Say goodbye to Hollywood. Say goodbye my baby. – “Say Goodbye to Hollywood”, Billy Joel
Sayin’ goodbye, sayin’ goodbye to Hollywood. “Say Goodbye Hollywood”, Eminem
You should have never trusted Hollywood. – “Lost in Hollywood”, System of a Down
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I am going to assume that none of the songs listed above were written about Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. After all, Brown was born in 1997, and these songs were all recorded in or before 2005. But fantasy managers who have relied on Brown this season can certainly empathize with the sentiments penned by these lyricists. Brown enjoyed a decent start to the 2020 season. He was the WR32 through Week 5, which was a solid enough return considering his sixth-round ADP. However, it has gone downhill in a hurry for the second-year wideout. Since returning from a Week 7 bye, Brown has six catches for 55 yards. In four games. Total. Brown now sits outside the top 50 fantasy wide receivers on the season. I have him even lower than that in my Week 12 Flex rankings.
The Ravens have an upcoming matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, COVID-19 permitting. The NFL has already moved the game from Thursday to Sunday. Even if the game is played, fantasy managers would be hard-pressed to trust Brown. His best weekly finish since Week 5 is WR45. He did score last time he faced the Steelers, but it was his only catch of the game, and went for three yards. Brown should line up against Joe Haden on roughly half of his snaps. The veteran ranks 40th out of 125 cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus’ coverage metric. Ironically, Haden is the lowest-ranked of Pittsburgh’s top three corners. That means that if Brown lines up against Steven Nelson or Cameron Sutton, his matchup becomes worse. All in all, this is not the week to expect a bounceback performance from Brown. I would not recommend him as a Flex in 12-team leagues.
Ravens Running Backs in Limbo
Staying in Baltimore, running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday night. (What good fortune the team had that neither player tested positive before Sunday’s game, he said sarcastically.) Baltimore quickly ruled out the pair of running backs. However, the NFL has since moved the game to Sunday. That may open a window for either or both to play depending on the events of the next 72 hours. For now, I am projecting as if neither Dobbins nor Ingram will play. I have Gus Edwards ranked as a Week 12 Flex, while Justice Hill is little more than a flier in deep leagues. If Dobbins does somehow play on Sunday, he would be a mid-range RB2 and knock Edwards out of Flex consideration. Dobbins is quickly becoming the only Ravens running worth playing in most matchups. Ingram looks like a shell of his former self.
Burrow’s Injury Buries Bengals Value
WR12, WR13, WR29. Those were the fantasy values of CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup in the five games Dak Prescott started this season. Their ranks since are WR47, WR35, and WR93, respectively. To be fair to the Cowboys skill players, they may improve on their recent performances now that Andy Dalton looks to be back in the fold for the remainder of the year. But there is virtually no chance for them to return to the levels they had attained with Prescott at the helm. Do you see where I am going with this? Hint- it isn’t good for the tandem of Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and A.J. Green.
WR17, WR27, WR69. These are the year to date fantasy values of Boyd, Higgins, and Green. The season-ending injury to Joe Burrow is likely to have a similar effect on Cincinnati’s receivers as Prescott’s did in Dallas. It may be a death knell for the fantasy values of the Bengals wide receivers. Burrow averaged just over 40 pass attempts per game in his rookie season. If Ryan Finley has to throw the ball 40 times in a game, something has gone terribly wrong. A whopping 21 percent of Finley’s 119 career dropbacks have resulted in a sack, scramble, or interception. Of the 53 quarterbacks who attempted at least 50 passes last season, Finley’s 61.9 on-target percentage was second-lowest. His insertion into the lineup is going to hurt the rest of Cincinnati’s skill players, particularly their trio of wide receivers. The only question is to what degree.
On the bright side, Boyd has one of the most favorable matchups on the entire slate. Darnay Holmes is New York’s primary slot cornerback. Holmes has allowed a massive 80.5 percent catch rate. To his credit, he has kept the play in front of him. The 33 receptions he has allowed have only gone for 321 yards, and he has yet to allow a touchdown. But Boyd should be Finley’s primary read often in this game. I can see a very similar line to last week’s 9-85-0 effort. Still, it will be tough to trust him as more than a WR3. Higgins could be a serviceable Flex depending on your other options, while managers can probably drop Green in most leagues. If your league still allows trades for whatever reason, I would try to move any Bengal receiver who has a good game on Sunday, including Boyd.
