Welcome to Week 12 of Money Makers and Heart Breakers for the 2024 NFL season! Every week I break down the main slate to tell you who is going to get you some money and who is going to break your heart.
So we are in Week 12 of the NFL season. This season has flown by. This week, we’ll dive into the main Sunday slate, highlighting players set to thrive and others to approach with caution. Whether you’re looking for lineup locks or potential pivots, I’ve got you covered.
Here is a brief definition of each of my terms for anyone that might be new:
💰 Money Maker – This player will perform better than expectations
💔 Heart Breaker – This player will perform lower than expectations
Week 12 Money Makers💰
Quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels
Daniels has struggled the past two games against really tough defenses. In Week 12 the Commanders will play the Cowboys. The Cowboys allow the fifth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. Quarterbacks average 259 total yards and 2 touchdowns a game against the Cowboys. Jayden bounces back in a big way.
$7,000 on DraftKings
$9,000 on FanDuel
Patrick Mahomes
The Chiefs play the Panthers in Week 12. The Panthers are a bottom-10 team at defending quarterbacks. Mahomes has not been great this season as the Chiefs have been more run-heavy this season. This is a week where you can actually play Mahomes with some confidence against a bad defense. The Chiefs will be looking to bounce back after a Week 11 loss to the Bills.
$6,800 on DraftKings
$8,400 on FanDuel
Bo Nix
Nix is the overall QB7 in fantasy this season. The guy has simply been producing. In Week 12 the Broncos will play the Raiders. The Raiders happen to give up the eighth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ players. In Week 5 against this same Raiders defense, Nix passed for 206 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for another nine yards and a touchdown. Bo knows quarterback play.
$6,300 on DraftKings
$8,000 on FanDuel
Other Quarterback DFS Picks for Week 12
Tommy DeVito
$4,000 on DraftKings
$6,000 on FanDuel
Jared Goff
$6,600 on DraftKings
$8,500 on FanDuel
Baker Mayfield
$6,100 on DraftKings
$7,900 on FanDuel
Running Backs
Kareem Hunt
I wrote about Kareem here last week and he did not produce in a big way. But here we are again. This week the Chiefs play the Panthers. The Panthers give up the most fantasy points to running backs. Running backs per game average against the Panthers is 139 yards and a touchdown rushing and four receptions and 33 yards receiving against the Panthers. In the 10 games the Panthers have played 14 different running backs have scored double digit fantasy points against them. Unless Isaiah Pacheco plays Hunt should have a big week
$5,700 on DraftKings
$7,500 on FanDuel
Brian Robinson
I have already mentioned that the Cowboys defense does not defend the pass well. They also do not defend the run well. The Cowboys give up the third most fantasy points to opposing teams running backs. That is bad. Robinson has scored double-digit fantasy points in all but one game he has played this season. That is good. The Commanders will be running a lot in Week 12
$5,600 on DraftKings
$7,900 on FanDuel
Tyrone Tracy
Tyrone Tracy is the running back on the roster from the Giants. Tracy played 80% of the running back snaps in Week 10 and it appears he has taken over the RB1 spot for the Giants. The Giants play the Buccaneers in Week 12. The Buccaneers give up the sixth most fantasy points to running backs. But this story gets interesting. The Giants are also starting their third-string quarterback in Week 12. We should see a healthy dose of running plays for the Giants this week. Through my vast powers of deduction, I would say Tracy gets a lot of touches this week. It’s elementary my dear Watson.
$6,000 on DraftKings
$6,700 on FanDuel
Check out all of our Week 12 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Other Running Back DFS Picks for Week 12
James Conner
$6,500 on DraftKings
$7,700 on FanDuel
Kenneth Walker
$6,900 on DraftKings
$8,100 on FanDuel
Rhamondre Stevenson
$5,900 on DraftKings
$6,400 on FanDuel
Wide Receivers
DJ Moore
I think I hate DJ Moore. Really hate is a strong word but this guy, man he is tough to figure out. Well, the Bears have a new offensive coordinator and in Week 11 DJ saw 7 targets which he turned into 7 receptions and 62 yards. It was a nice model of efficiency after 10 weeks of being extremely inefficient. The Vikings are the opponent in Week 12. This Vikings defense gives up the third most fantasy points to wide receivers. I like DJ to give me more this week. Moore, Moore, Moore how do you like it?
$5,500 on DraftKings
$6,000 on FanDuel
Josh Downs
The Colts play the Lions in Week 12. This game has the highest over/under on the main slate. In Week 11 Downs saw 5 targets which he turned into 5 receptions, 84 yards and a touchdown. Michael Pittman led the team in targets, but Josh Downs led the team in wide receiver production. I am down with Josh in Week 12 to put up some fantasy points.
$6,200 on DraftKings
$6,900 on FanDuel
Amon-Ra St. Brown
Well, well, well, look who’s back, my old friend Amon-Ra. I wrote about him last week in this space and he produced 11 targets, 11 receptions, 161 yards and 2 touchdowns. If you play a Colts wideout you may want to run it back with St. Brown. Brown will bring his massive target share to the table and shine again like no other.
