Fantasy Football Week 12: Big Questions Contains Expert Answers on Playoffs and Waivers

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One of the best Fantasy weeks of the season is here – Thanksgiving week. We have about nine hours of non-stop football Thursday, and with only two teams waiting this week, we will be sure to be on Sunday. And, just weeks before the playoffs, the stakes are higher than they have been all season.

It's very exciting. I know our experts, Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard and Heath Cummings, are enthusiastic. I've chosen their brains this afternoon to find answers to some of the biggest questions in the NFL before the 12th week.

1. Who is the top waiver thread to add for you this week?

• Jamey Eisenberg: Tre Quan Smith. I was impressed by his use during the 11th week against the Eagles – he reached highs in the season (13), catches (10) and yards (157) and scored his fourth touchdown of the season – and gets another home match against Atlanta. Thursday night (8 pm ET, available on fuboTV).
• Dave Richard: It must be Gus Edwards, although I am not really convinced that he is as good as the Bengals made him understand last week, nor am I convinced that the Ravens' coaches will stay by his side. But John Harbaugh said he would have more and he will face the Raiders this week. It's good enough to give it priority for the moment.
• Heath Cummings: I continue to shuttle between Gus Edwards and Josh Adams, as we all predicted at the beginning of the season. Both have a winning potential in the league, so you should not be disappointed as long as you have one. I lean towards Edwards because I expect that Lamar Jackson will retain the position of director. He opens big holes to Edwards, who also has a spectacular schedule.

2. What is your best substitute for Goff or Mahomes?

• Jamey: Jameis Winston. Tampa Bay has been a great passing team since the Buccaneers quarterbacks (TQB) have scored the most Fantasy points on average of all team shifts this year. And he will face a 49ers defense this week, allowing 8 of the 10 quarterbacks to score at least 20 Fantasy points this year.
• Dave: Jameis Winston tops the list. I can not stop it! The Bucs game is a lock for big players against just about anyone, including the 49ers who travel from coast to coast to coast. I'll give him some turnovers but also two touchdowns and 300 yards. I do not think he'll find himself on the bench in the middle of the game either. Bucs quarterbacks usually have to have a fusion game before this option is in play. So Winston is the choice, followed by Eli Manning, then Baker Mayfield.
• Heather: It's easily Jameis Winston. There are other good streaming options, but Winston is the only one to rank among the top 10 quarterbacks for me. He has a good home game and the Tampa Bay quarterback has been one of Fantasy's most successful games.

3. What is your best bet to finish the season in force among the big disappointments so far?

• Jamey: Doug Baldwin. He looked good in the 11th week against Green Bay and he said he was finally healthy after having knee problems since training camp. When he's right, he could be a receiver of the Fantasy Top 20 to close the season.
• Dave: This is not the time to lose faith in Dalvin Cook. The Vikings have fallen behind the Bears and have essentially abandoned the race. Cook's fumble did not help. But he is still considered a very good running back and the rest schedule of the Vikings season does not have a lot of potholes.
• Heather: Dalvin Cook has done nothing in the 11th week against the Bears, but his remaining schedule seems much more favorable. He has clashes against the Packers, Patriots, Dolphins and Lions. I bet he's part of the top 15 from now on.

4. Are there any quarterbacks available that you are targeting for their playoff confrontations?

• Jamey: Lamar Jackson's program is tempting – if he stays in Baltimore. He will now have Oakland, Atlanta, Kansas City and Tampa Bay until week 15, and it could be a good surprise for Fantasy owners with these playoff clashes against the Chiefs and Buccaneers.
• Dave: If I knew for sure that Winston would not be put on a bench, I would choose him despite difficult clashes (NO, @BAL, @DAL). Dak Prescott (PHI, @IND, TB) is the most reliable. Mayfield is therefore a secondary choice (CAR, at DEN, CIN). I guess if all three guys are connected to your cable waiver, you could get Winston once in a while, and then get away from him again he finds himself on the bench.
• Heather: If Jackson can keep his job, he is excellent. He faces the Chiefs, Buccaneers and Chargers in the playoffs. Dak Prescott also has an outstanding finishing schedule with the Eagles, Colts and Buccaneers in Week 14-16.

5. What do you do with Oakland's backfield? A value to find there?

• Jamey: Doug Martin and Jalen Richard should continue to share the workload as long as Martin is healthy. I like Richard the best because of his role in the passing game, and it would be nice to see him get more races. Richard has already been a flexible option in PPR for the majority of the year.
• Dave: Jalen Richard has collected more than 10 PPR Fantasy points in five of his last six games. I do not think his role will change if he does not hurt himself, and his role is good considering Oakland's penchant for playing in competitions or playing from behind.
• Heather: If Doug Martin was away, I would be pretty interested in Jalen Richard, but it sounds like Martin would play. In this case, Martin is a flex in non-PPR and Richard has a good floor in PPR. But there is nothing exceptional.

6. Can you use anyone in Tennessee if Marcus Mariota is absent?

• Jamey: Not anyone with confidence. The only real options are Corey Davis, Dion Lewis and Derrick Henry, and none of them will be ensured as starting for the 12th week in Houston if Mariota is absent.
• Dave: A week ago, I loved the Titans offense. Now? I'm afraid to trust any of them. Dion Lewis should be good, but he barely saw any touches last week and it scares me. Corey Davis was leaving with Mariota, but it was at that time that Mariota's hand, elbow and arm were not a problem. Maybe Jonnu Smith can help you this week as a PPR streamer for Travis Kelce.
• Heather: Nope. Nobody. They will run hard and their offensive line will not play well enough to block eight in the area.

7. Can you use someone in Washington with Alex Smith?

• Jamey: You will always start Adrian Peterson, although the concerns of the offensive line cause him as much trouble as the departure of Alex Smith. But luckily, we see more of Jordan Reed after McCoy connected with Houston after Smith's release. I like Reed as a tight top-10 before.
• Dave: I think Jordan Reed has a chance to be at least as good as he is with Colt McCoy playing with caution. It does not say much. And Adrian Peterson will carry the RB2 value only because of his workload and his potential to make contact. But do not worry, this offense goes POP once Mark Sanchez gets a chance under the center …
• Heather: I stay with Jordan Reed. He is fourth in the targets for this position and I am not sure how much Colt McCoy should be downgraded. I also think that Adrian Peterson will remain a No. 2 baseman based solely on volume.

So who should you sit down and start? And what shocking QB could you win at week 12? Now head over to SportsLine for the Fantasy Football ranking for each position and see what QB shocked in the top 10 this week, all from the model that beat the experts in strength last season.