Rejoice, fantasy owners! With zero teams on bye for an action-packed 16-game slate, our Week 12 fantasy WR rankings for standard leagues are as robust as ever. Sure, we're still dealing with many impactful injuries, but fantasy's deepest position can overcome those roadblocks.
Most worrisome this week is the toss of key QBs, as Joe Burrow (wrist) and Deshaun Watson (shoulder) are done for the year and Geno Smith (elbow) is iffy for Thursday night. Their top receivers can still get it done with backups, but we've seen time and time again this year how WRs have struggled with second-string QBs under center.
With all that in mind, let's dissect our Week 12 WR rankings to boost your chances of getting a much-needed late-season victory.
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Which WRs are on bye in Week 12?
Zero teams are on bye in Week 12, which means the WR pool is deep in a critical week of the fantasy regular season.
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Even more important, every matchup is on the board, so there's no shortage of boom-or-bust sleepers in deep leagues.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy WRs in Week 12?
Although his four-game streak of 115-plus receiving yards snapped in Week 11, CeeDee Lamb (vs. Commanders in Week 12) owns the top spot in our Week 12 rankings. Washington's secondary most recently got exposed by Tommy DeVito, and a unit that entered Week 11 ranking 30th in dropback EPA should have a hard time containing Dallas' WR1.
While Tyreek Hill (@ Jets) briefly exited the Dolphins' Week 11 victory with a hand injury, the reason Miami's WR1 drops to our WR2 this week is matchup-based. We don't expect New York's Sauce Garnder to completely shut down Hill, and he's still a real threat to post 100-plus yards and a score.
A.J. Brown (vs. Bills) draws a Buffalo coverage unit that's had its struggles over the past several weeks, and although the Bills defense just held the Jets to six points, the Eagles offense is on a completely different planet. Amon Ra-St. Brown (vs. Packers) routinely found the soft spots in the Bears defense last week, hauling in seven receptions for 77 yards and a score in Detroit's come-from-behind win in Week 11. It doesn't matter the scoring format, "Sun God" remains a set-it-and-forget it WR1 for the remainder of the season.
Keenan Allen (vs. Ravens) doesn't have the easiest of matchups, but as Justin Herbert's go-to option, another double-digit target game is inevitable. Similarly, all Mike Evans (@ Colts) does is produce, and while he totaled just 43 receiving yards in Week 11, his 12 targets should lend itself to a WR1 type of fantasy day against an exploitable Colts' coverage unit.
Davante Adams (vs. Chiefs) looks all the way back, as his rapport with Aidan O'Connell is getting stronger by the week. Adams' reliable target share masks a tough matchup against a stout Chiefs defense. Stefon Diggs (@ Eagles) had his second straight down week, but he remains a top-10 play in a potential shootout against the reining NFC Champions.
WEEK 12 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit
Who are the best fantasy WR sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 12?
Jayden Reed (@ Lions), Odell Beckham Jr (@ Chargers), Khalil Shakir (@ Eagles), Demario Douglas (@ Giants), and Jameson Williams (vs. Packers) are among the best streamer and sleeper options in standard leagues this week.
Reed's been much more consistent than fellow WR Christian Watson, as Green Bay's rookie WR has flex appeal in a potential negative gamescript against the Lions. Beckham Jr. had his best game as a Raven in Week 11 (four receptions, 116 yards, one TD) and figures to see an increased target share with Mark Andrews (ankle) likely out for the season (assuming his shoulder injury doesn't keep him out).
An 81-yard TD score inflated Shakir's Week 11 fantasy output, but regardless, he's remained a trusted option of Josh Allen's. Similarly, Williams' big-play ability (22.0 YPR in Week 11) gives Detroit's second-year wideout a high ceiling, as he's a boom-or-bust option down the stretch.
Douglas is seeing WR1-type usage, and while the Patriots' QB situation is a shaky one, his reliable volume makes him a viable flex play in 12-team PPR formats.
WEEK 12 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Who are the biggest potential WR busts in Week 12?
Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson (@ Cowboys), Jerry Jeudy (vs. Browns), Jakobi Meyers (vs. Chiefs), Quentin Johnston (vs. Ravens), and Christian Watson (@ Lions) come with some risk this week.
While Sam Howell's routinely chucking the pigskin at a high clip, it hasn't translated into reliable fantasy numbers for his presumptive WR1, as McLaurin's been held under 50 yards in consecutive contests. That number could easily be three after Thursday's contest at Jerry World, and Dotson isn't any safer.
Meyers hasn't exactly been on the same page with O'Connell, and his Week 12 ranking has taken a hit as a result. It also doesn't help he's facing one of the most sound coverage units. Johnston couldn't capitalize on his opportunities last week and likely underwhelms against a steady Ravens' coverage unit.
Watson's Week 11 fantasy output looks much better thanks to an 11-yard TD reception, but he's still way too inconsistent to warrant a star in a crucial week.
What are the biggest WR injuries in Week 12?
