Week 12 NFL DFS Picks, Predictions & Matchups for Main Slate
There are six teams on a bye during Week 12, including the Falcons, Bills, and Bengals. Among the exciting matchups left on the schedule will be the Packers hosting the 49ers and a ton of lopsided matchups, like the Commanders vs. Cowboys and Chiefs vs. Panthers.
Let’s try to spice up Week 12 even more by highlighting some of the top projections to target on PrizePicks. Below, you’ll find the Week 12 injury report, pass and run defenses to target for NFL DFS, and some NFL DFS picks to start building your Lineups.
NFL Week 12 Picks for DFS & PrizePicks
- NFL Week 12 Injury Report + Notes
- Week 12 Pass Defense to Target
- Week 12 Run Defenses to Target
- Week 12 DFS Picks
Week 12 NFL Injury Report
Lions TE Sam LaPorta (Shoulder) Still Uncertain
Lions TE Sam LaPorta was forced to sit out Week 11 against the Jaguars after he didn’t practice all week. That didn’t stop the Lions from scoring 52 points. They relied on WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and WR Jameson Williams, who combined to catch 15 of 17 targets. Their other tight ends caught a total of two passes for 27 yards, so if LaPorta is out again versus the Colts, the Lions wide receivers should be busy.
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans Trending Towards Return
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans has missed three straight games with a hamstring injury. The Buccaneers are coming out of their bye and Evans is trending towards returning for their matchup with the Giants after returning to practice.
Prior to his injury, Evans had four touchdown receptions over his previous four games. With Chris Godwin done for the season, Evans should see a plethora of targets immediately. He is in danger of missing the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the first time in his career, with only 335 yards and only seven games left.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco Expected To Return
Prior to Week 11, it was reported that Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco was expected to be ready to return for Week 12. How much he actually plays might be the question. The Chiefs shouldn’t need him to easily dispatch the Panthers this week.
In Week 13, they have a quick turnaround with the Black Friday game against the Raiders. If Pacheco does play in Week 12, it would not be a surprise to see him handle a limited workload. Regardless, the days of Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt having a significant workload are almost over.
49ers TE George Kittle (Hamstring) Expected To Practice
After sitting out Week 11 against the Seahawks, 49ers TE George Kittle is expected to return to practice this week, setting him up to play. 49ers QB Brock Purdy is listed as day-to-day while dealing with a sore right shoulder, but there is no indication that he won’t be able to take the field against the Packers.
Kittle has remained one of Purdy’s favorite targets, posting at least one touchdown reception in six of the eight games that he has played.
Other NFL Week 12 Injuries for DFS
- Vikings WR Jordan Addison played just 39 offensive snaps against the Titans last week because of cramping in one of his legs. Still, he caught three of eight targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. Given that it was just cramping, Addison should play Sunday against the Bears.
- Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson suffered a concussion early in his Monday Night Football matchup with the Texans. Given the quick turnaround, he might not be able to play against the Commanders. Cowboys TE Luke Schoonmaker stepped in to catch six of 10 targets for 56 yards against the Texans and would likely be in line for an expanded workload again if Ferguson is out.
- Panthers WR Adam Thielen (hamstring) and Panthers RB Jonathan Brooks (knee) are both expected to be ready to take the field against the Chiefs. Getting Brooks back is good news for the Panthers because RB Miles Sanders (foot) is expected to be sidelined. Brooks will likely be looking at a limited workload behind Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard, but it could expand as the season continues.
- Raiders RB Alexander Mattison (ankle) and Raiders RB Zamir White (quad) were both forced out of Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. If neither player can take the field in Week 12, then Raiders RB Ameer Abdullah could be thrust into a starting role. While he only had one carry last week, he did catch three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown and should continue to be involved in the pass.
NFL Week 12 Pass Defenses to Target
Buccaneers Defense vs. Giants
The Giants have replaced Daniel Jones at quarterback with Tommy DeVito. Not only does he have the benefit of added preparation with the Giants having their bye in Week 11, but DeVito’s first start of the season will also bring a favorable matchup against the Buccaneers.
The Bucs have the seventh-highest pass EPA per play allowed (0.10) in the league, per 4for4 Fantasy Football.
