Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 12

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.

Consult our Week 12 rankings for the rest of your lineup decisions. You can also listen to the Week 12 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

StartKyler Murray, Cardinals

vs. Rams

Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Cardinals are dealing with injuries to their receiving corps, including Marquise Brown (heel) and Michael Wilson (shoulder). Their availability will have an impact on Murray's final projection this week.

However, Murray was the fantasy QB7 and QB12 in his first two games since returning from last year's ACL tear. He should continue that success versus a Rams defense which allowed him to throw for over 300 yards the last two times they faced off in the regular season.

Aaron Donald and company have been vulnerable to high-end quarterbacks who can run, giving up top-five weekly finishes to Jalen Hurts, Dak Prescott, and Anthony Richardson. Don't hesitate to start Murray this week.

Boone's projection: 247 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 43 rushing yards

Other QBs to start

• C.J. Stroud vs. Jaguars
• Justin Fields at Vikings

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

at Raiders

Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Pacheco has been heating up lately and now gets to take on the Raiders, who are giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs.

More specifically, Vegas' defense permitted some big yardage totals over the last five weeks to backs like Jahmyr Gibbs (189 yards), D'Onta Foreman (120 yards), Saquon Barkley (113 yards), and Raheem Mostert (95 yards).

With the Chiefs' surprising struggles through the air, expect them to lean on Pacheco in a game where they're favored by nine points.

Boone's projection: 102 rushing yards, 16 receiving yards, 2 receptions, 2 TDs

Other RBs to start

• D'Andre Swift vs. Bills
• Kyren Williams at Cardinals
• Gus Edwards at Chargers

Michael Pittman Jr., Colts

vs. Buccaneers

Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Pittman has been a top-16 fantasy wideout in each of his past five outings. That's been possible thanks to volume, as he's averaging the 10th-most targets per game across the league this season.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers' defense has been the fourth-easiest matchup for fantasy receivers and is extremely banged up entering this contest. Lavonte David and Jamel Dean have already been ruled out, Devin White is a game-time decision, and Carlton Davis has been limited in practice.

Boone's projection: 107 receiving yards, 9 receptions, TD

Other WRs to start

• Puka Nacua at Cardinals
• DeVonta Smith vs. Bills
• Rashid Shaheed at Falcons

David Njoku, Browns

at Broncos

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

The Browns have made an effort to get Njoku more involved in the last month, scheming up plays specifically to highlight his run-after-the-catch ability.

He's finished with at least 50 yards and/or a touchdown in five straight games, making him one of the most consistent fantasy tight ends during that span.

It's also worth noting that over Dorian Thompson-Robinson's two starts, Njoku totalled 22 targets resulting in 13 catches and 102 yards.

To top it off, the Broncos allow the most fantasy points to tight ends.

Boone's projection: 74 receiving yards, 7 receptions, TD

Other TEs to start

• Evan Engram at Texans
• Isaiah Likely at Chargers

SitRussell Wilson, Broncos

vs. Browns

Todd Rosenberg / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Even with Wilson playing fairly well lately, fantasy managers shouldn't test fate against Cleveland's defense.

The Browns are by far the most difficult matchup for opposing quarterbacks in 2023, allowing the fewest fantasy points, passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing first downs, and the lowest completion percentage. They also have the seventh-most sacks on the year.

Find a better streaming option for Week 12.

Boone's projection: 169 passing yards, TD, INT, 26 rushing yards

Other QBs to sit

• Derek Carr at Falcons
• Will Levis vs. Panthers

James Cook, Bills

at Eagles

Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Cook has benefitted from some easier matchups in recent weeks, but the Eagles will be his toughest test yet.

Philly is the most difficult front to run on this year, allowing just 11.9 fantasy points per game to running backs. That's two full points less than the next-closest defense.

With Latavius Murray, Ty Johnson, and possibly Leonard Fournette also getting touches, Cook is more of an RB3/flex this week.

Boone's projection: 45 rushing yards, 14 receiving yards, 2 receptions

Other RBs to sit

• Devin Singletary vs. Jaguars
• Javonte Williams vs. Browns
• Khalil Herbert at Vikings

Amari Cooper, Browns

at Broncos

David Eulitt / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Cooper has struggled in the games with Dorian Thompson-Robinson under center, managing a total of just five receptions for 50 scoreless yards.

Patrick Surtain and the Broncos' surging defense won't provide any relief this week. Denver is one of the 10 hardest matchups for fantasy wideouts and have been playing their best football over the last month.

Consider Cooper a boom-or-bust WR4/flex this week.

Boone's projection: 41 receiving yards, 3 receptions

Other WRs to sit

• Chris Godwin at Colts
• Jakobi Meyers vs. Chiefs
• Jerry Jeudy vs. Browns

Michael Mayer, Raiders

vs. Chiefs

Chris Unger / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Mayer has provided some flashes of becoming a quality NFL starter, but his production will continue to be inconsistent in this version of the Raiders' offense.

Prior to his 46-yard effort last week, the rookie had been held under 20 yards in the previous four outings.

He'll likely revert to those numbers again this week against the Chiefs, who are the fourth-worst opponent for fantasy tight ends.

Boone's projection: 29 receiving yards, 3 receptions

Other TEs to sit

• Donald Parham Jr./Gerald Everett vs. Ravens
• Hunter Henry at Giants

Stash

Past stashes that still qualify: Zamir White, Kendre Miller

Khalil Shakir, Bills Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images Sport / Getty

We've written about Shakir (16% rostered) in this space before, but he remains available in most fantasy leagues.

Since tight end Dawson Knox was placed on injured reserve, Shakir has come alive in the Bills' offense, playing over 70% of the snaps and turning in stat lines of 6-92-0, 4-57-0, and 3-115-1 in three of his past four appearances.

He shouldn't just be stashed, he deserves to be started in deeper fantasy leagues as a WR3/flex.

D'Ernest Johnson, Jaguars Don Juan Moore / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Tank Bigbsy continues to make rookie mistakes whenever he's given opportunities, and it's led the Jaguars to use Johnson (1% rostered) over him.

Johnson has produced as well, with five touches for 40 yards in Week 10 and eight touches for 54 yards in Week 11.

At this stage of the season, it's hard to find No. 2 running backs who are an injury away from starting, but Johnson appears to be the back to roster if something happens to Travis Etienne.

Quit Quinn Harris / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Quarterback (1QB): Geno Smith, Joe Burrow, Will Levis

Running back: D'Onta Foreman, Miles Sanders, Darrell Henderson Jr.

Wide receiver: Tyler Boyd, Michael Thomas, Quentin Johnston

Tight end: Mark Andrews, Darren Waller, Pat Freiermuth

Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.