There are four positions in fantasy football at which managers can get by without a weekly startable option on their regular roster. QB, TE, Kicker, and Defense all lend themselves to streaming. Here are our top streaming options for Week 12.
All streamers are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues, unless otherwise stated.
Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals (vs. JAX)
There were undoubtedly many who believed Jacoby Brissett could do a better job of running the Arizona Cardinals’ offense than Kyler Murray. But while the team’s improvement with Brissett may have been expected, the veteran’s phenomenal fantasy output was not.
Since taking over the starting role in Week 6, Brissett has been a top-12 fantasy quarterback in all five of his games. Despite missing star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. in Week 11, the quarterback broke the all-time NFL record for most completed passes in a single game with 47.
The Cardinals still lost that game and have now been blown out in the first half in two consecutive weeks. The Jacksonville Jaguars just destroyed the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11, and there is a solid chance that Brissett is leading another comeback attempt this Sunday.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars, (at ARI)
If that’s the case, Trevor Lawrence should also be in for another solid game this weekend. The Jaguars star has quietly put up two top-12 fantasy finishes in the three weeks since the team’s Week bye.
The only game of those three where Lawrence finished outside the top-12 came against the Houston Texans, one of the best defenses in the NFL. He doesn’t face such a difficult opponent this time out; the Cardinals have given up over 40 points in each of their last two games.
While Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter have been sidelined for multiple games, Lawrence has struck up a solid connection with two other receivers. Parker Washington and new signing Jakobi Meyers have both contributed recently and may even be a better fit for Lawrence.
Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers (at SF)
Brissett and Lawrence are the two safest streamers of the week at quarterback, but if you’d prefer to shoot for upside, Bryce Young might be the pick. The third-year quarterback has the talent, as he displayed on Sunday, but has struggled to put it together consistently.
However, from Weeks 12-18 last season, Young put it all together and was the QB9 in fantasy points per game down the stretch. It appears that the mental side of his game holds him back because when he is in the zone and confident, he can dismantle NFL defenses and put a team on his back.
Young completed 31 of 45 pass attempts for 448 yards (a franchise record) and three touchdowns. He led the Carolina Panthers to a win over the Atlanta Falcons without utilizing his dual-threat ability, which he showcased last season.
After injuring his ankle against Atlanta, Young isn’t guaranteed to suit up on Monday night, but his status will become clearer during the week. He re-entered Sunday’s game after the injury, though, and it would be a surprise if he were to miss out.
Tyrod Taylor, QB, New York Jets (at BAL)
Finally, if you can’t get your hands on Lawrence or Brissett, and you can’t bring yourself to trust Young, Tyrod Taylor is another option this week. Admittedly, a road game against the much-improved Baltimore Ravens defense is less than ideal, but Taylor is a mobile quarterback who should be able to tally some points.
Back-to-back wins were enough to keep Justin Fields in a job, despite his atrocious passing displays. Thursday night’s loss to the New England Patriots, though, was enough for the Jets to make a change, having initially wanted to replace Fields weeks ago.
In his lone start this season, Taylor completed 26 of 36 pass attempts for 197 yards and two scores, and added 48 rushing yards on eight carries. The New York Jets will need similar production from the veteran to stand any chance against the Ravens, who should be able to score plenty of points against the Jets’ defense.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
Dalton Schultz has seen a boost in targets since Davis Mills replaced the injured C.J. Stroud in Week 9. The veteran tight end has been targeted 28 times in his last three games, catching 19 for 181 yards and a touchdown.
During that time, Schultz has put together three straight top-eight fantasy weeks at the position, and faces a generous Buffalo Bills defense on Thursday night. Buffalo has given up over 30 points in both of their last two games, and with the game being played in Houston, passing will be unaffected by the November Buffalo weather.
There is a chance Stroud clears concussion protocol in time to suit up for this one, but that wouldn’t be the end of the world. Schultz is the TE14 this year in FPPG (fantasy points per game – 10.6) and is a solid floor option most weeks.
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets (at BAL)
The trade deadline may have passed in your leagues, but thankfully, Mason Taylor is on waivers in most places. The rookie tight end may be the Jets’ best available pass catcher with Garrett Wilson on injured reserve.
That hasn’t mattered with Fields’ below-par passing ability, but Tyrod Taylor offers the team a much steadier arm to build an offense around. Despite starting only one game this season, Tyrod accounts for 12 of Mason’s 48 targets (25%), and his promotion to starter is great news for the young tight end.
Mason should be considered a buy-low for anyone without a top tight end on their roster, and could take off down the stretch with improved quarterback play.
Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)
Despite the horrendous quarterback situation the New Orleans Saints entered the season with, Juwan Johnson has been a surprise star in fantasy. After starting the season with three top-10 fantasy weeks, things settled down as the Saints struggled to get anything going on offense.
Things have picked up again for the tight end, though, and he has now put together consecutive top-10 fantasy finishes in his last two games. After a Week 11 bye, Johnson is available on waivers this week, despite scoring double-digit fantasy points in each of his last four games.
