Fantasy Football Week 12: Flex and PPR Rankings

Fantasy football owners spend the entire regular season preparing for the playoffs, and checking the flex and point-per-reception rankings leading into Week 12 could make the difference between making the postseason and missing it altogether.

With two teams on bye this week (Pittsburgh and Carolina) and several injuries to marquee names, it is imperative for owners to break down all of their options and start the player with the most upside.

Here are the overall flex and PPR rankings for Week 12. When in doubt, start the higher-ranked player on each list.

Flex Rankings

Rank	Player
1	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
2	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
3	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
4	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
5	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
6	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
7	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
8	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
9	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
10	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
11	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
12	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
13	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
14	Jeremy Maclin, PHI, WR
15	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
16	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
17	A.J. Green, CIN, WR
18	Alfred Morris, WSH, RB
19	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
20	Mike Evans, TB, WR
21	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
22	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
23	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
24	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR
25	Trent Richardson, IND, RB
27	Mark Ingram, NO, RB
28	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN, WR
29	C.J. Anderson, DEN, RB
30	Ryan Mathews, SD, RB
31	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR
32	Roddy White, ATL, WR
33	Frank Gore, SF, RB
34	Antonio Gates, SD, TE
35	Mike Wallace, MIA, WR
36	Rashad Jennings, NYG, RB
37	Jeremy Hill, CIN, RB
38	Sammy Watkins, BUF, WR
39	Percy Harvin, NYJ, WR
40	Josh Gordon, CLE, WR
41	Jonas Gray, NE, RB
42	Justin Forsett, BAL, RB
43	Denard Robinson, JAX, RB
44	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
45	Martellus Bennett, CHI, TE
46	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU, WR
47	Brandon LaFell, NE, WR
48	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
49	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
50	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB

Fantasy owners looking for smart flex plays this week should look no further than Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson and New England Patriots running back Jonas Gray.

For the owners looking for a receiver, Johnson is an option with major upside as he continues to build a rapport with new starting quarterback Ryan Mallett. In Mallett’s first game as starter, he targeted Johnson nine times and completed seven passes to the veteran.

Johnson has now gone four games without a touchdown, but with a matchup against a Cincinnati Bengals defense that is ranked 20th in the NFL allowing 249.5 yards passing per game, Johnson and Mallett should be able to connect and several deep passes on Sunday.

Owners who start Johnson should expect eight receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown.

On the other hand, those looking for a running back must let it ride with the red-hot Gray. While fantasy players should not expect another 199 yards and four touchdowns, he will get another opportunity to be the team’s primary back in Week 12.

Shane Vereen will also be a factor against the Detroit Lions due to his effectiveness on passing downs, but Gray proved he has the strength and the elusiveness to be the between-the-tackles running back New England needs.

Detroit boasts the best run-stopping unit in the NFL (only allowing 69.8 yards per game), but Gray has too much momentum to not have a solid day. Fantasy owners should expect another 18 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown for Gray.

PPR Rankings

Rank	Player
1	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
2	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
3	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
4	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
5	Jordy Nelson, GB, WR
6	Matt Forte, CHI, RB
7	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
8	Jeremy Maclin, PHI, WR
9	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
10	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
11	Andre Ellington, ARI, RB
12	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
13	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
14	Julio Jones, ATL, WR
15	A.J. Green, CIN, WR
16	Eddie Lacy, GB, RB
17	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
18	Mike Evans, TB, WR
19	Randall Cobb, GB, WR
20	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
21	Odell Beckham, NYG, WR
22	Trent Richardson, IND, RB
23	Alshon Jeffery, CHI, WR
24	Andre Johnson, HOU, WR
25	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN, WR
27	Julian Edelman, NE, WR
28	Roddy White, ATL, WR
29	Alfred Morris, WSH, RB
30	Golden Tate, DET, WR
31	Ryan Mathews, SD, RB
32	Rashad Jennings, NYG, RB
33	T.Y. Hilton, IND, WR
34	Sammy Watkins, BUF, WR
35	Vincent Jackson, TB, WR
36	C.J. Anderson, DEN, RB
37	DeSean Jackson, WSH, WR
38	Jeremy Hill, CIN, RB
39	Percy Harvin, NYJ, WR
40	Josh Gordon, CLE, WR
41	Michael Floyd, ARI, WR
42	Antonio Gates, SD, TE
43	Mark Ingram, NO, RB
44	Keenan Allen, SD, WR
45	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU, WR
46	Denard Robinson, JAX, RB
47	Jonas Gray, NE, RB
48	Shane Vereen, NE, RB
49	Lamar Miller, MIA, RB
50	Mike Wallace, MIA, WR

One of the hardest parts about fantasy football is finding the players who struggled the previous week that have the potential to bounce back with blockbuster performances. Two players who fit that bill in PPR leagues are Arizona’s Andre Ellington and Indianapolis’ T.Y Hilton.

Ellington has yet to reach the 100-yards rushing plateau in any game this season, and his performance Sunday against the No. 1 run defense of the Detroit Lions has fantasy owners down on the Cardinals running back. Do not give up on him.

The key for owners to understand is Ellington is a big part of the passing attack as well. Despite another tough matchup in Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks, new starting quarterback Drew Stanton will lean on Ellington as his safety valve when pressure is too much to handle.

In 10 games this season, Ellington has amassed 41 receptions for 356 yards and two touchdowns on top of his 624 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Against Seattle, owners should expect 100 all-purpose yards, five receptions and a rushing touchdown.

For those looking for a wide receiver, Hilton is the answer in Week 12.

Hilton racked up just three receptions on seven targets for 24 yards and zero touchdowns Sunday against the Patriots, but a favorable matchup this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars should be the platform for a bounce-back performance.

Jacksonville is ranked 26th in the NFL against the pass, allowing 261.9 yards per game, and Andrew Luck and company should find ample opportunities down the field. With four performances of more than 100 yards thus far in 2014, Hilton should see a dramatic increase in his numbers in this divisional matchup.

Owners who take the educated risk with Hilton will be rewarded with eight receptions for 120 yards and one touchdown. Hilton will be a stud in PPR leagues this week after the Colts' tough loss in Week 11.

*Stats via NFL.com.