Fantasy football lineup advice: Week 12 boom or bust

Fantasy Football – Wide Receiver

Boom: Calvin Ridley, ATL vs. TB

In his first game without Austin Hooper, Ridley thrived with eight catches for 143 yards and a touchdown. With Julio Jones requiring so much attention opposite of him, this allows Ridley to operate more freely in the open field. He may not get as many looks as Jones, but he’s made the most of his opportunities and should again be in for a large role in the upcoming weeks. The Falcons’ offense is as pass-happy as any in the league, something that should continue without a sufficient ground-game intact.

Like his quarterback, Ridley benefits from a superb matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs’ pass-coverage has been atrocious all year, allowing a league-high 46.7 FPPG to opposing wideouts. Tyler Lockett, Christian Kirk, and Michael Thomas have all torched this group over their last three games, providing an excellent opportunity for Ridley to turn in another big line. As long as Hooper remains sidelined, you can count on him to produce in a big way.

Boom: Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. OAK

He may not be the sexiest pick for fantasy football, but Crowder has been quietly spectacular in his last three games, posting WR1 numbers as Sam Darnold continues to find his groove. His 20 FPPG over that span is the third-best amongst all wide receivers, placing just behind Michael Thomas (26.8 FPPG) and Tyler Lockett (23.1 FPPG). He’s been incredibly efficient working as Darnold’s No. 1 target, reeling-in touchdowns in every game since Week 9.

Crowder’s light schedule has paid dividends for him, and things won’t get any more complicated against Oakland. The Raiders are a bottom-10 defense against wide receivers, yielding 38.7 FPPG to the position. Their lack of a pass-rush should give Darnold more than enough time in the pocket to find his top playmaker.

Honorable Mention: Terry McLaurin (WSH vs. DET), D.K. Metcalf (SEA @ PHI)

Bust: Michael Gallup, DAL @ NE

With Amari Cooper being hindered by numerous injuries, the Cowboys needed someone to step up in their prolific aerial-attack. Gallup has answered that call in a big way, most-recently shredding the Lions’ secondary for nine catches and 148 yards on a team-high 13 targets. The second-year wideout has been a consistent contributor all season, averaging a respectable16 FPPG, but may be in for a down-week in Week 12.

With the Cowboys traveling to Foxborough to take on the historically-good Patriots’ defense, this has the looks of a low-scoring game. New England’s stingy secondary has surrendered just one touchdown to WRs in 2019, leading the league in fantasy points allowed to the position (just 25.2 FPPG). If there’s one area Dallas can take advantage of, it’s the Pats’ rush-defense, which has looked more human as of late. It’s hard to ignore the recent near-flawless play by Dak Prescott, but if they want this game to stay close, they should look to get Zeke going early.

Bust: Marquise Brown, BAL @ LAR

Hollywood Brown has been the Ravens’ most productive wide receiver in his rookie campaign, leading the team’s WR corps in yards (477), receptions (30), and touchdowns (4). He’s been the definition of a boom-or-bust type of player on Baltimore’s run-heavy approach, but when the matchup has been right, he’s shown the ability to post admirable numbers. Still, he remains one of the most volatile receivers in fantasy because of this.

Brown will almost certainly get an earful from Jalen Ramsey in this Monday Night showdown with the Rams. We don’t need to get in-depth about Ramsey, as everyone’s well aware of what a shadow date with him generally indicates. As a whole, the Rams rank middle-of-the-pack against the WR spot, which should allow Lamar Jackson to find open guys elsewhere. Brown’s got the wheels to break free on any given play operating as his team’s top downfield threat, but opportunities will be limited in this one.

Dishonorable Mention: John Brown (BUF vs. DEN), Darius Slayton (NYG @ CHI)

Sleeper: James Washington, PIT @ CIN

With James Conner, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Diontae Johnson, and Ryan Switzer all potentially sidelined against the Bengals, Washington could see a large increase in targets. I mean, somebody has to catch passes for the Steelers. Cincinnati’s defense is still bad, meaning we could have a sneaky flex play on our hands.