Week 12 is a lot like a mischievous child plotting revenge after you rocked their world with an echoing “BOOO” in their introduction to hide-and-seek. We know it’s coming. We know when it’s coming. We are just a little surprised when it shows up so fast. 

It’s still fun. But we also know, it’s going to get really good in the next few weeks. 

In order to ensure our tickets are punched for the fantasy postseason, we need to handle our business now. Don’t be the one at Thanksgiving abruptly asking to pass the potatoes, or running to the restroom once the topic turns to the fantasy football playoffs. 

This is our arena. Let’em know we got it locked up. Here are three smash-starts that will have you sitting a little more comfortably at the table. 

Week 12 Fantasy Football Smash Starts

Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions

There aren’t many parallels one can draw between a successful fantasy manager and a great NFL quarterback. As much as we fire off screenshots to the group chat or lunge off the couch with our hands in the air, the gap in football acumen is galaxies apart. 

There is one quality the best fantasy football minds share with the most important players on the field: temporary amnesia. Elite quarterbacks make a horrible play, and they turn the page. Always forward. As if the last play never existed. 

I am calling on you to do the same with Jared Goff. Forget everything you watched in the Lions 16-9 loss to the Eagles. Trust me, as someone who started DeVonta Smith with his chest out, I have already blocked out the entire game. 

The Lions quarterback was miserable trying to solve Vic Fangio’s defense amidst the unfavorable winds whipping through the city of Brotherly Love. Rest assured, it will be a whole different ball game on Sunday. 

Detroit heads home to comfy, climate-controlled Ford Field, and Goff is about to take out all of his frustrations on the Giants defense. 

I understand the G-men might have a little more energy after dismissing Brian Daboll, but the “dead-cat bounce” theory can’t save this defense from the shredding they are about to receive. 

New York sits 23rd on the season in dropback EPA allowed, but they have been falling apart at the seams of late. Since the Giants historic 33-point fourth-quarter collapse against the Broncos, New York fell to 30th (EPA/dropback allowed) ahead of only Cincinnati and Washington. They have also allowed an average of 21 FPPG to opposing QBs during that span, including 25-plus-point performances to both Jalen Hurts and Caleb Williams. 

Dan Campbell announced he will call plays for the remainder of the season, so I expect a very aggressive Lions’ offense against an undermanned opponent. Goff recently shredded a comparable Commanders defense for 320 yards and 3 TDs. With Campbell pushing the buttons in front of a home crowd, I’m all in on Goff going off for a monster day.

Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots

If you have been smashing with us every Sunday since September, you know the drill by now. It’s never a question of whether we are going to go after the Bengals defense, it’s a matter of how. 

You don’t need me to tell you to plug Drake Maye, TreVeyon Henderson or even Stefon Diggs into your lineups this week. I’m here to make sure you don’t forget that Hunter Henry is about to feast in a major way. 

Why might Henry get classified in the files of the forgotten this week? 

In our Rest of the Season rankings, the Pats tight end doesn’t make the top 20 at his position (Consensus TE21). If you needed proof of how juicy a matchup this is for Henry, head over to our weekly rankings. You will find that Henry hovers right outside of the Top 5. Matthew Freedman holds Henry as high as No. 6, while his floor amongst the rankers is still an impressive TE9. 

The Bengals are straight-up rocket fuel to opposing tight ends. In half-point PPR leagues, they allow a league-high 18.6 FPPG (4.2 more than the second-highest team) with +7.9 fantasy boost. 

Keep in mind, we are only two weeks removed from Cincy surrendering 118 yards and 2 TDs to the Bears’ Colston Loveland. 

Henry’s 16% target share (second-highest on the team) makes me comfortable that he should be a major contributor in one of Week 12’s most advantageous offense vs. defense mismatches. 

Need I say more? Henry is a smash start at the position that typically has fantasy managers pulling out their hair this time of year. He’s also a sneaky flex option if you have an elite tight end on your roster. 

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

You can always count on a Kyle Shanahan offense. In Purdy’s return to action, he threw for a clean 200 yards and three touchdowns. The efficient performance, in only his third start of the season, was good for 19.3 fantasy points. Now, he gets a sneaky-solid matchup against a Carolina defense that will be primarily focusing on shutting down the San Francisco running game. 

Purdy cracks into the Top 10 as the consensus QB9 for Week 12.

Now that his first game back from injury is out of the way, the 49ers signal-caller could explode past his projections in this prime situational spot. Carolina’s defense has certainly shown flashes in some big spots, but they are a classic pass-funnel that Purdy can easily exploit. 

Carolina Defense 2025 (Weeks 1-11)

• EPA per play 0.07 (24th)
• EPA per rush -0.03 (15th)
• EPA per pass 0.14 (29th) 

Not only has the Panthers secondary been vulnerable on multiple occasions this year, but they have allowed the big chunk plays that can elevate Purdy into top-tier production. Opposing quarterbacks have ripped off 33 explosive pass plays on Carolina (eighth-highest), and benefited from the Panthers generous 10.7 yards per completion allowed (seventh-highest). 

Last week, Michael Penix Jr. completed 13 of 16 passes before exiting with an injury. The Falcons, a bottom-five scoring offense, throttled the Panthers for 21 first-half points. 

In a very meaningful Monday night game, I expect the 49ers offense to get rolling early and often behind the arm of Brock Purdy. I suggest you do the same. If you don’t have an elite option at QB, slide Purdy into your lineup and enjoy watching your opponent crash out late Monday night.

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