Fantasy Football Week 12: Preview and Predictions

Week 12 of the 2015 fantasy football season has arrived, which means only two weeks of the “regular season” are left before the fantasy playoffs begin. This article will preview all of those pivotal Week 12 games from a fantasy football perspective and make some bold predictions as well.

At quarterback, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers supplants New England’s Tom Brady as the top option this week—but the matchup warrants it. Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers is also expected to continue to roll on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys, and he ranks No. 3 on the quarterback rankings heading into the week.

At running back, Minnesota Vikings superstar Adrian Peterson is back on top. He has been dominant in recent weeks, and there’s no reason to think he’ll slow in Week 12 against the Atlanta Falcons.

Houston Texans wideout DeAndre Hopkins is undoubtedly the top option at the position this week thanks to his matchup against the New Orleans Saints. We also expect a big week from Dallas Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant—but a not-so-big week from his teammate, Terrance Williams. Find out why inside.

We also have a prediction about Seattle Seahawks pass-catcher Jimmy Graham. Can you trust the volatile tight end this week?

This is just a taste of the previews of each position. This slideshow will check in on every position entering Week 12 and will also provide several bold predictions.

QBs: Philip Rivers to Put Up Elite Numbers This Week

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Philip Rivers

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is set to bounce back against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12, and we highlight him as our breakout quarterback of the week below.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers supplants Tom Brady of the New England Patriots as the top quarterback of the week. Brady is facing the No. 1 defense in terms of stopping opposing quarterbacks from scoring fantasy points (Denver Broncos), while Rodgers should feast on the Chicago Bears—a team he has owned in recent years.

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr remains in the top 10 despite a down game in Week 11, and Tony Romo can be trusted as a QB1 this week as well, even though he has the unenviable task of playing against the undefeated Carolina Panthers.

Week 12’s Top 10 QBs

1. Aaron Rodgers (vs. CHI)
2. Tom Brady (at DEN)
3. Cam Newton (at DAL)
4. Carson Palmer (at SF)
5. Drew Brees (at HOU)
6. Eli Manning (at WAS)
7. Philip Rivers (at JAC)
8. Matthew Stafford (vs. PHI)
9. Tony Romo (vs. CAR)
10. Derek Carr (at TEN)

Breakout QB of the Week: Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

After throwing for at least two touchdowns in seven of his first eight games, Rivers has only thrown for one touchdown in his past two outings combined. Look for him to get back on track in Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, however—a team that ranks in the bottom 10 in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks this season, per ESPN.com. Things are lining up for Rivers to end his slump.

QB Bust of the Week: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Perennially overrated, Ryan is riding a high entering Week 12 after throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns in Week 11 against the Indianapolis Colts. It was, however, his first three-touchdown performance of the season. He also hasn’t thrown for multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games all season long.

Additionally, Ryan and the Falcons will play against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12, a team that is among the five stingiest at stopping opposing quarterbacks from scoring fantasy points. Ryan is not a QB1 this week.

RBs: Doug Martin a Top-5 Option in Week 12

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Doug Martin smiles on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings has reclaimed the top spot among running backs after playing second fiddle to Atlanta Falcons' breakout player Devonta Freeman and St. Louis Rams rookie Todd Gurley for most of the season. There’s nothing wrong with being behind Freeman or Gurley in 2015, but Peterson’s staying power is starting to shine through at just the right time for fantasy owners.

And while we’re on the topic of Peterson’s staying power, just take a look at the list below. Other than Peterson, which one of those nine other running backs would you have expected to be in the top 10 at any point this season? Maybe LeSean McCoy of the Buffalo Bills—and maybe Philadelphia Eagles tailback DeMarco Murray–but that’s it.

This has been a weird year for running backs indeed.

Week 12’s Top 10 RBs

1. Adrian Peterson (at ATL)
2. Todd Gurley (at CIN)
3. DeMarco Murray (at DET)
4. Doug Martin (at IND)
5. Mark Ingram (at HOU)
6. Charcandrick West (vs. BUF)
7. Jonathan Stewart (at DAL)
8. Darren McFadden (vs. CAR)
9. Chris Ivory (vs. MIA)
10. LeSean McCoy (at KC)

Breakout RB of the Week: Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s odd to highlight a player who just ran for 235 yards as a “breakout” candidate, but Martin does have a great matchup in Week 12 that can’t be ignored. And, technically speaking, he does have room for improvement from a fantasy perspective, because he didn’t score in Week 11.

