Fantasy Football Week 12: Updated Rankings for Sunday's Action

Fantasy football continues to be a fickle beast. Remember in Week 11 when the New Orleans Saints were going to trounce the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos were thought to have a laughable matchup against the St. Louis Rams? Let's just say the fantasy owners of Mark Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Julius Thomas and Denver's defense weren't laughing in the end.

For owners who lost fantasy matchups due to those unexpected results, we've all been there. Luckily, there's a new week right around the corner, and with it, a chance for redemption. Before you lock in your starting lineups for Week 12, here's a little guidance at each position.

But before we delve into the latest rankings, owners must take one thing into consideration: Beware of players on either the New York Jets or Buffalo Bills. That game has been flexed out of Sunday due to inclement weather in western New York, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

If any of your starters on either of those teams are listed as questionable, a contingency plan may be in order.

(Note: These rankings are for Sunday only. They do not include any players slated to take the field thereafter. This week, the Saints and Ravens play on MNF. The Bills and Jets are not included due to moving to Monday.)

Quarterback

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	Minnesota Vikings
2	Andrew Luck, IND	Jacksonville Jaguars
3	Peyton Manning, DEN	Miami Dolphins
4	Jay Cutler, CHI	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5	Colin Kaepernick, SF	Washington Redskins
6	Philip Rivers, SD	St. Louis Rams
7	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	Denver Broncos
8	Josh McCown, TB	Chicago Bears
9	Tony Romo, DAL	New York Giants
10	Matthew Stafford, DET	New England Patriots
11	Tom Brady, NE	Detroit Lions
12	Mark Sanchez, PHI	Tennessee Titans
13	Eli Manning, NYG	Dallas Cowboys
14	Andy Dalton, CIN	Houston Texans
15	Matt Ryan, ATL	Cleveland Browns

Both fantasy owners and San Francisco 49ers fans have been rather disappointed with the play of quarterback Colin Kaepernick this season. Aside from his one huge outing against the Rams in Week 6, he hasn't produced at least 20 fantasy points in any other contest.

Al Bello/Getty Images

That could change in Week 12 against a pitiful Washington Redskins secondary. Washington is allowing an average of 19.9 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, the second most in the league. Just last week, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown lit the team up for 19 fantasy points.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News pointed out two favorable statistics heading into Week 12:

One slight downside in this matchup is the fact that Washington has been surprisingly good against the run. Kaepernick may not be able to accumulate plenty of yards on the ground against this team; however, he hasn't been lighting it up on the ground anyway.

Expect a nice day through the air for Kaepernick, as Washington allows him to eclipse 20 fantasy points for the second time this season.

Running Back

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	New York Giants
2	Matt Forte, CHI	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3	Arian Foster, HOU	Cincinnati Bengals
4	LeSean McCoy, PHI	Tennessee Titans
5	Rashad Jennings, NYG	Dallas Cowboys
6	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	Atlanta Falcons
7	Eddie Lacy, GB	Minnesota Vikings
8	C.J. Anderson, DEN	Miami Dolphins
9	Denard Robinson, JAX	Indianapolis Colts
10	Jerick McKinnon, MIN	Green Bay Packers
11	Ryan Mathews, SD	St. Louis Rams
12	Andre Ellington, AZ	Seattle Seahawks
13	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	Arizona Cardinals
14	Jeremy Hill, CIN	Houston Texans
15	Giovani Bernard, CIN	Houston Texans
16	Frank Gore, SF	Washington Redskins
17	Tre Mason, STL	San Diego Chargers
18	Trent Richardson, IND	Jacksonville Jaguars
19	Jonas Gray, NE	Detroit Lions
20	Joique Bell, DET	New England Patriots

Speaking of underperforming fantasy players this season, Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy hasn't been able to get much of anything going this season after a huge 2013. Luckily, it's not due to a lack of carries, as the running back is getting a nice workload, accumulating at least 20 touches in seven games this season.

If he gets another 20-plus carries in Week 12, we could finally see the performance from McCoy we've been waiting for all year. After all, the running back may be out to prove something in Week 12. According to Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com, McCoy appears irked by the notion he's lost a step:

The Tennessee Titans have been awful against opposing running backs this season, allowing an average of 21.6 fantasy points per game to the position, the most in the league.

Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell simply torched the Titans, rushing for 201 yards and a score. Over Tennessee's last three games, it has given up fantasy totals of 41, 29 and 27 points to opposing ball-carriers. Those are some favorable numbers for McCoy.

We must also take into consideration an increased presence of a ground game in Philadelphia after a disastrous showing by Mark Sanchez in Week 11, which included two interceptions and two fumbles lost. More work for McCoy against a terrible run defense will make fantasy owners very happy.

