Bender's Favorite NFL DFS Pickem Picks: Week 12

Fri Nov 21 4:46pm ET
By HOWARD BENDER
Fantasy Writer

It’s NFL Week 12 and we’re ready to get back on that horse after last week’s rough Sunday. We more than made up for it with stellar Monday Night Football picks, but that Sunday was less than ideal for building that bankroll via DFS Pickem contests. We nailed the Pick of the Week thanks to a spectacular effort by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson, but Oronde Gadsden got dragged through the mud by a poor effort from Justin Herbert, Joe Flacco couldn’t seem to get anything going in what should have been a smash spot, and Woody Marks just couldn’t seem to get anything going. Between the Thursday and Monday picks, we managed to stay in the black for the week. This week, we lock it all back down.

If you are new to the DFS Pickem format, allow me to help you along because it’s really quite easy. All you do is make your picks for players to produce more or less than their designated stat-line and if you are right, you can earn up to 40 times your wager (minimum wager of $1). Pick correctly for two players and you will 3x your money. Three correct picks will get you a 6x return, four is 10x and so on, up to 40x for six correct picks. You should give a look at the full contest rules, but that’s the gist of it for how to play.

Again, since I’m going to be taking down that top prize in the Beat Howard Bender Best Ball Tournament, I thought I’d give back to the community each week with some DFS Pickem picks. I do a substantial amount of the NFL betting content and a lot of DFS content on Fantasy Alarm, so I am always diving into the match-ups and player stat lines. Why not turn that into some cold, hard cash so you can afford to play me in season-long contests again next year?

Before we get to our picks for the week, be sure to note the “Gimme Pick” being offered by RT Sports this week. Lamar Jackson against the Jets? More than 0.5 total yards? Yes, please! We are 100 percent here for that and it should turn a potential four-leg parlay into a tasty little five-legger. Giddy up!

Now, let’s get to it!

Pick of the Week:

Kenneth Walker, RB SEA -- MORE than 58.5 Rushing Yards

While I try to remain level-headed regarding coach-speak, hearing Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald talking about how Walker has earned a heavier workload is music to my ears. If you’ve followed me before, you know I’m a big fan of Klint Kubiak’s outside zone scheme that he and Rick Dennison run and was very bullish on Walker coming into the season. His calf injury curtailed that as Zach Charbonnet managed to worm his way into more carries and a red-zone role. But over the last few games, Walker’s snap count has surpassed that of Charbonnet and he’s now surpassed this rushing total in three of his last four. The Titans rank 26th in DVOA against the run and are allowing the seventh-most rushing yards per game. Even if Walker gets his regular workload of roughly 15 carries, he should easily surpass this number.

Other Favorite Week 12 Picks:

  • Travis Kelce, TE KC – MORE than 4.5 Receptions
  • Hunter Henry, TE NE – MORE than 0.5 Rush + Rec TDs
  • Andrei Iosivas, WR CIN – MORE than 36.5 Receiving Yards

If you have never signed up or deposited here at Real Time Fantasy Sports, do yourself a favor and head over to rtsports.com/bender and get a 50% match on your first deposit, up to $500.

If you’re looking to tail my picks in a parlay, you can find them in the DFS Pickem Lobby on the right-hand side of the page

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The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 13

Player Notes
Ben Sinnott Nov 28 11:20pm CT
Ben Sinnott

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott (ankle) heads into Sunday night's matchup against the Denver Broncos without an injury designation after missing Week 11 due to an ankle injury. Sinnott hasn't played a big role as a receiver for Washington this season as the third tight end behind Zach Ertz and John Bates, but he could see more opportunities down the stretch with the state of the Commanders' season. The 2024 second-round pick caught his first touchdown of the season the last time he played in Week 10 versus the Detroit Lions. For the season, the 23-year-old has played 28.5% of the snaps on offense with just three receptions (three targets) for 33 yards and a touchdown. Sinnott has shown promise as a blocker, but hasn't flashed much as a receiver yet. He has high-end athletic traits, but hasn't seen many opportunities with Ertz holding down the pass-catching role. Sinnott is still a solid stash in dynasty leagues and will be a player to watch down the stretch.

