Fantasy Football Week 12 Rankings: Top 50 Players for Flex and PPR Formats

Fantasy football players have plenty to juggle heading into Week 12, not the least of which is the ever-important flex decision.

However, a rash of injuries across the league and the three Thanksgiving games that will force earlier lineup decisions muddle things after Week 11. A number of surefire starters and candidates to fill the flex role will be out or playing at less than 100 percent.

Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said wide receiver A.J. Green won't play in Week 12 with a hamstring injury, while running back Giovani Bernard is done for the season with a torn ACL, per Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Elsewhere, the Indianapolis Colts announced quarterback Andrew Luck is in concussion protocol, which directly impacts the value of the team's receivers. Chicago Bears coach John Fox said tight end Zach Miller broke a bone in his foot, per the team. The Philadelphia Eagles announced running backs Ryan Mathews (knee) and Darren Sproles (ribs) suffered injuries on Sunday.

At least fantasy owners can take solace knowing Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noted the Buffalo Bills weren't too concerned about running back LeSean McCoy's dislocated thumb. It wasn't all good news from him, though, as Rapoport reported Seattle Seahawks running back C.J. Prosise is out until at least the playoffs with a scapula fracture.

With injuries and a quick Thursday turnaround looming, here is a look at the top 50 flex options for standard and point-per-reception leagues. Running backs, wide receivers and tight ends were considered flex options.

Rank	Standard Flex	PPR Flex
1	Le'Veon Bell, RB, PIT vs. IND	Le'Veon Bell, RB, PIT vs. IND
2	Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL vs. WAS	Ezekiel Elliott, RB, DAL vs. WAS
3	David Johnson, RB, ARI vs. ATL	David Johnson, RB, ARI vs. ATL
4	Antonio Brown, WR, PIT vs. IND	Antonio Brown, WR, PIT vs. IND
5	Julio Jones, WR, ATL vs. ARI	Julio Jones, WR, ATL vs. ARI
6	Odell Beckham Jr., WR, NYG vs. CLE	Odell Beckham Jr., WR, NYG vs. CLE
7	Thomas Rawls, RB, SEA vs. TB	Thomas Rawls, RB, SEA vs. TB
8	DeMarco Murray, RB, TEN vs. CHI	DeMarco Murray, RB, TEN vs. CHI
9	Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE vs. NYJ	Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA vs. TB
10	Melvin Gordon, RB, SD vs. HOU	Dez Bryant, WR, DAL vs. WAS
11	Doug Baldwin, WR, SEA vs. TB	LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF vs. JAX
12	Dez Bryant, WR, DAL vs. WAS	Melvin Gordon, RB, SD vs. HOU
13	LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF vs. JAX	Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI vs. ATL
14	LeGarrette Blount, RB, NE vs. NYJ	Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL vs. ARI
15	Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI vs. ATL	Mike Evans, WR, TB vs. SEA
16	Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL vs. ARI	Jay Ajayi, RB, MIA vs. SF
17	Jay Ajayi, RB, MIA vs. SF	LeGarrette Blount, RB, NE vs. NYJ
18	Mike Evans, WR, TB vs. SEA	Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE vs. NYJ
19	Rob Kelley, RB, WAS vs. DAL	Jimmy Graham, TE, SEA vs. TB
20	Jimmy Graham, TE, SEA vs. TB	Allen Robinson, WR, JAX vs. BUF
21	Allen Robinson, WR, JAX vs. BUF	Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN vs. KC
22	Demaryius Thomas, WR, DEN vs. KC	Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN vs. DET
23	Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN vs. DET	Rob Kelley, RB, WAS vs. DAL
24	Jeremy Hill, RB, CIN vs. BAL	Jeremy Hill, RB, CIN vs. BAL
25	Kelvin Benjamin, WR, CAR vs. OAK	Kelvin Benjamin, WR, CAR vs. OAK
26	Jamison Crowder, WR, WAS vs. DAL	Jamison Crowder, WR, WAS vs. DAL
27	Brandin Cooks, WR, NO vs. LA	Brandin Cooks, WR, NO vs. LA
28	Spencer Ware, RB, KC vs. DEN	Jordy Nelson, WR, GB vs. PHI
29	Jordy Nelson, WR, GB vs. PHI	Spencer Ware, RB, KC vs. DEN
30	Amari Cooper, WR, OAK vs. CAR	Matt Forte, RB, NYJ vs. NE
31	Delanie Walker, TE, TEN vs. CHI	Amari Cooper, WR, OAK vs. CAR
32	Matt Forte, RB, NYJ vs. NE	Delanie Walker, TE, TEN vs. CHI
33	T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND vs. PIT	Jordan Howard, RB, CHI vs. TEN
34	Jarvis Landry, WR, MIA vs. SF	James Starks, RB, GB vs. PHI
35	Tyler Eifert, TE, CIN vs. BAL	T.Y. Hilton, WR, IND vs. PIT
36	Todd Gurley, RB, LA vs. NO	Jarvis Landry, WR, MIA vs. SF
37	Jordan Howard, RB, CHI vs. TEN	Tyler Eifert, TE, CIN vs. BAL
38	James Starks, RB, GB vs. PHI	James White, RB, NE vs. NYJ
39	Tyrell Williams, WR, SD vs. HOU	Theo Riddick, RB, DET vs. MIN
40	Jordan Matthews, WR, PHI vs. GB	Julian Edelman, WR, NE vs. NYJ
41	Lamar Miller, RB, HOU vs. SD	Tevin Coleman, RB, ATL vs. ARI
42	Rishard Matthews, WR, TEN vs. CHI	Tyrell Williams, WR, SD vs. HOU
43	DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU vs. SD	Jordan Matthews, WR, PHI vs. GB
44	Rashad Jennings, RB, NYG vs. CLE	Rishard Matthews, WR, TEN vs. CHI
45	Jordan Reed, TE, WAS vs. DAL	DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU vs. SD
46	Terrelle Pryor, WR, CLE vs. NYG	Todd Gurley, RB, LA vs. NO
47	Michael Crabtree, WR, OAK vs. CAR	Lamar Miller, RB, HOU vs. SD
48	Frank Gore, RB, IND vs. PIT	Rashad Jennings, RB, NYG vs. CLE
49	Latavius Murray, RB, OAK vs. CAR	Wendell Smallwood, RB, PHI vs. GB
50	Wendell Smallwood, RB, PHI vs. GB	Terrelle Pryor, WR, CLE vs. NYG

