Fridays are for Five Lists of Five here at DKNetwork, and for Week 12, we want that partridge in a pear tree kinda win on Sunday, you know? What with the twelve days of Christmas just around the corner. The duration of which will be decidedly different for Daniel Jones, freshly released from the New York Giants per his own request. And that’s not even the most breaking fantasy news of the weekend. We’re waiting to hear statuses on CeeDee Lamb, Ladd McConkey (hello, Will Dissly!), Malik Nabers and more.
Keeping it rolling this week with my top five fantasy football players to stash ahead of Week 12.
Also available from this week’s Fantasy Fridays Five Lists of Five:
- Top five wide receivers due for fantasy football breakout games in NFL Week 12
- Top five fantasy football must-starts and smash spots for NFL Week 12
- Top five fantasy football players most likely to score a touchdown in NFL Week 12
- Top five fantasy football stash players for NFL Week 12
Stream ‘Em
Theo Johnson, TE, New York Giants (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 5.4% rostered)
The Bucs have the 28th-ranked pass defense against tight ends. Tommy DeVito is going to need a safe over-the-middle target, and it might well be Wan’Dale Robinson. But Theo Johnson is poised to have one of his best games as a fantasy asset yet.
I wrote about him over in my Top five fantasy football players most likely to score a touchdown in NFL Week 12 column:
The Giants are right behind the Raiders when it comes to passing GLG this week (91) and also have a second-best +18% pass-to-run differential in this area. In a week with six teams on BYE, Johnson is an intriguing (and analytically promising) bet to get an end zone target.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams (vs. Philadelphia Eagles; 30.6% rostered)
The grizzled vet is going to need to throw for another three or four touchdowns on Sunday Night Football, just like he did against New England on Sunday afternoon in Week 11. His four touchdown passes then were a season-high, and two went to Cooper Kupp. One went to Puka Nacua. Things are starting to shape up for Stafford.
RT Rob Havenstein is doubtful on Sunday, which means Stafford will be working with the same offensive line he’s had since Week 9. For better or worse, who can say—Jonah Jackson has had a lot of trouble with shotgun snaps.
In any case, the Rams aren’t having much success running the ball with Kyren Williams, or aren’t dedicating enough touches that way. The Rams have to win, and Stafford will have to throw 2+ touchdowns and be a streamable asset this week for them to do so.
Washington Commanders D/ST (vs. Dallas Cowboys; 40.5% rostered)
Lifted directly from my Fantasy Football Week 12 Defense Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em:
Even Dallas fans are tired of Cooper Rush, despite his relatively-clean-but-still-unimpressive Monday Night Football outing against the Houston Texans. Calls for Trey Lance are coming, especially seeing as Cowboys fans have seen plenty of Cooper Rush in replacement of Dak Prescott over the years. They know his ceiling.
So, too, does this Commanders defensive squad. Joe Whitt Jr., Washington’s new DC, has this year emphasized speed more than ever in the pass rush so as to cause more turnover-yielding pressures. What run game hath this paltry Cowboys offense to combat the reckless due of Jonathan Allen and Montez Sweat, who are the primary contributors to Washington’s league-leading 29 sacks?
I’m surprised the industry is so low on this unit this week. It’s floating around the tenth-ranked defense this week, with six teams on BYE. This is a unit who holds opponents on third down 58% of the time, and only allows 184.4 passing yard per game. Their 21st-ranked passing DVOA gets a bump due to the poor matchup this week.
They’re an above-replacement-level start, at worst.
Arizona Cardinals D/ST (at Seattle Seahawks; 12.9% rostered)
As above, so below:
Everyone must think the Cardinals are fools’ gold. 12.9% rostership for this defensive unit against an inconsistent Seahawks offense is a bit egregious. Not, however, as egregious as the 31.6% of leagues that aren’t starting James Conner against that team this week (I wrote about that hereopens in a new tab).
As of this moment, this unit ranks 13th in rushing DVOA, and 14th in passing DVOA. Average numbers, sure, but not if you isolate the last few weeks. In four of their last six weeks, the Cardinals D/ST has posted over 8.0 FPTs. The two games in which they scored fewer were against the Packers and the Dolphins.
Despite the Seahawks’ offensive weapons and potential for explosiveness, they’re the 25th-ranked offense against fantasy D/STs.
Smash start. Watch for big games from Budda Baker and Kyzir White.
Will Dissly, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Baltimore Ravens; 30.6% rostered)
Seeing as 24% of that 30.6% rostership came from waivers this week, it’s hard to call Dissly’s performance “quiet” anymore. Since Week 7, his receiving line is 24-241-1 on 33 targets.
The Ravens are the second-worst team in the NFL against tight ends. They also have a top-five rushing DVOA, so the Chargers might have trouble smash-mouthing the ball over the goal line with Dobbins or Gus Bus or Hasaan Haskins.
This means more potential good volume for Dissly, who’s been a pleasant surprise with Justin Herbert as his quarterback.
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