Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 12 Matchups to Consider
As we near the end of the fantasy regular season, fantasy managers are making the toughest decisions of the season when setting their rosters. Getting your lineups set to perform at their absolute best is crucial to keeping the positive momentum going and helping secure that all-important playoff spot!
Ahead of Week 12, I’m here again to look through a handful of matchups at each position to help fine-tune those rosters!
Of course, make sure to use all the tools at Footclan HQ before locking in those lineups!
Quarterbacks
Brock Purdy
QB - SF
It’s been a rough season for fantasy managers who were hoping to strike gold with Brock Purdy as a late round QB option. Through 11 weeks, Purdy has played in just three games, though he has finished as a top-12 QB twice when he’s actually been on the field. In his return last week against the Cardinals, Purdy tossed three TDs despite just throwing the ball 26 times, his lowest number of attempts on the season. Purdy has been consistent for fantasy managers in his limited time on the field, throwing at least two TDs in each game this season.
If Purdy is going to keep his TD run going, he will have a sneakily difficult matchup to do so this week against the Panthers. Carolina’s defense has been middle of the pack when it comes to passing yards allowed this season, but has allowed just 13 passing TDs on the year. In their last five games, the Panthers haven’t allowed a QB to throw multiple TDs in a single game. Fantasy managers who are hoping to stream Purdy into the playoffs might need to wait another week for a better matchup before getting him into their QB1 spot again.
Dak Prescott
QB - DAL
The story of the Cowboys’ season has revolved around the inept defense backed by one of the better offenses in the league, making Dak Prescott one of the better QBs fantasy managers could have taken as a late round pick this year. Prescott is currently the QB8 on the season with 6 top-12 QB finishes. The recipe for Prescott’s fantasy value comes directly from his getting into the end zone. In his games where Prescott has been good for fantasy rosters, he is tossing multiple TDs. In fact, only once this season has Dak gotten into the top 12 on a week when he hasn’t thrown 3+ TDs.
Getting another 3+ TD performance from Prescott might be a tough ask this week with a matchup against the Eagles. Philadelphia’s defense has allowed the fewest passing TDs on the season and allows just 6.6 yards per attempt. For fantasy, the Eagles have given up 20+ fantasy points to opposing QBs just twice this season and haven’t done so in any of their last four games. It may be tough for fantasy managers to shift away from Dak, but this tough matchup might be the time to find a better streaming option for Week 12.
Running Backs
Aaron Jones Sr.
RB - MIN
Since returning from a four-game absence, Aaron Jones Sr. has returned to being a strong RB2 for fantasy managers. Over the last three weeks, Jones has averaged 16 opportunities per game and produced two top-20 RB finishes. What’s been encouraging for fantasy managers who held on to Jones is that the split between Jones and Jordan Mason in the Vikings backfield has gone in Jones’ favor, not just in the passing game, where he excels, but also in the running game, where he’s seen more carries in three of the four games since he’s been back.
For Jones to get back on track for fantasy managers this week, he will have a tough matchup against the Packers. Green Bay’s defense has been one of the best in the league against the run this season, allowing the 6th-fewest rushing yards and just eight rushing TDs. For fantasy, though, the Packers have allowed some big production in recent weeks to opposing RBs. Over their last three games, the Packers have given up a top-20 RB finish, including two top-12 RB finishes. As long as Jones continues to have the larger workload in the Vikings backfield, he should give fantasy managers a solid RB2 floor this week.
Zach Charbonnet
RB - SEA
It’s really been a hot and cold season for Zach Charbonnet in the Seahawks backfield. On the season, Charbonnet has finished inside the top-24 RBs as many times as he has finished outside the top-36 RBs. Part of that comes with the territory of having a truly split backfield with Ken Walker, but that reality makes it exceedingly difficult for fantasy managers to know what they can expect from either RB. What’s strange about the usage of Charbonnet this season has been his increased utilization around the goal line, where he’s out-carried Ken Walker, but the under-utilization of him in the passing game, where he’s seen just 10 targets on the season.
That split between Charbonnet and Walker means it is a pick-your-poison at RB in Seattle, but both seem to have a strong matchup against the Titans this week that gives them fantasy hope. Tennessee’s defense has allowed the 3rd-most rushing TDs on the year and a league-high five carries of 40+ yards. Things have tightened up for the Titans against fantasy RBs over the last few weeks, though, allowing a combined 22.8 fantasy points to opposing teams’ RBs in their previous two games. Part of that improvement could be the return of DT Jeffrey Simmons to the lineup, who sits at 8th in the league in tackles for loss on the season. As tempting as a matchup against one of the worst teams in the league may appear, fantasy managers may just need to flip a coin as to whether Charbonnet is worth a spot as a FLEX option this week.
Emanuel Wilson
RB - SEA
It’s the time of season where making sure that the handcuffs to the high-value RBs are on rosters and Emanuel Wilson is the prime example. With Josh Jacobs nursing a knee injury, the opportunity will be there for Wilson to really produce for fantasy managers this week. Wilson stepped in last week and put together his second top-24 fantasy day of the season after Jacobs went down. What’s encouraging for fantasy managers who have stashed Wilson is that even if Jacobs is active this week, we’ve seen the pair of RBs both put together top-24 fantasy production in the same week back in Week 8 when they were the RB20 and RB22, respectively.
Despite the amount of work that will be available to Wilson this week, he will have a tougher matchup against a solid Vikings defense to produce for fantasy managers. Minnesota’s defense has been strong against the run this season, allowing just eight rushing TDs and no carries for 40+ yards. For fantasy, over their last four games, the Vikings have given up a top-24 RB finish every week, though only one of those RBs got there without getting into the end zone that week. Wilson should get the first chance at the lead RB role for the Packers this week if Jacobs can go, and even if he suits up, the backup brings good FLEX value to fantasy rosters for Week 12.
