Mario’s Hot & Not Fantasy Rundown: Week 12
Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions
Hot: Darnell Mooney
Mooney had himself quite a turkey day, posting his second consecutive game of at least 121 yards receiving, and his 4th straight game of double digit fantasy points. He has shown to be the favorite target of Justin Fields, but that didn’t change when Andy Dalton subbed in. Mooney looks like a must start the rest of the season.
Not: D’Andre Swift
Even before Swift was lost to injury, he was being out-snapped by Jamaal Williams. Swift ran for 0 yards on 3 carries, and caught 3 passes for only 9 yards, along with a fumble. Swift managers should scoop up Jamaal Williams with the 2nd year back day to day with a shoulder strain.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys
Hot: DeSean Jackson
I never thought Jackson would make this list, but it’s difficult not to be surprised considering he went up against Dallas. Jackson is a known Cowboy killer, and he did it again on Thursday, posting 3 catches for 102 yards and a TD for 20.2 fantasy points. Jackson is boom or bust, however, and should stay off of your roster unless you are desperate.
Not: Kenyan Drake
Drake had been posting some good numbers, and looked to continue that vs Dallas in a shootout, but Jacobs stole the show. Drake played a season low 18% of the offensive snaps, and only managed 30 yards on 9 touches. There are most likely more appetizing RB options on waivers.
Buffalo Bills @ New Orleans Saints
Hot: Josh Allen
Allen bounced back nicely from a poor performance last week vs Indy. He came out firing against a formidable Saints’ defense, completing 82% of his passes on his way to 260 yards and 4 TDs. The 2 interceptions aren’t what you want to see, but his 34.7 fantasy points were good enough for QB1 this week.
Not: Tony Jones
Jones was never expected to be a barn burner vs a tough Bills’ run defense, but he was a volume play based on the fact that there was literally no one else to run the ball for the Saints. He rushed for 27 yards, and was not a factor in the passing game at all. You’re dropping him with Ingram and Kamara poised to return.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Indianapolis Colts
Hot: Leonard Fournette
Playoff Lenny is in full effect during the regular season. Fournette had the best game of his career on Sunday with 44.1 fantasy points. With 131 total yards and 4 TDs, he is the RB1 for the week, and you should ride the hot hand if you roster him.
Not: Mike Evans
Evans had one of those inconsistent days we have gotten used to seeing. After 4 straight games with a TD and double digit fantasy points, Evans took a back seat to Fournette and Gronk vs Indy. His 4.6 fantasy points are his lowest of the season, but if you roster him, he remains a must start.
New York Jets @ Houston Texans
Hot: Tevin Coleman
The game was relatively boring from a fantasy standpoint, but Coleman stuck out of the mud a little more than the others. Coleman was thrust into a starting role with Carter being placed on IR. His fantasy point total isn’t what sticks out most, but his 18 touches led the team, and he could be a valuable streamer until the return of Carter.
Not: Elijah Moore
There were high expectations for the rookie WR after 5 straight games of double digit fantasy points, including a career high 30.6 points last week. It appears the return of Zach Wilson was bad news for Moore. He was targeted 8 times, but only caught 4 for 46 yards. Moore should remain a flex in case this was an outlier.
Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants
Hot: NOBODY
This game was bereft of offense, and there is literally not a single player worthy of the hot label.
Not: Jalen Hurts
I roster Hurts in a couple of leagues, and I started him with confidence vs a poor Giants defense. Boy, was I let down. Hurts turned in his worst performance of the season with 6.86 fantasy points. He threw 3 interceptions, and the only thing keeping him from a negative fantasy point day were his 77 rushing yards. If you start Hurts, you likely will have to continue doing so. Next week is a much better matchup vs the Jets.
Carolina Panthers @ Miami Dolphins
Hot: Jaylen Waddle
Waddle took advantage of the Panthers defense for his 2nd best fantasy output of the season, 28.7 fantasy points on 9 catches for 137 yards and a TD. The rookie WR is clearly the #1 option for Tua, and should be started from here on out in all formats.
Not: Cam Newton
It appears that Cam is, in fact, NOT back as he claims to be. He was unable to get anything going vs a stingy Dolphins defense, and at the time of his benching, had compiled only 6.18 fantasy points. A far cry from his 30.16 point debut last week, there are better streaming QBs on waivers.
Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots
Hot: Kendrick Bourne
Bourne ran through the Titans for his 2nd 23+ point game in the last 3 weeks, posting a 5 catch for 61 yards and 2 TD stat line. Mac Jones is getting hot, and Bourne is one of the beneficiaries. He should be considered a low-end WR2.
