Happy Thanksgiving!
This time of year you should be thankful all that you have no matter what that is. For me I am thankful for the editors that work on my articles and all of The Undroppables articles and podcasts. I am thankful all of you that read UNtangling the Wire and Money Makers and Heartbreakers.
Thank you all, I promise I will work even harder to keep making content to help you win your fantasy leagues.
If you are new around here this is how it works:
Money Maker – I think this person will perform well this week and be better than projections
Heart Breaker – These players will not meet projections
Quarterbacks
💰 Money Makers
Derek Carr
If the 275 yards and three touchdowns against the Chiefs don’t make you believe in the ability of Carr, maybe the fact that the Raiders play the #1 defense for quarterbacks to produce against in Week 12. The Falcons have stopped no one through the air. Quarterbacks average 313 yards and 2 touchdowns a game against them. BOOM!
Best Week 12 QB Matchups
– Derek Carr vs Falcons (allowing 25.86 fantasy PPG to QB)
– Carson Wentz vs Seahawks (allowing 24.45 fantasy PPG to QB)
– Baker Mayfield vs Jaguars (allowing 22.34 fantasy PPG to QB)— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 25, 2020
Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan has been inconsistent or so it appears. In reality, he simply produces well against bottom 10 defenses and not so well against good defenses. This week he plays a bottom 10 pass defense in the Raiders. Looks like he will throw for roughly 280 yards and 2 touchdowns, as that is the average the Raiders give up.
Philip Rivers
Rivers has been very good the past two games, which also coincide with two good games from Michael Pittman. It’s not a fluke. In Week 10 against the same Titans defense that he will play this week Rivers threw for 308 yards and a touchdown. The Titan have given 300 yards and/or multiple touchdowns in 8 games this season. If you lost Burrow, you may want to tee this guy up.
Other quarterbacks I like in week 5:
There is the obvious: Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray, and Deshaun Watson
The not so obvious: Cam Newton, Justin Herbert, and Carson Wentz
💔 Heart Breakers
Lamar Jackson
Jackson played the Steelers in Week 8 and he threw for 208 yards and 2 touchdowns in that contest. He also ran for 65 yards. Not a bad day, but not a great day. The best defense against quarterbacks in the NFL is the Steelers. They have yet to give up a 20 point fantasy game this year to a QB.
Ryan Tannehill
In Week 10 the Titans played the Colts. In Week 12 the Titans will play the Colts. In Week 10 Tannehill threw for 147 yards and a touchdown. The Colts are one of the stingiest defenses in the league against almost every position. If you have any other options, I would use them.
Drew Lock
I think Lock has played decent thus far. This week, though, he is playing against the Saints. The Saints have given up one passing touchdown the past three weeks. I wouldn’t expect much from Lock this week
Other quarterbacks to avoid: Nick Mullens and Nick Foles
Running Backs
💰 Money Makers
Duke Johnson
I know Duke hasn’t exactly worked out as planned since taking over as the primary running back for the Texans. I know you might not want to hear this but I am going to tell you to back to the well with Duke in Week 12. The Lions are THE worst team against the run in the league. The Lions give up 123 yards rushing, 5 receptions and 50 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns per week to running backs.
Duke Johnson 💰
Christian Kirk 💔— Commissioner Breeze (@mcbreeze11) November 25, 2020
NOTE: If Commissioner Breeze says he is a money maker, then he is a money maker.
David Mongomery
Montgomery has cleared concussion protocol. Montgomery is playing against the third friendliest defense against running backs in Week 12. Montgomery has been a decent floor play this season but not a spectacular BOOM play. The Packers give up yards on the ground and through the air to running backs.
D’Andre Swift
We wanted to get Schwifty in here last week against the Panthers. That didn’t work out as Swift didn’t play. This week the Lions will play against the Texans. The Texans are almost as bad at defending against running backs as the Lions are. The Texans give up 145 yards rushing per week. We WILL be getting Shwifty in here Week 12!
Other running backs to play:
The obvious: Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt
The not so obvious: Todd Gurley, Jonathan Taylor, and J.D. McKissic
💔 Heart Breakers
Melvin Gordon
The Saints defense is the number 1 defense against the running back position in fantasy. The Saints have given up only three rushing touchdowns on the season. Gordon hasn’t been spectacular against this season but he has been steady. This week he will be meh.
Jerrick McKinnon
The rams are really good at defense in 2020. The Niners are really good at getting injured in 2020. In Week 6 the Niners beat the Rams but did it through the air. Which is the only way to do it against the third best defense against the run. McKinnon will have no where to go on the ground.
