Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings: Chris Godwin, Mike Evans both top-five receivers

Matt Lutovsky

Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings: Chris Godwin, Mike Evans both top-five receivers image

Injuries have wreaked havoc on the wide receiver position over the past few weeks, with players starting and exiting in the first half becoming an increasingly common occurrence. Last week, it was JuJu Smith-Schuster, and in weeks prior, guys like Adam Thielen, DeSean Jackson, and Will Fuller have suffered that same fate. With four teams on bye (Cardinals, Chargers, Chiefs, Vikings), fantasy football owners will already be without some key pass-catchers, and these injuries don't help. Throw in a host of shaky QBs around the league, and you have a, well, shaky set of Week 12 fantasy WR rankings.

Obviously, there's nothing we can do about injured/idle receivers. If they're out, they're out, and that's honestly better than having them leave early. The bigger worry for fantasy owners is the start 'em, sit 'em calls they'll have to make on talented pass-catchers in favorable matchups with bad quarterbacks. Our rankings say play most of them, but obviously they're risky.

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

The best examples of these receivers are Kenny Golladay (@ Redskins), Terry McLaurin (vs. Lions), Allen Robinson (vs. Giants), and, assuming he plays, Smith-Schuster (@ Bengals). These players are simply too talented to sit in these matchups. We're even willing to trust guys like Courtland Sutton (@ Bills) D.J. Moore (@ Saints), and Golden Tate (@ Bears), who are in much tougher matchups with shaky QBs.

There really aren't many easy calls at receiver this week. Even guys like Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods (vs. Ravens) are question marks because the Rams suddenly run-heavy scheme. John Brown (vs. Bills) gets enough volume to produce in tough matchups, while Tyler Boyd (vs. Steelers) has disappointed but should see a lot of targets with Auden Tate (neck) likely out. Consider him a boom-or-bust WR3.

MORE WEEK 12 DFS: Values | Stacks | Lineup Builder

Finding legit sleepers is tough this week, as most of the prime matchups go to the aforementioned teams with questionable QB play. The Jets (vs. Raiders) are a good team to target, as both Demaryius Thomas and Robby Anderson could be available in your league. Taylor Gabriel (vs. Giants), Danny Amendola (@ Redskins), Hunter Renfrow (@ Jets), Russell Gage (vs. Buccaneers), and, depending on who else is active for the Colts, Marcus Johnson (@ Texans) also make for interesting dart throws.

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

Once you see that list, you'll probably decide to stick with your normal starters, regardless of their QB situation or matchup. That's fine -- we saw from DeVante Parker last week against Buffalo that wideouts can produce despite being blanketed by a top corner -- but there's risk involved either way.

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

Note: We'll continue to update these rankings all week, so check back for the latest and individual player analysis. 

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

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Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings

These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues.

Rank Player
1 Julio Jones, ATL vs. TB
2 Michael Thomas, NO vs. CAR
3 Chris Godwin, TB @ ATL
4 Mike Evans, TB @ ATL
5 Tyler Lockett, SEA @ PHI
6 Odell Beckham Jr., CLE vs. MIA
7 DeAndre Hopkins, HOU vs. IND
8 D.J. Moore, CAR @ NO
9 Tyrell Williams, OAK @ NYJ
10 DJ Chark, JAX @ TEN
11 Jarvis Landry, CLE vs. MIA
12 Cooper Kupp, LAR vs. BAL
13 Kenny Golladay, DET @ WAS
14 Davante Adams, GB @ SF
15 DK Metcalf, SEA @ PHI
16 Amari Cooper, DAL @ NE
17 Jamison Crowder, NYJ vs. OAK
18 Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. DET
19 Allen Robinson, CHI vs. NYG
20 Julian Edelman, NE vs. DAL
21 Calvin Ridley, ATL vs. TB
22 Courtland Sutton, DEN @ BUF
23 DeVante Parker, MIA @ CLE
24 Curtis Samuel, CAR @ NO
25 Golden Tate, NYG @ CHI
26 John Brown, BUF vs. DEN
27 Emmanuel Sanders, SF vs. GB
28 Robert Woods, LAR vs. BAL
29 Marvin Jones, DET @ WAS
30 Will Fuller V, HOU vs. IND
31 Brandin Cooks, LAR vs. BAL
32 Zach Pascal, IND @ HOU
33 Tyler Boyd, CIN vs. PIT
34 James Washington, PIT @ CIN
35 Deebo Samuel, SF vs. GB
36 Jordan Matthews, PHI vs. SEA
37 Marquise Brown, BAL @ LAR
38 Michael Gallup, DAL @ NE
39 N'Keal Harry, NE vs. DAL
40 Cole Beasley, BUF vs. DEN
41 Robby Anderson, NYJ vs. OAK
42 Demaryius Thomas, NYJ vs. OAK
43 Darius Slayton, NYG @ CHI
44 Taylor Gabriel, CHI vs. NYG
45 A.J. Brown, TEN vs. JAX
46 Hunter Renfrow, OAK @ NYJ
47 Russell Gage, ATL vs. TB
48 Danny Amendola, DET @ WAS
49 Diontae Johnson, PIT @ CIN
50 Alex Erickson, CIN vs. PIT
51 Dede Westbrook, JAX @ TEN
52 Ted Ginn Jr., NO vs. CAR
53 Jakobi Meyers, NE vs. DAL
54 Josh Gordon, SEA @ PHI
55 Marcus Johnson, IND @ HOU
56 Chris Conley, JAX @ TEN
57 Randall Cobb, DAL @ NE
58 Mack Hollins, PHI vs. SEA
59 Corey Davis, TEN vs. JAX
60 Kelvin Harmon, WAS vs. DET
61 Scotty Miller, TB @ ATL
62 Trey Quinn, WAS vs. DET
63 Zay Jones, OAK @ NYJ
64 Josh Reynolds, LAR vs. BAL
65 Allen Hurns, MIA @ CLE
66 Geronimo Allison, GB @ SF
67 Kendrick Bourne, SF vs. GB
68 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB @ SF
69 Tre'Quan Smith, NO vs. CAR
70 Adam Humphries, TEN vs. JAX
71 Anthony Miller, CHI vs. NYG
72 Breshad Perriman, TB @ ATL
73 Willie Snead, BAL @ LAR
74 Marquise Goodwin, SF vs. GB
75 DaeSean Hamilton, DEN @ BUF
76 Dante Pettis, SF vs. GB
77 Tajae Sharpe, TEN vs. JAX

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.