Fantasy football advice, Week 12: who to start/sit for Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts

Fantasy owners already have enough to deal with on Thanksgiving, whether it’s polarizing dishes, cliché racist uncles, or scalding themselves in the kitchen. So no one wants to add “being served a slice of awful fantasy lineup” to their list of gripes, which is completely understandable. So when the Steelers take on the Colts for the first slate of football games, it’s best to at least attempt to avoid that outcome.

With Andrew Luck out, there won’t be enough fantasy value to trickle down throughout the lineup as it usually does. As a result, fantasy owners should fade most of the Colts on Thanksgiving night, even against a susceptible Steelers defense. Frank Gore has been one of the most consistent running backs across the spectrum, and his veteran presence may be leaned upon more than ever with Luck out of the huddle. T.Y. Hilton is worth a start due to upside alone, but fantasy owners have to consider him a boom-or-bust flex option instead of his usual WR1/WR2 designation.

With Scott Tolzien at the helm, there isn’t much appeal to playing Donte Moncrief, Jack Doyle, or Dwayne Allen, even in a game script that could find the Colts trailing. No teams are on bye, so it shouldn’t be impossible for fantasy owners to find a one-week replacement at positions they would normally have filled with Luck under center.

Is there any doubt of what Le’Veon Bell can do in a favorable game script? If there ever was, it was put to rest after Bell exploded in Week 11 against the Browns for 201 yards in a game the Steelers controlled from the get go. Against a hobbled Colts defense that won’t have the benefit of an electric offense to keep it in the game, Bell is a top-three option at his position. Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown also have elite upside and can be penned into lineups as usual.

Eli Rogers has upside for Week 12 and beyond with his fellow receivers on the bench with injuries, but fantasy owners will likely be able to opt for a less volatile option. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Sammie Coates, and Ladarius Green can remain out of lineups once again.