Fantasy Football Warning Signals for Week 12: Russell Wilson, Alexander Mattison, Courtland Sutton

November 26, 2023

Kev‘s fantasy football warning signals and lineup sit 'ems for Week 12 (2023). Who should I start instead of these players worth benching, sitting, and avoiding?

Week 12 of the fantasy football season is underway and while we may have drafted certain players at a premium, it is okay to consider benching them despite their name value. We often hear the phrase "start your studs" and it is a tried and true method, especially earlier in the season. When injuries, tough matchups, and/or questionable team situations arise, we must adjust. Today, I'll be looking at Russell Wilson, Alexander Mattison, and Courtland Sutton.

It may be difficult to stomach benching a player drafted within the top 100 for a possible free-agent acquisition, but sometimes such measures must be taken to ensure victory throughout the fantasy football season.

Here is a look at some fantasy football players who have shown warning signals recently, and you should think twice about putting them in your lineup in Week 12. Will they bounce back or continue to underperform? For any and all issues or concerns, contact @RotoSurgeon on X.

Quarterback Concerns - Sit 'Em for Week 12?

Russell Wilson - Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns

The Broncos' offense has performed better in 2023 than in 2022 but the cracks of late-stage Russell Wilson are evident. He struggles to decisively push the ball downfield and is taken down much easier in the pocket than in his earlier days. These issues have compounded into a much safer, dink-and-dunk QB who can move the chains at a slower pace.

Russell Wilson's game-winning touchdown pass on "Sunday Night Football" was his 19th TD pass of the season.

That's more than any Broncos quarterback has thrown in a season since 2014.

Still seven regular-season games to play.

— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) November 22, 2023

With a matchup against the top defense in football versus the pass and run (via FTN's DVOA), Wilson is best left on the bench in fantasy football.

Who To Start Instead?

Joshua Dobbs - Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears

Dobbs ranks QB5 in fantasy points-per-game since his first game with the Vikings three weeks ago. He is thriving in a much better offense than he had in Arizona and that is without arguably the NFL's best wide receiver in Justin Jefferson, who is likely out this week. Dobbs' ability to scramble and make savvy, creative throws has translated to fantasy relevance for the first time in his career and it should continue this week against a Bears defense that ranks 27th versus the pass. With very good receiving weapons in T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison to win routes downfield, Dobbs should post another solid fantasy line.

Running Back Concerns - Sit 'Em for Week 12?

Alexander Mattison - Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears

Unlike the aforementioned Joshua Dobbs, Vikings teammate Alexander Mattison does not have a similarly easy matchup. The Bears' run defense is among the league's best in recent weeks and ranks 11th in DVOA on the season. The recent addition of premier EDGE Montez Sweat, who thrives against the run, only makes the matchup more difficult.

Mattison has his own non-matchup-related issues that make starting him a problem as well. He has zero rushing touchdowns on 148 attempts this season and just fumbled this past week. Meanwhile, backfield-mate Ty Chandler has performed well over the past two weeks with 155 yards and a touchdown on 29 touches. Chandler's increased opportunities should remain steady as he continues eating into Mattison.

Alexander Mattison's 11 runs inside the 10-yard line have netted 0 touchdowns and -5 yards.

— Paul Charchian (@PaulCharchian) November 22, 2023

Who To Start Instead?

Jaylen Warren - Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals

Jaylen Warren is officially RB1 of the Pittsburgh Steelers' backfield. Two weeks ago, Warren was named "starter" but that can be deceiving as fellow RB Najee Harris still led the team in touches that week. Nevertheless, with 255 yards and two TDs on 29 touches over the past two weeks and a change at offensive coordinator, Warren is officially "the guy" and should be treated as such given that he leads the NFL in yards per attempt at 6.2 on 80 rushes this season.

Najee Harris should remain involved as the grinder back on offense but his fantasy upside is capped due to the lack of receiving work. Both face a bottom-three Bengals run defense this week and are start-worthy but Warren is the more appealing option and should remain as such moving forward.

Wide Receiver Concerns - Sit 'Em for Week 12?

Courtland Sutton - Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns

Sutton, like the previously mentioned Russell Wilson, will face the top defense in football this week. While Sutton is performing at arguably the highest level of his career, the matchup and pace of this game is far too ugly to consider him outside of a deeper league. Even with star Browns cornerback Denzel Ward likely out for the matchup, Cleveland will play a physical game and prevent Denver from scoring much on offense.

Sutton is scoring a respectable 13.7 fantasy PPG this season but he is not a "stud" who cannot be benched on occasion.

Who To Start Instead?

Demario Douglas - New England Patriots @ New York Giants

While this game between the Patriots and Giants projects as low-scoring, Douglas has found a role on offense that is highly valuable in PPR leagues. Douglas is averaging 11.1 PPG since Week 7 with 7.3 targets per game in this span. Week 12 presents arguably his best matchup of the season as he is set to face the Giants' 23rd-ranked pass defense in a game where New England likely runs the most offensive plays they have had all season due to the opposing offense's incompetence.

Demario Douglas led the Patriots in route share (81%) and first read targets (29% share) in Weeks 9-10

He's turned 16 targets into 11/139 receiving in two games without Kendrick Bourne

Among 95 qualifying receivers, Douglas ranks 26th in yards per route run (2.06) this season

— Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) November 23, 2023

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