Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 12: Advice for Unfavorable Fantasy Football Matchups

Kyren Williams returns to the Rams starting lineup in Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals but is the running back, fresh off an injury that sidelined him for five weeks, a worthy start even against a bad defense?

It is one of the questions at the forefront of this look at players worth starting and sitting in pivotal fantasy match-ups.

Who joins him, and are they sitting or starting?

Find out with this preview of Sunday's NFL action.

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All stats via FantasyPros unless otherwise stated.

Start: Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 19: Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) before the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans on November 19, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Derrick Henry has been less than stellar in 2023.

He has gone over 100 yards just twice in 10 games, has scored just four touchdowns, and has just 167 yards receiving.

It would be understandable for fantasy managers to back off of King Henry and want nothing to do with him given his sub-par production, but he has an opportunity to bounce back against Carolina this week.

The Panthers are giving up the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, with 26. They have allowed at least one rushing touchdown in three of their last four games and are the perfect opponent for Henry to get his third 100-yard game of the season.

With Will Levis still trying to find his footing as a starter for the Titans, look for Henry to have a big day, perhaps even a throwback to when he was the most reliable fantasy stud in football.

At the least, a multi-score day is not out of the question.

Sit: George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers

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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 12: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

The 2023 season will be one of what could have been for George Pickens.

The talented wideout showed flashes of being one of the most dynamic and explosive wide receivers in the game but inconsistent quarterback play from Kenny Pickett ultimately doomed him to mediocrity.

At best.

Pickens has not sniffed a double-digit fantasy day in the last four weeks. Against Tennessee in Week 9, he actually scored negative points. During that same span, his quarterback Kenny Pickett has scored just one touchdown and mustered double digits one time.

Seeing as how his stats are directly linked to how well his quarterback is playing, it is not particularly surprising to see that Pickens has been a major fantasy disappointment.

The Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada after last week's latest abysmal outing on that side of the ball but until Pickett can prove that it was the playcalling and not the player, there is no reason to start any of his primary targets, including Pickens.

Sit him and, while you are at it, Dionte Johnson, too.

Start: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Kyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams during warm up before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Kyren Williams returns to the Los Angeles Rams starting lineup for the first time in five weeks after a stint on the IR, just in time for a showdown with an Arizona Cardinals team that he showed out against in Week 6.

Williams carried 20 times for 158 yards, and a touchdown. He scored 21.8 fantasy points and dominated the Cardinals on that day and the pieces are in place for him to do so again.

Arizona is giving up 24.1 points per game to opposing running backs and maybe worse defensively against the run than they were earlier in the season.

If Williams is at or near 100 percent, and head coach Sean McVay feeds him as he did in their previous match-up, expect Williams to have one of the best games of his season and carry the Rams to a much-needed fifth victory as they pursue a playoff berth.

Sit: Russel Wilson, Denver Broncos

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DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 19: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos reacts after defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL game at Empower Field At Mile High on November 19, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Vikings 21-20. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

Do not allow Denver's recent success to change your stance on Russell Wilson.

The signal-caller for the Broncos has not gone over 20 points since a Week 4 match-up with Chicago and, despite a 7-0 TD-to-INT ratio, he still only managed a single touchdown against a very mediocre Vikings pass defense.

Against the Cleveland defense, the best in the league against opposing quarterbacks and surrendering just 12.1 points per game, Wilson will struggle.

It is a defense that has made life miserable for nearly every quarterback it has faced this season and that does not figure to stop with Wilson.

Even if your other QB is hurt or in a slump, they are a better option than starting Russ against the league's best defensive unit.