Week 12 Fantasy Tips: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Sleep with......... 'Em

With Week 12 of the NFL season upon us, fantasy football owners around the world are scrambling for any tips that can help propel them to the playoffs. With injuries and bye weeks ruining your day,  you are going to have to dig a bit deeper these next few weeks in order to host your league’s version of the Shiva (The League reference, you all better have known that). With that being said, let’s check out a few of @SportsGeek02 suggestions for today.

Start ‘Em:

Colin Kaepernik, 49ers QB (at WSH): These days, fantasy owners should blindly throw whatever offensive players they have into their starting line-up any week they play the Redskins, especially those involved in the pass game. Washington’s porous defense gives up the 4^th most fantasy points to opposing QBs and have allowed 18 or more points to them in each of the last four weeks. The combination of this young quarterback's legs and arm should simply be too much for a defense that simply does not have the talent to keep up. Chalk him up as a top 10 quarterback this week.

Mike Glennon, Buccanners QB (at DET): Virtually any time you see your quarterback with a match-up against the Lions defense, you better be plugging that guy in. Coming off his best game as a professional (231 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT), Glennon is looking primed to keep that momentum going against a defense that has allowed five straight weeks of 20 or more fantasy point for signal callers. With the emergence of RB Bobby Rainey, his pass attempts have been down a bit, but have no fear this week as the Bucs are likely to be playing from behind. And what does that mean? Pass attempts, very good.

Chris Ivory, Jets RB (at BAL): Ivory has clearly solidified himself as the primary back for Rex Ryan in New York, and with a banged up Ravens defensive line, he could flourish this week. With Haloti Ngata a game-time decision (knee), Ivory will look to take advantage of a line that is below 100% just like Bears RB

Matt Forte (125 total yards, TD) did last week. The Ravens defense has given up double digit points to opposing running backs in the past 2 weeks, and even if Ngata does go this week, his explosiveness to disrupt the middle of the line will surely be hampered. With Rex Ryan going up against his former team with a rookie signal caller, expect him to try and slow the pace of this game down and pound the rock.

Sit ‘Em:

Phillip Rivers, Chargers QB (at KC): Much like you always want to start your QB against the likes of Washington and Detroit, you just about always want to sit your guy against Kansas City. At the beginning of the year, Rivers was fantasy gold; however he has only posted one 20 point game in his last five starts. Heading into Arrowhead against a ball-hawking Chiefs defense coming off a frustrating loss does not appear to be the ideal situation to turn his play around.

Robert Griffin III, Redskins QB (vs. SF): As much as it pains this Redskins fan to say, RED ALERT!!! While RGIII has begun to show flashes of the player who won the Rookie of the Year award, it does not take a red-faced Mike Shanahan to tell you he is not all the way back yet. It appears his focus on being “all in for Week 1” blinded his mind from working on passing accuracy. With San Francisco coming to town (only 2 QBs scored over 20 points on them all season) and two of his top three targets (TE Jordan Reed, WR Leonard Hankerson) out, expect a poor day from Bob.

Ray Rice, Ravens RB (vs. NYJ): Rice has been a disappointment all season for the defending Super Bowl Champions, however he showed signs of what makes him such a fantasy beast last week after running for 131 yards with a TD and adding 3 receptions for 17 yards. Fantasy owners should not expect that short string of success to continue this week against a stout Jets defense that is allowing the 2^nd fewest points to opposing running backs.

Sleepers:

Green Bay Defense (vs. MIN): In a week where solid scoring defenses like the Seahawks, Bengals, and Bills are enjoying their byes, many owners may need a quick play before the clock strikes 1 today. Going up against the Vikings, expect an ‘average’ Green Bay defense to play well above average. All-World RB Adrian Peterson has been hampered by a groin injury and is not himself, and the quarterback situation is laughable. Playing against an offense ranked 27^th in the league that has allowed 22 sacks, the Packers defense should keep you from losing your league this week and may actually help you win it.

John Carlson, Vikings TE (at GB): Yes, I realize I just told you to pick up the GB defense, but this TE pick has me giddy. In the past two weeks, Carlson has been the most targeted receiver on the Vikings team, and with a banged up AP, expect a great deal of play-action from Minnesota. Combine this with the fact that the Green Bay defense has given up back-to-back weeks of double digit points to opposing tight ends, and this one is a no brainer.