Stampede Blue’s Fantasy Start/Sit: Week 12

Week 12 is a pivotal week for the Colts, but it’s also a pretty darn important one for fantasy purposes. Let’s take a quick look at who to play and who to avoid this coming weekend.

Start:

• Derrick Henry RB Tennessee Titans (vs. Jaguars)

This one is pretty simple. Henry is coming off of a dominant game against Kansas City and looks to continue it this coming weekend. He’s dominated Jacksonville in nearly every game he’s ever played against them, including setting a franchise record for rushing yards almost a year ago to this day.

He’s a bell-cow back in a great match-up. There’s absolutely no reason to sit him.

• Matt Ryan QB Atlanta Falcons (vs. Buccaneers)

Tampa Bay has the worst pass defense in the league, yet even saying that might feel like an understatement. That’s how bad they are.

Ryan is coming off two straight wins against division rivals, including throwing for over 300 yards against Carolina. Literally, every QB in the entire league has shredded Tampa Bay’s defense and there’s little reason to think it won’t continue this weekend.

• Calvin Ridley WR Atlanta Falcons (vs. Buccaneers)

Like with Ryan, any match-up against Tampa you need to exploit. Ridley finally broke out last week with a big 143 yard, 1 touchdown game and gets an even better opponent this weekend.

Play him.

Sit:

• Jared Goff QB Los Angeles Rams (vs. Ravens)

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. At this point last year we were talking about Goff as a legitimate MVP candidate, but this season with a regressed O-line we’ve seen him take a gargantuan step back.

It’s clear that coach Sean McVay is trying to keep the ball out of Goff’s hands as much as possible, drastically limiting his pass attempts these past few weeks. Against a vicious Ravens D who has dominated ever since acquiring Marcus Peters, nobody - not even the Rams - should have faith in Goff this weekend.

Hard pass.

• Michael Gallup WR Dallas Cowboys (vs. Patriots)

Gallup exploded last weekend with a massive 9-148-0 line against Detroit, but he goes from facing one of the worst secondaries in the league to arguably the very best. New England has dominated opposing receivers this year and as a number two target with low touchdown potential, Gallup is an easy regression candidate.

Start him at your own risk.

• Brian Hill RB Atlanta Falcons (vs. Buccaneers)

You know how bad Tampa Bay is against the pass? Flip that and you’re left with their run defense.

Dominant against the run - led by star defensive lineman Vita Vea - the Bucs have held opponents to the 2nd least amount of rushing yards this season. Now they face a back-up stepping in for Devonta Freeman.

As a mediocre player to begin with, Hill couldn’t put up more than 3 yards a carry last week against arguably the worst interior line in the game. This weekend his competition certainly won’t get easier.

Expect a heavy dose of passing and for Hill to get around 10-12 rush attempts. Unless you’re banking on touchdown potential, there’s absolutely no reason to put that type of production in your starting line-up.