Faux Football Preview - Week 12
Chew previews Week 12 in the NFL with some redraft and dynasty fantasy advice.
Week 11 is behind us, and we eye Week 10 as we inch closer to the fantasy playoffs. There were surprise boom weeks from Bryce Young, Sean Tucker, Michael Wilson, and A.J. Barner; however, there were duds from Sam Darnold, Tony Pollard, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Kyle Pitts. Let’s look ahead to a healthy, fantasy-point-filled Week 12.
Check out last week’s preview here to see how things shook out. As a reminder, both redraft and dynasty are considered in this weekly roundup, so without further ado, let’s get to it.
DYNASTY BUY/SELL
Once the NFL season starts, the dynasty mindset can take a backseat to the redraft mindset. Each week, I will highlight two players to buy and two players to sell in dynasty, providing examples for each. As always, the trades are taken from the dynasty-daddy.com trade database.
Buy #1 - SEAN TUCKER
Well, Sean Tucker got his annual 30-fantasy performance! Week 11 was a booming one for Tucker, as he appeared to overtake Rachaad White as the more explosive option in the Tampa Bay backfield. Fortunately for dynasty managers, buying Tucker has value for the 2025 season and beyond. There is enough uncertainty in the return of Bucky Irving to add Tucker, and enough optimism in the Buccaneers not resigning White to buy Tucker NOW!
Trade #1: Sean Tucker ←→ ‘26 3rd
Trade #2: Sean Tucker ←→ Keon Coleman
Sell #1 - XAVIER LEGETTE
Color me a pessimistic Panthers’ fan, but I cannot buy into Xavier Legette as a viable receiver for fantasy. The hesitancy is in both his skill set and the passing volume of the offense. The addition of Tetairoa McMillan helps Bryce Young and the Panthers’ offense as a whole, but it settles Legette into a smaller target share on a run-first offense. With growth in 2025, there is weekly touchdown upside for Legette, but it is not often enough that I can confidently start him in fantasy. After a touchdown feels like the right time to sell Legette in dynasty.
Trade #1: Xavier Legette + ‘26 2nd ←→ Ricky Pearsall
Trade #2: Xavier Legette ←→ David Montgomery
Buy #2 - JAYLEN WARREN
Apparently, Kenneth Gainwell is an absolute stud! After Jaylen Warren picked up an injury early in the second half of Week 11, the Steelers leaned on Gainwell and rookie Kaleb Johnson. I trust in what Warren has put on tape throughout 2025 that the Steelers will feed him as long as he is healthy. Warren is on pace for a career year, and as a 27-year-old running back, I think he is firmly in his fantasy prime.
Trade #1: Jaylen Warren ←→ Xavier Worthy
Trade #2: Jaylen Warren + Chris Olave + ‘27 3rd ←→ Zay Flowers + ‘27 2nd
Sell #2 - T.J. HOCKENSON
I feel old that T.J. Hockenson is already 28 years old, but here we are. Hockenson is a few seasons removed from back-to-back top-5 fantasy performances in 2022 and 2023. It is unfortunate what the quarterback situation has become for the former Iowa product. Will that flux at quarterback derail the last few years of Hockenson’s prime? I think it may, and for those dynasty managers who are still able to move him, please do!
Trade #1: T.J. Hockenson + ‘26 4th ←→ ‘27 2nd
Trade #2: T.J. Hockenson + Rome Odunze + ‘26 5th ←→ Tucker Kraft + ‘26 1st
HANDCUFF HIERARCHY
The running back position can be one of frustration in fantasy as we scour the bench and waiver wire to fill in when injuries and bye weeks strike. But since we are just now getting started with the NFL season, here is a look at the various tiers for all 32 backup running backs. As the season progresses, we will see players rise and fall amongst the tiers, so stay tuned!
*This list only includes each team’s RB-2; thus, if the RB-1 is injured, then the RB-3 will take the place of the RB-2 on this list.
STANDALONE VALUE
These players have flex appeal even with the RB-1 being healthy in Week 12.
David Montgomery, Kyle Monangai, Tyjae Spears, Tyler Allgeier, and Jordan Mason are squarely behind their backfield leaders, but with the right matchups, there is reason for optimism.
Zach Charbonnet and Kyle Monangai have overshadowed their RB-1s at times, but remain in complementary roles.
Kenneth Gainwell could rise to a starting role pending Jaylen Warren’s injury status, which would be huge for his fantasy viability.
Michael Carter and Devin Singletary both have roles in their respective offenses; however, I am not optimistic about either being anything more than flex plays in Week 12.
Sean Tucker may very well take the starting role if Bucky Irving remains sidelined. Rachaad White will still have a role, but Tucker is the more explosive option.
SPOT STARTER
The initial RB-1 is injured, and everyone moves up the depth chart, or the player has a specialized role.
Nick Chubb may have finally been usurped by rookie Woody Marks; however, Chubb will likely still have a role, albeit a diminished one.
Blake Corum, Devin Neal, Chuba Hubbard, and Brian Robinson are squarely behind their RB-1s, but they still get touches that could warrant a deep flex play.
Isaiah Davis, Ty Johnson, and Justice Hill all have complementary roles that can grow depending on the game script.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
If you are in a DEEP league, these are the rest of the bunch that you’re forced to pick from for Week 12.
This group is completely overshadowed by a bellcow back or limited by an anemic offense.
TIGHT END STREAMERS
Of all the fantasy-relevant positions, it’s the tight end that is my favorite to stream. If you were not fortunate enough to get one of the top few tight ends, it can be a futile process to find fantasy points at the tight end position. Here are three tight ends ranked outside the top 12 who are stream-worthy in Week 12.
A Look Back At Week 11 (If Top-12 ✅)
Harold Fannin → 4.6 points ❌
Hunter Henry → 8.5 points ❌
Pat Freiermuth → 2.9 points ❌
Week 12
JUWAN JOHNSON (TE-14) v. ATL
Fresh off a bye week, Juwan Johnson is ready to go up against the division rival Atlanta Falcons. It is not necessarily the easiest matchup for the tight end, but after the trade of Rashid Shaheed and the change to Tyler Shough at quarterback, there is reason for optimism. I will be the first to say I am still hesitant about the staying power of Shough, but for now, it means Johnson has weekly top-12 upside in fantasy.
MARK ANDREWS (TE-15) v. NYJ
Well, if Mark Andrews is going to run for touchdowns, then how can I have him finish outside of the top-12? After the trading away of two key defensive players, the Jets’ defense is fantasy-friendly to opposing tight ends. Target share has never been the name of Andrews’ fantasy game; it has instead been touchdown upside. As I have said for weeks, when we get to tight ends ranked outside the top-12, the upside lies with the touchdown.
A.J. BARNER (TE-17) v. TEN
This is not A.J. Barner’s first time on this list, and I am sure it will not be the last. Barner is fresh off a ten-catch performance that unfortunately coincided with Sam Darnold throwing four interceptions. The turnovers had little to do with Barner, but it showed Darnold’s trust in Barner when he needed a completion outside of Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Barner is still primarily getting into the top-12 with a touchdown, but recent target volume helps to raise his fantasy floor.
So you made it this far, and hopefully you enjoyed it (that’s what she said). If you wouldn’t mind sharing this in your group message with your fellow fantasy football degenerates, I would greatly appreciate it!
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