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There are elements of life that seem so much better in theory than in reality: New Star Wars movies. Pizza buffets. Bill Belichick coaching college football. And now … Shedeur Sanders playing quarterback in the NFL.

You know Shedeur, the most heralded, most successful quarterback of the 2025 rookie class … or, at least, he would be if the NFL hadn’t conspired to send him plummeting to the fifth round of this year’s draft. Or, wait … maybe he’s an entitled nepo baby who only thrived in Colorado because he threw to a Heisman winner and his father was the coach. Is that it?

One player, multiple narratives. All of which can exist forever in the minds of the faithful or the furious … as long as there’s no evidence to swing the argument one way or the other.

Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Sanders, the moment of truth has arrived. This weekend against Las Vegas, Shedeur Sanders will get his first NFL start. And everyone will get to see whether the Hype Train or the Hate Train was the right one to board.

Welcome, friends, to the Shedeur Sanders “I Told You So” Bowl!

Sanders saw his first NFL action last week, coming in to play the second half against Baltimore after starter Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion. Sanders did not exactly light up the box score, going 4-for-16 for 47 yards with an interception while suffering two sacks. Still, the debut of the son of an NFL immortal was enough to warrant an “every throw” compilation from the NFL’s social media team:

You don’t need to be a grizzled tape-eater to see the problems with Sanders’ debut: lack of timing with the first-team offense, slow progression through his receivers, a throwing motion you could clock with a sun dial. Every snap, Sanders had the look of the guy at the beach who charged out into the ocean … and just realized the waves are much bigger than he’d expected.

Is this correctable in the course of one week of reps with the first team? Maybe yes, probably not, but at least we’re getting the chance to see what Sanders has to offer at the NFL level. And he’s getting the chance to see what an NFL defense — or whatever facsimile of an NFL defense the 2-8 Raiders can manage — looks like over the course of 60 minutes.

“I’m doing everything I need to prepare to be the best version of myself as possible,” Sanders said earlier this week. “With the circumstances, everything got me sped up, and that’s great. I like pressure in life. I’m just excited for everything. So, I feel like I’m the guy, I know I’m the guy, but you just have to be able to see. The game got to speak.”

The Shedeur Sanders Discourse is the latest iteration of the He Got Robbed mania that swirls around a quarterback every few years — i.e. long enough for everyone to forget we’ve all done this dance before. Back in the early 2010s, there was a “the NFL is keeping Tim Tebow out of the league because of his beliefs!” conspiracy. (Untrue, Tebow is a good man but a bad NFL-level quarterback.) And then in the late 2010s, there was a “the NFL is keeping Colin Kaepernick out of the league because of his protests” conspiracy. (Likely true the first season, untrue afterward as his skills markedly and understandably declined.) It’s always easier to believe in fantastic possibilities rather than face hard realities.

Now, you want a real conspiracy theory, here’s one I totally believe. The NFL looked at this miserable slate of afternoon games — Jags-Cardinals, Falcons-Saints, Browns-Raiders — and decided there had to be at least something worthwhile alongside Eagles-Cowboys. Did the NFL instruct the Browns to keep Gabriel on the bench and start Sanders just to inject a tiny bit of life into Sunday afternoon’s games? I’m not saying they did … but I haven’t found any evidence they didn’t, either. I’m just saying you can’t discount the possibility.

(Disclaimer so someone doesn’t howl “fake news”: The NFL did not do this. The preceding paragraph was a joke.)

This weekend’s game will level a verdict on Shedeur Sanders, one way or another. No, we won’t know about Sanders’ potential for NFL stardom — or “bust” status — from this one game. But we will get more data points, trending in one direction or the other.

The game, as Sanders himself said, will speak. One major 2025 NFL narrative will meet its end this weekend … and another will take flight.

The Yahoo Fantasy Football crew reveals their boldest takes for Week 12. Check out what Scott Pianowski, Matt Harmon, Ray Garvin, Chris Allen, Justin Boone and Joel Smyth have to say.

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Jameson Williams posts his third straight top-10 fantasy WR finish

Williams has been on fire since the Lions’ Week 8 bye with stat lines of 4-66-1, 6-119-1 and 4-88-1. All three results put him inside the top 14 fantasy receivers each week, but the two most recent outings landed him in the top six. Now, he gets to go back to Detroit and the friendly domed confines of Ford Field, where the Lions’ passing attack tends to do its best work.

