Four games are already in the books in Week 12, and plenty of fantasy football owners have a good idea of how their matchups will go this week. If you already started, say, Tua Tagovailoa, you might need to shoot for big points with your remaining players. If you had Dak Prescott or Christian McCaffrey, you might be looking for high-floor players to simply maintain your early lead.
Either way, Sunday’s action figures to be wild. Fortunately, there aren’t many key “questionable” players. Rachaad White, Dameon Pierce, and Hollywood Brown highlight the early action, while Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., Jalen Guyton, Gerald Everett, and Justin Jefferson will be key “game-time decisions” for the prime-time games. Unfortunately, Tee Higgins, Noah Brown, Dallas Goedert, and Jerrick McKinnon have already been ruled “out,” and D’Onta Foreman is “doubtful.”
Whether you’re pushing for a playoff spot or positioning yourself for a regular-season crown/first-round bye, we’re in virtual must-win territory, so let’s get after it.
We’ll be here to help all morning, reacting to injury news, monitoring the active/inactive lists for any surprises, watching the weather, and providing start ’em, sit ’em advice based on all the latest developments.
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Fantasy football live news for NFL Week 12
Live updates will begin at 9 a.m. ET.
Injury updates for NFL Week 12
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Texans’ RB Dameon Pierce (ankle) is expected to play against Jacksonville. It’s unclear how carries will be divvied up in Houston’s backfield, but Devin Singletary still seems like the slightly better starting option in all formats.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Buccaneers’ RB Rachaad White (knee) “will play” against the Colts. He added that White was only listed as “questionable” as a precaution after his knee briefly locked up on Friday, but he’s “fine.” Start him as you usually would.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Cardinals’ WR Marquise Brown (heel) is expected to play against the Rams. Hollywood hasn’t gotten in sync with Kyler Murray since he returned, but it’s only a matter of time before he turns his targets into production. Trust him as a boom-or-bust flex this week.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Ravens’ WRs Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder) and Zay Flowers (hip) are both expected to play against the Chargers. Against the league’s worst pass defense, both are in play as relatively safe WR2/3s.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Chargers’ WR Jalen Guyton (groin) and TE Gerald Everett (chest) are both expected to play against the Ravens. Neither are recommended plays given the matchup, but Guyton has some boom-or-bust appeal in deep leagues.
NOTABLE OFFICIAL EARLY ACTIVES: Coming at 11:30 a.m. ET
NOTABLE OFFICIALLY EARLY INACTIVES: Comming at 11:30 a.m. ET
WEEK 12 INJURY UPDATES:
White/Pierce/Hollywood | Flowers | OBJ | Jefferson
Weather updates for NFL Week 12
For a full breakdown of all of the Week 12 weather worries, click here.
The NFL schedule-makers did fantasy owners a Thanksgiving solid by scheduling nine games indoors this week. The weather gods did us another favor by limiting the rain, wind, and snow yet again. Only a handful of games (Steelers-Bengals, Panthers-Titans, and Bills-Eagles) could have winds of even 15 mph or a 25-percent chance of precipitation. The Bills-Eagles game will likely see the worst weather of the week, but with only light showers expected, there’s no reason to bench any of your usual starters.
Who should I start in fantasy football today?
Advice based on 12-team, half-point PPR leagues
The recommendations below are from Vinnie Iyer’s Week 12 start ’em, sit ’em column.
Must-starts
QB: Jalen Hurts, Eagles (vs. BUF), Josh Allen, Bills (at PHI), Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. WAS), Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at LAC), Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (at LV), C.J. Stroud, Texans (vs. JAX), Brock Purdy, 49ers (at SEA)
RB: Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (at SEA), Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. CAR), Rachaad White, Buccaneers (at IND), David Montgomery, Lions (vs. GB), Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (vs. GB), Saquon Barkley, Giants (vs. NE), Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (at NYJ), Travis Etienne, Jaguars (at HOU), Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. TB), Alvin Kamara, Saints (at ATL), Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. PIT), Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (at NYG), Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. NO), Breece Hall, Jets (vs. MIA), Josh Jacobs, Raiders (vs. KC), Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (at LV), Tony Pollard, Cowboys (vs. WAS), Austin Ekeler, Chargers (vs. BAL), D’Andre Swift, Eagles (vs. BUF), Gus Edwards, Ravens (at. LAC), Javonte Williams, Broncos (vs. CLE)
WR: CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (vs. WAS), Stefon Diggs, Bills (at PHI), Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. PIT), Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (vs. GB), Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (at NYJ), A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. BUF), Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (at SEA), Cooper Kupp, Rams (at ARI), Puka Nacua, Rams (at ARI), DJ Moore, Bears (at MIN), Tank Dell, Texans (vs. JAX), Mike Evans, Buccaneers (at IND), DeAndre Hopkins, Titans (vs. CAR), Michael Pittman Jr, Colts (vs. TB), Adam Thielen, Panthers (at TEN), Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. BAL), DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. BUF), Davante Adams, Raiders (vs. KC), Chris Olave, Saints (at ATL), Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. CLE), Deebo Samuel, 49ers (at SEA), DK Metcalf, Seahawks (vs. SF), Christian Kirk, Jaguars (at HOU), Calvin Ridley, Jaguars (at HOU), Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (vs. SF), Nico Collins, Texans (vs. JAX), Zay Flowers, Ravens (at LAC), Jayden Reed, Packers (at DET), Garrett Wilson, Jets (vs. MIA), Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (at NYJ), Terry McLaurin, Commanders (at DAL)
