RADIO
Thanksgiving is already here as the NFL season continues its whirlwind pace. It feels like yesterday that Week 1 was here, that we were wondering how good this Patrick Mahomes kid could be and talking about how Le'Veon Bell would be back soon and we still thought Tom Brady was a good quarterback.
And now it's Week 12. Regular seasons are winding down -- if you're in a league with a multi-week playoff format, this could actually be it right here, your last chance to make a push and get into the postseason. For other people, it's the start of that final stretch, and you can't afford to make the terrible mistake of playing someone you shouldn't.
Below are 10 lineup busts and avoids for Week 12 of NFL action.
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Top 10 Busts - NFL Week 12
Blake Bortles (QB, Jacksonville Jaguars)
I'm low enough on Bortles this week that in my 2-QB league, I'm giving heavy consideration to a Josh Rosen start instead. The Bills, for all of their faults, have a decent passing defense. After allowing six passing touchdowns in the first two games of the season, they've allowed eight since, and four of those came against the Colts. Four times, they've held the quarterback to single digit points, and Bortles...is Bortles. He's coming off a rough fantasy day against the Steelers and I have no confidence in him this week.
Deshaun Watson (QB, Houston Texans)
Houston, winners of seven straight games, is bound for a letdown at some point. Maybe this weekend against the Titans? Tennessee has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and Deshaun Watson has been pretty meh as of late; after throwing for 300 or more yards in four of Houston's first five games, he hasn't hit the mark since, and he's had three games in his last five where he failed to reach 11 fantasy points.
Oakland Raiders Running Backs
Oakland faces the Ravens, who allow the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, and they do with a ton of uncertainty in the backfield. Raiders running backs combined for 33 carries in Week 11, but those were split nearly evenly between three guys: Doug Martin, Jalen Richard, and Deandre Washington, a name that I had forgotten about. Playing a Raiders back this week requires you to do two things: first, you have to correctly pick which back will touch the ball more, or will be more efficient with his touches, or will find the end zone by some kind of miracle. Second, you have to hope the Ravens actually allow things to happen on the ground.
LeSean McCoy (RB, Buffalo Bills)
I know he looked good the last time we saw him on a football field, but I also know that he plays the Jaguars this week, who just made James Conner look mediocre. It'll be hard to trust McCoy in lineups this week due to this matchup.
LeGarrette Blount (RB, Detroit Lions)
With Kerryon Johnson out this week, the impulse to pick up LeGarrette Blount is a fine impulse. If Johnson misses more time, Blount's red zone efficiency suggests that he could be a useful fantasy option in deeper leagues.
But, this week? Against the Bears? On a short week? Nope, nope, nope! No way I insert Blount into any lineups against a very strong Bears defense.
Jaguars Wide Receivers
Like with the Raiders running backs above, there's not a lot to love with this whole position group this week. The Bills allow the fewest fantasy points to the wide receiver position, and the players here are tough to judge. Let's catch up with the four receivers they have:
- Donte Moncrief: Had a long touchdown in Week 10...and then caught one pass in Week 11. He had a zero-catch game not too long ago.
- Dede Westbrook: Decent target share, but five straight games with less than 40 receiving yards has me avoiding him as well.
- Keelan Cole: Hasn't been targeted at all in the past two games.
- D.J. Chark: Exists, which is at least something.
Demaryius Thomas (WR, Houston Texans)
No targets last week. He probably does get targeted this week, but he won't suddenly see such a share of the offense that he becomes a viable fantasy option. Maybe think about his teammate, Keke Coutee?
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR, Green Bay Packers)
The Vikings defense should make things tough for the Packers this week, and Valdes-Scantling is coming off a pair of tough outings, including a one-catch, eight-yard effort last week against the Seahawks. There's some potential for him to bounce back, but not enough that I play him over more consistent options.
Austin Hooper (TE, Atlanta Falcons)
The Saints have allowed just one touchdown to the tight end position and while Hooper has had some good showings, there are better options for you this week.
Kyle Rudolph (TE, Minnesota Vikings)
If you still own Rudolph and haven't dropped him in frustration due to his low usage, you'll want to keep him on the bench against a Packers team that's allowed just one touchdown to the position, especially when they've allowed fewer than 50 receiving yards to the tight end position in six straight games.
