THE GREY REPORT: Week 12

Mitchell Trubisky – – Doubtful with an injured shoulder and even if he can go, might be limited or unable to go full out, so probably too risky to rely on.

Chase Daniel – – Expected to get the start for the injured Trubisky. Not much of a track record and faces a decent pass defense on the road, so not a guy you want to be considering, especially with the extra pressure of Thanksgiving Day.

Jordan Howard – – The loss of Trubisky will mean more running and they face a defense that can be run on. Though that defense can key on the running game a but more, but still could pay off.

Tarik Cohen – – Has a good match-up and could be a key receiving option with Trubisky likely out. Will have a little more risk, but still capable of doing enough to help your cause.

Allen Robinson – – Has his moments, but the injury to Trubisky could be a huge factor and the Lions pass defense is solid, so it may be wise to explore other options.

Taylor Gabriel – – Coming off a nice game, but still hard to trust this inconsistent option with the QB position in flux.

Anthony Miller – – Has been coming on, but not the best match-up and the injury to Trubisky hurts as well, so it may be best to play it safe and avoid the rookie.

Kevin White – – Still not producing much, so regardless of who is under center, he is not worth a start.

Trey Burton – – Has cooled off and the injury to Trubisky won’t help, so it may be best to look at other options.

Cody Parkey – – With Trubisky banged up, the offense could take a big step back and struggle to produce, though that could mean field goals for Parkey, or could mean a rough day.

Chicago Bears – – The defense continues to dominate and had a nice day in the earlier meeting, though playing in Detroit on Thanksgiving could help the Lions, but still too hot to sit.

Matthew Stafford – – The loss of Johnson may mean more throwing, well that and the Bears are just really hard to run on. Still a risky play, but more than capable of benefiting from some turkey day magic and getting it done.

Kerryon Johnson – – Expected to miss a couple/few weeks with a sprained knee.

Zach Zenner – – Expected to see more touches with Johnson sidelined, though Riddick and Blount likely will be involved as well. A tough match-up probably doesn’t make him worth the risk.

Theo Riddick – – Should see some touches, but he has a tough match-up, so it may be best to look at other options.

LeGarrette Blount – – Can find the end zone against anyone, but a tough match-up could make it tough for the Lions to get into his range. Maybe he sees more touches with Johnson sidelined, but hard to count on him.

Kenny Golladay – – Continues to roll and should be the main man again and the Bears can be thrown on, if you can keep Mack off your QB.

Marvin Jones – – Sounds like he will be out again with that injured knee, or at best case limited. So probably would be best to play it safe and let him heal up.

Brandon Powell – – The rookie is still not being used much, so continue to forget him.

T.J. Jones – – You should be able to forget him as well since he is seeing few targets.

Bruce Ellington – – Coming off a solid game, but I’d prefer to see an option that has produced a few more times, especially against a good defense. Not to mention he is dealing with an injured back.

Luke Willson – – Still not being used much, so it would be wise to look at other options.

Matt Prater – – The offense will have their hands full against a strong defense, so scoring chances could be hard to come by. Though he may be called to kick a few FGs, so he does have plenty of upside.

Detroit Lions – – The defense continues to struggle and faces an offense that has been rolling, though it sounds like Trubisky might be out, which could help their cause. Maybe they could have some Thanksgiving Day magic to help their cause as well.

Colt McCoy – – Gets the start with Alex Smith‘s season, and possibly career, over. Doens’t have a good track record and faces a solid pass defense, so definitely not a guy you want to lean on.

Adrian Peterson – – Faces a good run defense, but the loss of Smith likely will lead to a busy day for ADP, which should help him produce enough to help your cause.

Chris Thompson – – Out again with those injured ribs.

Kapri Bibbs – – If Thompson is out again, he might see some use, but not enough to consider him much of an option.

Jamison Crowder – – Still battling that injured ankle and with a QB change and an iffy match-up, it may be best to look at other options.

Josh Doctson – – Hard to count on him against a solid pass defense with a new QB under center.

Maurice Harris – – Still not doing much, so continue to look at other options.

Brian Quick – – Not producing much, so continue to look at other options.

Trey Quinn – – Saw plenty of playing time last time out, but would like to see more production from the rookie before relying on him.

Jordan Reed – – Coming off a nice game and McCoy likely will try to use him as a safety blanket against a good pass defense, which should help his cause.

Vernon Davis – – Just not being used much, so continue to look at other options.

Dustin Hopkins – – Who knows how the offense will react with the rusty McCoy under center and facing a good defense. If they move the ball, they could be forced to settle for FG attempts, so he does have upside.

Washington Redskins – – The defense continues to play well and faces an inconsistent offense, so do have some nice upside and should be worth starting again.

Dak Prescott – – Coming off a quiet game, but should bounce back as he faces an iffy pass defense that he lit up in the previous meeting. Has good upside, but still a little gun shy due to his inconsistent production.

Ezekiel Elliott – – Remains a must start option, even with a poor match-up. So don’t overthink it, just keep riding Elliott.

Rod Smith – – Still nothing but a handcuff to Zeke.

Amari Cooper – – Still finding his way, but the Redskins have had issues against the pass, which could open the door for a nice fantasy day.

Cole Beasley – – His good days haven’t happened much this season, though the favorable match-up could help his cause if you need to roll the dice.

Tavon Austin – – Still battling and injured groin and even if he can play, hard to count on this big play or nothing threat.

Michael Gallup – – Sorry for the loss of his brother, but sounds like he will suit up. Maybe he will be extra motivated and scores a touchdown for him, but I’d probably lean on a more proven option.

Allen Hurns – – His production continues to be lacking, so remains a poor option.

Geoff Swaim – – Still not producing much, so continue to bypass his name.

