Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season is upon us, meaning fantasy teams are gearing up to make it all count before the postseason! This week is one of the most important of the fantasy season, with some teams trying to earn first-round byes while others will look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
It should be fascinating, with many leagues having trade deadlines this week and six NFL teams on bye week. For all the teams with must-win this week, here are some players you should quickly start and some you should avoid.
It has been a rough season for Tyreek Hill fantasy owners. After a monster 2023 campaign where he averaged 23.5 fantasy points, his production has dropped for most of the season without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
While he has not hit 20 fantasy points since Week 1, Hill has scored double digits each week since Tua’s return, including 19.1 points last week. Now he gets to face the #23 ranked Patriots defense against WRs in fantasy, who allowed Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp to have 100+ receiving yards.
Since Jameis Winston has taken over as quarterback, no one has benefitted more than Browns fantasy wide receivers. Cedric Tillman Jr was a big waiver wire name after scoring 18.10 points against Cincinnati in Week 7 in his first game with Winston, especially since his target share increased from two to twelve.
After three straight games of 18+ points, including 28.90 against Baltimore, Tillman only had three catches and 7.70 fantasy points against the Saints last week, with Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy having big games. Tillman now faces the Steelers’ eighth-ranked defense against wide receivers who only allowed one 50+ yard receiver last week (Zay Flowers had 75). With Jeudy and Moore expected to get the bulk of targets, it’s wise to sit Tillman this week.
It has been an up-and-down season for Brian Robinson Jr, who has dealt with injuries this season. He returned from a two-game absence last week with 16 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown.
He will face a Dallas defense that allowed 109 rushing yards and three touchdowns to Texans running back Joe Mixon. Austin Ekeler is also a good start in PPR since he has also been involved in the receiving game.
This might come as a surprise, but Jonathan Taylor is a recommended sit this week. The Lions have been the hottest team in the NFL, scoring 52 points twice in the last four weeks. This game could slip away early for the Colts, forcing them to throw the ball and rely on Anthony Richardson more.
Last week, Taylor had 24 carries for only 57 yards, which was a disappointing 7.00 fantasy point. He will face a Lions team that held Jacksonville to under 42 total rushing yards last week and Joe Mixon to under 50 rushing yards the week before. This would be a great week to start Colts wide receivers Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr, or Alec Pierce.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to return to the football field in Week 12 against the Panthers’ worst rushing defense in the NFL. While it is unsure if he will be limited, especially with Kareem Hunt doing well in the backfield, Pacheco could be a sleeper this week.
Before suffering an injury in Week 2, he had back-to-back 15+ point games and could be in line to score a touchdown or two even if he gets less than a dozen carries this week. Pacheco was also noticeable in the receiving game, with seven receptions and eight targets in those first two weeks.
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