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

Connor Wilcoxen

START: Keenan Allen, WR – San Diego Chargers

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Keenan Allen has had a very disappointing season so far. He only has one touchdown and 537 receiving yards, but I believe this is the week where Allen will play like he did last year. The Chargers lost three straight before barely beating the worst team in the NFL, the Oakland Raiders. They need to start playing better if they want to make the playoffs, and in order to do that, players like Keenan Allen need to step up. This week the Chargers play the St. Louis Rams, and they will need to throw the ball in order to score fast and early so they can put the Rams away in the beginning of the game. Allen still has to compete with Malcom Floyd for receptions, but this week seems to be the week for Allen to step up in the Chargers’ offense.

SIT: Jeremy Hill, RB – Cincinnati Bengals

This was a tough decision, but I believe that fantasy owners should plan to sit Jeremy Hill this week, mainly because of Giovani Bernard’s return. Bernard is coming off a three week injury and Hill played incredibly while Bernard was gone, but I would trust Bernard over the young rookie. Hill had two really good games and one poor fantasy game where he only scored five points. However, Bernard has been playing at a high level for the past two years, and he has proven himself to fantasy owners. If you are in a bind and need to start a running back, then Jeremy Hill is not a bad option. I just recommend that fantasy owners bench him for two starting running backs instead of a backup.

SLEEPER: Jonas Gray, RB – New England Patriots

I know what you’re thinking: there’s no way that this guy puts up the same numbers he had against the Colts. I don’t believe he will have 201 yards and four touchdowns either, but I do think he’s a sleeper this week. The Patriots do not have many running backs to choose from, and after Gray’s performance last week there’s no reason for Belichick to bench him. If Gray gets the ball a lot at the beginning of the game and he starts to perform well, then there is a good chance that he will get a lot of carries and run up his numbers again. It will not be easy for Gray to have a big game against one of the best defenses in the NFL, but there is a possibility that he will put up some points this week, and that would be good enough for me to give him a chance on my fantasy roster.