My sneaky starts last week were better than the week before. I went 6-3 overall based on players who reached starter-level production. It helped that Taysom Hill was 16th among tight ends when last week’s article came out. Hill is on a bye this week, as New Orleans is one of six teams who are off. That figures to shake things up concerning my Week 12 sneaky starts. Let’s see what options are available as we look to find some hidden gems.
Week 12 Sneaky Starts for Fantasy Football
Quarterback
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (14th among Quarterbacks)
My Current Week 12 Rank: QB12
Geno Smith leads the league in passing yards per game. That has led to the Seahawks signal-caller finishing inside the top-12 in six of 10 games played. Seattle has a Week 12 date with the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has been much improved defensively in recent weeks. They have not allowed a touchdown in either of their last two games. Based on Arizona’s recent resurgence, I cannot recommend Smith as a no-brainer start. I have Baker Mayfield ranked a bit higher than Smith for Week 12, and Mayfield is currently below the 50 percent threshold. But I guess that since Tampa Bay was idle last week, some managers still have him sitting on their bench. If that is the case, Mayfield’s percentage should rise above 50 percent in the coming days. Because of that, it feels a bit disingenuous to list Mayfield as a sneaky start.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
- Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
- Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (17th among quarterbacks)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: QB15
Anthony Richardson returned to the lineup last week and showed the type of ceiling that made him a coveted selection in drafts. With six teams on a bye, I can understand the desire to shoot for the stars with Richardson. The main issue that prevents me from ranking Richardson inside the top 12 this week is his upcoming matchup with the Detroit Lions. The Lions rank second in the NFL in DVOA defensively, so Richardson could have his hands full. And as good as he was last week, Richardson has been far from consistent this year, which is why he was benched in the first place. On the bright side, Richardson’s rushing upside could mitigate Detroit’s defense to some degree. I have Smith ranked ahead of Richardson, but the Colts quarterback could be a viable Week 12 option as well.
Running Backs
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (29th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 12 Rank: RB29
I’m not going to lie – the running back landscape for Week 12 sneaky starts is rough. There are 28 running backs currently starting in at least 50 percent of leagues. They are the same players as the top 28 running backs in my rankings. With prominent running backs like Alvin Kamara, Bijan Robinson, James Cook, Breece Hall, and Chase Brown on bye, fantasy managers wasted little time adjusting their lineups accordingly. My first pick for this week is Jaylen Warren of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Warren has finished as an RB2 in 12-team leagues in two straight weeks. That is encouraging because he has yet to score a touchdown this season. Warren is averaging 11 carries and 2.5 receptions over his last four games. That type of volume should be quite valuable in a week with so many running backs out of action.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
Current Start Percentage: 5 2Percent (42nd among Running Backs)
My Current Week 12 Rank: RB30
I usually try to avoid putting too much stock into playing coming off a long injury layoff. But there are few backs in this range who carry the potential upside that Isiah Pacheco does. Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula in Week 2 but could return to the lineup this week. If he does, he could not be coming back into a better situation. The Chiefs will face the Carolina Panthers, who are the worst run defense in the league. Even if Pacheco is on a pitch count of sorts, he has solid touchdown equity. Kareem Hunt has been Pacheco’s replacement over the past several weeks. Hunt has 14 carries from inside the five-yard line in Kansas City’s last five games. He has only converted three of those into scores. If Pacheco gets some goal-line work, he should be able to find the end zone in this game.
Other Running Backs to Consider
- Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 25 Percent (44th among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: RB32
- Devin Singletary, New York Giants
- Current Start Percentage: 27 Percent (38th among Running Backs)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: RB35
Check out all of our Week 12 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Wide Receivers
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
Current Start Percentage: 48 Percent (38th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 12 Rank: WR35
I listed Cedric Tillman as a sneaky start last week, and he was one of my three misses. It was frustrating because I mentioned that I thought he and Jerry Jeudy were both values. Jeudy of course blew up for 142 yards and a touchdown, finishing as the overall WR4 for the week. Tillman, meanwhile, finished as the WR50. However, he did still earn eight targets, which gives me reason for optimism. Tillman now has 40 targets in his last four games. That should continue to serve him well in Week 12. He does face a difficult matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But if Tillman and Jameis Winston can fine-tune their connection a bit, those targets should result in enough fantasy points to keep Tillman in the WR3/Flex conversation this week.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (41st among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 12 Rank: WR35
It feels like I am on an island ranking Romeo Doubs ahead of Christian Watson this week. I concede that the masses may be right based on recent results. Doubs only has 45 total yards in his last two games, while Watson went off for 150 last week. They face an interesting Week 12 matchup when the Packers face the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco has struggled in man coverage this season. Doubs and Watson have performed better versus man than zone. I am leaning towards Doubs this week because I trust the volume a bit more. Doubs has 47 targets on the year while Watson only has 31. Having said that, this could be another Tillman-Jeudy situation, so both could be in play this week.
