Fantasy Football Week 12: Big-Name Busts You Must Avoid This Week
Fantasy football Week 12 is the time when busts start to lose hope. With two to three weeks left in the regular season, if a player isn't producing yet, odds are that he won't.
Frankly, in many players' cases, it was time to say goodbye if he hadn't started producing two weeks ago. But for guys like Randy Moss, you should wait until about now.
What does that mean for this article? Simply that the 20 guys on this list will have a lot more cuts when we explain what you should do with them. These are the 20 biggest disappointments in fantasy football this season, the guys who have woefully underperformed and failed to live up to expectations.
20. Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills
1 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Jackson was seen as a workhorse back in 2010, and indeed, he's gotten between 15 and 20 carries almost every week. But prior to Weeks 10 and 11, Jackson had yet to produce a 10-point game, and struggled with his effectiveness.
Will He Stay a Bust: No. Jackson has torn off 20 point games in each of his last two, and actually looks like the back who earned a starting job over the last two seasons.
Who's The Matchup: Pittsburgh has the NFL's best run defense this season, and other than Peyton Hillis (who's blown everybody up), they've kept some pretty great backs shut down. What hope does Jackson have?
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him. Jackson's a straight-up matchup play at this point, not worth your time unless the opponent is soft.
19. Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
2 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Crabtree has battled a lack of consistent targets all season long. He has posted just four double-digit point games, and has yet to really make a consistent impact in the offense.
Will He Stay a Bust: No. Crabtree's double-digit games have all come in the last six weeks, and he looks like more of a part of the offense now than he did at the start of the season. He's got the talent to make plays, and just needs the ball in his hands to do it.
Who's the Matchup: Arizona ranks 21st against opposing wideouts in 2010, and should probably rank even lower than that. They've been smoked by just about everyone, and were it not for their awful run defense, they'd be much worse against the pass.
What You Should Do With Him: Roll with him. Call it a gut feeling, but Crabtree seems poised to finish the year strong. However, if his inconsistency continues, be prepared to look for a new option in the next week or two.
18. Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals
3 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Wells was seen as a potential breakout candidate in 2010, but injuries and ineffectiveness have limited his impact for the entire season. He's flashed the potential, but has yet to deliver for more than a few carries.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. Wells has yet to be completely healthy in 2010, but with each passing week, it becomes less likely that he will ever be healthy.
Who's the Matchup: San Francisco ranks 10th in the NFL against opposing running backs, so even if Wells is healthy, there might not be much running room for him this week.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him. There's not much available on waivers at running back in most leagues, and Wells is talented enough to make him tough to cut. However, his production doesn't come close to making him a starter.
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17. Brandon Jackson, RB, Green Bay Packers
4 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Jackson was a universal pickup when original starter Ryan Grant got hurt, but the Packer back has been a colossal bust. He's posted just three games with 10 points or more, and has broken 100 rushing yards just once.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Jackson has given no indication he's capable of being an effective running back, much less a relevant fantasy back.
Who's the Matchup: Atlanta's been excellent against opposing running backs in 2010, ranking third in the NFL against the position.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him. While he's ineffective against even mediocre opponents, it's hard to justify cutting someone who is his team's go-to back.
16. Heath Miller, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
5 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Miller can't buy a target in 2010, struggling to break five points for most of the season. For someone who was viewed as a mid-level tight end, that's just not going to get it done.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Miller is the forgotten man in Pittsburgh, and his stats have backed that up all year long.
Who's the Matchup: Buffalo has been flat out awful against opposing tight ends, not that it matters much when your quarterback doesn't throw you the football.
What You Should Do With Him: Cut him loose. Miller's not getting it done, and if you still have him on your roster, he's a complete waste of space.
15. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers
6 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Stewart can't buy a carry in Carolina in 2010. We know he can be effective (we saw it last season), but he hasn't had any room to run all year long.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Not only is he hurt, he wasn't running well when healthy. Combine that with Mike Goodson breaking out, and you have a complete and utter bust.
Who's the Matchup: Cleveland ranks seventh against opposing rushers in 2010, so even if Stewart was healthy, he wouldn't be doing much.