Josh Jacobs
If you have Jacobs you are probably playing him, but the Falcons are pretty good against the run. The Falcons give up roughly 100 yards in total between receiving and rushing to running backs weekly. You can Expect a floor game from Jacobs this week as the raiders will attack via the air.
Other running backs that will cost you in Week 12: Gio Bernard, Gus Edwards, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Wide Receivers
💰 Money Makers
Terry McLaurin
In Week 11, McLaurin had a 28% target share against the Bengals with 7 targets for 5 receptions and 84 yards. In Week 12 the Washington Football Team is playing the Cowboys. The Cowboys have given up at least a touchdown weekly to wide receivers. The Cowboys were scorched by wide receivers last week for the tune of 209 yards and 3 total touchdowns. Yes, I like Terry this week.
Consensus Top-5 WRs in Wk 12:
1. Michael Thomas
2. Calvin Ridley
3. Davante Adams
4. Tyreek Hill
5. Terry McLaurinPromo code: 𝗖𝗬𝗕𝗘𝗥𝟰𝟬 for 40% off ANY PFF subscription
— PFF (@PFF) November 25, 2020
Nelson Agholor
You read that the Falcons are pretty good against the run. Well, they suck against the pass. The Falcons are the third friendliest Agholor had a huge 29% target share in Week 11 against the Chiefs. This resulted in 6 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. Play him.
Jalen Reagor
The Seahawks are literally the worst defense against wide receivers in the league. The Eagles play the Seahawks in Week 12. Reagor is a nice play this week as all of the members of the Eagles passing game should produce.
Other wide receivers to play:
The obvious: Davante Adams, Michael Thomas, Tyreek Hill, DeAndre Hopkins, and Calvin Ridley.
The not so obvious: Michael Pittman, DeVante Parker, and Robby Anderson.
💔 Heart Breakers
Amari Cooper
The Washington Football Team is the second best defense against wide receivers. They have not given up a 100-yard game yet to the position. Cooper will no doubt get some targets but I would look elsewhere for good production.
Deebo Samuel/ Brandon Aiyuk
The Rams allow the fewest points to wide receivers in the league. In Week 6, the Niners played the Rams and both Samuel and Aiyuk scored touchdowns. This week, with Mullen under center, that is a lot less likely to happen.
Corey Davis
In Week 10 against the Colts, Davis had 5 receptions for 67 yards. If you are looking for that type of production from a wide receiver in Week 12 please feel free to play Davis. I would avoid this situation for both Davis and A.J Brown in DFS all together, as the Colts are top 10 against wide receivers.
Other wide receivers will cost you: Allen Robinson and Mike Williams
Tight Ends Week 5
💰 Money Makers
Hunter Henry
Henry has seen at least 6 targets in each of the last three games. He has scored in each of the last two games. The Bills are the third friendliest defense to the tight end position. With Justin Herbert slinging the ball like one of the best I would feel very comfortable playing Henry in Week 12.
We’re not talking enough about Hunter Henry.
– Highly drafted (35th overall)
– 4+ receptions in 8/10 games
– TD each of the last 2 games after 3 TD’s sniped by Parham/Green through 8 games
– ATL/LV/DEN WK14/15/16
– Age 25
– FINALLY Healthy
– Tethered to Justin f’n HerbertBUY.
— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) November 23, 2020
Evan Engram
Engram was eating up 10 targets a game for two games in a row before Week 10’s game. The Bengals are a bottom 5 defense against tight ends. You see where we are going here. Bounce back game. I would expect another 10 targets or so for Engram in Week 12 coming off the bye.
Other tight ends to play:
The obvious Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, and T.J. Hockenson
The not so obvious: Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft
💔 Heart Breakers
Mark Andrews
You know who plays good defense against tight ends, the Steelers. The Steelers are the best defense against the position in the NFL. The Ravens played the Steelers in Week 8, in that game Andrrews had 3 receptions for 32yards. I would expect much the same in Week 12. WOOF!
Jonnu Smith
Smith rushed for a touchdown against the Colts in Week 10. If you can’t tell I really don’t like the Titans passing game in Week 12. For Jonnu to produce you will need a touchdown as he hasn’t 32 yards in weeks and weeks.
Other tight ends that will cost you: Jimmy Graham and Tyler Higbee
If you are looking for Defenses to stream, take a look at The Stream Option by Kyle Larson.
Thanks for checking out our Money Makers and Heart Breakers column. For more great content from The Undroppables, follow us on Twitter, follow @MikeReedyFF for more great content, and visit back for Mike’s weekly UNtangling the Wire (waiver wire) article.
