Fantasy Football Week 12: Rankings, Projections and Waiver-Wire Tips

The 2014 NFL season continues to be one of the most enigmatic in recent memory. There's not much consistency throughout the league. Dominant teams falter from time to time, and weaker teams produce playoff-caliber performances out of the blue.   

Due to the inconsistency of teams across the league, fantasy owners continue to baffled by roller-coaster showings by their starting lineup. New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray hadn't done anything this season until he led all players in fantasy scoring in Week 12. Conversely, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson appeared to have a favorable matchup but came away with just 59 receiving yards.

Of course, some of the usual suspects were at it again. Aaron Rodgers, Jamaal Charles, Jordy Nelson and Rob Gronkowski continued to produce nicely for fantasy owners at their respective positions Sunday, although not every lineup is graced by the consistency of these players. That's where ranking and projections come in handy.

With Sunday's performances fresh in mind, here's a look ahead at what we should expect in the fantasy ranks in Week 12.

Thursday, November 20	Time (ET)
Sunday, November 23	Time (ET)
Monday, November 24	Time (ET)
Bye Week Teams
Kansas City at Miami	8:25 p.m.
NY Jets at Buffalo	1 p.m.
Cleveland at Atlanta	1 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Chicago	1 p.m.
Cincinnati at Houston	1 p.m.
Detroit at New England	1 p.m.
Green Bay at Minnesota	1 p.m.
Jacksonville at Indianapolis	1 p.m.
Tennessee at Philadelphia	1 p.m.
St. Louis at San Diego	4:05 p.m.
Arizona at Seattle	4:05 p.m.
Miami at Denver	4:25 p.m.
Washington at San Francisco	4:25 p.m.
Dallas at NY Giants	8:30 p.m.
Baltimore at New Orleans	8:30 p.m.
Carolina
Pittsburgh

Note: Highlighted players within positional ranking are potential injury risks heading into Week 12 or have yet to play in Week 11.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	24
2	Andrew Luck, IND	23
3	Jay Cutler, CHI	22
4	Drew Brees, NO	22
5	Peyton Manning, DEN	21
6	Tom Brady, NE	21
7	Andy Dalton, CIN	20
8	Colin Kaepernick, SF	19
9	Tony Romo, DAL	19
10	Mark Sanchez, PHI	18
11	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	18
12	Matt Ryan, ATL	17
13	Matthew Stafford, DET	16
14	Eli Manning, NYG	16
15	Josh McCown, TB	16
16	Robert Griffin III, WAS	15
17	Alex Smith, KC	15
18	Blake Bortles, JAX	15
19	Joe Flacco, BAL	14
20	Russell Wilson, SEA	14

Top Dog: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Rodgers lit up the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11, completing 22 of his 36 passing attempts for 341 yards and three touchdowns, and he also added 34 rushing yards. He's now put up at least 24 fantasy points in each of his last five games and faces a Minnesota Vikings defense that was torn apart Sunday by Jay Cutler.

The last time Rodgers played the Vikings this season, he only passed for 156 yards. However, that was accompanied by three touchdowns thrown in the first half, as the Packers pummeled Minnesota early and often. Expect more of the same this time around, but let's hope the signal-caller plays a full four quarters.

Sleeper: Mark Sanchez, Philadelphia Eagles

Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

Sanchez reverted to his turnover-prone ways against the Packers in Week 11, tossing two interceptions and losing two fumbles. Those lost fantasy points were devastating to his owners, but don't give up on this quarterback just yet.

A contest against the Tennessee Titans in Week 12 gives Sanchez a favorable matchup. Tennessee hasn't faced many pass-happy teams this season, but the team has given up yards to the likes of Andrew Luck, Brian Hoyer and Blake Bortles—all three attempted at least 37 passes. Considering Sanchez is a high-volume passer as well, he could regain the good graces of his fantasy owners.

Beware: Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

A contest against the Arizona Cardinals isn't favorable for any quarterback, and Wilson is no exception. Matthew Stafford was held to just five points against this squad in Week 11, and a quarterback like Wilson who doesn't pass often isn't poised for a big day.

