Kareem Hunt is expected to play Sunday night at Baltimore. He's coming back from a five-game absence with a calf strain, and hopefully we get the best of Hunt for the remainder of the season. For Week 12, he's a solid flex option and a good sleeper in all leagues.
Nick Chubb remains the lead running back for the Browns and is a must-start Fantasy option, even with Hunt returning to action. In the first five games of the season, Chubb averaged 15.8 PPR points in tandem with Hunt, and that's a realistic expectation for Chubb against the Ravens and moving forward.
Hunt averaged 17.8 PPR points in his first five games, and it would be amazing if he was in that range again. I'd lower expectations for him, including this week against Baltimore, but you see what Hunt is capable of in case you forgot.
The Ravens have been tough on opposing running backs of late, allowing just Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon and Dalvin Cook to score at least 11 PPR points in their past four games against Cincinnati, Minnesota, Miami and Chicago. But Cleveland should be able to move the ball on the ground, especially with right tackle Jack Conklin (elbow) coming off injured reserve with Hunt.
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In his last game against the Ravens in Week 14 last year, Hunt had six carries for 33 yards and a touchdown, along with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Chubb also had 17 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns in that game, along with two catches for 21 yards.
It would be awesome if both guys could replicate that type of performance, but that's not likely. Still, both have the potential to succeed in a big way, and Hunt should join Chubb as a starting Fantasy running back for most leagues in Week 12.
Editor's Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.
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Week 12 Sleepers
Sleepers
Garoppolo is averaging 21.8 Fantasy points per game in his past four outings, and now he faces a Vikings defense in Week 12 that allows the seventh-most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. Two of the past three quarterbacks against Minnesota have scored at least 36 Fantasy points, and this game has the chance to be a high-scoring affair.
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Taylor scored 18 Fantasy points in Week 11 at Tennessee, and now he gets a favorable matchup against the Jets in Week 12. The Jets have allowed six quarterbacks in a row to score at least 20 Fantasy points, and Taylor is worth using as a streaming option in all leagues.
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Heinicke scored 28 Fantasy points at Carolina in Week 11, and hopefully he stays hot against Seattle in Week 12 at home Monday night. The Seahawks just allowed 26 Fantasy points against Colt McCoy in Week 11 at home, and this game has the feel of a shootout. Heinicke is a solid streamer in this matchup.
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There's no guarantee that Mitchell will play because he's still dealing with a broken finger, and he was in a non-contact jersey in Friday's practice. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Mitchell was day-to-day, so hopefully he's out there. But whether it's Mitchell or Jeff Wilson, consider the 49ers starter a quality Fantasy option in all leagues against the Vikings. Minnesota will be without defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (COVID-19) and defensive end Everson Griffen (personal) for this game, and fellow defensive tackle Michael Pierce (elbow) is still out. That should help Mitchell or Wilson have easier success on the ground. Don't plan on using Wilson in most leagues if Mitchell is active, and he scored at least 12 PPR points in three of his past four games.
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The last time we saw the Broncos play prior to their bye in Week 10 against the Eagles, Melvin Gordon lost a fumble. Maybe it's nothing, and he continues to be the lead running back in Denver. Or maybe the Broncos decide to give more work to Williams to close the season. I don't think Gordon is going away, but I would love to see Williams get an increase in touches, even slightly. This is a good week to trust both Broncos running backs against the Chargers, who have allowed seven running backs to score at least 13 PPR points against them in the past six games and allow the most rushing yards per game at 145.1. Williams has scored at least 11 PPR points in two of his past four games, and he's worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Johnson and Tevin Coleman are both in play this week with Michael Carter (ankle) out. Most likely, Coleman will play on rushing downs, with Johnson continuing to have a role in the passing game. Based on the Jets offense this season, I like Johnson better than Coleman. Johnson, in tandem with Carter, scored at least 11 PPR points in four of his past six games, including three games with at least five catches over that span. Coleman hasn't done much this season and missed four games due to injury but is likely going to run between the tackles. This week, the Jets face the Texans, who have allowed a running back to score a touchdown in seven of their past eight games.
