Week 12 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (cont.)

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Start:

• Falcons -- Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, Matt Bryant: The Bucs are third-worst in fantasy versus quarterbacks and second-worst versus receivers, so expect the Falcons to be throwing the ball all over the place in this one. The question mark is Julio Jones (ankle), who is probably going to be limited if he is even active. If Jones doesn't play, you can consider Harry Douglas in deeper leagues.

• Buccaneers -- Josh Freeman, Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson, Connor Barth: The Falcons are not necessarily a team to take advantage of in any facet, but these options all have earned must-start status with their play in recent months. Keep them active at home in a crucial division matchup.

Sit:

• Falcons -- Michael Turner, Jacquizz Rodgers, Falcons D/ST: The Bucs have the No. 1 rushing defense in the NFL this season, and Turner has averaged around 2.0 yards per carry the past two weeks. The Bucs' offense is hot and a large reason why Tampa Bay is the sixth-toughest team in fantasy versus D/STs.

• Buccaneers -- LeGarrette Blount, Mike Williams, Dallas Clark, Buccaneers D/ST: Williams has tailed off in recent weeks, and the Falcons are the fourth-best team in fantasy versus receivers. The only other consideration here is the resurgent Clark, but only consider him if you're desperate for a tight end. The targets need to prove consistent over a longer time for him to be worth starting in post-bye weeks.

Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins

Start:

• Seahawks -- Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks D/ST: Seattle is much less impressive on the road, and the Dolphins do a solid job against running backs (seventh-best), but you have to keep Lynch and the defense active, wherever they are playing.

• Dolphins -- None: The Seahawks are second-best against quarterbacks and receivers and sixth-best against running backs. Oh, and the Dolphins just happen to have posted stinkers back-to-back against two of the most forgiving defenses in fantasy. Thankfully, you won't have to start any Dolphins with the byes done.

Sit:

• Seahawks -- Russell Wilson, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Zach Miller, Steven Hauschka: Rice has been getting in the end zone pretty regularly, but Wilson has been a much better quarterback at home. There is a chance that he falters, but this is not an unfavorable matchup. Seattle's weapons just don't rate as regular starters now that the byes are over.

• Dolphins -- Ryan Tannehill, Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas, Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, Anthony Fasano, Dan Carpenter, Dolphins D/ST: Bush has been getting phased out of the offense of late, giving way to Thomas, but the Seahawks' run defense is not to be taken lightly. If you were disappointed by your Dolphins against the Titans and Bills defenses, you're going to be really bummed about how little they muster in this matchup. Avoid them all.

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

Start:

• Broncos -- Peyton Manning, Ronnie Hillman, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Matt Prater, Broncos D/ST: Willis McGahee (torn MCL) gives way to the rookie Hillman, who can jump right into fantasy starting lineups against a Chiefs team that is seventh-worst in fantasy versus running backs. Lance Ball might even be a sleeper to add as a change-of-pace power back. Add the Broncos' defense to these other weekly must-starts. Denver has been playing well and faces a Chiefs team that is second-worst in fantasy against D/STs -- mostly because of awful quarterback play.

• Chiefs -- Jamaal Charles: The quarterback drama makes everyone tough to trust. You probably have to use Charles due to a lack of alternatives, but consider him merely good for 90 total yards here. Sit him if that production isn't good enough. If you're looking for a tight end sleeper, Tony Moeaki might qualify. He was their leading receiver last week, and the Broncos have been the worst team in fantasy against tight ends to date.

Sit:

• Broncos -- Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Stokley, Joel Dreessen, Jacob Tamme: Do not trust any of these options, especially Stokley against a Chiefs defense that has allowed the fewest receptions to receivers.

• Chiefs -- Brady Quinn, Matt Cassel, Peyton Hillis, Dwayne Bowe, Jonathan Baldwin, Steve Breaston, Dexter McCluster, Ryan Succop, Chiefs D/ST: Bowe (neck) goes from a must-start to must-sit amid his injury woes and the quarterback struggles. The Broncos also happen to be top 10 against wide receivers. Avoid the Chiefs until they solve their issues ... say, like 2015.

Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers

Start:

• Ravens -- Ray Rice, Torrey Smith, Justin Tucker, Ravens D/ST: Save for being top 10 against tight ends, the Chargers' defense is merely middle of the pack. Consider all Ravens as necessary, but these four are the only ones who rate as starters in standard leagues this week.

• Chargers -- Ryan Mathews, Danario Alexander, Antonio Gates, Chargers D/ST: The Ravens are in the top half of fantasy against most positions, but Mathews and Alexander get too many touches to sit in most formats. Gates, for his potential to find the end zone at home, and the Chargers' defense also rate as potential fringe starters in standard formats. These aren't great options against this defensive-minded contender, though, so consider alternatives if you have them.

Sit:

• Ravens -- Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson: Except for a surprising performance coming out of the bye against the Raiders, Flacco hasn't performed like a fantasy starter this season. Hopefully, most owners have better options, which also goes for Boldin and the tight ends.

• Chargers -- Philip Rivers, Ronnie Brown, Malcom Floyd, Nick Novak: The Ravens are top 10 against quarterbacks and wide receivers, which should make this a tough game to trust an inconsistent Chargers offense outside of their primary targets.

San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

Start:

• 49ers -- Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, 49ers D/ST: This matchup is clearly best for Gore and Crabtree, since the Saints have been the worst in fantasy against quarterbacks and wide receivers and third-worst against running backs. The 49ers are going to run often to play keep-away, so consider Kendall Hunter a potential flex option as well. The Saints are also 10th-worst against tight ends, so keep Davis active. The defense is a candidate to sit, but we still rate the 49ers defense one of the top 12 starts, even in this most unfavorable of matchups.

• Saints -- Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Jimmy Graham: Ignore the shootout that was last year's playoff game in San Francisco. This is one of the rare weeks to be wary of the Saints. Usually they are a start-all at home, but the 49ers can slow them down.

Sit:

• 49ers -- Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Mario Manningham, Randy Moss, David Akers: Smith (concussion) might return, but even in this favorable matchup there are at least 15 other quarterbacks better to start in fantasy crunch time. Akers is an option, too, in a favorable matchup, but his early-season struggles likely have many trusting a more productive kicker by now.

• Saints -- Darren Sproles, Mark Ingram, Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, Lance Moore, Garrett Harley, Saints D/ST: Sproles was supposed to play with a broken hand last week, so don't get burned again trusting him here. It is more likely he holds out to play against the Falcons the following Thursday, or is limited if he does play. The 49ers are No. 2 in fantasy versus running backs, so don't trust any of the backs in a resurgent running game. Moore is also a marginal option against a 49ers defense that is third-best in fantasy versus wide receivers.

St. Louis Rams at Arizona Cardinals

Start:

• Rams -- Steven Jackson, Danny Amendola: The Cardinals have shut down some of the best offenses in the NFL. The Rams don't qualify as one, but Jackson and Amendola have done damage against some good defenses. They still rate as starter options even in less-than-favorable matchups.

• Cardinals -- Beanie Wells, Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals D/ST: A mediocre opponent and a return of Wells (foot) should help the Cardinals play well enough to get the ball to Fitzgerald again. The defense is also a top-five option this week against a conservative Rams offense on the road. LaRod Stephens-Howling is going back to his third-down role, but he can still be an option as a flex in deeper PPR formats.

Sit:

• Rams -- Sam Bradford, Daryl Richardson, Brandon Gibson, Chris Givens, Lance Kendricks, Greg Zuerlein, Rams D/ST: If these names cannot help at home against the woeful Jets, it's time to ignore them against the Cardinals on the road.

• Cardinals -- John Skelton, Ryan Lindley, Kevin Kolb, Andre Roberts, Michael Floyd, Todd Heap, Jay Feely: The quarterback situation is not going to resolve itself whoever starts, so avoid all of the passers and all of the non-Fitzgerald receivers in fantasy crunch time.

