Sit/Start Week 12 Reviewing All Fantasy Relevant Players In Every Single Game

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, November 29th at 1:00 PM ET

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Betting Odds: LV -3, 55.5 total via Oddsshark

Network: CBS

Las Vegas Raiders

Quarterback

Derek Carr (Start, QB1)

Derek Carr is a QB2 most weeks but should be a safe bet for QB1 production this week against the Falcons. Carr usually has a good shot at respectable fantasy production when the Raiders need to throw the heck out of the football. Atlanta is allowing the second-most passing yards per game and the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Plus, this game could turn into a high-scoring shootout. I believe Carr should be capable of QB1 numbers this week.

Running Backs

Josh Jacobs (Start, Low-end RB1)

The Falcons’ defense has been pretty capable against running backs this year, allowing the tenth-fewest fantasy points to the position. Still, Josh Jacobs has been great this year and is currently sitting at the overall RB5 spot. Although the match-up isn’t beneficial, I still believe Jacobs will turn in another RB1 performance this week, even if it’s on the lower end.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Nelson Agholor (Low-end Flex), Henry Ruggs III (Sit), Hunter Renfrow (Sit), Darren Waller (Start, TE1)

Nelson Agholor is having himself a volatile fantasy season. He had his second-best fantasy total last week and his second-worst the week before. Plus, he’s averaging a touchdown in at least every other game. He won’t be easy to trust, but a great match-up against the Falcons (allowing the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers) should make Agholor a viable low-end flex option, especially in deeper leagues.

Averaging 3.8 fantasy points per game over his last five, Henry Ruggs III is still just a bench stash for now. He’s only reached double-digit points once this year. The juicy match-up this week still isn’t enough to warrant any start consideration for Ruggs. Hunter Renfrow is in a similar situation. He’s averaging two catches in each of his last three games and has only scored twice this year. Renfrow’s fantasy ceiling is far too low to trust him.

Darren Waller is having a great 2020 season and is on pace to finish the season as the overall TE2. He’s part of an elusive club of set-and-forget tight ends this year. If that wasn’t enough, the Falcons are allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends this year. Start with confidence.

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback

Matt Ryan (Start, High-end QB2)

Last week, Matt Ryan had his lowest passer rating since 2013 and his worst fantasy performance of the 2020 season. Luckily, the Raiders are allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year. Las Vegas is also allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game, and this one could turn into a shootout. I like Ryan’s chances for a bounce-back performance this week and believe he will finish somewhere around the QB12 spot.

Running Backs

Todd Gurley II (Start, High-end RB2)

Todd Gurley II had his worst fantasy performance of the season in Week 11 as well, but I wouldn’t give up on him just yet. Gurley played the Saints last week, a team that’s currently allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this year. Plus, the Falcons fell behind quickly, and Gurley suffered from a bad game script, getting only eight carries overall. This week’s match-up is much better. The Raiders are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs this year. I believe Gurley should have a bounce-back game with a reliable RB2 performance. It’s worth mentioning that Gurley didn’t practice on Wednesday, but it was likely a veteran rest day.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Julio Jones (Start if active, WR2), Calvin Ridley (Start, Low-end WR1), Russell Gage (Sit), Olamide Zaccheaus (Sit), Hayden Hurst (Start, Low-end TE1)

Julio Jones struggled with his nagging hamstring injury in last week’s game and only played 35% of Atalanta’s offensive snaps. Head coach Raheem Morris has already said Jones will be a game-time decision this week. Many fantasy players already know Jones is infamous for his nearly perpetual “Questionable” tag. Luckily, this game is at 1:00 PM, meaning you can keep an eye on his status and set your lineup before game time. Assuming he’s good to go, Julio will still be tough to trust this week if he’s on a pitch count with that lingering hammy. If he’s active, I still think Jones can turn in a WR2 performance against a Raiders’ secondary currently allowing the fifth-most passing yards per game, but I wouldn’t expect much more. 

Even with the Falcons offense seriously struggling last week, Calvin Ridley still somehow got nine targets and 90 yards. I like Ridley’s chances for a productive week. The Raiders are allowing the 13th-most fantasy points to wide receivers, and this game should be pretty high-scoring. The chief concern for this week will be wondering if the Raiders’ defense focuses on Ridley if Jones is out.

Russell Gage did well last week with a 12.8-point performance (his best since Week 2) and 12 targets (his most since Week 1). It will be tough getting excited over Gage if Jones is inactive. Many expected Russell to step up in Jones’ absence earlier this year, but he was underwhelming. I’m not expecting too much from Gage if Jones is inactive, but you could do worse if you’re desperate for an injury replacement in a deeper fantasy league. Heck, even Olamide Zaccheaus could be the one to step up if Jones is inactive. He exploded in Week 9 when Ridley wasn’t playing. It could be too difficult to predict who will be more relevant if Jones is inactive.

Hayden Hurst had an impressive four-week streak where he averaged roughly 13 fantasy points per game but, unfortunately, put up a goose egg last week. The Raiders have done pretty well against tight ends this year, but that’s not quite enough to scare me off this week. The tight end position has been rough for fantasy managers this year, and you could certainly do worse than Hurst this week.

-Ryan Kruse (@ryanpkruse)