Fantasy Football Today – LAST-MINUTE Week 12 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Advice, Actives/Inactives & Q/A (11/23/25)

Podcast Hosts: Adam Aizer (A), Dave Richard (D), Heath Cummings (C), Jamey Eisenberg (not present in transcript).
Date: November 23, 2025

Overview

This episode focuses on last-minute fantasy football advice for Week 12, covering critical start/sit decisions, injury updates, actives/inactives, and a robust Q&A helping managers set winning lineups. The crew navigates injuries, late-breaking news, and provides rankings opinions—crucial for those looking to lock in their fantasy playoff pushes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Injury Updates & Player Actives/Inactives

• Chris Godwin’s Usage

  • Godwin is expected to play but not at full capacity. The coaching staff indicates a limited snap share—making him risky in fantasy lineups.
  • Heath’s Take: "Chris Godwin we think is too risky. His coach said he won't play a full snap share. Where'd you rank Chris Godwin?"
    Dave: "48th, I think, just to get him into the rankings." (02:22-02:39)
  • Godwin’s limited return potentially downgrades Tez Johnson’s fantasy outlook due to reduced targets.

• Running Backs Navigating Injuries

  • Josh Jacobs: Game-time decision, testing knee in warmups. If active, he’s a must-start; if inactive, Emmanuel Wilson becomes a strong play but not at Jacobs’ upside.
    • Dave: "If Josh Jacobs plays, you start him. If Josh Jacobs doesn't play, you start Emmanuel Wilson, but not in the same regard as you would Jacobs." (03:29-03:36)
  • Jalen Warren vs. Bears: Highly recommended with the Bears missing three linebackers. Potential for reduced touches if Kenneth Gainwell is involved.
    • Heath: "I'm viewing Warren as someone I'm almost certainly starting. He's an RB2, not a top 12 guy." (04:21-04:37)
  • Ken Walker, Travion Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Zach Charbonnet: Ranked Walker > Henderson > Stevenson > Charbonnet by Heath, though others have Henderson over Walker. (05:02-05:07)
  • Kareem Hunt: With Isaiah Pacheco out, Hunt is ranked ahead of all other discussed RBs this week.
    • Dave: "It's a good matchup. There's no Pacheco. He ought to have 15 or more touches. Start Kareem Hunt, RB2." (05:18-05:29)
  • Other Mentions: Trey Benson is out; Donovan “Bam” Knight is a borderline RB2/flex. Start Hunt over Knight. (06:11-06:21)

2. Quarterback & Tight End Updates

• Joe Burrow Out; Joe Flacco mentions. Aaron Rodgers questionable, but status likely known by lineup lock. (05:29-05:55)
• Brenton Strange as a streaming TE: Seeing a decent target share previously and is a speculative stash, especially with 9.9+ PPR points in 3 of 4 games before injury. (07:31-08:18)
• Darius Slayton and Xavier Worthy: Both are possible flexes, with Worthy preferred if active.
• Xavier Legette: "Great boom-bust flex." (09:22)
• Titans Pass Catchers: Little enthusiasm, would play Legette over options like DK from the Titans. (09:31-09:37)
• Noah Fant/Mike Gesicki: Gesicki’s questionable status does not meaningfully affect Fant’s projection; Fant is not a particularly strong play.
  • Dave: "He did not have even 20 receiving yards in a game this year, Mike Gesicki. It's... he's been almost completely uninvolved." (09:53-10:19)

3. Q&A Rapid Fire (with Rankings and Quick Takes)

• Dallas Goddard vs. Jake Ferguson (Non-PPR): Goddard, but "flip a coin." (10:38-10:45)
• Daniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers, or Trevor Lawrence: Jones preferred. (10:49-10:52)
• Order: Travion Henderson / Quinshawn Judkins / Javonte Williams / Emmanuel Wilson: If Jacobs is out, Wilson is favorite; if Jacobs plays, go Javonte, then Judkins slightly ahead of Henderson. (11:00-11:18)
• Pierce vs. Watson, and others: Pierce over Watson, and Pierce is a top-30 WR this week. (11:29-11:45)
• Ricky Pearsall vs. Alec Pierce: "He is one spot behind Alec Pierce." (11:46-11:51)
• Sam Darnold vs. Jameis Winston (QB): Darnold. (12:06-12:07)
• George Pickens vs. Travis Etienne: Pickens over Etienne. (12:11-12:12)
• Colston Loveland or Cade Otton (plus Strange, Fant, Theo Johnson at TE): Fanon and Theo top, then Fanon (likely meaning Theo Johnson slightly favored). (12:24-12:32)
• Flacco or Darnold: Flacco. (12:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Chris Godwin’s risk:
  "Chris Godwin we think is too risky. His coach said he won't play a full snapshare." — Heath (02:22)
• On Jacobs’ must-start status:
  "If Josh Jacobs plays, you start him. If Josh Jacobs doesn't play, you start Emmanuel Wilson, but not in the same regard as you would Jacobs." — Dave (03:29)
• Regarding Kareem Hunt:
  "It's a good matchup. There's no Pacheco. He ought to have 15 or more touches. Start Kareem Hunt, RB2." — Dave (05:18)
• Brenton Strange as a streaming TE option:
  "He had about a 17% target share the first month of the season... Not a surefire start, but if you've been streaming tight end, I think he's a good guy to just try to put on your bench." — Dave (07:42)
• On Darius Slayton’s upside:
  "View him as kind of a hope at flex than a start. There is some upside there with Jameis." — Dave (08:38)
• On Xavier Legette:
  "Great boom-bust flex." — Dave (09:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:22 | Chris Godwin ranking/reacting to limited role | | 03:29 | Josh Jacobs injury scenario and Wilson’s value | | 04:21 | Jalen Warren/Bears matchup and RB2 value | | 05:02 | New England/Cincinnati/Seattle/Tennessee RB rankings | | 05:18 | Kareem Hunt’s ranking with Pacheco out | | 07:31 | Streaming TEs, Brenton Strange as waiver add | | 08:36 | Darius Slayton’s upside as a flex | | 09:22 | Labeling Xavier Legette a boom-bust flex | | 09:53 | Noah Fant discussion and Mike Gesicki stats | | 10:38 | Dallas Goddard vs Jake Ferguson (Non-PPR question) | | 11:00 | RB comparison: Henderson, Judkins, Javonte, Wilson | | 11:29 | Pierce vs Watson, plus Dotson and Dortch | | 12:06 | Darnold vs. Winston at quarterback | | 12:11 | Pickens vs Etienne | | 12:24 | Tight end rapid fire (Loveland, Otton, Strange, Fant, Theo) | | 12:32 | Flacco or Darnold |

Summary

This episode delivers actionable, last-minute Week 12 fantasy football advice, meticulously weighing injury statuses and shifting player values. The panel provides consensus and dissenting rankings, especially on tricky RB situations, and rounds out the content with a fast-paced Q&A.

The show maintains its friendly, direct, expert tone, with clear justification for recommended moves. Listeners get both strategic outlooks on player situations and tactical, “who-to-start-over-whom” decisions that will shape fantasy matchups this critical week.