From RotoBaller

Ty Johnson Nov 28 11:10pm CT
Ty Johnson

Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson does not boast fantasy appeal in Week 13 despite operating as the primary handcuff to backfield mate James Cook. The 28-year-old has actually seen his role in the passing game remain steady since Week 9, collecting at least two targets and receptions over the four-game sample. Still, he's failed to carry the ball more than twice in any game over that stretch, and has done so just twice on the season as a whole, with Cook handily leading the backfield. Furthermore, quarterback Josh Allen has more than tripled Johnson's carry total (70-21), leaving little volume left to go around on the ground. Johnson is worthy of a stash in the deepest of PPR formats for his stable work in the receiving game, but his floor is low, and the ceiling is nearly nonexistent. He's RotoBaller's PPR RB64 ahead of Week 13.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Wright Nov 28 11:00pm CT
Jaylen Wright

Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright slid back down the team's backfield hierarchy in Week 11's 16-13 win against the Washington Commanders, handling one tote for a gain of four yards. Wright picked up a decent amount of carries (five) in the game prior, with teammate Ollie Gordon II battling an ankle issue. However, he was back to third in the pecking order, with the latter injury-free, and, for the most part, has played a tertiary role in Miami's attack while dealing with injuries of his own in 2025. With Gordon II working as the primary change-of-pace option, and De'Von Achane dominating touches at the position, Wright can be left to waiver-wire fodder in redraft leagues for the time being.

From RotoBaller

Kaleb Johnson Nov 28 10:50pm CT
Kaleb Johnson

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson won't be on the fantasy radar for this weekend's clash with the visiting Buffalo Bills. The former third-round pick has had a quiet rookie season, amassing 58 yards on 22 carries across seven appearances. At the beginning of the campaign, Johnson appeared to be on his way to playing a sizable snap share in a backfield ripe for the taking. That didn't come to fruition, though, as teammates Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell have formed a formidable duo for the Steelers. Furthermore, opportunities in Pittsburgh are hard to come by, considering the team boasts the third-slowest pace of play (56.7 plays per game). As it stands, the University of Iowa alum is a talented athlete, but his path to playing time -- at least in 2025 -- is less clear than we'd like for fantasy. Either way, he's still a nice stash in dynasty leagues.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Nov 28 10:40pm CT
Rico Dowdle

Rico Dowdle totaled 38 rushing yards on six carries and 36 receiving yards on four receptions last week against the 49ers. Dowdle finished the game with 11.4 PPR points, which was his lowest since being named the starting RB for Carolina in Week 9. The Panthers will face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. The Rams rank third in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs. Los Angeles' defense has allowed only two rushing touchdowns this season, which is tied for the least in the NFL. Although this is a bad matchup, Dowdle should not be reserved. Don't expect a high statistical ceiling, though. The Panthers' RB has a solid fantasy floor, averaging 17.5 PPR points over the last four weeks.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Nov 28 10:40pm CT
Chuba Hubbard

In Week 12, Chuba Hubbard played on 35% of the snaps, registering 16 yards on three carries. He caught four passes for 27 yards. After returning from a calf injury in Week 7, Hubbard has totaled 133 rushing yards while averaging 5.5 PPR Points Per Game. As the second RB for Carolina, Hubbard should only be in fantasy rosters as a handcuff for Rico Dowdle. He will become fantasy-relevant if Dowdle misses any time. If you roster Hubbard and don't have Dowdle, you can cut the Panthers' backup RB.

From RotoBaller

Luke Musgrave Nov 28 10:40pm CT
Luke Musgrave

Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave gained 23 yards on his lone reception in Thursday's 31-24 win over their division-rival Detroit Lions. Musgrave was targeted just once on Thanksgiving and has now recorded exactly one reception in three straight outings. It was thought that the third-year pro would assume Green Bay's TE1 duties after teammate Tucker Kraft (knee) went down for the season with a knee injury. However, that hasn't been the case, as TE John FitzPatrick had out-snapped Musgrave in the previous two games before Week 13's win. Moreover, Jordan Love and the offense have leaned even less on the passing game recently, averaging just 25 pass attempts over the last three contests. Despite a decent amount of playing time, Musgrave can be safely avoided for fantasy purposes until the situation around him shifts.

