Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 12 Big Board

The NFL bye weeks are concluding this week, the fantasy football regular season is winding down and a debate on the top fantasy player for 2015 will commence.

First-half MVP DeMarco Murray is returning from the Dallas Cowboys' bye week against the worst team in fantasy against running backs (FFToday.com) and the NFL's worst run defense, the New York Giants. Jamaal Charles and the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs have re-emerged to enter a potential debate between Murray and Charles as fantasy's top dog at the pivotal running-back position.

We give Murray the nod in Bleacher Report's Week 12 Big Board, but we won't kick either out of the proverbial fantasy bed.

Here we unveil the week's initial top 100 plays, including position-by-position rankings of all the fantasy options. You can use these rankings to weigh your starts and sits or gear up for your daily fantasy football lineups, drafts and rosters. These rankings represent our predictions for the highest scorers—relative to their use, game plan, health and matchup.

Top 100: It Is Getting Crowded at the Top of the Heap

We got a one-day reprieve of the news Josh Gordon is returning from his 10-game suspension. Adrian Peterson's NFL ruling to be suspended without pay for the rest of the season, per Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune, orchestrated that.

Kick that back up as Gordon returns to practice and will speak to the media Wednesday, as David I. Andersen of The Plain Dealer reported. Now, how will that impact fantasy? Certainly there are high expectations.

Head coach Mike Pettine told ESPN.com's Pat McManamon:

"

This is a player that's missed...it's probably around 75 to 80 days and 10 games and a preseason game. It's a significant amount of time not having contact and being apart. I just don't know if you walk back in and are able to be functional.

"

It won't stop fantasy owners from looking for anything short of greatness. McManamon wrote in his "Five Things to Expect Upon Josh Gordon's Return to Browns":

"

He may be poised to have a big game on Sunday. If history is any indicator, and if Gordon is in football shape, expect him to produce against the Falcons. Gordon came off a two-game suspension a year ago in Minnesota with vigor. In a win over the Vikings, Gordon had 10 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown, and a run for 22 yards. That game catapulted him to a historic season for the Browns.

"

We give in, ranking Gordon instantly among the top 30 plays in B/R's initial rankings for Week 12. This is a player who has yet to prove physically and mentally ready to be activated to the roster. The Browns still get a one-week roster exemption in the event he doesn't show well in practice, per USA Today's Jim Corbett.

Here is B/R's complete Top 100 as we head into team practices this week:

