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Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren, and Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth are three players that aren't the most exciting starting options heading into Week 12. However, injuries and deeper leagues exist, so they're very much in play for starting roles on some fantasy football rosters.
They'll play tonight on Thursday Night Football, so it will be vital to make start/sit decisions for these players quickly. TNF games have been hit or miss in terms of quality of the game for fantasy starters, but you wouldn't want to miss out on good matchups.
So which of these players should be started in Week 12 on Thursday?
Should I Start Jerome Ford for Fantasy Football?
Probably not. He actually outscored his teammate, RB Nick Chubb, in Week 11, with 7.9 PPR fantasy points. However, Ford's chances of scoring in the double digits are slim, and he produced just 39 offensive yards for his team last week. He's not a good option to start in fantasy leagues.
The Top 10 RB handcuffs to stash in case of an injury in Week 11 -
1. Ray Davis
2. Braelon Allen
3. Tyler Allgeier
4. Blake Corum
5. Zach Charbonnet
6. Tyjae Spears
7. Gus Edwards
8. Jerome Ford
9. Roschon Johnson
10. Khalil Herbert— Skrip (@P2WFantasy) November 17, 2024
He should be treated simply as a handcuff. That's what he is fantasy-wise.
Should I Start Jaylen Warren for Fantasy Football?
Warren touched the ball 11 times in Week 11, rushing nine times for 41 yards (just under 4.6 yards per carry) and catching four passes for 27 yards. With so little touchdown upside, you'd hope for plenty of dump-off passes to boost his value in PPR, but he's just a handcuff for now.
What a frustrating year for Jaylen Warren. Kinda the offensive equivalent of Alex Highsmith in that regard. He largely hasn’t looked like himself even when he’s played but interesting that they’re 7-0 when he’s played and 0-2 when he hasn’t
— Zachary Smith (@ZacharySmithPGH) November 15, 2024
As the above post says, he hasn't looked like himself this season. The explosiveness he played with in 2022 and 2023 appears to have faded, and the season may be a wash due to injury issues. That would be disappointing, but it's good to be in tune with reality. He faces an uphill battle for fantasy relevance this week.
He hasn't scored a single touchdown, and is the clear backup to teammate and lead back Najee Harris. It's unlikely we'll see that change. He should be benched in fantasy.
Should I Start Pat Freiermuth for Fantasy Football?
Freiermuth is one of those players that's stubbornly stuck around on rosters due to a big lack of depth at the TE position, but he's essentially never been fantasy relevant. It seems he's more highly regarded than his production would suggest. He's just the TE21 in PPR this year.
Pittsburgh's last four games.
Pat Freiermuth: 9 rec, 101 yards, 1 TD (10 targets)
Darnell Washington: 8 rec, 113 yards (12 targets)Didn't expect to see their production match through any four-game stretch of 2024. But here we are. #Steelers
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) November 20, 2024
If you expected him to have a big year with new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, you may not have paid attention to how he neutered Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts' fantasy value in 2023 with his former team, though his teammate Jonnu Smith is actually a solid player. Smith loves his tight end rotations.
And it's hard to blame him. Freiermuth played in 12 games last season yet was the TE30. Despite scoring three touchdowns this season, he's logged just two contests with double-digit PPR fantasy points in 2024. He is not a good option to start and hasn't been for a long time. He's 46% rostered, but that's too much.
The Ravens do allow the 10th most PPR fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season, but without a touchdown, it's incredibly hard to see Patty Fry be worth a roster spot, especially in an ugly, cold, rainy weather game on a team that's obsessed with running the ball.
