5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 12

ESPN rosters: 19.4%

Yahoo rosters: 41%

You did read that correctly. Kirk Cousins is someone to think about adding for Week 12. Before you balk at the idea of adding him, there are circumstances to consider that make him a potentially viable option.

First, the Minnesota Vikings host the Carolina Panthers this week. Carolina’s defense has not been great, and this unit is towards the top of the league in points allowed defensively. On top of that, this defense has struggled against the pass, and there is potential for quarterbacks to do more damage against this unit.

The Panthers have given up the passing yards, but not too many passing scores. That seems to be a formula that will bend at some point, and that could occur this week with Cousins.

It is known that the Vikings like to lean on that run. However, this offense likes to work play action, and with the addition of rookie receiver Justin Jefferson, that deep threat some worried would be missed without Stefon Diggs has seemingly been replaced.

Cousins and that offense can chip away with the run and then break it open with play action chunk plays. One of the only reasons the Carolina pass defense is not worse is due to those low touchdown numbers. But a few big plays from Cousins can change that.

Of course, Cousins is not a quarterback who will compile big passing numbers. However, he is a veteran who completes a high-volume of passes and someone who should be able to exploit a defense’s weakness.

Since Week 8, Cousins has been in solid form. It may seem unconventional, but he could put together a multi-score day against the Panthers.