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

“This will be a popular answer in Week 12, but I have to go with the crowd with the selection of Jacksonville’s Bhayshul Tuten. By eye test alone, the rookie back has looked like the more dynamic option in the Jaguars’ backfield. An ankle injury has him questionable early in the week, but it don’t bother me none. Ultimately, coaches like their guys. Liam Coen drafted Tuten, not Etienne. The writing’s on the wall in favor of Tuten this week and for the rest of the season.”
– Matt De Lima (Athlon Sports)

“Bhayshul Tuten seems like an easy flex this week after he went off in Week 11. I know the Jags were inexplicably up big early against the Chargers, but Tuten also saw a career-high 15 carries and ripped off 5 yards per carry and a touchdown in the process. I get it. Travis Etienne also looked great himself, but the Cardinals this week won’t be much scarier as they’re giving up the 9th-most fantasy points to the RB position this season. Etienne should still operate as the starter, but the overall 141st fantasy player this week seems woefully undervalued given his production last week and his matchup this week.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)

Andrei Iosivas (WR – CIN)

“Andrei Iosivas is likely the biggest benefactor from the Ja’Marr Chase one-game suspension this week. He should slot into the starting role opposite Tee Higgins. And he could rack up some targets in a game that the Bengals could be throwing often to keep up with the high-powered Patriots offense. Iosivas has some fantasy potential to do good things in Week 12. He already has two games this year with 13-plus fantasy points as the third option in this passing game.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)

“The one-game suspension of Ja’Marr Chase is why Andrei Iosivas is about to have a breakout week, and is my top sleeper. With gunslinger QB Joe Flacco under centre, this is a big advantage, as Flacco leads the league in passing yards over his last four starts and has already shown a promising connection with Iosivas. It was only a few weeks ago that they connected for five catches, 66 yards, and a touchdown. Career day for Iosivas incoming!”
– Luke Renton (The Franchise Tag UK)

“Andrei Iosivas is the obvious streamer with the most upside in Week 12 with Ja’Marr Chase suspended. It’s not a smash spot for a receiver against New England’s defense, but top CB Christian Gonzalez will be all over Tee Higgins, leaving Yoshi as a second option. He’s quietly seen 11 targets the last two games, even with Chase active, so there’s good reason to expect PPR production.”
– Pierre Camus (Fantasy Endgame)

“The player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings that is a good sleeper start is Andrei Iosivas. This is clearly a spot start in your fantasy football lineup for this week only. Ja’Marr Chase is serving his one-game suspension this week, creating the potential for Andrei Iosivas to see increased targets in Week 12. It’s a great matchup against New England. Iosivas has two games this season with double-digit fantasy points.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)

“It’s possible that Andrei Iosivas could be to Week 12 what Michael Wilson was to Week 11. With Marvin Harrison Jr. out of the lineup last week, Wilson drew 18 targets and had 15 catches for 185 yards against the 49ers. Ja’Marr Chase has been suspended for Week 12 after spitting on the Steelers’ Jalen Ramsey last week. Tee Higgins becomes the Bengals’ No. 1 receiver, but Higgins is likely to see a lot of the Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez, one of the better cover men in the league. That could open opportunities for Iosivas. Joe Flacco has averaged 42.6 pass attempts over his five starts with the Bengals, and Iosivas could get a pretty substantial target share for Cincinnati this week.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Jalen Coker (WR – CAR)

“Jalen Coker is a strong sleeper start outside the top 100 this week thanks to his expanded role and elite matchup. He’s coming off his best game since returning from injury, posting 11.2 points on four catches for 52 yards. The 49ers have one of the worst pass rushes in the league and rank 25th in pass DVOA, making this a favorable spot for Carolina’s passing attack. As a primary slot receiver, Coker benefits even more since San Francisco allows an NFL-high 19.1 PPG to slot receivers. If Xavier Legette sits, Coker’s target volume could spike, and he’s already shown chemistry with Bryce Young, averaging a 19% target share and 55 yards over the final five weeks of 2024. Expect Coker to have his best performance of the season in Week 12.”
– Ryan Linkletter (Blitz Sports Media)