Popular Week 12 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 12 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Jaylen Warren, Jerome Ford, Pat Freiermuth compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Jaylen Warren or Cam Akers
Jaylen Warren or Roschon Johnson
Jerome Ford or Roschon Johnson
Jerome Ford or Justice Hill
Jaylen Warren or Alexander Mattison
Jerome Ford or Alexander Mattison
Jaylen Warren or Jaylen Warren
Jerome Ford or Jaylen Warren
Pat Freiermuth or Theo Johnson
Raheem Mostert or Jaylen Warren
Trey Benson or Jaylen Warren
Austin Ekeler or Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren or Javonte Williams
Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Warren
Dalton Schultz or Pat Freiermuth
Pat Freiermuth or Jatavion Sanders
Pat Freiermuth or Luke Schoonmaker
Zach Ertz or Pat Freiermuth
Javonte Williams or Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren or Christian Watson
Jaylen Warren or Jordan Addison
Pat Freiermuth or Will Dissly
Cam Akers or Jerome Ford
Elijah Moore or Jaylen Warren
Gus Edwards or Jerome Ford
Jaylen Warren or Wandale Robinson
Romeo Doubs or Jaylen Warren
Will Dissly or Pat Freiermuth
Jaylen Waddle or Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren or Roschon Johnson
Justice Hill or Jerome Ford
Kareem Hunt or Jaylen Warren
Keenan Allen or Jaylen Warren
Nick Chubb or Jaylen Warren
Pat Freiermuth or Will Dissly
Tony Pollard or Jaylen Warren
Isaiah Likely or Pat Freiermuth
Jaylen Warren or Audric Estime
Jaylen Warren or Chuba Hubbard
Jaylen Warren or Jerome Ford
Jaylen Warren or Jonathon Brooks
Jaylen Warren or Justice Hill
Jaylen Warren or Tyler Lockett
Jaylen Warren or Xavier Legette
Jerome Ford or Javonte Williams
Jerome Ford or Jaylen Wright
Jerome Ford or Luke Schoonmaker
Jerome Ford or Raheem Mostert
Jerome Ford or Tyjae Spears
Jonnu Smith or Pat Freiermuth
Justice Hill or Jerome Ford
Pat Freiermuth or Jonnu Smith
Rachaad White or Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Warren
Tyjae Spears or Jerome Ford
Audric Estime or Jaylen Warren
Austin Ekeler or Jerome Ford
Cam Akers or Jaylen Warren
Cedric Tillman or Jaylen Warren
Cedric Tillman or Jerome Ford
Christian Watson or Jaylen Warren
Dallas Goedert or Pat Freiermuth
DeAndre Hopkins or Jaylen Warren
Elijah Moore or Jerome Ford
Jake Ferguson or Pat Freiermuth
Javonte Williams or Jaylen Warren
Jaylen Warren or Adam Thielen
Jaylen Warren or Audric Estime
Jaylen Warren or Cam Akers
Jaylen Warren or Cedric Tillman
Jaylen Warren or Dallas Goedert
Jaylen Warren or DeMario Douglas
Jaylen Warren or Devin Singletary
Jaylen Warren or DeVonta Smith
Jaylen Warren or DJ Moore
Jaylen Warren or Elijah Moore
Jaylen Warren or Jerome Ford
Jaylen Warren or Jerry Jeudy
Jaylen Warren or Jonnu Smith
Jaylen Warren or Justice Hill
Jaylen Warren or Kareem Hunt
Jaylen Warren or Nick Chubb
Jaylen Warren or Quentin Johnston
Jaylen Warren or Ricky Pearsall
Jaylen Warren or Rico Dowdle
Jaylen Warren or Roschon Johnson
Jaylen Warren or Tank Dell
Jaylen Warren or Will Dissly
Jaylen Warren or Zach Charbonnet
