NFL Week 12 fantasy football QB stock watch: Josh Allen up, Bryce Young hits rock bottom and more
Gardner Minshew and Kenny Pickett have combined to throw zero touchdowns since Week 9. Bryce Young may need a new mentor. Josh Allen is back! Jay Felicio takes you through the week in QB play with instant analysis on who’s trending up... and the many trending down.
Love had his third straight game of over 250 yards and multiple touchdowns on Thanksgiving versus the Lions. Even in a tough matchup with the Chiefs’ defense, he’s a solid starter in superflex leagues and a fringe starter in 1QB. – Stock Up
He’s still a starter regardless of format, but with six turnovers in his past two games, Jared Goff’s floor is slowly sinking. – Stock Down
Howell bounced back with a respectable performance against the stout Dallas Defense. His floor is safe, thanks to volume (40+ attempts in seven of his last eight games) and his ability to chip in production with his legs. – Stock (ever so slightly) Up
Rayne Dakota Prescott is arguably the hottest quarterback in the league. The MVP candidate is a must-start, regardless of format. – Stock Up
From a fantasy perspective, it was a disappointing game, but Purdy wasn’t needed as it was quickly out of reach for Seattle. A blip on the radar. – Stock Unchanged
Miraculously able to start after injuring his elbow just four days before, Geno Smith did not look 100%. Even fully healthy, he’s been nothing more than a back-end QB2 in Superflex leagues. Avoid starting him if possible. – Stock Down
The trend continues for Tua. Tough defense? Sub-par fantasy performance. He’s an every-week starter in most formats, but his fantasy playoff schedule (NYJ, DAL, is terrifying. – Stock Down
If you have to consider starting Tim Boyle, I’m so, so sorry. – Stock Down
Chris Olave was having a monster game before leaving with a concussion in the second half. Already down Michael Thomas, Carr failed to throw a touchdown and is nothing more than a matchup-based streamer. – Stock Down
Only startable in the most desperate of situations, thanks to his weapons (if Artur Smith would use them). – Stock Down
Kenny Pickett
Matt Canada’s merciful firing wasn’t enough for Pickett to throw a touchdown pass, which he hasn’t done since Week 9. Stay far, far away. – Stock Down
It would have been nice to see Browning target Ja’Marr Chase more than six times, but played like the Dollar Store Joe Burrow we all expected. He’s startable in SuperFlex if you’re desperate, but don’t expect much. – Stock Unchanged
TLaw is locked in as an every-week starter but more of a back-end QB1 versus the elite option many had hoped for coming into the season. – Stock Unchanged
I could wax poetic about CJ Stroud for days, but let’s keep it simple. He’s a must-start in SuperFlex and starting in 1QB unless you have the likes of Hurts or Allen rostered. – Stock Unchanged
Baker Mayfield
Limited ceiling but a decent floor; Baker won’t lose you a week, but he certainly won’t win you one, either. – Stock Unchanged
Gardner Minshew
Minshew has not thrown a touchdown since Week 9 and has thrown multiple in just two games this season. He’s a Superflex desperation play in good matchups, nothing more. – Stock Down
It wouldn’t be a shock if Michael McCorkle “Mac” Jones doesn’t start another game this year for the Patriots, if ever. – Stock Down (I guess?)
The legend of Tommy DeVito continues as he did just enough to squeak out a win over the Patriots. That being said, he lost a fumble and threw just one touchdown, so he remains just a desperation play in SuperFlex leagues. – Stock Unchanged
Bryce Young
Unstartable until Frank Reich is fired and Young should then show signs of life. – Stock Unchanged (because it was already rock bottom)
I’d rather put mayonnaise in my coffee or eat a banana with the peel than start Will Levis in fantasy. – Stock Down
Matthew Stafford threw four touchdowns in Week 12, just his second multi-touchdown game of the season. Stafford is a risk/reward back-end QB1, but temper expectations with upcoming matchups against Cleveland and Baltimore. – Stock Up
While he’s yet to throw for 300 yards in a single game, Kyler Murray has scored a rushing touchdown in each of his three starts this season. He’s locked in as a Top-10 QB for the stretch run. Start him if you have him. – Stock Up.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Congratulations to DTR for throwing his first career NFL touchdown pass. He left the game with a concussion, so his status for Week 13 is unclear. But DTR shouldn’t be anywhere near your starting lineup whenever he can return. – Stock Down (and get well soon).
Russell Wilson continued his stretch of solid yet unspectacular fantasy production. His low yardage and reliance on touchdowns cap his ceiling, and he remains a QB2. – Stock Up
Mahomes had a fine fantasy day once again, but he’s thrown more than two touchdowns just twice this season. His floor is still elite, but his ceiling hasn’t been this season. – Stock Unchanged
Chiefs are once again deep into the intramural flag playbook.— Andy Behrens November 26, 2023
If you’re looking for a quarterback to throw between 150-250ish yards and one touchdown, O’Connell is your guy! A desperation play in SuperFlex and waiver fodder in 1QB. – Stock Unchanged
Josh Allen
Did you know that Buffalo was the first city with electrically lit streets? Oh, Josh Allen is good. Start Josh Allen. – Stock Up
Jalen Hurts threw three touchdowns and added two on the ground, including the game-winner in OT against the Bills. If you roster Hurts, you start Hurts, regardless of the matchup. – Stock Up
As dominant as the Ravens defense has been this season, Lamar Jackson hasn’t had to put the team on his back. That’s great for Ravens fans but not for Jackson’s fantasy managers. He’s a solid QB1 and starting in all formats, but his ceiling is lower than it once was. — Stock Down
He’s put up big numbers against bad defenses but once again struggled to produce in a tough matchup. He’s a set-it-and-forget starter, but he’s not matchup-proof. — Stock Down
Fields is one of the most volatile quarterbacks in fantasy. Given the state of the position, you’re starting him in most formats, but his range is anywhere from Top-5 to Bottom-5. — Stock Down
Josh Dobbs
It was a nightmare performance on Monday Night Football for “The Passtronaut.” He’ll likely get Justin Jefferson back on the other side of Minnesota’s bye. Still, you can’t start him with any confidence. — Stock Down
(Top photo: Mitchell Leff/; pic of C.J. Stroud: Carmen Mandato/)
