Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Lineup Advice: Week 12 (2024)

No one is going to complain about a snow game on Thursday Night Football. The Pittsburgh Steelers fell for the trap game and continued their struggles against divisional opponents on Thursday Night Football. Nick Chubb remained inefficient but found the end zone twice for the Browns, while Jerry Jeudy and Calvin Austin also showed up for fantasy managers. On the IDP side of things, Myles Garrett made T.J. Watt pay for the perceived disrespect of not showing up for last year’s NFL Honors ceremony by notching three early sacks on Russell Wilson and allowing Cleveland to sneak their way into the game. A lot will be made about the rivalry between Watt and Garrett, who, after tonight, have 104 and 98.5 sacks, respectively. Watt has more sacks per game (.904 vs. .887), but as we have seen in the NBA as well, defensive awards often go to a stat leader or, if there is competition, to the player on the team with better team defense, which is wrong. 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.

Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Week 12

Start em

Jeremy Chinn (S – WAS)
Chinn has been elite over the last few weeks, most recently racking up 10 solos and three assists. Chinn has vaulted his way back into DB1 territory and should be treated as a top-12 option for a tasty Week 12 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Start Chinn with confidence.

D.J. Wonnum (DE/LB – CAR)
D.J. Wonnum showed up in Week 10, racking up four solos, two assists, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble in his Panthers debut. He played 67 percent of the snaps in his first game, so expect him to continue to dominate snaps off the edge for the defensively challenged Panthers. Add and start him as a DL3 option for a plus Week 12 matchup for the Kansas City Chiefs.

A’Shawn Robinson (DE/DT – CAR)
A’Shawn showed up again in Week 10, tallying five solos, two assists, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. He has just three sacks on the season, but all three have come into his last two games. Treat him as a DL3/4 for Week 12, thanks to a plus matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Start Robinson where needed.

Rashan Gary (DE/LB – GB)
Rashan was excellent in Week 11, racking up three solos, three assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Gary has just 3.5 sacks on the season, with 2.5 of them coming in his last four contests. He is still more DL3 than DL2, but his recent stretch has at least put him back on the top-36 radar. Treat him as a DL3 option for Week 12 despite the neutral-at-best matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.

Braden Fiske (DE – LAR)
Braden Fiske was impressive in Week 11, tallying two solos, one assist, two sacks, two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Fiske is up to five sacks on the season, with four of them coming in his last three contests. He has two sacks in two of his last three games and should be tapped as a DL3 with DL2 upside as long as he is cooking. Start him with confidence for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football.

Sit em

Malik Hooker (S – DAL)
Malik showed up in Week 11, tallying three solos, five assists, one tackle for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. Malik is largely an afterthought in IDP this year and has been a virtual non-factor since a solid three game stretch earlier this season. Leave Hooker on waiver wires until he shows he can string some production together.

De’Vondre Campbell (LB – SF)
Campbell has been a massive IDP disappointment and, as expected, failed to follow up on his strong Week 10. Campbell should be left on benches or waiver wires for Week 12 despite the heavy bye and the favorable mini revenge matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Campbell still has some time to get it going, but look elsewhere for your Week 12 LB4/flex.

Brandon Graham (DE – PHI)
Graham showed up in Week 11, notching three solos, one assist, one sack, and two tackles for loss. Graham can get going at any time but has been too inconsistent this season to roster as anything more than an emergency depth option. He has just 2.5 sacks on the season on 46 percent of the snaps. Look elsewhere for your Week 12 DL3 despite the strong Week 11 production and the heavy bye.

Derek Barnett (DE – HOU)
Barnett was excellent in Week 11, tallying one solo, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown on 46 percent of the snaps. Barnett is up to three sacks on the season but is not someone to consider for Week 12, especially with Will Anderson questionable to return against the Titans. Put Barnett on the radar, but look elsewhere for your Week 12 DL3.

Leonard Floyd (DE – SF)
Floyd showed up in Week 11, tallying two solos, one assist, 1.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss. Floyd has just 4.5 sacks on the season and should not be trusted as anything more than a DL3 for a neutral matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The heavy bye may complicate things, but fantasy managers should look elsewhere for Week 12 where possible.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.