From RotoBaller

Tetairoa McMillan Nov 28 10:40pm CT
Tetairoa McMillan

Tetairoa McMillan posted underwhelming numbers in Week 12 against the 49ers. The rookie WR had two receptions for 35 yards and one touchdown that salvaged his fantasy day. It was only the third time this year that McMillan totaled less than 40 yards in a single game. The Panthers take on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. The Rams' defense held Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka to three catches for 32 yards last week and has only given up three TDs to WRs since Week 5. McMillan has displayed a respectable statistical floor throughout the season, so he should remain in lineups for Week 13. Bryce Young may be able to elevate McMillan's fantasy totals in catch-up mode. Carolina's top WR has been targeted by Young at least six times in the last five games.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Coker Nov 28 10:40pm CT
Jalen Coker

Jalen Coker had three receptions for 32 yards and finished with 6.2 PPR points in Week 12. Carolina will face the LA Rams in Week 13. They rank 16th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the WR position this season. Despite drawing a middling matchup for his position, Coker has not delivered enough production to be on fantasy rosters right now. He has yet to be targeted more than four times in a single game this season. Through six games played, Coker has not caught a single TD pass or reached 55 receiving yards. Fantasy players won't be considering him for lineups this late in their regular season.

From RotoBaller

Xavier Legette Nov 28 10:40pm CT
Xavier Legette

Xavier Legette finished Week 12 with 22 yards on three receptions and totaled 5.2 PPR points. This marked the fourth time in the last five games that Legette registered fewer than 10 PPR points. Legette has a middling matchup this week as the Panthers will take on the Rams. Los Angeles ranks 16th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs. Legette's volume has been inconsistent this season, as he has been targeted 5+ times in only three games since Week 5. Considering his mediocre fantasy output and variable volume, fantasy players should not consider Legette for Week 13.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Tavion Sanders Nov 28 10:40pm CT
Ja'Tavion Sanders

Ja'Tavion Sanders was a complete afterthought in the Panthers' passing game in Week 12. The Carolina TE caught his only target, which resulted in six yards. For the first time since Week 8, Sanders played the most snaps of all Panthers TEs at 57%. In nine games played this year, Sanders has averaged 4.7 PPR Points Per Game. Week 13 brings a decent matchup for Sanders against the Los Angeles Rams, who rank 19th in the league in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to TEs. However, Sanders will not be able to take advantage of the draw. In 25 games played in two seasons in his NFL career, Sanders has caught one single TD pass, a prime stat that signifies why he is not on the fantasy radar for Week 13.

From RotoBaller

Tommy Tremble Nov 28 10:40pm CT
Tommy Tremble

In Week 12, Tommy Tremble failed to catch his only target and did not score a single fantasy point for the fourth time in the last five games. Tremble was mainly utilized as a blocker in this game and played on 48% of snaps. In Week 13, Carolina will face the Los Angeles Rams, who rank 19th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to the TE position. Although this is a favorable matchup for TEs, Tremble is not worthy of any fantasy consideration, even in TE-premium formats. Tremble has only been targeted at least twice in only three games this year.

From RotoBaller

Bryce Young Nov 28 10:30pm CT
Bryce Young

Bryce Young is not worthy of consideration for fantasy lineups in Week 13. In Week 12, the Carolina QB logged 10.3 fantasy points and one passing touchdown. He also completed 18-for-29 attempts for 169 passing yards and threw two interceptions. In the past four weeks, Young scored less than 11 fantasy points in three games and surpassed 200 passing yards only once. Carolina faces the Los Angeles Rams in Week 13. The Rams rank fifth in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to QBs this season. The Rams' pass defense has also registered 12 interceptions, which is the third-most in the league. Due to the unfavorable matchup against Los Angeles and underwhelming fantasy totals on the year, Young should be benched in all formats. Fantasy players should consider an alternative if available in Superflex leagues.

From RotoBaller

Kyle Pitts Nov 28 10:20pm CT
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. will get a juicy matchup in Week 13 against a vulnerable New York Jets defense, though he'll again lose a bit of upside with veteran Kirk Cousins calling signals. The former Florida Gator is Atlanta's third-leading receiver in terms of yardage behind wide receiver Drake London (knee) and running back Bijan Robinson. However, Pitts Sr. has seen his opportunity dip in recent weeks while London had gone on a tear. Even London's absence in Week 12 wasn't enough to push the 25-year-old into startable territory, notching his fourth straight outing with a single-digit fantasy total in PPR leagues. With London out again, Pitts Sr. should benefit from an elevated target share, but his production will primarily hinge on Cousins' play. He's a fringey TE1 for his matchup with New York.

