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Gage Bridgford (@GbridgfordNFL) identifies quarterbacks to watch in Week 12 based on the opposing pass rush defense. These QBs could be players to fade and avoid or to start and stream in fantasy football leagues.
It's Week 12, and we can't afford to take any losses. We have to go out and put wins on the board with our quarterbacks leading the way. Otherwise, we'll be sitting at home when the playoffs get started, and no one wants to be there.
We have several great matchups coming up this week while others have matchups that make you want to look in the other direction. Let's go ahead and make sure you're starting the best guys to get you in the playoffs this week.
With four teams on a bye in our final week of byes, you're without at least one to two starters this week. You could even be missing all four if it's a deep league. You are going to need to find another option, and there are some great streaming options this week.
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Look Away Before It Gets Ugly
Jared Goff vs Baltimore Ravens
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff got out of last week with a win, but his road doesn't get much easier this week. There is no team in the NFL that is playing better football than the Baltimore Ravens. They still only have 23 sacks on the year, but 11 of those have come in the past three games. They're also causing a lot of turnovers, as they've forced at least one in each of their last seven games. This game is at home, but Goff has his work cut out for him.
His offensive line, which was already not playing great, is now dealing with injuries that have resulted in multiple unproven young players getting snaps. Goff has avoided sacks well this season, but he's not avoiding turnovers as he's up to 10 interceptions and nine fumbles already. This Ravens Defense is playing well, and their offense is going to force Goff to throw. That's not a good mix for how this team is playing.
Daniel Jones @ Chicago Bears
Fresh off of the bye week, New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones gets a matchup with the Chicago Bears, a team with playoff hopes on actual life support after another loss last week. The Giants have given up 34 sacks this season, and only two of those came with quarterback Eli Manning at the helm. Jones has struggled to get his line into the right protection calls which has left him dealing with a defender in his face early in his dropbacks.
The Bears Defense has taken a step back from last season, but they're still one of the better groups in the NFL in terms of rushing the passer. They have 25 sacks on the year, and that's without star defensive tackle Akiem Hicks in the lineup for the majority of the season. The Giants have three offensive linemen that are dealing with injuries right now, and, if any one of them were to miss, life would get a lot more difficult for Danny Dimes.
Ryan Finley vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ryan Finley was surprisingly competent last week, but his matchup this week is much more difficult. The Pittsburgh Steelers, through 11 games, have gotten 34 sacks, which is an average of over three per game. All of their suspensions came on the offensive side of the ball, which means that they'll still have their defensive pass rushers. Also, their secondary can hold up against a Bengals unit that is still missing wide receiver A.J. Green.
Finley was sacked five times last week by the Oakland Raiders, who aren't exactly a terrifying group upfront. This Steelers team will likely be playing with a lot of emotion, and their playoff hopes took a major hit after their loss last week. With all of their injuries on the offensive side of the ball, we should look for them to lean on their defense, which is a very doable task against this Bengals unit.
That's More Like It
Russell Wilson @ Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson must be salivating as he's looking ahead to this week's matchup. The Philadelphia Eagles have struggled to generate pressure all season, and this is not the guy to do that against. Wilson is eighth in the NFL in yardage, and he leads the NFL in passing touchdowns with 23. His offensive line has allowed 27 sacks this season, which is slightly above league average, but they do enough to let him find his receivers downfield.
The Eagles are up to 25 sacks on the year, and their defensive front is healthy. However, the secondary still struggles to hold up in coverage, and the pass rush won't be able to get home in time against the receiving group that Seattle is trotting out. To match Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Wilson is likely going to put up an MVP performance on the road in Week 12.
Matt Ryan vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has seen his defense show some life in the past two weeks, and he is riding that wave with them. He had over 300 passing yards for the first time since Week 6. This game is where it blows up. The Falcons are right around the middle of the pack in sacks allowed, but they are starting to find their groove as they're rallying around head coach Dan Quinn. If they keep Ryan clean, he should be in for a big week.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense has cooled off considerably, and they have just 10.5 sacks outside of breakout pass rusher Shaquill Barrett. They're right near the bottom of the NFL in sacks, and their coverage unit has shown a severe inability to stop anybody. Now, they have to slow down wide receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. This is going to be a slaughter, and it figures to be a big shootout as well.
Derek Carr @ New York Jets
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is getting love again this week. His matchup is just too good to ignore. His offensive line has played like a top-five unit this year, and, when Carr has been forced to throw, they're giving him time to do so. He's been sacked just 15 times this season, which is tied for the second-fewest in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This New York Jets Defense can be exploited upfront.
The Jets have 25 sacks on the year, and they've been getting after the quarterback a bit more as of late. However, this offensive line is one of the best they've faced all season, and the Raiders have the running game to slow down the pass rush. If you have one of the quarterbacks on a bye as your weekly starter, Carr is a pretty good streaming option.
