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Welcome to the Monday Night Showdown Slate for NFL Week 12!
Before we start, please allow me to reiterate that while we all love having a little skin in the game, these showdown slates are basically lottery tickets. Sure, there are times when the chalk hits and everyone shares in the prizes, but more often than not, you need that random play to differentiate yourself from the herd dart-throw to hit in order to claim that top prize. As a result, we encourage you to play responsibly. Stick to the GPP contests (single-entry preferred), don’t blow your whole bankroll and understand that, unless you are a max-entry player, you should prioritize having fun.
OK, lecture over. Let’s get to tonight’s action.
Seattle Seahawks vs Philadelphia Eagles
Spread: Seahawks -6.5
O/U: 49
Weather: Low 60’s, mostly cloudy but 25% chance of precipitation; winds SW 10-to-13 mph
Notable Injuries:
Seahawks:
Brandon Shell , T (ankle - out)
Travis Homer, RB (wrist - out)
David Moore , WR (hip - questionable)
Freddie Swain, WR (foot - questionable)
Jordan Simmons , G (calf - questionable)
Kyle Fuller , C (ankle - questionable)
D.J. Reed , CB (foot - questionable)
Eagles:
Rudy Ford , S (hamstring - out)
Lane Johnson , T (ankle - out)
Sua Opeta, G (ankle - out)
Jason Peters , T (toe - questionable)
Defensive Rankings (Using DVOA):
Seahawks:
vs Pass: 27th
vs Run: 8th
Eagles:
vs Pass: 20th
vs Run: 11th
Please note the plays below are not ranked in order of peference and that just because a player is not listed below does not mean they will should be a total fade for your GPP lineups.
MVP/Captain
Seattle D/ST – If you have read my recent work then you know I have written two articles lately, one that details the struggles of the Eagles QB Carson Wentz and their offensive line and the other about how I really like the Seahawks Defense in the coming weeks starting with their matchup tonight against the Eagles. So, yeah, I am a bit bullish here and using the defense in your captain/MVP spot is a great way to save some cash and spend up on the skill position players. The Eagles offensive line is already among the worst in football and if you saw the injury report above, they could be without some huge pieces. On the season the Eagles line ranks 30th in pass block efficiency and Carson Wentz has been sacked 40 times already this season. Wentz has also been careless with the football which has led to 14 interceptions and 10 fumbles (four lost). Seattle's defense has been better of late and getting healthier. I think there is some real upside here with this play.
Tyler Lockett , WR, SEA – I know that DK Metcalf gets all the love and it makes sense, the dude is a freak and has major upside but I like the consistency of Lockett a bit more here. Wilson loves to target him just as much as Metcalf and he could draw the easier matchup with Darius Slay trying his hand at covering Metcalf downfield. Lockett has 25 total targets over the past three weeks and targets mean opportunity to score.
Miles Sanders , RB PHI – Sanders has all the tools to be an elite level running back in the NFL. The only thing really holding him back is the team he plays for and the coach calling the offense because so often will Sanders get on a roll and the team decides to stop giving him the football. In the two games since his return from IR Sanders is averaging almost five yards per carry and has five catches on 10 targets. He has totaled 153 yards rushing in those two contests. He is really the only Eagles player I trust and it’s not quite the best spot for him but his explosiveness makes him worth the risk.
Mid-Tier
Russell Wilson , QB SEA – Wilson is the highest priced player on the slate. He could certainly be worth the captain/mvp slot but using him as a mid-tier player will save you some cash and still give you exposure to his upside. Now, the Eagles defense actually hasn’t been THAT bad this season and they do generate sacks and the occasional turnover. Wilson has struggled a bit of late since his white hot start but between the two QBs in this game he is the one to play.
DK Metcalf , WR SEA – While I like Lockett better as an MVP play it doesn’t mean I wouldn’t play Metcalf at all. I think he will likely be a popular MVP play as well. He is a downfield stud that could very easily give us 100-plus yards and multiple TD’s like we saw from him in Week 8.
Jalen Reagor, WR PHI – The Eagles passing attack has the weapons at receiver but Carson Wentz has really limited their upside of late. That said, the rookie Reagor has looked solid since returning from IR. In the last two games he has totaled eight catches on 12 targets for 99 yards. He is a big play receiver and this secondary has given up a ton of yards this season. In fact, the Seahawks are allowing the most passing yards per game. If this one turns into a shootout, having exposure to the Eagles receivers will be beneficial.
Carson Wentz , QB PHI - This season has been a tough one for Wentz and it’s not all his fault either. The offensive line has given him little time to find the open receiver and it has led to a league high 40 sacks and 14 interceptions. That said, this Seattle defense is on pace to set a record for being one of the worst pass defenses in football history. They currently allow the most passing yards per game to opposing QBs. If there was ever a game for Wentz to shine it would be right here.