Ahead of Week 11, Tee Higgins (hamstring), Noah Brown (knee), Jalen Guyton (groin), Treylon Burks (concussion), and Michael Wilson (shoulder) were the most notable injury-related inactives. In our initial Week 12 rankings, we've only listed Brown, but will closely monitor each team's practice reports to get a feel for their status for Week 12.
During game action, Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder), Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Darius Slayton (arm) exited their respective contests and failed to return to game action, hindering their chances of suiting up this week. Additionally, Michael Thomas (shoulder) got banged up in Week 10 but didn't pop up on the Saints' injury report with New Orleans idle in Week 11. He's since been placed on IR, boosting the fantasy prospects of fellow WRs Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and A.T. Perry.
The Vikings didn't activate Justin Jefferson (hamstring) in Week 11, and with Minnesota on bye in Week 13, so there's a chance he's out until Minnesota returns from bye.
As usual, we'll update these standard WR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy WR Rankings Week 12: Who to start, sit at wide receiver
Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring
Rank Player
1 CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys vs. Commanders
2 Tyreek Hill, Dolphins @ Jets
3 A.J. Brown, Eagles vs. Bills
4 Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions vs. Packers
5 Keenan Allen, Chargers vs. Ravens
6 Davante Adams, Raiders vs. Chiefs
7 Mike Evans, Buccaneers @ Colts
8 Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Cardinals
9 Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers @ Seahawks
10 Stefon Diggs, Bills @ Eagles
11 Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals vs. Steelers
12 DK Metcalf, Seahawks vs. 49ers
13 DJ Moore, Bears @ Vikings
14 Puka Nacua, Rams @ Cardinals
15 Adam Thielen, Panthers @ Titans
16 Chris Olave, Saints @ Falcons
17 Tank Dell, Texans vs. Jaguars
18 DeAndre Hopkins, Titans vs. Panthers
19 Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Buccaneers
20 DeVonta Smith, Eagles vs. Bills
21 Nico Collins, Texans vs. Jaguars
22 Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins @ Jets
23 Romeo Doubs, Packers @ Lions
24 Deebo Samuel, 49ers @ Seahawks
25 Christian Kirk, Jaguars @ Texans
26 Courtland Sutton, Broncos vs. Browns
27 Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Dolphins
28 Calvin Ridley, Jaguars @ Texans
29 Amari Cooper, Browns @ Broncos
30 Chris Godwin, Buccaneers @ Colts
31 Tyler Lockett, Seahawks vs. 49ers
32 Terry McLaurin, Commanders @ Cowboys
33 Marquise Brown, Cardinals vs. Rams
34 Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Bears
35 Diontae Johnson, Steelers @ Bengals
36 Zay Flowers, Ravens @ Chargers
37 Drake London, Falcons vs. Saints
38 Rashee Rice, Chiefs @ Raiders
39 Jerry Jeudy, Broncos vs. Browns
40 George Pickens, Steelers @ Bengals
41 Christian Watson, Packers @ Lions
42 Tyler Boyd, Bengals vs. Steelers
43 Josh Downs, Colts vs. Buccaneers
44 Jahan Dotson, Commanders @ Cowboys
45 Rashid Shaheed, Saints @ Falcons
46 Jayden Reed, Packers @ Lions
47 K.J. Osborn, Vikings vs. Bears
48 Demario Douglas, Patriots @ Giants
49 Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens @ Chargers
50 Brandin Cooks, Cowboys vs. Commanders
51 Jakobi Meyers, Raiders vs. Chiefs
52 Rondale Moore, Cardinals vs. Rams
53 Quentin Johnston, Chargers vs. Ravens
54 Tutu Atwell, Rams @ Cardinals
55 Elijah Moore, Browns @ Broncos
56 Gabe Davis, Bills @ Eagles
57 Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants vs. Patriots
58 Robert Woods, Texans vs. Jaguars
59 Jalen Guyton, Chargers vs. Ravens
60 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks vs. 49ers
61 Khalil Shakir, Bills @ Eagles
62 Jameson Williams, Lions vs. Packers
63 Michael Gallup, Cowboys vs. Commanders
64 A.T. Perry, Saints @ Falcons
65 DeVante Parker, Patriots @ Giants
66 Zay Jones, Jaguars @ Texans
67 Trey Palmer, Buccaneers @ Colts
68 Brandon Powell, Vikings vs. Bears
69 Darnell Mooney, Bears @ Vikings
70 Greg Dortch, Cardinals vs. Rams
71 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs @ Raiders
72 Trenton Irwin, Bengals vs. Steelers
73 Hunter Renfrow, Raiders vs. Chiefs
74 DJ Chark, Panthers @ Titans
75 KhaDarel Hodge, Falcons vs. Saints
76 Cedrick Wilson, Dolphins @ Jets
77 Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans vs. Panthers
78 Rashod Bateman, Ravens @ Chargers
79 Jonathan Mingo, Panthers @ Titans
80 Alec Pierce, Colts vs. Buccaneers
81 JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots @ Giants
82 Josh Reynolds, Lions vs. Packers
83 John Metchie III, Texans vs. Jaguars
84 Kyle Philips, Titans vs. Panthers
85 Skyy Moore, Chiefs @ Raiders
Week 12 WR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week
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