Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 12: Steelers vs. Browns

Two teams suddenly tied in the standings try to keep themselves alive in the playoff race, with several players who could have a fantasy impact Sunday.

by Daniel Kelley

Nov 24, 2013, 12:00 PM UTC

Jared Wickerham

The Cleveland Browns have been ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North since their first win of the season in Week 3. That ended in Week 11, with the Steelers' win and the Browns' loss combining to put the teams at an equal 4-6. Sunday, the Steelers travel to Cleveland for a 1 p.m. ET game between two teams that really can't afford another loss. Fantasy players will have a handful of guys to keep an eye on as well:

Steelers

Start in every league: Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Shaun Suisham

Start if you're desperate: Antonio Brown, Jerricho Cotchery, Defense/special teams

Bench: Emmanuel Sanders, Heath Miller

It seems surprising to list Roethlisberger as basically a must-start, but he has scored 26 or above twice in his last three games and ranks 12th in quarterback fantasy scoring so far this season. Those ahead of him include Russell Wilson (on a bye this week), Andy Dalton (on a bye this week) and Matt Ryan (barely fantasy playable in recent weeks). In what ought to be considered a bit of an upset. Roethlisberger has played himself into Week 12 top-10 status. ... The Browns don't give up a lot of rushing yards to running backs, but they give up touchdowns and receiving yards to them, meaning Bell should have decent value, having scored double-digit fantasy points three of the last four weeks. ... Suisham is 12th in fantasy scoring among kickers, but his value is held down by his (and the team's) poor early-season performance; he has double-digit points four of the last six weeks.

It's hard to imagine Brown gets benched in many leagues, but there's a good chance he's covered by Joe Haden, who almost completely shut down the Bengals' A.J. Green last Sunday. You're probably playing Brown if you have him, but be aware of the shutdown possibility. ... The last three weeks -- five touchdowns, more than 15 fantasy points a game -- have been the best three weeks in Cotchery's career, which stretches back almost a decade. It's hard to imagine he's suddenly found a gear he didn't have before. ... The Steelers' defense ranks among the league's worst, but it has increased in recent weeks, with three double-digit outings in its last six games. Facing the seemed-to-turn-back-into-a-pumpkin-last-week Jason Campbell, this could be a good one.

Sanders has seen his production tail off considerably as Cotchery’s has increased, culminating in a season-low one catch and two yards Sunday. The upside is very limited. ... Miller hasn’t scored more than eight fantasy points in a game this year; even his game with a touchdown also featured a fumble and limited him to five fantasy points. Stay away.

Browns

Start in every league: Josh Gordon, Defense/special teams

Start if you're desperate: Chris Ogbonnaya, Jordan Cameron

Bench: Jason Campbell, Willis McGahee, Greg Little, Davone Bess, Billy Cundiff

Gordon has basically proven himself as a WR1 this year, with four touchdowns and 751 yards in eight games; that would be a 1,500-yard, eight-score pace over a full season had Gordon not missed the first two. He’s the Browns’ top offensive weapon, and it isn’t close. ... The Browns’ defense is eighth in fantasy scoring on the season, and has as good a matchup as it could hope for Sunday in this Steelers team.

In a standard league, Ogbonnaya’s value is limited at best. But in a PPR, he’s a running back who has caught at least three passes six times in the last eight games, and has seen his playing time increase dramatically in recent weeks. There’s a chance at surprise value. ... On the flip side, Cameron has fallen off considerably in recent weeks after a dominant start to the season; he has only surpassed 64 yards once since Week 4, and only has one score in that time. There’s still the first-four-week upside, but it’s looking less and less likely that that is Cameron’s reality.

Campbell looked great in his first two starts, averaging 22 fantasy points a game, but that came crashing down Sunday, with three interceptions and seven fantasy points. If you’re starting Campbell, you’re truly super-desperate. ... Meanwhile, if you’re starting McGahee, you think it’s 2011. Just don’t. ... Same with Little and Bess, who both have had big games on occasion, but they have never offered reliable production. ... Cundiff has been converting most of his field goal attempts this season, but he just hasn’t had that many, and ranks only 24th among kickers this season.