The regular season is winding down in most season-long fantasy football leagues with playoff races coming down to crunch time over the next few weeks. To make the next three weeks even more challenging for fantasy football players, the NFL has six teams on a bye week in Week 12, everyone plays Week 13, and then six more teams are off in Week 14. You’ll need all your roster depth and fantasy skill to navigate the next three weeks, and my positional rankings that come out each Monday can help you decide who to start and who to sit.
This week, the Panthers, Buccaneers, Giants and Cardinals are returning from their bye week while the Bengals, Falcons, Bills, Saints, Jets and Jaguars have the week off.
As you get your fantasy teams ready for those bye weeks and lock in your starters this week, make sure to consider all the matchups and options. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest risers and fallers in my Week 12 fantasy football rankings.
QB Risers and Fallers
After struggling against the Steelers and in a tough matchup with the Chargers, Lamar Jackson slides from No. 1 to No. 3 in my rankings this week while Jalen Hurts takes over the top spot as he gets ready for another prime-time matchup in Los Angeles against the Rams. Jayden Daniels jumps from No. 6 up to No. 2 as his Commanders get a favorable matchup against the struggling Cowboys.
Jared Goff had a huge week against the Jaguars last week and gets another good matchup vs. the Rams, so he climbs to No. 4 in my rankings after being outside my top 10 last week. Bo Nix also enters my top 10 for his favorable matchup in Vegas against the Raiders.
Trending the other direction, C.J. Stroud, Brock Purdy, and Russell Wilson are out of my top 10 this week after being in the rankings last week. Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray are back from their bye weeks and back in my top 10 to start as well.
Check out my full QB rankings for Week 12.
RB Risers and Fallers
After having Joe Mixon No. 1 last week vs. the Cowboys, I went back to Saquon Barkley in my top spot based on matchups this week. Christian McCaffrey moved up to No. 3 with Mixon slotting in at No. 3. De’Von Achane also jumped up the rankings based on his good matchup vs. the Patriots and is No. 4 after being No. 9 in Week 11.
Kyren Williams drops out of my top 10 this week as the Rams host the Eagles, and Brian Robinson Jr. climbs into my top 10 since he’s got a great matchup vs. Dallas. James Conner is also back in my top 10 after a bye week last week.
The four running backs between No. 10 and No. 13 in my Week 11 rankings are all on bye weeks this week, allowing a nice surge for Rhamondre Stevenson, David Montgomery, Jonathan Taylor, and J.K. Dobbins. D’Andre Swift is the only player in the middle of my rankings to do down a few spots, which is mostly due to a tough matchup this week and a potential timeshare with Roschon Johnson, who breaks into my top 25 at No. 25 this week. Also jumping into my rankings after being out in Week 11, Rico Dowdle is clearly the go-to running back in Dallas, although their offense hasn’t looked good since Dak Prescott’s (hamstring) injury.
Check out my full RB rankings for Week 12.
WR Risers and Fallers
After his huge game last week and with a great matchup again this week, Amon-Ra St. Brown takes over the top spot in my top 25 WR to start this week in place of Ja’Marr Chase, who is on a bye week. Mike Evans is a top-five option as he comes back from his injury against the Giants, and I also have Nico Collins back in my top five after his return last week.
Terry McLaurin surges back into my top 10 this week since I think he’ll have a big bounce-back game vs. the Cowboys while Tyreek Hill slides down a few spots to No. 15 since he still doesn’t seem to be fully healthy.
Jauan Jennings is my highest-rated 49ers’ receiver passing his teammate Deebo Samuel Sr., who tumbles from No. 15 to No. 21. He’s just behind CeeDee Lamb, who is also trending downwards since Dallas’s defense has struggled so badly the last few weeks.
Ladd McConkey is another big riser this week jumping from outside my top 25 to No. 16 for his favorable matchup vs. the Ravens on Monday Night Football. The Chargers don’t usually air it out a ton, but he’s clearly become their WR1 for when they do throw the ball down the field. I have Ladd just ahead of fellow rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. and just behind Malik Nabers, who will be working with a new QB this week.
Check out my full WR rankings for Week 12.
TE Risers and Fallers
Week 11 was dominated by Taysom Hill at the tight end position, but Hill is on a bye this week, so he’s not in my top 10 after being in my top 10 the last few weeks. Brock Bowers is back at the top of my rankings for his home matchup with the Broncos, while Trey McBride is my No. 2 option as he returns from his bye week. Cade Otton is also in my top five as he returns to action with a good matchup vs. the Giants.
I don’t have George Kittle in my top 10 since he was not expected to play when the rankings came out on Monday. If he does play, I would add him as my No. 4 option just behind Travis Kelce, who will look to dominate as the Chiefs try to bounce back vs. the Panthers.
In the lower half of my top 10, Hunter Henry and Will Dissly are veteran options who climb back into the top 10 this week since Kyle Pitts and Evan Engram are on a bye week. I also dropped Mark Andrews out of my top 10 this week mostly due to his inconsistency this season and a tough matchup vs. the Chargers.
Check out my full TE rankings for Week 12.
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