Fantasy Football Week 12 Start Decisions Involving Bills: Josh Allen, Khalil Shakir, James Cook and More

As promised, I'm back to go over fantasy football start decisions involving players from the Thursday night game between the Bills and Texans.

We will open with a story looking at Bills in start/sit decisions, then cover Texans' players in another story. Also be sure to check out the DFS story for tonight's game.

Having trouble deciding who to start? Let the FantasySP start/sit tool help you make a decision.

Josh Allen Start Decisions

Allen is a high-end fantasy talent, but has the toughest fantasy test a QB could have in week 12, so fantasy owners are wondering who to play Allen over.

I have Allen as the No. 5 fantasy QB for week 12, so even in the tough matchup, I expect him to deliver a big fantasy score.

In FantasySP's start/sit tool, Allen is in start/sit decisions involving Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, Drake Maye and Brock Purdy.

Allen is starting over Stafford (82%-8%), and I agree with that. The projections also favor Allen by a little bit. I have Stafford as the No. 7 fantasy QB in week 12 in his matchup against the Buccaneers. 

Fantasy owners like Allen over Goff in every case. The projections like Allen by a couple points. I like Goff quite a bit this week, but he's my No. 10 fantasy QB, so I prefer Allen over him easily.

Allen is preferred over Maye, but it's close (48%-35%). The projections like Maye, by a longshot. Maye is my No. 2 fantasy QB in week 12, so this is a case where Allen would sit in a one-QB fantasy setup, which is wild to say. 

Allen is preferred over Purdy by a healthy amount, but the projections like Purdy. Purdy was my No. 6 fantasy QB, so he's very close to Allen this week in my eyes.

The other fantasy QBs I like over Allen are Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. If you aren't starting Allen this week, then now might be a good time to try selling him high, because that means you have a more-than-capable backup.

Khalil Shakir Start Decisions

Shakir is my No. 26 fantasy wideout for week 12. He didn't practice all week after the birth of his daughter.

He has a brutal matchup against Houston too, otherwise he would have ranked higher. Shakir struggled in week 11, so it's fair to have him in start/sit decisions.

Our tool has him against Ricky Pearsall and Kayshon Boutte.

Fantasy owners like Shakir over Pearsall (34%-8%), with both guys starting in 31% of fantasy leagues. The projections like Shakir by 0.4 points. I did not have Pearsall in my top 30, although he was just outside it, so this is a pretty close decision. I do prefer Shakir though.

Boutte is working his way back from an injury, so that complicates that decision some more. Fantasy owners like Shakir over Boutte every time, with both starting in 24% of leagues. The projections favor Shakir by over two points, although that could change if Boutte is cleared to play. I didn't have Boutte in my top-30 wideouts, so I like Shakir over him.

Check out my wide receiver rankings to see which wideouts I like over Shakir, and which guys I like the Bills' receiver over.

Other Bills' Fantasy Options

James Cook will power the Bills' backfield, just like he has all season. He has a bit tougher matchup tonight, with Houston allowing 19 fantasy points per game to fantasy backs. 

I have Cook as my No. 8 fantasy PPR back for week 12. I only have Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Rico Dowdle and Derrick Henry ranked over Cook this week.

Yes it's a tougher matchup, but you should be confident in Cook putting up a good amount of fantasy points, especially because the Bills are down some pass catchers.

Keon Coleman is a wideout who might miss another game because of a coaching decision. He was a healthy scratch last week, and isn't expected to play again on Thursday. With Mecole Hardman and Curtis Samuel also out, the Bills are hurting at receiver a bit.

After Shakir, Buffalo could turn to Tyrell Shavers, Joshua Palmer or Elijah Moore. The team might have to call up a receiver from the practice squad as well.

Shavers broke out last week, so he is who I'd take after Shakir. Shavers is just a deep-league option in my eyes though.

Palmer is another deep-league option, but should be starting in even less leagues than Shavers. Davis is on the same level as Palmer, and it's a coin flip for who to start between him and Palmer.

Moore and any practice squad wideouts who get promoted are guys I would skip this week.

With Dalton Kincaid out, Dawson Knox will lead the Buffalo tight ends. Jackson Hawes will help out a bit too.

Knox is just a deep-league asset, especially in a tough test against Houston. Hawes should be skipped outside the deepest fantasy leagues out there.

Matt Prater has been a good fantasy kicker so far, and I wouldn't mind playing him again tonight - maybe the Bills' offense will break down several times, giving Prater a bunch of field goal tries.

The Bills DST is another solid fantasy option tonight, especially with the team facing Davis Mills over C.J. Stroud.