From RotoBaller

Bijan Robinson Nov 28 9:50pm CT
Bijan Robinson

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson has had at least 88 yards from scrimmage in 10 of 11 games this season, but with six total touchdowns, he's well off the 15-touchdown pace he set in 2024. The 23-year-old draws a favorable matchup in Week 13 on the road against the Jets, a defense that has yielded the ninth-most half-point PPR points to opposing running backs this season. The former first-rounder has seen his target share drop dramatically in the two games he's played with Kirk Cousins under center, going from 20.3 percent to 9.3 percent, but he still has a large enough role with plenty of upside to be one of the top running back options week in and week out. In a game that the Falcons are favored by just 2.5 points, it should be a competitive contest throughout, and without top receiver Drake London (knee), Atlanta could favor the run game. Even though Tyler Allgeier has eaten into his workload near the goal line, Robinson is a threat to break off a big play every time he touches the ball, and projects as a top-five back this week in the Meadowlands.

From RotoBaller

Justin Fields Nov 28 9:50pm CT
Justin Fields

The New York Jets made the move from quarterback Justin Fields to veteran Tyrod Taylor in the Week 12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and Fields will sit out a second straight game in Week 13 when the team takes on the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Although the Jets lost another game to Baltimore last weekend, Taylor did improve the passing game slightly, throwing for 222 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Fields limited his turnovers in his nine starts, but the Jets went 2-7, and he threw for only 1,259 yards and seven touchdowns over that span. He added 71 rushing attempts for 383 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Fiels is under contract for next season, the second of his two-year, $40 million contract, and the Jets would still owe him $10 million guaranteed if they decided to cut him following this season.

From RotoBaller

Jaydon Blue Nov 28 9:40pm CT
Jaydon Blue

Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue impressed the coaching staff in training camp and the preseason, leading to him being a late-round dart throw in fantasy football drafts. Blue has been unable to carry over that momentum during the summer into his first NFL season, though, as he's been active for only four games in 2025. The 21-year-old fifth-round selection out of Texas didn't make his debut until Week 5, and he has been a healthy scratch in four consecutive games since he fumbled the ball away in the team's Week 8 loss to the Denver Broncos. It seemed as though Blue had a clear path to RB2 duties after Miles Sanders had season-ending knee surgery, but Malik Davis has ascended the depth chart behind starter Javonte Williams instead. In his four games this year, Blue has only 22 carries for 65 yards (3.0 yards per carry) and no touchdowns. Blue should only be stashed in keeper/dynasty leagues.

From RotoBaller

Trey Hendrickson Nov 28 9:20pm CT
Trey Hendrickson

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that defensive end Trey Hendrickson (hip) remains week-to-week with his hip/pelvis injury, according to Ben Baby of ESPN. Hendrickson has missed the last four games after aggravating his hip injury in Week 8 and will be up in the air to return for a Week 14 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The Bengals' defense turned in a spirited effort in their Thanksgiving Day win over the Baltimore Ravens while slowing down Lamar Jackson and Company, but overall in 2025, their defense/special teams has not been all that trustworthy. Even though the Bengals have a better chance at sneaking into the playoffs with quarterback Joe Burrow back, Hendrickson may elect to undergo season-ending surgery on his hip/pelvis. Hendrickson will need to get on the practice field to have any shot of facing Buffalo next weekend.

From RotoBaller

Jermaine Burton Nov 28 9:20pm CT
Jermaine Burton

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that wide receiver Jermaine Burton (ankle) remains week-to-week with an ankle injury, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. Burton has not played at all for the Bengals in 2025, and he doesn't seem particularly close to making his season debut for the team's Week 14 tilt against the Buffalo Bills next Sunday. Even if the 24-year-old pass-catcher can return at some point before the end of the season, he will be hard-pressed to jump into a key role in Cincy's receiving corps. The former third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft out of Alabama played in 14 games (one start) in his rookie campaign, catching only four of 14 targets for 107 receiving yards and no touchdowns. Character concerns caused him to drop in the draft and followed him into Year 1 in the NFL. Burton reportedly made strides with his maturity in the offseason, but his health hasn't cooperated in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Amon-Ra St. Brown Nov 28 9:10pm CT
Amon-Ra St. Brown

An MRI exam and other tests confirmed that Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) suffered a low-ankle sprain with no structural damage in the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Lions are expecting St. Brown to be able to return relatively quickly, although head coach Dan Campbell said the star wideout could miss one to two weeks. The good news for Detroit is that they will play just one game in the next 16 days on Thursday, Dec. 4, against the Dallas Cowboys. The 26-year-old has been a high-end, must-start WR1 for fantasy managers all year, so the hope is that St. Brown will be in play when the fantasy playoffs begin in most leagues in Week 15. Jameson Williams had his best game of the year (seven catches, 144 yards, one touchdown) after St. Brown got hurt on Thursday, and he should operate as quarterback Jared Goff's top target for however long St. Brown is out.

From RotoBaller