Wide Receiver

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	Miami Dolphins
2	Jordy Nelson, GB	Minnesota Vikings
3	Dez Bryant, DAL	New York Giants
4	Calvin Johnson, DET	New England Patriots
5	A.J.Green, CIN	Houston Texans
6	T.Y. Hilton, IND	Jacksonville Jaguars
7	Mike Evans, TB	Chicago Bears
8	Alshon Jeffery. CHI	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9	Josh Gordon, CLE	Atlanta Falcons
10	Randall Cobb, GB	Minnesota Vikings
11	Brandon Marshall, CHI	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12	Vincent Jackson, TB	Chicago Bears
13	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	Tennessee Titans
14	Reggie Wayne, IND	Jacksonville Jaguars
15	Julio Jones, ATL	Cleveland Browns
16	DeSean Jackson, WAS	San Francisco 49ers
17	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	Cincinnati Bengals
18	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	Dallas Cowboys
19	Jordan Matthews, PHI	Tennessee Titans
20	Kendall Wright, TEN	Philadelphia Eagles
21	Michael Crabtree, SF	Washington Redskins
22	Doug Baldwin, SEA	Arizona Cardinals
23	Anquan Boldin, SF	Washington Redskins
24	Mike Wallace, MIA	Denver Broncos
25	Cecil Shorts III, JAX	Indianapolis Colts

Attention Cleveland Browns fans and patient fantasy owners: Josh Gordon has officially returned. This prolific wide receiver has been MIA this season due to some legal issues, but he's been reinstated and is ready to continue his dominance on the heels of a huge 2013 season.

Gordon couldn't be coming back at a better time for the Browns and his fantasy owners. Cleveland is in need of a big win, and it will be taking on the Atlanta Falcons in Georgia this week. The Falcons secondary has been terrible this season, allowing an average of 24.2 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.

Expect quarterback Brian Hoyer to force-feed his new weapon early and often, as the Falcons don't have the talent to contain Gordon—even with double coverage. "Contain" will be the key word, because it sure sounds as though he's in great shape to play, according to the wide receiver, via Around the NFL:

If he is truly going to tear the league up, he'll have a great chance to get off to a hot start in Atlanta. Start Gordon with confidence as a legitimate WR1 and watch him rack up the points.

Tight End

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	Detroit Lions
2	Jason Witten, DAL	New York Giants
3	Antonio Gates, SD	St. Louis Rams
4	Larry Donnell, NYG	Dallas Cowboys
5	Julius Thomas, DEN	Miami Dolphins
6	Coby Fleener, IND	Jacksonville Jaguars
7	Martellus Bennett, CHI	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8	Charles Clay, MIA	Denver Broncos
9	Delanie Walker, TEN	Philadelphia Eagles
10	Marcedes Lewis, JAX	Indianapolis Colts
11	Jared Cook, STL	San Diego Chargers
12	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	Green Bay Packers
13	Jermaine Gresham, CIN	Houston Texans
14	Zach Ertz, PHI	Tennessee Titans
15	Niles Paul, WAS	San Francisco 49ers

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis could be a sneaky play this week for an owner who may be looking for an option to replace either Greg Olsen or Heath Miller. Lewis has been inactive since he injured his ankle in Week 2, but he was activated for Sunday's contest against the Indianapolis Colts.

He's expected to take over the starting role immediately, and the Jaguars' official Twitter account reminded everyone why Lewis is a valuable commodity:

Are you worried about his rapport with rookie quarterback Blake Bortles? Don't be. In Week 1 this season, Lewis racked up six receptions—he was targeted early and often. In Week 2 prior to his injury, he caught two passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.

With the Colts expected to get out to a serious lead early, expect to see plenty of passing on Jacksonville's offense. Lewis will be a big part of the game plan, and his fantasy owners will reap the rewards.

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	Green Bay Packers	Minnesota Vikings
2	Indianapolis Colts	Jacksonville Jaguars
3	San Francisco 49ers	Washington Redskins
4	Philadelphia Eagles	Tennessee Titans
5	San Diego Chargers	St. Louis Rams
6	Chicago Bears	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7	Seattle Seahawks	Arizona Cardinals
8	Dallas Cowboys	New York Giants
9	New England Patriots	Detroit Lions
10	Denver Broncos	Miami Dolphins

The reigning Super Bowl champions will be a safe play here in Week 12. This defense hasn't been as dominant as it was last season, but it's been slowly improving throughout the year. Playing at home is also a plus, as the Seahawks defense hasn't scored fewer than five fantasy points in any game played at CenturyLink Field this season.

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Seattle gets a somewhat favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals this week. While the Cardinals appear to be a formidable offense on paper, they simply haven't been as explosive with Drew Stanton at the helm.

Last week against the Detroit Lions, Stanton's offense could only muster 14 points, and the quarterback thew two bad interceptions to boot. The Seahawks have the ability to create turnovers, especially at home, and they may not have trouble doing so against Arizona's backup signal-caller.

Kicker

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Adam Vinatieri, IND	Jacksonville Jaguars
2	Phil Dawson, SF	Washington Redskins
3	Dan Bailey, DAL	New York Giants
4	Matt Bryant, ATL	Cleveland Browns
5	Mason Crosby, GB	Minnesota Vikings
6	Greg Zuerlein, STL	San Diego Chargers
7	Nick Novak, SD	St. Louis Rams
8	Cody Parkey, PHI	Tennessee Titans
9	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	Detroit Lions
10	Robbie Gould, CHI	Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey began the season red-hot, putting up double-digit fantasy points in four of his first six games. Since then, he hasn't been able to repeat the feat, but there are plenty of reasons to believe he'll do so in Week 12 against the New York Giants.

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

The Giants have been playing a bit of a bend-don't-break style of defense this season, allowing opponents to march deep into their territory but holding them to a field goal. The result of this has been opposing kickers attempting more than one field goal in six of their 10 contests this season.

The last time these teams faced off, Bailey only attempted one field goal, marking one of those four aforementioned games. However, he still came away with eight fantasy points on the day. Should he be given just one more opportunity to kick this time around, there is no reason to doubt his ability to put up double-digit points.

All fantasy football statistics courtesy of ESPN.com and current as of November 20.