Players to Watch

Best Player: Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts

Le'Veon Bell has 579 rushing yards, 415 receiving yards and three total touchdowns in just seven games this season, and he is primed to add to those totals with a dominant showing on Thanksgiving against the Indianapolis Colts.

He is also one of the most dangerous players in the league in PPR formats considering he already has 53 catches. Pro Football Focus underscored just how impressive Bell has been as a receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers:

Next up is a showdown with a Colts team that gives up the 10th-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs (as of Monday), per ESPN.com.

What's more, Luck is injured on the other side. That means the Steelers will jump out to a quick lead and ride the rushing attack of Bell against an overmatched defense. Those additional opportunities for Bell will lead to the most individual fantasy points in the league in Week 12.

Safest Bet: David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta Falcons

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson may not be the household name that Bell or Ezekiel Elliott are, but he has been the league's most consistent back in 2016.

He has 863 rushing yards, 510 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns and has reached 100 total yards in every single contest. NFL on ESPN highlighted the impressive company Johnson is keeping after his red-hot start this year:

Ian Kenyon of Bleacher Report said, "If David Johnson played on a team with a capable O-line and QB, he'd be a top-three MVP candidate."

Johnson and his seemingly automatic 100-yard performances will face an Atlanta Falcons squad in Week 12 that has given up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs (as of Monday), per ESPN.com.

The Cardinals playmaker's 100-yard streak won't stop against a vulnerable Atlanta defense. Feel free to rely on another head-turning performance from Johnson.

PPR Sleeper: Tevin Coleman, RB, Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

Falcons running back Tevin Coleman is a sleeper for his game against the Cardinals because of his injury status and the fact he shares a backfield and opportunities with Devonta Freeman.

According to JuliaKate E. Culpepper of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Coleman participated in Monday's practice and said, "I'm feeling 100 percent."

That is welcome news for fantasy owners who haven't enjoyed his presence in their lineups since he suffered a hamstring injury on Oct. 23 against the San Diego Chargers. While some may hesitate to throw him right back into the starting flex spot because of that extended time off and Freeman, Coleman will put up solid numbers in PPR formats.

He is a dangerous receiving threat with 19 catches for 330 yards and a touchdown in just seven games this year. He also has six total touchdowns on the campaign thanks to five on the ground.

The Cardinals will score plenty of points with the aforementioned Johnson, which will force Atlanta to turn to the aerial attack in comeback mode. That is where Coleman will rack up his points in PPR leagues, especially when Arizona devotes multiple defenders toward Julio Jones.

Coleman will exploit those open lanes in the middle of the field and help fantasy owners win their Week 12 games in the process.