Fantasy football rankings Week 12: Sleepers, starts, best rollercoasters

Bears WR Rome Odunze is a strong rebound candidate in Week 12, David Banks / Imagn Images

Another week of carnage, another week of fantasy football rankings that could change by the day. As always, I aim to cover any potential start or sit situation for questionable players, including some stats to help find sleepers. Let’s make sure you get those needed wins for the fantasy playoffs just around the corner … and of course, fun with some thrilling ranks this week.

Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings Notes, Starts, Sits

Running Backs

• Bhayshul Tuten, JAX: In the ranks. If out, Travis Etienne would jump to fringe RB1.
• Blake Corum, LAR: In Weeks 9-10, Corum rotated drives with Kyren Williams. After Corum’s three failed attempts to get in the end zone of the first quarter, he touched the ball just six more times with zero goal-line rushes.
• Brian Robinson, SF: That’s back-to-back games of eight carries for Robinson, with RBTouch% rates of 29.0 and 28.6. He’s a worthy RB3 gamble most weeks, with no worries for Christian McCaffrey, by the way. CMC still had 20 and 18 touches for 13.6 and 32.6 points.
• Bucky Irving, TB: Not ranked. If he’s back, Irving is in the RB2 range. As with the others who return from injury, it’s unlikely he goes right back to a heavy lead. Sean Tucker would be in the RB3 range of Tyler Allgeier types. Rachaad White would go buh-bye.
• David Montgomery, DET: Could be worth an upside-start. Even in limited action replacing Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson had 11-40-1 rushing, making it the ninth double-digit RB score against the Giants. They also let backups Tank Bigsby and Brian Robinson hit that mark in Weeks 8-9.
• Isiah Pacheco, KC: Not ranked. Kareem Hunt would slide back a half tier or so, as it’s been infrequent that Pacheco has looked better.
• Jaylen Warren, PIT: In the ranks. If Warren can’t go, Kenneth Gainwell jumps up a few spots short of where Warren is, and Kaleb Johnson would be a touchdown-hope RB4.
• Josh Jacobs, GB: Not ranked. If Jacobs plays, you fire him up as an RB1. Emanuel Wilson would be in the RB3/4 range on the chance Jacobs aggravates the injury or shares a bit more.
• Rhamondre Stevenson, NE: In the ranks. As mentioned in the waivers’ “Power Up” section, TreVeyon Henderson is a fringe RB1 and Stevenson is a RB3 with a bit of added risk to Henderson. If Stevenson doesn’t return, Henderson is pushing the Top 5 RBs.
• Trey Benson, ARI: Not ranked. Neither is Emari Demercado. If both backs play, Benson is an RB2 with Demercado as an RB4. If Benson is out and Demercado plays, he’s pushing the RB3 tier with similar value to Bam Knight — like the Titans’ duo. If Benson is playing and Demercado is out, Knight sits in the RB3/4 range, as the Cardinals could ease Benson back in workload-wise.
• Woody Marks, HOU: Despite a disappointing showing, DeMeco Ryans wasn’t lying about “rookies not being rookies” anymore. Marks hit a season high 82.6 RBTouch%. The volatility of the Texans keeps Marks from being a locked-in, weekly Top 20 option, though.

Wide Receivers

• A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, PHI: Interestingly, Brown and Smith see bumps in TmTGT% when Jalen Hurts is under pressure, and the Cowboys have the highest QB pressure rate (43.8%) since Week 4. Meanwhile… (see tight ends).
• Brian Thomas, JAX: Ranked due to limited practices all last week. If he remains sidelined, Jakobi Meyers jumps to the WR3s along with Parker Washington.
• Chimere Dike, TEN: Not ranked. He would rank barely ahead of Elic Ayomanor if playing, as while Dike has been the volume-getter, Ayomanor sees a 7.1-point TmTGT% bump when Cam Ward is under pressure compared to a 3.5-point drop for Dike. The Seahawks have the third-highest QB pressure rate since Week 5 (43.3%).
• Chris Godwin, TB: Not ranked. Even if Godwin returns, it’s tough to trust him. Not only could he be like Ricky Pearsall and not needed in his return, but Godwin looked about 90% himself before aggravating the injury. Being out there would ding Cade Otton quite a bit, though, and give a tier bump down to Tez Johnson.
• Darius Slayton, NYG: Not ranked. Isaiah Hodgins would fall to WR5 territory if Slayton returns, who would be a WR4 boom/bust play.
• Jameson Williams, DET: As if Williams’ improved use with Dan Campbell calling plays wasn’t good enough, he averages the second-most fantasy points per target (min. 25) when facing Cover-1. Well, only the Browns (38.4%) use Cover-1 more than the Giants (30.2%).
• Kayshon Boutte, NE: In the ranks. If Boutte can’t return, Stefon Diggs stays about the same, but Mack Hollins would jump up to the WR4 tier.
• Marvin Harrison, ARI: Not ranked. If Harrison surprisingly plays, Michael Wilson would fall back to WR5 territory, and Greg Dortch would be unplayable … as was the case prior. The Jaguars are mostly middle of the road but skew slightly more as a tougher matchup than easier for wideouts.
• Rome Odunze, CHI: As mentioned in waivers, Odunze has been the Bears’ best option against man coverage, and the Steelers have the fourth-highest use. This is a chance for Odunze to rebound (and then be a sell-high).
• Xavier Legette, CAR: Not ranked. Jalen Coker would fall out of “startability” if Legette is good to go. Both are interesting if one or the other misses time. Otherwise, it’s Tetairoa — “don’t call me Tet” — McMillan and nothing else. It’s T-Mac if you want a nickname, though I think Tracy McGrady might have an issue there.

