Week 12 is a full slate of NFL action with a handful of teams looking to make a push toward the playoffs. Sunday should be action-packed with high-powered offenses squaring off in ideal situations.
Check out a few games to target in Week 12, and a few you might want to proceed with caution.
Also, don’t forget to check out our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models.
Games to Target
Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers
The Minnesota Vikings head west to square off against the San Francisco 49ers after a 34-31 shootout win over their NFC North rival Green Bay Packers. With quarterback Kirk Cousins under center, the Vikings offense, which ranks 13th according to PFF, looks to extend their two-game win streak, with an eye toward the postseason. Using a slightly-skewed pass-to-run ratio, the Vikings methodically move the ball down the field, averaging a play every 25.9 seconds and face a San Francisco 49ers defense ranked 13th (per Football Outsiders). In a more condensed offense, look for wide receivers Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson and running back Dalvin Cook to play an integral role in the offense, responsible for more than 50% of the target share this season.
Returning home after a 30-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the San Francisco 49ers, who rank as the fifth-best offense in the league, also look to keep their win streak intact, despite a less-than-ideal matchup against a Minnesota Vikings offense ranked eighth. Using a more balanced approach to the offense, calling a 53%/47% pass-to-run ratio, San Francisco and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo depend on a condensed receiving target featuring Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk, who are responsible for a combined 67% of the 49ers target share. Keep an eye on the status of running back Eli Mitchell, who underwent a procedure for a fractured finger ahead of Week 11. If Mitchell should miss a second consecutive game, expect Jeff Wilson to see the share of work in the backfield again.
Opening as a 47.5-point total, this Week 12 matchup has shootout potential, given the condensed receiving corps from two efficient offenses.
Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers
Two of the top teams in the NFC square off, with Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams heading to Lambeau Field to meet with the Green Bay Packers. The Rams, who play at the 12th fastest pace, per RotoViz, calling a play every 25.7 seconds, look to be one of the more pass-friendly teams in the league, using a 63%/37% pass-to-run split, averaging 64 plays per game. Despite losing Robert Woods for the season, the Rams have a solid receiving corps led by Cooper Kupp and the newly acquired Odell Beckham Jr. Green Bay is ranked 11th in DVOA but look to have a more difficult time stopping the run, ranking 24th in rush DVOA, which could mean more opportunities for Darrel Henderson in the backfield.
With an 8-3 record, Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay Packers look primed for the postseason, looking to bounce back from a Week 11 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Like the Rams, the Packers prefer a pass-first approach from Rodgers, calling a 59%/41% pass-to-run play calling ratio. Look for wide receiver Davante Adams to be the first look for Rodgers, responsible for a team-leading 33% of the Packers’ target share. However, one wrinkle in this matchup is the Packers’ pace of play, which is the slowest in the league, averaging 29.2 seconds per play, which may increase if ahead toward the end of the game. As 3-point favorites, the Packers may use running A.J. Dillion in a clock-kill situation in hopes of limiting the efficient Rams’ offense.
As the third-highest total on the slate, opening at 47.5-points, this likely playoff preview has the potential to shoot out given the high rate of passing plays from two potent offenses.
Proceed with Caution
Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots
Opening at a 44.5-point total, the second-lowest on the slate, the Week 12 matchup between the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots looks to be a less-than-desirable matchup. The Titans and Patriots rank 23rd and 25th in pace, averaging a play every 27.1 and 27.5 seconds, respectively. Further, Sunday’s meeting looks to be a showcase of defensive juggernauts, with the Titans rankings as the 12th best offense and the Patriots the fifth-best.
Surprisingly, both teams take a balanced approach to their offenses, running the ball 45% of the time. Tennessee’s offense isn’t entirely healthy at the moment, losing star running back Derrick Henry for the year, wide receiver Julio Jones on injured reserve and A.J. Brown questionable with a chest injury, which does not leave a lot of high-powered options for quarterback Ryan Tannehill—indicated by the Titan’s 19-point implied total.
