What You Need to Know From Week12

GB @ DET

• Jordan Love's level of play continues to improve, and Detroit continues to be a defense to target when setting lineups. Love has a tougher matchup against the Chiefs in Week 13 but could be valuable depth for the fantasy playoffs.
• Christian Watson had his biggest game of the year and deserves a WR3/Flex spot going forward. When Dontayvion Wicks comes back, it could dilute targets and snaps again, but for now, Watson has momentum.
• Jayden Reed scored and contributed as a runner for the third time in four games. He's at least a what-the-heck flex going forward.
• Jared Goff fumbled three times as Rashad Gary was a terror in the backfield and the difference in the game. Goff was still a strong fantasy play and should be a high-floor QB1 going forward.
• Kalif Raymond had a strong game on limited snaps, and the outside receivers for the Lions combined for a 9-156-1 line. If an injury were to sideline one of Raymond, Jameson Williams, and Josh Reynolds, the other two could become startable because this pass offense is so productive.

WAS @ DAL

• Sam Howell had a solid fantasy game because he scored the Commanders' only touchdown and threw for 300 yards, mostly in garbage time. He's worth an Allen/Jackson/Fields bye-week coverage start against Miami.
• Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson outproduced Terry McLaurin. They could be better plays going forward because short-range targets are safer in an offense with poor pass blocking. Samuel is worth a waiver add as Howell's favorite target in Week 12. McLaurin could have a tough Week 13 against the Dolphins strong outside corners.
• Logan Thomas had his first quiet game of the year. It's possible that Samuel could overtake him as a consistent short-range target for Howell. Thomas isn't an essential hold.
• Tony Pollard scored for the second straight week, got good gains on most of his career, and tied his season high with nine catches. He is coming on at the right time. Rico Dowdle also scored and should be rostered in all leagues as a high-injury upside bench stash.
• Brandin Cooks scored and led the team in receiving yardage. He's worth at least a what-the-heck flex play against Seattle on Thursday.
• Jake Ferguson only caught one ball. While it was for 35 yards, he's a touchdown-dependent play and probably worth dropping for a tight end with more momentum right now.

SF @ SEA

• Deebo Samuel led the team in targets, catches, and receiving yards and scored as a runner. He is peaking heading into a matchup with Philadelphia and has returned to every-week start status, putting his early season injuries behind him.
• Elijah Mitchell ran well behind Christian McCaffrey and should be rostered in every league as a high-injury upside backup.
• The entire Seahawks offense struggled against a resurgent 49ers defense. They'll probably have an equally tough time at Dallas on Thursday and in Week 14 in the rematch with the 49ers. No Seahawks receiver is an essential start in Week 13, and Geno Smith and Jaxon Smith-Njigba aren't an essential hold with the offense's arrow pointing down.
• Zach Charbonnet was held in check as a runner and receiver in place of Ken Walker III. If Walker is out again for Week 13, as it appears he will be, Charbonnet is more what-the-heck flex than RB2 in your lineup.

MIA @ NYJ

• Tua Tagovailoa was just so-so for fantasy because Raheem Mostert scored twice on the ground, but he'll face Washington in Week 13, making him a must start.
• Jeff Wilson Jr. ran well behind Mostert and caught three passes as the #2 back. De'Von Achane could return in Week 13 and make Wilson's value marginal, but if Achane's balky knee acts up again, Wilson will be an essential injury upside bench stash.
• Jaylen Waddle had one of his best games of the year and looks to be rounding into form after multiple injuries slowed him earlier this season.
• Tim Boyle did little except in garbage time. The Jets offense isn't going to improve unless Aaron Rodgers defies expectations to come back this season. Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall should still be in lineups, but you are counting on cheap PPR production to keep their values afloat.
• Miami scored on the rare pick-six off a Hail Mary at the end of the first half. They are a top-rated fantasy D/ST for the next three weeks (@WAS TEN NYJ)

TB @ IND

• Rachaad White played despite being a late-week injury report add and ran for 100 yards.
• Baker Mayfield suffered an ankle injury in this game but is expected to play in Week 13 against Carolina.
• Jonathan Taylor suffered a thumb injury in this game and may not be available in Week 13 or longer. Zack Moss is worth everything left in your waiver wallet if he's a free agent.

