Turkey Day gave us some exciting moments. First and foremost, we had some incredible action and some impressive performances on both sides of the ball. The halftime entertainment left a lot to be desired but bright spots like DaRon Bland setting a new NFL pick six record and Jordan Love looking like a first round pick gave fans the warm and fuzzies on the holiday. Other IDP storylines include Rashan Gary, Jonathan Owens, Nick Bosa, and Jordan Brooks joining Bland in having monster days. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.
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IDP Start em, Sit em – Week 12
Start em
Baron Browning (DE/LB – DEN)
Baron Browning continues to show up for the Denver Broncos, most recently recording three solos and one sack. He has three sacks in the four games since he returned from injury, with all three coming in the last three games. This may sound hyperbolic, but the Broncos four game winning streak started when Browning returned from injury. Browning is a stud on the edge against both the run and the pass. He has a plus matchup on tap for this weekend against a depleted Cleveland Browns offense, putting him right in the DL2 conversation for Week 12. Start him everywhere.
Alohi Gilman (S – LAC)
Alohi has been a rock solid when he has been on the field, most recently racking up six solos, three assists, and one tackle for loss. He has been a strong DB2 play in fantasy points per game and is the S14 on the season. He has weekly DB1 upside and has recorded six solos in each of his last two games. Start him everywhere as a DB2 for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football.
Delarrin Turner-Yell (S – DEN)
Kareem Jackson is suspended for four games, which means that Delarrin Turner-Yell is set to get another opportunity to shine for the Denver Broncos. He has spent time soaking up snaps for Justin Simmons and Jackson earlier this season, starting Week 3 and Week 4 and looking like a future IDP stud in the process, racking up at least nine solos in each. Start him as a DB3 with DB1 upside for a plus Week 12 matchup against a banged-up Cleveland Browns offense surrendering the fifth most fantasy points per game to the safety position.
Jaquan Brisker (S – CHI)
Jaquan has had quite the fall from grace for the Chicago Bears. One season after leading the team in tackles and seemingly solidifying himself as a DB1 for years to come, Brisker had slipped to the DB3 annals. To start the season, he recorded more than three solos (four) in just one of six games played. He failed to record an interception, forced fumble, or fumble recovery during that time and had just 0.5 sacks. That said, Brisker is starting to heat up, and IDP managers should be excited. He has recorded five or more solos in three straight games and heads into Week 12 set to take on the depleted Minnesota Vikings offense. Minnesota has allowed the seventh most fantasy points per game to the safety position. Start him everywhere for Monday Night Football.
Henry To’oTo’o (LB – JAC)
To’oTo’o missed Week 11 due to being in the league’s concussion protocol but is on track to play this weekend after being a full participant for the first two practices of the week. He has a terrific matchup on tap for Week 12 against a Jacksonville Jaguars team gifting the most fantasy points per game to the linebacker position, putting him on the LB2 radar. Tap him where needed as a strong LB2/3 play for Week 12.
Sit em
Jack Sanborn (LB – CHI)
Sanborn is back in a reserve role for the Chicago Bears. Tremaine Edmunds has returned from injury, leaving Sanborn to play just 40 percent of the snaps. He still had a strong outing in Week 11, thanks to a sack, posting two solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. He will have more upside than most players playing less than 50 percent of the snaps, but if he drops back under 40 percent, IDP managers may want to consider alternative stash options. He is arguably the best LB handcuff/stash there is, but with a heavy bye approaching in Week 13, managers may need to utilize the roster spot. Whatever the case, leave Sanborn on benches for Week 12, despite the plus matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Nick Scott (S – CIN)
Nick Scott has been benched for promising rookie Jordan Battle and is expected to have a minimal role, if any, for Week 12. Battle is much more talented, and now that he has seemingly corrected his tackling technique, Scott may not sniff a fantasy-relevant role again for as long as Battle and fellow building block Dax Hill are healthy. Fantasy managers should consider moving on from Scott altogether. Look elsewhere for Week 12.
Willie Gay (LB – KC)
Gay continues to frustrate IDP managers. Talent has never been in question for the young linebacker, but inconsistency has kept the Chiefs looking for someone to keep him in a rotational role at best. Nick Bolton is on IR, and Gay still can’t catch a break. He has recorded four or fewer solos in each of his last four games and has been an afterthought in fantasy despite starting all but one of his games played. He saw his highest snap share of the season in Week 11 at 82 percent but still managed just three solos and a tackle for loss. Look elsewhere for Week 12 and beyond, at least until Gay starts to heat up for the Chiefs.
Isaiah Simmons (S/LB – NYG)
Simons flashed in Week 12, recording four solos, one interception, one pass defended, and one touchdown. The pick-six served to highlight his immense potential, but Simmons is likely to stay mired in a sub 40 percent snap share role for Week 12. His usage has frustrated on two different teams now, so perhaps this is partially on Simmons and not just defensive coordinators who are unable or unwilling to adjust their scheme to their top players. Whatever the case, Simmons is not a fantasy option for Week 12. There are no teams on bye, and we need to see some consistency before we start counting the talented hybrid defender as more than just an intriguing stash. Look elsewhere for Week 12.
Mark Robinson (LB – PIT)
After playing 60 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 10, Robinson was expected to draw the Week 11 start alongside Elandon Roberts. However, Robinson played zero defensive snaps and was back to his special teams only role. It is clear that the Steelers do not yet trust him in pass coverage and that it is not his time yet. Mykal Walker came off the practice squad to start and played 84 percent of the snaps. That should tell us all we need to know about where the Steelers think Robinson is in his development so far. Look elsewhere for Week 12 and beyond.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.