Week 12 Top 100 - Eric Mack

Rank	Flex Rankings	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Andrew Luck	IND	vs. Jac	2	+1
2	Peyton Manning	DEN	vs. Mia	3	+1
3	DeMarco Murray	DAL	at NYG	7	+4
4	Jamaal Charles	KC	at Oak	9	+5
5	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at Min	1	-4
6	Dez Bryant	DAL	at NYG	27	+21
7	Drew Brees	NO	vs. Bal	4	-3
8	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	vs. Mia	22	+14
9	A.J. Green	CIN	at Hou	32	+23
10	Jimmy Graham	NO	vs. Bal	39	+29
11	LeSean McCoy	PHI	vs. Ten	25	+14
12	Arian Foster	HOU	vs. Cin	28	+16
13	Rob Gronkowski	NE	vs. Det	31	+18
14	Brandon Marshall	CHI	vs. TB	42	+28
15	Jay Cutler	CHI	vs. TB	6	-9
16	Julio Jones	ATL	vs. Cle	44	+28
17	Matt Forte	CHI	vs. TB	12	-5
18	Eddie Lacy	GB	at Min	19	+1
19	Jordy Nelson	GB	at Min	21	+2
20	Randall Cobb	GB	at Min	40	+20
21	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	vs. Ari	26	+5
22	Calvin Johnson	DET	at NE	30	+8
23	Justin Forsett	BAL	at NO	58	+35
24	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	vs. TB	46	+22
25	Mark Ingram	NO	vs. Bal	29	+4
26	T.Y. Hilton	IND	vs. Jac	45	+19
27	Josh Gordon	CLE	at Atl	49	+22
28	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	at Atl	53	+25
29	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	vs. Ten	50	+21
30	Frank Gore	SF	vs. Was	51	+21
31	Tony Romo	DAL	at NYG	8	-23
32	Tom Brady	NE	vs. Det	5	-27
33	Mike Evans	TB	at Chi	48	+15
34	Philip Rivers	SD	vs. StL	16	-18
35	Rashad Jennings	NYG	vs. Dal	36	+1
36	Andre Ellington	ARI	at Sea	38	+2
37	Matthew Stafford	DET	at NE	14	-23
38	Sammy Watkins	BUF	vs. NYJ	55	+17
39	Alfred Morris	WAS	at SF	52	+13
40	Odell Beckham	NYG	vs. Dal	54	+14
41	Tre Mason	STL	at SD	59	+18
42	DeSean Jackson	WAS	at SF	63	+21
43	C.J. Anderson	DEN	vs. Mia	41	-2
44	Roddy White	ATL	vs. Cle	57	+13
45	Jeremy Hill	CIN	at Hou	56	+11
46	Matt Ryan	ATL	vs. Cle	13	-33
47	Giovani Bernard	CIN	at Hou	68	+21
48	Mike Wallace	MIA	at Den	64	+16
49	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	vs. Mia	86	+37
50	Denard Robinson	JAC	at Ind	80	+30
51	Trent Richardson	IND	vs. Jac	47	-4
52	Julius Thomas	DEN	vs. Mia	121	+69
53	Jordan Matthews	PHI	vs. Ten	61	+8
54	Joique Bell	DET	at NE	60	+6
55	Vincent Jackson	TB	at Chi	73	+18
56	Ryan Mathews	SD	vs. StL	66	+10
57	Andre Johnson	HOU	vs. Cin	79	+22
58	Steven Jackson	ATL	vs. Cle	65	+7
59	Shane Vereen	NE	vs. Det	72	+13
60	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	vs. Cin	67	+7
61	Colin Kaepernick	SF	vs. Was	10	-51
62	Lamar Miller	MIA	at Den	69	+7
63	Jonas Gray	NE	vs. Det	81	+18
64	Jerick McKinnon	MIN	vs. GB	77	+13
65	Golden Tate	DET	at NE	62	-3
66	Travis Kelce	KC	at Oak	100	+34
67	Mark Sanchez	PHI	vs. Ten	11	-56
68	Bishop Sankey	TEN	at Phi	92	+24
69	Martellus Bennett	CHI	vs. TB	78	+9
70	Percy Harvin	NYJ	at Buf	70	0
71	Russell Wilson	SEA	vs. Ari	15	-56
72	Reggie Bush	DET	at NE	126	+54
73	Keenan Allen	SD	vs. StL	87	+14
74	Antonio Gates	SD	vs. StL	88	+14
75	Charles Sims	TB	at Chi	104	+29
76	Reggie Wayne	IND	vs. Jac	91	+15
77	Terrance West	CLE	at Atl	109	+32
78	Jason Witten	DAL	at NYG	105	+27
79	Fred Jackson	BUF	vs. NYJ	96	+17
80	Joe Flacco	BAL	at NO	20	-60
81	Alfred Blue	HOU	vs. Cin	122	+41
82	Coby Fleener	IND	vs. Jac	90	+8
83	Chris Ivory	NYJ	at Buf	97	+14
84	Michael Crabtree	SF	vs. Was	99	+15
85	Knile Davis	KC	at Oak	137	+52
86	Owen Daniels	BAL	at NO	127	+41
87	Steve Smith	BAL	at NO	82	-5
88	Torrey Smith	BAL	at NO	83	-5
89	Marques Colston	NO	vs. Bal	112	+23
90	Darren Sproles	PHI	vs. Ten	114	+24
91	Anquan Boldin	SF	vs. Was	75	-16
92	Eli Manning	NYG	vs. Dal	24	-68
93	Larry Donnell	NYG	vs. Dal	102	+9
94	Mohamed Sanu	CIN	at Hou	93	-1
95	Julian Edelman	NE	vs. Det	98	+3
96	Mychal Rivera	OAK	vs. KC	111	+15
97	Brandon LaFell	NE	vs. Det	74	-23
98	Eric Decker	NYJ	at Buf	94	-4
99	Terrance Williams	DAL	at NYG	106	+7
100	Kenny Stills	NO	vs. Bal	101	+1

