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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Jared Goff (v NYG)
The chunk gains kept him afloat with 18.2 yards per completion, but Goff struggled to consistently move the ball in Sunday night’s loss to the Eagles—with an elite pass rush and cold weather in a rough road environment getting Detroit off their game. Back at home this week and facing a New York defense that is allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks (21.2), Goff is positioned to be a top-five option. Notably, the other two losses this year where Goff was dealing with constant pressure were followed up by 334 yards and five touchdowns versus Chicago, and 320 yards and three touchdowns versus Washington.
Start: Brock Purdy (v CAR)
Purdy reminded everyone how he can dice opponents up last week with 200 yards and three touchdowns through the air in the win over Arizona—and he’s thrown for multiple touchdowns in all three starts this season. If we also consider the production of Mac Jones in eight starts (17-game pace of 4,571 yards and a 28:13 touchdown-interception ratio), the starting spot has again proved to produce QB1 numbers, and I’m not worried about Carolina being a top-10 defense in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing passers (15.1) when it comes to starting Purdy on Monday night.
Start: Daniel Jones (@ KC)
The Chiefs are another difficult matchup for quarterbacks with a league-low nine touchdown passes allowed on the season, but Jones should still be viewed as a QB1 for a possible shootout if both offenses click. Having the bye should help, too, and Jones comes in with confidence for an 8-2 Indy team—and having fared well (in far worse circumstances) for his lone trip to Arrowhead with a 20-17 loss back in 2021. Ideally, we will see the usage as a runner (seven carries for 53 yards in Week 10) pick up from where it left off in Germany.
Start: Mason Rudolph (@ CHI)
Aaron Rodgers (wrist) is pushing to play and might get his wish for what is likely the final trip to Solider Field—as he’d love to face a Chicago team that he has owned throughout his career with a 24-5 record and 64:10 touchdown-interception ratio. If not, Rudolph is one of the better backups in the league, and the matchup would make him a quality QB2 option considering the struggles for the Bears with the fourth-most passing yards per attempt allowed (7.8). And interceptions have been a factor for Chicago’s secondary, but I’d trust Rudolph to take care of the ball while trying to keep Pittsburgh atop the AFC North.
Sit of the Week: Jordan Love (v MIN)
Jayden Reed (collarbone) returning could elevate Love closer to the QB1 ranks with the wideout often being the go-to weapon against the Vikings (83+ receiving yards in three-of-four career matchups)—but the streakiness for Green Bay’s quarterback can be concerning. So far this month, Love has thrown for 207.7 yards per game with as many touchdowns (two) as interceptions (two) in three outings, and Minnesota has a top-seven pass defense with 190.5 yards per game allowed. I’d view him as more of a borderline top-15 play.
Sit: Joe Flacco (v NE)
Flacco cooled off following the bye with the Steelers holding him to 199 yards, one touchdown, and one interception last week—and now the Bengals being without Ja’Marr Chase (suspension) obviously drains some firepower from the passing attack. The Patriots have allowed 19 touchdown passes this year (seventh-most in the NFL), but I like how they match up with Cincinnati by having size/skill on the outside to contend with Tee Higgins, so it’s tough to view Flacco as more than a low-end QB2 with complementary options forced to step up.
Sit: Kirk Cousins (@ NO)
The first start for Cousins this year didn’t go well (173 yards and zero touchdowns in a 34-10 loss to Miami), and he also struggled off the bench in the overtime loss to Carolina last week (six-of-14 for 48 scoreless yards). Atlanta has said the offense will look different down the stretch with Michael Penix Jr. (knee) out, but no Drake London (knee) will certainly hurt the outlook this week—and the Saints (who have played hard this season) might come out with some energy following the bye. I’d like to see Cousins perform better before feeling good about him as a streaming option.
Sit: Sam Darnold (@ TEN)
Options to avoid this week seem limited at every position, and Darnold could easily pay off as a start versus an overmatched Tennessee team as the Seahawks look to bounce back from a tough lost last week against the Rams. However, Darnold has shown his downside in back-to-back games with a combined 9.18 fantasy points over the past two weeks, and Seattle might opt for a run-heavy approach this weekend to get the offense back on track in a game they can handle. I still like Darnold as a high-end QB2, but the floor needs to be taken into account if you have alternatives.
Running Back
Start of the Week: Travis Etienne Jr. (@ ARI)
Etienne paid off here last week with a season-high 19.3 fantasy points, and he’s now a top-12 fantasy running back on the season in 0.5 PPR leagues—so why is Jacksonville’s starter still ranked as a low-end RB2/FLEX option by many in the industry? The Cardinals have been ripped by enemy runners over the past two weeks with 30.9 fantasy points allowed to Seattle’s backfield and 32.6 fantasy points allowed to Christian McCaffrey, so look for Etienne to stay hot as a top-10 play with 14.0+ fantasy points in all three games since the bye.
