With week 12 approaching, we are nearly 75% done with the NFL season, which means fantasy playoffs are rapidly approaching. To ensure that your season doesn't end prematurely, be sure you have the right guys going for you as we head into the weekend. To help you out, the Bruno Boys offer the Week 12 Start Em & Sit Em report.
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QUARTERBACKS - START 'EM

Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) vs. San Francisco

So, we know that Romo's first game back wasn't quite what his owners were hoping for as the Cowboys' quarterback finished the day with just 198 passing yards, 1 TD, and 2 INTs against the Washington Redskins. However, there were some things to take solace in from Romo's Sunday Night Performance. First and foremost, it had to bring a sigh of relief to see Romo make it through all 4 quarters. Then, there was his completion percentage. Hitting on 19 of 27 passes, Romo posted a completion percentage of 70.3, not too shabby. Those two items have us looking forward to his week 12 match-up with the San Francisco 49ers, who rank 25th against the pass. Look for Romo to be the 15-20 point fantasy scorer you're used to as the Niners are allowing 234.9 passing yards per game and have given up 15 passing TDs on the year.

Eli Manning (New York Giants) @ Arizona

Manning has managed to throw for at least one TD in every week, except for week 1 (though he did find pay dirt on a run that week). That streak should continue in week 12 as Manning gets set to face an Arizona Cardinals defense that has given up the most passing TDs on the year in 19. This one figures to be a high scoring affair, so be sure to have Manning in your line-up and reap the benefits.

Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Cincinnati

We understand that the 8 INTs to just 1 TD in his last 4 games have you frustrated, but Big Ben did play well in week 11, posting 308 yards in the snow. Yes, he didn't find pay dirt, but he also didn't complete a pass to the opposing team, a big step on the road to redemption. Big Ben's last strong fantasy outing came 5 weeks ago in a 16 point effort. That outing was against these very Bengals. The journey towards redemption will benefit greatly.

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QUARTERBACKS - SIT 'EM

Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) vs. Indianapolis

For the first time this season, Rivers failed to put up double digit fantasy points in a game as the top rated pass defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with some help from the snow, shut him down in week 11, leaving Rivers with just 2 fantasy points. The good news is that the weather shouldn't be a factor in week 12 as the game will be played in San Diego. The problem is that the Colts' pass defense is nearly as stingy as the Steelers. In fact, the Colts are tops in the league, allowing just 2 passing TDs on the season. Rivers will have to wait until week 13 to see double digit points once more.

Brett Favre (New York Jets) @ Tennessee

Favre's match-up with the Tennessee Titans looks like trouble. Being the gunslinger that he is, Favre takes chances, and while most of the time he can get away with it, that won't be the case against the Titans, a team that feasts on opposing quarterbacks. On the year, the Titans have allowed only 5 passing TDs, while tallying 15 interceptions. Thats 3 interceptions for every TD allowed, and that's math that scares us away from Favre for week 12.

Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Carolina

Last week, Ryan's streak of 14+ point outings came to an end at five as the Falcons' quarteback managed just 9 fantasy points against a Denver Broncos' pass defense that ranks 29th in the league. Chances are he won't be able to get to 14 or more again this week as the Carolina Panthers offer a much tougher opponent. The Panthers are giving up under 200 passing yards per game and have allowed just 8 passing TDs on the year. In fact, they've already held Ryan to just 7 fantasy points in their first meeting. This is a match-up in which you should sit the rookie.

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RUNNING BACKS - START 'EM

Marshawn Lynch (Buffalo Bills) @ Kansas City

While the Bills fell to the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night this past weekend, blame cannot be put at the feet of Lynch, who did all he could to get Buffalo the W. Lynch touched the ball 33 times, carrying it 23 times, while hauling in 10 receptions. The result was 177 total yards and a TD, good for 22 fantasy points, a monstrous week. Another one should be in the works as Lynch takes on the Kansas City Chiefs. While the Chiefs are no longer the worst rush defense in the league, they aren't much better, ranking 31st. Ride the former Cal Bear to glory in week 12.

Ryan Grant (Green Bay Packers) @ New Orleans

Grant's owners are rejoicing as it appears the 2007 version of Grant that won fantasy football owners' hearts is back. In week 11, in a tough match-up with a stout Chicago Bears' rush defense that allows less than 90 rushing yards per game, Grant went off for 145 yards on 25 carries, adding a score for good measure. That's three outings of 13 or more fantasy points in the back's last 4 games. He's got a good thing going and it should continue against the 19th ranked rush defense of the New Orleans Saints.

Warrick Dunn (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) @ Detroit

Timing is everything, and with Earnest Graham now grounded for the year and Cadillac Williams still in the garage, Dunn becomes the Bucs' featured back at exactly the right moment. This week, Dunn gets set to face the Detroit Lions. Now, the Lions are now officially the league's worst rush defense, giving up a wretched 171.5 rushing yards per game to go along with 17 rushing TDs on the year. The diminutive back should be in for a big day.

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RUNNING BACKS - SIT 'EM

Michael Turner (Atlanta Falcons) vs. Carolina

While Turner has gone for 13, 15, and 20 fantasy points over the last 3 weeks, don't forget his M.O. Against poor rush defenses, Turner is a beast. Against stronger opponents, he's more a mouse. The Panthers qualify as the latter as they've allowed opposing runners to find the end zone just 5 times on the year. The Panthers limited Turner during the teams' first match-up on the grid iron, and we bet they do it again. 

Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions) vs. Tampa Bay

Like Chris Johnson and Matt Forte, Smith is another rookie runner that is catching fantasy owners' eyes in 2008, especially with 3 straight double digit outings the last 3 weeks. But, remember, more than not, rookies have their ups and downs, and this one should be a down week for Smith. After all, the Bucs have allowed a paltry 1 rushing TD on the year.