Giovani Bernard will likely suffer as well with Finley leading the charge. Bernard has skated by on volume and receiving output as opposed to efficiency in Joe Mixon’s absence. Bernard has just 147 rushing yards and one touchdown in four games since Mixon went down, but has added 129 yards and two scores through the air. Cincinnati placed Mixon on injured reserve this week, so it should be the Gio show going forward. It is reasonable to surmise that Mixon sits out the rest of the year. I cannot imagine the Bengals rushing him back for meaningless games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Bernard in the RB13 on a point per game basis over the last month, but he too will have a lower floor and ceiling while being saddled with Finley. He is a low-end RB2 for me this week.
Mining in San Francisco
The San Francisco 49ers are hoping to have several of their offensive weapons as they return from their bye. As of now though, it is unclear whether the likes of Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, Jeff Wilson, or Deebo Samuel will suit up. Brandon Aiyuk is still on the COVID-19 list, though I expect he will be cleared in time for Sunday’s divisional game against the Los Angeles Rams. I currently have none of the 49ers ranked as starters per my Week 12 Flex rankings. That may change depending on which players end up available and which sit, but it is likely to be a mess either way. If Mostert is active, he is the player I would have the most confidence in, but ideally, this will be a “wait and see” week for those who are heavily invested in the 49ers skill players.
Week 12 Flex Rankings
Rnk PLAYER (TEAM) MATCHUP POS
1 Dalvin Cook (MIN) vs. CAR RB1
2 Davante Adams (GB) vs. CHI WR1
3 James Robinson (JAC) vs. CLE RB2
4 Aaron Jones (GB) vs. CHI RB3
5 Derrick Henry (TEN) at IND RB4
6 Josh Jacobs (LV) at ATL RB5
7 Tyreek Hill (KC) at TB WR2
8 Calvin Ridley (ATL) vs. LV WR3
9 Travis Kelce (KC) at TB TE1
10 Alvin Kamara (NO) at DEN RB6
11 Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) vs. WAS RB7
12 Nick Chubb (CLE) at JAC RB8
13 Miles Sanders (PHI) vs. SEA RB9
14 DeAndre Hopkins (ARI) at NE WR4
15 Tyler Lockett (SEA) at PHI WR5
16 Keenan Allen (LAC) at BUF WR6
17 Mike Davis (CAR) at MIN RB10
18 Stefon Diggs (BUF) vs. LAC WR7
19 Terry McLaurin (WAS) at DAL WR8
20 Justin Jefferson (MIN) vs. CAR WR9
21 A.J. Brown (TEN) at IND WR10
22 Will Fuller (HOU) at DET WR11
23 Darren Waller (LV) at ATL TE2
24 Cooper Kupp (LAR) vs. SF WR12
25 Michael Thomas (NO) at DEN WR13
26 DK Metcalf (SEA) at PHI WR14
27 Kareem Hunt (CLE) at JAC RB11
28 D.J. Moore (CAR) at MIN WR15
29 Chris Carson (SEA) at PHI RB12
30 DeVante Parker (MIA) at NYJ WR16
31 Antonio Gibson (WAS) at DAL RB13
32 Ronald Jones II (TB) vs. KC RB14
33 Kenyan Drake (ARI) at NE RB15
34 Robert Woods (LAR) vs. SF WR17
35 Duke Johnson (HOU) at DET RB16
36 Brandin Cooks (HOU) vs. NE WR18
37 Chris Godwin (TB) vs. KC WR19
38 Robby Anderson (CAR) at MIN WR20
39 Amari Cooper (DAL) vs. WAS WR21