Not: Dez Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick was a popular streaming option with AJ Brown placed on IR. He disappointed with only 2.4 fantasy points on 1 catch for 14 yards. It doesn’t appear that any of the Titans pass catchers are worthy of a roster spot.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
Hot: Joe Mixon
Mixon stole the show with 32.3 fantasy points on Sunday, his highest of the season, and the 4th game in a row of at least 24.3 points. He tacked 2 TDs onto his 165 rushing yards, giving him 8 TDs in the last 5 games. Mixon is the hottest RB in football right now, and a must start across all formats.
Not: Najee Harris
On the other side of the field, Harris disappointed fantasy managers with only 37 yards on 11 touches for 6.7 fantasy points, his lowest total since Week 1. Treat this as an outlier, and Harris remains a must start moving forward.
Atlanta Falcons @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Hot: Cordarelle Patterson
Patterson missed last week’s game with injury, but came back this week with a vengeance. His 27.5 fantasy points are his 2nd highest of the season, and he appeared to have no lingering effects of his injury. Patterson returns to must start status, especially in PPR leagues.
Not: Kyle Pitts
Patterson’s success seems to have come at the expense of Pitts. The rookie TE put up only 4.6 fantasy points on 2 catches for 26 yards. He has been in a bit of a slump, reaching double digit fantasy points only once in his last 4 starts. Unless you have a better option, you continue to start Pitts.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos
Hot: Javonte Williams
Williams is still in a timeshare with Gordon, but just looks like the better back with each passing week. The rookie finished 111 total yards and a TD, totaling in a season high 20.1 fantasy points. Both Williams and Gordon remain startable RB2s.
Not: Jerry Jeudy
Jeudy came back from injury, and immediately threw Courtland Sutton into fantasy irrelevance. Personally, I started Jeudy this week just based on the amount of targets he had been receiving. Myself, along with many fantasy managers were disappointed by his 2 catches for 25 yards. The Chargers are tough on WRs, so we must give Jeudy another chance next week vs the Chiefs.
Los Angeles Rams @ Green Bay Packers
Hot: Randall Cobb
The Packers have not had a consistent pass catcher behind Davante Adams this season, but just maybe Rodgers and Cobb have reestablished that lethal connection. Cobb caught 4 passes for 95 yards and a TD to give him his highest fantasy total since Week 4. He is nursing an injury, but he may be a viable FLEX for the stretch run.
Not: Tyler Higbee
Many have high expectations for Higbee in a bare cupboard of fantasy TEs, but he almost never delivers. In a high scoring game, he still only managed 1 catch for 3 yards. If you roster Higbee, welcome to Dropsville.
Minnesota Vikings @ San Francisco 49ers
Hot: Elijah Mitchell
Mitchell was limited last week with a broken finger, but he came out this week looking like it doesn’t bother him at all. The rookie RB ran and received for 168 yards and a TD, and a season high 27.1 fantasy points. If you were fortunate enough to grab him off waivers at some point this season, Mitchell may end up being a league winner.
Not: George Kittle
Sometimes there just aren’t enough touches to go around, and that was the case this week for Kittle. Overshadowed by Mitchell, Samuel, and Aiyuk, Kittle caught his only target for 13 yards, and 2.13 fantasy points. He remains a must start, and just hope for the best.
Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens
Hot: Jarvis Landry
In yet another game with little fantasy value, Landry shone above all others with 6 catches for 111 yards and 16.1 fantasy points. This is Landry’s highest total since Week 1, and looks to have emerged as Baker’s #1 target once again.
Not: Nick Chubb
The Ravens defense has not been good against the run this season, which makes Chubb’s 5.9 point fantasy day that much more puzzling. The entire Browns offense runs through Chubb, which probably explains why it looked so out of sync. Chubb is still a must start.
Seattle Seahawks @ Washington Football Team
Hot: Antonio Gibson
Washington established the run game early, and Gibson ran the rock 29 times for 111 yards, and also chipped in 7 receptions for 35 yards. This was Gibson’s best performance of the season, and resulted in 23.6 fantasy points. It could have been a better day if not for McKissic vulturing at least 1 TD. Gibson is playing good football right in time for the fantasy stretch run.
Not: DK Metcalf
Both of the Seahawks’ top WRs can be very inconsistent. This was one of those nights for Metcalf, who finished the game with only 1 catch for 13 yards, and that catch came on the final drive. You have to keep starting Metcalf, but you don’t have to feel great about it.
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