“Shore Thing Sleepers” isn’t your ordinary fantasy football Week 12 start/sit article. Instead, our analyst duo of Seth Woolcock and Nicholas Hoover highlight lower-valued players that can provide starting-caliber production for a specific week. These are usually players near the end of your bench or even on the waiver wire/free agency. You can catch an additional sleeper pick live at the end of our weekly in-season Friday podcast episode.
Rostership percentages are based on ESPN Points Per Reception (PPR) redraft fantasy football leagues.
Week 12 Start/Sit Consideration: Shore Thing Sleepers
George Pickens (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers) | 83.2% Rostered
Following the dismissal of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a situation that often lights a fire under teams.
While George Pickens has struggled in recent weeks, he still ranks 14th in air yards share among WRs (38.6). He also remains in the top seven among wide receivers in dominator rating with 37.5. This indicates that when Pittbsurgh’s offense goes, he goes. Boasting an impressive 16.3 Yards Per Reception (YPR), Pickens has week-winning upside if he can connect with Kenny Pickett on big plays.
In Week 12 specifically, the Steelers face the Cincinnati Bengals, who have been a surprising top-four matchup for wide receivers over the past two weeks. Notably, Odell Beckham Jr., Tank Dell and Noah Brown had significant performances against this defense in that span. With the potential for Pickens to exploit the Bengals’ vulnerabilities, fantasy managers should consider him a FLEX play with upside amid your Week 12 start/sit decisions. – Woolcock
Matthew Stafford (QB, Los Angeles Rams) | 31.1% Rostered
Matthew Stafford has been a consistent fantasy performer, with only one game this season below 11 fantasy points and a touchdown thrown in all but one game. The confirmation that key playmakers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua will be active further strengthens Stafford’s fantasy outlook. In Week 12, the Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals, a team that ranks as a top-seven matchup for quarterbacks on the season.
The Cardinals’ defense has shown susceptibility to big plays, aligning with Stafford’s strengths. He currently ranks eighth in deep ball completion percentage (47.1%), making him a threat to capitalize on downfield opportunities. With a 45.0-point total set by sportsbooks (third-highest on Sunday or Monday), the matchup suggests a potentially high-scoring affair, further enhancing Stafford’s fantasy appeal for Week 12. If in a pinch, fantasy managers should consider starting Stafford this week. – Hoover
Thanks for reading our “Shore Thing Sleepers” to consider in your Week 12 start/sit decisions. Check out more of our fantasy football and other written content here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
*Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire – USA TODAY Sports*