The NFL DFS Week 12 slate features a clear shift from chaos to concentration, and the latest Stokastic Sims make it obvious where the sharp NFL DFS picks are heading. After thousands of DraftKings simulations, the top 150 lineups (each with at least three unique players) highlight a slate dominated by Chase Brown, mid-tier wideouts and one of the most heavily concentrated tight end pools we’ve seen all year. It’s a week where salary balance, correlation and the right NFL DFS stacks matter far more than raw ceiling alone.
NFL DFS Week 12 Picks: Best Stacks and Leverage Plays from Sims
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Quarterbacks: Mahomes Leads, Brissett Returns
Quarterback exposure was heavily lopsided:
- Patrick Mahomes (51 lineups): The clear QB1 by exposure, appearing in over a third of all top Sims. His stacks with Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce anchor the slate’s premier high-upside combinations.
- Jacoby Brissett (27): The QB2 of the week once again. His affordability and connection with short-yardage receivers create optimal salary flexibility.
- Jaxson Dart (11): Sam Darnold (10): and Jared Goff (9): Round out the secondary value tier; viable in mid-range stacks.
Running Backs: Chase Brown Breaks the Slate
No position had a clearer story than running back:
- Chase Brown (146 lineups): Complete domination. Brown appeared in nearly every top lineup, cementing himself as the pick at RB. His combination of role stability, efficiency and price leaves him unavoidable in both cash and GPP builds.
- Emanuel Wilson (53): and Kareem Hunt (51): Salary-saving complements to Brown in balanced constructions.
- Alvin Kamara (45): and Jahmyr Gibbs (33): Higher-upside pivots with elite pass-game involvement.
Wide Receivers: Smith-Njigba and Rice Headline
Receiver exposures were deep but concentrated around affordable route-runners and mid-tier studs:
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (52 lineups): The slate’s most common WR. Salary efficiency and volume upside make him a clear core play.
- Rashee Rice (42): Directly tied to Mahomes stacks, appearing in nearly every Kansas City-heavy build.
- Wan’Dale Robinson (41): and Michael Wilson (37): Value pieces repeatedly showing up as secondary correlation plays.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (34): and Isaiah Hodgins (34): Reliable mid-tier WR1/2 options in balanced builds.
- Stefon Diggs (31): Highest-priced WR to crack meaningful exposure, likely due to leverage against Mahomes chalk.
Want a quick look at how the Week 12 Sims are shaking out? This DraftKings NFL DFS cheat sheet gives you a snapshot of the top stacks, values and leverage plays from the latest Stokastic NFL DFS Sims run.
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Tight Ends: McBride Towers Over the Field
If you’re paying attention to the tight end spot this week, the Sims make one thing clear: Trey McBride (83 lineups): is unavoidable.
- McBride: Dominated the position by exposure thanks to consistent target share and moderate pricing.
- Kyle Pitts (32): The TE2 by volume, representing an affordable leverage play in Mahomes or Brissett lineups.
- Travis Kelce (24): and Noah Fant (24): Correlated with Mahomes builds.
- Mark Andrews (18): and Brock Bowers (13): Appear as contrarian pivots with ceilings.
Top NFL DFS Week 12 Stacks
From the top 150 Sims, these NFL DFS stacks appeared most frequently:
- Patrick Mahomes + Rashee Rice + Travis Kelce: Classic Chiefs stack with elite correlation and ceiling.
- Jacoby Brissett + Trey McBride + Michael Wilson: Pure value stack allowing room for multiple RB studs.
- Jaxson Dart + Wan’Dale Robinson + Isaiah Hodgins: Low-cost stack maximizing positional efficiency.
One-Offs and Leverage NFL DFS Picks
- Chase Brown: The slate’s core RB; fades are likely death in cash builds.
- Emanuel Wilson: Key salary-saving RB who appears in over a third of balanced builds.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba: WR1 in terms of exposure; strong median projection.
- Trey McBride: TE1 by a wide margin; chalk worth eating.
- Kyle Pitts: Ideal GPP pivot in non-McBride lineups.
