Prime fantasy plays are all around in Week 12 of the NFL season. These options can help as we near the fantasy playoffs.
Start: Bo Nix, Broncos at Raiders
Nix is mounting a strong campaign for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, as he’s led the Broncos to a winning record behind his clutch play. Just last week, he had his best outing yet, throwing four TD.
Other locks:
—Lamar Jackson at Chargers
—Jayden Daniels vs Cowboys
—Kyler Murray at Seattle
—Justin Herbert vs Baltimore
Avoid: Anthony Richardson, Colts vs Lions
Yes, Anthony Richardson is coming off his best performance of the season, throwing for a TD and rushing for two against the Jets. The Lions, his opponent this week, have been steamrolling opposing QBs as of late, and Richardson isn’t likely to buck that trend.
Start: Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants vs Buccaneers
Tracy has taken over Devin Singletary’s role as lead back in New York. Averaging almost 20 touches over his previous three games before the bye, Tracy has been a bright spot for the Giants offense, scoring in two of those three games. With Daniel Jones getting benched this week in favor of Tommy DeVito, the Giants offense could get a spark, and Tracy may be leaned on heavily in the transition. The matchup with the Buccaneers this week is a top-10 pairing for opposing RBs too.
Other locks:
—Joe Mixon vs Titans
—Kenneth Walker vs Cardinals
—Josh Jacobs vs 49ers
—Brian Robinson Jr., vs Cowboys
Avoid: Rico Dowdle, Cowboys at Commanders
Dowdle is the lead back for the Cowboys. CeeDee Lamb can maintain fantasy relevance with Cooper Rush under center, as seen in Week 11, but the running game has struggled. Opposing defenses have focused on stopping the run, as the Texans did on Monday night. Dowdle was limited to just 34 yards on 12 touches, and even though the matchup this week with Washington looks OK, Dowdle’s upside is middling at best.
Start: Josh Downs, Colts vs Lions
It doesn’t matter who’s playing QB for Indianapolis, Josh Downs is going to produce. Downs has scored and/or surpassed 60 yards receiving in seven of his past eight games. Downs makes it easy for anyone under center to throw the ball to where he’s going to be and rely that he’ll be there. Even though Anthony Richardson isn’t a desired start for me this week, Downs is an every week start, regardless of the matchup.
Other locks:
—AJ Brown at Rams
—Tyreek Hill vs Patriots
—DK Metcalf vs Cardinals
—CeeDee Lamb at Commanders
Avoid: Jakobi Meyers, Raiders vs Broncos
Meyers, along with Brock Bowers, is one of the top two options in the Raiders passing game. In Week 11, he had a five combined rushes and catches for 48 yards against a stout Miami secondary. He faces an even tougher matchup versus a Denver team that has the best secondary going into Week 12, so all bets are off.
Start: Jonnu Smith, Dolphins vs Patriots
Smith had six receptions for 101 yards and two TDs in Week 11. The matchup with New England is so-so, but Smith is cemented as a major part of Miami's current offensive scheme.
Other locks:
—Travis Kelce at Panthers
—Trey McBride at Seattle
—Brock Bowers vs Broncos
—Will Dissly vs Ravens
Avoid: Isaiah Likely, Ravens at Chargers
Likely led the Ravens with 75 yards on four catches in Week 11. Don’t get too excited though, as Likely hadn’t even reached the 50-yard mark in any game since Week 1. With several capable pass catchers to compete with, including fellow TE Mark Andrews, Likely isn’t a likely candidate to have a repeat performance this week.
This column was provided to The Associated Press by RosterWatch, www.rosterwatch.com.
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith (9) scores a touchdown as Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) is late with the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (1) extends the ball over the goal line for a touchdown against New York Jets cornerback Isaiah Oliver (23) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. runs against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Munich, Germany. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) runs as Atlanta Falcons cornerback Natrone Brooks (35) pursues during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia nursing student Laken Riley texted and called her mom as she headed out for a run to see whether she had time to chat — but then didn't respond to her mother's calls or increasingly frantic text messages.
Riley called her mother at 9:03 a.m. on Feb. 22, and by the time her mother called back about 20 minutes later, the student had encountered Jose Ibarra on a wooded running trail at the University of Georgia, according to trial testimony. Prosecutors said Ibarra killed Riley after a struggle, and data from Riley's smartwatch shows her heart stopped beating at 9:28 a.m.
