NFL Week 12 picks: Why you should consider Broncos and Lions on Sunday
Lorenzo Reyes is back with his three best bets for Sunday’s games.
Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season is officially underway.
Week 11 was another doozy. Anthony Richardson and Jameis Winston were the QB4 and QB6, respectively. Jerry Jeudy, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and Christian Watson were top-10 receivers. Taysom Hill scored four more half-PPR points than anyone else on the slate. And Jonnu Smith, Noah Gray, Will Dissly, Juwan Johnson, Colby Parkinson, Nate Adkins, Kenny Yeboah, and Brock Wright finished as TE1s. Fun.
To assist with your most difficult lineup decisions, you’ll find my Week 12 fantasy football rankings below. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception), and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format.
Our team at the USA TODAY Sports Network also has you covered for all your fantasy football needs. Looking for up-to-date player news? We’ve got it. Need to know who the 40 best starts and sits of the week are? We have an article for that. We also have fantasy defense rankings, kicker rankings, and a trade value chart to help with all your trade decisions.
Given the volatility of this league and fantasy football in particular, these rankings will be updated up until a half hour before the Sunday afternoon games kick off. Let’s get to it.
Week 12 fantasy football quarterback rankings
- STOCK UP: Justin Herbert has finished as a top-12 quarterback in four consecutive outings. In Week 12, he’s in the top-five conversation versus a Ravens team that’s surrendered the fifth-most points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
- STOCK UP: Bo Nix has finish as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in five of his last seven games, including four performances of QB9 or better. He’ll face the Raiders, a team that has given up at least 17.4 points to signal-callers in all but two matchups since Week 1.
- STOCK DOWN: Sam Darnold rebounded from a poor performance against the Jaguars with 264 yards and three touchdowns against the reeling Titans. It’ll be tougher sledding in Week 12. The Vikings will square off against a Bears defense that’s ceded the fewest fantasy points to the position this season.
- STOCK DOWN: Jayden Daniels has now finished as the QB11 or worse in seven straight games, including performances of QB24 and QB23 in his last two contests. The matchup versus Dallas keeps him in the top-five conversation, but expectations should be kept in check nonetheless.
Week 12 fantasy football running back rankings
- STOCK UP: Tyrone Tracy Jr. has ranked as a top-10 running back in three of his last five games. A matchup with the Bucs awaits. Tampa Bay has given up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing backfields this campaign.
- STOCK UP: Bucky Irving has finished as the RB17 or better in three of his last five games, including an RB6 performance in Week 10. He should feast on a Giants defense that’s allowed the most rush yards and third-most fantasy points to running backs since Week 7.
- STOCK DOWN: Aaron Jones has ranked higher than RB19 just once in his last six games. Volume and matchup keeps him in the top-20 mix, but his floor is lower than it appeared early in the season.
- STOCK DOWN: D’Andre Swift should play in Week 12 despite being listed as questionable, but there are reasons for concern. Last week, Roschon Johnson received his highest snap percentage and highest percentage of rush attempts of the season. Swift will also face a Vikings defense that has only allowed three backs to record double-digit half-PPR points against them this season.
Week 12 fantasy football wide receiver rankings
- STOCK UP: Mike Evans is back. 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).
- STOCK UP: Ladd McConkey will go up against a Ravens secondary that has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2024. The rookie has now eclipsed 100 yards in two of his last four games, and he’s finished as a top-20 wideout in three of his last seven outings.
- STOCK DOWN: Romeo Doubs finished as the WR9 and WR15 in Weeks 6 and 7, respectively, but he has since ranked outside the top 45 in three consecutive games. He’s a desperation-only start against the 49ers.
- STOCK DOWN: Jaylen Waddle hasn’t surpassed 7.1 half-PPR points in nine straight games, and his best finish during that stretch 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
- STOCK UP: Jonnu Smith has finished as 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. The veteran is a high upside streaming option at a thin position.
- STOCK UP: Ja’Tavion Sanders has ranked as the TE16 or higher in four of his last five outings, including three top-12 finishes in his last four games. He’s a decent dart-throw option against a Chiefs team that’s allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to the position in 2024.
- STOCK DOWN: Tucker Kraft has received four targets or fewer in four of his last five games, including a zero-catch outing against the Bears last week. The 49ers have surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season, and no tight end has recorded double-digit half-PPR points against them.