Martin is a solid RB1 for fantasy purposes this season, and his Week 12 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts places him in the top five. The Colts are among the 10 worst teams at stopping running backs from scoring fantasy points this season, per ESPN.com. Indianapolis had success in Week 11 slowing down Atlanta Falcons backup running back Tevin Coleman, but that was only after Devonta Freeman gained 43 yards on just three carries against the Colts.

Martin is in line for another big week. Only this time, he should have no problem scoring a touchdown.

RB Bust of the Week: Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals

The second-year pro has been as hot-and-cold as it gets in 2015. He has a respectable seven rushing touchdowns on the season, but that number doesn’t look as good when you realize how he attained it. Hill has only scored (on the ground) in three games this year. He either scores two-plus touchdowns or no touchdowns at all.

In truth, Hill’s Week 12 matchup against the St. Louis Rams would have looked much scarier in Week 9, but since then, the Rams have given up big games to Peterson and Chicago Bears rookie Jeremy Langford.

The difference: The 2015 version of Hill is not as good as either of those players. He certainly can’t be trusted this week (or any other week, for that matter, until he shows more consistency). Don't be lured in by his two touchdowns from Week 11—we've seen this story before.

WRs: Start Rueben Randle in the Flex This Week

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

New York Giants wide receiver Rueben Randle (82) pulls in an 8-yard touchdown reception during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. occupies the No. 3 spot among wide receivers this week, but you can also expect a good game from his teammate Rueben Randle. The New York Giants should be able to score plenty of points against the Washington Redskins in Week 12, which means good things for all involved in the Giants passing attack.

Detroit Lions wideout Calvin Johnson has been in somewhat of a “slump”—by his standards, at least—but look for him to dominate in Week 12 against a Philadelphia Eagles unit that just gave up five passing touchdowns to rookie quarterback Jameis Winston.

Studly fantasy wideout and Pittsburgh Steelers superstar Antonio Brown slides a little bit down the rankings this week, but it’s difficult to move him out of the top five regardless of the matchup. He does, however, face the Seattle Seahawks—which means a potential showdown with cornerback Richard Sherman.

Week 12’s Top 10 WRs

1. DeAndre Hopkins (vs. NO)
2. Julio Jones (vs. MIN)
3. Odell Beckham Jr. (at WAS)
4. Calvin Johnson (vs. PHI)
5. Antonio Brown (at SEA)
6. Mike Evans (at IND)
7. Dez Bryant (vs. CAR)
8. Larry Fitzgerald (at SF)
9. Brandon Marshall (vs. MIA)
10. Alshon Jeffery (at GB)

Breakout WR of the Week: Rueben Randle, New York Giants

Randle will be playing against the Washington Redskins in Week 12, a team that ranks in the bottom five in terms of fantasy points ceded to opposing wideouts, per ESPN.com.

When these two teams met in Week 3, the Redskins gave up 14 receptions to wide receivers (the second-most they’ve given up on the season) for 195 yards and two scores. Randle accounted for over half of those stats: He had seven catches for 116 yards and a score in that game.

And just last week, Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers torched the Redskins to the tune of five passing touchdowns. A three-score game for Giants quarterback Eli Manning seems like a certainty, which means Randle should be in line for at least one touchdown.

WR Bust of the Week: Terrance Williams, Dallas Cowboys 

Williams caught a touchdown pass in Week 11—(thank you, Tony Romo, for making these pass-catchers relevant again!)—but chances are Williams won't be a fantasy factor in Week 12 against the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers are among the 10 stingiest teams when it comes to slowing down opposing wideouts on the fantasy “field,” and they have yet to give up two touchdowns to a receiving corps in any single game this season.

One has to think that if a Dallas Cowboys wide receiver catches a touchdown in Week 12, it will be Dez Bryant—not Williams.

