The fantasy football playoffs are just around the corner, making the next couple of weeks very crucial indeed. To help those owners still in the playoff bubble, here’s our weekly compilation of the top fantasy points projections per position in each of the 16 games on the schedule in Week 12.
For more fantasy football guidance ahead of Week 12, check out our fantasy football sleeper picks here and fantasy football expert guide pickups here.
[sc:Football ]
Complete NFL Week 12 Fantasy Points Projections
**data courtesy of ESPN Fantasy Football (for standard league/non-PPR formats)
Thursday, November 26
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions (12:30 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
PHILADELPHIA
Eagles D/ST
10.1
QB
Mark Sanchez
13.8
RB
DeMarco Murray
15.1
WR
Jordan Matthews
7.9
TE
Brent Celek
5.6
DETROIT
Lions D/ST
2.6
QB
Matthew Stafford
16.6
RB
Ameer Abdullah
6.3
WE
Calvin Johnson
11.6
TE
Eric Ebron
4.9
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Eagles’ DeMarco Murray is expected to bounce back from a poor showing against Tampa Bay with a projected 15 points against the Lions, the highest projection among RBs this week. Mark Sanchez, though, hasn’t produced through two appearances this season, and still isn’t expected to produce big fantasy value, even against a soft Lions D.
Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys (4:30 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
CAROLINA
Panthers D/ST
8.1
QB
Cam Newton
19.1
RB
Jonathan Stewart
10.3
WR
Ted Ginn Jr.
7.1
TE
Greg Olsen
9
DALLAS
Cowboys D/ST
4.4
QB
Tony Romo
17.2
RB
Darren McFadden
13.9
WE
Dez Bryant
9.9
TE
Jason Witten
8.4
Cam Newton has been red-hot from a fantasy perspective for three-consecutive weeks, and is tipped to push that streak to four against a mediocre Cowboys defense. On the other side, Darren McFadden is second among in RBs in projected fantasy points against the Panthers’ front.
Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers (8:30 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
CHICAGO
Bears D/ST
3.4
QB
Jay Cutler
13.9
RB
Matt Forte
11.4
WR
Alshon Jeffery
12
TE
Zach Miller
6.9
GREEN BAY
Packers D/ST
6.8
QB
Aaron Rodgers
17.7
RB
Eddie Lacy
8.8
WE
Randall Cobb
9
TE
Richard Rodgers
5.5
After three games out, Matt Forte has a shot to make his return to the Bears lineup against the Packers, and is expected to put up his usual double-digit fantasy points. Speaking of double-digit points, Eddie Lacy cracked that benchmark for only the second time this season, and is projected to have another solid game against a poor Bears run defense.
Sunday, November 29
Oakland Raiders vs. Tennessee Titans (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
OAKLAND
Raiders D/ST
5.3
QB
Derek Carr
15.4
RB
Latavius Murray
9.6
WR
Michael Crabtree
9.7
TE
Clive Walford
3.6
TENNESSEE
Titans D/ST
5.6
QB
Marcus Mariota
13.3
RB
Antonio Andrews
8.2
WE
Kendall Wright
6.5
TE
Delanie Walker
6.7
Kendall Wright has a shot to return and help out a depleted Titans receiving corps against Oakland. However, Delanie Walker – who has emerged as Marcus Mariota’s top target – is still a worthwhile play against the Raiders, who have given up the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends on the season.
