Here are 16 players to start or sit for fantasy football Week 12
Fantasy football managers are set to navigate one of their most difficult weeks of the season so far. Not only are there four teams on bye – the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders – but a plethora of prominent fantasy players are dealing with injuries that could knock them out of action.
Notably, running backs Josh Jacobs and Jaylen Warren suffered injuries in Week 11 and didn’t return to action. The same was true of Drake London, who is expected to miss Week 12 at the very least, while quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Michael Penix Jr. may both be sidelined by injuries.
That will leave fantasy managers scouring the waiver wire for potential streamers and fill-ins to help their lineups remain competitive. There are a handful of pickups who can immediately be plugged into lineups, while the recent returns of some other fantasy assets could create some difficult start ’em, sit ’em decisions.
Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 12 of the NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines eight players to start and eight to sit.
Fantasy football players to start in Week 12
Quarterbacks
- Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
Brissett has been the epitome of consistency for fantasy managers since taking over for Kyler Murray in Week 6. He has thrown two touchdowns in all five of his starts and is averaging 314 passing yards per game, never throwing for less than 258 across his outings. The Jaguars are coming off an elite-level performance against Justin Herbert and the Chargers, but Jacksonville has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season.
- Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Carolina Panthers)
Purdy finally returned to action against the Cardinals and looked healthy, throwing for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout win over Arizona. Like Brissett, Purdy is hyper-consistent, as he is averaging 262 yards and has multiple touchdowns in each of his three starts this season. Carolina’s defense has been solid of late against quarterbacks – the unit has allowed just three passing touchdowns over its last five weeks – but Purdy still figures to be a strong start on ‘Monday Night Football.’
Running backs
- Woody Marks, Houston Texans (vs. Buffalo Bills)
Marks didn’t quite live up to expectations against the Titans, totaling just 51 yards and failing to score. However, he out-touched Nick Chubb 19-3, signaling he has taken over in full as the lead back in Houston. The Texans have a favorable matchup against a Bills team that has allowed a league-high 14 rushing touchdowns to running backs and was just gashed by Sean Tucker. That should make Marks a rock-solid RB2 for Week 12.
- Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
Josh Jacobs avoided a serious knee injury against the Giants, but he is still expected to be week-to-week because of it. Wilson seems likely to be a workhorse if Jacobs doesn’t play, as third-string running back Chris Brooks has logged just three carries this season. The Vikings rank middle-of-the-pack against running backs, so Wilson figures to be a low-end RB2 based on volume alone.
Wide receivers
- A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles (at Dallas Cowboys)
Brown saw a season-high 11 targets in Week 11 after airing his grievances about the Eagles’ lack of consistent offensive success. If he continues to see that type of volume, Brown should have a chance for a big game against a Cowboys team that has allowed a league-high 16 receiving touchdowns to wideouts this season.
- Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (at New Orleans Saints)
Mooney has just 16 catches this season, but he’s a nice sleeper option with Kirk Cousins taking over for the injured Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback. Mooney averaged 4.1 catches for 62.4 yards in 14 games with Cousins last season and figures to see a high volume of targets with Drake London expected to miss Week 12 with a knee injury.
Tight end
- Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (at Cincinnati Bengals)
The Bengals did not allow a touchdown to the Steelers’ tight end room in Week 11, but they did let Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth combine for 86 yards on five catches. Cincinnati still leads the league in touchdowns surrendered to the position (12) so Henry should be in line for a big game.
Defense/special teams
- Cleveland Browns (at Las Vegas Raiders)
The Browns have generated 14 takeaways during the 2025 NFL season, tied for the seventh-most league-wide, and are averaging 3.2 sacks per game thanks to another standout season from Myles Garrett. Geno Smith has been one of the NFL’s most turnover-prone quarterbacks this season, so Cleveland could have a huge outing in this matchup.
Fantasy football players to sit in Week 12
Quarterbacks
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
The Eagles haven’t allowed an opposing quarterback to log multiple passing touchdowns against them since Week 4. Prescott was unable to score while throwing for just 188 yards in his team’s Week 1 game against Philadelphia – a game where the Eagles did not have top defensive tackle Jalen Carter at their disposal after he spit at Prescott. As such, it’s hard to recommend trusting Prescott in this matchup.
- Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (at Kansas City Chiefs)
Jones has been a viable fantasy starter at times this season, but he faces a tough Week 12 matchup with the Chiefs. Kansas City has allowed just nine passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season, tied for the fewest in the league. Jones has thrown for two touchdowns compared to four interceptions in his last two starts, so he has a low floor playing against what should be a desperate Chiefs team.
Running backs
- Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Los Angeles Rams)
Tucker just starred during a 140-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Bills. He now gets a much tougher matchup in Week 12 against a Rams defense that has allowed just three total touchdowns to running backs this season. Add in the pending return of Bucky Irving and Tucker may not have the volume needed to be anything more than a touchdown-dependent flex play in a tough matchup.
- Devin Singletary, New York Giants (at Detroit Lions)
Singletary is averaging just 57 scrimmage yards per game since Cam Skattebo’s injury, so his fantasy value figures to hinge significantly on his ability to score. He did so twice against the Packers, but he may find trouble repeating that feat against a Lions team that has allowed the second-fewest FPPG to running backs this season.
Wide receivers
- Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (at Houston Texans)
The Texans are one of just three teams to allow fewer than 100 receptions to wide receivers through Week 11. Shakir has often been a safety valve for Josh Allen, but it’s worth wondering whether the two will be able to connect on offense against a Houston defense that leads the NFL in EPA, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
- Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Carolina Panthers)
The good news: Pearsall made his return to action against the Cardinals in Week 11. The bad news: he had just one catch for zero yards. Pearsall may need time to work back into game shape, so feel free to keep him on the bench one more week against a Panthers defense that is weaker against RBs and TEs but has allowed the fifth-fewest FPPG to wide receivers.
Tight end
- Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (vs. Buffalo Bills)
The Bills have allowed the fewest receptions (25) and receiving yards (270) to tight ends this season, while also allowing just one touchdown. Schultz has averaged 5.8 catches and 60.5 receiving yards per game since Week 5, but he has a much lower ceiling than usual in this matchup.
Defense/special teams
- Los Angeles Rams (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The Rams are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, but they have surprisingly generated just one sack over their last three games. Continued struggles to generate pressure will lower their fantasy floor, as will a matchup against a Buccaneers team that is averaging 25.2 points per game, tied for 10th-best in the NFL.
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