Weekly Rankings: Ranking Each Position For Week 12

Welcome to QB List’s weekly rankings! Each week, I’ll be taking a look at the upcoming matchups and ranking each position, as well as flex positions.

Note: rankings will be updated throughout the week, so continue checking back here as the week goes on. Also, check out our defensive rankings article for explanations on those, and our Kickin’ It article for explanations on the kicker rankings.

Week 12 Notes:

• New Orleans’ defense is legit, I think we’re all aware of that by now, and because of that, I’m worried about Jared Goff‘s production this week. I think he’ll be a fine QB2, but not much more than that. I like his potential for the future, but he’s still got a number of kinks to work out before I’m trusting him against a defense like the Saints’.

• My rankings assume that Devonta Freeman is not playing and that Tevin Coleman is starting in his place. Obviously that could change, and if Freeman is declared active, slot him in right about where Coleman is and move Coleman down to the RB3 range.
• Marshawn Lynch had a rough stretch there for a bit, but lately he’s been looking more like himself, and the Denver Broncos’ defense is really starting to show some weaknesses. I think Lynch makes for a low-end RB2 this week.
• Danny Woodhead didn’t see a ton of work in his first game back with the Ravens, but I think that was just precautionary. He’ll likely start working his way back into his role as a focal point in that offense, likely taking a lot of those running back passing targets. Houston has a solid defense, but I think Woodhead could get enough work to warrant flex consideration this week.
• The Patriots have given up the third-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers so far this year, and Jarvis Landry has seen plenty of work all year. It doesn’t really matter to me whether Jay Cutler or Matt Moore is at quarterback this week, Landry is a borderline WR1 or at the very least, a solid WR2 this week.
• I know that Dak Prescott looked bad last week, but even so, he targeted Dez Bryant 14 times. I don’t think Dak is going to be nearly as bad as he was last week this week, and with Ezekiel Elliott gone, it’s obvious that Dez is going to continue to be the focal point of this offense. He’s a solid WR2/borderline WR1 based on volume and his matchup against the Chargers who have given up the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers so far this year.
• As of this writing, Sterling Shepard is questionable to play with an illness. If he does play though, I think you can beat the Washington secondary, which could make him an interesting flex play this week.
• Robby Anderson has four-straight games with a touchdown and has been awesome lately, I know, but I have a hard time trusting him against the Panthers who have given up the 11th-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers so far this year. He’s still a flex play, but I’m not as confident in him as others might be.
• Like I said earlier, the Saints’ defense is legit, and while I know Robert Woods will be out which should work to the benefit of both Sammy Watkins and Cooper Kupp, I’m worried about how well they’ll do in this game, whether based on their performance or Goff’s. I think Watkins will benefit from Woods’ abscense more than Kupp will, but it’ll definitely be a boost for both of them while Woods is out. I just don’t know how I can really trust them as anything more than deep-league flex plays against the Saints’ defense.
• With both Kelvin Benjamin and Jordan Matthews potentially out, the top receiving role in the Bills’ offense will likely fall on Zay Jones. Jones has been far from amazing this year, but he has had two nice games in a row and will likely see some volume against a Kansas City defense that’s given up the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers so far this year.