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Johnson and Rex Burkhead are both in play this week with their matchup against the Jets, and it helps that Phillip Lindsay is no longer on the team. The Texans have the best matchup of any backfield in Week 12 against the Jets, who are No. 1 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Johnson just had 16 total touches in Week 11 at Tennessee (three catches) but scored only five PPR points. And Burkhead had 18 carries for 40 yards with no catches. I like Johnson better in PPR, with Burkhead slightly better in non-PPR, but both Texans are in consideration for flex plays in Week 12.
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Jeremy McNichols (concussion) is out this week, so Hilliard will play in tandem with D'Onta Foreman. Based on how this game could go, with the Titans chasing points on the road, Hilliard should be the best Tennessee running back, especially with A.J. Brown (chest), Julio Jones (hamstring) and Marcus Johnson (hamstring) all out. New England is among the league leaders in receptions allowed to running backs this year, and Hilliard should be heavily involved in the passing game. He just had seven carries for 35 yards in Week 11 against Houston, along with eight catches for 47 yards on 10 targets. He's a solid flex option this week.
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The Eagles have become a run-first team, and Scott should help Miles Sanders with Jordan Howard (knee) out. Prior to Sanders returning in Week 11 against the Saints, with Sanders out, he scored at least 12 PPR points in two of his previous three games, with at least 10 catches in each outing. He also has a great history against the Giants with six total touchdowns in his past four meetings.
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I hope the performance we got from Claypool on Monday night at the Chargers in Week 11 is a sign of things to come after he had five catches for 93 yards on nine targets. He has five games this season with at least six targets, and he's scored at least 14 PPR points in three of them. Ben Roethlisberger needs to continue feeding Claypool as the No. 2 option in the passing game behind Diontae Johnson, and Claypool should benefit with Ray-Ray McCloud (COVID-19) out. Claypool also had at least 18 PPR points in two of his past three meetings with the Bengals, including Week 3 when he had nine catches for 96 yards on 15 targets.
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Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) is expected back this week, but I still like Gage as a sleeper in deeper PPR leagues. Gage just had five catches for 49 yards on eight targets against New England in Week 11, and the Jaguars have allowed seven receivers to score at least 12 PPR points in their past five games.
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Jones and Laviska Shenault are both in play this week as No. 3 receivers with Jamal Agnew (hip) out. Jones has just one touchdown since Week 2 and one game with more than nine PPR points since Week 3. Shenault has yet to catch a touchdown this season and has combined for 21 PPR points in his past four games. But the Falcons are tied for third in most touchdowns allowed to receivers this season with 14, so hopefully Jones or Shenault can deliver in this matchup. Give Jones the slight nod over Shenault if you're deciding between the two. But I do like that Urban Meyer wants to give Shenault some carries this week, which should increase his Fantasy value in Week 12.
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I'm willing to give Jefferson another chance as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues with Robert Woods (ACL) out, and we'll see how Jefferson and Odell Beckham are used behind Cooper Kupp coming off the Rams bye in Week 11. Jefferson has at least six targets in four games in a row, and he scored at least 11 PPR points in two of those outings. In the first game without Woods in Week 10 at San Francisco, Jefferson had seven targets for three catches and 54 yards, but he unfortunately dropped a touchdown. Matthew Stafford should continue to rely on Jefferson this week in a potential shootout, and hopefully he can deliver against the Packers.
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Bateman returns to his No. 2 receiver role with Marquise Brown (thigh) back in action against the Browns after he was out in Week 11 against Chicago, but Lamar Jackson is back after being out against the Bears with an illness. Bateman had 14 PPR points in his last game with a healthy Jackson in Week 10 at Miami, and he has that type of upside again this week. Five receivers have scored at least 11 PPR points against the Browns in their past five games.
