Fantasy Football Wide Receiver & Tight End Start/Sit Week 12: Gabe Davis, Jerry Jeudy, Jake Ferguson
Lou breaks down some of the toughest Start/Sit decisions at the wide receiver and tight end positions for fantasy football in Week 12.
The importance of knowing who to start and who to sit can make or break a fantasy week and your matchup. People like to say, “Start your studs,” and typically speaking, that is the way to go, especially early in the season, but sometimes a player's matchup gives them more value in a certain week. On the flip side, a player can also have a poor matchup that could give you a reason to bench them.
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Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Week 12 Starts
Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills @ Philadelphia Eagles
Davis has been quiet over the past three weeks, with just two catches for 56 yards; in two of the last three games, he had zero catches. His performance definitely has fantasy managers questioning whether he is worthy of an active roster spot this weekend. I’m here to tell you that you should trust in him for one more week. He has a good matchup this weekend against an Eagles defense that is excellent against the run but has struggled mightily against the pass. The Eagles rank number one in the NFL vs. the run and 27th vs. the pass, and they rank 32nd in fantasy against WRs.
Demario Douglas, New England Patriots @ New York Giants
Douglas has seen at least seven targets in each of the past three games and caught at least five passes in every game during that time. In Week 10 against the Colts, Douglas set career highs in targets, yards, and catches, and he has become the number-one WR in the Patriots' offense. He has a great matchup this weekend against a Giants defense that ranks 28th in fantasy against opposing WR and in the bottom third of the league in passing yards allowed. Douglas is a solid WR3 this week in leagues with 12 or more teams, and he can be considered as a flex play in 10-team leagues.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Week 12 Sits
Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys
It has been a very inconsistent season for Dotson in 2023. After struggling for weeks, he put together three excellent games, and now he has returned to mediocrity. In a 14 or 16-team league, you may not have many other choices, but in your shallower leagues, Dotson should be on your bench with a Thursday matchup coming against an elite Cowboys defense on the road in Dallas. The Cowboys rank second in the NFL against the pass this season and second in fantasy football against the WR position. They are even better at home and the only Commanders pass catcher I have faith in this weekend is Terry McLaurin, because at least he consistently sees a lot of targets.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns
The Broncos are on a roll right now and have put themselves into contention for an AFC Wild Card spot. Even with their recent success, Jeudy has been underwhelming, with no more than five catches in a game since week five and just one TD. He isn’t useless, especially in deeper formats, but you should leave him on the bench in your 10 and 12-team leagues this weekend. He is matched up with the number-one pass defense in the NFL and the defense that ranks third in fantasy against the WR position. The Broncos can certainly win the game, however, it’s been Courtland Sutton who has put up the solid fantasy production, and if I am starting a Broncos player on offense, he is the guy I would trust, not Jeudy.
Fantasy Football Tight End Week 12 Starts
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Freiermuth returned in Week 11 from a seven-week absence, and although he was quiet against an elite Browns defense, he survived the game without any setbacks and looks to be fully recovered from his hamstring injury. He enters Week 12 as a top-12 TE thanks to an excellent matchup against the Bengals, who rank 28th against the pass this season and 26th against TEs in fantasy. Get “Muth” back into your lineups this weekend and expect double-digit points in PPR formats.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
Ferguson has become Dak Prescott’s second-favorite target behind CeeDee Lamb. Ferguson is targeted in the red zone, on third down, and is a check-down option for Dak as well. This weekend, he takes on the Commanders, who rank 30th in the NFL against the pass, 32nd in points allowed per game, and in the bottom third of the league in fantasy football when it comes to defending the TE. He has a chance to be a top-five TE this week and certainly will be a top-10 TE.
Fantasy Football Tight End Week 12 Sits
Chig Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans vs. Carolina Panthers
Okonkwo has four or fewer catches in every game since Week 5 and hasn’t topped 35 yards in a game this season. He is unreliable, even in the deepest of formats, and his matchup this weekend makes him even less reliable. He faces the Carolina Panthers, who despite being 1-9, are one of the top teams against the pass this season and against the TE position. This game should be very low-scoring in general and won’t be kind to fantasy players.
Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals
Although Matthew Stafford returned last week, it didn’t impact Tyler Higbee. Higbee saw just three targets and caught one pass in the Rams win over the Seahawks last week and heads into a Week 12 matchup vs. the Cardinals who have been surprisingly good against opposing TEs this season. The Cardinals rank seventh in fantasy football against the position and struggle more to defend the run. HIgbee is best served on your benches this week unless you play in leagues where you have multiple active TE slots.
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