Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts at wide receiver

Matt Lutovsky

Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts at wide receiver image

There are no byes and very few notable wide receiver injuries...so why do our Week 12 fantasy WR rankings feel a bit lacking? Matchups are a big reason, as several top receivers will be facing tough opponents, and shaky QB play could affect a few more wideouts. Of course, when there are bad matchups in some spots, there are favorable matchups in others, so there are still plenty of sleepers to consider for your start 'em, sit 'em decisions. 

Fantasy owners don't need to worry about Tyreek Hill (@ Buccaneers), DeAndre Hopkins (vs. Patriots) or Davante Adams (vs. Bears) in tough matchups, but A.J. Brown (@ Colts), Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods (vs. 49ers), Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb (vs. Washington), Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown (vs. Chiefs), Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk (@ Rams), and JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, and Diontae Johnson (vs. Ravens) are all legitimate question marks when setting your lineup. (Update: Aiyuk isn't expected to play in Week 12.)

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

You will probably still start many of those guys, as they're all talented and have proven they can put up stats in any matchup, but at least a few will disappoint. Fortunately, borderline/sleeper WRs like Travis Fulgham and Jalen Reagor (vs. Seahawks), Brandin Cooks (@ Lions), Marvin Jones (vs. Texans), Cole Beasley (vs. Chargers), Rashard Higgins (@ Jaguars), Michael Pittman and T.Y. Hilton (vs. Titans), Nelson Agholor and Henry Ruggs (@ Falcons), Keelan Cole (vs. Browns), and Tim Patrick and KJ Hamler (vs. Saints) are ready to step up and take their places. (Update: The Broncos WRs take a serious hit in value considering they won't have an actual NFL quarterback throwing them the ball this week.)

WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

It's important to note that with no byes, the sheer volume of WRs available this week is almost overwhelming. Just because someone is ranked 29th and someone else is ranked 46th doesn't mean there's a big difference between their outlooks. This is one of the tougher weeks to decide on your WR3 and flex (and maybe even WR2), especially when you factor in the recent QB changes in New Orleans, Jacksonville, and Cincinnati.

WEEK 12 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

At this point in the season, name value only means so much. It's all about looking at recent trends, weighing the matchups, and deciding if your team is more in need of a safe floor or high ceiling. There are plenty of worthwhile options, so even if that means trusting a receiver off the waiver wire over a guy you've been starting most weeks, it might be the right move. 

WEEK 12 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKingsFanDuel

Note: Check back all week leading up to kickoff, as we'll continue to update our WR rankings based on the latest news and injuries.

MORE WEEK 12 DFS: Best stacks | Best valuesLineup Builder

Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings (Standard)

These rankings are for non-PPR leagues.

WEEK 12 FANTASY: SleepersBustsStart 'em, sit 'em

Rank Player
1 Calvin Ridley, ATL vs. LV
2 Tyreek Hill, KC @ TB
3 DeAndre Hopkins, ARI @ NE
4 Davante Adams, GB vs. CHI
5 Terry McLaurin, WAS @ DAL
6 Stefon Diggs, BUF vs. LAC
7 Keenan Allen, LAC @ BUF
8 Julio Jones, ATL vs. LV
9 Michael Thomas, NO @ DEN
10 DeVante Parker, MIA @ NYJ
11 DK Metcalf, SEA @ PHI
12 Justin Jefferson, MIN vs. CAR
13 Allen Robinson, CHI @ GB
14 Tyler Lockett, SEA @ PHI
15 Will Fuller V, HOU @ DET
16 Robby Anderson, CAR @ MIN
17 D.J. Moore, CAR @ MIN
18 Sterling Shepard, NYG @ CIN
19 Chris Godwin, TB vs. KC
20 Cooper Kupp, LAR vs. SF
21 A.J. Brown, TEN @ IND
22 Travis Fulgham, PHI vs. SEA
23 Jalen Reagor, PHI vs. SEA
24 Robert Woods, LAR vs. SF
25 Antonio Brown, TB vs. KC
26 Amari Cooper, DAL vs. WAS
27 Brandin Cooks, HOU @ DET
28 Marvin Jones, DET vs. HOU
29 Keelan Cole, JAX vs. CLE
30 Chase Claypool, PIT vs. BAL
31 Nelson Agholor, LV @ ATL
32 Jakobi Meyers, NE vs. ARI
33 Tyler Boyd, CIN vs. NYG
34 Tee Higgins, CIN vs. NYG
35 Mike Evans, TB vs. KC
36 Curtis Samuel, CAR @ MIN
37 JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT vs. BAL
38 Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. BAL
39 Kendall Hinton, DEN vs. NO
40 Christian Kirk, ARI @ NE
41 CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. WAS
42 Cole Beasley, BUF vs. LAC
43 Deebo Samuel, SF @ LAR
44 Mike Williams, LAC @ BUF
45 Darius Slayton, NYG @ CIN
46 Michael Pittman Jr., IND vs. TEN
47 Henry Ruggs III, LV @ ATL
48 Emmanuel Sanders, NO @ DEN
49 Rashard Higgins, CLE @ JAX
50 Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. MIA
51 Gabriel Davis, BUF vs. LAC
52 Laviska Shenault, JAX vs. CLE
53 T.Y. Hilton, IND vs. TEN
54 Jarvis Landry, CLE @ JAX
55 Marquise Brown, BAL @ PIT
56 Marvin Hall, DET vs. HOU
57 Willie Snead, BAL @ PIT
58 Keke Coutee HOU @ DET
59 Jakeem Grant, MIA @ NYJ
60 A.J. Green, CIN vs. NYG
61 Breshad Perriman, NYJ vs. MIA
62 Allen Lazard, GB vs. CHI
63 Sammy Watkins, KC @ TB
64 Josh Reynolds, LAR vs. SF
65 Russell Gage, ATL vs. LV
66 Hunter Renfrow, LV @ ATL
67 Mohamed Sanu, DET vs. HOU
68 Damiere Byrd, NE vs. ARI
69 Richie James, SF @ LAR
70 Greg Ward Jr., PHI vs. SEA
71 Cam Sims WAS @ DAL
72 Zach Pascal, IND vs. TEN
73 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB vs. CHI
74 Corey Davis, TEN @ IND
75 Michael Gallup, DAL vs. WAS
76 Mecole Hardman, KC @ TB
77 Demarcus Robinson, KC @ TB
78 Andy Isabella, ARI @ NE
79 Darnell Mooney, CHI @ GB
80 Jerry Jeudy, DEN vs. NO
81 Tim Patrick, DEN vs. NO
82 KJ Hamler, DEN vs. NO
83 Anthony Miller, CHI @ GB
84 Golden Tate, NYG @ CIN
85 Tre'Quan Smith, NO @ DEN
86 David Moore, SEA @ PHI
87 Olamide Zaccheaus, ATL vs. LV
88 Denzel Mims, NYJ vs. MIA
89 Jalen Guyton, LAC @ BUF
90 N'Keal Harry, NE vs. ARI
91 Miles Boykin, BAL @ PIT
92 Kendrick Bourne, SF @ LAR
93 Trent Sherfield, ARI @ NE
94 James Washington, PIT vs. BAL
95 Scotty Miller, TB vs. KC

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

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