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Quarterbacks: Jay Cutler's Resurgence Gives RG3 Owners Some Hope

While there is little love for Robert Griffin III to be considered a fantasy starter in Week 12, there might be a sliver of hope for RG3 to turn his season, if not career, around in a hurry. See the roller-coaster ride of the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler.

A week ago, Cutler had media and fans calling for his head. After 330 yards, three touchdowns and, most important, a victory, more people are wondering if the Bears might be heading to the playoffs with Cutler under center.

Cutler told Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (subscription required):

"

There is always pressure. You can't let that affect the way you play the game on Sunday. I thought we did a good job of calling plays early and making sure we were in a rhythm and taking some shots too. Once the game started, I've just got to play. ... Everyone can relax a little. We realized we have a better team in that locker room than we are (showing).

"

Now, RG3 is up on the hot seat, particularly with regard to head coach Jay Gruden, who voiced his displeasure of his starting quarterback's play, as The Washington Post's Thomas Boswell chronicled:

"

Robert had some fundamental flaws. His footwork was below average. He took three-step drops when he should have taken five. He took a one-step drop when he should have taken three, on a couple occasions, and that can't happen. He stepped up when he didn't have to step up and stepped into pressure. He read the wrong side of the field a couple times. So, his basic performance was not even close to being good enough [for] what we expect from the quarterback position.

"

Ouch. Gruden didn't stop there, criticizing RG3's postgame comments and further alienating his quarterback from the coach who inherited him:

"

First of all, Robert needs to understand he needs to worry about himself, number one, and not everybody else. It's his job to worry about his position, his footwork, his fundamentals, his reads, his progressions, his job at the quarterback position. It's my job to worry about everybody else. And, yes, everybody else needs to improve. ... But it's not his place. His place is to talk about himself and he knows that. He just elaborated a little too much.

"

When we order the starts and sits in fantasy, you have to go with where the stats and vibe are going. Cutler is back pointing up, while RG3 is clearly down after failing against the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

B/R's Week 12 rankings list Cutler as a must-start option against those Bucs, while RG3 is a bad option even in two-quarterback leagues at a San Francisco 49ers team that is coming off five interceptions against Eli Manning.

Here are all of the top plays at the position: 

Week 12 Quarterback Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Andrew Luck	IND	vs. Jac	2	+1
2	Peyton Manning	DEN	vs. Mia	3	+1
3	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at Min	1	-2
4	Drew Brees	NO	vs. Bal	5	+1
5	Jay Cutler	CHI	vs. TB	6	+1
6	Tony Romo	DAL	at NYG	7	+1
7	Tom Brady	NE	vs. Det	4	-3
8	Philip Rivers	SD	vs. StL	15	+7
9	Matthew Stafford	DET	at NE	12	+3
10	Matt Ryan	ATL	vs. Cle	10	0
11	Colin Kaepernick	SF	vs. Was	8	-3
12	Mark Sanchez	PHI	vs. Ten	9	-3
13	Russell Wilson	SEA	vs. Ari	11	-2
14	Joe Flacco	BAL	at NO	16	+2
15	Eli Manning	NYG	vs. Dal	18	+3
16	Andy Dalton	CIN	at Hou	17	+1
17	Josh McCown	TB	at Chi	14	-3
18	Ryan Tannehill	MIA	at Den	13	-5
19	Alex Smith	KC	at Oak	23	+4
20	Brian Hoyer	CLE	at Atl	20	0
21	Shaun Hill	STL	at SD	28	+7
22	Robert Griffin	WAS	at SF	24	+2
23	Michael Vick	NYJ	at Buf	21	-2
24	Drew Stanton	ARI	at Sea	27	+3
25	Ryan Mallett	HOU	vs. Cin	26	+1
26	Kyle Orton	BUF	vs. NYJ	19	-7
27	Blake Bortles	JAC	at Ind	22	-5
28	Teddy Bridgewater	MIN	vs. GB	29	+1
29	Zach Mettenberger	TEN	at Phi	25	-4
30	Derek Carr	OAK	vs. KC	30	0

