Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Kickers and Team Defenses Fantasy Football Week 12: Dolphins Get a Great Black Friday Deal

Miami has a chance to rack up the sacks and turnovers vs. the Jets’ anemic offense.

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Defenses

1. Cowboys defense vs. Commanders (Thur.)
2. 49ers defense at Seahawks (Thur.)
3. Browns defense at Broncos
4. Chiefs defense at Raiders
5. Lions defense vs. Packers (Thur.)
6. Dolphins defense at Jets (Fri.)
7. Steelers defense at Bengals|
8. Saints defense at Falcons
9. Ravens defense at Chargers
10. Patriots defense at Giants

Week 12 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Week 12 Start ’Em: Defenses

Start of the Week

Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports

Dolphins defense at Jets (Fri. 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video): The Jets have benched Zach Wilson and will start career backup Tim Boyle, making the Dolphins defense a strong play on Black Friday. New York has committed 18 giveaways and given up 40 sacks, which is the third-most in the league, so look for Miami to produce.

Colorado, Michigan and Virginia Readers: Get up to $100 from SI Sportsbook

Bet $5 on DraftKings and get $200 in Bonus Bets if not in those states

Start ’Em

Chiefs defense at Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Chiefs defense has been one of the more underrated units in the league, and a plus matchup against the Raiders and Aidan O’Connell makes it a nice option. Las Vegas is tied for the most giveaways committed (21), and their offense is averaging just 16.8 points a game.

More Starts

Browns defense at Broncos (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)
Saints defense at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Giants defense vs. Patriots (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Patriots defense at Giants ($3,200)
Chiefs defense at Raiders ($3,100)
Eagles defense vs. Bills ($2,900)

Week 12 Sit ’Em: Defenses

Sit of the Week

Bills defense at Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Bills are coming off a huge stat line for fantasy fans against the Jets, but I wouldn’t expect a repeat performance against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles. Their offense is averaging 27.3 points and 363 yards of offense, and it’s committed a total of 14 giveaways on the season.

Sit ’Em

Jets defense vs. Dolphins (Fri. 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video): The Jets have one of the top defenses in the NFL, but their offense leaves it on the field often. That, plus a bad matchup against the Dolphins, makes it a sit ’em. Miami is averaging more than 30 points and 434 yards of offense per game, so keep New York grounded.

More Sits

Cardinals defense vs. Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)
Chargers defense vs. Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) 
Bears defense at Vikings (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Colts defense vs. Buccaneers ($3,400)
Titans defense vs. Panthers ($3,400)
Buccaneers defense at Colts ($3,300)

---

Fabs’ Top 10 Kickers

1. Brandon Aubrey vs. Commanders (Thur.)
2. Harrison Butker at Raiders
3. Jason Sanders at Jets (Fri.)
4. Jake Elliott vs. Bills
5. Justin Tucker at Chargers
6. Blake Grupe at Falcons
7. Brandon McManus at Texans
8. Riley Patterson vs. Packers (Thur.)
9. Tyler Bass at Eagles
10. Jake Moody at Seahawks (Thur.)

Week 12 Start ’Em: Kickers

Start of the Week

© Allen Eyestone via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Jason Sanders at Jets (Fri. 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video): Sanders, listed as a start last week, scored 10 fantasy points in a win over the Raiders. Next up is a great matchup against the Jets, who have allowed nine or more points to kickers seven times. In fact, the last three kickers to face them have scored at least 11 points.

Colorado, Michigan and Virginia Readers: Get up to $100 from SI Sportsbook

Bet $5 on FanDuel and get $200 in Bonus Bets if not in those states

Start ’Em

Matt Prater vs. Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Prater hasn't been the most consistent kicker in fantasy football, but he can be a useful asset when the matchup is right. That's the case this week, as he faces a Rams defense that has allowed at least eight points to kickers in all but two games. Add and start Prater this week.

More Starts

Blake Grupe at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox)|
Brandon McManus at Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Chase McLaughlin at Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

Week 12 Sit ’Em: Kickers

Sit of the Week

Wil Lutz vs. Browns (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Lutz has been on absolute fire, scoring 12 or more points in three of the last four games. That includes a Week 11 game against the Vikings where he scored 17 points. Still, the Browns have allowed just 5.2 points per game to opposing kickers so the matchup looks bad for Lutz.

Sit ’Em

Daniel Carlson vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Carlson has put up decent numbers lately, but a matchup against the Chiefs makes him a fade for me. Believe it or not, but their tough  defense hasn't allowed a kicker to score double digits this season. In fact, only two have scored more than seven points vs. Kansas City.

More Sits

Greg Zuerlein vs. Dolphins (Fri. 3 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Tyler Bass at Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
Evan McPherson vs. Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)