Week 12: Fantasy Football Starts and Sits

Starts:

QB - Carson Palmer, ARI (@ SF)

Palmer has been on fire lately. In the past three games, he has thrown for at least 317 yards and three TDs in each contest. This week, Palmer faces a 49ers defense that seems to be ready for the offseason. In Week 11, Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns against San Francisco. Look for Palmer, a Cali-native, to have yet another stellar performance in San Fran this week.

Other notables: Eli Manning (NYG), Blake Bortles (JAC), and Brian Hoyer (HOU)

RB - Javorius "Buck" Allen, BAL (@CLE)

Justin Forsett owners scrambled to the waiver wire this week with the news that the starting RB broke his arm in Week 11. If you were able to scoop up Allen, congrats! The matchup couldn't be any sweeter. Cleveland allows 138.8 rushing yards per game (most in NFL). Last week, Allen rushed for 67 yards and added another 48 yards on five receptions against the stingy Rams defense.

Other notables: T.J. Yeldon (JAC), Alfred Blue (HOU), and Antonio Andrews (TEN)

WR - DeSean Jackson, WAS (vs. NYG)

He's baaack. Against a tough Carolina secondary, DJax acquired 87 yards on five catches and even scored his first TD of the season. His eight targets were tied for a game-high with Jordan Reed and was tied for the 18th-most among fellow WRs. His opponent gets easier in Week 12. The Giants allow 309.9 passing yards per game (most in NFL)

Other notables: Golden Tate (DET), Travis Benjamin (CLE), and Davante Adams (GB)

TE - Brent Celek, PHI (@ DET)

With Zach Ertz suffering from a concussion injury, Celek profited the most. Last week, Celek was targeted ten times and caught seven passes for 79 yards. The Lions defense has allowed four touchdowns to TEs in the past four games. Look for Celek to find the end zone and rack up a decent number of yards on Turkey Day.

Other notables: Delanie Walker (TEN), Jimmy Graham (SEA), and Julius Thomas (JAC)

Sits:

QB - Philip Rivers, SD (@ JAC)

It's hard to accrue stats when a quarterback doesn't have any wide receivers. In the past two weeks, Rivers has thrown only one touchdown pass. One. Now that Jacksonville realizes that they are one game out of first place in the AFC South, they seem revitalized. Last week, Marcus Mariota threw for only 231 yards and zero TDs. With over a week to prepare for San Diego, I would avoid Rivers, especially on a week with zero teams on a bye.

Others include: Derek Carr (OAK), Ben Roethlisberger (PIT), and Tyrod Taylor (BUF)

RB - Latavius Murray, OAK (@ TEN)

For almost every week in 2015, Murray has been a Top 20 option at the running back spot. However, with every team playing in Week 12, and other RBs having more favorable matchups, Murray falls down the rankings in Week 12. Last week, though he scored at TD, the Lions held Murray to 28 rushing yards on 13 attempts (2.2 yards per carry). In Week 10, Murray tallied 48 rushing yards against the Vikings. Surprisingly, Tennessee is the best defense against opposing running backs this season (17.4 fantasy points per game to the entire stable of opposing RBs).

Others include: Carlos Hyde (SF), Duke Johnson Jr. (CLE), and Jeremy Hill (CIN)

WR - Jordan Matthews, PHI (@ DET)

Arguably, the biggest bust in Week 11 was Matthews. He made four receptions for a total of 13 yards against Tampa Bay. He will likely receive the attention of Darius Slay for Detroit. In the past two weeks, Slay has shutdown Amari Cooper (one catch for four yards) and Randall Cobb (five catches for 53 yards). No matter who is throwing the ball for Philadelphia on Thanksgiving, Matthews should have a hard time recording positive stats.

Others include: Chris Givens (BAL), Donte Moncrief (IND), and Marques Colston (NO)

TE - Charles Clay, BUF (@ KC)

Clay might lead the Bills in targets (60), receptions (41), and yards (422), but he has struggled mightily since his 111-yard performance in Week 4. In three of the past four games, Clay hasn't surpassed 30 receiving yards and he hasn't scored a TD since Week 3. The Chiefs are the best defense when it comes to opposing fantasy TEs. Kansas City is only allowing 7.1 fantasy points per game to that position and hasn't allowed a touchdown to a TE since Week 6 (Kyle Rudolph).

Others include: Jacob Tamme (ATL), Benjamin Watson (NO), and Larry Donnell (NYG)