TE: Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at LV), T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (vs. CHI), Dalton Kincaid, Bills (at PHI), George Kittle, 49ers (at SEA), Sam LaPorta, Lions (vs. GB), David Njoku, Browns (at DEN), Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. NO)
D/ST: Cowboys (vs. WAS), Chiefs (at LV), Steelers (at CIN), Browns (at DEN), 49ers (at SEA), Broncos (vs. CLE), Dolphins (at NYJ)
Smart sits
QB: Russell Wilson (vs. CLE), Matthew Stafford (at ARI), Gardner Minshew (vs. TB)
RB: James Cook (at PHI), James Conner (vs. LAR), Chuba Hubbard (at TEN), Khalil Herbert (at MIN), Alexander Mattison (vs. CHI)
WR: Amari Cooper (vs. DEN), Gabe Davis (at PHI), Jakobi Meyers (vs. KC), George Pickens (at CIN), Jerry Jeudy (vs. CLE), Tyler Boyd (vs. PIT)
TE: Cade Otton (at IND), Cole Kmet (@ MIN), Jonnu Smith (vs. NO), Michael Mayer (vs. KC)
D/ST: Ravens (at LAC), Bengals (vs. PIT), Colts (vs. TB), Jaguars (at HOU)
Read more coverage from Sporting News’ team of fantasy football experts, including Week 12 rankings for PPR and standard formats, sleepers, busts, DFS picks, and other projections below.
WEEK 12 FANTASY ADVICE: Sleepers | Busts
WEEK 12 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
WEEK 12 TOOLS: RotoBaller “Who To Start?” tool | Draft Sharks’ Week 12 projections
Fantasy football rankings Week 12
Below are Sporting News’ updated fantasy football rankings for Week 12. Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring.
Quarterback
Rank Player
1 Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. Commanders
2 Lamar Jackson, Ravens @ Chargers
3 Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs @ Raiders
4 Jalen Hurts, Eagles vs. Bills
5 Josh Allen, Bills @ Eagles
6 C.J. Stroud, Texans vs. Jaguars
7 Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins @ Jets
8 Brock Purdy, 49ers @ Seahawks
9 Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars @ Texans
10 Jared Goff, Lions vs. Packers
Running back
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Seahawks
2 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Ravens
3 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Patriots
4 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions vs. Packers
5 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Jets
6 Travis Etienne, Jaguars @ Texans
7 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Commanders
8 David Montgomery, Lions vs. Packers
9 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Dolphins
10 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Giants
11 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Falcons
12 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Chiefs
13 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Raiders
14 Bijan Robinson, Falcons vs. Saints
15 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Cowboys
16 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. Buccaneers
17 James Conner, Cardinals vs. Rams
18 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Colts
19 D’Andre Swift, Eagles vs. Bills
20 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Steelers
Wide receiver
Rank Player
1 CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys vs. Commanders
2 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Jets
3 A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. Bills
4 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions vs. Packers
5 Keenan Allen, Chargers vs. Ravens
6 Davante Adams, Raiders vs. Chiefs
7 Mike Evans, Buccaneers @ Colts
8 Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Cardinals
9 Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers @ Seahawks
10 Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Eagles
11 Puka Nacua, Rams @ Cardinals
12 Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals vs. Steelers
13 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Buccaneers
14 DK Metcalf, Seahawks vs. 49ers
15 DJ Moore, Bears @ Vikings
16 Adam Thielen, Panthers @ Titans
17 Chris Olave, Saints @ Falcons
18 Tank Dell, Texans vs. Jaguars
19 DeAndre Hopkins, Titans vs. Panthers
20 Nico Collins, Texans vs. Jaguars
21 DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. Bills
22 Christian Kirk, Jaguars @ Texans
23 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins @ Jets
24 Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Dolphins
25 Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Lions
Tight end
Rank Player
1 Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ Raiders
2 T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Bears
3 Dalton Kincaid, Bills @ Eagles
4 Dalton Schultz, Texans vs. Jaguars
5 Trey McBride, Cardinals vs. Rams
6 David Njoku, Browns @ Broncos
7 Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Texans
8 Sam LaPorta, Lions vs. Packers
9 Cole Kmet, Bears @ Vikings
10 George Kittle, 49ers @ Seahawks
Defense/Special teams
Rank Player
1 Dallas Cowboys vs. Commanders
2 Cleveland Browns @ Broncos
3 Detroit Lions vs. Packers
4 New Orleans Saints @ Falcons
5 Kansas City Chiefs @ Raiders
6 San Francisco 49ers @ Seahawks
7 Cincinnati Bengals vs. Steelers
8 Pittsburgh Steelers @ Bengals
9 New England Patriots @ Giants
10 Miami Dolphins @ Jets