Start: David Montgomery (v NYG)
Montgomery saw limited involvement last week against the Eagles with seven touches for 37 yards, but Dan Campbell has worked to get everyone involved as the play-caller—so I’d assume “Knuckles” will be much more of a factor this week. That’s especially true with the Giants allowing the most yards per carry in the league (5.5), and Montgomery feels due to a huge day with 40 or fewer rushing yards in four of his past five games and just one touchdown over that span. Consider him a borderline RB1/RB2 for Week 12.
Start: Ashton Jeanty (v CLE)
It would be 100% understandable to bench Jeanty based on his struggles (32.2 rushing yards per game and 3.0 yards per carry during a four-game losing streak)—particularly with a difficult draw versus the Browns this weekend. We have seen increased usage for Jeanty in the passing game, though, as he’s seen 5.0 targets per game since the start of October, and the Browns have been weaker since their bye with 26.6+ fantasy points allowed to running backs for the Jets and Ravens. He could end up disappointing again with Las Vegas not getting it done up front, but Jeanty is a top-15 option for us.
Start: Fill-in RB2 options
Emanuel Wilson in place of Josh Jacobs (knee) and Sean Tucker in place of Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) would be the top options here—and they’d each rank in the top 24 at running back (even with not-so-easy matchups) if given the chance to start on Sunday. Behind them, Bam Knight should get a boost with Emari Demercado (ankle) out, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. gets a challenging matchup against the Lions but saw his stock climb after being featured in the first game under interim head coach Mike Kafka.
Sit of the Week: Chase Brown (v NE)
Again, the “sits” are slim pickings this week at every position, and Brown—who has come on strong in recent weeks—being more of a focal point with Ja’Marr Chase unavailable makes him a high-to-midrange RB2 play. On the other hand, the Patriots have been extremely stout versus the run with the fewest rushing yards per game (84.7) and rushing touchdowns (four) allowed, so you’re likely banking on receiving production and/or a big play for Brown to keep up his recent play with 15.2+ fantasy points in three consecutive games.
Sit: Jaylen Warren (@ CHI)
Warren is another name that remains in the RB2 ranks despite being categorized as a “sit” this week, as the Bears have been better limiting production to running backs than the numbers might suggest—being 17th in points allowed to fantasy points allowed to the position despite 5.2 yards per carry allowed overall. The strong play of Kenneth Gainwell combined with Warren dealing with an ankle injury could limit the appeal this week, so Pittsburgh’s starter is a low-end RB2 with zero rushing touchdowns in all but one game this season.
Sit: Tony Pollard (v SEA)
The matchup was tough last week versus the Texans, but an improved Tennessee offense didn’t come to be following the bye—and Pollard struggled to get going with 13 touches for 26 scoreless yards in the loss. This week won’t be much easier with Seattle having a top-10 run defense in all major categories, and I’d be worried about how much the Titans could be overmatched in the trenches. Pollard barely cracks the top 30 at the position based on the matchup.
Sit: Jordan Mason (@ GB)
Mason looked good last week when the Vikings went to him late—sparking the offense on a short field with rushes of eight and 16 yards (the latter being a touchdown) in the loss to Chicago. Perhaps that will be enough to give Mason expanded opportunities, but that’s difficult to count on with touch totals of five, 11, five, and six over the past four weeks while taking a clear backseat to Aaron Jones Sr.—who has performed well in the lead role (4.9 yards per carry) and should operate as the preferred backfield option against his former team.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Jameson Williams (v NYG)
The start of the season didn’t go great for Williams with just one big game in both September and October being surrounded by plenty of quiet outings—but Detroit has featured him since the bye with lines of 4/66/1, 6/119/1, and 4/88/1. Next up for Jamo is a great matchup versus a New York defense that just allowed two touchdowns to Christian Watson, and they’ve allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts (30.3). I like Williams as a low-end WR1 option back at home.
Start: Zay Flowers (v NYJ)
Most fantasy owners with Flowers are probably starting him, so this is more of a gut feeling (maybe for DFS lineups) about him going off this week with the Jets—with Sauce Gardner now in Indianapolis—not being able to stick Baltimore’s top wideout. During the team’s four-game winning streak, Flowers has gone for 63+ receiving yards in every game, and he caught four-of-six targets for 75 yards against Aaron Glenn’s defense a couple of years ago (which would have likely been more if the Ravens didn’t blow out the Lions). Others have Flowers as a low-end WR2 option, but I think he should be a top-15 play.
Start: DK Metcalf (@ CHI)
Aaron Rodgers being out might limit the upside for Metcalf, but as stated, Mason Rudolph is a capable option under center. Last week, the former starter targeted Metcalf with a couple of downfield throws (one of which connected but didn’t count due to offensive pass interference), and he caught three passes for 38 yards from Rudolph in the second half with the Steelers playing from ahead. If Jaylon Johnson (groin) is out again for Chicago, I like Metcalf to pay off as a WR2 no matter who is at quarterback.
