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

Summary

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

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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 |

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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.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

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[B]

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[C]

A big week in your fantasy season. A lot on the line. Let's get those lineups set for week 12. What's up? Welcome everybody. Remember, if you don't get your questions answered on this show, you need more help. We invite you to join us at 11am Eastern on YouTube.com fantasy football today, 11am until 1pm Eastern. We are answering your questions basically for two straight hours. Heath, it's nice to not have to talk about the weather today.

[D]

No weather concerns.

[C]

Let's do it. All right, so just real quick on the Bucks, Chris Godwin is expected to play, but Bucky Irving is not and he will play. Expected, expected to play next week. So that is great news. And Chris Godwin we think is too risky. His coach said he won't play a full snapshare. Where'd you rank Chris Godwin?

[D]

48Th, I think, just to get him into the rankings. But he is. I think the bigger news on Godwin playing is what does that mean for the targets of Tez Johnson? Because you're going to start a Mecca. Buga does unaffected. K. Dalton and Tez Johnson are the two guys who were kind of maybe low end starters. Tez more of a flex that losing one or two targets could make a really big difference in whether they're a good start or not.

[C]

What about Otten? So, yeah, Tez Johnson, I feel like people could try to get away from. But Otten.

[D]

Is just inside of my top 12 now. He was closer to six at the beginning of the week. I've got him at a. I've got him at 11.

[C]

Okay. Big, big drop there. All right, so it's. How about these injured running backs? Josh Jacobs, we can't tell you yet what to do with Josh Jacobs is going to test his knee during warm ups. If he plays, you start him.

[D]

I was gonna say that's the easiest one just because if, if Josh Jacobs plays, you start him. If Josh Jacobs doesn't play, you start.

[C]

Emmanuel Wilson, but not in the same regard as you would Jacobs.

[D]

I mean, Jacobs is probably a top six back when he's fully healthy. And Wilson's a borderline RB1amust start for me.

[B]

I.

[C]

We'll talk about this. The inactives will come out at 11:30. This is a one o' clock game. The thing is, when Jacobs had, I think it was a calf injury a few weeks ago, they did limit his touches a little bit. 13 carries at Arizona, 13 carries at Pittsburgh. Of course he scored three touchdowns in those games. But they did use manual Wilson more in those games. And then Jacobs finally got healthier, got 17 carries, 21 carries and then he got hurt again. Anyway, Jalen Warren is going to play. You feel good starting him? The Bears are without three linebackers today.

[D]

Yeah, I think I. You feel great about the opportunity against the Bears. The question is, do they limit his touches a little bit because they have Kenneth Gainwell who they're happy to throw the ball to. So I I'm viewing Warren as someone I'm almost certainly starting. He's an RB2, not a top 12 guy.

[C]

And Ramandre Stevenson's expected to play. That's no surprise. Heath is a little bit lower on Travion Henderson than Dave and Jamie are. But know look, they're playing the Bengals. We've seen multiple running backs have good games against the Bengals four times this year. Ken Walker expected to play. How would you rank the four running backs in New England at Cincinnati and Seattle at Tennessee?

[D]

So I have it. Walker, Henderson, Stevenson, Charbonnet.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

I think everybody else has Henderson over Walker. They're very, very close. For me.

[C]

Isaiah Pacheco is out. How's how does Kareem Hunt rank against the Colts against those compared to those four?

[D]

I would put him ahead of all of those four running backs. It's a good matchup. There's no Pacheco. He ought to have 15 or more touches. Start Cream Hunt, RB2 Joe Burrow is out.

[C]

So it's another Joe Flacco week against Cincinnati. We're hoping for Burrow. I would say expecting Burrow. I don't know if they lose this game and they're a three win team, what happens. But expecting Burrow on Thanksgiving, not at our Thanksgiving dinners, but for his game. And Aaron Rodgers is questionable. We still don't know about him and if he's going to play. But that is another one o' clock game. So we'll know pretty early on Rogers and it won't really affect anything for you in terms of Warren and Metcalf and all that?

[D]

Nope.

[C]

Okay. All right, so let's take a quick break here and get to some tight end news. Some. Oh wait, one more running back item. Trey Benson is out. Donovan Knight is playing. How about Donovan Knight against the Jaguars versus Kareem Hunt against the Colts?

[D]

I would start Hunt overnight. He is right in between Travy and Ramandre for me, a very, very borderline RB2 or a very good flex.

[C]

All right, all right. We'll take a break and get into a few more news items after this.

[D]

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[E]

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[D]

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[E]

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[C]

Welcome back to Fantasy Football Today everybody. Fantasy Football Today Express so Brenton Strange is going to play today. Oh, what do you think?