40 Melvin Gordon (DEN) vs. NO RB17
41 David Montgomery (CHI) at GB RB18
42 Allen Robinson (CHI) at GB WR22
43 Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC) at TB RB19
44 Giovani Bernard (CIN) vs. NYG RB20
45 Nyheim Hines (IND) vs. TEN RB21
46 Gus Edwards (BAL) at PIT RB22
47 Mike Evans (TB) vs. KC WR23
48 Marvin Jones (DET) vs. HOU WR24
49 Jakobi Meyers (NE) vs. ARI WR25
50 Diontae Johnson (PIT) vs. BAL WR26
51 CeeDee Lamb (DAL) vs. WAS WR27
52 Darius Slayton (NYG) at CIN WR28
53 Wayne Gallman (NYG) at CIN RB23
54 Brian Hill (ATL) vs. LV RB24
55 Chase Claypool (PIT) vs. BAL WR29
56 Antonio Brown (TB) vs. KC WR30
57 Julio Jones (ATL) vs. LV WR31
58 Tyler Boyd (CIN) vs. NYG WR32
59 Jordan Wilkins (IND) vs. TEN RB25
60 Zack Moss (BUF) vs. LAC RB26
61 Adrian Peterson (DET) vs. HOU RB27
62 Curtis Samuel (CAR) at MIN WR33
63 Jarvis Landry (CLE) at JAC WR34
64 Austin Ekeler (LAC) at BUF RB28
65 Sterling Shepard (NYG) at CIN WR35
66 Travis Fulgham (PHI) vs. SEA WR36
67 Christian Kirk (ARI) at NE WR37
68 J.D. McKissic (WAS) at DAL RB29
69 Raheem Mostert (SF) at LAR RB30
70 Jamison Crowder (NYJ) at MIA WR38
71 Tee Higgins (CIN) vs. NYG WR39
72 Damien Harris (NE) vs. ARI RB31
73 T.J. Hockenson (DET) vs. HOU TE3
74 Cole Beasley (BUF) vs. LAC WR40
75 Corey Davis (TEN) at IND WR41
76 Denzel Mims (NYJ) at MIA WR42
77 Benny Snell (PIT) vs. BAL RB32
78 Mike Williams (LAC) at BUF WR43
79 Leonard Fournette (TB) vs. KC RB33
80 JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT) vs. BAL WR44
81 Michael Pittman (IND) vs. TEN WR45
82 Samaje Perine (CIN) at WAS RB34
83 Deebo Samuel (SF) at LAR WR46
84 Leviska Shenault (JAC) vs. CLE WR47
85 Dallas Goedert (PHI) vs. SEA TE4
86 Russell Gage (ATL) vs. LV WR48
87 Frank Gore (NYJ) at MIA RB35
88 Rashard Higgins (CLE) at JAC WR49
89 Keelan Cole (JAC) vs. CLE WR50
90 Nelson Agholor (LV) vs. TB WR51
91 Latavius Murray (NO) at DEN RB36
92 Hunter Henry (LAC) at BUF TE5
93 Breshad Perriman (NYJ) at MIA WR52
94 Darrell Henderson (LAR) vs. SF RB37
95 Phillip Lindsay (DEN) vs. NO RB38
96 James White (NE) vs. ARI RB39
97 Jalen Reagor (PHI) vs. SEA WR53
98 Kerryon Johnson (DET) vs. HOU RB40
99 T.Y. Hilton (IND) vs. TEN WR54
100 Evan Engram (NYG) at CIN TE6
101 Hayden Hurst (ATL) vs. LV TE7
102 Josh Reynolds (LAR) vs. SF WR55
103 Damiere Byrd (NE) vs. ARI WR56
104 Mike Gesicki (MIA) vs. NYJ TE8
105 Austin Hooper (CLE) at JAC TE9
106 Chase Edmonds (ARI) at NE RB41
107 Michael Gallup (DAL) vs. WAS WR57
108 Kyle Rudolph (MIN) vs. CAR TE10
109 Devin Singletary (BUF) vs. LAC RB42
110 Jamaal Williams (GB) vs. CHI RB43
111 Rob Gronkowski (TB) vs. KC TE11
112 Sammy Watkins (KC) at TB WR58
113 Matt Breida (MIA) vs. NYJ RB44
114 Hunter Renfrow (LV) at ATL WR59
115 Jonnu Smith (TEN) at IND TE12
116 Jerick McKinnon (SF) at LAR RB45
117 A.J. Green (CIN) vs. NYG WR60
118 Jakeem Grant (MIA) vs. NYJ WR61
119 Ty Johnson (NYJ) at MIA RB46
120 Eric Ebron (PIT) vs. BAL TE13
121 Marquise Brown (BAL) at PIT WR62
122 Dalton Schultz (DAL) vs. WAS TE14
