Fantasy Football 2024 Week 12: Start ’em, Sit ’em

Welcome back to Fantasy Football Start ‘em, Sit ‘em – where each week we explore some of my best picks for who should be starting in fantasy managers’ lineups, and who should be sitting the week out.

Week 11 was only mean to Gabe Davis, who went down with a torn meniscus and will miss the rest of the season. On the bright side, Christian McCaffrey is fully back and Isiah Pacheco is set to finally return from IR against the Panthers.

Week 12 however is a brutal one for bye weeks, as fantasy managers will be without Josh Allen, James Cook, Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Alvin Kamara, Bengals WRs, Jets WRs and Breece Hall, and Brian Thomas Jr.

Per usual, let’s take a look at the best of what we have left to work with this week.

Ian’s Record: 50-33

Start ’em

Baker Mayfield (QB, Buccaneers) at Giants

The Bucs have found themselves in a tricky spot amid a four-game losing streak, but they have a chance to come back swinging off their bye week.

With the sudden change at QB coming for the Giants, this opens the game script up for Mayfield and his offense to see plenty of field time. New York also gives up its fair share of big pass plays, so with Mike Evans expected to be back I’m looking for a big showing.

Isiah Pacheco (RB, Chiefs) at Panthers (if he plays)

Pacheco couldn’t be stepping into much of a better matchup coming off of IR, as Carolina has been a bottom-five run defense just about all season. They’ve allowed the second-most rushing yards and second-most rushing touchdowns this year, with 834 and 8 respectively allowed in their past six games.

Fresh off their first loss of the season that’s been riddled with painful injuries, this is a frustrated Chiefs squad that will go into Carolina looking to let out some steam and remind the league why they’re still the AFC 1-seed.

Chargers WRs vs Ravens

Speaking of the AFC West, the Chargers seem right on Kansas City’s tail following a statement win against the Bengals in primetime.

This week hosting Baltimore (primetime again might I add), you’re looking at two high powered offenses with one defense capable of stopping big chunk plays, and one defense who isn’t. Spoiler alert, the Ravens can’t stop big chunk plays. Find a way to squeeze either Quentin Johnston or Ladd McConkey into your lineups.

Hunter Henry (TE, Patriots) vs. Dolphins

Henry was relatively quiet in their first meeting, but Miami just got absolutely torched by Brock Bowers last week, so if I’m Jerod Mayo, I’m looking for any way possible to get Henry involved with Miami’s struggling safeties.

At this point in the season, New England doesn’t have too much to play for, but they could end up being a good spoiler if Miami isn’t careful, with Henry and his size leading the charge.

Sit ’em

Jordan Love (QB, Packers) vs 49ers

As a whole, Love hasn’t been producing the fantasy numbers that most managers expected of him. He’s thrown an interception in every game he’s played this year, and as of late has just been struggling to find the end zone.

And while the 49ers have their own problems, their defense is still enough that managers should stray away from Love this week. They’ve been lockdown against QBs in the past six weeks, picking off almost double as many passing touchdowns they’ve allowed in that span. Pass.

D’Andre Swift (RB, Bears) vs Vikings

It looked for a second there like Swift had found his groove in Chicago’s offense, going four games in a row with 70+ yards and a score. But now amid their four-game skid and OC Shane Waldron’s firing, it’ll be tough to tell how Swift is used going forward.

 Albeit he had a strong showing against Green Bay, Brian Flores’ run defense has just been too scary all season to confidently start Swift above other options. They’ve allowed only three rushing touchdowns all season, none in their last four games (Tony Pollard, Travis Etienne, Jonathan Taylor, Kyren Williams).

Rams WRs vs Eagles

There’s a very good chance I eat my words here, but the Cooper DeJean/Darius Slay tandem has simply been too good to ignore for the past six weeks.

In the past six weeks, the Eagles’ secondary has allowed 12.2 fantasy points a game – this is a cumulative stat including the numbers for every wide receiver they face, mind you – 440 receiving yards, 8.6 yards per reception (the next lowest is the Packers at 11), and one receiving touchdown. It’s just too risky.

David Njoku (TE, Browns) vs Steelers

For the most part, Njoku has been receiving the volume to keep him as a viable starting tight end. Fade him this week however, as Pittsburgh is red hot and just shut down Mark Andrews.

BYES: BUFFALO BILLS, ATLANTA FALCONS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, CINCINNATI BENGALS, NEW YORK JETS, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS