Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings with Flex and PPR Outlook for Each Position

Week 12 is already underway, which means the fantasy playoffs are on the near horizon. Managers can ill-afford a letdown this week, though many of them will face limited lineup options.

One Week 12 game is already in the rear view, and the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders are on bye. Injuries will further impact the fantasy landscape, and most of the top waiver targets have already been claimed.

None of this means that managers cannot successfully navigate the coming week, though. Here, you'll find updated point-per-reception (PPR) rankings for each position, along with a brief overview of the landscapes at quarterback and the top flex spots.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Patriots QB Drake Maye

1. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

2. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

3. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

5. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

6. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

7. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

8. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

9. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

10. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks

11. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

12. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals

Josh Allen had a very underwhelming night against the Houston Texans on Thursday, but several top-tier signal-callers have far more favorable matchups.

Dual-threat quarterbacks like Drake Maye, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts should fare well in most formats and are must-starts in superflex leagues. Maye, in particular, has the potential to have a week-winning performance.

The New England Patriots' budding star is set to face a Cincinnati Bengals team that has surrendered the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a good matchup as well but is dealing with a wrist fracture in his non-throwing hand. He's a solid streaming option if he can go, as the Chicago Bears have surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs. If he can't, Mason Rudolph will be a viable sleeper option off the waiver wire.

Rudolph is still available in over 95 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Fans should expect a bounce-back game from Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. The New York Giants have surrendered the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and Dan Campbell may actively look to give Goff a "get-right" performance in Week 12.

Baker Mayfield, Trevor Lawrence and J.J. McCarthy have tougher matchups that should have managers considering other alternatives.

Running Back

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs

1. Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

3. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

4. Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers

5. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

6. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

7. TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

8. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys

9. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens

10. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

11. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders

12. Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

13. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

14. Breece Hall, New York Jets

15. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

16. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

17. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings

18. Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks

19. Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers

20. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey doesn't have the most advantageous matchup of the week. The Carolina Panthers have surrendered the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

However, McCaffrey has a combination of receiving ability and high-volume usage that makes him the safest flex option at any position this week. He's averaging 25.8 fantasy points per week this season and has topped 30 points in two of his last three games.

The Panthers have been more competitive than most expected, and McCaffrey should see a good amount of receiving work as San Francisco battles Carolina on the scoreboard.

RB options are extremely limited at this point in the week, but 49ers backup Brian Robinson Jr. is available in over 70 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. He could see a fair amount of work while spelling McCaffrey if the 49ers pull away early.

Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs may threaten McCaffrey's status as RB1 this week, though. He's an explosive dual-threat who will face a Giants defense that has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson has the best matchup of the week, as no team has surrendered more fantasy points to opposing RBs than Cincinnati. The potential return of Rhamondre Stevenson, however, could limit Henderson's workload.

Chase Brown, Rachaad White, Sean Tucker and Tyrone Tracy Jr. are among notable flex options with difficult matchups in Week 12.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Rams WR Puka Nacua

1. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions

4. Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

5. Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

6. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys

7. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams

8. Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

9. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

10. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings

11. Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots

12. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

13. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles

14. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

15. Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

16. Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants

17. Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

18. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

19. A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

20. DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers

21. Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

22. Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers

23. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens

24. Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

25. Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

26. Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

27. Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

28. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

29. Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons

30. Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Los Angeles Rams wideout Puka Nacua and Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba should again be two of the top flex options this week. Only McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor have averaged more fantasy points among flex players this season, and Taylor has a tricky matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Nacua will face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that has surrendered the 13th-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. Tampa also has an offense potent enough to leave L.A. passing for most of the game.

Smith-Njigba will face a Tennessee Titans defense that has surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing WRs. However, the Titans offense isn't good, and Seattle may not take a pass-heavy approach.

No team has surrendered more fantasy points than the Dallas Cowboys, which could mean inconsistent Philadelphia Eagles receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith may both reward managers this week.

Atlanta Falcons wideout Darnell Mooney is a receiver who might reward managers off the waiver wire. He showed good chemistry with Kirk Cousins last season, and the Falcons will be without Drake London for a second straight week. Mooney was a popular pickup this week but is still only rostered in 63 percent of Yahoo leagues and 53 percent of ESPN leagues.

The Broncos, Chargers and Dolphins have provided three of the four toughest matchups for opposing receivers this year and are on bye this week. The Panthers and Chiefs round out the top five.

Tight End

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Cardinals TE Trey McBride

1. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers

3. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders

4. Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

5. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

6. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles

7. Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

8. Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints

9. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

10. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

11. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens

12. Theo Johnson, New York Giants

13. Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

14. Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

15. Noah Fant, Cincinnati Bengals

It's rarely worth playing a second tight end in the flex spot, but Trey McBride, Brock Bowers, Travis Kelce, Jake Ferguson, George Kittle and Tyler Warren have been good enough to make for exceptions.

Warren and Ferguson have two of the tougher matchups of the week but should see the volume needed to come through.

McBride has set the standard this year, averaging 18.5 fantasy points per week. He's been especially productive since Jacoby Brissett took over at quarterback, and he has a fantastic matchup this week.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to opposing TEs this season.

Managers who need a fill-in tight end should see if Juwan Johnson is available. The New Orleans Saints standout has averaged 10.8 fantasy points per game and has reached double-digits in each of his last three outings.

Johnson is rostered in 63 percent of Yahoo leagues and 47 percent of ESPN leagues.

Kicker and Defense/Special Teams

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey

Kicker

1. Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys

2. Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks

3. Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers

4. Jake Bates, Detroit Lions

5. Tyler Loop, Baltimore Ravens

6. Andy Borregales, New England Patriots

7. Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears

8. Cam Little, Jacksonville Jaguars

9. Harrison Butker, New England Patriots

10. Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

11. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles

12. Michael Badgley, Indianapolis Colts

D/ST

1. Seattle Seahawks

2. Baltimore Ravens

3. Green Bay Packers

4. Detroit Lions

5. Cleveland Browns

6. New England Patriots

7. Las Vegas Raiders

8. Los Angeles Rams

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

10. Chicago Bears

11. Jacksonville Jaguars

12. Atlanta Falcons

*Fantasy scoring and roster information from FantasyPros.