What You Should Do With Him: Cut him loose. Snag another wideout or something to fill his spot; he's not going to do anything for the rest of the year.
14. Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
7 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Sims-Walker's breakout 2009 campaign seems to be a thing of the past, replaced by maddening inconsistency and a nasty tendency to disappear against even the most mediocre defenses.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. MSW has been unable to find room to work for much of the season, and when he does, he can't keep it going on a consistent basis.
Who's the Matchup: The Giants rank 14th in the NFL against opposing wideouts, but they've shut down better receivers than Sims-Walker.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him. MSW's no better than a matchup play at this point.
13. Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston Texans
8 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Jones was a late-round draft pick who was viewed as a potential draft candidate, but in 2010, he's just not getting the football. He has been a colossal disappointment, failing to generate any kind of impact.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Jones hasn't been a part of Houston's offense this season, and that doesn't look like that will change any time soon.
Who's the Matchup: Tennessee ranks eighth against opposing wideouts in 2010, but it could rank last and Jones wouldn't get any play.
What You Should Do With Him: Cut him loose, if you haven't already. Jones hasn't done anything all season, and until Matt Schaub remembers he's part of the offense, he'll stay an afterthought.
12. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks
9 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Lynch was a popular pickup following his trade to Seattle, but the fifth-year back has been a complete waste of space. He's posted just two games with 10 or more points, and has seldom looked remotely effective.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Lynch has continued his two-year run of terrible play in Seattle; as it turns out, you can't blame everything on the offensive line in Buffalo.
Who's the Matchup: Kansas City ranks 17th in the NFL against opposing rushers in 2010, but Lynch has been shut down by worse defenses than the Chiefs'.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him. He's getting plenty of work, making him tough to cut, but the back has not gotten the job done in Seattle.
11. Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings
10 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Favre was a popular sleeper pick heading into 2010, but other than a pair of games in Weeks 5 and 9, he has yet to score more than 10 points in a week. He's turning the ball over on a constant basis, and doesn't have the zip on his passes that we saw last season.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Favre's been plagued by a shoddy offensive line, and he's throwing far too many picks to be considered a viable option.
Who's the Matchup: Washington ranks second-to-last in the NFL against opposing quarterbacks, so if he'll have success against anyone, it'll be the 'Skins this week.
What You Should Do With Him: You could get away with playing him this week, but bear in mind that Washington's blitz will give him fits. Otherwise, cut him loose.
10. Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets
11 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Greene was a third or fourth-round pick in 2010, but has yet to live up to the hype. He posted back-to-back 11 point games early in the season, but hasn't broken the 10 point barrier since.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Until starter LaDainian Tomlinson falls apart (which doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon), Greene won't get a big enough workload to be effective.
Who's the Matchup: The Bengals rank 20th against opposing running backs this season, but expect most of the success against that soft defense to go to LT.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him. Greene still has a bit of value, but he's not worth a starting spot, and is barely worth a roster spot.
9. Visanthe Shiancoe, TE, Minnesota Vikings
12 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Shiancoe was a highly regarded tight end heading into 2010, after a strong performance last year. But he's been largely forgotten this season, and has been unable to generate the kind of consistent production he posted last year.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Will he have big games going forward? Sure, but he's not going to generate the consistent performances he had last year. The Vikings need him to help protect Brett Favre, so his targets will stay low.
Who's the Matchup: The one aspect of the passing game where Washington has been solid in 2010 is against tight ends. They rank 13th against the position, but it won't matter, as Shiancoe will have to stay home to help handle the Redskins' pass rush.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him or cut him loose. One way or another, you need to get him out of your lineup pronto.
8. Kellen Winslow, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
13 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Winslow was viewed as a potential top 10 tight end heading into the season, but so far, he's been a tremendous bust, scoring 10 or more points just once.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Winslow's been plagued by drops and minor bumps and bruises, and isn't finding the end zone enough to generate points.
Who's the Matchup: Baltimore shuts down opposing tight ends, ranking first against the position in 2010.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him. Winslow could have solid games at some point down the stretch, but he's no better than a low-level matchup play from here on out. You could even cut him loose at this point, if there's a better option (Tony Moeaki, perhaps?) available.
