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Keith Hernandez analyzes NFL players to consider sitting or benching for Week 12. These are his top potential fantasy football lineup busts to avoid starting.
Heading into Week 12, let's take a look at a list of the players used the most around the league at their positions. At running back, Dalvin Cook leads the league with 214 rushing attempts, followed by Nick Chubb (201), Chris Carson (200), Christian McCaffrey (199) and Ezekiel Elliott (194). Austin Ekeler and McCaffrey are tied for the most targets (74) in the passing game, with James White (62), Tarik Cohen (61) and Alvin Kamara (59) rounding out the top five.
Michael Thomas leads all receivers with 114 targets, followed by Keenan Allen (108), DeAndre Hopkins (104), Julian Edelman (100) and Mike Evans (97). At tight end, Travis Kelce has the most targets (91), followed by Zach Ertz (85), Darren Waller (72), Mark Andrews (70) and Evan Engram (68). These players aren't immune to bust weeks, but they're typically the safest plays at their position on a week-to-week basis due to the expected volume.
Below are 10 potential busts for Week 12 of the 2019 fantasy football season.
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Potential Quarterback Busts for Week 12
Tom Brady - New England Patriots Vs. Cowboys
Brady started the year off hot with seven touchdowns and no interceptions the first three weeks, but that was against the Steelers, Dolphins and Jets. In seven games since then, he has seven touchdowns and five interceptions, and he's thrown one TD and a pick the last two games. He hasn't gone over 300 yards passing since Oct. 10 against the Giants. Brady ranks 15th in fantasy points per game (21.2).
Dallas has been pretty solid against the pass for most of the year, but the main thing working against Brady is that Mohamed Sanu (ankle) will be out, and Phillip Dorsett (concussion) could be sidelined or limited as well. We could see a lot more three-and-outs if Brady is throwing to Edelman and two rookies.
Jared Goff - Los Angeles Rams Vs. Ravens (Monday night)
Since he thrashed the winless Bengals for 372 yards and two touchdowns on Oct. 27, Goff has been pitiful against the Steelers and Bears in back-to-back weeks, throwing no touchdowns and three interceptions. He ranks 21st in fantasy points per game (19.7) at his position and is facing a Ravens Defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game (15.3) to QBs the last five weeks. Goff could also be without Robert Woods (personal) again, too.
Others: Josh Allen (Vs. Broncos), Aaron Rodgers (@49ers)
Potential Running Back Busts for Week 12
Aaron Jones - Green Bay Packers @ 49ers
The Packers have a tough test coming out of their bye on the road against a stout defense. Jones is tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns with 11, but he ranks 16th among RBs with 135 attempts on the season and continues to share valuable touches with Jamaal Williams. In a game where Green Bay could struggle to move the ball consistently with limited offensive plays, Jones may underwhelm. The Niners D has allowed the fourth fewest fantasy points per game (12.9) to opposing running backs this year.
Mark Ingram - Baltimore Ravens @ Rams (Monday night)
Ingram has the benefit of playing for an explosive offense led by exciting QB Lamar Jackson, which is a big reason why he has eight scores on the ground. He also has double-digit carries in all but one game this season and is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. However, if LA's talented defensive front can control the line of scrimmage, which they're plenty capable of doing, Baltimore's ground game could struggle. The Rams have allowed only 245 rushing yards and no scores on 80 attempts the last five weeks (four games).
Josh Jacobs - Oakland Raiders @ Jets
The talented rookie is fourth in the NFL with 923 rushing yards. He has a touchdown or 100 yards rushing in his last three games and has seen 20-plus carries in four of the last six contests. You can't argue with his production for a contending Raiders squad. But Gang Green's rush defense is much better than their passing D, and Derek Carr could easily take advantage through the air and allow Jacobs a little breather. Jacobs typically doesn't see many targets in the passing game, either.
Others: Christian McCaffrey (@ Saints), Chris Carson (@ Eagles), Joe Mixon (Vs. Steelers)
Potential Wide Receiver Busts for Week 12
Amari Cooper - Dallas Cowboys @ Patriots
The Pats have been one of the stingiest defenses against receivers all year, and they're also the only team not to allow a touchdown to a wideout in the last five weeks (four games). Despite battling through ailments for much of the year, Cooper has the fourth most fantasy points (130.6) at his position. Don't be surprised if he's still effective, but playing at less than 100 percent against Stephon Gilmore -- one of the best corners in the league -- isn't usually a recipe for success.
John Brown - Buffalo Bills Vs. Broncos
Brown is coming off his best game of the season with nine catches (14 targets) for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Everyone had been waiting for his ceiling, but it came against the Dolphins. Brown does have the fourth most targets (46) of any receiver the last five weeks, but Denver's secondary has been good at slowing down opposing passing games and quarterback Josh Allen is known to be inconsistent. Expect Chris Harris Jr. to shadow Buffalo's top wideout.
Courtland Sutton - Denver Broncos @ Bills
Just imagine if Sutton didn't have Brandon Allen throwing him passes... He still scored in Week 9 and went over 100 yards in Week 11 against the Vikings, but Sutton's downside is scarier going up against a solid Bills Defense on the road. Allen could very well be better than Joe Flacco was earlier this year, but he also doesn't have much upside. And the Bills defense has allowed the sixth fewest fantasy points per game (18.2) to receivers all season.
Others: Tyler Lockett (@ Eagles), D.J. Moore (@ Saints), Golden Tate (@ Bears)
Potential Tight End Busts for Week 12
Jimmy Graham - Green Bay Packers @ 49ers
This one is easy. In the last five weeks, Graham ranks 26th in the league at his position with 17 targets. He comes in at 20th at his position with 5.5 fantasy points per game over that same span. San Francisco's defense has been the stingiest to tight ends in the last five weeks, allowing 15 receptions, 110 yards, a touchdown and 3.4 fantasy points per game. Graham is getting to the point where it's more surprising if he has a good game.
Gerald Everett - Los Angeles Rams Vs. Ravens (Monday night)
The 25-year-old has had somewhat of a breakout year with 35 catches (57 targets) for 385 yards and two touchdowns. But he had just one grab for 20 yards last week and hasn't scored since Oct. 2o against the Falcons. He could see even fewer looks if both Brandin Cooks (concussion) and Robert Woods (personal) are back in action. On top of it, the Ravens have been the second toughest team on tight ends in the last five weeks.
Others: Noah Fant (@ Bills), Jared Cook (Vs. Panthers)
