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

Buccaneers@Falcons

 

Game Info

Kickoff: Sunday, November 24th at 1:00 pm EST

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Betting Odds: ATL -4.5, 51.5 total via Oddsshark

Network: FOX

Sleeper Spotlight: Russell Gage

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

Quarterback:

• Jameis Winston (Sit)

 

This one makes me nervous. Atlanta’s new look or new coached, the defense has dominated over the last two weeks. Since HC Dan Quinn handed over the play-calling duties, the Falcons have allowed 12 points, sacked the quarterback 11 times, and forced four turnovers. Meanwhile, over the last two weeks, Jameis Winston has been sacked six times and thrown six picks in the last two games. I’ve designated Winston as a sit-in 12-team leagues, but he comes in as QB14 for me, so if you’re in a pinch, feel free to roll him out. 

 

Running Backs:

• Ronald Jones, Jr. (Sit)
• Peyton Barber (Sit)
• Dare Ogunbowale (Sit)

 

Just one week removed from thinking it was Ronald Jones, Jr. SZN (right, this is what the kids are doing these days?) it turns out it was Dare Ogunbowale that saw the majority of the running back snaps. To be fair, none of the running backs played a major role in the offense, further solidifying my opinion to sit them all, especially if you’re in the playoff hunt. 

 

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends:

• Mike Evans (Start/WR1)
• Chris Godwin (Start/WR1)
• O.J. Howard (Sit)
• Cameron Brate (Start/TE1)

 

It always feels weird putting both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as WR1s, when we know they don’t correlate well and one of them is bound to not finish as a WR1, but here we are. Following Evans’ Week 5 goose egg, he proceeded to rip off three weeks of monster production in which he saw 45 targets. However, he’s caught just four passes in each of the last two weeks. Godwin, on the other hand, had seen no less than eight targets in each of his last six games before seeing just six in Week 11 against the Saints. Regardless, if you have them in season-long, you’re firing them up. After dropping his only target of the game and being benched against the Saints, O.J. Howard is officially dead to me. The positive to that is Cameron Brate saw 14 targets in Week 11, making him startable as a backend TE1. 

 

Atlanta Falcons

 

Quarterback:

• Matt Ryan (Start/QB1)

 

Matt Ryan now has gone over the 300-yard mark in seven of his nine games played and that total will likely increase again this week against the Bucs. For the year, the Bucs have allowed the second-most passing yards per game and the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, making Ryan an easy start this week. For what it’s worth, I have just Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and maybe Deshaun Watson ahead of him this week. 

 

Running Backs:

• Brian Hill (Sit)

 

Anyone else falls for Brian Hill chalk week in DFS last week? Hill was still the Falcons’ primary back, seeing 60% of their snaps and 72% of their running back touches, but ended up with just 38 yards on 16 touches against the Panthers. This week, he’ll face the Bucs run defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs this year, making him an easy sit.

 

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends:

• Julio Jones (Start/WR1)
• Calvin Ridley (Start/WR2)
• Russell Gage (Start/Flex)
• Jaeden Graham (Sit)

 

In my home league, I’m tied atop the division at 8-3 and face the guy I’m tied with this week. He has Julio Jones and I’m shaking in my boots because of this matchup. The Bucs have been gashed in the passing game all year, allowing the most fantasy points per game to wideouts. Jones is a start every week, but this should be a ceiling game for him. Calvin Ridley’s production has been a little hit or miss, but one consistent thing is his workload. Ridley’s seen at least six targets in all but two games this year and that’s with the emergence of Austin Hooper. With Hooper sidelined last week, Ridley saw eight targets, catching all eight for 143 yards and a touchdown. With Hooper continuing to be sidelined, Ridley should be in for another big game. One of my favorite sleeper wide receivers this week is Russell Gage. The Bucs run defense has been legit all year, so I expect the Falcons to abandon the run relatively early. Since Mohamed Sanu was traded, Gage’s snap share has increased dramatically, as he’s filled Sanu’s old role. I wouldn’t be surprised if Gage saw at least 6-8 targets this week, making him a sneaky flex play in PPR leagues. With Hooper out nursing a knee injury, Jaeden Graham saw his snaps increase and saw two targets in Week 11. Graham’s a player to keep an eye on while Hooper is out, but also keep an eye on the injury report, because HC Dan Quinn said Hooper is ahead of schedule and could practice this week. 

-Rich Holman