His opponent, the Giants, are the sixth easiest matchup for fantasy wideouts this season and the game is tied for the highest projected point total on the week at 50.5, so be prepared for a lot of scoring. With Williams in the ideal environment for a favorable matchup, he’s about to keep his hot streak going. — Justin Boone

Zay Flowers scores his first TD since Week 1

Zay Flowers' last touchdown came in Week 1 versus Buffalo. Sixty-five targets later, and he has yet to score, including being tackled inside the 10-yard line six times. Although the Ravens may not be in a pass-heavy gamescript, I believe Flowers is set up beautifully to have better odds at getting into the end zone.

The Jets secondary is a fraction of what they once were. With a new secondary, New York allowed over 200 yards to Patriots WRs last week, a season high to a below-average receiver room. Playing against the 27th-ranked defense versus explosive passes also pairs well with Flowers finding the end zone on a big play. — Joel Smyth

Chris Olave is a top 10 receiver in Week 12

The Saints wideout was seeing a ton of volume the first five weeks of the season, as he was second in the NFL in targets in Weeks 1 to 5 but ranked 40th in yards per game. From Weeks 6 to 10, he was still seeing plenty of volume but ranked seventh in yards per game and has scored three times. That’s just simple regression for a talented wideout, who is still underrated as a star-level player.

Olave had a season-high 141 air yards in Week 10 before the bye. Rookie Tyler Shough was much more willing to rip it to Olave downfield and outside the numbers. Shough finished 11 of 16 for 202 yards and both of his touchdowns on throws outside the numbers before the bye. He can look to attack the Falcons the same way, as they use single-high coverage on a league-high 69% of their defensive plays, per Fantasy Points Data. Olave averages 2.57 yards per route run against single-high coverage this season and 4.04 in the two games Shough started. — Matt Harmon

Sean Tucker does it again

I’m going right back to the well. Sean Tucker finds the paint twice on Sunday night in Los Angeles. On 20 fewer rushes, he’s sitting at 235 yards with a team-best 4.6 yards per carry and 4 rushing touchdowns. Rachaad White is solid but Tucker is the most explosive back on this roster. Against a Rams offense that can put you in a track meet, the Bucs counter by shortening the game and leaning on their ground attack. That’s how you keep Stafford, Nacua, Adams and Williams watching.

If Bucky Irving misses again, the high-value touches consolidate and Tucker gets the goal-line calls. Tampa needs physical answers in the red area and Tucker supplies them.

Book it. Tucker punches in two scores on Sunday Night Football and kicks off a backfield conversation in Tampa that won’t go away the rest of the season. — Ray Garvin

Jakobi Meyers posts WR2 numbers against the Cardinals

Jakobi Meyers broke a lot of the “rules” we associate with receivers and their ability to earn targets. Some think it takes time to establish a rapport. Meyers gave that concept the "Nah" wave as he hoarded 30% of Trevor Lawrence’s targets after his first full week of practice with the Jaguars. Also of note, Brian Thomas Jr. nor Travis Hunter ever saw their single-game shares get to Meyers' level during the season.

It’s also reasonable to assume that if a receiver becomes the focal point quickly, the play-caller has to use screens or other manufactured looks to get the ball to their new pass-catcher. That also wasn’t the case for Meyers. The majority of his targets came on timing routes to the outside or across the middle of the field. And with Arizona allowing the 12th-highest passing success rate to WRs over their last six games, Meyers continuing to get in sync with Lawrence should land him in the top 24 for Week 12. — Chris Allen

Raiders stifle Shedeur, finish as a top-five D/ST

Shedeur Sanders looked lost in his 4-for-16 show at Baltimore, and while first-team reps should help in theory, he’s always had a sack problem, dating back to his Colorado days. The Las Vegas defense hasn’t played well for most of the year (29th in DVOA), but this is a spot to take advantage of. — Scott Pianowski

Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy football players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench.

For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult his Week 12 rankings.

Starts

Jared Goff, QB, Lions

vs. Giants

Goff struggled last week in a predictably bad environment on the road and outdoors versus a feisty Eagles’ defense. 

Fortunately for him and the entire Lions’ offense, their next six games are indoors — starting with a Week 12 date at home against the Giants. New York has allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. 

This also has one of the higher projected point totals on the week, currently sitting at 49.5 

Don’t forget, Goff was QB8 overall in fantasy points per game in 2024 while playing the vast majority of his games in domes. A similar result could be on the way for the rest of this season, starting this week versus the Giants. 

Other QBs to start:

• Jacoby Brissett vs. Jaguars – Brissett has been a top-12 fantasy QB in all five of his starts for the Cardinals. That trend should continue against a Jags defense that’s the seventh-easiest matchup for his position. 