Wilson has gained many of his fantasy points on the ground this season, but considering Arizona's solid track record against the run this year, he may not be able to deliver in that department as well. Wilson is talented, but he's a very risky play in Week 12.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	24
2	Jamaal Charles, KC	21
3	Matt Forte, CHI	20
4	Eddie Lacy, GB	19
5	Mark Ingram, NO	19
6	Justin Forsett, BAL	18
7	Jeremy Hill, CIN	17
8	Denard Robinson, JAX	16
9	LeSean McCoy, PHI	16
10	Andre Ellington, AZ	16
11	Frank Gore, SF	15
12	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	15
13	Alfred Morris, WAS	14
14	Arian Foster, HOU	14
15	Jonas Gray, NE	14
16	Tre Mason, STL	13
17	Chris Ivory, NYJ	13
18	Joique Bell, DET	12
19	Rashad Jennings, NYG	12
20	Ryan Mathews, SD	12
21	Lamar Miller, MIA	11
22	C.J. Anderson, DEN	11
23	Jerick McKinnon, MIN	10
24	Bishop Sankey, TEN	10
25	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	9
26	Anthony Dixon, BUF	8
27	Steven Jackson, ATL	8
28	Charles Sims, TB	7
29	Darren Sproles, PHI	6
30	Shane Vereen, NE	6

Top Dog: DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

Murray will be well-rested in Week 12 coming off a bye week, and he'll be looking to increase his rushing lead over the rest of the league. Through 10 games this season, Murray eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark nine times. The only game he failed to reach that feat was with Brandon Weeden under center for an injured Tony Romo.

With the team's starting signal-caller healthy enough to give it another go in Week 12, fantasy owners should expect another big day from Murray against a New York Giants team that has been struggling to stop the run for the bulk of the season.

Sleeper: Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams

Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images

For some reason, Mason has been stepping up against some of the league's better run defenses this year. He scored his first touchdown against the Seahawks in Week 7, and in Week 11, he rattled off his first 100-yard rushing performance against the Denver Broncos.

The rookie is slated to face off against the San Diego Chargers in Week 12. The Chargers have only allowed three 100-yard performances from opposing running backs this season, so based on Mason's recent history, he should have no trouble breaking that trend. Expect this ball-carrier to garner enough touches to put up a nice fantasy performance.

Beware: Charles Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Don't get trigger-happy with this running back just yet. Yes, he'll become an intriguing option down the road, but in a cluttered Buccaneers backfield, Sims isn't ready for a fantasy start. He was given a larger workload in Week 11, but his 13 carries only produced 36 yards. That was disappointing.

Sims appears to be adjusting to life in the NFL, and fantasy owners should be patient with the rookie until he begins to show a grasp for the offensive scheme and speed of the game. Until then, he'll be a big risk in any format.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	19
2	Jordy Nelson, GB	18
3	Mike Evans, TB	18
4	A.J. Green, CIN	17
5	Dez Bryant, DAL	17
6	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	16
7	Randall Cobb, GB	15
8	T.Y. Hilton, IND	15
9	Brandon Marshall, CHI	15
10	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	15
11	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	14
12	Calvin Johnson, DET	14
13	Julio Jones, ATL	14
14	Sammy Watkins, BUF	14
15	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	13
16	Larry Fitzgerald, AZ	13
17	Jordan Matthews, PHI	12
18	Roddy White, ATL	12
19	Steve Smith, BAL	12
20	Brandon LaFell, NE	11
21	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	11
22	Reggie Wayne, IND	11
23	Andrew Hawkins, CLE	11
24	Mohamed Sanu, CIN	10
25	Doug Baldwin, SEA	10
26	Cecil Shorts III, JAX	10
27	Kenny Britt, STL	9
28	Michael Crabtree, SF	9
29	Rueben Randle, NYG	9
30	Kenny Stills, NO	8
31	Torrey Smith, BAL	8
32	Jarvis Landry, MIA	8
33	Michael Floyd, AZ	8
34	Andre Johnson, HOU	7
35	Vincent Jackson, TB	7
36	Terrance Williams, DAL	7
37	Eric Decker, NYJ	6
38	DeSean Jackson, WAS	6
39	Keenan Allen, SD	6
40	Marques Colston, NO	6

Top Dog: Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Jeffery continues to be targeted like crazy by quarterback Jay Cutler; however, the wide receiver hasn't produced big numbers every single week due to Cutler's accuracy issues. In Week 12, we saw a much better version of the quarterback, and Jeffery reaped the benefits, hauling in 11 passes for 135 yards and a score.

Chicago is lucky enough to take on a terrible Buccaneers secondary in Week 12, and if Cutler can remain nearly as accurate as he was Sunday, Jeffery will be in for another monster performance.