Dallas Goedert , TE PHI - Zach Ertz is still on the shelf which opens Goedert to be the team’s top receiving tight end once again this week. The Seahawks have a legit tight end stopper in Jamal Adams but if this one turns into a shootout then Goedert may still get his regardless.
Dart Throws
Chris Carson , RB SEA – Yes, I know Carson is an upper tier player in the NFL but the Eagles run defense is pretty stout and with Carson having not played since Week 7 there is definitely some reason to be hesitant. That said, his receiving skills were nice to see early on this year and in PPR leagues it’s hard not to like that upside.
Jacob Hollister , TE SEA – Greg Olsen went down with an injury last week that has landed him on IR. The Seahawks seem content to use Will Dissly as a blocker which opens up things for Hollister as the pass catching tight end on this team. Holister saw three targets in Week 11 while playing just 20-percent of the snaps. We saw him play a season high 48-percent of the snaps back in Week 9 and caught five passes on seven targets so we know there is some potential upside when given a bigger role. He is a true dart throw.
Jalen Hurts, QB PHI – If you really want to get nuts this is probably the play for you. There have been reports that Hurts was getting some first team run at practice this week and we know that Carson Wentz is on the hot seat. If Wentz struggles we may see a QB change to Hurts in the middle of this game. The risk here of course is that you are starting a player that isn’t actually playing unless Wentz gets pulled. These are the type of plays that can separate you in a showdown but it’s the ultimate risk/reward.
Player News
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team does not “have any feelings on competition” when asked about the quarterback room.
O’Connell was asked about a potential quarterback competition on the Rich Eisen Show Wednesday and was unclear on whether J.J. McCarthy would have to compete to start. He said, “we’ve got an obligation as coaches to put our players in position to attack that competition phase.” O’Connell discussed first putting Brett Rypien and the newly acquired Sam Howell in a position to play before any competition would occur. He continued that McCarthy is “owning it” this offseason and is taking snaps from starting center Ryan Kelly. After missing last season with a torn meniscus, McCarthy has been ramping up workouts in the offseason and is the front-runner to start for the Vikings in 2025. As of now, Howell looks to be reinforcement at the backup spot in case it turns out McCarthy is not ready to start.
Texans re-signed DT Foley Fatukasi.
Fatukasi initially joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year contract. The 30-year-old was a rotational defensive lineman, tallying four tackles for loss and one sack. He returns to Houston for 2025, where he will be a part of a deep Texans front seven.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Tyreek Hill’s second wrist surgery was part of the original plan and his timeline remains unchanged.
Hill announced the second surgery on social media and Pelissero quickly added some context to the situation. The speedy receiver suffered the wrist injury just before the start of the season and it lingered throughout the year, though he never missed a game because of it. If the second surgery truly is a non-story, an offseason to recover might be what Hill needs to return to form after a down 2024 season. On the other hand, Hill is 31 years old, played his worst football last year, and his offense prioritized targets for Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane. As it stands, Hill might have the highest risk-reward split in fantasy drafts.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports there are “multiple people in the league who believe the new regime is not so high on Travis Etienne.”
Fowler also noted Tank Bigsby’s fumbling issue but didn’t directly relate that to the feelings of the new brain trust in Jacksonville. The Jags clearly felt they were lacking at running back this offseason and addressed that opening via the draft with Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen in the seventh. The pair of additions complicate an already-messy backfield by committee. Etienne is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is a long-shot to be brought back in 2026. The Jags could opt to move on early by trading him, clearing $6.1 million in cap space in the process. If the team does trade Etienne, Tuten would likely be the team’s top back in the long run, making him a high-upside bet in early fantasy drafts.
Broncos signed third-round pick WR Pat Bryant to a four-year contract.
The deal includes $1.4 million guaranteed and is worth $6.6 million in total. Sean Payton compared aspects of Bryant’s game to those of Michael Thomas in his post-draft press conference and there are at least a few similarities in their profiles. Bryant stands at 6'2/204 and ran a 4.61-second Forty at the combine. Thomas measured in at 6'3/212 and clocked a 4.57-second Forty. Though the two have similar physical characteristics, Thomas was known for his proficiency from the slot while Bryant primarily played on the outside as a field-stretcher at Illinois. Bryant’s transition to slot duties may take some time, but third-round draft capital makes him worth a shot in dynasty leagues.
Colts EDGE Samson Ebukam (Achilles) said he is expected to be cleared for training camp.
Ebukam suffered a torn Achilles in training camp last year and did not play in the 2024 season. He broke out in 2023 with a career-high 9.5 sacks in his first season with the Colts. He now has one year left on his deal and will be looking for a rebound season as he stares down free agency in 2026