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
Current Start Percentage: 33 Percent (49th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 12 Rank: WR37
Wan’Dale Robinson has at least five receptions in seven of his last eight games. That makes Robinson an intriguing play in leagues that reward receptions. My weekly sneaky starts are based on Half-PPR scoring, so Robinson qualifies here. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rank in the bottom 10 in the NFL in both DVOA versus the pass and in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. New York recently made the switch to Tommy DeVito as their starting quarterback. That may cause them to lean on the run a bit more than normal. However, I still believe Robinson will get enough volume to make him viable in this matchup. The Giants are also six-point underdogs, so a negative game script could work in Robinson’s favor. I think Robinson approaches double-digit fantasy points this week at 33 percent started, making him a solid Week 12 sneaky start.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
- Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
- Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (37th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: WR40
- Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
- Current Start Percentage: 46 Percent (40th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: WR41
- Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings
- Current Start Percentage: 47 Percent (39th among Wide Receivers)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: WR42
Tight End
Will Dissly, Los Angeles Chargers
Current Start Percentage: 38 Percent (20th among Tight Ends)
My Current Week 12 Rank: TE10
Will Dissly has been the overall TE12 over the past five weeks. He has five receptions and/or 80 receiving yards in four of his last five games. That puts Dissly on the streaming radar this week in a matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore has allowed the most receptions and second-most yards in the NFL to opposing tight ends this season. The main strike against Dissly this week is the likelihood of a touchdown. Dissly scored last week, but it was his first score of the season. While Baltimore has given up production to tight ends, they have only ceded two scores to the position. Still, Dissly should have a solid receiving floor in this matchup. With so many teams out of action this week, a “floor” play like Dissly could have more value than usual.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
- Tucker Graft, Green Bay Packers
- Current Start Percentage: 41 Percent (18th among Tight Ends)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: TE13
Kicker
Wil Lutz, Denver Broncos
Current Start Percentage: 37 Percent (13th among Kickers)
My Current Week 12 Rank: K6
I picked Wil Lutz last week, and he finished tied for 10th among kickers in fantasy points. It was the fantasy equivalent of barely sneaking one inside the upright, but I’ll take it. I am going to run it back with Lutz again in Week 12. Denver’s offense has performed well against bad defenses in recent weeks. The Broncos have scored 33, 28, and 38 points in recent wins against the Saints, Panthers, and Falcons. The Las Vegas Raiders may not reside in the NFC South, but they are still a defense to target. Las Vegas is allowing 28.5 points per game this season. The Raiders have given up 22 field goals and 27 made extra points. Both are bottom-10 marks in the NFL. Lutz should get plenty of opportunities to put up points this week.
Other Kicker to Consider
- Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Current Start Percentage: 26 Percent (16th among kickers)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: QB8
Defense/Special Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Current Start Percentage: 48 Percent (11th among D/STs)
My Current Week 12 Rank: D/ST1
This is a similar situation to the one I mentioned at quarterback with Baker Mayfield. Tampa Bay had a bye last week, which could explain why the Buccaneers D/ST is only started in 48 percent of Fantrax leagues. However, they have been added in 38 percent of leagues already this week. That seems to suggest that most fantasy managers have already added them. I am here to state that 48 percent is not nearly enough. I have Tampa Bay’s defense/special teams as my top-ranked unit of the week. They are facing the New York Giants and Tommy DeVito. This is an ideal streaming situation, and Tampa Bay also has considerable rest-of-season value. If the Buccaneers are still available in your league, consider grabbing them and starting them this week.
Other Defense/Special Teams to Consider
- Washington Commanders
- Current Start Percentage: 47 Percent (12th among D/STs)
- My Current Week 12 Rank: D/ST8
Make sure to check out all of our Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!