Week 12 of the NFL season has arrived, which means the dreaded “Bye-mageddon” is finally here. With six teams on a bye week, including squads with fantasy studs like the Falcons, Bills, Bengals, and Jets, lineup options are a bit more scarce than usual.
There’s only a few weeks remaining in the fantasy football regular season, so each matchup matters even more with playoff seeding on the line. We’re down to the wire, folks.
Whether they’re on your season-long roster or you’re looking to pay up for a stud on DraftKings DFS, here are three must-start players for Week 12.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions (at Indianapolis Colts): $8,300
Amon-Ra St. Brown was in last week’s edition of this series, and with the performance he put up, it’s impossible to not list him again.
The superstar wideout exploded for the second-best fantasy outing of his career against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished that game with 11 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns for a grand total of 41.7 DKFP. He was Week 11’s highest scorer, and in a matchup with Indianapolis this week, look for him to continue his dominant run and make it nine straight contests with a TD.
St. Brown is averaging 20.0 DKFP per game. This week, he faces a Colts secondary which falls 26th in passing yards allowed per contest, 16th in passing TDs allowed, and 16th in EPA/pass. While not quite matchup heaven, Jared Goff’s excellent play and St. Brown’s ability make the WR a must-start weekly option with one of the safest floors in fantasy football. It’s hard to say no to a guaranteed 17 points, especially with a ceiling as high as last week’s.
Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Arizona Cardinals): $6,900
Imagine a running back in an up-tempo offense, averaging 18.8 DKFP per game, who gets essentially zero recognition… that’s Kenneth Walker III.
This dude is good, full stop. The third-year RB has missed a couple of games due to injury this season, but he’s been a beast when healthy with 20 points or more in half of his appearances. Granted, he hasn’t tallied that score across his last three contests, but the combination of his fantastic rushing ability, receiving upside, and this week’s matchup have him positioned for a get-right game.
The opposing Cardinals rank 26th in EPA/rush, 19th in rushing yards allowed per game, and 16th in rushing TDs given up per contest. Walker III is among the most pure runners in the sport, and he’s logged a season-high of 25 carries this season. He’s also received at least three targets in six of his eight games played, with five-plus targets four times. He’s averaging a touchdown per game, and in what should be a close divisional matchup, expect him to receive plenty of work whether it’s on the ground or through the air.
Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at New York Giants): $7,000
I, for one, am thrilled that Mike Evans is finally slated to return to the field this week.
The 6-foot-5 wide receiver is a surefire lock for the Hall of Fame one day, and while he probably won’t continue his streak of 1,000-yard seasons due to injury, he’s still more than worthy of being in lineups. Evans hasn’t played since Week 7 due to a hamstring injury, but he’s had sufficient time to get healthy and will come off the bye week looking for action. Add in the fact that fellow wideout Chris Godwin is sidelined for the season, and Evans is due to become a target hog in Tampa Bay.
The Giants’ defensive numbers are mildly surprising for a 2-8 team. They rank fourth-best in passing yards allowed per contest, 14th in EPA/pass, and 11th in passing touchdowns given up. Sure, these numbers are a bit concerning, but Evans has less target competition than he did last time he played and was still a favorite option for Baker Mayfield when healthy with seven targets per game (excluding the one he exited early in Week 7). He’s in line as the Bucs’ top wideout, so fade him at your own risk at this slightly-cheaper price point.
Honorable Mention: Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders (vs. Dallas Cowboys): $5,600
This is a bonus pick — he’s not a typical stud, but Brian Robinson Jr. might have a massive week against this hapless Dallas defense.
The Commanders running back returned from a hamstring injury in Week 11 and took 16 carries for 63 yards and a score against the Eagles. His 14.2 DKFP in that game isn’t eye-popping, but he’s in line for the most appealing matchup of the season this week.
Dallas’ run defense is 31st overall with 151.0 rush yards allowed per contest. Their defensive EPA/rush of 0.12 is dead-last in the NFL. Their pass defense isn’t much better, so this is a game that could get out of hand quickly thanks to a talented Commanders offense. If you’re a fan of targeting matchups, Robinson Jr. is a must-start in this home contest. You can almost hear Stephen A. Smith slandering the Cowboys already.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
DraftKings promoters may sometimes play on personal accounts in the games that advice is offered on. Personal views on the games and strategies above do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. DraftKings promoters may also deploy different players and strategies than what is recommended above. DraftKings promoters do not have access to any non-public information.
