scorecardFantasy Start 'Ems, Sit 'Ems Week 12: Start Joe Burrow, sit your Rams this Thanksgiving weekend
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Fantasy Start 'Ems, Sit 'Ems Week 12: Start Joe Burrow, sit your Rams this Thanksgiving weekend

Tyler Lauletta   

Fantasy Start 'Ems, Sit 'Ems Week 12: Start Joe Burrow, sit your Rams this Thanksgiving weekend
Matt Patterson/David J. Phillip/AP; Chris Coduto/Getty Images; Rachel Mendelson/Insider
  • The NFL season is in full swing.
  • Each week, we're listing players to start or sit in fantasy football.

START: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

START: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow looks to pass against the New York Jets.      AP Photo/Steve Luciano

Week 12 opponent: at Tennessee Titans

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,700 / FanDuel — $8,600

Why you should start him: Joe Burrow has been on a hot streak and now goes up against a Titans defense that is giving up more passing yards than all but two teams in the NFL. There's also an outside chance that Ja'Marr Chase is back in the lineup for the Bengals, but even if he isn't, the Cincinnati offense should be in for a big day.

SIT: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins

SIT: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa.      Jeff Dean/AP Images

Week 12 opponent: vs. Houston Texans

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,900 / FanDuel — $8,300

Why you should sit him: Chances are you aren't sitting Tua Tagovailoa in your weekly leagues, but he's a player to avoid at this price in daily fantasy this week. Head coach Mike McDaniel will likely want to run the ball against the Texans, as they have the worst rushing defense in the league.

START: James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals

START: James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
James Conner runs with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers.      AP Photo/Fernando Llano

Week 12 opponent: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,600 / FanDuel — $7,000

Why you should start him: The Chargers have struggled with giving up big days to opposing running backs this season, with Kenneth Walker and Isiah Pacheco being the most recent examples. With James Conner now firmly the lead back in the Arizona backfield, he should get a chance to leave the Chargers in the dust.

SIT: Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Commanders

SIT: Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Commanders
Antonio Gibson makes a run against the Houston Texans.      AP Photo/Matt Patterson

Week 12 opponent: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,400 / FanDuel — $6,100

Why you should sit him: Antonio Gibson has gotten plenty of opportunity in the Washington run game recently, but not made much of it, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry over the past four games. With the Commanders now having more options out of the backfield, there's a chance Gibson's share of the workload starts to dip soon.

START: Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Miami Dolphins

START: Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Miami Dolphins
Jeff Wilson Jr. evades a defender against the Chicago Bears.      AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Week 12 opponent: vs. Houston Texans

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,900 / FanDuel — $7,700

Why you should start him: The Texans allow more rushing yards than any team in the league. In his two games with the Dolphins, Jeff Wilson Jr. has averaged 5.7 and 7.0 yards per carry. He's now coming off a bye week that likely allowed him to get even more familiar with his new teammates after Miami's mid-season acquisition. It's shocking that Wilson is available this cheap in daily fantasy leagues.

SIT: Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans

SIT: Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans
Dameon Pierce runs down the sideline against the Los Angeles Chargers.      AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Week 12 opponent: at Miami Dolphins

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,100 / FanDuel — $6,900

Why you should sit him: Dameon Pierce has been one of the few bright spots for the Texans this season, but Sunday could be a long day for the Texans offense in Miami. With Houston switching quarterbacks and the Dolphins such a threat to put up points fast, there's a good chance the Texans aren't running the ball all that much.

START: Kenneth Walker, RB, Seattle Seahawks

START: Kenneth Walker, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker evades a defender against the Arizona Cardinals.      AP Photo/Matt York

Week 12 opponent: vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,900 / FanDuel — $8,400

Why you should start him: Kenneth Walker has rushed for 100 yards in two of his past four games, and has scored five touchdowns over that span. While he was shut down by the Buccaneers last week, that game was in Germany on a less-than-ideal field, and Tampa Bay has one of the best run defenses in the league. The Raiders meanwhile, have allowed a 100-yard rusher in two of their past three games.

SIT: Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

SIT: Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Etienne Jr.      Mike Carlson/Getty Images

Week 12 opponent: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,700 / FanDuel — $8,000

Why you should sit him: The Baltimore Ravens run defense is on an absolute tear right now. Over their past three games, the top rusher on the team facing the Ravens hasn't cleared 30 yards on the ground. Given how well Baltimore is playing, it's tough to envision Travis Etienne Jr. having a big day on Sunday.