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Running Backs: The Disgruntled Become the Disowned

Running backs should already know they are treated worse than the equipment personnel after this past offseason. This week, being disgruntled because of your usage is enough to be shown the door.

Scratch the waived ex-Cleveland Brown Ben Tate and former Pittsburgh Steeler LeGarrette Blount out of your starting lineups for Week 12. Don't cut them, though.

Those potential feature backs can wind up in better situations elsewhere. You have to assume a player like Tate would be a welcomed addition to a team like the Indianapolis Colts, who just lost Ahmad Bradshaw (broken leg) for the remainder of the season.

And, for all of those people who scored the New England Patriots power back Jonas Gray off fantasy's waiver wire, you should be holding your breath the Pats don't add their 2013 stretch-run superstar Blount all over again. Even if those backs' futures will be decided too late for lineups this week, they could be stretch-run fantasy monsters in the right situation.

For now, Gray is the most-added player in CBSSports.com leagues. By next week, Blount or Tate could catch him in fantasy ownership. If the right team claims either of these guys soon, we might be inclined to add them to the rankings.

B/R outlines the running back position for Week 12:

Week 12 Running Back Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	DeMarco Murray	DAL	at NYG	1	0
2	Jamaal Charles	KC	at Oak	2	0
3	LeSean McCoy	PHI	vs. Ten	6	+3
4	Arian Foster	HOU	vs. Cin	8	+4
5	Matt Forte	CHI	vs. TB	3	-2
6	Eddie Lacy	GB	at Min	4	-2
7	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	vs. Ari	5	-2
8	Justin Forsett	BAL	at NO	13	+5
9	Mark Ingram	NO	vs. Bal	7	-2
10	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	at Atl	18	+8
11	Frank Gore	SF	vs. Was	15	+4
12	Rashad Jennings	NYG	vs. Dal	9	-3
13	Andre Ellington	ARI	at Sea	10	-3
14	Alfred Morris	WAS	at SF	16	+2
15	Tre Mason	STL	at SD	17	+2
16	C.J. Anderson	DEN	vs. Mia	11	-5
17	Jeremy Hill	CIN	at Hou	19	+2
18	Giovani Bernard	CIN	at Hou	21	+3
19	Denard Robinson	JAC	at Ind	12	-7
20	Trent Richardson	IND	vs. Jac	14	-6
21	Joique Bell	DET	at NE	20	-1
22	Ryan Mathews	SD	vs. StL	24	+2
23	Steven Jackson	ATL	vs. Cle	22	-1
24	Shane Vereen	NE	vs. Det	27	+3
25	Lamar Miller	MIA	at Den	23	-2
26	Jonas Gray	NE	vs. Det	25	-1
27	Jerick McKinnon	MIN	vs. GB	26	-1
28	Bishop Sankey	TEN	at Phi	28	0
29	Reggie Bush	DET	at NE	36	+7
30	Charles Sims	TB	at Chi	31	+1
31	Terrance West	CLE	at Atl	32	+1