Jerome Ford or Audric Estime
Jerome Ford or Cam Akers
Jerome Ford or Demarcus Robinson
Jerome Ford or Gus Edwards
Jerome Ford or Justice Hill
Jerome Ford or Tyler Lockett
Joshua Palmer or Jerome Ford
Kareem Hunt or Jaylen Warren
Ladd McConkey or Jaylen Warren
Pat Freiermuth or Cole Kmet
Pat Freiermuth or Dalton Schultz
Pat Freiermuth or Theo Johnson
Pat Freiermuth or Tucker Kraft
Pat Freiermuth or Will Dissly
Quentin Johnston or Jaylen Warren
Ricky Pearsall or Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Warren
Sam LaPorta or Pat Freiermuth
Tank Dell or Jaylen Warren
Tucker Kraft or Pat Freiermuth
Adam Thielen or Jaylen Warren
Alexander Mattison or Jaylen Warren
Ameer Abdullah or Jerome Ford
Audric Estime or Jaylen Warren
Austin Ekeler or Jaylen Warren
Bucky Irving or Jaylen Warren
Cade Otton or Pat Freiermuth
Cam Akers or Jerome Ford
Cedric Tillman or Jaylen Warren
Chuba Hubbard or Jerome Ford
Colby Parkinson or Pat Freiermuth
Dallas Goedert or Jaylen Warren
Dalton Schultz or Pat Freiermuth
Demario Douglas or Jaylen Warren
Devin Singletary or Jaylen Warren
Devin Singletary or Jerome Ford
Dylan Laube or Jerome Ford
Gus Edwards or Jerome Ford
Hunter Henry or Pat Freiermuth
Isaiah Likely or Pat Freiermuth
Isiah Pacheco or Jaylen Warren
Jake Ferguson or Pat Freiermuth
Jalen Brooks or Jerome Ford
Jameis Winston or Jaylen Warren
Jatavion Sanders or Pat Freiermuth
Javonte Williams or Jaylen Warren
Javonte Williams or Jerome Ford
Jaylen Warren or Alexander Mattison
Jaylen Warren or Ameer Abdullah
Jaylen Warren or Audric Estime
Jaylen Warren or Austin Ekeler
Jaylen Warren or Brian Robinsonjr
Jaylen Warren or Bucky Irving
Jaylen Warren or Calvin Ridley
Jaylen Warren or Cam Akers
Jaylen Warren or Dj Moore
Jaylen Warren or Gus Edwards
Jaylen Warren or Jalen McMillan
Jaylen Warren or Jameson Williams
Jaylen Warren or Javonte Williams
Jaylen Warren or Jaxon Smithnjigba
Jaylen Warren or Jerome Ford
Jaylen Warren or Joe Mixon
Jaylen Warren or Jordan Addison
Jaylen Warren or Justice Hill
Jaylen Warren or Kareem Hunt
Jaylen Warren or Keenan Allen
Jaylen Warren or Michael Pittmanjr
Jaylen Warren or Pat Freiermuth
Jaylen Warren or Quentin Johnston
Jaylen Warren or Raheem Mostert
Jaylen Warren or Rico Dowdle
Jaylen Warren or Romeo Doubs
Jaylen Warren or Samaje Perine
Jaylen Warren or Tony Pollard
Jaylen Warren or Tyjae Spears
Jaylen Warren or Tyrone Tracyjr
Jaylen Warren or Zach Charbonnet
Jaylen Warren or Zamir White
Jerome Ford or Alec Pierce
Jerome Ford or Alexander Mattison
Jerome Ford or Ameer Abdullah
Jerome Ford or Audric Estime
Jerome Ford or Cam Akers
Jerome Ford or Dalton Schultz
Jerome Ford or Dameon Pierce
Jerome Ford or Devin Singletary
Jerome Ford or Jaylen Warren
Jerome Ford or Jonathon Brooks
Jerome Ford or Justice Hill
Jerome Ford or Kareem Hunt
Jerome Ford or Mason Tipton
Jerome Ford or Mike Williams
Jerome Ford or Raheem Mostert
Jerome Ford or Tyjae Spears
Jonathon Brooks or Jaylen Warren
Jonathon Brooks or Jerome Ford
Jonnu Smith or Jaylen Warren
Jordan Addison or Jerome Ford
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