Week 12 Fantasy QB Rankings: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold on the rise

Matt Lutovsky

Week 12 Fantasy QB Rankings: Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold on the rise image

This is one of the strangest weeks for quarterback rankings. Not only are some usual starters dealing with tough matchups, but several unreliable signal-callers have favorable ones. You might be checking for second and third opinions on your start 'em, sit 'em decisions at this position, but our Week 12 fantasy QB rankings are a good place to start. 

Tom Brady (vs. Cowboys), Dak Prescott (@ Patriots), Aaron Rodgers (@ 49ers), Josh Allen (vs. Broncos), and Jared Goff (vs. Ravens) are all facing difficult matchups. Fantasy owners probably don't need to be talked out of starting Goff and maybe even Brady, but Prescott and Rodgers will be tough for many to bench. 

WEEK 12 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

On the flip side, Jacoby Brissett (@ Texans), Baker Mayfield (vs. Dolphins) and Sam Darnold (vs. Raiders) are on the rise thanks to solid Week 11s and favorable matchups in Week 12. Jeff Driskel (@ Redskins), Dwayne Haskins (vs. Lions), Mason Rudoulph (@ Bengals), and whoever starts for the Bears (vs. Giants) also have favorable matchups, but you'd have to be really desperate (or ballsy) to start one of them -- with the possible exception of Driskel -- outside of DFS tournaments.

WEEK 12 DFS LINEUPS: 
FD cash | FD GPP | DK cash | DK GPPY! cash | Y! GPP

We generally advocate playing the numbers when it comes to two talented QBs at the extreme ends of matchups (e.g. Prescott and Mayfield). But talent can easily win out, too, so it's tough to know the right answers before kickoff. We'll do our best below to help you through the process. 

WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end

Note: These rankings will be updated throughout the week, so check back for player movement and individual analysis.

MORE WEEK 12 DFS: Values | Stacks | Lineup Builder

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Week 12 Fantasy QB Rankings

MORE WEEK 12:
Waiver pickups | FAAB planner | Stock watchSnap countsFantasy playoff SOS

These rankings are for standard leagues with 4-point passing TDs.

Rank Player
1 Lamar Jackson, BAL @ LAR
2 Russell Wilson, SEA @ PHI
3 Matt Ryan, ATL vs. TB
4 Jameis Winston, TB @ ATL
5 Deshaun Watson, HOU vs. IND
6 Derek Carr, OAK @ NYJ
7 Drew Brees, NO vs. CAR
8 Jacoby Brissett, IND @ HOU. Brissett had his biggest game of the season in Week 7 against Houston when he threw for 326 yards and four TDs. Not much has changed for Houston's pass defense, as it still allows the sixth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to QBs. Even if T.Y. Hilton (calf) is out, Brissett will likely throw a bunch in a favorable matchup. 
9 Baker Mayfield, CLE vs. MIA. Mayfield looked better -- not great, but better -- in Week 10, and in Week 11, he remained turnover-free and posted three total touchdowns. Miami still sports a below-average defense that allows the fifth-most FPPG to QBs, so Mayfield should continue his late-season surge. 
10 Sam Darnold, NYJ vs. OAK. Darnold tossed a career-high four TDs against Washington last week, and the Raiders are an even better matchup statistically than the Redskins were. Throw in that this game is at home, and Darnold makes for a solid stream.
11 Carson Wentz, PHI vs. SEA. Wentz has been a disappointment this year, but the Seahawks rank 29th in sacks, which has been his (and the Eagles as a whole) biggest bug-a-boo. Assuming he gets time in the pocket, he can pick apart this suspect secondary that's allowed the fifth-most WR completions this season. 
12 Aaron Rodgers, GB @ SF. This is a "revenge game" of sorts for local-boy Rodgers, who was passed over at No. 1 by Rodgers way back in 2005. Either way, this is a tough matchup, as San Francisco allows just 10.9 FPPG to QBs. That staid, they have given up legit points to Kyler Murray in two of the past three games, so it's not an impossible defense to score against. Davante Adams should be closer to fully healthy, and Rodgers always has upsde. 
13 Dak Prescott, DAL @ NE. Prescott has been great this year, but he's largely posted his biggest stats against bad defenses. New England has run up its gawdy defensive numbers in much the same way, but it's still allowing the fewest FPPG to QBs (7.9). Prescott did have a big game against Minnesota just two weeks ago, so it's not as if he can't produce, especially if he can pad his totals on the ground, but this is a tough spot for him, especially with Amari Cooper (knee) banged up. 
14 Tom Brady, NE vs. DAL. Brady has had only one mutli-TD outing is his past four games, and Dallas enters this one allowing just 14.4 FPPG to QBs. Like Prescott and Rodgers, Brady isn't in a good spot, but given his pedigree, it's also tough to ever count him out. 
15 Josh Allen, BUF vs. DEN. Denver allows the third-fewest FPPG to QBs, so Allen will really have to raise his floor with his legs to pay off here. 
16 Jared Goff, LAR vs. BAL. Goff should get Brandin Cooks (concussion) and Robert Woods (personal) back, which could really open things up for him. However, his actual performance has been so subpar lately (zero TDs in three of his past five games, including each of his past two), it's tough to count on him against a surging defense that features former Ram Marcus Peters is the secondary. 
17 Jeff Driskel, DET @ WAS. Driskel posted three TDs last week and has at least 37 rushing yards in each of his first two games as Detroit's starter. There's a case to be made for him to be ranked even higher given Washington's suspect pass defense, but completions percentages below 59 percent each game have us worried. If things go south for Driskel, they'll really go south. 
18 Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA @ CLE
19 Dwayne Haskins, WAS vs. DET
20 Mitchell Trubisky, CHI vs. NYG
21 Mason Rudolph, PIT @ CIN
22 Jimmy Garoppolo, SF vs. GB
23 Nick Foles, JAX @ TEN
24 Ryan Tannehill, TEN vs. JAX
25 Kyle Allen, CAR @ NO
26 Daniel Jones, NYG @ CHI
27 Ryan Finley, CIN vs. PIT
28 Brandon Allen, DEN @ BUF

Matt Lutovsky

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Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.