The season is starting to run itself through its most chaotic time, as things are becoming more exciting and contested. Teams are beginning to focus on the playoffs or the draft board for next season, and players with solid relationships are trying to help their team leaders. Some teams must dial in their performances to support their team leaders. When looking at teams for the upcoming fantasy weeks, it’s imperative that we look at the team’s matchups as so many players are now stacked atop the rankings and may not have much differentiating them.
So, who are we looking at to break out this week, and who are we leaving on our benches? Let’s check it out.
Booms: Week 12
Travis Kelce, TE – Kansas City Chiefs
Week 12 Matchup: at Carolina Panthers (32nd vs TE’s)
Yes, I know the shine has worn off on Travis Kelce through sheer pop culture comeuppance and years of dominant play. Kelce has been called “done for” and “past his prime” so many times this season, but reading through the tea leaves, it seems as if the team, more than anything, has done a lot of offensive experimenting to find what works, as their win-loss record is mostly win filled due to their defense. Kelce has had his ups and downs throughout the season and saw Noah Gray poach two end-zone tuddies, but it sure seems like this may be a matchup where he can thrive. The Chiefs have not had the most talent-filled offense after losing Isaiah Pacheco for most of the season and Rashee Rice for all of it. So, they’ve capitalized on matchups, and Kelce gets a delicious one. The Carolina Panthers have been putrid all season, and where they’ve been worst is against the tight-end position. Kelce comes in off a game where he saw only four targets and two receptions, so this is a perfect “GET RIGHT” game, and Patrick Mahomes is always one to link his buddy up. While Pacheco is nearing return any day now, they will want Kelce to get in a groove before their playoff run. This could be the perfect time to do it. Let’s hope Noah Gray doesn’t hog the mashed potatoes (TDs) in this one.
Ladd McConkey, WR – Los Angeles Chargers
Week 12 Matchup: vs Baltimore Ravens (32nd vs WRs)
This is another situation where the player is starting to get in a groove with the quarterback and can benefit from an amazing matchup right in front of them. Justin Herbert started the season with a month and a half of “Is he even a pro-ready QB anymore?” but in just the past few weeks, he’s starting to look like the old Herbert that had so many scouts and fans alike buzzing. Greg Roman has this offense humming, and between the bowling ball battering that J.K. Dobbins can supply and the speedy passing attack of Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey, the Chargers have a “buzz.” In his past five games, Herbert has gone under 275 yards just once, and a large part of that equation is thanks to McConkey. One of the scout’s favorite receivers coming out of the draft was Ladd, and while it’s taken just a bit longer than anticipated for Herbert to get back to life, it seems the reality of the matter is the Chargers may finally have the offense they’ve been working towards for awhile. McConkey receives a large number of targets and is quite surehanded with them. Against a suspect secondary, there likely won’t be much in the way of a play-action pass that slips McConkey behind the defense for a touchdown at any point in this game. What may be even more exciting for the rookie is the fact that his yards per target have started to churn up to the tune of over 16.5 yards per catch over his last four weeks. Most football fans know of Ladd, but not enough realize how much of a game-changer he looks to be. This could be the week he makes his mark as a bona fide rising star.
Brian Robinson/Jayden Daniels – RB+QB – Washington Commanders
Week 12 Matchup: vs Dallas Cowboys (31st vs RB’s)
The Washington Commanders have been one of the surprise stories of the season, and it’s in huge part to these two names mentioned above. The Washington football team has been somewhat of a laughingstock of the NFC East, but with the removal of Dan Snyder from the picture, this team seems to be on the upswing through some superior drafting. While Daniels will likely get past any rushing yard prop of the weekend, it’s Brian Robinson who is mostly the benefactor in this article. Brian Robinson started the season on an absolute tear, with jokes echoing through fantasy player circles that he may be “the better B Robinson.” A few weeks later, Bijan Robinson looks like a mythic god, while Brian has struggled to get on the field. Brian seems to be in the right spot to recover, however, as he’s facing one of the worst defensive squads against the run, who are also planning their vacation trips for the offseason.
Yes, Robinson has had his game saved by consistent touchdown carries, but I would like to think that the Cowboys game could be one where the Commanders get up early extremely on against a backup quarterback in Cooper Rush and milk the clock for the remainder of the game with large amounts of rushing.
Busts: Week 12
Chuba Hubbard- RB, Carolina Panthers
Week 12 Matchup: vs Kansas City Chiefs (1st vs RB’s)
I’m sorry, Chuba Hubbard, but this isn’t another entry in your fairy tale season. Chuba has had the backup role in Carolina for so long, treading water while Christian McCaffrey was around, and then waiting in the wings while Miles Sanders struggled. He finally got a chance to start, and it came with a contract extension. Unfortunately, that will be where the good news ends for Hubbard this season. This may be true in multiple ways. Chuba lines up across the sidelines from an offense that will likely put up a large number of points against his team, forcing the Panthers to throw the ball more than usual on Sunday. If that doesn’t scare you, look at the fact that the Chiefs are allowing the LEAST amount of rushing fantasy points to the backs facing them. Hubbard will have an uphill battle on Sunday, and it won’t make it better than Bryce Young will likely be throwing the ball to try and get you back in the game. Oh, and if all of this isn’t enough, Jonathon Brooks is getting some buzz from local writers and fantasy writers alike who think they could see him get carries in the range of 8 to 10 as they start to work him back in.
Nico Collins – WR, Houston Texans
Week 12 Matchup: vs Tennessee Titans (2nd vs WRs)
Nico Collins has had fantasy owners waiting for a while, showing his incredible upside at the end of September and then disappearing for almost six weeks with injury woes. He had a decent return game, catching 4 of 7 targets for 54 yards, but he also had a lengthy touchdown called back. This week, he faces a squad that isn’t looking great in the win-loss column but has shut down wide receivers to the tune of the second-lowest points per game on the season. There isn’t a great slate of games this week, and you may grit your teeth at this matchup and be forced to use Nico. While understood, there is some potential for his value to crash down to earth, and we should at least look to see what other options we have here while he continues to ramp up after his injury.
Mark Andrews – TE, Baltimore Ravens
Week 12 Matchup vs Los Angeles Chargers (4th vs TEs)
This is just a perfect storm for Mark Andrews, going into an extremely difficult matchup against the tight-end coverage of the Chargers while also capitalizing against the wide-receiver porous defense the Chargers employ. Mark Andrews has been off and on all season, going from an extremely horrific start to bouncing back for a couple of weeks, and now we’re back to a difficult matchup with a touchdown-dependent tight end. Andrews hasn’t covered 7 targets all season, and the Ravens offense just doesn’t need to give him more. While it should have been sitting right in front of our very eyes, it makes sense now that the signing of Derrick Henry has caused a large portion of Mark Andrews middle of the field targets to dissolve, and now we’re dependent on a touchdown from him to even have a good showing. Pair all of this with a position that has been oddly better than expected, and I’m out on Mark. You can have him, and I’ll go down another ten ranking spots on the chart and take a chance on someone like Will Dissly or Dallas Goedert.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on IG & Threads, @kuwasemiller on Bluesky)