Tight Ends

• Brenton Strange, JAX: Not ranked. If Strange returns, he’ll be a fine gamble of a TE2, assuming BT7 is out. Thomas, Meyers and Washington create too many questions for Strange’s volume.
• Dallas Goedert, PHI: Drops 10.5 percentage points in TmTGT% when Hurts is pressured.
• Dalton Kincaid, BUF: Not ranked. If playing, he’s a TE1 with plenty of volatility but plenty of touchdown potential.
• Theo Johnson, NYG: Similar to Odunze, Johnson sees the biggest boost against man compared to zone and makes for a good rebound opportunity, as the Lions are third in man usage (only behind the Giants and Browns).

Quarterbacks

• Aaron Rodgers, PIT: If out, DK Metcalf will slide back a half tier or so, and relative RBs would take a slight hit.
• Bryce Young, CAR: It’s not just that Young is coming off his best game, the 49ers have been a QB’s dream since Week 5. They have one game where the opposing QB hasn’t thrown at least two touchdowns, giving up 22.2 FPPG to them. Only the Giants (23.6) and Bengals (22.4) allow more in that timeframe.
• Jaxson Dart, NYG: Not ranked. If Dart returns, he’ll be Top 10 but with a bit lower ceiling given the Giants will likely push him to be a more cautious rusher. Only Justin Fields has a higher designed rush rate (12.9% to 11.1%). Even with fewer than seven full games, Dart is still fourth in rushing yards (317) and second in rushing touchdowns (7).

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Fun With Ranks

I’m excited to take Nicole to Cedar Point this summer for her first visit there! Why? Because I love amusement parks, and I love, love, LOVE rollercoasters … just not the fantasy football player kind. I haven’t been everywhere, so I welcome and hope you will share your favorites, because this isn’t an all-encompassing list. It’s merely the “Best Rollercoasters in the U.S.” … that Jake has ridden.

Best U.S. Rollercoasters

1. Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point: The feel of a wooden coaster with the speed, turns and spins (yes, upside down) of a … steel … coaster. I’m not sure there is anything better.
2. Twisted Timbers, Kings Dominion: Initially, I was upset that the Wayne’s World ride got a redesign, especially with the diner and everything around it. Then, I rode this, where you literally come out of your seat. Plus, I’ll never forget crying laughing as the person’s flimsy poncho ripped and starting slapping my friend in the face the entire second half of the ride. Not surprisingly, there’s similarities between Vengeance and Timbers, as the same company owned both parks, but now Six Flags owns them (2024 merger).
3. Millennium Force, Cedar Point: Was the first coaster classified as a “giga coaster.” That first drop alongside the lake reaches 90+ mph and makes it tough to keep your arms up through the first turn.
4. Maverick, Cedar Point: Magnetic launch gets you up to speed, and then you take off and barrel through the turns. The midway slowdown tricks you. I was afraid it was over super-quick the first time.
5. El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure: Bonus for feeling like you could get hurt. It was shut down for a while in 2022, but if you want to risk it, this wooden coaster has one of the best drops ever.
6. Fury 325, Carowinds: Really good job with the speed and length, which is good because there is a ton more at Carowinds besides another Intimidator (next).
7. Intimidator 305, Kings Dominion: My friend actually blacked out on the first turn. I’ve ridden this at least 5+ times on every visit, and I always end up being the only one to do the last 1-2 rides.
8. Pantheon, Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Normally, I think the reverse-direction aspect is more gimmicky than fun, but this one gets it right. Since its debut, it’s been the top coaster at BGW.
9. The Beast, Kings Island: One of the best-known coasters, and for good reason. Smoother than many wooden coasters, thanks to an update and over 60 miles per hour on the ride.
10. Jersey Devil Coaster, Six Flags Great Adventure: Upside: Tallest and fastest single-rail coaster in the world. Downside: You don’t get to sit next to anyone (or is that upside?). Upside again: That single-seat feature makes it more intense.
11. Mystic Timbers, Kings Island: If you watch a video of it, watch it on 1.25 speed to give you a true idea of how fast it feels were you to be on it. Great wooden coaster.
12. Nitro, Six Flags Great Adventure: Even though it’s almost 25 years old, it’s still one of the best coasters made. The lap-bar-only restraint adds a bit more risk feel, and it has nice speed, great drops and angles and is such a smooth experience.
13. Apollo’s Chariot, Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Such a smooth, enjoyable, high-intensity and great length for a coaster. It’s the slightly lesser version of Nitro (wouldn’t be surprised if the same maker). Had the top spot at BGW until Pantheon came along.
14. Diamondback, Kings Island: It’s a “hyper coaster” with good ride time (length) but feels a bit like a lesser version of Millennium Force to me.
15. Orion, Kings Island: Not surprisingly, it feels a lot like Millennium Force and Diamondback, so MF gets the OG ranking, then these for more of the same.

HM: Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure: The launch coasters usually bore me for how quickly they’re over compared to the massive wait, but this one adds a terrific twist on the descent. Just don’t sit in the back row.

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Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨

• There is no perfect widget out there, sadly, still. I know many view this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, to get the scrolling to work (or Android people can try a two-finger scroll).
• ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t updated by everyone consistently, so take with a grain of salt).
• Updated regularly, so check up to lineups locking.

Week 12 Fantasy Football Projections

🚨 HEADS UP 🚨 These can differ from my rankings, and MY RANKS are the order I’d start players outside of added context, such as, “Need highest upside, even if risky.” Also, based on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point rest, and Half-PPR

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