7. Chad Henne, QB, Miami Dolphins
14 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Sure, he's beaten up. But even before he was hurt, Henne wasn't lighting the world on fire, posting four single digit games in 2010, and failing to break 15 points three other times.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Henne was a backup at best when he was healthy; now that he's hurt, he's not going to be doing much.
Who's the Matchup: Oakland ranks 22nd in the NFL against opposing quarterbacks, but it looks like Tyler Thigpen will be getting the start this week.
What You Should Do With Him: Cut him loose, if you haven't already. He's a waste of roster space at this point.
6. Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
15 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Ward was Mr. Consistency heading into the 2010 season, but the wideout has yet to find his stride this season. He's posted three 10-point games, but has failed to crack five points on five occasions.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Ward doesn't look to be making much impact this season, and he should continue to struggle to find space to operate.
Who's the Matchup: Buffalo's secondary ranks 14th against opposing wideouts, but they're not quite as good as the stats would indicate. Hines should find a little room to work, but don't look for him to do much.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him. Hines is no better than a matchup or emergency play at this point; he can't generate the totals you need from a starting receiver.
5. Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins
16 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Brown was viewed as a consistent mid-level point producer heading into the season, but through 12 games, he's posted just two double-digit games. Brown hasn't had much room to run, and things don't seem to be improving.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Brown's not running well, and he's not getting many carries, either. Things keep getting worse in Miami, and with Ricky Williams in the backfield as well, they have the means to get Brown off the field.
Who's the Matchup: Oakland ranks 28th against opposing running backs in 2010, so if Ronnie's going to get going, it's going to happen this week.
What You Should Do With Him: You can get away with using Brown against the Raiders, but don't expect much from him. He's probably safer on your bench.
4. Pierre Garcon, WR, Indianapolis Colts
17 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Garcon was seen as a breakout candidate this season, but has been an utter disaster. A combination of injuries and drops have turned him into a forgotten man in the Colts' offense, despite the injuries in the receiving corps.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. If Garcon's not producing with so many wideouts hurt, he won't produce when they get healthy, either.
Who's the Matchup: San Diego ranks second in the NFL against opposing wideouts in 2010, and Garcon shouldn't be expected to do much.
What You Should Do With Him: Cut him loose. It's time to move on from the Haitian Sensation and grab a more productive wideout off waivers.
3. Brandon Marshall, WR, Miami Dolphins
18 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: Talent-wise, Marshall is easily a top 10 wideout. But he's produced just two double-digit games in 2010, and has struggled to find a rhythm all season long.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Marshall might have a big game here and there, but the wideout isn't going to be the fantasy force many foresaw him becoming in Miami.
Who's the Matchup: Oakland ranks fourth in the NFL against opposing wideouts, and you can expect Marshall to get a steady dose of Nnamdi Asomugha all game long.
What You Should Do With Him: Marshall might still be worth a play, but don't expect much more than four to seven points in a given week.
2. Steve Smith, WR, Carolina Panthers
19 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: With the motley crew at quarterback in Carolina, Smith's production has nosedived to levels lower than at any other point in his career. He's not getting open, and his quarterbacks aren't hitting him when he is open.
Will He Stay a Bust: Yes. Smith doesn't seem to be able to generate anything this season, and there's no indication that things will be changing anytime soon.
Who's the Matchup: The Browns rank 25th against opposing wideouts this season, but with Brian St. Pierre at quarterback, you can't expect Smith to capitalize.
What You Should Do With Him: Bench him, or cut him loose. Smith isn't putting up points, and probably won't at all this season.
1. Randy Moss, WR, Tennessee Titans
20 of 20
Why He's Been a Bust: How the mighty have fallen. Moss was one of the NFL's best wideouts in 2009, and was a second-round pick in most leagues. But in 2010, he's posted just two 10 point games this season, and hasn't caught a touchdown pass since Week 7.
Will He Stay a Bust: Hard to say. Moss is still getting used to the Titans offense, but through two games, the results haven't been good.
Who's the Matchup: Houston ranks dead last against opposing wideouts this season, so if Moss is going to wake up, it's going to happen this week.
What You Should Do With Him: You could get away with playing Moss this week, but he doesn't seem to be much of a factor in Tennessee's run-oriented offense.
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