NE @ NYG

• Mac Jones started but was benched at halftime. Bailey Zappe finished the game but wasn't much better. We're not sure who will start in Week 13, but we know this will be one of the worst offenses in the league.
• Rhamondre Stevenson was finally used like a lead back ahead of Ezekiel Elliott and responded with one of his biggest games of the year. He's a safe upside RB2 play against the Chargers in Week 13.
• Demario Douglas caught six balls before leaving with a head injury. He's a PPR WR3/Flex if he can go this week.
• Tommy Devito and Jalin Hyatt had a strong connection downfield, and Hyatt posted the first 100-yard game of his career. Hyatt is worth an add outside of short bench leagues despite being on bye.
• Saquon Barkley had a quiet game. He will be up and down, and perhaps the Washington defense had more to do with his big Week 11 result than a true resurgence. At least he'll be rested for the stretch run after next week's bye.

PIT @ CIN

• The Steelers offense had its first game with over 400 total yards in 58 contests, their first without Matt Canada in the last three seasons. They still had trouble scoring touchdowns, but everyone in this offense gets a bump with this development.
• Reports had Jaylen Warren getting more work under new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner, but it was the same 50-50 split as always, and Harris was the better running back, even finishing Warren's best drive with a touchdown. Both are RB2/Flex plays against the Cardinals.
• Reports had George Pickens getting more work in the new offense, but Diontae Johnson outproduced him and had a near touchdown that might have stood if Mike Tomlin had challenged it.
• Pat Freiermuth was the featured pass-catcher with his first 100-yard game of his career. He posted a 9-120 line after compiling only 60 receiving yards in his first five games. He's a top priority waiver add.
• Jake Browning was as ineffective as expected. Ja'Marr Chase's fantasy value survived thanks to a fluke 31-yard catch and run on a deflected ball, but he's just a WR3/Flex going forward. Tee Higgins can probably be dropped while he's injured.
• Joe Mixon had a 39-yard catch and run late in the game, or he would have been a lineup landmine. He's only a low-ceiling flex play against Jacksonville and might end up being benchable in the fantasy playoffs.

CAR @ TEN

• Chuba Hubbard moved back into a lead back role and was the only strong fantasy play in the Panthers offense. He's worth a flex play against the Bucs in Week 13.
• Adam Thielen's fantasy well ran dry with one catch for two yards. He's still worth a WR3/Flex play against Tampa, but if he's a dud again in Week 13, he might be exiled to our bench until he produces again.
• Derrick Henry scored twice, including one set up by an Arden Key sack-strip. He'll be a good play as long as the team is competitive.
• Will Levis avoided the big mistake, which was enough to outplay Bryce Young. No Titans pass-catcher is going to be a consistent start while he's the quarterback.

JAX @ HOU

• Trevor Lawrence was once again an elite fantasy quarterback, and Calvin Ridley was once again a good play with Zay Jones back in the lineup. You can start Lawrence and Ridley with confidence against the Bengals.
• Travis Etienne Jr. was stopped at the goal line on a play with one second left in the first half, or he would have been a better play. He suffered a chest injury in the game that should be monitored on the practice reports.
• C.J. Stroud was outstanding as usual, but a 58-yard game-tying field goal attempt by Matt Ammendola hit the crossbar. Only a few fantasy quarterbacks should start over Stroud going forward.
• The Texans went back to a committee with Dameon Pierce's return, even though he was ineffective again. Devin Singletary was at least very active and productive in the passing game to save his fantasy day. Singletary is still a flex play against Denver in Week 13, and the Texans could reconsider their backfield split to favor him more.
• Dalton Schultz was a non-factor and often on the bench in favor of Brevin Jordan in the fourth quarter. Schultz isn't an essential hold.

NO @ ATL

• Chris Olave was having a huge game before he left with a concussion. Rashid Shaheed also left with a quad injury and will miss at least Week 13. Keith Kirkwood and A.T. Perry replaced them. Neither was productive, and neither is more than a desperation play against the Lions. Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill, and Juwan Johnson are more likely to pick up the slack in a game the Saints will likely have to pass more in to hang with Detroit's offense.
• Desmond Ridder was picked off twice, but Derek Carr's early 90+ yard pick-six thrown to Jessie Bates III was more costly. Ridder is going to be a very low-volume passer as the starter and will only be able to support the value of Drake London. Kyle Pitts is droppable if you were holding onto him and false hope.
• Bijan Robinson remained the clear lead back and scored as a runner and receiver. Tyler Allgeier is still worth rostering as an injury upside backup if bench size allows.