32	Fred Jackson	BUF	vs. NYJ	29	-3
33	Alfred Blue	HOU	vs. Cin	34	+1
34	Chris Ivory	NYJ	at Buf	30	-4
35	Knile Davis	KC	at Oak	38	+3
36	Darren Sproles	PHI	vs. Ten	33	-3
37	Bryce Brown	BUF	vs. NYJ	35	-2
38	Latavius Murray	OAK	vs. KC	37	-1
39	Carlos Hyde	SF	vs. Was	45	+6
40	Bobby Rainey	TB	at Chi	44	+4
41	Juwan Thompson	DEN	vs. Mia	49	+8
42	Dan Herron	IND	vs. Jac	39	-3
43	Matt Asiata	MIN	vs. GB	43	0
44	Lorenzo Taliaferro	BAL	at NO	50	+6
45	Theo Riddick	DET	at NE	40	-5
46	Darren McFadden	OAK	vs. KC	41	-5
47	Chris Johnson	NYJ	at Buf	47	0
48	Branden Oliver	SD	vs. StL	42	-6
49	Roy Helu	WAS	at SF	46	-3
50	Travaris Cadet	NO	vs. Bal	52	+2
51	Andre Williams	NYG	vs. Dal	60	+9
52	Devonta Freeman	ATL	vs. Cle	53	+1
53	James Starks	GB	at Min	58	+5
54	Doug Martin	TB	at Chi	74	+20
55	Toby Gerhart	JAC	at Ind	56	+1
56	Jacquizz Rodgers	ATL	vs. Cle	61	+5
57	Lance Dunbar	DAL	at NYG	55	-2
58	Daniel Thomas	MIA	at Den	70	+12
59	Maurice Jones-Drew	OAK	vs. KC	63	+4
60	Robert Turbin	SEA	vs. Ari	64	+4
61	Christine Michael	SEA	vs. Ari	75	+14
62	Shonn Greene	TEN	at Phi	65	+3
63	Bernard Pierce	BAL	at NO	62	-1
64	Dexter McCluster	TEN	at Phi	66	+2
65	Joseph Randle	DAL	at NYG	67	+2
66	Benny Cunningham	STL	at SD	48	-18
67	Donald Brown	SD	vs. StL	69	+2
68	Ka'Deem Carey	CHI	vs. TB	68	0
69	Damien Williams	MIA	at Den	57	-12

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Wide Receivers: Opportunity Keeps Knocking at This Position

It was too late for most fantasy owners to get a shot at the aforementioned Josh Gordon, but there are always ample receiving options to pick through off the waiver wire for fantasy owners. Kenny Stills and Wes Welker, two of CBSSports.com favorites from Tuesday night's waivers run, looked more intriguing now after Brandin Cooks (out for the season) and Emmanuel Sanders (concussion) went down.

You can cut Cooks in all non-keeper formats, while Welker might re-emerge for the Denver Broncos if Sanders does not get out of the NFL's concussion protocol before Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, as Andrew Mason of the Broncos' official website reported.

You start Sanders in all leagues if he winds up looking like he will be on the right side of a game-time decision Sunday afternoon. Welker will move up the wideout rankings if Sanders is not cleared by Sunday.

You should love Stills stepping forward for the reeling New Orleans Saints at home against the Baltimore Ravens. ESPN.com's Mike Triplett reported both struggling Marques Colston and Stills will see more production.