Start: Michael Wilson (v JAX)
Wilson is available in far too many leagues for a guy that caught 15 passes for 185 yards last week, and Marvin Harrison Jr. (illness) being out again on Sunday keeps the door open for him to be featured. Jacksonville did a great job limiting the Chargers last week, but that was largely due to the offensive line not holding up, and Jacoby Brissett will get the ball out of his hands after an NFL-record 47 completions in Week 11. If still available, Wilson can be added and started as a top-24 option at wide receiver.
Others: Parker Washington (@ ARI), Andrei Iosvias (v NE)
Sit of the Week: Tee Higgins (v NE)
The ascension to the No. 1 receiver role for Higgins is typically something that could lead to a monster game—and it still could based on his big-play ability, touchdown upside, and Joe Flacco’s willingness to test coverage. However, I think Ja’Marr Chase being out is actually a matchup downgrade because New England will now be able to put Christian Gonzalez on Higgins, and Mike Vrabel would probably put help over the top if Gonzalez has some early trouble. We have Higgins as a low-end WR2 rather than a slam-dunk WR1.
Sit: Ricky Pearsall (v CAR)
Pearsall was limited to one reception (on three targets) for zero yards last week in his return to the lineup, and Brock Purdy leaned more on George Kittle and Jauan Jennings as his top targets—which I expect will continue on Monday night. That’s without even factoring in what Christian McCaffrey does as a pass-catcher in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, so Pearsall is a shaky FLEX option as the No. 4 option versus a Carolina defense that has improved this year.
Sit: Matthew Golden (v MIN)
Things simply haven’t clicked for Golden to begin his career, and Green Bay losing Tucker Kraft (knee) didn’t lead to an increase in his role with just one catch (on three targets) for 24 scoreless yards last week in a tremendous matchup versus the Giants. On the season, Golden has yet to find the end zone, and his chemistry with Jordan Love appears to be a work in progress—which might not get on the same page until 2026 with Jayden Reed returning soon to likely pair with Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson as the featured trio.
Sit: Raiders WRs (v CLE)
The Raiders were in an excellent spot last week by needing to put up points against a bottom-five pass defense for Dallas—but the wide receivers were still limited to just 99 receiving yards in the loss. Now, the struggling offensive line for Las Vegas will need to block Myles Garrett and company, so I wouldn’t trust Geno Smith being able to get much production out of Tre Tucker and Tyler Lockett. Look elsewhere for Week 12 lineups.
Others: Mack Hollins (@ CIN), Isaiah Hodgins (@ DET)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: Hunter Henry (@ CIN)
Touchdown luck for tight ends versus the Bengals didn’t continue last week (after 10 scores for the position the previous five games)—but they still surrendered 86 yards and have allowed a whopping 18.6 fantasy points per game to the position. Although Henry has had some quiet games this season, Josh McDaniels changes the game plan depending on the opponent, so I’d be shocked if Henry doesn’t at least have a solid outing as a clear TE1 this weekend.
Start: Kyle Pitts Sr. (@ NO)
The Falcons are set to run more of a traditional offense with Kirk Cousins under center for the final seven games, and I think that should bode well for Pitts—who could benefit from the play-action passes that have been such a strength for Cousins in his career. At the very least, Pitts should be a priority on Sunday with Drake London out, and the former No. 4 overall pick had some big games with Cousins under center last year (including a stretch with lines of 7/88, 3/70, 7/65, and 4/91/2) to boost his TE1 outlook.
Start: Cade Otton (@ LAR)
Fantasy owners shouldn’t overreact to Otton being contained last week in Buffalo with two receptions for 28 scoreless yards, as that was expected in a difficult matchup and shouldn’t be used against him moving forward. Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) being back would be a slight downgrade, but Otton had consecutive yardage totals of 81, 51, 65, 40, and 82 prior to Week 11, and the Rams just allowed 10 receptions for 70 yards to AJ Barner last week—making Otton a low-end TE1 on Sunday night.
Sit of the Week: T.J. Hockenson (@ GB)
Hockenson saw increased production last week with three receptions for 39 yards, but it still didn’t match the preseason expectations despite being a terrific matchup versus the Bears. Maybe the progress (after 11.5 receiving yards per game in J.J. McCarthy’s first four starts) will carry into this week versus a Green Bay defense that Hockenson has hit with lines of 7/59, 6/88, and 5/68 since joining the Vikings—but I’d have a difficult time counting on McCarthy facing a very good defense at Lambeau Field.
Sit: Harold Fannin Jr. (@ LV)
Fannin was on the receiving end of a 25-yard strike by Shedeur Sanders in his first NFL action last week, and his involvement remained high with five targets—which is a mark he’s reached in five straight games. But for this week, I think Sanders could lean more on the wide receivers and David Njoku, and the offense will operate differently with the quick passes to Fannin underneath being less frequent. I’d view him as a TE2 with the Raiders allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position (7.7).
Sit: Pat Freiermuth (@ CHI)
The efficiency for Freiermuth has been outstanding this season with career-highs in yards per reception (12.1) and yards per target (9.6)—but the volume hasn’t with just one game with more than five targets. He did go for a 5/111/2 line in that outing, but Freiermuth saw one target last week and has been held to 33 or fewer yards in all other nine games in 2025.