LAR @ ARI

• Matthew Stafford had his first big game of the season, throwing four touchdowns and none to Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua. Stafford has a tougher matchup against Cleveland this week but is worth a pickup as quality depth for the fantasy playoffs.
• Kyren Williams returned with over 200 total yards and two receiving touchdowns. He's a strong RB1 going forward, and Royce Freeman is worth a roster spot as an injury upside backup if bench size allows.
• Tyler Higbee caught the other two touchdowns after being erroneously announced as inactive. He's worth a desperation play pickup if you need a tight end in place of Dalton Kincaid, Cole Kmet, or T.J. Hockenson.
• Cooper Kupp didn't look 100% healthy at times. If he's a dud again in Week 13, we'll need to consider other options in Week 14.
• Kyler Murray scored as a runner and passer but was mostly ineffective. If the Cardinals are using this time to evaluate him in the new offense with a big decision about whether to trade him coming up this offseason, early signs point to them putting him on the market.
• James Conner was quiet because of the game script and could be again vs. his old Steelers team in Week 13. He's a low-ceiling RB2 right now and not an automatic start.
• Marquise Brown had his first good game since Murray returned from ACL surgery. He's worth a WR3/Flex start against Pittsburgh. Greg Dortch got a garbage time score and nine targets. He's a what-the-heck flex with six teams on bye in Week 13 if Michael Wilson is still out with a shoulder injury.

CLE @ DEN

• Dorian Thompson-Robinson left with a concussion. P.J. Walker will start in the road game against the Rams if Thompson-Robinson isn't cleared to play.
• Amari Cooper suffered a rib injury and is uncertain for Week 13. He has been inconsistent along with the team's quarterback plays and probably shouldn't be started even if he is active.
• Samaje Perine scored and ran well in limited work. His role could grow, and he should be added across formats with Javonte Williams reportedly suffering a neck injury in this game.
• Russell Wilson scored as a runner and passer but had modest production through the air as the Broncos controlled the game. In the next three weeks, he could be a solid backup with potential high-scoring games against Houston, the Chargers, and Detroit.

BUF @ PHI

• Josh Allen was outstanding, but the Bills failed to convert their first-half dominance into enough points to win in regulation, and Jalen Hurts answered the Bills' overtime field goal with a game-winning touchdown run.
• James Cook was used more in the passing game and posted 100 total yards. He'll be a solid RB2 play after his bye.
• Gabe Davis bounced back with a big game after posting two goose eggs in the last three outings. He's worth carrying through the bye.
• A.J. Brown was shut down again but scored and caught five short passes to bail out fantasy teams. He should still be in lineups against the 49ers, but lower expectations.

KC @ LV

• Patrick Mahomes II and the Chiefs offense broke out of their slump in this game. Ceiling games from Mahomes and Co. are more likely going forward.
• Isiah Pacheco scored twice and was a clear lead back with Jerick McKinnon sidelined. He's an RB1 play for as long as McKinnon is out.
• Rashee Rice had a breakout game and should be in lineups as a WR3/Flex going forward.
• Aidan O'Connell was pretty good for a fourth-round rookie against a tough defense. He made Davante Adams a decent play and Jakobi Meyers a good one. O'Connell is a viable QB2/Superflex after his bye.
• The Raiders stuck with Josh Jacobs despite falling behind, and he broke a long touchdown to reward them and fantasy teams.

BAL @ LAC

• The Ravens offense was quiet because they controlled the game against a toothless Chargers offense. Lamar Jackson will hopefully be forced to do more after the bye, especially in the fantasy playoffs against Jacksonville, San Francisco, and Miami.
• Keaton Mitchell got the most snaps of any Ravens back, and the team indicated he may get even more work after the bye. He's the most valuable Baltimore back, but Gus Edwards is still worth carrying through the bye as the designated goal-line back in a good offense.
• Zay Flowers scored as a runner and receiver and appears to be a must start in the wake of the Mark Andrews season-ending injury.
• Isaiah Likely was second on the team behind Flowers with six targets, catching four. He is worth carrying through the bye.
• Justin Herbert was not quite a bust, but he was limited by the quality Ravens defense. He could bounce back against the Patriots this week, along with Austin Ekeler, who was quiet for the second straight week.
• Keenan Allen posted his third straight game with double-digit receptions and should continue to benefit from the lack of trusted secondary options in the passing game.
• Gerald Everett scored and caught all four of his targets. He's worth a pickup if you need bye-week coverage at tight end.

CHI @ MIN

• Justin Fields was effective passing to Cole Kmet and DJ Moore in the short passing game. However, he fumbled twice, and the Bears failed to score a touchdown, so his fantasy output was ordinary. He should still be in lineups against the Lions after the bye.
• Roschon Johnson was the clear lead back over Khalil Herbert and should be carried through the bye, even though D'Onta Foreman could return to make this a three-headed backfield again.
• Joshua Dobbs threw four picks and could be benched for Nick Mullens after the bye. Try to carry him for at least one more week if he has been your best quarterback, just because the offense will get a boost when Justin Jefferson returns in Week 14.