“Jalen Coker at the San Francisco 49ers. With so much attention from the defense going to breakout rookie Tet McMillan, Jalen Coker should have a lot of easy target upside this week from Bryce Young, who is coming off of an absolutely massive blowup game. Not to mention that the 49ers’ secondary has been pretty bad this season, as they’ve struggled quite a bit. Xavier Legette is a fine option here, too, I guess, but I’m going with Jalen Coker, because Coker has been more consistent in the past, I feel.”
– Aidan Weingartner (Fantasy In Frames)

Kyle Williams (WR – NE)

“Kyle Williams has seen an uptick in snaps the past two weeks. Now, seeing zero points against the Jets is not great, but he upped his snap share to 67%. He gets another easy matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are giving up the fifth-most passing yards to opposing offenses. D.J. Turner, one of the only bright spots on the Bengals’ defense, will likely be seeing a fair share of Stefon Diggs, which could put Williams in line for a big day.”
– Ryan Prosick (Fantrax)

Noah Fant (TE – CIN)

“With Ja’Marr Chase out this week due to suspension, someone will have to step up for the Bengals next to Tee Higgins and Chase Brown. Noah Fant could be that guy this week. Joe Flacco has liked to throw to Fant, logging 3 top-17 weekly finishes in his last 3 of 4 weeks. Fant has also scored in two of his last four games, all with Chase on the field. The Patriots are conceding the 12th-most points to the position thus far in 2025, and Cincy may have to throw a ton to keep up with New England’s offense. Fant will need a score, but the situation to stream him for managers needing tight end band aids couldn’t be better than it is this week. ”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE)

“Pats HC Mike Vrabel said that running back Rhamondre Stevenson would practice on Wednesday. If he plays, and since it’s vs the Bengals, we would have no reason to believe he wouldn’t be on the field and producing. Even with “Von” Henderson asserting himself these last few weeks as the team’s most explosive runner, both would be in line to get valuable touches.”
– Justin Jaksa (Dr. Roto)

Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE)

“Kayshon Boutte returns to practice this week. If he is back, he could be a sleeper to target. Drake Maye‘s breakout season has helped a lot of pieces. Boutte has had a great start, averaging 18.7 yards per catch. He has Maye’s trust and has five receiving touchdowns in eight games. The Bengals have allowed the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL with 25 already this season.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)

Adonai Mitchell (WR – NYJ)

“Adonai Mitchell’s physical ability passes the eye test. However, with the Colts, he failed all the other tests, resulting in his exile to New York, where talent goes to be wasted, as part of the Sauce Gardner trade. That being said, the Jets lack legitimate NFL wideouts to throw to with Garrett Wilson injured, making Mitchell their guy to try. In his first effort as a Jet, he led the team in targets even though the production didn’t follow. To be fair, Justin Fields can’t hit the broad side of a barn, so how could anyone turn targets into touches with him at QB? With Tyrod Taylor taking the reins, Mitchell’s targets should be there, the receptions and receiving yards will rise, and with the Ravens being one of the 10 worst defenses in points allowed to wide receivers, Mitchell is a sleeper ranked outside the Top 100 with the upside to put up double-digit fantasy numbers this week. And, I love the name. It feels like an opportunity to me.”
– Chris Mitchell (FantasyData)

Chig Okonkwo (TE – TEN)

“Pass catchers in Tennessee are dropping at a rapid rate (Calvin Ridley on IR, Chimere Dike with a chest injury/concussion, and Elic Ayomanor with a hamstring). All those injuries leave Cam Ward with one healthy, consistent pass catcher, Chig Okonkwo. Chig is an athletic tight end who has the talent to become a heavily targeted tight end, but it just hasn’t come to fruition. It might happen because there are no other options. Okonkwo could serve as a safety valve against a very good Seattle Seahawks defense, and at TE28, he could be a steal for Week 12.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE)

“Do I dare run down to CLE and some Shedeur Sanders/Cedric Tillman combination? The Raiders are, uh, not good. OK, he’ll need to avoid the meetup with Maxx Crosby. And Sanders appeared willing in his introduction to wing the ball downfield. Tillman went 3-for-4 with 52 receiving yards versus Baltimore.”
– Mike Harmon (Swollen Dome)