Fantasy Football Weekly: Playing Benny and the Jets

(Bloomberg) -- Week 12 of the NFL season is upon us, and many fantasy players are going to have to a game plan for some high-powered offenses finally catching their bye weeks.

The Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals are all off. So you’ll need to find fill-ins for fantasy stars like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Dalvin Cook, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler and Kyler Murray. To that list you can add Colts running back Marlon Mack, who is out indefinitely with a broken hand. Jonathan Williams, who filled in for Mack with more than 100 yards rushing last week, has been a popular waiver wire pick up.

Before we get to our Week 12 selections, let’s recap last week’s plays. A reminder: We look for value picks, not the obvious FAANG Stocks of Fantasy, like Christian McCaffrey. The picks are based on a points per reception league.

Bulls

Michael Gallup: 9 catches, 148 yards

Chris Godwin: 3 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD

Bears

Ryan Finley: 115 yards passing, 47 yards rushing

Tyler Boyd: 1 catch, 10 total yards

Tevin Coleman: 3 catches, 62 total yards

Brian Hill: 1 catch, 38 totals yards

James White: 4 catches, 36 total yards, 2 pt. conversion

Low Volatility

Philip Rivers: 353 yards passing, 1 TD, 4 INT

Ted Ginn Jr. 2 catches, 14 yards, 1 TD

Greg Olsen: 5 catches, 57 yards

Week 12 Value Picks

QB: Sam Darnold: The Jets quarterback is coming off a four touchdown performance against Washington. This week he gets the Raiders, who despite last week’s shutdown of Cincinnati’s passing game, are sixth worst against the pass in the league.

QB: Carson Wentz: A major fantasy disappointment. But, the Eagles quarterback gets the Seahawks, fifth worst in the league against the pass.

RB: Bo Scarbrough: Who? The former University of Alabama star is the latest Detroit running back to get a chance at the workhorse role. He gets to do so against Washington, who are fifth worst against the run.

RB: Benny Snell: We’ll have to check the injury list on Sunday, but the banged-up Steelers might get the rookie back against the Bengals, the worst defense against the run in the NFL. Don’t play Snell if James Conner suits up.

WR: Allen Robinson: Every team takes advantage of the Giants, who are giving up 29 points a game. Even the brutal Bears passing game should be able to capitalize.

WR: D.K. Metcalf: He goes up against the Eagles who are fourth best against the run in the league. Expect the Seahawks to throw against the Philadelphia secondary.

WR: Calvin Ridley: Expect a high-scoring affair against the Bucs, the second worst against the pass in the league.

WR: Terry McLaurin: The Washington wide receiver goes up against the Lions, who have given up 2.2 touchdown passes per game, the fifth most in the league.

WR: Robby Anderson: He’s been a disappointment this season. Fellow receiver Jamison Crowder has been getting more balls thrown his way, but Anderson may get a deep one in this contest.

TE: Cameron Brate: Tampa Bay tight ends have been pretty much non-existent this year until last week when Brate hauled in 10 catches. Counting on that becoming a trend.

TE: Jacob Hollister: The Seahawk has been one of the best fantasy tight ends the past few weeks with three touchdowns in his last two games.

To contact the reporter on this story: Richard Trueman in New York at rtrueman@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Matthew Miller at mtmiller@bloomberg.net, Brandon Kochkodin, Matthew G. Miller

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