Week 12 Start Em Sit Em: Looking at Stars Who Should Ride the Pine

A bad matchup can make even the most appealing fantasy starter a must-bench for the week.

The following four players have made convincing arguments for themselves to have a featured position on your fantasy roster at this late point in the season, but because of the teams they're facing in Week 12, are not worth a starting spot.

QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (vs. San Francisco 49ers)

Though the San Francisco 49ers haven't allowed a rushing touchdown all year, meaning that it's likely that the Baltimore Ravens will have to take to the air if they want a chance to beat the 9-1 team on Thursday night, it doesn't necessarily follow that Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is a smart fantasy start this week.

The Niners have taken advantage of their stingy run defense by responding just as well when defending the pass, picking off opposing quarterbacks a league-high 15 times so far this season.

Flacco himself is no stranger to turning the ball over, with eight interceptions and five lost fumbles to 12 touchdowns this season.

Flacco's young receivers often don't do him any favors either, with drops and poor route discipline an issue time and time again. Though Flacco may try to throw a lot on Thursday, the results won't be helpful to your fantasy team this week.

WR Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins (at Dallas Cowboys)

With quarterback Matt Moore under center for the Miami Dolphins, wide receiver Brandon Marshall has had a great go of things. In their last three games—all wins—Marshall has 16 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown.

Though he was held to just one reception for five yards in last week's blowout win over the Buffalo Bills, that's not why I am suggesting you bench him this week. Instead, it's the simple fact that the Dolphins, while clearly surging, are due for a loss.

While a great number of their seven straight losses to start the season came in close games and the team appears to have overcome the mistakes that cost them those wins, the Dallas Cowboys are going to turn the Dolphins' fortunes around on Thursday.

The Cowboys defense ranks eighth against the pass through 11 weeks and will put forth a great deal of effort, stopping the Dolphins from completing passes to their top receiver in search of their very own fourth win in a row.

If you have another option with a better matchup, I recommend keeping Marshall on your bench this week.

RB Toby Gerhart, Minnesota Vikings (at Atlanta Falcons)

Minnesota Vikings running back Toby Gerhart is the team's starter this week as Adrian Peterson recovers from a high ankle sprain, and while Gerhart is a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week, I don't recommend starting him unless lack of depth requires it.

The Atlanta Falcons defense is second in the NFL against the run, and while Gerhart certainly has talent, he doesn't have the speed, power or elusiveness of Peterson that would have made all day, sure-thing fantasy starter this week.

The Falcons are allowing just 3.8 yards per carry to opposing running backs. Further, considering how often the Vikings have had to play from behind this year and how strong the Falcons offense is, without Peterson as the back the team will have little incentive to keep running once they find themselves down.

If you're in the unfortunate position of having little bench depth and have lost both Peterson and the Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson this week, then that's a good reason to start Gerhart.

But if your other starting options are, let's say, the Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart and the Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch, those two should get the nod this week, while Gerhart sits on your bench.

RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers (at Detroit Lions)

Starting Green Bay Packers running back James Starks is highly questionable to play in Thursday's game against the Detroit Lions, suffering from knee and ankle injuries. Even if he does play, he will be extremely limited, meaning that no matter what, Ryan Grant will get the majority of the carries.

However, it's not clear what majority even means. As a starter, Starks has never seen more than 13 carries in a game this season, while Grant's carries have topped out at 17, in Week 3, but he hasn't had more than nine otherwise.

It's no secret that the Packers rely on their passing game behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers to provide the bulk of their offensive production, especially with their leaky secondary allowing so many opponents to remain in the game week after week.

That won't change this week against the Detroit Lions. This game has all the hallmarks of being a shootout and as such, there's little reason to start Grant, even if that Starks injury makes him more attractive to you.