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 watch | Snap counts | Fantasy 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 GPP | Y! cash | Y! GPP

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Week 12 Fantasy WR Rankings

These rankings are for standard, non-PPR leagues.

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

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.