Green Bay Packers at N.Y. Giants (Sunday night)

Start:

• Packers -- Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Jermichael Finley, Packers D/ST: This is a start-all game for the Packers, who are seeking revenge for last season's playoff loss to New York. Starks has taken over as the feature back and should be among the top 24 starts at running back, while all of the receivers are intriguing against a Giants secondary that is sixth-worst versus quarterbacks, third-worst versus wide receivers and in the bottom half against tight ends. The Packers' defense has also scored better of late and is a solid play against a slumping Giants offense coming off a bye.

• Giants -- Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, Lawrence Tynes: The struggles of New York's passing game make even these guys a risk. They still rate as starters at their positions and there should be some garbage time for them to rack up points while the Giants try to keep up with the Packers. If you're desperate for a flex, consider touchdown vulture Andre Brown.

Sit:

• Packers -- Alex Green, Mason Crosby: Green has lost his job to Starks and Crosby has lost his mojo, missing field goals that used to be automatic. Look elsewhere for your crunch time kicker.

• Giants -- Eli Manning, Ahmad Bradshaw, David Wilson, Domenik Hixon, Rueben Randle, Ramses Barden, Martellus Bennett, Travis Beckum, Giants D/ST: As Manning goes, so go the Giants, and Manning has been going downhill. Avoid as many Giants as you can afford until Manning proves he can be productive again. It could happen in garbage time here, but it is too risky to expect him to come up big against a good Packers defense. Bradshaw is banged up, Bennett is in danger of losing his job, and you can be sure the Packers are going to have their pass-protections straight against the Giants' rush.

Carolina at Philadelphia (Monday night)

Start:

• Panthers -- Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith, Greg Olsen: The Eagles fired the wrong guy. Their defense has gone in the tank, so feel confident using these Panthers this week. Stewart is the surprise here, but he has earned feature-back duties and top-25 fantasy status. He should help grind out the clock after the Eagles fall behind.

• Eagles -- DeSean Jackson: If LeSean McCoy (concussion) plays, he is a must-start. Bryce Brown is a solid play, too, if he starts, because the Panthers are bottom 10 in fantasy against running backs. Jackson is the one receiver to trust, regardless of who plays quarterback. Also consider Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek if Michael Vick (concussion) plays.

Sit:

• Panthers -- DeAngelo Williams, Brandon LaFell, Justin Medlock, Panthers D/ST: The defense might be the only consideration because the Eagles are the worst team in fantasy against opposing D/STs. The problem is the Panthers still aren't a top-12 option. Expect the Eagles to play a better, particularly if Vick returns.

• Eagles -- Nick Foles, Alex Henery, Eagles D/ST: Foles should be avoided at all costs, if he even plays, after that choke job against the Redskins. Henery and the Eagles defense haven't been starter quality through the bye weeks, so there is no reason to consider them now.

Money where my picks are ...

If you play in those weekly salary-cap games, here are some of our recommended plays relative to their prices:

QB -- Andrew Luck, Tony Romo and Andy Dalton
RB -- Chris Johnson, Frank Gore, Doug Martin
RB -- Stevan Ridley, Vick Ballard, BenJarvus Green-Ellis
WR -- Reggie Wayne, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant
WR -- Stevie Johnson, Denario Alexander,
TE -- Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Myers and Jermichael Finley
K -- Matt Prater, David Akers and Robbie Gould
D/ST -- Seahawks, Steelers, Browns and Bengals

If you have a winning lineup, challenge me with it on Twitter @EricMackFantasy.

Eric Mack writes fantasy for SI.com. Track his weekly starts and sits every Thursday, his last-minute Cheat Sheet on Sunday mornings and his Fantasy Fast Forward on Sunday nights. You find also him on Twitter, where you can mock him, rip him and (doubtful) praise him before asking him for fantasy advice or challenging him to a head-to-head fantasy game @EricMackFantasy. He reads all the messages there (guaranteed) and takes them very, very personally (not really).