START: Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

START: Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins celebrates a play against the Atlanta Falcons.      AP Photo/Emilee Chinn

Week 12 opponent: at Tennessee Titans

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,900 / FanDuel — $8,200

Why you should start him: If you're taking Joe Burrow in your daily fantasy leagues, wide receiver Tee Higgins is a quality option to stack in your lineup. Either Higgins is the top receiver on the field for the Bengals, or he's more open thanks to a returning Ja'Marr Chase. Talk about a win-win.

SIT: Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SIT: Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin makes a catch against the Los Angeles Rams.      AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Week 12 opponent: at Cleveland Browns

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $6,000 / FanDuel — $7,000

Why you should sit him: Despite averaging nearly 11 targets per game over his past five games, Chris Godwin has yet to hit 100 yards receiving this season, and just scored his first touchdown of the year last week. Clearly, there are problems the Buccaneers offense are still working out, and while Godwin's targets indicate he's due for a breakout performance eventually, he's a tough player to trust in fantasy right now.

START: D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers

START: D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers
D.J. Moore works his way past a defender against the New Orleans Saints.      AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

Week 12 opponent: vs. Denver Broncos

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,000 / FanDuel — $6,200

Why you should sit him: D.J. Moore is a quality player stuck on a pretty bad team. With the Panthers turning to Sam Darnold at quarterback this week, maybe that's enough of a spark to the Carolina offense to finally set Moore up for success.

SIT: Allen Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams

SIT: Allen Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Allen Robinson misses a catch in the end zone.      AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Week 12 opponent: at Kansas City Chiefs

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,500 / FanDuel — $6,800

Why you should start him: Allen Robinson found the end zone last week, but with starting quarterback Matthew Stafford dealing with an injury, it's likely you don't want any part of the Rams' offense heading into Week 12.

START: Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders

START: Curtis Samuel, WR, Washington Commanders
Curtis Samuel reels in a touchdown against the Detroit Lions.      AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Week 12 opponent: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,000 / FanDuel — $6,500

Why you should start him: Curtis Samuel has seen his target share drop in recent weeks, but has made up for it with a few designed runs from the Washington offense. That shift tells me that the Commanders are still eager to get the ball in Samuel's hands, even if he's not getting as many passes.

SIT: Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos

SIT: Courtland Sutton, WR, Denver Broncos
Courtland Sutton makes a catch against the Las Vegas Raiders.      AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Week 12 opponent: at Carolina Panthers

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $5,600 / FanDuel — $7,100

Why you should sit him: After 11 weeks of bad football, I am done waiting for the Broncos offense to have its breakthrough moment. They haven't scored more than 23 points in a game all season, and have cleared 20 points just three times. They just don't have it this year. Maybe in 2023.

START: David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns

START: David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku scores a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.      AP Photo/Ron Schwane

Week 12 opponent: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $3,600 / FanDuel — $5,600

Why you should start him: This is a somewhat risky play, but tight end has been wonky this year, and David Njoku should be back to full-strength after missing a few games due to injury. The Buccaneers have been giving up a lot of points to opposing tight ends in fantasy, so this is a matchup play more than anything.

SIT: Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears

SIT: Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears
Cole Kmet celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins.      AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Week 12 opponent: at New York Jets

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $3,900 / FanDuel — $5,300

Why you should sit him: With Justin Fields' health in question heading into Sunday, I want no part of the Bears offense.

START: Kansas City Chiefs defense

START: Kansas City Chiefs defense
Justin Herbert is sacked by the Kansas City Chiefs defense.      AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

Week 12 opponent: vs. Los Angeles Rams

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $2,800 / FanDuel — $4,900

Why you should start him: The Chiefs have built their dynasty on the offensive side of the ball, but with Matthew Stafford hurt and the Rams generally in a freefall, this could be a great day to steal some value on the Kansas City defense.

SIT: Tennessee Titans defense

SIT: Tennessee Titans defense
The Tennessee Titans defense rush the Green Bay Packers.      AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Week 12 opponent: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Daily fantasy price: DraftKings — $3,100 / FanDuel — $3,700

Why you should sit him: Despite holding Aaron Rodgers to just 227 passing yards last week, this just feels like a tough spot for the Titans defense. When they get hot, the Bengals offense can put up a lot of points, and quickly. When picking a fantasy defense, I try to avoid teams up against a boulder that's on the verge of rolling downhill right over their face.

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