Fantasy Football Week 12 Start Decisions Involving Texans: Woody Marks, Dalton Schultz, Nico Collins and More

We went over some fantasy football start decisions involving Bills' players, and now will look at start decisions involving Texans.

Also be sure to check out the week 12 Thursday night DFS lineup I put together. 

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

Woody Marks Start Decisions

Marks is a part of the most fantasy start decisions, so let's talk about him first.

He has a favorable matchup coming against the Bills, so there's a chance he powers the Texans' offense, especially with Davis Mills starting for C.J. Stroud again, and the Bills' defense being better at slowing the pass.

I have Marks ranked 21st in my week 12 rankings. I'm a bit down on him because of the short week, but think he's a good option in all leagues still. 

He is part of trending decisions against Alvin Kamara, Ashton Jeanty, Quinshon Judkins, Emanuel Wilson, David Montgomery, Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Walker, Aaron Jones Sr., Breece Hall and Chase Brown, so there's plenty to break down.

Fantasy owners prefer Marks over Kamara, but both are starting 38% of the time. The projections like Marks by 0.55 points. I have Kamara ranked 23rd, so I prefer Marks over him ever so slightly, but also wouldn't mind starting both guys in all league types.

Jeanty is preferred over Marks, but both are being started 62% of the time. The projections like Marks, but I like Jeanty, as I have him ranked 15th - again, both are solid starters in all league types.

Judkins is also preferred over Marks, with both starting 55% of the time. The projections like Marks by over two points, but I have Judkins ranked 19th, so I like him ever so slightly over Marks.

Marks is preferred over Wilson, who could start for Josh Jacobs. Both are starting 38% of the time. While I like Wilson (ranked 17th) more, I understand starting Marks over Wilson giving the timing of things.

Montgomery is the slight favorite over Marks, with both starting 58% of the time. The projections like Marks by over two points, and I like him more too, as Montgomery ranks 25th for me.

Warren is questionable to play, so Marks is preferred over him - both are starting 45% of the time. Warren is 13th for me (if he plays), but I would start Marks over him and then have Warren in a flex spot (or additional RB spot) if he ends up playing.

Marks is preferred over Walker, with both guys starting 47% of the time. The projections like Marks by just a bit - I'm the other way, with Walker ranked a spot ahead (20th) of Marks.

Fantasy owners barely prefer Jones over Marks, with both backs starting 54% of the time. The projections like Marks, and so do I, with Jones at No. 23.

Hall is preferred over Marks, but both are starting 56% of the time. The projections ever so slightly favor Hall. I like Hall a bit more, as he ranks 18th for me.

Brown is the heavy favorite over Marks, but both backs are starting 61% of the time. The projections like Brown by nearly two full points. I have Brown all the way up at No. 11, so I agree.

Dalton Schultz Start Decisions

Schultz has been a bigger part of the Houston offense of late, so it's fair to see him in a lot of trending decisions.

He has a brutal matchup against the Bills - it's the toughest a tight end will face in week 12. I still ranked Schultz as my No. 11 PPR tight end for week 12.

Schultz is part of trending decisions with Jake Ferguson, Colston Loveland, Cade Otton, Hunter Henry, Juwan Johnson and Theo Johnson.

Ferguson is starting over Schultz in every case on FSP, but both tight ends are starting 36% of the time. The projections like Schultz by nearly 0.8. I have Ferguson at No. 10 among tight ends, so barely over Schultz.

Loveland is preferred over Schultz 46%-33%. The projections like Schultz, and so do I. Loveland ranks 21st, so it's really not that close in my eyes. I too would only want to start one of these guys in a standard league.

Schultz is preferred over Otton, with both starting 33% of the time. The projections like Otton, and I do too, with the Bucs' tight end ranked eighth. I'd maybe skip Schultz in a standard league if I had both these tight ends, depending on my other flex options of course.

Fantasy owners like Henry over Schultz, with both starting 23% of the time. The projections favor Henry, and I agree, with the Patriots' tight end ranked sixth in a super favorable matchup. I'd again consider sitting Schultz in a standard league if I was faced with this choice.

Johnson is the heavy favorite over Schultz, with both starting 12% of the time. The projections like Johnson by a little bit. Here I disagree, with Johnson ranked 14th.

Johnson is heavily preferred over Schultz this week, with both tight ends starting just 7% of the time. The projections like Schultz though, and I'm in agreement, with Johnson ranked 13th.  

Other Texans' Fantasy Options

The only other Texan in a trending start decision is wide receiver Nico Collins. 

He has a tougher test against the Bills, but it's nothing too difficult. I have Collins ranked 11th for week 12. 

Collins is pitted against Stefon Diggs. Fantasy owners are starting Collins over Diggs, but starting both guys 87% of the time. I'm in agreement, as Diggs ranks 13th for me, meaning both are really good standard league options for week 12.

The projections even call this a toss up if you need to choose between them, with the wideouts separated by 0.06 points. 

After Collins, I'd skip the other Texans' wideouts in standard leagues. Jayden Higgins, Xavier Hutchinson and Christian Kirk are all deep-league options, and Jaylin Noel could also factor in.

In the tougher matchup, that's why the other wideouts are all just deep-league options. I'd take them in this order: Higgins, Hutchinson, Kirk and Noel - that's the order of who played the most snaps and produced the most last week too.

Marks looks like the lead back now, but on a short week, I wouldn't be surprised to see Nick Chubb get several snaps and touches too. In a favorable matchup, I don't think it's crazy to use him in DFS lineups (like I did) or in some deeper leagues. Desperate standard league owners could consider him, but I'd try my luck with someone else.

Chubb hasn't done enough of late for standard league usage. I'm fine firing him up in some deeper leagues though, especially if you are desperate for running back help.

Mills will have a tough fantasy test as well, so I'm down on him despite some good fantasy showings over the past couple weeks. I have Mills ranked 20th for week 12.

That puts Mills as a better deep-league option this week. I have him over Bryce Young, Kirk Cousins, J.J. McCarthy, Tyrod Taylor, Geno Smith, Tyler Shough, Cameron Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Even in the tougher test, I trust Mills over those guys because of what we've seen from him in the past couple weeks.

Ka'imi Fairbairn is a solid fantasy kicker option for week 12. He's projected as a pretty average kicker for the week.

The Texans DST is projected for an average score as well, but I'm not as eager on starting them - they are facing Josh Allen after all. The DST has been good this season, and is starting in nearly 65% of leagues, so most are trusting the season-long results despite the formidable opponent - I'd say to tread lightly, and look hard for another DST option.