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10 Stars Who Belong On Your Fantasy Football Bench In Week 12

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By @atylerbrett

10 Stars Who Belong On Your Fantasy Football Bench In Week 12

eli manning
Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports

The fantasy football season is heading into the home stretch with playoff position and championship implications weighing heavily on the minds of fantasy players everywhere. One wrong move at this point in the season could wipe out all the hard work and waiver wire pickups from the last 11 weeks and send even the most stable-seeming fantasy player into a shame spiral. To help you avoid that fate, here are 10 football stars to bench in Week 12.

10 Darren Sproles, RB Philadelphia Eagles

darren sproles
Eric Hartline - USA TODAY Sports

10. Darren Sproles, RB Philadelphia Eagles

darren sproles
Eric Hartline - USA TODAY Sports

Darren Sproles has been a fantastic addition to the Eagles this season but that doesn’t mean it’s translated into fantasy production. He ranks No. 41 in fantasy points among NFL backs in standard ESPN formats and hasn’t accounted for more than seven touches in a game since his knee injury earlier this season. Even with a soft matchup against Tennessee, Sproles should not be trusted in your lineup.

9. Wes Welker, WR Denver Broncos

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Kyle Terada - USA TODAY Sports

9. Wes Welker, WR Denver Broncos

wes welker
Kyle Terada - USA TODAY Sports

Wes Welker has become an afterthought in the Denver offense this season. Since his only touchdown of the season in Week 7 against San Francisco, Welker hasn’t had more than four catches or 35 yards in a game. Getting used almost exclusively in the Broncos’ ineffective short-passing game, the upside for Welker is slim. With Julius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders questionable, maybe Welker sees a bigger role but don't count on it.

8. Reggie Bush, RB Detroit Lions

reggie bush
Tim Fuller - USA TODAY Sports

8. Reggie Bush, USA TODAY Sports

reggie bush
Tim Fuller - USA TODAY Sports

Reggie Bush has missed three games with injury since Week 5 and hasn’t exactly been lighting it up in the games that he does play in. He has just eight carries in the last five Detroit games and has lost some of his responsibilities as the primary third-down back to young Theo Riddick. On the road against New England, there’s little reason to feel good about counting on Bush to carry you to victory.

7. Michael Crabtree, WR San Francisco 49ers

michael crabtree
Robert Deutsch - USA TODAY Sports

7. Michael Crabtree, WR San Francisco 49ers

michael crabtree
Robert Deutsch - USA TODAY Sports

Michael Crabtree has been the leading target of the San Francisco passing game in recent weeks but he has struggled to make much of those opportunities. Outside of a 48-yard catch and run last week against the Giants, Crabtree has made little impact, recording less than 65 yards receiving in six of his last seven games. Against a better than average Washington defense this week, Crabtree will have to find the endzone to be fantasy relevant again.

6. DeSean Jackson, WR Washington Redskins

desean jackson
Geoff Burke - USA TODAY Sports

6. DeSean Jackson, WR Washington Redskins

desean jackson
Geoff Burke - USA TODAY Sports

DeSean Jackson was on fire before his team’s bye in Week 10, racking up over 100 yards receiving in four of five games. But coming out of the bye, Jackson looked downright pedestrian against Tampa Bay last week and gets a tough matchup against San Francisco this week. Add in the uncertainty at quarterback and Jackson should be used only in desperate situations.

5. Larry Fitzgerald, WR Arizona Cardinals

larry fitzgerald
Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports

5. Larry Fitzgerald, WR Arizona Cardinals

larry fitzgerald
Kirby Lee - USA TODAY Sports

Larry Fitzgerald has struggled this season when Drew Stanton has been under center, as he will be the rest of the year. Add in a sprained MCL and a tough matchup in Seattle against the Legion of Boom and Fitzgerald becomes very difficult to trust in your starting lineup this week.

4. Pierre Garcon, WR Washington Redskins

pierre garcon
Brace Hemmelgarn - USA TODAY Sports

4. Pierre Garcon, WR Washington Redskins

pierre garcon
Brace Hemmelgarn - USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the hardest hit target in the Washington offense during their recent quarterback shuffling, Pierre Garcon has gone ice cold. In the last two weeks, against generous defenses like Minnesota and Tampa Bay, the No. 1 receivers for the Skins has combined for just four receptions for 21 yards. Against a tough matchup in San Francisco, Garcon is likely to continue his cold streak while hopefully sitting on your bench.

3. Fred Jackson, RB Buffalo Bills

fred jackson
Timothy T. Ludwig - USA TODAY Sports

3. Fred Jackson, RB Buffalo Bills

fred jackson
Timothy T. Ludwig - USA TODAY Sports

Fred Jackson has been dealing with a groin injury in recent weeks that kept him out of the team’s Week 11 matchup against Miami. In the Bills’ last four games, Jackson has rushed the ball just six times for 22 yards and returns to a backfield that is now a three-man rotation. Against a stout New York Jets’ run defense and Mother Nature currently laying waste to Ralph Wilson, Jackson should ride the pine for your team this week.

2. Steve Smith, WR Baltimore Ravens

steve smith
Andrew Weber - USA TODAY Sports

2. Steve Smith, WR Baltimore Ravens

steve smith
Andrew Weber - USA TODAY Sports

Steve Smith burst onto the scene to start the season with his new team but has looked his age in recent weeks as his production has fallen off substantially. He hasn’t had more than 70 yards receiving since Week 6, which is also the last time he found the endzone. With Torrey Smith rounding into form in recent weeks, Steve Smith should be passed over on your roster.

1. Eli Manning, QB New York Giants

eli manning
Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports

1. Eli Manning, QB New York Giants

eli manning
Brad Penner - USA TODAY Sports

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning is coming off a dreadful Week 11 performance where he was picked off by San Francisco five times while getting pressured on 15 dropbacks. A bad offensive line leads to bad decisions from Manning, who now gets a better-than-expected Dallas defense fresh off their bye week. Until he can put some of distance between himself and the stinker he laid last week, Eli Manning should be firmly planted on your bench.

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