Week 12 Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Philip Rivers and 2 Fantasy Football Stars To Avoid

There are plenty of landmines afoot in the world of fantasy football heading into Week 12 of the 2011 NFL season. Make sure you steer clear of these three guys, lest you let them blow up your chances of success.

Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers

Philip Rivers' nightmare season is set to continue in a less-than-fantasy-friendly way on Sunday when the Broncos come to San Diego. For once, the plight of Denver's opponent won't have everything to do with Tim Tebow (as if that's actually been the case over the last five weeks).

For Rivers and those of you "brave" enough to still have him on your fantasy team, the bigger concern is the simultaneous improvement of Denver's defense and collapse of the Bolts' offense.

Rookie Von Miller has emerged for the Broncos, and the team is integrating a healthy Champ Bailey and Elvis Dumervil back into the squad. The Chargers, on the other hand, are hamstrung by the absences of Marcus McNeill and Malcom Floyd.

And it's not as though Phil was particularly effective last time out against the Broncos, when he threw for 250 yards, a touchdown and a pick in Tebow's first game of the season.

Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers

Pretty much everything I just said about Rivers against the Broncos applies to Ryan Mathews, though in his case, there are even more caveats to consider.

Like the fact that Mathews hasn't seen the end zone since September and hasn't cracked 100 total yards in a game since October.

It certainly doesn't help Mathews' case any that Denver has surrendered only a single rushing touchdown to a running back all season.

And don't even get me started about how Norv Turner has handled the platoon between Mathews and Mike Tolbert about as well as Mike Shanahan has with his backs in Washington.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

It's so easy to rip on the AFC West these days, but when it comes to fantasy football, there's always justification for it.

Especially when you're Dwayne Bowe and you play for the Kansas City Chiefs and your quarterback is Tyler Palko and you're playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Whew! Almost ran out of breath on that one. I might even try commas next time.

Could things get any worse for Bowe? Why, yes...yes they could, if Palko is so pitiful that Todd Haley feels compelled to push Kyle Orton onto the field after less than a week in KC, a la Carson Palmer in Oakland.