Goedert vs. Seahawks
• Jacob Hollister at Eagles
• Vance McDonald at Bengals

Sit

Jared Goff, Rams

vs. Ravens

Sometimes fantasy decisions can be easy. Goff hasn't reached double-digit fantasy points in either of the Rams' games since their bye. Meanwhile, the Ravens' defense has reached another level with players getting finally getting healthy, as well as the midseason arrival of Marcus Peters. In 10 games, Patrick Mahomes is the only quarterback to throw for more than a single touchdown against Baltimore. Based on his current play, Goff will not be the second.

Boone's projection: 179 passing yards, TD, 2 INTs

Other QBs to sit

• Carson Wentz vs. Seahawks
• Ryan Tannehill vs. Jaguars
• Daniel Jones at Bears

Brian Hill, Falcons

vs. Buccaneers

Hill led the Falcons' backfield in touches last week, but wasn't able to do much with them and had a touchdown called back due to penalty. The Buccaneers' normally stout run defense has been a little more vulnerable lately with Alvin Kamara, Chris Carson, and Derrick Henry all reaching 75 yards on the ground. Hill isn't in their class, though, making him a risky RB3/flex.

Boone's projection: 37 rushing yards, 9 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• Sony Michel vs. Cowboys
• Kalen Ballage at Browns
• Royce Freeman at Bills

Tyler Boyd, Bengals

vs. Steelers

Even with Auden Tate and A.J. Green on the shelf, Boyd can't be trusted in fantasy lineups. The Bengals' attack is a disaster, with poor offensive-line play and a quarterback who shouldn't have seen action as a rookie in Ryan Finley. The Steelers' issues covering the slot have all but disappeared since Minkah Fitzpatrick showed up, so this could be another long afternoon for Boyd, who is borderline droppable at this point.

Boone's projection: 45 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• Terry McLaurin vs. Lions
• Brandin Cooks/Robert Woods vs. Ravens
• Randall Cobb at Patriots

Gerald Everett, Rams

vs. Ravens

Everett has been a boom-or-bust play with TE1 upside on good days and a crushing floor on bad ones. In his last five appearances, Everett eclipsed double-digit fantasy points in two games and was held under five points in the other three. The Ravens aren't the right matchup for chasing his ceiling, so look elsewhere if you can.

Boone's projection: 34 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Jimmy Graham at 49ers
• Jason Witten at Patriots
• O.J. Howard at Falcons

Stash

Darrel Williams, Chiefs

Darrel Williams is on bye this week, which makes it the perfect time to sneak him onto your roster. Both Damien Williams and LeSean McCoy left Kansas City's last game with injuries, so we don't know whether they'll be available when the team returns in Week 13. If either misses time, Darrel would immediately be in consideration as a fantasy option in one of the league's most potent offenses.

Andy Isabella, Cardinals

Isabella is also on bye this week, so you shouldn't have a problem grabbing him off your waiver wire. We're talking about a stash, so he's far from guaranteed to deliver, but we've seen some positive signs for the rookie speedster in recent weeks. Not only did Isabella top 75 yards in two of his last three outings, but his playing time has also begun to increase as well, setting him up for a potential late-season surge.

Quit

A.J. Green, Bengals

It's possible Green comes back at some point down the stretch, but why would he? The Bengals are nosediving toward a potential 0-16 season, meaning it's in the best interest of both the team and Green for him to sit out the rest of the year. Dropping a player of Green's caliber - especially if you've held onto him this long - can be tough, but he doesn't need to be owned in 54% of leagues any longer.

Adrian Peterson, Redskins

Derrius Guice is back in the lineup and pass-catching specialist Chris Thompson is also nearing a return, which will ensure this backfield is a three-man committee for the rest of the season. We're also talking about a Redskins offense that won't be scoring a lot of points to begin with. And if anyone is going to lose snaps, it'll be the 34-year-old Peterson, who's dealing with a toe injury. Still owned in 46% of leagues, you can say goodbye to the future Hall of Famer.