123 Carlos Hyde (SEA) at PHI RB47
124 Emmanuel Sanders (NO) at DEN WR63
125 Jerry Jeudy (DEN) vs. NO WR64
126 Richie James (SF) at LAR WR65
127 Henry Ruggs (LV) at ATL WR66
128 Gabriel Davis (BUF) vs. LAC WR67
129 Tony Pollard (DAL) vs. WAS RB48
130 Demarcus Robinson (KC) at TB WR68
131 Ito Smith (ATL) vs. LV RB49
132 Allen Lazard (GB) vs. CHI WR69
133 Tim Patrick (DEN) vs. NO WR70
134 Zach Pascal (IND) vs. TEN WR71
135 Kendrick Bourne (SF) at LAR WR72
136 N'Keal Harry (NE) vs. ARI WR73
137 Robert Tonyan (GB) vs. CHI TE15
138 Darnell Mooney (CHI) at GB WR74
139 Jordan Reed (SF) at LAR TE16
140 Malcolm Brown (LAR) vs. SF RB50
141 Noah Fant (DEN) vs. NO TE17
142 Anthony Miller (CHI) at GB WR75
143 Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB) vs. CHI WR76
144 Jordan Akins (HOU) at DET TE18
145 Cordarrelle Patterson (CHI) at GB WR77
146 Olabisi Johnson (MIN) vs. CAR WR78
147 Willie Snead (BAL) at PHI WR79
148 Justice Hill (BAL) at PIT RB51
149 Marvin Hall (DET) vs. HOU WR80
150 Golden Tate (NYG) at CIN WR81
151 Jimmy Graham (CHI) at GB TE19
152 Logan Thomas (WAS) at DAL TE20
153 Gerald Everett (LAR) vs. SF TE21
154 Andy Isabella (ARI) at SEA WR82
155 Tyler Eifert (JAC) vs. CLE TE22
156 KhaDarel Hodge (CLE) at JAC WR83
157 Chad Beebe (MIN) vs. CAR WR84
158 Trey Burton (IND) vs. TEN TE23
159 David Moore (SEA) at PHI WR85
160 Collin Johnson (JAC) vs. CLE WR86
161 Devontae Booker (LV) at ATL RB52
162 Cam Akers (LAR) vs. SF RB53
163 Mecole Hardman (KC) at TB WR87
164 K.J. Hamler (DEN) vs. NO WR88
165 Jared Cook (NO) at DEN TE24
166 Anthony McFarland (PIT) vs. BAL RB54
167 Le'Veon Bell (KC) at TB RB55
168 Tyler Higbee (LAR) vs. SF TE25
169 Sony Michel (NE) vs. ARI RB56
170 Alexander Mattison (MIN) vs. CAR RB57
171 Kalen Ballage (LAC) at BUF RB58
172 Greg Ward (PHI) vs. SEA WR89
173 Anthony Firkser (TEN) at IND TE26
174 Steven Sims (WAS) at DAL WR90
175 Patrick Laird (MIA) at NYJ RB59
176 Mo Alie-Cox (IND) vs. TEN TE27
177 Will Dissly (SEA) at PHI TE28
178 Dez Bryant (BAL) at PIT WR91
179 Boston Scott (PHI) vs. SEA RB60
180 Jacob Hollister (SEA) at PHI TE29
181 Auden Tate (CIN) vs. NYG WR92
182 Joshua Kelley (LAC) at BUF RB61
183 Richard Rodgers (PHI) at CLE TE30
184 Darren Fells (HOU) at DET TE31
185 Chris Herndon (NYJ) vs. MIA TE32
186 Drew Sample (CIN) vs. NYG TE33
187 Cam Sims (WAS) at DAL WR93
188 Dan Arnold (ARI) at SEA TE34
189 Dawson Knox (BUF) vs. LAC TE35
190 Jalen Guyton (LAC) vs. NYJ WR94
191 Marcus Johnson (IND) vs. TEN WR95
192 Malcolm Perry (MIA) at NYJ RB62
193 Quintez Cephus DET) at CAR WR96
194 Tre'Quan Smith (NO) vs. ATL WR97
195 Mack Hollins (MIA) at NYJ WR98
196 James Washington (PIT) vs. BAL WR99
197 Rodney Smith (CAR) at MIN RB63
198 Harrison Bryant (CLE) at JAC TE36
199 Cameron Brate (TB) vs. KC TE37
200 Jeff Wilson (SF) at LAR RB64
If you found Mick’s Week 12 Flex Rankings helpful, you’ll also want to check out our Week 12 FAAB Guide for more help in optimizing your rosters.
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