Fantasy Football 2018: Top streamable QB, TE and Defense in Week 12

The only way to win and make your Fantasy Football 2018 playoffs is by knowing the best players in the best matchups this week. We pick the top streamable QB, TE, and defense because these positions will decide your title.

Thanksgiving is the holiday for the NFL Week 12 could also double as the final regular-season week in some fantasy football 2018 leagues, depending on settings. Those leagues that use two-week playoff matchups and forgo Week 17 reach the postseason starting next week. With all of the expected talk about running backs and wide receivers, the “other” positions could likely decide a fantasy football playoff berth.

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, debate Fantasy Football 2018 in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

A. Quarterback is flipped turned upside down this season. The recently benched and then un-benched Jameis Winston ranks ahead of Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Tom Brady this week.

B. Tight end is a barren wasteland after Zach Ertz and Travis Kelce (who is on bye this week).

C. Team defense is a guessing game after Buffalo’s set opponent. The consensus top defense in the sport heading into the year (Jacksonville) ranks 17th in standard scoring! It went from number one to not worth owning (unless it’s facing Buffalo, like this week).

With your hypothetical fantasy football 2018 playoff spot on the line, pick one quarterback, one tight end, and one defense to start this week that is likely streamable; call it owned in fewer than 66 percent of standard leagues.

Todd Salem:

Quarterback – Lamar Jackson [or Joe Flacco] (34 percent owned [4.4 percent owned])

I guess I’m slightly cheating right off the bat. I want Jackson this week against Oakland, but there is a chance that Flacco returns and plays instead. Both guys are well under the ownership threshold, but using two roster spots for this is not ideal. Nevertheless, Jackson looked electric on the ground in his first start. He will grow as a passer each successive week, and the Raiders pose little interference defensively. Worst case, Flacco steps in against one of the weakest defenses in the game.

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Tight End – Cameron Brate (18 percent)

O.J. Howard had been great this season before being placed on IR this week. Brate, though, was pretty great himself before Howard stepped onto the scene last year. Hopefully he can recapture that magic with Winston back at quarterback. This year, he has been entirely touchdown-dependent, so it’s certainly a gamble.

Defense – Buffalo Bills (7.3 percent)

The Jacksonville defense against Buffalo is must-start, but the reverse matchup is almost as enticing. With the way the Jaguars offense is playing, this game could be an interception-off. Buffalo is the second-best defense in the sport and first against the pass according to DVOA. It hasn’t been as elite in fantasy, but this matchup should reap rewards.

Dan Salem:

Quarterback – Jameis Winston (31 percent owned)

Winston came off the bench last week and was light’s out against a weak New York defense. He tossed three touchdowns in less than a half of football, and nearly led his team all the way back to victory. Now his Buccaneers get the equally inept San Francisco defense. Winston usually tosses an interception, but the chances of him throwing three or more touchdowns is also high. He’s playing for a job next season and will step up and produce.

Tight End – Benjamin Watson (24 percent)

New Orleans has one of the best offenses in the league, and just so happens to be playing a bottom of the barrel defense. Atlanta is not stopping anyone, so in a boom or bust scenario, I’ll take Watson and the Saints. If any of these waiver wire tight ends are going to find the endzone, its likely Watson because his team is scoring four or five a game. I like his odds of producing big.

Defense – New Orleans Saints (36 percent)

I made this exact decision in our real life Fantasy Football 2018 league. The Saints defense has quietly been lights out the last few weeks, scoring solid fantasy points in the process. Atlanta may play offense well, but they have been thoroughly unimpressive lately. Even if the Falcons score 20+ points, its likely that New Orleans grabs multiple turnovers. They have in nearly every game over the last month of football.