Both Stills and Welker will have better finishes to the season than their modest fantasy numbers to date. They are also both top-45 plays in B/R's Week 12 wide-receiver rankings:

Week 12 Wide Receiver Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Dez Bryant	DAL	at NYG	3	+2
2	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	vs. Mia	1	-1
3	A.J. Green	CIN	at Hou	4	+1
4	Brandon Marshall	CHI	vs. TB	7	+3
5	Julio Jones	ATL	vs. Cle	9	+4
6	Jordy Nelson	GB	at Min	2	-4
7	Randall Cobb	GB	at Min	6	-1
8	Calvin Johnson	DET	at NE	5	-3
9	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	vs. TB	10	+1
10	T.Y. Hilton	IND	vs. Jac	8	-2
11	Josh Gordon	CLE	at Atl	13	+2
12	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	vs. Ten	12	0
13	Mike Evans	TB	at Chi	11	-2
14	Sammy Watkins	BUF	vs. NYJ	15	+1
15	Odell Beckham	NYG	vs. Dal	14	-1
16	DeSean Jackson	WAS	at SF	19	+3
17	Roddy White	ATL	vs. Cle	16	-1
18	Mike Wallace	MIA	at Den	21	+3
19	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	vs. Mia	26	+7
20	Denard Robinson	JAC	at Ind	38	+18
21	Jordan Matthews	PHI	vs. Ten	17	-4
22	Vincent Jackson	TB	at Chi	25	+3
23	Andre Johnson	HOU	vs. Cin	27	+4
24	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	vs. Cin	20	-4
25	Golden Tate	DET	at NE	18	-7
26	Percy Harvin	NYJ	at Buf	22	-4
27	Keenan Allen	SD	vs. StL	30	+3
28	Reggie Wayne	IND	vs. Jac	31	+3
29	Michael Crabtree	SF	vs. Was	35	+6
30	Steve Smith	BAL	at NO	29	-1
31	Torrey Smith	BAL	at NO	28	-3
32	Marques Colston	NO	vs. Bal	45	+13
33	Anquan Boldin	SF	vs. Was	24	-9
34	Mohamed Sanu	CIN	at Hou	33	-1
35	Julian Edelman	NE	vs. Det	36	+1
36	Brandon LaFell	NE	vs. Det	23	-13
37	Eric Decker	NYJ	at Buf	34	-3
38	Terrance Williams	DAL	at NYG	43	+5
39	Kenny Stills	NO	vs. Bal	37	-2
40	Rueben Randle	NYG	vs. Dal	41	+1
41	Michael Floyd	ARI	at Sea	44	+3
42	Kendall Wright	TEN	at Phi	42	0
43	Wes Welker	DEN	vs. Mia	52	+9
44	Pierre Garcon	WAS	at SF	51	+7
45	Cecil Shorts	JAC	at Ind	32	-13
46	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at Sea	49	+3
47	Doug Baldwin	SEA	vs. Ari	47	0
48	Kenny Britt	STL	at SD	39	-9
49	Greg Jennings	MIN	vs. GB	59	+10
50	Cordarrelle Patterson	MIN	vs. GB	62	+12
51	Andrew Hawkins	CLE	at Atl	48	-3
52	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at Oak	54	+2
53	Malcom Floyd	SD	vs. StL	40	-13
54	Allen Hurns	JAC	at Ind	46	-8
55	John Brown	ARI	at Sea	50	-5
56	Hakeem Nicks	IND	vs. Jac	64	+8
57	Steve Johnson	SF	vs. Was	70	+13
58	Riley Cooper	PHI	vs. Ten	75	+17
59	Justin Hunter	TEN	at Phi	55	-4
60	Andre Holmes	OAK	vs. KC	60	0
61	Danny Amendola	NE	vs. Det	79	+18
62	James Jones	OAK	vs. KC	57	-5
63	Chris Hogan	BUF	vs. NYJ	58	-5
64	Davante Adams	GB	at Min	56	-8
65	Brian Hartline	MIA	at Den	67	+2
66	Jermaine Kearse	SEA	vs. Ari	69	+3
67	Harry Douglas	ATL	vs. Cle	71	+4
68	Robert Woods	BUF	vs. NYJ	66	-2
69	Jarvis Landry	MIA	at Den	53	-16
70	Nate Washington	TEN	at Phi	65	-5
71	Jarius Wright	MIN	vs. GB	85	+14
72	Marqise Lee	JAC	at Ind	74	+2
73	Eddie Royal	SD	vs. StL	73	0
74	Cody Latimer	DEN	vs. Mia	80	+6
75	Tavon Austin	STL	at SD	68	-7
76	Donte Moncrief	IND	vs. Jac	76	0
77	Miles Austin	CLE	at Atl	77	0
78	Preston Parker	NYG	vs. Dal	83	+5
79	Taylor Gabriel	CLE	at Atl	63	-16
80	Stedman Bailey	STL	at SD	87	+7
81	Andre Caldwell	DEN	vs. Mia	72	-9
82	Andre Roberts	WAS	at SF	82	0

