Week 12 of the 2023 fantasy football season featured big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received "A" and "F" grades?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis and Seth Walder provides his grades. We also asked NFL Nation reporters to answer questions about what happened in the Thursday and Sunday games.
Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an A | Who got an F
Biggest injuries and what's next
Top questions from Week 12
Ranking fantasy winners of Week 12
1. Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
With a game plan that featured his dual-threat ability, Robinson dropped a season-high 27.3 points on the Saints in the Week 12 win. He finished with 123 total yards on 19 touches and logged two touchdowns. After scoring on a red zone carry, Robinson was set up by the Falcons on a schemed throw to get a true one-on-one versus a linebacker. Easy money there on a short zone concept. With this type of volume, and touches in scoring position, Robinson should produce as an offensive playmaker. He gets the Jets' defense next in Week 13. -- Bowen
2. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Allen's season-high 39.66 fantasy points in the loss to the Eagles led all quarterbacks in Week 12. We can look at the 333 yards passing here, in a brutal weather game, plus the two touchdown throws. Or Allen's ability to create as a runner on designed carries and scramble attempts. Allen posted two rushing scores on Sunday, while carrying the ball nine times for 81 yards. We saw the physical element to Allen's game there, plus his ball carrier vision. The Bills and Allen head into the bye next week, and then return in a critical Week 14 matchup versus the Chiefs. -- Bowen
3. C.J. Stroud, QB, and Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans
The game's most exciting rookie quarterback-to-wide receiver combo, Stroud enjoyed his second game of 30-plus fantasy points (30.86) and Dell his fourth in a row with at least 17 PPR fantasy points (17.2). For Stroud, that brought his season total to 222.84 points, the sixth most by any quarterback through his first 11 career games since at least 1950, and for Dell, he's only the 11th rookie wide receiver since the merger with a streak at least that long. Both face much stiffer tests the next two weeks, however, in the Denver Broncos (Week 13) and New York Jets (Week 14). -- Cockcroft
4. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Your Thanksgiving Day star, Prescott roasted a bad Washington Commanders defense for 331 yards and four touchdowns passing while stuffing his fantasy managers' stat sheets with 32.24 points. It was his second 30-point performance in his past three games and fifth with 24-plus in his past six. The generally favorable schedule he has remaining (SEA, PHI, @BUF, @MIA, DET, @WSH) serves the gravy on his top-five positional case the rest of the way. -- Cockcroft
5. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
His was one of the most remarkable in-game turnarounds of 2023, as at halftime of his Week 12 contest he had scored only 5.52 fantasy points and was playing poorly (albeit affected by the elements). Hurts caught fire during the second half, however, and was responsible for the game-winning rushing touchdown in overtime, finishing with a season-best 34.50 fantasy points. It underscored his ability to make quick in-game adjustments as well as his two-way ability, and should be a reminder that he's plenty capable of topping his position in scoring the rest of the way. If he could handle the Bills this week, there's no reason to panic over a Week 13 San Francisco 49ers matchup. -- Cockcroft
6. Jordan Love, QB; Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
Going back to Thanksgiving Day, Love showed his first-round traits at the position in a very positive matchup versus the Lions' defense. We saw the arm talent here on multiple throws, plus the mobility to escape trouble. And Love made smart decisions from the pocket, too. He finished with 26.62 fantasy points, throwing for 268 yards and three scores, while adding 39 yards rushing on three carries. It was Love's second straight game with 20 or more points, and the Green Bay passing attack got a boost from Watson. After logging just three games with double-digit fantasy production all year, Watson scored a season-high 20.4 points, catching five of seven targets for 94 yards and a touchdown. Both Love and Watson get a much tougher matchup in Week 13 versus the Chiefs' defense. -- Bowen
7. Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
What a comeback this was following a four-game absence due to an ankle injury. Williams scored a career-high 38.4 PPR fantasy points, and that's in spite of his playing a slightly limited role (season-low 63% of the Rams' offensive snaps, 22 touches to Royce Freeman's 13). The Rams' offense was running on all cylinders with Williams back in action, though the favorable matchup did contribute (he also had a huge yardage total in Week 6 against the same Arizona Cardinals). His next two matchups (CLE, @BAL) are quite a bit tougher, but he looks like a clear high-end RB2. -- Cockcroft
8. Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Pacheco's 25.9 points in the Week 12 win over the Raiders were a season high, and this marked his first game with 20 or more points since back in Week 5. Pacheco saw 20 touches Sunday, but it was the red zone work that boosted his totals. He logged two red zone touchdown runs in this game, and Andy Reid didn't need to dress it up here. Downhill schemes on the goal line. Run angry there. Pacheco and the Chiefs get the Packers next week at Lambeau Field. -- Bowen
9. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield's installation at quarterback this season has paid huge fantasy dividends for Evans. The wide receiver scored 25.0 PPR fantasy points in Week 12, his third-best score this season, led his team in targets for the third consecutive week and now has a team-leading 24.7% target share for the year. Most importantly, Evans has been Mayfield's go-to guy in scoring position, extending his league-leading total to 15 end zone targets, including the two he hauled in for touchdowns Sunday. -- Cockcroft
10. Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
With new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner calling the plays for the Steelers on Sunday, Freiermuth posted a season-high 21 fantasy points in the win over the Bengals. Freiermuth caught nine of 11 targets here for 120 yards, and we saw him being deployed as a third-level target. Stretch the seams, run the deep overs. Freiermuth has the traits/size to create down the field, in addition to what he can do as an underneath option in the route tree. Rostered in only 41.8% of ESPN leagues, I would look to add Freiermuth ahead of the Week 13 matchup against the Cardinals. -- Bowen
Ranking fantasy losers of Week 12
1. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
In a generally ugly game between the Giants and New England Patriots, Barkley scored a season-low -- and sixth-worst in his career -- 6.2 PPR fantasy points. He wasn't nearly as involved in the receiving game as he was in Week 11, and the Patriots' predictably keyed on him as the primary weapon in the Giants' offense. Note that the team attempted only 50 offensive plays, their sixth fewest in a game in the past decade. Barkley now gets his bye week, and should be a locked-in RB1 against the Packers in Week 14. -- Cockcroft
2. Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
He couldn't get anything done on the ground Sunday, rushing eight times for only 16 yards, and if not for his 39-yard reception to begin the Bengals' final drive of the game he'd have had a truly miserable score. Mixon's 8.0 PPR fantasy points nevertheless represented his seasonal low, a big concern considering the offense's struggles with Jake Browning, a substantial downgrade at quarterback from the injured Joe Burrow. Mixon continues to be a hefty-volume back, but it's tough to make a top-10 positional case for him after the way the offense struggled in Week 12. -- Cockcroft
3. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
The volume was right for Etienne on Sunday in the win over the Texans, as he saw 20 carries and caught four passes, finishing with 12.8 points. However, Etienne managed just 2.8 yards per carry in this one, and he's in a bit of a slump. Etienne has failed to score a touchdown in three straight games, and the run game efficiency remains an issue in Jacksonville. He'll look to bounce back in Week 13 against the Bengals. --Bowen
4. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
In a tough matchup versus the Jets defense Friday, Tagovailoa completed 21 of 30 passing for 243 yards, and both Tyreek Hill (25.2 points) and Jaylen Waddle (19.4 points) played productive football. However, Tagovailoa posted a season-low 7.82 points because of the lack of touchdown production and the turnovers. With just one touchdown throw and three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble), Tagovailoa failed to produce double-digit points for the first time this season. He gets a much better matchup in Week 13 against the Commanders. --Bowen
5. DK Metcalf, WR; Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks
In the Thanksgiving night game, both Metcalf and Lockett failed to produce versus the 49ers' defense. Metcalf caught just three of nine targets for 32 yards, checking in with 6.2 points. And Lockett, who scored 6.0 points, brought in three of five targets for only 30 yards. I thought quarterback Geno Smith sat too long on his back foot at times, and the Niners meshed together their rush and coverage in this one. Disrupt the pocket, stay on top of routes and limit Seattle's explosive-play ability on the perimeter. Metcalf and Lockett get the Cowboys' man-heavy defense in Week 13. -- Bowen
Injury impact
Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
What we know: Olave left the game with a concussion in the third quarter versus the Falcons and did not return. Before the injury, Olave caught seven of nine targets for 114 yards.
