Week 12 Starts

Here are 5 guys with the best fantasy matchups this week and why they need to start … in two minutes or less.

QB: Jared Goff (DET) vs. NYG

Goff just got buried under that Eagles pass rush, but his ugly box score came right after a stretch where he dropped 284 and 320 passing yards with five total touchdowns across Weeks 9 and 10. The Lions have shown they can still put up big numbers in wins when things are clicking, even if Week 11 was a stumble. Now he gets a matchup with the Giants, who have been shredded through the air all season, allowing the second-most fantasy points and sixth-most passing yards to enemy quarterbacks while also giving up top-six production to opposing wide receivers. So if you’ve been debating whether to trust Goff after that rough outing, this is exactly the kind of “get-right” spot where you plug him back into lineups and ride a rebound against a vulnerable pass defense. 

RB: Alvin Kamara (NO) vs. ATL

Alvin Kamara rolled into the bye fresh off a full workhorse game: 22 carries, 3 receptions, showing the Saints still want the offense funneled through him even if the recent scoring hasn’t matched the volume. But while people are treating him like a fringe RB2 because the big plays haven’t landed, he’s still the same back who handled nearly 300 touches and over 1,400 yards last year with elite receiving work. So with the Falcons allowing the fourth-most points per game to running backs and tightening up against every other position, this is exactly the matchup where his role should finally convert into production, making him a confident Week 12 START.

RB: Kenneth Walker (SEA) @ TEN

Kenneth Walker took back control of the Seahawks’ backfield last week with 16 carries, a touchdown, and the clear edge in usage, but the real reason you fire him up is the matchup. Tennessee has been losing big and giving up strong production to opposing backs in recent weeks, so this sets up as one of those games where Seattle can lean on Walker’s volume. Additionally, the coaching staff just came out and said that he’s earned himself more work, and this is the week to chase that.

WR: Tetairoa McMillan (CAR) @ SF

Tet McMillan has been the engine of Carolina’s passing game all season, but the true blow-up had been missing until Week 11, when he erupted for 8 catches, 130 yards, and two touchdowns on 12 targets while Bryce Young hit a career-best 448 passing yards and repeatedly leaned on him for chunk gains. That spike sits on top of a rock-solid PPR floor, with weeks of 8–10 targets and steady usage even when the box scores were quieter. The 49ers’ defense encourages opponents to throw and has given up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers, and Young seems to be improving, so this is exactly the kind of pass-heavy spot where you ride McMillan’s alpha role and lock him into Week 12 lineups.

TE: Cade Otton (TB) @ LAR

Otton still hasn’t found the end zone, but he’s turned into a real part of the game plan, stacking 25 catches over his last four outings with spike weeks of 9, 7, and 5 receptions as Tampa leans on him whenever the wideouts are banged up. His line against Buffalo didn’t pop, but tying for second on the team in targets again shows the volume is sticking, not flashing. The Rams are a legit defense that smothers running backs while often landing closer to the middle of the pack against tight ends, and Tampa tends to get into pass-heavy, back-and-forth games, so Otton profiles as a strong Week 12 streamer if you’re chasing usage over name value at tight end.

So that’s the list. 5 players to put into lineups if you have them on your roster… as promised, in 2 minutes or less.

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See you tomorrow,

-Joe

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