Fantasy Football 2025: Start’Em, Sit’Em Week 12

Start: Jacoby Brissett vs. JAX

Jacoby Brissett has been red hot for the Cardinals’ offense this season and for fantasy football. Brissett, since becoming the starter once Kyler Murray went on injured reserve, has averaged nearly 22 fantasy points per game and ranks second in pass attempts among quarterbacks. Brissett also provided fantasy life to wide receiver Michael Wilson (more on him later), allowing him to have career highs in targets and receiving yards last week against the 49ers. Brissett is averaging nearly 35 pass attempts per game, allowing him to support multiple skill players. Now he gets a solid matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Start: Matthew Stafford vs. TB

Matthew Stafford’s offseason back issues seem to be a thing of the past. Stafford currently ranks fifth in fantasy points among quarterbacks this season, averaging just over 20 fantasy points per game. Stafford’s 27:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio is the best in the league and ranks in the top-10 in passing yards. Stafford has been way too good to get out of starting lineups this year, and this week may not change that. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been allowing 21.5 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, ranking fifth-most in that category. The Bucs have allowed 16 passing touchdowns this season and made Josh Allen look like a living legend, giving up six total touchdowns in Week 11.

Sit: JJ McCarthy vs. GB

McCarthy has been struggling over his last couple of games under center for the Vikings. McCarthy has four interceptions over his last two starts and hasn’t cracked 15 fantasy points in either of his last two games. The Packers’ defense has been holding fantasy quarterbacks to just an average of 15.7 fantasy points per game heading into Week 12. McCarthy’s shakiness at the quarterback position may cause fantasy managers to look elsewhere for startable options. The Packers have allowed just 13 passing touchdowns this season, the eighth-fewest among NFL defenses. Week 12 doesn’t look like a good matchup for McCarthy and for fantasy managers.

Running Backs

Start: Alvin Kamara vs. ATL

The competition for targets amongst the Saints’ pass catchers could open up a path for Alvin Kamara to be more involved down the stretch. The Saints’ release of Brandin Cooks could open up more targets for the Saints’ running back. Kamara has 37 targets on the season but just 182 receiving yards. The Falcons are giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs heading into Week 12. The Falcons are also allowing nearly 139 yards per game on the ground and have given up eight rushing touchdowns. Between this information and Kamara’s role in the offense, this could line up to be a good week for Kamara owners in fantasy football.

Start: Travis Etienne vs. ARI

Travis Etienne has been as steady as they come for fantasy managers in 2025. Etienne is averaging 4.7 yards per attempt and has 729 yards on the season. Etienne is also averaging 14.3 fantasy points per game this season, placing him as a strong RB2 player among fantasy running backs this season. Now he gets an Arizona Cardinals defense that has been giving up major fantasy points to running backs this season. Heading into Week 12, the Cardinals are allowing nearly 25 fantasy points per game and have given up 11 touchdowns on the ground. Etienne has already scored three touchdowns over his last three games and is averaging 17.2 fantasy points per game. Etienne is a solid play for fantasy managers in Week 12.

Sit: Tony Pollard vs. SEA

With the good, there’s always the bad. And it doesn’t get worse than Tony Pollard. Pollard’s fantasy season was not what fantasy managers were expecting this year after his good season last year. Pollard ranks RB36 in fantasy points per game heading into Week 12 and is averaging just 9.5 points per game on the year. And because of the Titans’ scoring offense ranking at the bottom of the league (32nd – 14.3 ppg), Pollard has only sniffed the endzone two times. Seattle has one of the best defenses in the league at the moment. The Seahawks have allowed the fifth-fewest points per game to opposing defenses and have allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game. After losing to the Rams last week, the defense will be out to get back on track. That isn’t good news for Pollard and the Titans’ offense.

Wide Receivers

Start: Darnell Mooney vs. NO

No Drake London this week as he’s been ruled out with a knee injury. Kirk Cousins will also be taking over as the QB1 for the Falcons with Michael Penix out for the season. That means Darnell Mooney will be the de facto WR1 for the Falcons until London returns. With Kirk Cousins under center, Mooney had one of his better fantasy seasons as the WR2 in 2025. Hopefully, Mooney and Cousins can rekindle that relationship against the New Orleans Saints this week. The Saints rank 21st in fantasy points allowed at just over 21 fantasy points per game. But there should be plenty of volume coming Mooney’s way that should help put him in your lineups. Mooney looks like a WR3/flex option if you have better wide receivers on your fantasy roster.

Start: Michael Wilson vs. JAX

Another week of Mike Wilson is great for fantasy football. Wilson went off last week, seeing 18 targets and 15 catches for 186 yards. That’s 33.5 fantasy points for Week 11 and finishing as a top 5 fantasy wide receiver for the week. With Marvin Harrison Jr out for another week, Wilson will be tasked to carry the mail for the Cardinals’ offense against the Jaguars. The Jaguars’ defense is allowing 34.3 fantasy points per game and has given up the sixth-most touchdowns to receiving options. Another receiver with volume heavily baked into his value against a vulnerable defense should spell good things for fantasy managers who were able to add Wilson off the waiver wire.

Sit: NY Jets Wide Receivers

Yeah, as the name suggests, you may want to leave these receivers from the Jets alone. At least until someone solidifies themselves as the top guy until Garrett Wilson returns. John Metchies turned some heads last week as he was the only receiver to find the end zone in Week 11 from the Jets. Adonai Mitchell quickly reminded “Mitchell haters” and Colts fans why they were so willing to ship him off via trade as he suffered multiple drops. The Jets’ wide receivers are too risky to place in your lineup, especially if you are in the hunt for a playoff berth.

Tight Ends

Start: Mason Taylor vs. BAL

If there is a player that fantasy managers should target from the Jets, it’s tight end Mason Taylor. Taylor should see an increased workload under Tyrod Taylor, who will be taking over quarterback duties from Justin Fields for the foreseeable future. Taylor did see four targets last week against the New England Patriots, but that number should go up with the uncertainty around the wide receiver position. The Ravens are giving just 11.7 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, but there should be enough volume to get Taylor a decent game if you’re looking for options.

Sit: Luke Musgrave vs. MIN

The belief that Musgrave could step into the shoes of Tucker Kraft for the Packers was quickly put to rest in Week 11. Musgrave would see just two targets and finish with 0.9 fantasy points. Not what fantasy managers were looking for. On paper, the Vikings are a good matchup for fantasy. The Vikings are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. But Musgraves’ lack of involvement in the Packers offense isn’t a good sign and doesn’t make him a trustworthy choice for fantasy managers for Week 12.