$8,300 on DraftKings
$9,500 on FanDuel
Other Wide Receiver DFS Picks for Week 12
Tyreek Hill
$7,200 on DraftKings
$8,300 on FanDuel
Malik Nabers
$7,400 on DraftKings
$8,200 on FanDuel
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
$4,100 on DraftKings
$5,500 on FanDuel
Tight Ends
Travis Kelce
The Chiefs play the Panthers in Week 12. I have been going to the well this whole article against them so why stop now? The Panthers also give up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. This is a nice bounce-back spot for Kelce if you want to pay up at tight end. Swifties will sing songs about this someday.
$5,800 on DraftKings
$7,200 on FanDuel
Theo Johnson
Theo has seen 6 targets in each of the past two games. That was a 19% target share over those two games. In Week 12 Tommy DeVito will get his first start of the season for the Giants. Backup quarterbacks typically need the tight end to catch some passes. The Giants also play the Buccaneers in Week 12 and the Buccaneers give up the fourth most fantasy points to tight ends. Maybe Theo will get some chicken cutlets this week
$2,900 on DraftKings
$4,800 on FanDuel
Luke Schoonmaker
Who? Luke Schoonmaker that is who. He plays tight end for the Cowboys. It appears that Luke Ferguson will miss the game Week 12 against the Commanders. In Week 11 Schoonmaker was second on the Cowboys in targets with 10. That was an 18% target share. Luke caught six of those targets for 56 yards. This is a nice sneaky play in DFS at a really low price. You might want to plug and play in PPR leagues as well.
$2,500 on DraftKings
$4,500 on FanDuel
Other Tight End DFS Picks for Week 12
Ja’Tavion Sanders
$3,400 on DraftKings
$4,900 on FanDuel
George Kittle
$6,000 on DraftKings
$7,700 on FanDuel
DEF
Cardinals
The Cardinals play the Seahawks in Week 12. The Seahawks give up the sixth most fantasy points to opposing teams’ defenses. The matchup is good. This gets even better. The Cardinal’s defense has scored 12 fantasy points in each of their last two games. The defense is also playing well. I like this defense as a pay down option in Week 12.
$2,600 on DraftKings
$3,600 on FanDuel
Broncos
You know who has a great defense in fantasy and real football, the Broncos. The Broncos are the second highest scoring fantasy defense this season. You know who has a bad offense in fantasy and real life: the Raiders. The Raiders allow opposing teams’ defenses to score the second most points in fantasy. I am not saying anything else about this as I should not have to. Yippee Kay Yay!
$3,200 on DraftKings
$5,100 on FanDuel
Texans
The Texans play the Titans in Week 12. The Titans give up the most fantasy points to opposing teams’ defenses. This isn’t just a match-up play though. In the past two games, the Texans defense has scored double-digit fantasy points. Over that span, they have 5 sacks, 6 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
$4,700 on DraftKings
$5,000 on FanDuel
NOTE: The Buccaneers also are a great play this week, but everyone else is talking about them.
💔Heart Breakers
Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold
The Vikings will play the Bears in Week 12. The Bears give up the least amount of fantasy points to quarterbacks. Only two quarterbacks have surpassed 20 fantasy points against the Bears. It is possible that Darnold will make it three, I am just not willing to bet on that.
Gardner Minshew
I wrote about Minshew here last week and he actually had a good game. This week he is playing against the Broncos defense. Lamar Jackson is the only quarterback to score more than 20 fantasy points against the Broncos defense. I know Lamar Jackson sir, and Gardner Minshew is no Lamar Jackson.
Drake Maye
The Patriots play the Dolphins in Week 12. The Dolphins give up the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing teams’ quarterbacks. I love Drake Maye. I don’t love Drake may this week.
Running Backs
Chuba Hubbard
Chuba will get some volume, but the Chiefs defense is very good at stopping the run. When I say very good, I mean they are the best in the league at it. The Chiefs give up 52 yards per week rushing. I am not playing Hubbard.
DeAndre Swift
The Vikings give up the second fewest amount of fantasy points to running backs. The Bears play the Vikings in Week 12. To top this off with the change in offensive coordinator Roschon Johnson is cutting into Swift’s snaps and touches. This is just bad.
Jonathan Taylor
Taylor is a very talented running back. But with Anthony Richardson at quarterback, the scheme just doesn’t seem to help him much. To top this off the Lions are up in Week 12. The game script will force the Colts to throw to stay in this game. The Lions also defend the run exceptionally well. Yuck.
Wide Receivers
Jacoby Meyers
The Broncos secondary is the best in the league. The Raiders play the Broncos in Week 12. The Raiders are inconsistent at best on offense. You are looking at another 4 reception 28-yard game for Meyers.
Patriots Wide Receivers
I wanted an easy one here as I am starting to get tired of typing. The Patriots wide receivers are all unplayable this week. It isn’t just because they stink. They do stink. But the Patriots are also playing the Dolphins and the Dolphins are the third toughest defense against wide receivers.
Justin Jefferson
The Vikings play the Bears in Week 12. The Bears give up the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. I don’t trust Sam Darnold and therefore I am out on Double J in DFS for Week 12. If you have him in season long play him, but do not pay up in DFS.
Tight Ends
Chig Okonkwo
Were you even thinking about playing Okonkwo? If so, you must have been very desperate. The Texans defense defends the tight end well. Okonkwo is not a good option.
NOTE: I am not writing up any other tight ends to avoid this week. The list is simply so long I can’t keep up with it.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!