Fantasy Football Traffic Cop: Week 12 Draft Tip

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Questions early on can be troubling even for the best fantasy managers. Here’s a rundown of the traffic lights to help you prepare for Week 12.

✅ Green light

He was Tampa Bay’s leading rusher, averaging 1.3 more yards per rush than Rachaad White. Running lanes should be available against a Giants front seven that is giving up 5.3 YPC, worst in the NFL.​​

The Chargers have a slight preference for the run, but it’s a small gap; Justin Herbert’s game has improved in recent weeks. Johnston is coming along for the ride (touchdowns in three straight games) and Baltimore’s injured secondary isn’t putting up much resistance.

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In the early weeks, he was an athletic quarterback who ran a lot and occasionally caught a few passes. His passing efficiency has improved significantly. Over his last seven starts, Nix has a net 7.4 YPA and a 106.2 rating

Philadelphia’s defense is growing, but so is Stafford; since getting his top two receivers back four games ago, he’s averaging 2.5 touchdown passes and 291 passing yards per week.

I don’t understand why he isn’t universally ranked above Deeb Samuel Sr. yet; he’s outpacing him every week. Remember: in our game, it’s numbers, not names.

🫤 Yellow light

Is a nagging rib injury stifling him as a runner? He has just 23 rushing yards over the past two weeks, with a pair of QB24 completions. The Cowboys are a favorable draw, but Washington doesn’t need to push the pace for three hours.

Detroit’s defense has turned into a problem, but Richardson got his groove back in the comeback win over the Jets and offers a useful board in every start.​​

Maybe Tommy DeVito’s move sounds like a downgrade, but keep in mind how bad Daniel Jones played. The Giants will likely sprinkle Nabers after the bye week, and Tampa Bay’s midfield has been a mess all year. There’s no way I’d sit Nabers anywhere.

I think the presence of Jonathon Brooks is an overrated angle; yes, Brooks was an early pick, but don’t overlook the contract extension Hubbard got. The biggest problem is the Chiefs pass rush defense, which is the worst matchup for opposing quarterbacks in 2024.

He might not be needed for four quarters if the Commanders take control of the game, but Ekeler is essentially the second Washington player to score in double figures in three straight, including an eight-percent gem against Philadelphia last week.

He’s probably a safe bet for 4-6 catches if Jake Ferguson is scratched as expected. It’s also possible that CeeDee Lamb could be limited or possibly out altogether. Tight end is such a tricky position; we take what we can.

🛑 Red light

He hasn’t been better than QB14 through seven weeks, in part because Joe Mixon is a goal-line priority. Tennessee isn’t the easy matchup you might suspect, ranking a respectable 11th in defensive DVOA.

He’s caught three touchdowns this year and averaged less than 10 yards per catch in eight of 10 games. Rome Odunze might be a better fit for the offense as the Bears are coming off a year with new OC Thomas Brown.

The Dolphins have TE Jonna Smith unlocked and Tyreek Hill is too good to bench, but Waddle is a tougher pill to swallow. He’s had just one touchdown all year and hasn’t reached 60 yards since opening day. In shallow formats, you have my permission to drop the Waddle.

His role was reduced last week when Isaiah Likely returned, and the Chargers’ seam coverage has been excellent all year.

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