The Detroit Lions are staring down a must-win situation as their once-promising playoff outlook has grown cloudy. Dan Campbell’s aggressiveness has cost them in recent weeks, and Detroit can’t afford another 0-for-5 on fourth downs disaster. Across the field, the Giants remain unpredictable under Jameis Winston, generating fantasy volatility but occasionally producing surprise playmakers.
Here’s your full Start ’Em, Sit ’Em breakdown for this NFC showdown, complete with starts, sleepers, and sits (if needed).
START ’EM
Jared Goff – QB, Lions
This is the ultimate bounce-back spot. Goff should carve up a Giants defense that has struggled to contain efficient passers. Expect a big statistical day, and treat him as a confident QB1 for Week 12.
Jahmyr Gibbs – RB, Lions
Gibbs hasn’t been “Gibbs-ing” lately, but this matchup screams a get-right game. His explosiveness and receiving upside give him top-10 running back potential this week.
Amon-Ra St. Brown – WR, Lions
The Goff-to-St. Brown connection has been slightly off, but the Giants’ defense shouldn’t provide much resistance. Look for heavy volume and a return to WR1 production.
Jameson Williams – WR, Lions
With Sam LaPorta out, Williams’ role expands. His speed and improved reliability make him a high-upside FLEX with a legitimate chance at a breakout game.
Week 12 WR Rankings: Upgrade Jameson Williams – Matthew Freedman via Fantasy Life
David Montgomery – RB, Lions
Detroit needs Monty to power the offense. He’s healthy, rested, and this feels like a goal-line touchdown week. Solid RB2 with scoring upside.
Khalif Raymond – WR, Lions
Sleeper alert. LaPorta’s absence pushes Raymond into more involvement. Expect a few extra targets and maybe a splash play or two.
Detroit Lions D/ST
Jameis Winston will be under pressure all game. Detroit’s defense has the pass rush advantage and turnover upside. Start with confidence.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. on complementing Devin Singletary via Giants.com
Tyrone Tracy Jr. & Devin Singletary – RBs, Giants (FLEX)
This is a classic “choose your flavor” situation:
• Tracy → yardage and versatility
• Singletary → red-zone and scoring opportunities
Both are FLEX-worthy in different ways depending on your team’s needs.
Wan’Dale Robinson – WR, Giants
He led the team in targets last week and should continue to be Jameis Winston’s primary read. Strong PPR FLEX with volume upside.
Theo Johnson – TE, Giants (Sleeper)
Big, athletic, and a mismatch in the red zone. With the Giants’ WR room thin, Johnson should see several schemed opportunities. Very interesting streaming sleeper.
Isaiah Hodgins – WR, Giants
Another sneaky sleeper. Hodgins led the team in production last week and should remain heavily involved. Jameis trusts him, and this could lead to 6–8 targets again.
FINAL TAKEAWAY: A high-pressure matchup with playoff implications
This matchup sets up perfectly for Detroit’s offense to rebound in a must-win scenario. Expect a high-volume day from Goff and strong production from the Lions’ core fantasy weapons. Meanwhile, the Giants remain unpredictable but offer several deep-league sleepers thanks to injuries and increased opportunity.
If you need upside plays, this game provides them, especially from Williams, Raymond, Wan’Dale, and the Giants’ tight ends. Overall, Detroit should control the game flow, making their fantasy starters the safer and more explosive bets in Week 12.