Wide Receivers
Rome Odunze
WR - CHI
After a blazing hot start to the season, things have cooled off a good bit for Rome Odunze in Chicago. The second-year WR started the year with four-straight top-24 WR finishes, but has hit that mark just twice in his last six games, including a full-on goose in Week 9 against the Bengals. What should be encouraging for fantasy managers with Odunze on their roster are the 6+ targets per game he’s averaged during this slump since Week 6 and the real potential for boom games that still exist in the Bears offense.
If Odunze is going to find a way to get back on track for fantasy managers this week, he will have a prime opportunity to do so against the Steelers. Pittsburgh’s defense has allowed the 3rd-most passing yards in the league this season, though they are also third in sacks this season. For fantasy, the Steelers have allowed a top-15 WR finish in each of their last three games, including two top-10 WR finishes during that stretch. With a really tough schedule down the stretch of the season, this may be one of the last real chances for Odunze to get back on track to help fantasy rosters.
Michael Wilson
WR - ARI
Just like we all thought, the Jacoby Brissett to Michael Wilson connection paid off for fantasy last week. Wilson stepped right into the WR1 role with Marvin Harrison Jr. missing for the Cardinals and turned in a WR2 overall finish behind a career-high 18 targets and 185 receiving yards. That type of production put Wilson among the elite when it comes to target efficiency, finishing fourth for Week 11 in targets per route run just behind Puka Nacua. Harrison has been ruled out for Week 12, so Wilson could be in line for another heavy workload.
That lead WR work could come along with a solid matchup against the Jaguars. Jacksonville’s defense has been pretty tough against RBs this season, but they have allowed the 10th-most passing yards in the league and the 5th-most passing TDs this season. On the year the Jaguars have allowed opposing teams’ WRs to score 35+ fantasy points five times this season, including three of their last five games. The unlikely fantasy assets in Wilson and Brissett may get another week to be a usable fantasy pair in such a pivotal time in the fantasy season.
Xavier Worthy
WR - KC
What could have been a real breakout season for Xavier Worthy really has never materialized for fantasy managers. Worthy had the opportunity to really submit himself as an essential part of the Chiefs’ passing attack to start the season with Rashee Rice missing the first six games of the season, but during that stretch, he had as many top-24 WR finishes as Tyquan Thornton. Gross. What may be more frustrating for fantasy managers is that Worthy has really had plenty of target opportunities even after Rice’s return, averaging nearly six targets per game for a measly 35 receiving yards.
A big-time AFC matchup gives Worthy a chance to bring some fantasy value this week against the Colts. While Indianapolis has been one of the best teams in the league on offense, their defense has allowed plenty of opportunity for fantasy goodness. On the season, the Colts have given up the 8th-most passing yards but just 6.8 yards per attempt. For fantasy, the Colts have been a decent matchup for fantasy managers over the last several weeks, allowing a top-24 WR finish four times in three different games, including the WR1 overall finish their last time out in Week 10. The reality is, if Worthy can’t give fantasy managers some real production this week, he may be tough to want to play again this season unless something changes.
Tight Ends
Kyle Pitts Sr.
TE - ATL
Another year, another feeling of disappointment for fantasy managers who invested in Kyle Pitts. While Pitts hasn’t been entirely useless for fantasy, finishing as a top-12 TE three different weeks this season, he has only eclipsed 10 fantasy points twice on the year and hasn’t scored more than six fantasy points since Week 8. The hope for Pitts this week is solely based on opportunity, with Drake London potentially missing from action due to injury, paired with Kirk Cousins stepping into the starting QB role for the remainder of the season. Whenever Cousins started for the Falcons in Week 8, Pitts saw nine targets and finished as the TE9. London was also missing that game, so there is a chance we get a repeat performance this week.
Even with the opportunity available, Pitts has a decently difficult matchup against the Saints in Week 12. New Orleans’ defense has allowed the 6th-fewest passing yards in the league, though they have given up 18 passing TDs on the year. Specifically to fantasy TEs, the Saints have only allowed opposing teams’ TEs to score 6+ fantasy points once in the last five games. Pitts is likely to be a focal point in the Falcons’ offense this week, but should probably be considered a low-end TE play at best.
Noah Fant
TE - NO
This is a gross option to be considering, but Noah Fant may be a real option at TE this week for fantasy managers. Fant has found it difficult to be very involved since landing in Cincinnati, but has averaged 53% of the Bengals’ offensive snaps and seen four targets per game since Week 7, when Mike Gesicki has missed with injury. More importantly, Ja’Marr Chase is suspended and won’t play in Week 12. In 2024, whenever Tee Higgins missed games for the Bengals, Gesicki (the team’s starting TE then) averaged 10.8 fantasy points per game. That’s a role that Fant could find himself in this week after seeing a season-high six targets last week against the Steelers.
Another piece to the Fant streaming TE puzzle has to do with his matchup against the Patriots this week. New England’s defense has been great against the run this year, so most of their fantasy points given up come in the passing attack. Specifically against TEs, the Patriots are willing to give up decent fantasy production, allowing opposing teams’ TEs to score 20+ fantasy points three different times this season, and over their last four games, New England has allowed three top-8 fantasy TEs. With Vegas expecting the most points out of this game of any in Week 12, fantasy managers in need of a “boom or bust” option could stick Fant in their lineup.