NFL Fantasy 2025 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Wide receivers for Week 12

For a long time, starting these two was an obvious call. Lately, I have been getting a lot of questions about what to do with the duo. My advice continues to be the same: start both. The Eagles may not pass a ton, but when they do, it is extremely funneled through their top two options. On the season, both have a 25-plus percent target share and a 33-plus air yard share. They also are both top 12 with a 31-plus percent first read share, per Fantasy Points Data. The floor for each is lower than ever, which is certainly a problem. The ceiling is still high, though, which is why they remain in play. Especially against the Cowboys, who have allowed the most touchdowns and third-most fantasy points per game to receivers. They have also yielded the seventh-most yards to WRs. The upside is simply too high to get away from.

It's been a frustratingly up-and-down fantasy season for this second-year pro. The upside is worth the floor, though. Odunze has gone for more than 15 fantasy points six times and been held under seven fantasy points in his other four games. This should be an upside week, given the opponent. The Steelers have allowed the second-most yards to receivers on the season. That jumps to the most since Week 7. They have also allowed two-thirds of their TDs to WRs in that stretch (six of nine). They've given up the most yards to out-wide receivers, both on the season and since Week 7. Odunze runs 60 percent of his routes out wide. Lastly, Pittsburgh has allowed the most fantasy PPG to WRs.

Apparently, all that Williams needed to break out was Dan Campbell taking over play-calling duties. The head coach had been vocal about having to incorporate him more, and now Williams is in the midst of a late-season surge. He has averaged 20.1 fantasy PPG in the three games since Detroit's bye, scoring a touchdown in each. He also has at least six targets in each of the past three outings -- that might not sound like much, but he saw that amount of targets in just two of the first seven games. Look for him to stay hot this week against the Giants, who have allowed the fourth-most yards to receivers this season -- and the third-most specifically to out-wide receivers. Williams runs 77 percent of his routes out wide. New York has also yielded the third-most yards to receivers on deep targets (20-plus air yards). In total, the Giants have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to WRs. With this matchup, Williams is poised to enjoy another big day. 

McMillan went off last week for his best game as a pro. The No. 8 overall pick posted season highs in targets (12), catches (eight), yards (130) and doubled his season TD total (now four). The best part is it came in a tough matchup against a team in Atlanta that had limited him in the first go-around. I was wrong for doubting him (my bad!), but that was exactly the breakout performance fantasy managers had been waiting for. We often see rookies start to break out in the latter third of the season. Also worth monitoring: McMillan saw a season-high four targets from the slot last week. That could be huge this week against the 49ers. San Fran struggles to get after the QB and has allowed the third-most yards to receivers this season, including the most to those in the slot. The Niners have allowed the third-most yards to out-wide receivers since Week 7. All of that points to McMillan logging another big game this week.

Pittman provided WR1 production in Weeks 7 through 9. Pierce has always possessed a high ceiling, but he's seen more volume and had a raised floor recently. Pittman is usually a strong start, while Pierce has earned his way into starting lineups much more frequently as of late. All that said, this is a week to try and get away from both. Kansas City has allowed the fourth-fewest yards and touchdowns to receivers, as well as the seventh-fewest fantasy PPG to the position. The Chiefs have allowed the second-fewest yards and zero touchdowns on deep passes, as well as the fifth-fewest yards to out-wide receivers. Pierce runs over 80 percent of his routes out wide, while Pittman's north of 60 percent. I would play Pittman over Pierce, but would get away from both if possible.

I am not sure any of Buffalo's receivers are startable in fantasy football. Last week, none of their wideouts played more than 53 percent of the snaps and none saw more than five targets. Shakir received just three targets and finished with -3 yards. He has averaged just 4.2 air yards per target this season, the lowest of all receivers with at least 25 targets. In this offense, Shakir is just a screen merchant who needs to make defenders miss and pick up yards after the catch. It is a tough way to produce in fantasy. He does not have an end-zone target, so it is not like you can rely on touchdowns. On top of it all, he now faces the Texans, who have allowed the third-fewest yards and second-fewest fantasy PPG to WRs. 

Moore continues to average just five targets per game. In fact, that is trending down, as Moore has seven targets with just 3.1 fantasy points on two touches over his last two games combined. Currently, Moore is posting career lows in yards per route ran, target rate and yards per game. He may be a top-40 WR in total points, but anyone who rosters him knows it's been a much worse season than that. He has reached double-digit fantasy points just three times. His season stats are inflated by the game against the Bengals, where he threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score -- two things you cannot expect weekly. As I explained in the Rome Odunze blurb above, the Steelers are a favorable matchup. But given Moore's usage and production, I still believe you should look to get away.

What do Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton have in common? They have all scored more fantasy points than Worthy this season. Rice has done so in half as many games. Worthy has topped 50 yards just twice and has scored one touchdown on the season. The Colts have allowed the fifth-fewest yards to out-wide receivers since Week 7, and Worthy has run 66 percent of his routes out wide. Lou Anarumo has had two weeks to prepare the Colts' defense for this game, as well. At this point, starting Worthy is hoping for a long catch.