What You Need to Know from Week 12

Buffalo at Houston

• Josh Allen struggled against a very good Texans defense. We should greatly lower expectations for any passing game facing Houston. In Week 13, it's Indianapolis. After that, it's Kansas City (Week 14), Arizona (Week 15), Las Vegas (Week 16), Los Angeles Chargers (Week 17)
• James Cook had the best offensive play of the night for the Bills - a 45-yard touchdown run. He remains the constant in this offense and a strong RB1 play no matter the matchup.
• Khalil Shakir was targeted more frequently, but did not work much downfield in the passing game. He bounced back from a Week 11 dud and should be in Week 13 lineups against Pittsburgh as a WR3/Flex.
• Davis Mills wasn't that efficient, completing only 16 of 30 passes, but two were for touchdowns, and he didn't commit any turnovers or take any sacks. C.J. Stroud should return for Week 13 against Indianapolis, but Mills has proven that he can keep the pass offense functional if Stroud misses more time.
• Woody Marks didn't have a big fantasy game, but he remains the clear lead back and still deserves to be in lineups as a WR3/Flex against the Colts in Week 13.
• Jayden Higgins and Christian Kirk each caught at least four balls and scored. Higgins has a higher floor because he's on the field more, but Kirk showed a good connection with Mills in his limited role. Consider Higgins a WR3/Flex possibility and Kirk a what-the-heck flex for Week 13.
• Dalton Schultz only caught one ball for eight yards, his first dud in a month. He's still in consideration for Week 13 lineups, but if he comes up small again, we might drop him for the fantasy playoffs.

Indianapolis at Kansas City

• Daniel Jones played well in the first three quarters, spreading the ball around and staking the Colts to a 20-9 lead. In the fourth quarter and overtime, however, he led the team to zero first downs on four drives, and the game slipped away. He threw a ball that could have lost the game for the Chiefs, and he did not look confident. He's not a good play against the Texans in Week 13.
• Jonathan Taylor was contained by the Chiefs all day and wasn't able to help the Colts when Jones went cold. He has had two quiet games in the last three. If Week 13 makes it three out of four, it will be time to adjust expectations downward for the fantasy playoffs.
• Tyler Warren and Michael Pittman Jr were below their season averages, but still adequate in fantasy lineups. Alec Pierce and Josh Downs were duds on a day when the Colts didn't even manage to complete five passes over 10 yards. Pierce and Downs aren't essential holds in short bench leagues with the Colts offense slowing down.
• Patrick Mahomes II led three field goal drives in the first half, including two that lasted over eight minutes. The Chiefs didn't score again until the fourth quarter and only after Kareem Hunt fumbled the ball away in the red zone. It should have been a bigger fantasy day for Mahomes, but he will likely make up for it on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys.
• Hunt had a 100-yard game, but it took over 30 carries. He probably won't get this kind of workload again, but he is still a high-ceiling RB2/Flex play against the Cowboys. The team signed Dameon Pierce to the practice squad after the Texans released him, so remember that name if Isiah Pacheco doesn't return soon and Hunt gets hurt.
• Rashee Rice found a way to get open at many crucial junctures and, like Mahomes, bounced back from a poor Week 11 at Denver. He's back to being a fantasy WR1 against Dallas.
• Travis Kelce had a floor game, but the good news is that 4-43 is a floor game for him this year. He should stay in Week 13 lineups and has a high ceiling with Noah Gray likely out because of a Week 12 concussion.

Seattle at Tennessee

• Sam Darnold completed a couple of bombs and a handful of shorter passes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first half, and that was about enough to build an insurmountable lead. Darnold didn't push for a ceiling game, and none of the Seahawks ancillary targets had good games because the team took the foot off the gas pedal in the second half. That could happen again in Week 13 against Minnesota.
• Ken Walker III didn't have a big fantasy game, but he is still the lead back now with his highest snap share of the season and four red zone opportunities to Zach Charbonnet's two, even though Charbonnet converted one of his into a touchdown. Walker is a high ceiling RB2 and Charbonnet a what-the-heck flex for Werek 13.
• Cameron Ward actually had his best fantasy game of the season, even though he was down two of his top three receivers and three of his top four entering the season. He is starting to build on his experience and could have value in 2QB/Superflex leagues down the stretch.
• Chimere Dike scored as a receiver and returner for the second time this season. He's a mid-priority add on the waiver wire who could surge with pass-heavy game scripts if Ward starts to build momentum. Consider him a what-the-heck flex with upside against the Jaguars in Week 13.
• Gunnar Helm led the team in catches and receiving yards. Like Dike, he appears to be on the same page as his fellow rookie quarterback, and could be startable in deeper leagues down the stretch, but he is a low-priority pickup in typical leagues.