Sleeper: Kenny Stills, New Orleans Saints

Mike McCarn/Associated Press

Stills has caught the eye of quarterback Drew Brees and should have a bigger role with Brandin Cooks injured. It's time to start him in Week 12 as a high-upside option.

The Saints face off against the Baltimore Ravens, who haven't been very good against opposing wide receivers at all this season, allowing an average of 24.6 fantasy points per game to the position. Expect Stills to take advantage and take one to the house.

Beware: Keenan Allen, San Diego Chargers

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Allen is a very promising talent. He was phenomenal during his rookie season, but for some reason, he can't seem to recapture that output in 2014. So far this year, Allen has only produced two double-digit fantasy performances, eclipsing the 100-yard mark once and scoring once.

In Week 12, Allen and the Chargers face off against a St. Louis team that held Peyton Manning and Co. in check Sunday. This unfavorable matchup doesn't exactly exude confidence in the wide receiver putting up any kind of significant numbers.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Jimmy Graham, NO	14
2	Rob Gronkowski, NE	13
3	Julius Thomas, DEN	12
4	Antonio Gates, SD	11
5	Travis Kelce, KC	10
6	Martellus Bennett, CHI	9
7	Zach Ertz, PHI	9
8	Larry Donnell, NYG	8
9	Jason Witten, DAL	8
10	Dwayne Allen, IND	8
11	Delanie Walker, TEN	7
12	Jermaine Gresham, CIN	6
13	Jace Amaro, NYJ	6
14	Mychal Rivera, OAK	6
15	Coby Fleener, IND	5

Top Dog: Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints

Graham is coming off his worst week of the season, and we should probably go ahead and speculate he's not too happy with that. While he doesn't have a very favorable matchup in Week 12 against a Baltimore team that's been pretty good against tight ends this season, expect Brees to force-feed his tight end early and often.  

Sleeper: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Ertz has had a relatively quiet season after many fantasy owners expected him to break out in a big way this year. Well, all is not lost. The Eagles have a tight end-friendly matchup in Week 12 against a Titans team that has allowed several big games to the position this season. Expect Sanchez to rely on Ertz more often as a security blanket to help avoid those pesky turnovers.

Beware: Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts

While Fleener looked excellent Sunday night against the Patriots, don't let his sudden outburst of fantasy points fool you. He became the team's primary option at the position due to an injury suffered by Dwayne Allen. Fleener is worth a play in Week 12 if Allen misses time, but don't expect another big performance while both tight ends are on the field.

Rank	Team	Opponent	Projected Points
1	San Francisco 49ers	vs. Washington Redskins	14
2	Green Bay Packers	at Minnesota Vikings	12
3	Indianapolis Colts	vs. Jacksonville Jaguars	11
4	Philadelphia Eagles	vs. Tennessee Titans	10
5	Kansas City Chiefs	at Oakland Raiders	10
6	Seattle Seahawks	vs. Arizona Cardinals	9
7	Arizona Cardinals	at Seattle Seahawks	9
8	New England Patriots	vs. Detroit Lions	8
9	Dallas Cowboys	at New York Giants	8
10	Buffalo Bills	vs. New York Jets	7
11	Cincinnati Bengals	at Houston Texans	7
12	Chicago Bears	vs. Tampa Bay Bucaneers	6
13	New York Jets	at Buffalo Bills	5
14	Denver Broncos	vs. Miami Dolphins	5
15	Detroit Lions	at New England Patriots	4

Top Dog: San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers get the Washington Redskins in Week 12 in San Francisco. That's the kind of fantasy matchup that will make owners salivate. The 49ers defense scored 15 fantasy points in Week 11 after picking off Eli Manning five times. They now get an offense that afforded 21 fantasy points to the lowly Buccaneers defense on Sunday.

Sleeper: New York Jets

Elsa/Getty Images

This defense could be an interesting fantasy play for an owner in need. The Jets defense looked good in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, coming away with 12 fantasy points. They now face a Bills offense that doesn't turn the ball over much but struggles to score from within the red zone. The ceiling may not be high here, but the risk is minimal.

Beware: Detroit Lions

Yes, this is still an incredible defense; however, Week 12 really isn't a good time to stick with Detroit. Traveling to Foxboro to take on Tom Brady and the Patriots is hazardous to the health of any defensive unit. In fact, New England's offense has dropped opposing defenses into negative fantasy points in five of its last six games.

