Baker Mayfield couldn't ask for a better matchup. Joe Robbins/Getty Images
Week 12 is already here and I’m back to give out more sleeper plays. Remember to set your lineups early with 3 games being played on Thursday. My standard for a good fantasy game is around 100 total yards and/or a TD, and this is for PPR scoring. A game with a lot of catches helps too, obviously. Of course, the bar is a little lower for TEs.
I went 6-6 last week, and you can check out that article here. I counted both QBs as a loss, even though they were middle of the pack-ish. Sorry, Week 11 was my worst week of the year. I will continue to look for players that can help you with playoff implications on the line heading forward. These players are in no particular order.
QB
Baker Mayfield (CLE): The Bengals are allowing over 32 FPTS/G to QBs over their last 4 games. Is that good?
Andy Dalton (CIN): I’m a little concerned that A.J. Green may not be back, but the matchup is tasty. Plus, our rule on QBs says that if we expect Mayfield to have a big game, we should expect the opposing QB to do the same. Here's hoping that rule comes through again this week!
RB
Nick Chubb (CLE): The Bengals defense is getting torched, so make sure you fire up Chubb this week. Cincinnati is allowing almost 39 FPTS/G to RBs over their last 4, and over 5 yards/carry.
Mark Ingram (NO): I put Ingram in this article 2 weeks in a row and he’s been money. Why mess with a good thing? The Falcons are a Top 2 matchup for RBs allowing over 33 FPTS/G to the position.
Marlon Mack (IND): Mack should come through again as long as he’s healthy. The Colts offense is really heating up.
Phillip Lindsay (DEN): The Steelers are an average matchup for RBs over their last 4 games allowing over 25 FPTS/G to the position.
Matt Breida (SF): I get it. He's brittle, but the matchup is too good to pass up. The Bucs are allowing just under 30 FPTS/G to RBs in their last 5.
WR
Allen Robinson (CHI): *Proceed with caution. His QB situation is concerning now.
He’s in a great spot to put up some points on Turkey Day against the Lions. Detroit is giving up over 43 FPTS/G to WRs over their last 5 games, and he smashed the Lions for over 100-yards and 2 TDs only 2 weeks ago.
Calvin Ridley (ATL): He had his best game of the year against the Saints earlier this season, so he’s worth taking a flyer on. His involvement in the offense lately has been concerning, so he’s no lock to blow up. This matchup is good however, and when you’re dealing with sleepers, beggars can’t be choosers.
Amari Cooper (DAL): I put Cooper in this article last week and he killed me, but I’m going to give him another shot. Washington is giving up over 41 FPTS/G to WRs in their last 5 games.
Doug Baldwin (SEA): He’s not perfect but he seems to be a lot healthier and starting to come on. He’s in a good spot against a Carolina D that is allowing almost 37 FPTS/G to WRs in their last 5. They really struggle with TEs as well, so Baldwin could come up BIG in the slot this week.
TE
Jordan Reed (WAS): He had a nice game against Houston in Week 11, and now he gets a Dallas defense that allowed 25 catches in their last 4 games to TEs, and over 17 FPTS/G.
C. J. Uzomah (CIN): He hasn’t been very good, but this is purely about the matchup. The Browns have given up an insane 37 catches to TEs over their last 4 games, and are allowing almost 23 FPTS/G to the position.
That’s all I have for this week. For more fantasy info, make sure you check out my show Moneyline on ESPN 97.5 every Sunday from 10-noon. Jerry Bo and I will get you ready for kickoff and answer any questions you may have. Also, follow us on Twitter.
Good luck in Week 12 and Happy Thanksgiving!
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Astros eye a bounce-back before momentum gets away
Jul 9, 2025, 2:46 pm
Angel Martínez hit a grand slam off closer Josh Hader with two outs in the 10th inning to lift the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-6 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio also homered to help the Guardians beat the Astros for a second straight night after entering the series on a 10-game skid.
Out for a second inning after throwing a scoreless ninth and with a runner on starting on second, Hader (5-2) intentionally walked Ramírez before walking Carlos Santana to load the bases. Hader struck out pinch-hitter Johnathan Rodríguez before Martínez sent a sinker 344 feet, into the first row of the seats in left field to put the Guardians on top.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase struck out one in a scoreless 10th to end it after Jakob Junis (2-1) struck out two in the ninth to earn the win.
Houston scored two runs in the eighth inning, with an RBI single from Jose Altuve, to tie it.
Altuve had two hits and drove in four runs, and rookie Cam Smith added three hits.
Houston starter Hunter Brown, who entered with an MLB-leading 1.82 ERA, yielded six hits and a season-high six runs in six innings.
There was one on with one out in the first when Ramírez homered for a second consecutive game, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead.
The Astros cut the lead to 2-1 when Isaac Paredes scored on a sacrifice fly by Altuve in the bottom of the inning.
Rocchio doubled to start the third before scoring on a one-out double by Nolan Jones, making it 3-1. A two-out single by Daniel Schneemann scored two more, extending the lead to 5-1.
Altuve’s two-run double cut the lead to 6-3 with no outs in the fifth. Houston got within 6-4 when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini.
Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo allowed five hits and three runs with seven strikeouts in four-plus innings.
Key moment
The grand slam by Martínez into the Crawford Boxes.
Key stat
It’s the first time Cleveland has won back-to-back games since beating the Athletics June 21-22.
Up next
Houston LHP Brandon Walter (1-1, 4.15 ERA) opposes RHP Slade Cecconi (3-4, 3.56) when the series concludes Wednesday.