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
BUFFALO
Bills D/ST
7.1
QB
Tyrod Taylor
13.4
RB
LeSean McCoy
12.4
WR
Sammy Watkins
8.1
TE
Charles Clay
4.2
KANSAS CITY
Chiefs D/ST
6.9
QB
Alex Smith
15.2
RB
Spencer Ware
10.2
WE
Jeremy Maclin
7.9
TE
Travis Kelce
7.1
Spencer who? With Charcandrick West going down with a hamstring injury, all signs point to Spencer Ware starting for the Chiefs on Sunday. Ware certainly made a compelling case to start after he had 96 yards and two touchdowns in relief of West against the Chargers and is projected for another double-digit day against the Bills.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Indianapolis Colts (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
TAMPA BAY
Bucs D/ST
5.6
QB
Jameis Winston
14.3
RB
Doug Martin
11.7
WR
Mike Evans
10
TE
Cameron Brate
1.9
INDIANAPOLIS
Colts D/ST
5.5
QB
Matt Hasselbeck
15.1
RB
Frank Gore
11.3
WE
T.Y. Hilton
7.1
TE
Coby Fleener
6.1
Jameis Winston and Doug Martin made their fantasy owners very happy last week with the game of their lives against the Eagles. However, 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck is projected to edge out the rookie in terms of fantasy points this week, when the Bucs visit the Colts.
New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
NY GIANTS
Giants D/ST
4.9
QB
Eli Manning
15.7
RB
Rashad Jennings
6.4
WR
Odell Beckham Jr.
12.6
TE
Will Tye
3.8
WASHINGTON
Redskins D/ST
3.8
QB
Kirk Cousins
14.6
RB
Matt Jones
6.9
WE
DeSean Jackson
8
TE
Jordan Reed
7.9
After getting torched for five touchdowns by Cam Newton last week, the Redskins D/ST is still a must-not-start with Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr. and the Giants offense visiting Landover on Sunday.
New Orleans Saints vs. Houston Texans (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
NEW ORLEANS
Saints D/ST
2.9
QB
Drew Brees
19.2
RB
Mark Ingram
13
WR
Brandin Cooks
9.4
TE
Benjamin Watson
6.1
HOUSTON
Texans D/ST
6.4
QB
Brian Hoyer
19.1
RB
Alfred Blue
9.5
WE
DeAndre Hopkins
15.3
TE
Ryan Griffin
3.6
Expect a lot of fantasy points for the two quarterbacks in the Saints vs. Texans matchup. Drew Brees – No. 2 in points projections for QBs this week – will be pretty fresh after coming off a bye. Meanwhile, Brian Hoyer, who’s right behind Brees at No. 3, will have the pleasure of passing against a flimsy Saints secondary. That also means another big night for DeAndre Hopkins, who’s easily the top fantasy WR this week according to projections.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
MINNESOTA
Vikings D/ST
5.3
QB
Teddy Bridgewater
11.4
RB
Adrian Peterson
13.8
WR
Stefon Diggs
6.2
TE
Kyle Rudolph
4
ATLANTA
Falcons D/ST
5.9
QB
Matt Ryan
16
RB
Tevin Coleman
10.8
WE
Julio Jones
13.8
TE
Jacob Tamme
5.3
With Devonta Freeman very doubtful to play after suffering a concussion, rookie Tevin Coleman has the chance to reclaim his starting spot with a strong showing against the Vikings. On the other side, Adrian Peterson is expected to bounce back from his quiet game against the Packers.
St. Louis Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
ST. LOUIS
Rams D/ST
5.4
QB
Case Keenum
6.9
RB
Todd Gurley
10.2
WR
Tavon Austin
5.2
TE
Jared Cook
3.6
CINCINNATI
Bengals D/ST
6.9
QB
Andy Dalton
16.7
RB
Giovani Bernard
9.6
WE
A.J. Green
10.9
TE
Tyler Eifert
7.5
Todd Gurley’s fantasy points have been trending downward for the last month now, and if the projections are to be believed, don’t expect an uptick of production against a pretty solid Bengals D. In fact, it’d probably be wise to put any non-Gurley Ram on the bench for this game.
San Diego Chargers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
SAN DIEGO
Chargers D/ST
6
QB
Philip Rivers
16.4
RB
Danny Woodhead
8.2
WR
Stevie Johnson
9.1
TE
Antonio Gates
7.2
JACKSONVILLE
Jaguars D/ST
2
QB
Blake Bortles
18.3
RB
T.J. Yeldon
11.1
WE
Allen Robinson
11.6
TE
Julius Thomas
6.6
Philip Rivers is coming off his worst fantasy game of the season in their blowout loss against the Chiefs. But the Jags’ defense is can still be pretty bad, so a bounce-back effort from the Chargers is not out of the question.
Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets (1:00 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
MIAMI
Dolphins D/ST
5.3
QB
Ryan Tannehill
14.6
RB
Lamar Miller
10.3
WR
Jarvis Landry
8.2
TE
Jordan Cameron
4.7
NY JETS
Jets D/ST
8.1
QB
Ryan Fitzpatrick
14.6
RB
Chris Ivory
10.1
WE
Brandon Marshall/Eric Decker
9.5
TE
Kellen Davis
0.3
Talk about evenly matched. The fantasy points projections for the quarterbacks and top running backs in the Dolphins-Jets matchup are virtually identical. Chris Ivory owners, in particular, will be hopeful the Jets’ featured back returns to top form after an off-night against Houston.
Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49er (5:05 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
ARIZONA
Cardinals D/ST
12.7
QB
Carson Palmer
19.4
RB
Chris Johnson
11.4
WR
Larry Fitzgerald
12.1
TE
Darren Fells
2.4
SAN FRANCISCO
49ers D/ST
1.2
QB
Blaine Gabbert
11.9
RB
Shaun Draughn
9.3
WE
Anquan Boldin
7
TE
Vance McDonald
4.4
Shaun Draughn has been a solid pick-up, posting solid production in two games as a 49er. Even against a tough Cardinal defense, he’s projected to put up decent fantasy points. On the other side, Carson Palmer is the No. 1 quarterback this week as he faces a very generous Niner D.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks (5:25 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
PITTSBURGH
Steelers D/ST
6.3
QB
Ben Roethlisberger
15.1
RB
DeAngelo Williams
10.4
WR
Antonio Brown
12.4
TE
Heath Miller
5.5
SEATTLE
Seahawks D/ST
9.7
QB
Russell Wilson
17
RB
Thomas Rawls
11.4
WE
Doug Baldwin
6.4
TE
Jimmy Graham
7.2
With Marshawn Lynch finally undergoing surgery, the Seahawks backfield is all Thomas Rawls’. The undrafted rookie is coming off a monster 200-yard rushing game against the Niners, and is projected to continue his fine production at home against the Steelers.
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos (8:30 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
NEW ENGLAND
Patriots D/ST
7.4
QB
Tom Brady
18
RB
LeGarrette Blount
11
WR
Danny Amendola
8.5
TE
Rob Gronkowski
9.6
DENVER
Broncos D/ST
6.6
QB
Brock Osweiler
12.6
RB
Ronnie Hillman
8
WE
Demaryius Thomas
9.8
TE
Vernon Davis
4
Danny Amendola is projected to be the Patriots’ top receiver at Denver, but his status is still up in the air as he suffered a knee injury on Monday night against Buffalo. That could be good news for Rob Gronkowsi, who is expected to be the highest-scoring tight end this week even after quiet fantasy outings in two of his last three games.
Monday, November 30
Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns (8:30 PM ET)
TEAM/POSITION
PLAYER
PROJECTED POINTS
BALTIMORE
Ravens D/ST
6
QB
Matt Schaub
13.1
RB
Buck Allen
10.7
WR
Kamar Aiken
8.2
TE
Crockett Gillmore
4.5
CLEVELAND
Browns D/ST
4.4
QB
Josh McCown
15.7
RB
Duke Johnson Jr.
6.7
WE
Travis Benjamin
9
TE
Gary Barnidge
8.4
Johnny Manziel is out, and Josh McCown is back in. The 36-year-old now becomes a solid play for somewhat owners in need of a QB as he goes up against a Ravens D that has been shredded through the air all season long. McCown’s opposite number, Matt Schaub, isn’t as intriguing a fantasy pickup, but new starting running back Buck Allen apparently is. He’s projected to put up double-digit fantasy points in his first career start.