After Riley failed to answer the phone, her mother, Allyson Phillips, texted her several times, casually at first but then with increasing concern, according to data pulled from Riley's phone.
At 9:37 a.m., her mother texted, “Call me when you can.” Phillips called twice, and when her calls went unanswered, she texted her daughter at 9:58 a.m., “You’re making me nervous not answering while you’re out running. Are you OK?" Phillips texted again at 11:47 a.m., writing, “Please call me. I’m worried sick about you.” She and other family members continued to call Riley.
Phillips cried in court as the text messages were read aloud by Georgia police Sgt. Sophie Raboud, who examined data from Riley's phone. Raboud also testified about video from surveillance cameras near the wooded trail, and Phillips and some other family members and friends cried as video played showing Riley running on the trail the morning of her death.
Ibarra, 26, is charged with murder and other crimes in Riley’s death in February, and his trial began Friday. He waived his right to a jury trial, meaning the case will be decided alone by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard.
The prosecution rested its case Tuesday afternoon after calling more than a dozen law enforcement officers, Riley's roommate and a woman who lived in an apartment with Ibarra to testify. The judge then asked Ibarra if he wants to testify and he said no.
The killing added fuel to the national debate over immigration when federal authorities said Ibarra illegally entered the U.S. in 2022 and was allowed to stay in the country while he pursued his immigration case. Riley, 22, was a student at Augusta University College of Nursing, which also has a campus in Athens, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) east of Atlanta.
Surveillance video also showed a man who prosecutors say is Ibarra walking around an apartment complex where a female graduate student said someone tried to get into her apartment and peered in the window early the day Riley was killed. The man is seen going up to the door of that apartment six times over a period of roughly an hour, twice opening the outer screen door, Raboud testified.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Lucas Breyer testified about reviewing the body camera video from the officer who found Riley's body in the woods. He testified that her clothes were “heavily manipulated,” describing the waistband of her running tights as having been pulled down some and her jacket, shirt and sports bra having been pulled way up.
Dr. Michelle DiMarco, a GBI medical examiner, conducted the autopsy of Riley's body and testified that Riley had injuries, including scrapes, bruises and cuts, to her head, neck, torso, abdomen, left hand and left leg. Her injuries included eight cuts to her head, including one that fractured her skull, DiMarco said.
Prosecutors have said that Ibarra hit Riley in the head with a rock and DiMarco said the injuries “could be consistent with a rock.” A GBI specialist testified Riley's DNA was found on two rocks at the scene. The DNA specialist also said that Riley's DNA and Ibarra's DNA were both found on a jacket that was retrieved from a trash bin at Ibarra's apartment complex.
Prosecutor Sheila Ross said during her opening statement that Ibarra had gone out “hunting for females” that morning in February and that he killed Riley after a struggle when she “refused to be his rape victim.” Law enforcement officers have testified there was no evidence that Riley was sexually assaulted.
Defense attorney Dustin Kirby said in his opening that Riley’s death was a tragedy and called the evidence in the case graphic and disturbing. But he said there is not sufficient evidence to prove that his client killed Riley.
Throughout the prosecution's case, defense attorneys have asked questions of witnesses that seem designed to create doubt by suggesting that Ibarra's brother Diego could not be excluded as a suspect.
Riley’s parents, roommates and other friends and family packed the courtroom Friday and again Monday and Tuesday.
From left, Connolly Huth, roommate of Laken Riley, and Lauren Phillips, Riley's younger sister, become emotional during the trial for Jose Ibarra at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
A hat allegedly belonging to Jose Ibarra is presented as evidence during the trial for Ibarra at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
Prosecutor Sheila Ross speaks during the trial for Jose Ibarra at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
From left, Connolly Huth, Lauren Phillips and Sofia Magana become emotional during the trial for Jose Ibarra at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
CORRECTS DATE Prosecutor Sheila Ross speaks while holding an evidence bag during the trial for Jose Ibarra at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
CORRECTS DATE Jose Ibarra appears at his trial at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Arvin Temkar/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
Jason Riley, center, Laken Riley's father, listens during the Jose Ibarra trial at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
Allyson Phillips, mother of Laken Riley, second left, listens during the trial of Jose Ibarra at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
Prosecutor Sheila Ross's responds to Judge H. Patrick Haggard during the trial of Jose Ibarra at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard speaks during the trial of Jose Ibarra at Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
Jose Ibarra pays attention to a witness during his trial at the Athens-Clarke County Superior Court on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, in Athens, Ga. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, Pool)
