Fantasy Football Week 12 Matchup: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills

Week 12 Match-up:  Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) @ Buffalo Bills (2-8)

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Rankings based on top 16 QBs, 32 RBs, 48 WRs, and 16 TEs

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Pittsburgh Steelers (Steelers Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

Buffalo Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 9th - TDs Allowed T-27th

Buffalo Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 32nd – TDs Allowed T-26th

Pittsburgh Offensive Cast

Ben Roethlisberger (QB Week 12 Ranking: No. 7)

2010 Season: 117/187 – for 1,579 yards & 12 TDs

The Bills don’t give up much in the passing game in terms of yards, but that’s mostly due to the fact that teams know they can run all over them all game long.  That said, they do give up a ton of TDs (two per game), so Roethlisberger should come out just fine for your fantasy team this Sunday.

Rashard Mendenhall (RB Week 12 Ranking: No. 8)

2010 Season: 202 carries for 811 yards & 8 TDs || 16 receptions for 98 yards & 0 TDs

Mendenhall will be given the opportunity to go ballistic against the Bills 32nd ranked rush D this weekend, but that doesn’t mean he will.  Just last weekend against the Raiders (25th against the run), he only managed to rush for 59 yards on 23 carries, though he did have a touchdown.  I expect better than that this weekend, but it’s not as much of a definite as it may seem.

Hines Ward (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 42)

2010 Season: 33 receptions for 403 yards & 4 TDs

Ward hasn’t been the same player this year as he has been in the past, but don’t write off the grizzled vet just yet.  Buffalo’s D is be no means anything special, so a nice game with a TD isn’t out of the question here.

Mike Wallace (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 8) 2010 Season: 33 receptions for 759 yards & 8 TDs

Wallace has now caught a TD in five of Roethlisberger’s six games this year and has quickly become Big Ben’s favorite target.  I can’t see a scenario where he goes through this game without reeling in yet another touchdown pass.

Heath Miller (TE Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 28 receptions for 329 yards & 1 TD

Miller has been pretty darn bad this year, but the Bills have allowed the second most fantasy points to tight ends this year, so anything’s possible.

Buffalo Bills (Bills Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

Pittsburgh Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 22nd - TDs Allowed 5th

Pittsburgh Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 1st – TDs Allowed T-3rd

Buffalo Offensive Cast

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 169/285 – for 1,961 yards & 18 TDs

I love what Fitz has been doing this year, but I have a feeling the Steelers heavy pass-rush will give him fits in this game.  Don’t expect much more than one TD and around 200 yards or so.

Fred Jackson (RB Week 12 Ranking: No. 27)

2010 Season: 129 carries for 562 yards & 5 TDs || 21 receptions for 78 yards & 1 TD

FJax will almost certainly be flying solo in the Bills backfield again this Sunday, but unless he does some damage in the receiving game, he’ll end up worthless for your fantasy team.

C.J. Spiller (RB Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 41 carries for 164 yards & 0 TDs || 18 receptions for 81 yards & 1 TD

Spiller is listed as “questionable”, but the 2-8 Bills won’t play him unless he’s 100 percent, see it him on your bench this weekend.

Lee Evans (WR Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 33 receptions for 497 yards & 4 TDs

Evans has obviously taken a deep backseat to Steve Johnson on this team, and with Fitzpatrick likely to struggle, I just can’t see him making a difference.

Steve Johnson (WR Week 12 Ranking: No. 15)

2010 Season: 52 receptions for 728 yards & 9 TDs

Stevie J has been out of his mind this year catching 52 balls, with nine of them going for touchdowns, three of them coming just last week against the Bengals.  However, though he might catch another one this Sunday, I wouldn’t bet the farm on it against this Steelers D.

Jonathan Stupar (TE Week 12 Ranking: Not ranked)

2010 Season: 7 receptions for 59 yards & 0 TDs

I’m convinced this man does not exist.  If anyone has proof, please send me a picture.