Week 12 is a pivotal week for fantasy playoffs seeding, and matchups could make or break your lineup. Some contests offer clear upside opportunities, while others present risky situations that could derail your playoff hopes. Knowing where to exploit favorable matchups—and where to avoid trouble—will separate winners from losers this week. Here’s our best and worst matchups for Week 12 of the fantasy football season:
Quarterback
Best: QB Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Brissett has quietly become one of the most reliable quarterbacks in fantasy, ripping off five straight top-12 finishes since replacing Kyler Murray in Week 6. He’s sitting at 21.9 points per game over that stretch, and last week’s eruption (47 completions, 452 yards) was just the loudest example of how comfortable he is running the Cardinals offense.
Even better, he’s unlocked Trey McBride near the goal line and kept the passing game afloat while Marvin Harrison Jr. missed last week’s game. Jacksonville just embarrassed Justin Herbert, but their defense has still surrendered 27.2 FPPG and 11 passing touchdowns over its last three. With the Jags’ pass rush basically nonexistent (30th in sacks), Brissett stays firmly in streamer territory.
Worst: QB Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
Coming off the bye, Daniel Jones and the Colts face a stiff test in Week 12 against a desperate Kansas City Chiefs squad. Jones has been solid but unspectacular recently, posting 17.1 and 16.5 fantasy points in his last two games with four interceptions.
The Colts will look to lean on Jonathan Taylor, but the Chiefs are likely to key in on him and force Jones to beat them through the air. Kansas City has allowed just nine passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season, tied for the fewest in the league, and ranks 13th in fantasy points allowed per game. Jones will need to create with his legs to salvage a usable fantasy outing.
Fantasy managers should view him as a low-upside QB2 in Week 12.
Running Back
Best: RB TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
With Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined last week, TreVeyon Henderson made the most of his opportunity, posting his first career three-touchdown game while leading New England’s ground attack. Since Week 9, he’s been one of the league’s most productive backs, averaging 24.3 fantasy points per game with five total touchdowns over his last two contests.
This week, Henderson faces a Bengals defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to running backs, yielding 6.63 yards per touch and seven total touchdowns since Week 6. Cincinnati also ranks dead-last in opponent rushing yards per game (160.9) and 30th in yards per rush (5.2)
Even with Stevenson returning to practice this week, Henderson doesn’t need a heavy workload to be a fantasy factor and projects as a high-upside RB2 this week.
Worst: RB Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
Jeanty’s rookie season in Vegas has been underwhelming to say the least. He’s currently RB15 (11.2 fantasy points per game) and operates in one of the league’s least efficient offenses. Despite his draft capital, his production has been inconsistent, and this week’s matchup doesn’t offer much optimism.
On a short week, the Raiders travel to Cleveland to face a stifling Browns rush defense that limits opposing running backs to 15 fantasy points per game, the fourth-best mark in the NFL. Add in a Raiders offensive line that allows the highest rush-stuff rate (28.6 percent) and the second-lowest yards-per-carry average (3.7), and Jeanty will be in for tough sledding. After a 3.2-point outing against Dallas on Monday night, fantasy managers should temper expectations for Jeanty in Week 12.
Wide Receiver
Best: WR DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
Despite A.J. Brown leading the Eagles in targets last week, I’m higher on DeVonta Smith this week against a Swiss cheese Dallas defense. Outside of last week’s dud performance, Smith has been the Eagles’ most consistent fantasy option. He’s currently WR24 in points per game, commanding a 26.1% target share and 37.9% of the team’s air yards.
His chemistry with Jalen Hurts has made him a reliable chain-mover on intermediate and deep routes, and even with A.J. Brown’s continued public banter, Hurts should continue to look Smith’s way.
The Cowboys allow the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers and a league-high 16 receiving touchdowns, giving Smith a strong chance for a bounce-back performance.
Worst: WR Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
Khalil Shakir has been a steady safety valve for Josh Allen this season, but this week’s matchup won’t be easy. He’s coming off his worst game of the year, seeing almost no involvement (1 catch for -3 yards), despite Josh Allen’s career day.
Thursday night, Shakir and the Bills face a Houston defense that has allowed fewer than 100 receptions to wide receivers this season, ranks first in EPA, and has given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. With Allen continuing to spread the ball around, Shakir will need to fight for every target to make an impact. Fantasy managers might want to look elsewhere for receiver help in Week 12.
Tight End
Best: TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Hunter Henry has been up and down this year, but this week’s matchup is as favorable as they come. Cincinnati didn’t allow a touchdown to Pittsburgh last week, but they still let Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth stack 86 yards on just five catches.
The Bengals lead the league in touchdowns allowed to tight ends (12) and give up the most fantasy points per game to the position. Not to mention, they’re coughing up a brutal 418.2 yards per game and the second-most passing yards allowed per game (257.3).
While Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins have taken over the Pats’ aerial attack in recent weeks, Henry is still seeing enough involvement to keep him in the streaming conversation. He has 6, 4, and 6 targets over his last three games, and Drake Maye clearly trusts him as one of his primary reads. In a landscape where tight end production is always a headache, Henry brings fringe TE1 upside in Week 12.
Worst: TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
Dalton Schultz has been a reliable option since Week 5, averaging 5.8 catches and 60.5 receiving yards per game, but this week’s matchup is one to avoid. The Bills have been one of the stingiest defenses in the league against tight ends, allowing just 25 receptions and 270 receiving yards to the position while surrendering only a single touchdown.
They rank second-fewest in passing yards per game (169.7) and lowest in completions per game (16.8), leaving little room for Schultz to make an impact. In a game with the fifth-lowest expected point total of the week, fantasy managers should think twice before slotting the Texans’ tight end into their lineups.