• Jaxson Dart at Lions – Dart could return after missing a game in concussion protocol. If he plays, he’ll be an automatic QB1 in my rankings after posting top-seven results in four of his last five starts. 

Derrick Henry, RB, Ravens

vs. Jets

Since Lamar Jackson returned to the lineup, Henry is averaging 109 scrimmage yards per game. That’s a big improvement versus his full season average of 88 yards.

We’re also entering Henry’s favorite time of the season when the weather gets colder, defenders are worn down and the concept of tackling a 252-pound bulldozer seems far more daunting. 

Over the final six games last year, Henry topped 100 scrimmage yards five times. 

Meanwhile, the Jets are a team heading in the wrong direction. New York has permitted at least 85 yards to five backs in their last four outings, including TreVeyon Henderson’s 93-yard, three-touchdown effort last week. 

This is the kind of game Henry can dominate. 

Other RBs to start:

• Patriots RBs at Bengals – Rhamondre Stevenson may return to the lineup this week, but Henderson managers don’t need to be worried. The Bengals have allowed two running backs from the same team to put up at least 50 yards and/or a TD against them in eight of their 10 games this season. Henderson is the much better play, but if Stevenson suits up he’ll be RB3/flex worthy given the matchup. 

• Kenneth Walker III at Titans – Walker is coming off his best game of the year with 111 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. The coaching staff is talking about getting him more work, which should be easy versus a Titans team that’s the fifth-softest opponent for fantasy RBs. 

• David Montgomery vs. Giants – When the Lions are projected to have success on offense, Montgomery moves back into the RB2 mix. Fortunately, Detroit has the highest implied point total on the week at 30.25. 

Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals

vs. Patriots

With Ja’Marr Chase suspended for this game, Higgins steps into the No. 1 spot in the receiving corps - a job he’s more than qualified to handle. 

We have to go back a couple years to find games where Higgins played without Chase, but the stat lines speak for themselves. 

The Patriots are strong against the run, which has turned them into a bit of a pass funnel. Even without Chase, the Bengals should be able to throw the ball effectively in this game, whether it’s Joe Burrow or Joe Flacco under center. 

Higgins should be viewed as a low-end WR1 who should flirt with double-digit targets in this game.  

Other WRs to start:

• Tetairoa McMillan vs. 49ers – McMillan is fresh off his best outing of the season with eight grabs, 130 yards and two scores. He gets an even easier matchup this week with a banged-up 49ers squad permitting the seventh-most fantasy points to wideouts. 

• Jameson Williams vs. Giants – Williams has at least 65 yards and a touchdown in three straight contests. Now, he’s back at home against a Giants’ defense giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to his position. 

• Michael Wilson vs. Jaguars – Wilson was outstanding during his 15-catch, 185-yard performance last week. With Marvin Harrison Jr. ruled out again, you can expect Wilson to have another top-20 fantasy effort in a plus-matchup with the Jags’ defense. 

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Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots

at Bengals

Henry has fallen to TE19 on a per game basis and hasn’t reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 4. 

Thankfully, he gets his easiest matchup of the season this week against a Bengals defense allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends by far. Cincinnati is permitting 4.6 points per game more than the second-worst defense against TEs, including 12 touchdowns to the position. 

That moves Henry firmly into the top-10 tight ends this week in a game where the Patriots should score at will. 

Other TEs to start:

• Travis Kelce vs. Colts – The 36-year-old doesn’t look like the same player physically, but he continues to produce like a TE1 for fantasy. There’s no reason to shy away from him here, with the Colts permitting the third-most points to fantasy tight ends on the season. 

• Kyle Pitts Sr. at Saints – Pitts has been underwhelming with just one touchdown on the year, but the absence of Drake London should increase his volume. The last time London missed a game, Pitts caught nine balls in Week 8 versus the Dolphins. 

Sits

Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers

at Rams

Mayfield has been held to one or zero passing touchdowns in three of his last four outings and is now down to QB14 in fantasy points per game on the season. 

That’s a far cry from QB3, where he finished in 2024, but isn’t surprising since he’s averaging more than four fewer points per contest than last season.  

Injuries to his offense line, receiving corps and backfield have certainly played a part and continue to be an issue for the Buccaneers. 

Those absences will be exposed even more against a quality Rams’ defense that’s the sixth-most difficult opponent for fantasy quarterbacks. 

Mayfield should be viewed as a QB2 option this week, which means he likely belongs on your bench. 

