Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Week 12 (2025)

Week 11 of the NFL season had its ups and downs. We saw some big plays on both sides of the ball, but the injury monster continues to ravage NFL locker rooms. Week 12 is here, and Thursday Night Football, while disappointing for the schedule makers who expected a heavyweight battle between two division leaders, still gave us a surprisingly competitive matchup. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.

Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Week 12

Start em

Isaiah McDuffie (LB – GB)
Isaiah McDuffie got some extra burn in Week 11, finishing the afternoon with five solos, six assists, and 0.5 sacks. McDuffie has been a strong spot starter in the past and may be called upon again for Week 12 if Quay Walker (shoulder) is sidelined. Walker has missed the first two practices of the week, putting him in doubt for Week 12. Expect him to be ruled out sometime this afternoon. Fire McDuffie up as a borderline LB2 option if he indeed gets the start against the Minnesota Vikings.

Curtis Robinson (LB – SF)
Robinson showed up in Week 11, reeling off five solos and seven assists. Robinson played 68 percent of the snaps against Arizona due to Tatum Bethune leaving the game with a high ankle sprain, an injury that suggests that Robinson will see an increased role in Week 12 as well. Tap the veteran lienbacker as an LB3 option for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.

Cody Simon (LB – ARI)
Simon showed up in Week 11, reeling off four solos and eight assists on 100 percent of the snaps. Simon has stepped in as a starter since Mack Wilson has been sidelined, and looks like he can provide solid LB3/4 production in the interim. Tap the rookie linebacker as an LB3 option for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

LaCale London (DE – ATL)
LaCale showed up in Week 11, notching three solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss. London has recorded all three of his sacks in his last two games and has a nice two game stretch coming up against New Orleans and the New York Jets for fantasy managers to take advantage of. He has yet to top 50 percent of the snaps this season, so he remains more of a deep league target than someone to plug into lineups in 12-team leagues. Start LaCale in 16+ team leagues where needed.

Evan Williams (S – GB)
Evan Williams showed up in Week 11, reeling off five solos, four assists, one interception, and one pass defended in what was the talented corner’s best fantasy game of the season. Williams has put together two straight plus outings despite being a low-floor DB3 option, so perhaps this is a sign of good things to come. Tap Williams as a top-36 option for a plus Week 12 matchup against J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings. Start Williams where needed.

Sit em

Patrick Queen (LB – PIT)
Queen showed up in Week 11, racking up five solos and five assists. Queen has been an LB4 since the Steelers bye, and his production this past weekend does nothing to change that. He is capable of spike weeks but has been a waiver wire level producer for most of the season. Stash him where needed, but keep him far from lineups despite the strong Week 11 production and the plus matchup against the Chicago Bears.

Deommodore Lenoir (CB – SF)
Deommodore Lenoir showed up in Week 11, reeling off four solos, three assists, one interception, and two passes defended. The pick was Lenoir’s second of the season, both of which have come in his last four games. Lenoir is not much of an option for those in DB leagues, but can be trusted as a CB2 option in CB leagues. Look elsewhere for your Week 12 DB3.

James Pierre (CB – PIT)
James Pierre showed up in Week 11, racking up three solos, three assists, one fumble recovery, two passes defended, and one touchdown. Pierre has not been much of a fantasy factor this season, so those outside of 32-team leagues can safely ignore the Steelers’ corner for Week 12, despite the plus matchup against the Chicago Bears.

Darrell Baker Jr. (CB – TEN)
Baker showed up in Week 11, notching an impressive nine solos, three assists, and one pass defended. Baker has topped four solos just one other time all season, leaving him off the fantasy radar despite the strong Week 11 performance. Look elsewhere for your Week 12 CB2/DB3.

Billy Bowman Jr. (S – ATL)
Billy Bowman was excellent in Week 11, tallying four solos, one sack, and one tackle for loss. The rookie safety has flashed, but is still nothing more than a bye week filler. Those in 12-team leagues should be able to plug better options into their lineups even with multiple options on bye, and are advised to look elsewhere for Week 12, despite the tasty matchup against the New Orleans Saints.