Tim Hightower (Arizona Cardinals) vs. New York Giants

Here today, gone tomorrow. The Hightower hype has been silenced as the Cardinals' running back has gone for a measley 7 fantasy points in his last two games against two pretty poor rush defenses in the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. It's tough to imagine him doing anything against the staunch line of the New York Giants, especially with J.J. Arrington, who played solidly against the Seahawks, stealing some carries.

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WIDE RECEIVERS - START 'EM

Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) @ San Diego

It hasn't exactly been party time or excellent in Wayne's world of late as the Colts' wide receiver has just one double digit outing in the Colts' last 5 games. Even with Manning's improved play of late, Wayne hasn't been able to match the numbers he put up just last season. If there was ever a week for Wayne to live up to his superstar status, this is it as he'll battle it out Sunday against the league's worst pass defense in the San Diego Chargers.

Santana Moss (Washington Redskins) @ Seattle

The Jekyll and Hyde of wide receivers, Moss either goes big or apparently goes home. This week against the Seahawks, who just edge out the Chargers for that precious 31st ranked spot among pass defenses, he should go big. In fact, we have ranked in the top 10 among wide receivers in our week 12 rankings.

Wes Welker (New England Patriots) @ Miami

Welker may not have put up the best game against the Miami Dolphins earlier this season, hauling in 6 catches for just 55 yards; however, it needs to be remembered that that was only Matt Cassel's second start since high school. The quarterback has played much imporved since then, leading to an increase in Welker's numbers. In fact, the wide out has topped the century mark in each of the Pats last two games. 100 yards is a very real possibility in this one, too.

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WIDE RECEIVERS - SIT 'EM

Jerricho Cotcher (New York Jets) @ Tennessee

Cotchery played admirably in week 11, putting forth an excellent effort that included one of the craziest one handed catches of the season. The solid effort yiedled a 12 point fantasy performance and gave Cotchery his first TD since week 4. Anticipating another quick six in week 12 would be a mistake, though, as Cotchery takes on a Titans' defense that has given up just 5 passing TDs on the year. 

TJ Housmandzadeh (Cincinnati Bengals) @ Pittsburgh

Housh put up his third 20 point performance this past weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles in the first tie in the NFL since 2002. Sadly, those three 20+ point outings are the only double digit performances Housh has on the year. It will stay that way after week 12 as Housh meets up with the Steelers' and their number one ranked pass defense. A defense that held the receiver to just 5 fantasy points in week 7.

Vincent Jackson / Chris Chambers (San Diego Chargers) vs. Indianapolis

Neither wide receiver has been able to reach the double digit plateau during the Chargers' last two games, something that is very likely to happen again in week 12 as the Colts come to town. Indy is one of the better pass defenses in the league, especially with Bob Sanders, who's expected to play in this one, on the field. They've given up just two passing TDs on the year. That's only one every five games. Stay away from the Chargers' duo.

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TIGHT ENDS - START 'EM

Chris Cooley (Washington Redskins) @ Seattle

Among tight ends, only Jason Witten (583) and Tony Gonzalez (583) have more yards than Cooley (576), but, as mentioned in our week 12 tight end rankings, where Cooley is lacking is in the touchdown production as the Redskins' tight end has just one on the year. Enter the Seattle Seahawks. Ranking 31st in the league, the Seahawks pass defense has given up 15 passing TDs on the year. Keeping that stat in mind, we like Cooley's chances to get TD number 2, this weekend.

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TIGHT ENDS - SIT 'EM

Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints) vs. Green Bay

Don't you think it's a bad sign when owners' are taking solace in a bounce back 39 yard effort? Yes, the 8 targets Shockey saw in week 11 were a pleasant surprise and suggest that Shockey may have a role in this Saints' offense after all, but we're not jumping on the Shockey bandwagon just yet, especially with a week 12 match-up with the 3rd best pass defense looming. Keep holding off.

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KICKERS - START 'EM

Phil Dawson (Cleveland Browns) vs. Houston

When it comes to fantasy kickers, you want to look for two things. The first is identifying which kicker in the league is hot. With 4 staright double digit outings and a perfect 13 for 13 on field goals over the Browns' last 4 games, Dawson definitely qualifies as such. Second, you want to find a good match-up to exploit. You can't complain about a week 12 battle with a Houston Texans' defense that's allowing 28.7 points per game. For those reasons, make sure Dawson is in your line-up.

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KICKERS - SIT 'EM

Matt Stover (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Philadelphia

In both week 10 and week 11, Stover managed a measley 3 fantasy points. Week 10's poor outing was simply a result of the offense being too efficient as the Ravens punched it in time after time rather than settling for the field goal. Meanwhile, week 11's poor showing was due to a solid defensive opponent in the form of the New York Giants. Look for week 12's match-up with the Philadelphia Eagles to be a repeat of week 11.

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DEFENSE / SPECIAL TEAMS - START 'EM

Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets

For the exact same reason that Brett Favre is a sit in week 12, the Titans' defense is a must start. With 15 interceptions on the year, the Titans know how to take advantage when quarterbacks force the issue, something Favre does routinely. This should be a game in which they add at least 2 to that interception total, if not more.

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DEFENSE / SPECIAL TEAMS - SIT 'EM

San Diego Chargers vs. Indianapolis

The Chargers gave up their second lowest amount of points last weekend, allowing the Steelers just 11 points. However, don't be fooled by that number and think the Chargers will start playing like the top rate defense they were projected to be prior to this season. More than anything, tough weather conditions kept the Steelers' out of the endzone. Indy won't have to deal with snow in California this weekend, and as a result, they should be able to light up the scoreboard in this one.