What's next: We'll monitor the status of Olave this week as he goes through concussion protocol. If he's out against the Lions, however, wide receivers Rashid Shaheed and A.T. Perry will elevate in the Saints' pass game. -- Bowen
Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots
What we know: He left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter after being clotheslined on a punt return, hitting his head on the turf, and was unable to return.
What's next: If Douglas exhibits concussion symptoms, he'll need to clear the league's protocol to be able to play, so keep a close eye on his practice updates early in the week. Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte would move up the depth chart if Douglas misses additional time, though the Patriots' quarterback struggles keep these players off the standard-league radar. -- Cockcroft
Who earned an 'A' this weekend?
Jessie Bates III, S, Atlanta Falcons
How's this for a stat line? An interception, a forced fumble, 12 combined tackles and one reception allowed as a nearest defender for 1 yard over 36 coverage snaps, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That's a monster defensive day for the Falcons safety, who has had a heck of a season. -- Walder
Jalin Hyatt, WR, New York Giants
Hyatt provided some offense in a game without much of it. The Giants rookie wide receiver recorded five receptions for 109 receiving yards, and he also recorded 52 receiving yards over expectation -- the most by any player in Week 12 through the early afternoon window -- according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Hyatt's expected catch rate on his six targets was 53% but his actual catch rate for the day was 83%. -- Walder
Who earned an 'F' this weekend?
Tavierre Thomas, CB, Houston Texans
He had a brutal sequence in the third quarter in which he gave up back-to-back defensive pass interference penalties and then allowed a touchdown to Calvin Ridley. For the game, Thomas allowed 97 receiving yards on six receptions off seven targets as the nearest defender -- in addition to the penalties -- according to NFL Next Gen Stats. -- Walder
Lingering questions from Sunday's games
Perhaps overlooked in the big win -- and seven wins in eight games -- is the third straight underwhelming day on the ground by Travis Etienne Jr. He hasn't averaged 4.0 yards per carry in any of the past six games. Do you expect anything to change, or with the Jags winning so much is this what to expect going forward with their main RB?
The Jaguars' offensive line has struggled, especially in the middle, at times this season and that plays a part. In Weeks 1-7 the Jaguars averaged 72.6 yards per game before contact, which was 10th best in the NFL. In Weeks 8-12 they're down to 64.5, which is 23rd. The Jaguars are trying to compensate for the OL struggles by hitting Etienne with some quick throws to get him out on the edge. There also was concern going into the bye that they were relying too much on Etienne and wanted to ease his workload a bit, which is why D'Ernest Johnson has had a season-high eight touches in each of the past two games. The Jaguars also have made a concerted effort to stick with the run this season even when it's not working at times. All of this just to say: Etienne is still their main back and he'll get his touches. Some days are just going to be better than others. -- Michael DiRocco
Jonathan Taylor has found the end zone four times in the past three games and is getting the ball early and often in the Colts' offense. Is he getting close to being fully back to the fantasy force he was in previous years?
Taylor very much looks like the back he was before his ankle injury last season. About the only obstacle remaining is for him to resume the frequency of his explosive runs, but that is more likely to come if the Colts' passing game can gain more consistency and create downfield threats. The other variable is the play selection of coach Shane Steichen, who is predisposed to throwing the ball if opportunities are there. But Taylor, who averaged 6.1 yards per carry in Sunday's win over the Buccaneers, is getting better by the week. -- Stephen Holder