Brett Maher – – A good Redskins defense could make it tough to find the end zone and force the Cowboys to rely on the leg of Maher.

Dallas Cowboys – – The defense has struggled fantasy wise, but can get after the QB and will be facing the Redskins back-up QB, which could help their cause.

Matt Ryan – – A good match-up and potential shootout with the Saints should make him a great starting option once again. He has been cooled off a bit of late, but should have a good chance to get back on track.

Tevin Coleman – – Hasn’t been super busy, but still option A and is capable of getting it done in the passing game. Does face a good run defense, but in a shootout, his receiving skills could give him a chance to help.

Ito Smith – – Has been quiet of late and faces a good run defense, so likely would need a touchdown to justify a start, which is risky to rely on, even in a potential shootout.

Julio Jones – – Continues to find the end zone and has been smoking hot, so continue to ride him against a defense that has struggled against the pass.

Calvin Ridley – – Hasn’t been producing much of late, but a good match-up and potential shootout should give him enough upside to justify a shot. Still riskier than he was earlier in the season. Keep an eye on that injured thigh.

Mohamed Sanu – – He hasn’t produced much fantasy wise in a couple months, but maybe the excellent match-up can help his cause. Still a risk, but one with some upside.

Justin Hardy – – Still not producing much, so once again, it should be safe to ignore him.

Austin Hooper – – A good match-up should give him enough upside to consider him a worthy starting option.

Matt Bryant – – He returned last week and should be even healthier this time around. A good match-up should lead to plenty of scoring chances.

Atlanta Falcons – – The defense has struggled and will have their hands full against the high-powered Saints offense, so continue to look at other options.

Drew Brees – – Continues to roll and has another great match-up, so remains a must start option.

Alvin Kamara – – Continues to produce and his receiving skills should give the Falcons fits, so he remains a must start option.

Mark Ingram – – Has started to roll and has another good match-up, so probably worth riding him once again.

Michael Thomas – – No thought required on this one. Just start him against a horrid pass defense.

Tre’Quan Smith – – Coming off a huge game and maybe that will be his breakout performance. Unfortunately he is now dealing with an injured foot and the short turnaround won’t help. He does have plenty of upside thanks to a great match-up, but still a risk with a limited track record, so may be best to look elsewhere.

Austin Carr – – The injury to Smith could help his cause and he could produce thanks to a juicy match-up. Still may be best to lean on a more proven option.

Brandon Marshall – – We shall see how he gets used, but even with a good match-up, hard to trust him.

Ben Watson – – Touchdown or nothing, but a great match-up and a banged up Smith could help his cause, so maybe he can pay off.

Wil Lutz – – The offense should be in for another busy day, which likely will mean he needs to ice his leg after the game.

New Orleans Saints – – The defense has been better of late, but will have their hands full against a talented offense. Though maybe playing in New Orleans will allow them to keep producing. Risky, but maybe they can do enough to help.

Blake Bortles – – Still struggling, so hard to count on him, especially against a good pass defense.

Leonard Fournette – – While he faces a good run defense, he is one of the top RBs in the league and should be busy once again. The Bills offense likely won’t light it up, so he should be involved all game long.

Carlos Hyde – – Getting some touches, but not enough to justify a start. Nothing but a handcuff to Fournette.

T.J. Yeldon – – Not getting enough touches to justify starting.

Donte Moncrief – – In the same boat as Cole, so move along.

Dede Westbrook – – See Cole and Moncrief and forget him as well.

D.J. Chark – – See the rest of the Jaguar WRs and apply the same benching logic.

Keelan Cole – – A brutal match-up and struggling quarterback makes him a poor bet.

James O’Shaughnessy – – Like the WRs, should be pretty safe to forget him as well.

Josh Lambo – – Hard to trust the offense to get him enough scoring chances. Does have some upside as the end zone could be tough to find, which could mean he is counted on for scoring.

Jacksonville Jaguars – – The defense has weapons, but hasn’t lived up to the hype fantasy wise. Against a struggling offense, they could produce like they were expected to most of the season.

Josh Allen – – Looking like he could return from that injured elbow, or at least is closer. But still hard to trust an inexperienced rookie coming off a long layoff, especially against a strong Jaguars pass defense.

Matt Barkley – – Coming off a nice game, but even if Allen sits again, hard to count on him against an elite pass defense.

LeSean McCoy – – Has been inconsistent, but likely will be very involved and the Jaguars have had some issues against the run, so while he has risk, he could still pay off.

Chris Ivory – – Hoping to return from that injured shoulder, but even if he can, hard to count on McCoy’s backup for enough fantasy production.

Marcus Murphy – – If Ivory cn’t go again, he likely would see some action, but probably not enough to justify a start.

Kelvin Benjamin – – Coming off a pre-bye goose egg, which shows how hard he is to trust. Plus he faces a strong pass defense, so I’d pass per usual.

Zay Jones – – Coming off a big game and maybe that will be a sign of things to come. Still hard to trust a guy that has done so little, especially with the QB situation being so fluid and facing a strong pass defense.

Andre Holmes – – Still not being used enough to justify a start, especially when you consider the tough match-up.

Robert Foster – – Coming off a good game, but when you quadruple your season production in one game, not a sign of future fantasy success. Maybe he is at least closer to the fantasy map.

Charles Clay – – Still battling that injured hamstring and even if he can go, hard to trust.

Logan Thomas – – Even if Clay can’t go, not expected to be used enough to justify a start.

Steven Hauschka – – The offense had a big day prior to the bye, but they have been inconsistent and face a good defense. So may be best to play it safe with another option.

Buffalo Bills – – The defense has had some nice days, but have struggled more often than not. They definitely should benefit from facing an inconsistent offense, especially in Buffalo. So could be a good time to give them a look.