With only three weeks remaining in the fantasy football regular season, time is running out to secure a playoff berth. Even if you're fortunate enough to already have a playoff spot locked up, it never hurts to better your seeding to improve your chances of making a championship push. By steering clear of players on our Week 12 fantasy bust list, which includes Zach Charbonnet, Trevor Lawrence, Drake London, you'll be in the driver's seat to notch a crucial late-season victory.
Of course, even "must-starts" can have off-days (what's going on, Stefon Diggs?), but you won't see those types of players among our bust picks unless we legitimately advise benching them. We're looking for players on the start-sit bubble -- not obvious starters and not players owned in just a small percentage of leagues. You might not have enough depth to bench the players below -- or you might just disagree with our picks -- but either way, it's your team, so make the decisions that work best for you.
Several of our Week 11 bust picks underperformed, most notably Geno Smith, Najee Harris, Chuba Hubbard, Gabe Davis, Evan Engram, Jake Ferguson, the Buccaneers' D/ST, the Eagles' D/ST, and the Chargers' D/ST. We're aiming to one-up last week's effort with an even more successful crop of bust picks.
MORE: Watch NFL RedZone live with Sling (50% off first month)
Don't let these potential lineup spoilers ruin your week.
WEEK 12 FANTASY ADVICE: Busts | Projections | Start-sit
Fantasy RB Busts Week 12
AJ Dillon, Packers @ Lions (Nick Musial). Although Dillon's in line for a heavy workload with Aaron Jones nursing a knee injury, there are better backs in more favorable spots. The Lions' have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game (FPPG) to RBs, and a potential negative game script could hinder Dillon's rushing opportunities. He won't be a complete dud, but with every team in action, you can likely do better, especially in 10-team leagues.
James Conner, Cardinals vs. Rams (Vinnie Iyer). Despite averaging 15 touches and 4.5 yards per carry, Conner has been underwhelming in his two games back. He's become too TD-dependent with his passing game role totally diminished. The Rams also are straight up good against weaker running games.
Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Browns (Matt Lutovsky). Just when it looked like Williams was getting it going, he regressed in Week 11, managing just 53 total yards on 13 touches against Minnesota. Now he gets a Cleveland defense allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards per game. Unless he pops a big play like Jaylen Warren did against the Browns last week, Williams is bound to disappoint.
BONUS PICK: Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks vs. 49ers (Lutovsky). Much like Dillon, Charbonnet will get 15-20 touches, but we're not sold on his ability to produce RB2-caliber numbers against San Francisco's No. 3 run defense. He didn't impress last week against the Rams (21 touches, 69 yards), and a similar output seems likely against an even better defense.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy QB Busts Week 12
Russell Wilson, Broncos vs. Browns (Musial). Wilson and the Broncos' four-game winning streak could come to an end against an elite Browns defense, which likely results in an underwhelming fantasy day from their QB1. Constant pressure from Cleveland's defensive line should haunt Wilson all afternoon.
Matthew Stafford, Rams at Cardinals (Iyer). The numbers say this is a good spot on the road, but keep in mind he finished with only 226 yards and a TD at home in the Week 6 matchup between these teams, and it's looking like he’ll be without Cooper Kupp (ankle) again. L.A. also should want to lean on the running game with whatever healthy backs it has.
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars @ Texans (Lutovsky). Lawrence finally had that monster game we’ve all been waiting for in 2023, but we’re not ready to declare him “back.” Houston tends to get into shootouts, but it’s allowed just 10 passing TDs all season, including only one to Lawrence back in Week 3. Expect another ho-hum game from Lawrence, and in a week with no byes, you can find a higher-ceiling option.
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Fantasy WR Busts Week 12
Jakobi Meyers, Raiders vs. Chiefs (Musial). Meyers hasn't been nearly as productive with Aidan O'Connell under center, and another dud appears to be in line against a sound Chiefs coverage unit that's surrendered the second-lowest dropback success rate (38.9%).
Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins at Jets (Iyer). He’s finished no higher than WR30 in three of the past four weeks, and he has just three top-20 performances of the season. In a brutal matchup, you can't count on much production away from Tyreek Hill.
Drake London, Falcons vs. Saints (Lutovsky). The targets are there for London, but the production hasn’t really been, especially over the past three games (145 yards, no TDs). The Saints' No. 8 pass defense can contain him easily even with Desmond Ridder back under center.
WEEK 12 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Fantasy TE Busts Week 12
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers @ Bengals (Musial). Although the matchup is favorable for Freiermuth, Kenny Pickett's rocky play makes Pittsburgh's TE1 a risky start. It also doesn't help that Sunday's Steelers-Bengals game has a low total (34.5 points), so with points at a premium, we'd relegate the 'Muth to bench duties.
Evan Engram, Jaguars at Texans (Iyer). Why do we keep playing a guy who has an OK floor but hasn’t had a top-10 half-PPR finish since Week 3? He doesn’t score. He is about to get less run with Zay Jones now healthy at wideout and Luke Farrell seeing more looks. Forget the matchup and realize his stock is plummeting.
Taysom Hill, Saints @ Falcons (Lutovsky). The Falcons have a poor TE defense, but Hill isn’t really playing tight end. Sure, he’ll catch some passes, but when he does serious damage, he does it on the ground. That’s the strength of the Falcons’ defense, as they’ve allowed just 108.4 rushing yards per game and four rushing TDs all season. Hill is riskier than you think, especially in PPR leagues.
Fantasy Defense Busts Week 12
Baltimore Ravens @ Chargers (Musial). Justin Herbert's ability to avoid sacks will hinder the Ravens' defense's fantasy prospects on Sunday night. Los Angeles is also always a threat to put up 28-plus points, making the Ravens riskier than usual.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Texans (Iyer). The Jaguars got destroyed in the first meeting between those teams and didn’t make enough plays to be a viable starting D/ST. They also tend to play best vs. weak offenses at home. This game doesn’t qualify, as they have had a lot of recent trouble in Houston.
Buffalo Bills @ Eagles (Lutovsky). Buffalo dominated against the Jets, but in the four games prior, it managed just nine sacks and two takeaways while allowing an average of 23.8 offensive points per game. That won’t play against the Eagles.
