The top-tier fantasy football quarterback list from week 11 looks reminiscent from years past.
Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton and Aaron Rodgers tallied top-seven fantasy numbers in week 11. Solid matchups welcomed several of the regular QB1’s in week 11, so it was a nice week to own some of the better quarterbacks in the NFL.
Does week 12 offer similar matchups? Not quite. Here’s the week 12 fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em list for quarterbacks.
Start
Baker Mayfield vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have been terrible against opposing quarterbacks in recent weeks.
Cincinnati is giving up more than 30 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in the last four weeks, by far the worst mark in the NFL. The Bengals also are allowing 8.9 yards per pass attempt in the last three games, the third-worst mark during that time in the NFL.
But can Mayfield take advantage? If recent outings are any indication, then yes. Mayfield has nine touchdowns compared to just two interceptions in the last four weeks. He has 17 or more fantasy points in three of the last four games, too.
He’s showing some growth and this is a perfect opportunity for his accuracy to shine through.
Mitchell Trubisky vs. Detroit Lions
We’ll try Trubisky again.
He had some turnover issues pop up in week 11, but I won’t let that cloud my judgment on the Bears ability to move the football against Detroit. The Lions are giving up the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in the last four weeks. Detroit also is allowing 9.3 yards per pass attempt in the last three weeks, the worst mark in the NFL.
You read that right…a team in the NFL is worse at defending the pass than Oakland in recent weeks.
Before week 11, Trubisky had 11 touchdowns compared to four interceptions in the previous four weeks. Even on a short week, I’ll trust Trubisky and that offense.
Carson Wentz vs. New York Giants
I’m not sure anyone knows what to expect out of this game.
But if previous defensive performances are any indication, it should offer some upside for the quarterbacks. And if I’m trusting a quarterback in this matchup, I’ll take Wentz.
I know he was terrible in week 11 against New Orleans, but that shouldn’t automatically put him on your bench. He has been more than satisfactory in other outings and that should be the case once against New York.
The Giants are allowing 7.3 yards per pass attempt in the last three weeks, a bottom-half number in the NFL. And Wentz had only three interceptions all season before last week’s three-interception game.
He will have room and time to throw in week 12, so I’ll back him again this week.
Sit
Matthew Stafford vs. Chicago Bears
How much do you trust a quarterback against Chicago?
I know Kirk Cousins ended up with a nice week 11 showing in fantasy football, but that didn’t tell even half the story. He was largely ineffective until the end of the game, when Chicago had already wrapped up the victory.
Chicago is relentless against quarterbacks. It was that case during the first meeting between these two teams and will be that way again in week 12.
Stafford has only two 20-point fantasy efforts this season. He doesn’t put up enough touchdowns to warrant regular starts, so with fewer byes this week, don’t bet against the Bears.
Derek Carr vs. Baltimore Ravens
Don’t trust the results from week 11. This is still an Oakland team that has given up for the season. And that means Carr’s value should drop dramatically.
Carr tallied two touchdowns in week 11, his first touchdown since week 8. His yardage total isn’t good enough and the Ravens are still one of the better defenses against the pass in the NFL.
Despite some rough outings, the Ravens are still allowing fewer than 6 yards per pass attempt. Without an offensive line that can properly protect him, Carr should be avoided in all formats in week 12.
Lamar Jackson vs. Oakland Raiders
It’s tempting to start Jackson or whoever will quarterback the Ravens in week 12. The media hype train is in full force with Jackson after a victory in week 11 against Cincinnati. However, despite the win, Jackson was largely ineffective.
The majority of his throws were underneath and he was forced to use his legs to get the most out of his fantasy production.
That can’t be counted on each week, even against a Raiders defense that is atrocious. Don’t be fooled by week 11’s result by Oakland…they’re still terrible against the pass. But this matchup works out well for the Raiders, so I wouldn’t hitch my wagon just yet to Jackson.
