Fantasy Football: Week Twelve Staff Must Start, Must Sit and Sleeper Picks

J.T. McGrath

START: Colin Kaepernick, QB – San Francisco 49ers

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Look, I’m not exactly THRILLED with putting his name here, but “Kap” faces a Washington secondary that has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. I own Brady (which incidentally, has become the free agency add of the year in my league), but I’m probably going to sit him in favor of Kaepernick and his cakewalk matchup. Although he’s been a lower-end QB1 up to this point, the situation is ideal for Kap to post elite numbers at home this Sunday.

SIT: Larry Fitzgerald, WR – Arizona Cardinals

First off, Fitz might not even play this weekend, due to his MCL sprain. Even if he does, he has the not-so-luxurious privilege of squaring off against the league’s stingiest secondary in Seattle. If it’s me, I’m not playing any Cardinal wide receivers, with the exception of maybe John Brown, who has the wheels to toast any defender. Still, the Seahawks are about as dominant at home as any team, and after a road loss to the Chiefs last weekend, be rest assured that Richard Sherman and the Legion of Boom will be hungry to shut down this Arizona bunch.

SLEEPER: Isaiah Crowell, RB – Cleveland Browns

Remember in week five, when I told you to keep this guy on your radar? Just to make sure, I reminded you in week seven. So here I am, notching Crowell in my ‘SLEEPER’ box for the third time this year. What’s changed? Well, let’s see. Ben Tate is out of the picture, and on his way to Minnesota, so there’s that. Terrance West is averaging a meager 3.6 yards per carry, which is a FULL YARD per carry less than Crowell (4.6 YPC). Oh, and that one guy…some dude named Josh Gordon comes back this week (another guy to consider immediately inserting into your lineup), which should create more room for the running game. Did I also mention Cleveland is playing an Atlanta team that has given up the most rushing touchdowns this season? Crowell is the real deal and if he can hang onto the football – his one glaring weakness this season – he’ll be a beast in this league for years to come…starting now.