NFL Week 12 Optimal FLEX Plays: Josh Downs will continue to thrive with Anthony Richardson

Most of us have two games (maybe three) to get into the fantasy playoffs. What does your situation look like? Already have eight or nine wins and can run in? Or are you struggling with a record below .500? If you’re the latter (and even the former), you need to hit the FLEX spots in your fantasy lineups. Unfortunately, last week’s players in this column like DeVonta Smith, Noah Brown and Cedric Tillman didn’t help matters. But Jauan Jennings (WR7), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (WR9), Ladd McConkey (WR16) and Quentin Johnston (WR33) all turned in solid performances to help fantasy teams. Can’t win them all, but you will win more with logic and smart decisions, let’s see who to fire in week 12.

Josh Downs, WR, Colts vs. Lions

Now, with Anthony Richardson back under center, Downs has the most upside he could possibly have. In his last two full games with Richardson at QB, he went 6-109-1 on nine targets (WR6) and 5-84-1 on five targets (WR11), which were his two best games of the season. The Lions held Mac Jones to a poor 138-yard effort in Week 11, but they’ve still allowed an average of 233.6 passing YPG over their last five. Furthermore, the Lions’ defense has allowed the 10th most fantasy points per game. game, fourth-most receiving yards and most receptions for receivers this season. The Colts will be able to throw (and low key run the ball) at the Lions, and when you combine that with a 50.5 Over/Under (the highest in Week 12), Downs is in for another nice play as Richardson’s top target.

RELATED: Stock Up, Stock Down: Apology to Anthony Richardson

Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, RB, Commanders vs. Cowboys

Coming off a game — especially in a losing effort against the Eagles — where Ekeler and Robinson finished as RB12 and RB15, respectively, you should feel pretty good about both guys versus the Cowboys. Joe Mixon is coming off a Week 11 performance against the Cowboys where he finished as the RB1 after going 25-109-3 and adding another 44 receiving yards. This bodes well for Robinson (16-63-1 in Week 11) and Ekeler (8-89-0 in receiving) this week, as both guys will have more opportunities to be productive against a Cowboys team that doesn’t have any answers.

Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, RB, Buccaneers at Giants

Since White’s return from injury, it’s clear that the Bucs’ backfield has been a complete committee, even after Irving performed well in the former’s absence. Here’s the history of the tape over the Bucs’ last four games in terms of touches and yards per carry. match:

• Rachaad White – 12.3 touches, 70.8 yards
• Bucky Irving – 13.5 touches, 70.5 yards

You know what that tells me? Both will have a chance as top 20 RBs against a Giants defense that just allowed Chuba Hubbard to pass for 169 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in Week 10. Both White and Irving should be solid FLEX plays against the G-Men .

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Kareem Hunt, RB, Chiefs at Panthers

That might be it folks! This could potentially be the last time you are able to put Hunt in your FLEX slot with the return of Isiah Pacheco on the horizon. Even though Hunt had his worst fantasy game of the season in Week 11, he still dominated running backs with 83.3% of them. That should also be the case in Week 12 (if Pacheco doesn’t return) against a Panthers defense that allows the most fantasy points per game. battle for running backs. Despite beating the Giants in Week 10, the Panthers allowed Tyrone Tracy to go 18-103-1 (RB13) and Devin Singletary also chipped in (8-40-0). The Chiefs’ offense will also likely give Hunt a decent number of opportunities to score his sixth touchdown of the season.

Courtland Sutton, WR, Broncos at Raiders

Sutton has really turned it on after being the WR59 in fantasy on a points-per-game basis. match through the first five weeks of the season. Since Week 6, he has been the WR17 and his play has been instrumental in helping the development of rookie QB Bo Nix. While Sutton only finished as the WR26 in Week 11, he easily led the team in receiving yards, catching 7-of-8 passes for 78 yards. He now has four games in a row in which he has scored at least eight goals. He will once again be the focal point of the Broncos’ passing game against a Raiders team that just allowed Tyreek Hill to have his best fantasy game (WR12 and I know it’s Tyreek Hill) since Week 1. How many guys on your roster are you starting over Sutton at this point?

Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers vs. Ravens

How about this rookie, huh? He just keeps delivering and getting more consistent. Fresh off a WR16 finish in which he caught 6-of-9 targets for 123 yards, McConkey will have a nice matchup against the Ravens’ 32nd-ranked pass defense. Despite playing well against the Steelers in Week 11, George Pickens still went 8-89-0. There will be plays for Ladd against a cornerback group that struggles outside of Marlon Humphrey (who plays a lot of nickel corner). This matchup also has the second highest Over/Under of the week (50). Take advantage of it because McConkey will.