[D]

Yeah, he, he's behind Kate Otten for me, behind Hunter Henry, behind Harold Fannin, but like the best option other than that group. So I believe he'll be at tight end 15 when I get my rankings updated this morning. He had about a 17 target share the first month of the season. Obviously you hope that will be better with no Brian Thomas Jr. Or Travis Hunter, but in his first game back from injury it could be worse. So not, not a, 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 and let's see what the role is and he might be somebody you want to start later in the year.

[C]

And he is 20% rostered. Brenton Strange and he scored 9.9 or more PPR fantasy points in three of his first four games before getting hurt. Darius Slayton is going to play. So he is at the Lions. 12 points you think we would get from him.

[D]

I mean it would be nice if.

[A]

We got 12 points.

[D]

I think you're best to view him as kind of a a hope at flex than than a start. But there is some upside there with Jameis. It's just man, they're like 12 and a half point underdogs with an implied total of 18. So don't get too excited.

[C]

Yeah, and Xavier Worthy is questionable. I don't think that's really going to.

[D]

Change much for people he's expected to play. I would rather start Xavier Worthy than Darius Slayton, but that's where we're at.

[C]

Xavier Legate is going to play. He's coming off A huge game. The Niners pass defense is pretty bad, but I don't think anyone's gonna. I mean, we've seen it before from league and then he disappears. Sorry.

[D]

Great. Boom bust flex.

[C]

Xavier Legate. Okay. Yeah. Any interest in a Titans pass catcher with Alec IO Manor out?

[D]

I mean DK is the. The. The hope, but he would be behind legit for me.

[C]

Micah Sicki is questionable for the people who ran and picked up Noah Fant. Any. Any concerns about fan. His numbers really didn't change when Kasiki played. But we've seen in the past Kasiki have actually pretty big games when T. Higgins has been out now, tomorrow Chase is out.

[D]

Yeah. I think he did not have even 20 receiving yards in a game this year. Mike Kasiki, it's. He's been almost completely uninvolved. He's on the field a little bit, but he was playing less snaps than Drew Sample earlier in the year. So I'm. I don't have. I. I didn't really impact fan that much. Okay. I'd rather start strange than fan now. That's the difference.

[C]

And Alex Highsmith, edge rusher for Pittsburgh. He's doubtful. Good news for the Bears. I already mentioned the Bears will be without three linebackers. And great news. Philadelphia center Cam Juergens clear the concussion protocol and he will play at Dallas. We have some time for your questions here. Dallas Goddard or Jake Ferguson in that game? Non pp. Non ppr.

[D]

Ooh, non ppr. I'm gonna go with Goddard, but they are. I mean, flip a coin.

[C]

Daniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers or Trevor Lawrence.

[D]

It would be Daniel Jones for me.

[C]

Travion Henderson, Quinshawn Judkins, Javante Williams or. Or Emmanuel Wilson. Rank them.

[D]

So if Jacobs is out, Emmanuel Wilson would be my favorite of that group. If Jacobs plays, Javante would be my favorite of that group.

[C]

And then you like Henderson or Judkins better?

[D]

I've got Judkins, like one spot higher.

[C]

Okay. Judkins at Las Vegas actually has kind of a sneaky solid run defense. Watson or Pierce?

[D]

Pierce.

[C]

Alec Pierce. Chico Conquo John Dot.

[D]

What?

[C]

Dotson or Dortch?

[D]

Yeah, it's gonna be Pierce.

[C]

That's. That's Pierce. Pierce could be. All right. Today.

[D]

He's a top 30 wide receiver for me.

[C]

Who's starting?

[D]

Ricky Pierce all he is one spot behind Alec Pierce.

[C]

You got. You basically just have to have a gut feeling on Ricky Pierce. All I can't really tell you why you should start Ricky Purcell. He's a talented player. He got nothing last week. Maybe they say let's get him involved. Sam Darnold or Jameis Winston?

[D]

Darnold.

[C]

George Pickens or Travis etn?

[D]

Oh, wow.

[C]

I'll go George Pickens, Colston Loveland or Kate Otten? Strange Fanon or Theo Johnson?

[D]

So I have Fanon and Theo. Basically, I'll go Fannon Flacco or Darnold. I would go Flacco.

[C]

All right, we've got plenty of time to answer your questions on our live stream from 11am to 1pm eastern. YouTube.com fantasy football today. We'll see you there. Thanks to Heath Cummings and all of you for watching and listening. Good luck this week. Talk to you soon. Paramount podcasts.