The Tennessee Titans will face the Houston Texans in Week 12. Here’s fantasy football start-sit advice for every Titans skill player who has the potential to make a fantasy impact during the game.
Looking for more lineup advice? Head over to our Week 12 Fantasy Start-Sit Cheat Sheet, where we cover every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Will Levis, QB
Will Levis averaged a career-high 9.5 yards per pass on Sunday against the Vikings (topping his 9.3 YPA in Week 11 last season — consider this your reminder to bet on Levis in Week 11s), but let’s not go overboard.
The counting numbers from last week look fine, but they were greatly inflated by the 98-yard touchdown to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. For the season, Levis has as many touchdown passes as interceptions (eight). While there is some mobility in his profile, he’s been held under 20 yards on the ground in four of his past five games.
This Texans defense on short rest doesn’t scare me. Levis’ inconsistencies, however, do, and that keeps him easily outside of the streaming radar — even with six teams on a bye.
Tony Pollard, RB
The Titans have lost consecutive games by 10 points, and that, naturally, caps the volume of their lead back, Tony Pollard. In most situations, I’d tell you not to worry, as the game script tends to level out with time for the majority of the league — but this isn’t most situations.
This is the first of three games in a four-week stretch where the Titans take on a quarterback more than capable of lighting up the scoreboard (C.J. Stroud this week, Jayden Daniels next, and Joe Burrow in Week 15), thus putting Pollard’s rushing equity in major doubt.
I’m not sounding the alarm, as he does have multiple receptions in every game this season, but without a solid rushing foundation, dud weeks like Week 11 are going to happen. Pollard has been the lead in Tennessee all season and he has three weekly finishes outside of the top 30 at the position.
A fantasy team is no different than a “real” team in that every player has his role. Pollard’s role for you is to give you a reasonable floor and that’s fine as long as you aren’t expecting him to be a week winner.
Tyjae Spears, RB
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Spears is active for today's game.
Tyjae Spears entered concussion protocol on Monday. While he has been on the field a decent amount after missing a month (47.1% snap share in Week 10 and 43.6% on Sunday), this offense isn’t strong enough to support a secondary role.
I remain intrigued by what it is that Spears brings to the table, but that’s a conversation to be had this summer for 2025, not for helping you win over the next six weeks. You can feel just fine about moving on from Spears in most formats, assuming that there is a role/matchup that you find intriguing on the wire.
Calvin Ridley, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Ridley is active for today's game.
Calvin Ridley has made some splash plays recently (his 21-yarder last week against the Vikings was proof of having Will Levis’ trust), and that is going to happen for the NFL leader in air yards. However, that is very much a dual-edged sword when operating in an inconsistent offense that lacks a secondary playmaker to attract defensive attention.
The Texans allow the fewest yards per deep pass attempt this season and have greatly reduced their blitz rate over the past two weeks. The only way Houston loses this game is by giving up big plays, making Ridley the focal point in an area of strength. He’s on the Flex radar due to a lack of viable options this week, but I do have Cedric Tillman ranked higher if you are looking for some context.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR
Every season, we get spreadsheet breakers — Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is the favorite in the clubhouse for that award in 2024.
Season ranks, 2024:
- Ninth in receiving touchdowns
- 116th in receiving yards
- 163rd in targets
- 177th in receptions
Make it make sense. His 98-yard touchdown last week was just the continuation of a season that I can’t grasp. Despite limited involvement in a low-octane offense, Westbrook-Ikhine has scored in five of his past six games, routinely returning viable numbers without a sniff of sustainability attached to what he is doing.
I’m going to continue to dismiss him — if Westbrook-Ikhine is my downfall in 2024, I’ll live with it. We are approaching Thanksgiving and 66.9% of his PPR production has come via scoring plays in a Will Levis-led offense.