Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations for Week 12
*Mike Barner*
Daily Fantasy Football Lineup Recommendations – Week 12
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There are no teams on a bye for Week 12, but there are three games being played Thursday. Some teams are a shell of what they were at the start of the season due to injury, but that leaves you with the ability to select some value plays from unexpected sources. Put your favorite daily fantasy football recommendations from the article below in our lineup optimizer and hit calculate. You can let it fill in the rest of the spots for you or choose your personal favorites from the NFL Player Lab.
**QUARTERBACKS**
Russell Wilson vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $7,000
FanDuel = $8,600
The Seahawks running game is a mess. They continue to deal with injuries and ineffectiveness in their backfield, leaving Wilson and their passing game to shoulder the offensive load. Wilson has not disappointed as his 21 touchdown passes this season already, matching his total from last year. He has provided added value with this legs this season, rushing for at least 30 yards six times. Although he struggled against the 49ers Week 2, expect him to continue his recent run of success this week.
Marcus Mariota vs. Indianapolis Colts
Stadium – Lucas Oil Stadium
DraftKings = $6,300
FanDuel = $7,800
There was a lot of hype surrounding Mariota heading into the season, but he has failed to live up to it so far. He has not thrown for more than two touchdowns in any game this season and hasn’t thrown any touchdowns in a game three times. He also has thrown for at least 300 yards in a game only twice. The one saving grace is that he does have four rushing touchdowns so far, which is as many as he had in the first two seasons of his career combined. The Titans scored 36 points against the Colts Week 6 and Mariota threw for 306 yards and one touchdown in that contest. The Colts have allowed the third-most net passing yards per game (275) in the league this season, so take a chance on him to possibly have his best game of the season this week.
Alex Smith vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $6,500
FanDuel = $7,600
In what had the makings of a dream matchup last week against a New York Giants team that looked to have quit on the season, Smith and the Chiefs offense laid an egg in a surprising loss. Smith threw two interceptions in the game after having thrown only one all season. Think of that performance as an outlier, not the norm. This week presents an opportunity for a rebound performance at home against a Bills team that is a mess. The Bills have allowed 135 points over the last three weeks, leaving Smith as a nice mid-tier priced option for your entry.
**RUNNING BACKS**
Kareem Hunt vs. Buffalo Bills
Stadium – Arrowhead Stadium
DraftKings = $8,000
FanDuel = $7,700
Hunt had a solid, but unspectacular game against the Giants last week as he rushed for 73 yards on 18 carries. He only caught three of his four targets for a total of four yards, marking the third straight week where he has failed to top 24 receiving yards. Hunt could be in for a big game this week though as the Bills have been horrible stopping the run of late. They have allowed 11 rushing touchdowns over the last three weeks, which is more than all but one other team (Detroit Lions) has allowed for this entire season. Give Hunt another shot Sunday.
Dion Lewis vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $4,800
FanDuel = $6,200
While the Patriots running back situation is often fluid, Lewis has been pretty consistent of late as he has received at least 10 carries in five straight games. He has one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown over the last two games as the Patriots continue to be one of the most productive offenses in the league. Sunday brings a home game against a terrible Dolphins team, so the Patriots could be running the ball a lot if they get up big. The price is right to see if Lewis will continue his recent run of success for another week.
Tarik Cohen vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $3,800
FanDuel = $5,300
This is a horrid matchup for the Bears against one of the best teams in the NFL. The Eagles have an explosive offense while the Bears are struggling through the development of their rookie quarterback. Cohen has seen his role decrease in recent weeks, but he did get nine carries and six targets last week against the Detroit Lions. He has big-play ability, so getting extra touches will only give him a greater chance at breaking off a big play. The Bears might be down big in this game, so Cohen could be heavily involved in the passing attack. If you want a cheap tournament play this week, he is a viable option to consider.
**WIDE RECEIVERS**
Doug Baldwin vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $7,000
FanDuel = $7,900
Baldwin only has four touchdowns this season, but three of them have come in the last five games. He already has received 85 targets this season, leaving him well on his way to receiving at least 100 targets for the third straight season. His numbers could be even better this year if not for his 65.9% catch percentage, which is his lowest since the 2012 season. Based on his role in the offense and the 49ers struggles defensively, Baldwin is a great option for your lineup Week 12.
Cooper Kupp vs. New Orleans Saints
Stadium – Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
DraftKings = $5,000
FanDuel = $5,400
The Rams will be without one of their main wide receivers Sunday as Robert Woods is out with a shoulder injury. Woods has 47 receptions on 70 targets this season, leaving plenty of opportunities for other Rams’ receivers to increase their production this week. Kupp has 38 receptions on 61 targets himself this season, so he could really be in line for a big day if he gets at least a few extra targets. This could be a high-scoring game against a potent Saints offense, making Kupp a great option at this price.
Kenny Stills vs. New England Patriots
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $4,800
FanDuel = $5,600
Stills had a monster performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week as he caught seven of eight targets for 180 yards and a touchdown. Even with the Dolphins struggles at quarterback, Stills gets plenty of volume as he has received at least eight targets in four of the last five games. The Patriots allow the most net passing yards per game (282) in the league, but a lot of that is because teams get down big to their offense and then try to pass their way back into games. With that the likely scenario again this week for the Dolphins, Stills could be in for another big outing.
Dontrelle Inman vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Stadium – Lincoln Financial Field
DraftKings = $3,500
FanDuel = $5,300
With the Bears lacking talent at wide receiver, Inman was brought in and has provided an immediate impact. It two games with his new team, he has hauled in nine catches on 13 targets for 131 yards. This game could get ugly in a hurry for the Bears, leading to more pass attempts than normal as they play from behind. With the type of volume Inman has already received, he provides an excellent option this week considering his cheap price, especially on DraftKings.
**TIGHT ENDS**
Jimmy Graham vs. San Francisco 49ers
Stadium – Levi’s Stadium
DraftKings = $5,800
FanDuel = $7,000
Graham’s overall numbers aren’t overly impressive as he only has 46 receptions and 413 receiving yards. The key to his value is his ability to reach the end zone as he already has seven touchdowns, which is one more than his total for the 2016 season. Five of his touchdowns have come in the last four games, making him a valuable fantasy asset even when he’s not racking up receiving yards. Get him in your lineup this week.
Jared Cook vs. Denver Broncos
Stadium – Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
DraftKings = $4,600
FanDuel = $5,500
Cook is in the midst of his best stretch this season as he had 20 receptions for 326 yards over his last four games. Week 12 brings an excellent matchup against the Broncos, who have allowed the second-most receiving yards (758) to opposing tight ends this season. Cook had three receptions on eight targets for 46 yards when these teams met earlier this season, so he could have had a big day had he hauled in a couple more passes. If you want to save money at tight end, Cook is someone you should consider.
**DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS**
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers
Stadium – Heinz Field
DraftKings = $3,900
FanDuel = $4,800
This game isn’t as much about the Steelers defense as it is about the Packers struggles offensively. Brett Hundley has been a mess since taking over at quarterback and has seven interceptions compared to only two touchdown passes. The Steelers picked off Marcus Mariota four times last week, so this could be another disaster for Hundley. The Steelers are priced reasonably on both sites based on their potential Sunday.
New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
Stadium – Gillette Stadium
DraftKings = $3,400
FanDuel = $4,700
The Patriots have done a nice job creating turnovers lately as they have five interceptions and three fumble recoveries over the last five games. The Dolphins continue to struggle at the quarterback position and have thrown the third-most interceptions (13) in the NFL this season. Regardless if Jay Cutler or Matt Moore starts this week, the Patriots can provide value for your entry.