Fantasy football sit/start advice, Week 12: Which Lions to play

Each week this season, I will provide fantasy football advice about which Detroit Lions to start or sit. Even if you don't have any Lions on your fantasy team(s) or really just don't care to have another opinion messing with your ultimate decisions, this could very well serve as a preview of sorts for what to expect come game day.

QB Matthew Stafford

LAST WEEK: Not his sharpest game, Stafford threw 2 interceptions to go along with his 266 yards and touchdown. He also ran for 12 yards. Stafford also lost a fumble after eluding a sack.

THIS WEEK: The Texans are seventh against the pass and recently had three straight weeks of opposing quarterbacks scoring fewer than 10 points ... sandwiched between two games of getting absolutely torched.

I think the Lions will probably fall somewhere in the middle, especially since Stafford is coming off a bad week and hasn't been shut down in consecutive weeks all year, unless you count the first couple weeks of the season when he scored under 20 fantasy points in each (15 and 14.2).

VERDICT: Hopefully the Texans D is in the giving mood, because I'm starting Stafford in the leagues I have him.

RB Mikel Leshoure

LAST WEEK: 19 carries for 84 yards and a touchdown. Leshoure got 1 target out of the backfield and caught it for -2 yards.

THIS WEEK: The Texans' run defense is second in the NFL and has held opposing running backs below 10 points in consecutive weeks. The Lions may have to pass (even more) to keep up with the Texans' offense, too.

If you think Leshoure is going to find the end zone, then starting him may be worth it, but you're playing with flames.

VERDICT: Weak FLEX. I'm going Vick Ballard (RB1A) against weakest Buffalo run defense over Leshoure (RB1).

RB Joique Bell

LAST WEEK: 1 carry for 4 yards and 1 catch for 5 yards.

THIS WEEK: No.

VERDICT: No.

WR Calvin Johnson

LAST WEEK: 5 catches, 143 yards and a touchdown.

THIS WEEK: Megatron.

VERDICT: Automatic.

WR Titus Young

LAST WEEK: Who cares.

THIS WEEK: Inactive.

VERDICT: Ass clown.

WR Ryan Broyles

LAST WEEK: Broyles only saw 2 targets, but caught them both for 35 yards.

THIS WEEK: Young's inactivity will only benefit Ryan Broyles. I could see Broyles getting plenty of targets, but it's probably not worth the risk.

VERDICT: Uh, not worth the risk.

TE Brandon Pettigrew

LAST WEEK: Pettigrew's targets were back (7), but he only caught 4 passes for 22 yards.

THIS WEEK: The Texans are average against opposing tight ends and gave up 2 touchdowns last week. At one point this season, they gave up a touchdown to an opposing tight end in four straight weeks.

If Pettigrew continues to see the targets he's seen over his career, he's worth a start.

VERDICT: Start.

Detroit D/ST

LAST WEEK: 3 sacks, 1 interception and 24 points.

THIS WEEK: No thanks.

VERDICT: You're welcome.

K Jason Hanson

LAST WEEK: Two extra points and two field goals. Butter.

THIS WEEK: If you think the Lions will hang with the Texans (before another heartbreak), Hanson will be like Steady Eddie again. The Lions are amongst the top in the NFL in getting into the red zone (fifth), so you know he's going to get his opportunities if the Lions offense (ninth in red zone TD%) fails to cross the goal line.

VERDICT: Top-five kicker again this week.

What do you think? Have any fantasy questions? Comment below.

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