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Tight Ends: Jimmy Graham Won't Be Put Away by Streaking Gronk

The fantasy world loves Rob Gronkowski's dominance of late. He is trucking players on touchdown runs and not even winding up in the Bill Belichick doghouse after he took his block and "threw him out of the club," as he told reporters Sunday night, according to ESPNBoston.com.

This has been a great comeback for Gronk and his loyal fantasy owners after a slow start, but Jimmy Graham is still our No. 1 option at the position down the stretch, particularly with rookie Brandin Cooks out for the season.

We might be alone on Graham over Gronk, but how can you really own both anyway, right? We stick steady with Graham, Gronk and even the banged-up Julius Thomas (ankle) atop the Week 12 rankings. We like Thomas six spots better than the other fantasy analysts this week (see below).

Here are all of B/R's top plays at the position and a comparison of our ranking against the fantasy masses:

Week 12 Tight End Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Jimmy Graham	NO	vs. Bal	2	+1
2	Rob Gronkowski	NE	vs. Det	1	-1
3	Julius Thomas	DEN	vs. Mia	9	+6
4	Travis Kelce	KC	at Oak	7	+3
5	Martellus Bennett	CHI	vs. TB	3	-2
6	Antonio Gates	SD	vs. StL	5	-1
7	Jason Witten	DAL	at NYG	8	+1
8	Coby Fleener	IND	vs. Jac	4	-4
9	Owen Daniels	BAL	at NO	13	+4
10	Larry Donnell	NYG	vs. Dal	6	-4
11	Mychal Rivera	OAK	vs. KC	11	0
12	Kyle Rudolph	MIN	vs. GB	17	+5
13	Jordan Cameron	CLE	at Atl	22	+9
14	Vernon Davis	SF	vs. Was	19	+5
15	Dwayne Allen	IND	vs. Jac	18	+3
16	Charles Clay	MIA	at Den	10	-6
17	Zach Ertz	PHI	vs. Ten	21	+4
18	Delanie Walker	TEN	at Phi	12	-6
19	Jordan Reed	WAS	at SF	16	-3
20	Niles Paul	WAS	at SF	24	+4
21	Jared Cook	STL	at SD	20	-1
22	Tim Wright	NE	vs. Det	28	+6
23	Jermaine Gresham	CIN	at Hou	27	+4
24	Austin Seferian-Jenkins	TB	at Chi	14	-10
25	Eric Ebron	DET	at NE	29	+4
26	Jacob Tamme	DEN	vs. Mia	15	-11
27	Scott Chandler	BUF	vs. NYJ	25	-2
28	Brent Celek	PHI	vs. Ten	30	+2
29	Levine Toilolo	ATL	vs. Cle	44	+15
30	Ladarius Green	SD	vs. StL	36	+6
31	Jace Amaro	NYJ	at Buf	26	-5
32	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	at Ind	23	-9
33	Andrew Quarless	GB	at Min	32	-1
34	Luke Willson	SEA	vs. Ari	31	-3

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Defense/Special Teams: San Francisco 49ers Get Another Struggling QB

The San Francisco 49ers defense might be down while NaVarro Bowman (knee) and Patrick Willis (toe) are out, but they are "up" in our book, especially after embarrassing the New York Giants' Eli Manning with five interceptions. It might only get better from there.

