Fantasy Football WR Rankings Week 12: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver

Nick Musial

Fantasy Football WR Rankings Week 12: Who to start, best sleepers at wide receiver image

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

We're proud to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning projections and rankings every week. To see Draft Sharks' Week 12 3D floor-to-ceiling projections for wide receivers -- plus get access to all of Draft Sharks' industry-leading tools -- become a Draft Sharks' member today at the link below!

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Nick Musial

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Nick Musial is a Content Producer at The Sporting News. He recently joined the team after studying sport management and journalism at the University of Kansas. Nick’s an avid sports bettor who’s always looking for value.