Should You Start Tyler Lockett or Jaxon Smith-Njigba for Fantasy Football in Week 12?

There are zero teams on a bye week in Week 12, so that means your entire fantasy football roster is available to use. This means tons of decisions to make, and deciding between a pair of WRs taking on the San Francisco 49ers is a tough one. Which Seattle Seahawks pass catcher should you go with?

Should You Start Tyler Lockett or Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Fantasy Football in Week 12?

In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say managers should start the veteran Tyler Lockett over the rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Lockett is projected to have 10.2 fantasy points on 3.6 receptions and 44 yards. Smith-Njigba is projected 8.1 fantasy points on 3.4 receptions and 35.2 yards.

I agree with the Optimizer and am starting Lockett over Smith-Njigba this week, as long as both of them make it on the field.

Tyler Lockett’s Fantasy Outlook This Week

Deciding between these two Seattle WRs comes with a lot of what-ifs. First of all, Geno Smith’s health is a concern. The QB left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams after a hard hit and is battling what the team is calling a tricep bruise. It is unclear if Smith will play in Week 12 on a short week, and if he is sidelined, Drew Lock should start. I would not like to start any pass catcher in a Lock-led offense.

Assuming Smith is a go and not limited, I lean toward Lockett in this game.

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But remember, Lockett has been battling a hamstring issue for the past four or so weeks, and it has manifested in his fantasy production. For four weeks in a row, he was consistently not a full participant in practice, and his snaps played have decreased from 80% in Weeks 1 through 10 to 55% in Week 11. You obviously will not be starting Lockett if he looks limited in any way.

He is averaging 7.4 targets a game and is always a threat to break a long run. And contrary to popular belief, San Francisco is only average at defending WRs. Lockett has a higher floor and ceiling regarding the two Seattle WRs, and he comes in as WR36 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Fantasy Outlook This Week

Rookie Smith-Njigba has yet to have his big breakout week, finishing in the top 24 only twice this season. The talent is there, but he has yet to capitalize. Averaging 5.4 targets a game, it is tough to slide him in your lineup over Lockett, even though Lockett can be so hot or cold.

Monitor the injury reports, and if Lockett for any reason looks like he will be limited in any capacity, you could pivot to Smith-Njigba, but it is scary to start a guy that might only give you two catches for around 20 yards.

If Lockett is ruled out completely, Smith-Njigba comes into Flex consideration. He is the WR50 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!