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In two games with Cam Newton playing for the Panthers, we've seen Anderson start to come alive again. He has six targets in each game, and he had 13 PPR points in Week 10 at Arizona and eight PPR points in Week 11 against Washington. This week, he's facing a Dolphins defense that is No. 2 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. There have been 24 receivers with at least six targets against Miami this year, and 19 of them have scored at least 11 PPR points. Anderson is worth using as a flier in deeper leagues.
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Fant will hopefully take advantage of a great matchup this week against the Chargers, who have allowed four touchdowns to tight ends in the past two games and nine touchdowns to the position this year. Fant hasn't scored since Week 6, but this is a good opportunity for him to find the end zone again. And in two games against the Chargers last year he scored at least 11 PPR points in both outings.
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Freddie Kitchens will hopefully help things improve for Engram as the new play caller in New York, and this is the perfect week to feature Engram on offense. Engram had his two-game scoring streak snapped in Monday night's loss at Tampa Bay, but there's a great opportunity to rebound in Week 12 against the Eagles. Philadelphia is No. 1 in Fantasy points allowed to tight ends, and the Eagles have allowed a tight end to score or gain at least 77 receiving yards in nine games in a row, with nine touchdowns over that span. Engram is a great streaming option for Week 12, especially with Sterling Shepard (quad) and Kadarius Toney (quad) out for the Giants.
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Thomas is on track to return this week after being out since Week 4 with a hamstring injury. He scored at least nine PPR points in his first three games this season, with two touchdowns over that span, and he should return as a low-end starter in all Fantasy leagues. This week, he's facing a Seahawks defense that just allowed Zach Ertz to catch eight passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets in Week 11. It would be great if Thomas did half of that this week.
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DFS LINEUPS
DraftKings
QB: Tyrod Taylor (vs. NYJ) $5,300
RB: Christian McCaffrey (at MIA) $9,000
RB: Elijah Mitchell (vs. MIN) $5,400
WR: Brandin Cooks (vs. NYJ) $5,800
WR: Elijah Moore (at HOU) $5,600
WR: Brandon Aiyuk (vs. MIN) $5,300
TE: Evan Engram (vs. PHI) $3,800
FLEX: Diontae Johnson (at CIN) $6,600
DST: Eagles (at NYG) $3,200
I'll stack the Texans here against the Jets, and I would love to see a shootout in this matchup to help Moore on the other side. Cooks has struggled recently, but this matchup should allow him to have a breakout game.
I'll spend the money on McCaffrey because he's usually worth it, and he should excel against the Dolphins. And I love the upside for Mitchell against the Vikings with all the injuries in Minnesota. If Mitchell (finger) is out, I will likely pivot to Jeff Wilson in this lineup.
Aiyuk is hot, and I'll stick with him against the Vikings in what should be a high-scoring affair. I love the opportunity for Johnson against the Bengals. And Engram's matchup is amazing, so I'm excited to use him at tight end.
FanDuel
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo (vs. MIN) $6,500
RB: Dalvin Cook (at SF) $8,100
RB: Miles Sanders (at NYG) $6,100
WR: Justin Jefferson (at SF) $8,100
WR: Deebo Samuel (vs. MIN) $8,000
WR: Chase Claypool (at CIN) $6,500
TE: George Kittle (vs. MIN) $6,700
FLEX: Kyle Pitts (at JAC) $6,600
DEF: Bengals (vs. PIT) $3,300
I'll stack the 49ers here with Garoppolo, Samuel and Kittle, and I expect all three to deliver against the Vikings. As I said above, this should be a high-scoring game, which is why I like Cook and Jefferson as well.
Claypool has a good track record against the Bengals and should see a healthy amount of targets in Week 12. And I like playing two tight ends when possible, and Pitts should have a breakout game against the Jaguars.
I'll play Sanders in the other running back spot for this lineup, and I'm excited about this roster for Week 12.
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