Weekly Fantasy Roundup: Bench/Start Week 12

BENCH

WR Calvin Johnson (Lions) - Johnson has been one of the NFL's best WR so far in 2008, but faces a tough match up against Tampa Bay this week, and there's a good chance that he wont be a 100% come Sunday. Megatron injured his quad in last week's game against Carolina, and is expected to miss some practice time but should be out there when it counts against the Buccaneers. The injury combined with the match up is worrisome, and if I were a Johnson owner, I wouldn't be expecting too much out of him.



All of your Patriot RBs - The Patriots backfield is a fantasy owner's nightmare, with Sammy Morris, BenJarvis Green-Ellis, and Kevin Faulk all playing a role in the New England offense. Morris should get the majority of the carries, but all three backs will see the field on Sunday. Joey Porter and the rest of the Miami defense have only allowed five rushing touchdowns all season, and should have no problem shutting down this threesome on Sunday. The Dolphins held the Patriots' RBs to 55 rushing yards back in Week 3, and fantasy owners should expect similar numbers in Week 12.

RB Brian Westbrook (Eagles) - Westbrook has been extremely disappointing to fantasy owners in recent weeks, and now has to face the tumultuous Baltimore D in Week 12. The Ravens are as stingy as it gets - they're allowing less than 80 rushing yards per game, and have only given up three TDs on the ground all season. Westbrook has only amassed 100 yards once in 2008, and considering the match up, he isn't necessarily a must start this week - Any of the three RB's listed below make for better plays than the two time Pro Bowl RB.

START

RB Peyton Hillis (Broncos) - This converted FB put on quite a show last week against the Falcons (70 total yards and 2 TDs), and everything is pointing to an even more spectacular encore performance in Week 12. Hillis faces off against an Oakland D that has allowed 15 rushing TDs and over 160 yards per game on the ground. While he might be splitting carries with Tatum Bell, he should have all the goal line glory to himself, and considering the Raiders' inability to stop the run, is almost a lock to find the end zone (at least once) on Sunday.



RB Pierre Thomas (Saints) - There is a good chance that Reggie Bush could be out again against the Packers AND that Deuce McAllister's looming suspension could begin in Week 12 , in which case Pierre Thomas would without a doubt become a top 10 RB, especially in PPR leagues. The Chicago native had an all around great game against the Chiefs last week, running wild for 88 yards and a TD, while also hauling in four receptions for 56 yards. This all came while he was splitting carries with McAllister, so imagine what he can do if he has the entire backfield job to himself....



RB Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers) - If Faith Berger was starting at RB against Detroit, she would probably rush for 175 yards and a couple TDs, so when Warrick Dunn gets to start at RB against Detroit - the sky is the limit. With Ernest Graham out for the season after suffering an ankle injury, Dunn should receive almost all of the carries and go nuts against a Lions defense that has given up at least two rushing TDs in each of the past three weeks. The Bad Guy guarantees that The Nicest Guy in the NFL is a lock for double digit fantasy points this Sunday.