Week 12 is shaping up to be a grind for fantasy football managers, with six teams on bye and rosters stretched to the limit. Navigating these bye-week blues means leaning on players who might normally ride your bench but have the potential to step up when it matters most.

Fantasy Football Week 12 matchups to exploit: Fire up Ladd McConkey! Survive (and crush) the bye-pocalypse with these Week 12 matchups to target in your fantasy football lineups.

Ladd McConkey and Josh Downs are among UPI senior sports writer Alex Butler's four must-start wide receivers for Week 12 of the fantasy football campaign.