As much as Manning is struggling, the 49ers get more fresh meat in the woebegone Washington Redskins under maligned quarterback Robert Griffin. This has the makings of a big blowout and a bonanza performance for the 49ers defense.

The Redskins are the third-worst team in fantasy against defense/special teams, per FFToday.com. That is even worse than Manning's Giants. Oh, and the 49ers are at home and trying to get back in the NFC West and wild-card races.

Say your prayers for Griffin, Jay Gruden and the Redskins, unless you have the 49ers defense.

We put it atop B/R's Week 12 rankings here:

Week 12 Defenses and Special Teams Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Defenses and Special Teams	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	San Francisco 49ers	SF	vs. Was	2	+1
2	Kansas City Chiefs	KC	at Oak	1	-1
3	Seattle Seahawks	Sea	vs. Ari	7	+4
4	Denver Broncos	Den	vs. Mia	8	+4
5	New England Patriots	NE	vs. Det	11	+6
6	Buffalo Bills	Buf	vs. NYJ	3	-3
7	Dallas Cowboys	Dal	at NYG	13	+6
8	Indianapolis Colts	Ind	vs. Jac	5	-3
9	Arizona Cardinals	Ari	at Sea	12	+3
10	Cincinnati Bengals	Cin	at Hou	14	+4
11	Green Bay Packers	GB	at Min	6	-5
12	Houston Texans	Hou	vs. Cin	9	-3
13	San Diego Chargers	SD	vs. StL	10	-3
14	Detroit Lions	Det	at NE	19	+5
15	St. Louis Rams	StL	at SD	15	0
16	New York Jets	NYJ	at Buf	16	0
17	Philadelphia Eagles	Phi	vs. Ten	4	-13
18	New Orleans Saints	NO	vs. Bal	17	-1
19	Baltimore Ravens	Bal	at NO	20	+1
20	Miami Dolphins	Mia	at Den	18	-2

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros

Kickers: Stick with the Top-Rated Options Down the Stretch

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

The bye weeks conclude in Week 12 with just the Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers idle this weekend. It makes the kicker position a set-it-and-forget-it spot in fantasy lineups down the stretch.

Sure, you can analyze the minutia of matchups, but kickers tend to have minimal impact by their team's opponent. We still like the kicker-friendly teams, like the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens. (See the NFL's top kicker-scoring teams to date, per FFToday.com.)

That is why we leave Stephen Gostkowski, Steven Hauschka and Justin Tucker atop the rankings.

Here are all of B/R's top kicker plays for Week 12:

Week 12 Kicker Rankings - Eric Mack

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	ECR	vs. ECR
1	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	vs. Det	2	+1
2	Steven Hauschka	SEA	vs. Ari	10	+8
3	Justin Tucker	BAL	at NO	6	+3
4	Dan Bailey	DAL	at NYG	3	-1
5	Adam Vinatieri	IND	vs. Jac	1	-4
6	Mason Crosby	GB	at Min	7	+1
7	Phil Dawson	SF	vs. Was	5	-2
8	Cody Parkey	PHI	vs. Ten	4	-4
9	Cairo Santos	KC	at Oak	12	+3
10	Brandon McManus	DEN	vs. Mia	15	+5
11	Matt Bryant	ATL	vs. Cle	9	-2
12	Caleb Sturgis	MIA	at Den	16	+4
13	Shayne Graham	NO	vs. Bal	14	+1
14	Matt Prater	DET	at NE	19	+5
15	Nick Novak	SD	vs. StL	8	-7
16	Robbie Gould	CHI	vs. TB	13	-3
17	Mike Nugent	CIN	at Hou	20	+3
18	Blair Walsh	MIN	vs. GB	24	+6
19	Kai Forbath	WAS	at SF	23	+4
20	Greg Zuerlein	STL	at SD	21	+1

Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) from over 100 experts provided by FantasyPros