Other QBs to sit:

• Jordan Love vs. Vikings – Since the Packers’ bye, Love has been QB17 or worse in four of his six games. The Vikings present a stiff challenge this week, since they’re allowing the sixth-fewest passing yards on the season. 

• Trevor Lawrence at Cardinals – Arizona is the seventh-hardest matchup for quarterbacks and Lawrence hasn’t shown much of a fantasy ceiling this year. 

Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Giants

at Lions

Tracy is coming off a very solid performance versus the Packers, with 19 carries for 88 yards and four catches for 51 yards. 

Sadly for him and his fantasy managers, the Lions limit opposing running backs to the second-fewest fantasy points and have only allowed one touchdown to the position in the last six games. 

With Devin Singletary playing a big role — including around the goal line — Tracy will have a hard time producing in tougher matchups. 

He should be treated as a risky fantasy RB3 this week. 

Other RBs to sit:

• Cardinals RBs vs. Jaguars – The potential return of Trey Benson is exciting, but if he plays this week it will likely be in a committee until he gets back to form. If he doesn’t suit up, Bam Knight and Michael Carter will split work against a Jags’ defense giving up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. 

• Kareem Hunt vs. Colts – Hunt has survived on touchdowns lately, but that’s a dangerous thing to rely on from a 30-year-old early-down grinder. It’s also possible Isiah Pacheco returns this week and turns this backfield into an even more volatile committee. 

• Titans RBs vs. Seahawks – Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard have both struggled to be fantasy relevant this year and I don’t see that changing in a tough matchup with the Seahawks’ defense. They’re a desperation RB3/flex option only. 

Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Colts

at Chiefs

Pittman is a difficult player to project for fantasy because he can always save his week with a touchdown, which he’s done several times this year when the yardage total was low. 

Over his last seven games, Pittman has been held under 60 yards on five occasions but scored touchdowns in three of those contests. 

In fact, the only times he’s gone over 60 yards in his last nine appearances have been against weaker opponents like the Titans twice and Steelers. 

The Chiefs are the seventh-hardest challenge for fantasy receivers in 2025 and are tied for the fewest receiving touchdowns allowed with nine. 

Pittman’s TD potential always keeps him in the fantasy WR2/WR3 range, but this is the kind of matchup where you should strongly consider other options. 

Other WRs to sit:

• Romeo Doubs vs. Vikings – Doubs has been playing through injuries lately, which might be partially responsible for his dip in production. The Packers’ wideout has only reached double-digit fantasy points once in the last month and hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 4. This isn’t a rebound spot against a Minnesota defense that’s a bottom five versus receivers. 

• Jordan Addison at Packers – J.J. McCarthy is struggling and so are the Vikings’ pass-catchers. Addison is just a TD-or-bust WR3/flex.  

• Parker Washington at Cardinals – With other players getting up to speed and healthy, Washington’s production has declined in recent weeks. That will only continue as Jakobi Meyers gets more comfortable and guys like Brian Thomas Jr. and Brenton Strange eventually return. 

Jake Ferguson, TE, Cowboys

vs. Eagles

It’s never easy selecting a tight end for the sit section because injuries and bye weeks thin the position out to a point where most managers have to start usual suspects. 

Sitting Ferguson is not for the faint of heart since he’s posted the seventh-most fantasy points among tight ends on a per game basis. However, his early-season production is doing a lot of the heavy lifting there. 

After averaging eight receptions, 54 yards and nearly 10 targets per game over the first five weeks, Ferguson has seen those numbers fall to four catches for 26 yards on just five targets per contest in the last five outings. 

Touchdowns have saved him on multiple occasions, but with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens thriving in the receiving corps, Ferguson’s volume has diminished. 

A matchup with the Eagles isn’t the spot to hope for a spiked week. Philadelphia is giving up the second-fewest fantasy points to tight ends and have held Ferguson under 25 yards and out of the end zone in each of their last three matchups. 

Consider Ferguson a risky TD-or-bust, low-end TE1, who’s likely to disappoint this week.

Other TEs to sit:

• AJ Barner at Titans – Barner is coming off his busiest day of the season with 10 catches for 70 yards, but he’s unlikely to be needed that much in a game where the Seahawks are 12.5-point favorites. For all the Titans’ flaws, they are one of the 10 hardest matchups for tight ends. 

• Mason Taylor at Ravens – The move to Tyrod Taylor at quarterback is a positive for the Jets’ rookie tight end. However, we need to see him earn more targets (only topped five once in his last five appearances) before he can be used as a fantasy starter. Baltimore is also the ninth-toughest opponent against fantasy tight ends.