Fantasy Focus
Week 12 fantasy football rankings: Chiefs have a matchup to be thankful for
Nov 22, 2017, 7:00 am
The Chiefs face a Buffalo defense that allowed 54 points to the Chargers last week. Peter Aiken/Getty Images
Below are my early 1/2 PPR fantasy rankings for Week 12. Most leagues are using points per reception these days, so take that into consideration when looking at the ranks. Six points are awarded for every receiving and rushing TD, and four points for every passing TD. If you are playing in a non-PPR league, pass-catching running backs lose a bit of value and so do possession receivers. Make sure you check the status of players that have been limited or out of practice. The rankings will be updated on Sunday morning.
QB
1 T. Brady NE
2 C. Wentz PHI
3 R. Wilson SEA
4 B. Roethlisberger PIT
5 M. Ryan ATL
6 D. Brees NO
7 C. Newton CAR
8 M. Mariota TEN
9 K. Cousins WAS
10 P. Rivers LAC
11 A. Smith KC
12 J. Goff LAR
13 E. Manning NYG
14 M. Stafford DET
15 D. Prescott DAL
RB
1 L. Bell PIT
2 M. Ingram NO
3 L. Fournette JAC
4 K. Hunt KC
5 L. McCoy BUF
6 M. Gordon LAC
7 A. Kamara NO
8 T. Gurley LAR
9 J. Howard CHI
10 C. Hyde SF
11 C. McCaffrey CAR
12 S. Perine WAS
13 T. Coleman ATL
14 J. McKinnon MIN
15 J. Mixon CIN
16 M. Lynch OAK
17 D. Lewis NE
18 J. Ajayi PHI
19 D. Murray TEN
20 I. Crowell CLE
21 A. Peterson ARI
22 A. Abdullah DET
23 L. Miller HOU
24 A. Morris DAL
25 L. Murray MIN
26 K. Drake MIA
27 B. Powell NYJ
28 A. Collins BAL
29 D. Martin TB
30 J. Williams GB
31 F. Gore IND
32 D. Johnson CLE
33 O. Darkwa NYG
34 D. Woodhead BAL
35 R. Burkhead NE
36 D. Henry TEN
WR
1 A. Brown PIT
2 A. Green CIN
3 J. Jones ATL
4 A. Thielen MIN
5 B. Cooks NE
6 J. Landry MIA
7 D. Hopkins HOU
8 T. Hill KC
9 D. Bryant DAL
10 M. Thomas NO
11 M. Evans TB
12 K. Allen LAC
13 S. Diggs MIN
14 D. Baldwin SEA
15 D. Adams GB
16 T. Hilton IND
17 L. Fitzgerald ARI
18 D. Thomas DEN
19 D. Funchess CAR
20 A. Jeffrey PHI
21 R. Woods LAR
22 G. Tate DET
23 J. Maclin BAL
24 M. Crabtree OAK
25 M. Sanu ATL
26 M. Lee JAC
27 M. Jones DET
28 J. Crowder WAS
29 R. Anderson NYJ
30 J. Smith-Schuster PIT
31 E. Sanders DEN
32 S. Shepard NYG
33 D. Jackson TB
34 C. Davis TEN
35 T. Ginn NO
36 A. Cooper OAK
37 D. Parker MIA
38 N. Agholor PHI
TE
1 T. Kelce KC
2 R. Gronkowski NE
3 Z. Ertz PHI
4 J. Graham SEA
5 E. Engram NYG
6 D. Walker TEN
7 J. Doyle IND
8 V. Davis WAS
9 K. Rudolph MIN
10 A. Seferian-Jenkins NYJ
11 G. Olsen
12 J. Cook OAK
13 A. Hooper ATL
14 J. Witten DAL
15 C. Brate TB
DEF
1 Jaguars
2 Ravens
3 Bengals
4 Steelers
5 Patriots
6 Chargers
7 Broncos
8 Seahawks
9 Falcons
10 Eagles
11 Rams
12 Vikings
13 Chiefs
14 Panthers
Kicker
1 S. Gostkowski NE
2 J. Tucker BAL
3 G. Zuerlein LAR
4 H. Butker KC
5 C. Boswell PIT
6 G. Gano CAR
7 W. Lutz NO
8 R. Succop TEN
9 M. Bryant ATL
10 W. Lutz NO
11 M. Prater DET
12 K. Forbath MIN
13 N. Rose WAS
14 B. Walsh SEA
15 A. Vinatieri IND
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The Houston Texans continue to build one of the NFL’s most intriguing wide receiver rooms — and according to Yahoo Sports analyst Matt Harmon, their new rookie additions bring more than just depth. Harmon offered insight into how the Texans might creatively deploy second-round pick Jayden Higgins and third-rounder Jaylin Noel, two players with contrasting skill sets who could carve out meaningful roles in Nick Caley's (formerly with the Rams) offense.
At first glance, Higgins fits the traditional mold of an outside receiver. At 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, he lined up mostly as an X receiver in college and looked the part physically. But Harmon suggests that Higgins might actually be a better fit as a power slot — a big-bodied interior option who can do damage against zone coverage, similar to how the Rams used Cooper Kupp in his prime.
That role makes sense in Houston. The Texans already have one of the league’s premier outside receivers in Nico Collins, and there’s no pressure to force Higgins into a role that doesn’t maximize his skill set. According to data from Reception Perception, Higgins struggled against tight coverage in college, finishing in just the 15th percentile in success rate versus man and 16th percentile versus press. Letting Higgins attack softer coverages from the slot could be the key to unlocking his full potential.
Still, Higgins might not even be the most impactful rookie receiver the Texans landed.
While Higgins came in with the size and profile of a prototypical NFL wideout, Noel quietly outproduced him in 2024 at Iowa State and was quite often more feared by opponents. Noel’s game is built around separation and quickness — and despite being under six feet tall, there's confidence that he can play both inside and outside at the pro level. His 74.1 percent success rate versus man coverage speaks to his advanced route-running, which could earn him early targets in Houston’s pass-heavy scheme.
With Collins, Christian Kirk, Higgins, and Noel, the Texans suddenly have a flexible, matchup-proof receiving group that can attack every level of the field. If C.J. Stroud takes another step in year three, this offense could become even more dangerous — with its rookie receivers helping push it over the top.
Be sure to check out the video below to watch Harmon's full breakdown of the Texans receivers, and much more!
*ChatGPT assisted.
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