Rank	Player	Projected Points
1	Adam Vinatieri, IND	14
2	Greg Zuerlein, STL	13
3	Matt Bryant, ATL	12
4	Mason Crosby, GB	11
5	Phil Dawson, SF	11
6	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	11
7	Nick Novak, SD	11
8	Mike Nugent, CIN	10
9	Dan Carpenter, BUF	10
10	Cody Parkey, PHI	9
11	Caleb Sturgis, MIA	9
12	Shayne Graham, NO	8
13	Randy Bullock, HOU	8
14	Patrick Murray, TB	8
15	Steven Hauschka, SEA	7

Top Dog: Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts

Vinatieri is a field-goal machine. He's scored double-digit fantasy points in all but three weeks this season.

Sleeper: Greg Zuerlein, St. Louis Rams

He hadn't done much this season until Shaun Hill found his way back under center in Week 11. Perhaps there's something to that.

Beware: Steven Hauschka, SEA

There won't be many opportunities to score points against a stingy Cardinals defense.

Waiver-Wire Advice

Player	Pos.	Team	Ownership
Mark Sanchez	QB	Philadelphia Eagles	46.4%
Drew Stanton	QB	Arizona Cardinals	5.1%
Alfred Blue	RB	Houston Texans	66.1%
Bishop Sankey	RB	Tennessee Titans	68.5%
Jordan Matthews	WR	Philadelphia Eagles	41.7%
Kenny Britt	WR	St. Louis Rams	12.4%
Jarvis Landry	WR	Miami Dolphins	9.7%
Mychal Rivera	TE	Oakland Raiders	45.4%

Grab Him Now: Jordan Matthews (WR, Philadelphia Eagles)

Tom Lynn/Associated Press

It's pretty apparent that Sanchez loves this rookie receiver, so grab Matthews while you can because he's about to get plucked from practically every league's waiver wire (if he hasn't been already).

For the second consecutive week, Matthews eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark. For the third consecutive week, he scored at least one touchdown. He's clearly played his way into a larger role on the Eagles offense, and he has the trust of his quarterback.

Even if you don't plan on playing him, pick him up anyway. With one more big performance from this rookie, you can be dangling some serious trade bait in front of desperate owners fighting for a playoff spot.

Stash Him Now: Jarvis Landry (WR, Miami Dolphins)

Joel Auerbach/Getty Images

Like Matthews, this rookie is working his way into more reps on his team's offense. The Dolphins are beginning to give Landry some nice opportunities to make plays, and the wide receiver has delivered. He's come on strong lately, scoring twice in the past three weeks and catching at least five passes per game in that span.

While Landry isn't quite at the same starting-caliber level of Matthews, he's most certainly a worthy player to stash on your bench for a later date. Grab him soon, though, because there won't be too many chances left if he finds the end zone again in Week 12.

Player	Pos.	Team	Ownership
Joe Flacco	QB	Baltimore Ravens	55.6%
Ronnie Hillman	RB	Denver Broncos	65.3%
Andre Williams	RB	New York Giants	51.8%
Bobby Rainey	RB	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	62.5%
Reggie Bush	RB	Detroit Lions	62.9%
James Jones	WR	Oakland Raiders	60.5%
Dwayne Bowe	WR	Kansas City Chiefs	52.5%
Vernon Davis	TE	San Francisco 49ers	61.2%

How are you going to make room for these incoming players? By dropping underperforming reserves from your team. Just in case you aren't completely sure which player to send back to the waiver wire, the above players are all owned in over 50 percent of ESPN.com league and are very droppable.

Top Drop of the Week: Reggie Bush (RB, Detroit Lions)

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Bush was a hot commodity before the 2014 season began. Many fantasy owners saw him as a nice pickup in the middle rounds of the draft. But it didn't take long to realize Bush wasn't going to be as big a part of Detroit's offense we thought he would be.

Aside from a Week 3 performance against Green Bay in which Bush scored his lone touchdown of the season, he failed to produce double-digit fantasy points (even when given favorable matchups). Making matters worse, he's been hampered by an ankle injury, paving the way for Theo Riddick to take over as the team's receiving back.

With Riddick assuming Bush's role, and Joique Bell continuing to shoulder the brunt of the workload out of the backfield, there won't be many opportunities for Bush to generate any kind of significant fantasy points going forward. It's now safe to cut ties with the running back. 

All fantasy ownership percentage and stats are via ESPN.