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DRAFT NFL Lineup Advice: Week 12 (Thur/Sun/Mon)

DRAFT NFL Lineup Advice: Week 12 (Thur/Sun/Mon)

Last week, Alex Smith was a bust against the Giants, but we made up for it by suggesting to play a Thursday-Monday slate and take Antonio Brown first overall. AB led all scorers with 37.4 fantasy points. His teammate, Ben Roethlisberger, was the fourth-highest fantasy scorer (28.96).

This week, we have three games on Thanksgiving. So, I’ll provide my advice to those participating in the three-game slate, as well.

Now, on to the Week 12 rankings…

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Quarterback

1. Tom Brady, Patriots (vs. Dolphins)
2. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (@ 49ers)
3. Carson Wentz, Eagles (vs. Bears)
4. Kirk Cousins, Redskins (vs. Giants)
5. Cam Newton, Panthers (@ Jets)
6. Matt Ryan, Falcons (vs. Buccaneers)
7. Marcus Mariota, Titans (@ Colts)
8. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (vs. Packers)
9. Drew Brees, Saints (@ Rams)
10. Alex Smith, Chiefs (vs. Bills)

First, the three-game slate. Kirk Cousins is the best QB for Thursday. The Giants are allowing the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Last week, Alex Smith struggled in the high winds, but he still threw for 230 yards. For the rest of you three-entry Thursday rankings, I’d take Matthew Stafford and then Dak Prescott.

Back on the main slate, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson lead the pack. Brady has thrown three TDs in back-to-back games and will face a Miami secondary that has allowed seven passing touchdowns in the past three weeks.

Wilson has been one of the most consistent QBs recently. He’s thrown at least two TDs in five-straight games. Opposing quarterbacks have thrown at least two passing TDs in five-straight games against the 49ers, too.

Running back

1. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers (vs. Packers)
2. Todd Gurley, Rams (vs. Saints)
3. LeSean McCoy, Bills (@ Chiefs)
4. Mark Ingram, Saints (@ Rams)
5. Melvin Gordon, Chargers (@ Cowboys)
6. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (vs. Bills)
7. Alvin Kamara, Saints (@ Rams)
8. Leonard Fournette, Jaguars (@ Cardinals)
9. Carlos Hyde, 49ers (vs. Seahawks)
10. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (@ Jets)
11. Lamar Miller, Texans (@ Ravens)
12. Jordan Howard, Bears (@ Eagles)
13. Devonta Freeman, Falcons (vs. Buccaneers)
14. DeMarco Murray, Titans (@ Colts)
15. Samaje Perine, Redskins (vs. Giants)
16. Jerick McKinnon, Vikings (@ Lions)
17. Alfred Morris, Cowboys (vs. Chargers)
18. Dion Lewis, Patriots (vs. Dolphins)
19. Orleans Darkwa, Giants (@ Redskins)
20. Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. Browns)

It is slim pickings from the running back pool on Thursday’s slate. Melvin Gordon is my top-ranked option and Samaje Perine is second (Jerick McKinnon is a close third). Although Gordon has scored three touchdowns in the past five games, he’s only broken the 100-yard mark in rushing twice this season.

Perine tallied 117 yards and one touchdown last week against the Saints. He’s the main RB now that Chris Thompson is out. Both Thompson and Rob Kelley have been placed on IR.

McKinnon has the best matchup of the Thanksgiving slate. Detroit allowed the Bears to tally 222 rushing yards and two TDs on 30 carries last week.

For Sunday and Monday, the usual suspects are on the top of the list: Le’Veon Bell, Todd Gurley, and LeSean McCoy. After that, we have two names who could finish Week 12 on top of the leaderboard.

Mark Ingram (and Alvin Kamara) will face a Rams defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Latavius Murray rushed for 95 yards and two TDs last week. Ingram, along with Gurley, leads the league with eight rushing TDs in 2017.

Kareem Hunt has cooled off after starting the season with four TDs in the first three games of his NFL career. Since then, he’s failed to reach the end zone, but is still averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He’ll have his chance to reach paydirt this week. The Bills have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs in the past five weeks.

Wide receiver/Tight end

1. Antonio Brown, Steelers (vs. Packers)
2. Michael Thomas, Saints (@ Rams)
3. Julio Jones, Falcons (vs. Buccaneers)
4. A.J. Green, Bengals (vs. Browns)
5. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (@ Ravens)
6. Adam Thielen, Vikings (@ Lions)
7. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks (@ 49ers)
8. Keenan Allen, Chargers (@ Cowboys)
9. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (@ Falcons)
10. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins (@ Patriots)
11. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs (vs. Bills)
12. Brandin Cooks, Patriots (vs. Dolphins)
13. Golden Tate, Lions (vs. Vikings)
14. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (@ Raiders)
15. T.Y. Hilton, Colts (vs. Titans)
16. Devin Funchess, Panthers (@ Jets)
17. Alshon Jeffery, Eagles (vs. Bears)
18. Jamison Crowder, Redskins (vs. Giants)
19. Mohamed Sanu, Falcons (vs. Buccaneers)
20. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (vs. Chargers)

Unlike the running back situation, you’ll have plenty of options at the WR/TE spot for your DRAFT lineups this week.

For your Thursday lineups, Adam Thielen is top of the class. He’s accumulated at least 98 receiving yards and a TD in three-straight games. With Darius Slay likely covering Stefon Diggs, Thielen should continue to attract the No. 2 CB in the secondary.

Another option for the Thursday slate is the resurgence of Keenan Allen. Last week, he notched 159 yards and two TDs on 12 catches. On a short week, look for the Chargers to copy and paste the game plan for Dallas.

For a steal of an option in the Sunday-Monday games, look to T.Y. Hilton. The Titans have allowed at least 98 receiving yards and a touchdown to opposing No. 1 WRs in the past three weeks: Jeremy Maclin, A.J. Green, and Antonio Brown. AB had a monster game against Tennessee last week: 10 catches, 144 yards, and three TDs.

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Adam Meyer is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Adam, check out his archive and follow him @CharlieSideHstl.

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