Minnesota at Green Bay

• J.J. McCarthy wasn't great in the first half, but he led two field goal drives to keep the Vikings in the game, down 10-6 at the half. A fumbled punt expanded the Green Bay lead to 17-6, and then the Packers' defense overwhelmed the young quarterback. He was in concussion protocol after the game and may not start in Week 13 at Seattle. Rookie UDFA Max Brosmer would get the start if McCarthy is out. Brosmer should be added in 2QB/Superflex leagues.
• Aaron Jones' snap share was still right around two-thirds, but he only got one more carry than Jordan Mason, who was very effective on a first-half drive, only to be stopped on fourth down in the red zone. Mason could make this into more of a committee, but unless the Vikings get better quarterback play, Jones is no more than a flex play, and Mason is only desperation depth.
• Justin Jefferson was a dud along with the rest of the Vikings' passing game. He should stay in lineups in Week 13 as a WR3/Flex, but if you only start two wide receivers, he might not be your best flex option. Jordan Addison is droppable, but if Brosmer looks promising, the schedule gets easier in Week 14 with Washington, and then Dallas, the Giants, and Detroit in the fantasy playoffs. If Brosmer is decent, Addison could be worth a pickup eventually.
• The Packers were hyperconservative in the passing game with their defense in control, so Jordan Love had a floor game, along with everyone else in the passing game. Christian Watson did still catch five passes and has earned his WR3/Flex stripes. Love is still a QB2/Superflex option on Thanksgiving against the Lions, and Romeo Doubs is at least a what-the-heck flex despite the quiet Week 12.
• Emanuel Wilson was a bruising physical force in place of Josh Jacobs and scored twice, providing most of the offense in the second half. He has given the team a viable second back to reduce Jacobs' workload so they can prevent his balky knee from breaking down. Wilson could get another start on Thanksgiving, but Jacobs will push to play. Even if Wilson goes back to second fiddle in Week 13, don't drop him; Jacobs' knee issue could be unpredictable after it locked up on him in Week 11.

NY Jets at Baltimore

• Tyrod Taylor was better at moving the offense than Justin Fields, but not that much better. He's only a desperation QB2/Superflex against Atlanta in Week 13, assuming Aaron Glenn keeps him in the starting lineup.
• Breece Hall was responsible for getting the Jets into the red zone with two long gains on receptions, then fumbled the ball away in the best chance the team had to make this competitive to the end. Hall is still a boom/bust RB2, but Taylor should be good for his receiving numbers.
• John Metchie III has emerged as the most reliable target with Garrett Wilson out. He caught six of seven targets, including a touchdown on third and 10 in the red zone. He's a what-the-heck flex against the Falcons and is worth a pickup if bench size allows.
• Lamar Jackson looks hurt. He wasn't a threat as a runner and missed on many downfield throws. You have to play him against the Bengals' tame defense in Week 13 on Thanksgiving, but if Jackson isn't a good fantasy play, we might have to reevaluate his QB1 fantasy status for the stretch run.
• Derrick Henry scored twice but was otherwise held in check. The defense is playing much better, so he should still get favorable game scripts, but he is not hitting his ceiling in the fantasy playoffs unless Jackson snaps out of his slump.
• Zay Flowers was still an acceptable WR3/Flex play, but he is even more dependent on Jackson's play to be a helpful presence in your lineup. 
• Mark Andrews drew a long pass interference and had an expanded role with Isaiah Likely playing through a calf injury. He was quiet in the box score, but should still be in Week 13 lineups against a defense that just gave up the third 100-yard game of Hunter Henry's career.

NY Giants at Detroit