Making lineup decisions can be the most frustrating — or most rewarding — part of fantasy football. We’re to help you make those decisions with our early fantasy start ’em/sit ’em picks.
It’s now Week 12. We have more than enough in-season data and can play matchups based on reliable information. With that in mind, let’s take a look at our top Week 12 wide receiver start/sit plays.
If you’re looking for all positions, head to our Week 12 Fantasy Football Start-Sit Cheat Sheet.
Rome Odunze | CHI (vs. MIN)
Start ‘Em
If the Chicago Bears have any hope of defeating the Minnesota Vikings this week, they need to trust Caleb Williams. The rookie has been downright awful this season, performing well behind fellow rookies Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix.
Yet, Williams has shown some flashes. The Bears need to hope he can put it together this week. The Vikings are a top-five run defense but allow the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, so Chicago must rely on the pass.
I am going with Rome Odunze as the Bears’ receiver to target because I sense a changing of the guard.
4. The Bears’ target shares today:
Rome Odunze – 32.3%
Keenan Allen – 25.8%
DJ Moore – 22.6%
Cole Kmet – 9.7%Odunze is the first Bears WR to command a 30%+ target share in any game this season.
— Ryan Heath (@RyanJ_Heath) November 18, 2024
We are now firmly in the second half of Odunze’s rookie season. This is right about when rookie WRs start to figure it out, and itt could be happening for him.
Keenan Allen looks like he is finally declining, and I can’t help but wonder if DJ Moore isn’t mentally checked out. This could be Odunze’s breakout game against a soft pass defense with a likely negative game script prompting a pass-heavy approach.
George Pickens | PIT (at CLE)
Start ‘Em
I thought last week would be the George Pickens mega smash game. He came close, but his inability to find the end zone resulted in “only” 16.9 fantasy points.
Russell Wilson has been a godsend for Pickens. Since Week 7, Pickens has posted games of 22.1, 11.4, 20.5, and 16.9 fantasy points, respectively. This week, he gets a Cleveland Browns defense that is very vulnerable to the deep ball, which is Pickens’ specialty.
Teams throw downfield against Cleveland at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. With the Browns allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, there’s an outside shot Pickens goes for 200 this week.
Jakobi Meyers | LV (vs. DEN)
Sit ‘Em
Ever since Davante Adams was traded, Jakobi Meyers has been pretty effective as the Las Vegas Raiders’ WR1, averaging 14.8 fantasy ppg over his last three.
Last week, though, Meyers had his toughest test since the Adams trade. He only managed four receptions for 28 yards against a very good Miami Dolphins pass defense.
Now, Meyers has to contend with Pat Surtain II and the Broncos’ elite pass defense. Denver is allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers and is second in the league in defensive EPA per dropback.
Meyers has a phenomenal closing schedule from Weeks 14-17, but this week, he’s best left on fantasy benches.
Tank Dell | HOU (vs. TEN)
Sit ‘Em
I would feel much better about fading Tank Dell knowing his production dipped after Nico Collins returned Monday night. Assuming that did happen (again, I am writing this before MNF), I feel more comfortable recommending to sit Dell.
Dell has been better without Collins in the lineup, but he’s still only averaged 11.8 fantasy points per game. That’s compared to a paltry 7.4 ppg in games with Collins on the field.
That’s reason enough to fade Dell. But the matchup also doesn’t help.
The Tennessee Titans allow the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Given the Houston Texans’ status as home favorites and the Titans being more beatable on the ground than through the air, this feels like a Joe Mixon game. When the Texans do throw, C.J. Stroud will look for Collins, leaving very little for Dell. Leave him out of lineups if you can.