Fantasy Football Fades: Ashton Jeanty, Jake Ferguson among players to consider benching in Week 12

2 days ago7 min read6 comments

Alright fantasy football fam, gather 'round because we need to have that tough conversation about Week 12 that nobody wants to have, but your playoff hopes depend on it. Let's be real, we've all been there—staring at our lineup, trying to talk ourselves into starting that guy we drafted in the third round, ignoring all the red flags screaming at us from the stats sheet.This week, the matchup data is telling a story we can't afford to ignore, starting under center with Chicago's Caleb Williams. Look, the kid has that superstar ceiling we all crave; we've seen him drop 24-burgers like it's nothing.But he's also been a straight-up fantasy villain lately, putting up sub-13-point stinkers in three of his last five outings. The Pittsburgh matchup looks juicy on the surface—they're probably glowing green in your app—but that's a classic trap game setup.The Steelers' defense has been playing with a different kind of swagger recently, absolutely feasting on quarterbacks like Justin Herbert and making previously productive veterans like Joe Flacco look lost. They've been a turnover factory, racking up 11 sacks in that span.If you're rolling with Williams, you're betting on boom in a situation that's been screaming bust lately. On the waiver wire, a steady floor play like Jacoby Brissett might not be sexy, but he's the safe bet your lineup needs to avoid a complete meltdown.Now, let's talk about the real heartbreaker in the room: Ashton Jeanty. Sigh.We drafted this dude to be an RB1, a league-winner, but the Las Vegas Raiders' offense is an absolute disaster movie right now. Outside of one random explosion against Jacksonville, this team has been averaging under 10 points per game.That is not a typo. Jeanty is trying his best, but he's running behind an offensive line that's getting manhandled weekly, and now he gets a Cleveland Browns defense that's allowing a paltry 3.9 yards per carry. Myles Garrett is about to be living in that backfield.Unless Jeanty falls into the end zone or gets force-fed a dozen check-downs, he's looking at another single-digit fantasy day. He's not the elite RB1 we paid for; he might not even be an RB2 this week.If you hit on later-round picks like Javonte Williams or TreVeyon Henderson, it's time to show them some love. Over in New York, the Tyrone Tracy Jr.hype train is about to hit a brick wall named the Detroit Lions. Yeah, he's looked good the last two weeks, but he also got vultured at the goal line not once, but twice, by Devin Singletary.That's a major red flag for his touchdown upside. The Lions have been a nightmare for running backs, shutting down every single one they've faced since Week 6, including holding Saquon Barkley to a measly 9.5 points. Tracy's ceiling this week is likely low-end RB2 numbers, and that's if everything breaks right.In the receiver corps, we have to talk about the puzzling case of DK Metcalf in Pittsburgh. For some reason, the Steelers just cannot figure out how to use this physical specimen.His numbers are at career-lows, and it's only getting worse. He hasn't topped 55 yards in his last five games.Now, with Aaron Rodgers nursing a wrist injury, you're either getting a compromised Hall-of-Famer or Mason Rudolph throwing him the ball. A 'green' matchup against the Bears means nothing when the offense itself is broken.He's not a WR2 right now; he's a desperation flex play at best. Similarly, the early-season Romeo Doubs magic has completely worn off in Green Bay.Since that three-touchdown miracle game against Dallas, he's been mostly invisible, averaging a paltry 7. 6 fantasy points in his other nine contests.Christian Watson is healthy and scoring, and Jordan Love isn't producing enough to support two viable fantasy receivers. A matchup with the stingy Vikings secondary is the final nail in the coffin.He's a complete dart throw. Finally, at the ever-painful tight end position, we have Jake Ferguson.He started the year looking like *the* guy, but the Dallas offense has clearly shifted. It's the CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens show now.Ferguson has seen his targets and production plummet, and now he draws the Philadelphia Eagles, a unit that has allowed only one tight end to hit double digits all season. He scored just 4.8 points against them back in Week 1. If you're starting him, you're praying for a touchdown, and that's a risky prayer against this defense.Sometimes, the smartest move is to bench the name brand for the streamer with the better path to production. Your fantasy season might just depend on making that tough call.

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