Bills hand Chiefs their first loss, Steelers atop the AFC North
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 11 in the NFL.
Sports Seriously
The 2024 NFL season is approaching the witching hour for fantasy football managers.
Week 11 (MNF pending) was another whirlwind. Anthony Richardson was the QB4. Jerry Jeudy, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Christian Watson were top-10 receivers. Taysom Hill, Jonnu Smith, Noah Gray, Will Dissly, Juwan Johnson, Colby Parkinson, Nate Adkins, Kenny Yeboah, and Brock Wright finished as TE1s. Are you having fun yet?
Week 12 is upon us now.
Here’s a look at my Week 11 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.
Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 11 lineup and roster decisions. Wondering who the best waiver-wire claims are? We have that covered so you can make your pickups. Need to know what players you can drop? We have that as well. We also have a list of the 10 best buy low/sell high candidates.
Please note: These rankings will change significantly as the week goes on. Check back on Sunday morning for final updates.
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Week 12 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Risers and fallers
- UP: Justin Herbert – The veteran’s resurgence is no longer flying under the radar. Herbert has finished as a top-12 quarterback in four consecutive outings. In Week 12, he’ll face a Ravens team that’s allowed the fifth-most points to opposing signal-callers.
- UP: Bo Nix – The rookie has been red-hot, finishing as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in five of his last seven games, including four outings of QB9 or better. The Raiders have ceded at least 17.4 points to passers in all but two contests since Week 1.
- UP: Patrick Mahomes – The two-time MVP has not been a strong fantasy asset but this could be the week to dust him off and insert him into your lineups. Carolina has given up the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks in 2024.
- UP: Geno Smith – The 34-year-old has ranked as the QB12 or better in six of his 10 games this season, and he faces a Cardinals squad that’s allowing an average of 21.9 fantasy points to quarterbacks on the road (compared to 12.2 at home).
- UP: Anthony Richardson – In his return against the Jets, Richardson racked up 305 total yards and three scores. The Lions have surrendered at least 15.7 fantasy points to six different quarterbacks this season.
- DOWN: Jayden Daniels – After looking like a league-winning pick through four games, Daniels has now ranked as the QB11 or lower in seven straight games, including finishes of QB24 and QB23 in his last two outings.
- DOWN: Sam Darnold – After struggling mightily against the “defense” of the Jaguars, Darnold rebounded with 264 yards and 3 tuddies against the Titans. It’ll be tough sledding versus a Bears team that’s allowed the fewest fantasy points to the position in 2024.
- DOWN: Jameis Winston – In Week 11, Winston erupted for 403 total yards and two touchdowns, but streamers should look elsewhere in Week 12. No quarterback has surpassed 18.4 fantasy points against the Steelers this season.
Week 12 fantasy football running back rankings: Risers and fallers
- UP: Tyrone Tracy Jr. – The rookie has ranked as a top-10 running back in three of his last five games, and he should feast on a Bucs front that ceded the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing backfields.
- UP: Najee Harris – The 26-year-old has finished as the RB18 or better in five straight games. Six running backs have eclipsed double-digit half-PPR points against the Browns over their last six games.
- UP: Bucky Irving – After managing an RB6 finish in Week 10, the rookie has now ranked as the R17 or better in three of his last five outings. He’ll face a Giants defense that’s allowed the most rush yards and third-most fantasy points to backs since Week 7.
- UP: Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler – Robinson has ranked as the RB17 or better in five of his eight games this season, and he’s only finished lower than RB22 once. Meanwhile, Ekeler has finished as the RB27 or better in seven of his last nine games. Both are good plays against a Cowboys team that’s giving up the third-most fantasy points to running backs in 2024.
- DOWN: Jonathan Taylor – Consistently ranked inside the top-10, Taylor has finished higher than RB11 just once in eight games this campaign. The Lions await in Week 12, and they’ve given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to runners this season.
- DOWN: Aaron Jones – The veteran got off to a great start, but it’s been tough sledding of late. In his last six games, Jones has ranked higher than RB19 just once.
- DOWN: Kareem Hunt – The honeymoon period might be over for Hunt, as Isiah Pacheco is reportedly set to return in Week 12. Hunt also garnered a season-low 14 touches against the Bills on Sunday.
- DOWN: Audric Estime – After head coach Sean Payton stated that Estime would “continue to get more reps,” the rookie finished with nine touches, four fewer than the previous week. Utilize this backfield in fantasy at your own risk.
Week 12 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Risers and fallers
- UP: Mike Evans – He’s back. Evans appears ready to return in Week 12, and he should have an elite role. Granted, it’s a small sample size, but the 31-year-old has averaged 0.57 fantasy points per route run without Chris Godwin on the field since 2022. For context, the only player averaging more fantasy points per route during that period is Tyreek Hill (0.64).
- UP: Jauan Jennings – We now have three games this season where Jennings has seen more than six targets, and in those games he’s finished as the WR1, WR17, and WR8 (with MNF pending). Jennings looks like a top-15 wideout for the remainder of the season.
- UP: Jaxon Smith-Njigba – D.K. Metcalf’s return didn’t slow down JSN. The second-year receiver racked up 110 yards on 10 receptions against the 49ers, adding 8 yards on the ground. He’s firmly in the top-20 conversation this week.
- UP: Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston – The Ravens have allowed the most fantasy points to wideouts in 2024, which means it’s time to fire up the Chargers receivers in Week 12. McConkey has now topped 100 yards in two of his last four games, and Johnston has finished as a top-30 receiver in five of his last seven games.
- UP: Jerry Jeudy – Jeudy has now racked up at least eight targets in three consecutive games, culminating in a 6/142/1 line in Week 11. Even in a tough matchup with the Steelers, he’s on the streaming radar.
- DOWN: Deebo Samuel Sr. – Despite the absences of Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, Deebo managed just 21 total yards this week. He’s now ranked as the WR37 or worse in five of his last seven games. Adjust expectations accordingly.
- DOWN: Romeo Doubs – After finishing as the WR9 and WR15 in Week 6 and 7, respectively, Doubs has now placed outside the top-45 in three straight games. He’s off the fantasy radar in a tough Week 12 draw versus the 49ers.
- DOWN: Jaylen Waddle – The speedster’s best finish since Week 1 has been WR35. The upside will always be there with Waddle, but start him at your own risk.
Week 12 fantasy football tight end rankings: Risers and fallers
- UP: Jonnu Smith – Smith has been a top-two tight end in two of his last five games, and he’s ranked as the TE17 or higher in five of his last six. You can do worse, especially at a thin position.
- UP: Ja’Tavion Sanders – The rookie has finished as the TE16 or higher in four of his last five games, including three top-12 performances in his last four outings. He’s a decent streaming option against a Chiefs team that’s allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends.
- DOWN: Tucker Kraft – Kraft has generated four targets or fewer in four of his last five outings, with his latest resulting in a goose egg against the Bears. The 49ers have surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season.
- DOWN: Pat Freiermuth – Targets have been hard to come by for Freiermuth, who hasn’t exceeded three looks since Week 4. The result? One performance better than TE18 during that stretch.