Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings, Top Players, Sleepers and Positional Guide

We're approaching the final playoff push in season-long fantasy football leagues. Week 12 will begin with Thursday night's showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans. Even smaller leagues are likely to begin their postseasons within the next couple of weeks.

For many managers, it's already win-or-go-home time, and they have to make the most of every lineup decision.

Here, you'll find early point-per-reception (PPR) rankings for Week 12, along with a few sleepers to consider targeting on the waiver wire.

The Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders are on bye this week.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett

1. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

5. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

7. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

8. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

10. Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts

11. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

12. Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals

Sleeper: Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

The absence of top receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendicitis) didn't slow Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett. While he couldn't do enough to keep pace with the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11, Brissett still threw for 452 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Brissett has now topped 19 fantasy points in five straight games and has topped 23 points in two of his last three.

This week, Brissett will face a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has surrendered an average of 20.7 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. He's rostered in only 34 percent of Yahoo leagues and 24 percent of ESPN leagues.

Running Back

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Packers RB Emanuel Wilson

1. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

2. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

4. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

5. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

6. Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

7. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

8. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

9. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

10. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

11. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

12. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

13. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

14. Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

15. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

Sleeper: Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers

It's been a struggle to find running backs on the wire this season, though injuries have created a few new starters. While Emanuel Wilson isn't likely to be a long-term starter for the Green Bay Packers, he's worth scooping up for Week 12.

Starter Josh Jacobs suffered a knee injury on Sunday that could cause him to miss at least a week. He won't need surgery, but he is considered "day-to-day," according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.

Wilson took over for Jacobs against the New York Giants and fared well, finishing with 13.9 fantasy points. This week's matchup with the Minnesota Vikings won't be as easy, but Wilson will see a high-volume role if Jacobs can't go.

The third-year back is available in over 90 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Texans WR Jayden Higgins

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

2. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

4. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

5. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

6. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

7. Nico Collins, Houston Texans

8. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

9. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

10. Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots

11. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

12. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

13. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

14. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

15. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

16. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

17. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

18. Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants

19. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

20. DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers

Sleeper: Jayden Higgins, Houston Texans

The Bills have been a decidedly average matchup for opposing receivers, surrendering an average of 24.4 fantasy points to the position each week. Houston's No. 1 receiver, Nico Collins, should remain a strong play on Thursday night. Budding No. 2 receiver Jayden Higgins is a top sleeper option.

The rookie second-round pick out of Iowa State has cemented himself as one of Houston's top targets in recent weeks. He's also topped nine fantasy points in three of his last four games.

Higgins should see a big role again this week, especially if Buffalo focuses on slowing Collins. The rookie is still available in roughly 80 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Tight End

AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

Seahawks TE AJ Barner

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

3. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

4. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

5. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

6. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

7. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

8. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

9. Theo Johnson, New York Giants

10. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

11. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

12. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

13. Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

14. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons

15. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

Sleeper: AJ Barner, Seattle Seahawks

Tight end AJ Barner has been a boom-or-bust fantasy option, though he's come through more often than not. While he failed to reach two fantasy points in two of his last four games, he also reached double digits in five of his last seven.

That includes a 17.1-point outing in Week 11.

This week, the Seahawks will face the Tennessee Titans, who have been fairly solid against opposing tight ends this season overall. They've surrendered just 9.2 fantasy points to the position, on average. However, Tennessee hasn't completely shut down top tight ends either.

Dalton Schultz grabbed six catches for 51 yards in Tennessee on Sunday. Barner should have a similar ceiling and is rostered in just nine percent of Yahoo leagues and 10 percent of ESPN leagues.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.