The Saints are bad, but Johnson remains a big part of their offense, and statistically, he is a great fantasy option for those in need this weekend.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns (at LVR)
Starting any Cleveland Browns pass catcher in Week 12 is a brave move, given the horrific debut that Shedeur Sanders endured on Sunday. The rookie fifth-rounder completed only 25% of his passes, with an interception and an ugly intentional-grounding penalty after Dillon Gabriel was injured.
However, while Sanders is a huge Wild Card this weekend, he looks far more likely to push the ball downfield than Gabriel was. That would be good news for Harold Fannin Jr., among others, with Gabriel having been guilty of playing too safe at times.
It might not be pretty on Sunday, but regardless of Sanders’ stat line, there should be plenty of opportunities for Fannin to accumulate fantasy points.
Ka’imi Fairbairn, K, Houston Texans (vs. BUF)
After high winds impacted several kickers in Week 11, I’ve opted for three kickers who all play indoors this week. Chief among them is Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, who is available for a limited time after missing two weeks through injury.
Fairbairn leads all kickers in FPPG this season (11.9) and has missed only three of his 25 field-goal attempts this year, and is perfect from inside 50 yards. Top kickers and defenses are only ever available after a bye or an absence, and Fairbairn won’t be on waivers beyond this week.
Even if you have a capable kicker, Fairbairn would be an upgrade on almost anyone this week, and should be a priority waiver target who can last you the rest of the season.
Cam Little, K, Jacksonville Jaguars (at ARI)
Elsewhere, NFL record-holder Cam Little is also available in what could be a high-scoring game in Arizona. Before the Jaguars’ outlier five-touchdown game against the Chargers on Sunday, Little had strung together two straight top-four fantasy finishes in Weeks 9 and 10.
Little has already proven that he can hit from inside his own half, and the Jaguars need only make it to the halfway line to attempt a kick. The Cardinals are giving up plenty of points, 85 over their last two games, to be precise, and there should be plenty of scoring opportunities for the Jaguars’ kicker.
Jacksonville’s offense was perfect in the red zone on Sunday, but for two rushing plays to run the clock down at the end of the game. That efficiency is unlikely to last, though, and Little should be kicking for three again this weekend.
Zane Gonzalez, K, Atlanta Falcons (at NOR)
In two games for the Falcons, journeyman kicker Zane Gonzalez, now playing for his fifth NFL team, has put up 18 fantasy points. That ranked seventh (tied) among all kickers in Weeks 10 and 11 combined, and makes him a solid option in fantasy this weekend.
The Falcons are on the road, but will be expected to beat the Saints, who sit at the bottom of the NFC South with only two wins this season. The Falcons will be without starting quarterback Michael Penix, who is feared to be out for the season after aggravating a previous knee injury in Week 11.
In his place, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins should be able to move the ball on a Saints defense that has allowed an average of 25 points per game this year. Gonzalez remains perfect for Atlanta through two games and should get more opportunities in New Orleans this weekend.
Cleveland Browns DEF (at LVR)
The Cleveland Browns’ defense deserved a lot better in Week 11, which has become a familiar story this season. The Browns forced three turnovers, including a pick-six, and sacked Lamar Jackson five times in a 23-16 loss.
The Browns were the second-best defense in fantasy in Week 11, and now have three top-10 finishes in their last four games, four in their last six, and five in their last eight. They’re the sixth-best defense in the NFL in FPPG, and face a volatile Geno Smith in Week 12.
Smith is tied with Tua Tagovailoa for the most interceptions thrown this year, with 13 in 10 games, and the Browns should be expected to force some more this weekend. Smith already has the second-lowest on-target percentage among qualifying quarterbacks (65.1%); that’s unlikely to improve with Myles Garrett breathing down his neck.
Jacksonville Jaguars DEF (at ARI)
The Jaguars have been a top-10 fantasy defense in each of their last two games and have a great opportunity to make it three in a row this Sunday. Despite Brissett’s performances, the Cardinals’ offense has turned the ball over five times in their last two games. That includes two defensive touchdowns allowed to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10.
The Jaguars are tied for second in the NFL in turnovers forced (18) and have forced four turnovers in their last three games. The Cardinals are down to their backup quarterback, third-string running backs, and second-string wide receiver, but are still being aggressive.
That’s the perfect scenario for the Jaguars’ defense, which has been equally aggressive under first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
Las Vegas Raiders DEF (vs. CLE)
There are several stats from Sanders’ Cleveland debut against the Ravens that stand out; the rookie completed 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and a pick. His second-half cameo received a score of 63.4 in PFSN’s QB Impact metric, which ranks 335th out of 341 qualifying quarterback performances this season.
One glaring stat is that he was pressured on a massive 42.9% of his drop-backs, an unbelievably high number. For context, among 35 qualifying quarterbacks, J.J. McCarthy has the highest pressure rate in the NFL this season, at 22.0%. Sanders was pressured at almost double that rate, despite the Ravens having the lead for only one of his six drives.
Again, the Ravens are currently one of the best defenses in the NFL, but that pressure rate does follow a worrying trend. Preseason concerns about Sanders’ pre-snap organization cast doubt on the “bad offensive line” narrative that followed him out of college.
If it turns out to be true that Sanders can’t organize his offense before the snap, things could quickly turn ugly again for the former Colorado star. Maxx Crosby will be quick to pounce on any weaknesses, and the Raiders’ defense is a high-ceiling pick this week in fantasy.