DeVito couldn’t ask for much of a better matchup to get his first start of the season in. Though the competition has been stiff, QBs have relentlessly beat up this defense. Recent QB performances against the Bucs include:
- 49ers QB Brock Purdy: 353 yards, 2 TDs
- Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: 291 yards, 3 TDs
- Falcons QB Kirk Cousins: 276 yards, 4 TDs
- Ravens QB Lamar Jackson: 281 Yards, 5 TDs
- Saints QB Spencer Rattler: 243 Yards, 1 TD
PrizePicks to consider: Tommy DeVito 181.5 Pass Yards / Malik Nabers 62.5 Receiving Yards
Panthers Defense vs. Chiefs
The Panthers’ defense is a wreck. They have struggled in just about every facet, including having the second-highest pass EPA per play allowed (0.15) in the league per 4for4.
They have also allowed the seventh-highest completion rate (68.7%). They could get picked apart by Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who will be looking to rebound from his first loss of the season. Despite the loss, Mahomes had three touchdown passes against the Bills.
Expect the Panthers to have no answer for this Chiefs’ offense.
PrizePicks to consider: Patrick Mahomes 240.5 Pass Yards / DeAndre Hopkins 55.5 Receiving Yards
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NFL Week 12 Run Defenses to Target
Indianapolis Colts Defense vs Lions
The Lions have one of the best running back duos in the league with RB Jahmyr Gibbs and RB David Montgomery. Last week, the two combined to rush for 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the Jaguars.
More great stat lines could be coming for the duo against the Colts, who have allowed the 10th-highest explosive rush percentage in the league (11.86%) per 4for4. In recent weeks, the Colts coughed up 16-78-1 to Breece Hall, 19-80-1 to James Cook, and 25-102-1 to Joe Mixon.
PrizePicks to consider: Jahmyr Gibbs 71.5 Rush Yards / David Montgomery 66.5 Rush Yards
Houston Texans Defense vs Titans
For as good as the team has been this season, the Texans have struggled against the run. Per 4for4, they have allowed the highest explosive rush percentage (13.48%) in the league. Looking to provide a bounce-back stat line against them will be Titans RB Tony Pollard, who had just nine carries for 15 yards against the Vikings in Week 11.
Pollard has been splitting work with RB Tyjae Spears since his return from injury, which is why his rushing projection has dropped week over week.
PrizePicks to consider: Tony Pollard 49.5 Rush Yards
Week 12 NFL DFS Picks
Here are the top NFL DFS picks for PrizePicks for Week 12, including NFL projections from the PrizePicks board.
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton 57.5 Receiving Yards – More
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton has posted at least 70 receiving yards in four straight games. Helping his cause was that he was targeted at least eight times in each of those games. Sutton has seven different games with at least eight targets this season.
He finished with at least 60 receiving yards in six of those games. I like his chances of reaching that threshold again versus the Raiders, who have the sixth-highest pass EPA per play allowed (0.12) in the league, per 4for4.
QB Bo Nix is a great pairing option for your Lineups, as he continues to thrive against weak defenses that don’t create pressure.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. 66.5 Rush – More
Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. returned from a hamstring injury last week to rush 16 times for 63 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles. Robinson has finished with at least 63 rushing yards in five of his last seven games. Two times during that span, he rushed for at least 100 yards.
He could blow past this projection against the Cowboys, who have the highest rush EPA per play allowed (0.12) in the league per 4for4, especially as the Commander should control this game as one of the biggest favorites this week.
Best Touchdown Scorer Pick: Giants RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Demon Pick)
Giants RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. took over as the team’s primary running back in Week 5. Across six games since then, he has three rushing touchdowns.
The Giants gave him 10 rushing attempts inside the red zone, including four inside the 10-yard line. Working in his favor is that the Giants gave him at least 16 carries in five of those six games. The Buccaneers have allowed the sixth-most points per game (26.6) in the league, so Tracy could receive multiple opportunities to score a touchdown.
Note: Demon picks add a payout boost to your lineup on PrizePicks, as they are more difficult projections to hit.
Goblin Pick: Giants QB Tommy DeVito 0.5 Pass TDs – More
DeVito had a run as a starter for the Giants last season and had a streak of five straight games with at least one passing touchdown. The Buccaneers have allowed the fifth-most passing touchdowns (20) in the league, so DeVito could immediately be productive in his first game of this season.
Note: Goblin picks reduce your payout on PrizePicks, as they are easier projections to hit.
Build Your Week 12 NFL DFS Lineup on PrizePicks
Despite six teams being on a bye during Week 12, there are plenty of games to enjoy, and hugely advantageous matchups on this week’s board. There is no better way to get in on the action than by building a team on PrizePicks for the Sunday main slate.
There are no salary constraints, so pick two or more projections for your favorite players, finalize your lineup, sit back, and enjoy the games.
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