Fantasy Focus

Week 12 fantasy football rankings: Chiefs have a matchup to be thankful for

Week 12 fantasy football rankings: Chiefs have a matchup to be thankful for
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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Expect these rookies to make an immediate impact for Houston. Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images.

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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