The Giants face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12 fresh off a Bye and after benching $160M quarterback Daniel Jones. Head coach Brian Daboll has named Tommy DeVito the starter, passing over Drew Lock. DeVito played in eight games last season, making six starts. He threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns against the Commanders in Week 11 of 2023. Apart from that, DeVito never topped 200 yards passing, and threw just five other touchdown passes total. Fantasy gamers should not expect an upgrade in the Giants offense with DeVito replacing Jones.

The team faces a Tampa defense that is bottom-half against the run, but even more ineffective against the pass. The Bucs are currently last in the league in Success Rate allowed on opponents’ dropbacks: a soft matchup for DeVito and the Giants’ pass catchers. The G-men will also likely be in a negative Game Script against a Tampa offense that has been in the top quarter of the league this season and getting Mike Evans back. The Giants are used to negative scripts this season (-5.26, No. 27), and are No. 6 in team pass attempts per game with 38.0.

That said, the only auto-start in the pass game is rookie sensation Malik Nabers. Wan’Dale Robinson is flex-ible in PPR leagues as a Bye week fill-in – 8.4 targets per game, but just 394 (No. 50) receiving yards. Fantasy gamers may want to pass up starting Robinson with the uncertainty of the QB situation. Tyrone Tracy Jr. is a startable RB2 against a Bucs run D that is No. 26 in RB fantasy points against. Tommy DeVito is a wild card as a fantasy QB producer, startable only as a desperation bye week sub-in.

– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb

The Atlanta Falcons suffered a brutal loss to the Denver Broncos 38-6. Fantasy goodness was the furthest thing from the menu for Falcons players. Bo Nix carried the day for the Broncos with an 85% completion percentage against the banged up Falcons defense. 

The Falcons were shut out of reaching the end zone on Sunday. Kirk Cousins managed 173 passing yards, 0 touchdown passes, and threw an interception. Drake London had a respectable 3 catches for 61 yards. London’s wide receiver counterpart Darnell Mooney left the game early with a hamstring injury.

Bijan Robinson had his 5 game streak of 100 total yards or more snapped. Bijan, who is agnostic to game script saw his opportunities slip away as the game wore on. Kyle Pitts managed 1 reception for 9 yards much to the chagrin of his fantasy managers. 

The Falcons mercifully have a week 12 bye. Their fantasy football playoff schedule will certainly make this week 11 debacle a distant memory. From weeks 15-17 the Falcons will play on the road against the Raiders, home versus the Giants, and square off in Washington against the Commanders. Up against any trade deadlines, this is the last call for scooping up Falcons players in fantasy football before they soar to new heights!

Jeremiah Retzlaff, @coachretzlaff1

The Giants are benching Daniel Jones for their upcoming Week 12 bout versus the Buccaneers, and most likely for the remainder of the season. The former No. 6 overall pick (2019) was coming off a two-interception game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 10 before the team’s Bye this past week.

The Giants are 2-8, having lost their last game to the lowly Carolina Panthers (3-7) in overtime. Jones has thrown only eight touchdowns on the season to seven interceptions, and has an injury guarantee that kicks in if he is injured and cannot pass a physical by March of 2025. The team is not in contention and if Jones was injured during play, it would cost the Giants an extra $23M in dead cap if they released him. That means Daniel Jones’ time with the Giants is likely done. Tom Pelissero reports the Giants are likely to name Tommy DeVito their starter going forward.

– Joel Ybarra, @metaffb

When the final whistle blows on Monday night, the NFL season will enter its final third. For playoff hopeful teams this is what Redzone’s Scott Hansen would call “the witching hour, where wins become losses and losses become wins.” Unfortunately, the Dallas cowboys have a crack in their cauldron.

From a purely statistical standpoint Dallas, currently, has a 3% chance to make the playoffs. That would drop to 1% if they lose on Monday night. The bleak outlook gets even worse when you consider the current state of the team. With Cooper Rush at quarterback, don’t expect the Cowboys to be able to keep up with the Texans on Monday night.

However, there still may be some fantasy juice to squeeze from this lemon. This week Coach McCarthy made a commitment to feature Rico Dowdle at RB.  “Definitely, you have to get him the ball. That’s my focus to continue to get him opportunities. He’s the lead back.,” McCarthy told the media, per Clarence Hill of All City DLLS.  Even in light of the anemic offense in Dallas under Cooper Rush, this makes Dowdle a flex play for teams in need.

Joe Prinzivalli | @latehottakes

Concern in Duval has risen this week, as QB Trevor Lawrence has been ruled out for the second consecutive week. What is of greater concern is that Ian Rapoport reported that Lawrence is “weigh(ing) options,” in regards to surgery.

Mac Jones will get the start again. Mac entered the league with a solid college pedigree and excellent draft capital as the 15th overall pick in the 2021 draft. his opportunities were stifled by a Patriots team that was grasping for an identity after Tom Brady’s departure, and the talent vacuum of a full rebuild.

Jones is now surrounded by the strongest cast of position players he has ever taken the field with in his still short NFL career. Brian Thomas Jr. is a rookie breakout, Evan Engram continues to be a sure handed mismatch at TE, and running back Travis Etienne is quality check-down option.

Jones looked terrible in his debut as a starter for the Jaguars. However, with his pedigree and an opportunity to audition for a new contract, I believe Jones will exceed expectations going forward.

Joe Prinzivalli | @latehottakes

The Atlanta Falcons are banged up on defense, but got some good news for their offense heading into Sunday’s game in Denver. Darnell Mooney is not listed on the game report for injury. 

There was a scare for Darnell Mooney fantasy managers when he popped up on the injury report for an Achilles aggravation. Processing the word Achilles does not bring favorable memories to light, just ask Christian McCaffrey fantasy managers. 

Darnell Mooney is the WR-8 on the season. Kirk Cousins has connected with Mooney to put a damper on any questions about the Falcons having receiver talent behind Drake London who is the WR-4. He is 3rd in Explosive Rating (EPX) with a score of 131. Mooney is also 11th in Best Ball Points Added with 68.7.

Start Darnell Mooney with confidence. Oftentimes it is easy to fade players who don’t have name brand value, however Darnell Mooney’s game in 2024 has been name brand worthy.

Jeremiah Retzlaff, @coachretzlaff1