TEs: Jimmy Graham Primed for a Strong Week 12

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Jimmy Graham

The top of the tight end rankings in 2015 (and probably 2016 and beyond) is etched in stone, with New England’s Rob Gronkowski entrenched as the top option, but there’s plenty of movement behind him.

For instance, this week, Delanie Walker of the Tennessee Titans and Jordan Reed of the Washington Redskins are the Nos. 2 and 3 tight ends, respectively. It’s not that Walker and Reed are unfamiliar to the top-10 rankings—they are regulars on the list—but they have yet to rank this high. But their matchups warrant the elite rankings.

Walker will square off against the Oakland Raiders, who remain one of the three worst teams in the league at stopping tight ends from scoring fantasy points, per ESPN.com. For his part, Reed will face the New York Giants, who join the Raiders in the bottom three.

These are fantasy matchups made in heaven.

Week 12’s Top 10 TEs

1. Rob Gronkowski (at DEN)
2. Delanie Walker (vs. OAK)
3. Jordan Reed (vs. NYG)
4. Antonio Gates (at JAC)
5. Greg Olsen (at DAL)
6. Tyler Eifert (vs. STL)
7. Jimmy Graham (vs. PIT)
8. Travis Kelce (vs. BUF)
9. Jason Witten (vs. CAR)
10. Martellus Bennett (at GB)

Breakout TE of the Week: Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks

Graham’s fantasy owners would welcome a breakout game, as he hasn’t scored a touchdown since September and has three or fewer receptions in three of his past four games. But his Week 12 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers suggests Graham is ready for a rebound.

The Steelers are among the worst teams at stopping tight ends from scoring fantasy points this season, and that’s not just because New England’s duo of Rob Gronkowski and Scott Chandler torched them for four touchdowns in Week 1. The Steelers have also given up a receiving score to opposing tight ends in two straight games.

TE Bust of the Week: Eric Ebron, Detroit Lions

Ebron was supposed to break out in Week 11 against the Oakland Raiders defense, but that didn’t happen. In fact, he didn’t even record a reception in Week 11, and he now has only one touchdown since Week 2.

Making matters worse for Ebron (at least in Week 12) is his matchup. He will play against the Philadelphia Eagles, who have only given up two receiving touchdowns to tight ends all season long. And only one tight end has scored double-digit fantasy points when going up against the 2015 Eagles. Overall, the Eagles rank second in the league in terms of slowing fantasy tight ends.

Too many things would have to go Ebron’s way to make him worth starting this week.

Kickers: Carolina’s Graham Gano Set to Break out in Week 12

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Jason Hatcher (97) stretches to block Carolina Panthers' Graham Gano's (9) field goal held by Brad Nortman (8) during the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015. The Panthers won 44-16. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker vaults into the No. 2 spot this week given the fact the entire Baltimore offense is now out for the season. (Well, all of the most important parts of it, anyway.) The potential for a stalled Baltimore drive—causing the team to turn to Tucker—just got a lot higher.

Week 12’s Top 10 Ks

1. Stephen Gostkowski (at DEN)
2. Justin Tucker (at CLE)
3. Graham Gano (at DAL)
4. Dan Bailey (vs. CAR)
5. Mason Crosby (vs. CHI)
6. Matt Bryant (vs. MIN)
7. Brandon McManus (vs. NE)
8. Cairo Santos (vs. BUF)
9. Steven Hauschka (vs. PIT)
10. Chandler Catanzaro (at SF)

Breakout K of the Week: Graham Gano, Carolina Panthers

Gano is a safe bet at the kicker position this week thanks to his matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys rank in the bottom 10 in terms of fantasy points per game given up to kickers, and the Panthers offense has been moving the ball with ease over the past several weeks.

Gano also has a safe floor. He has attempted at least two field goals in all but one game this season, and he has attempted multiple extra points in every game as well.

K Bust of the Week: Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts

Adam Vinatieri and the Indianapolis Colts will play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12. Tampa Bay has given up an average amount of fantasy points per game to opposing kickers, but kickers have only scored double-digit fantasy points against them in two outings this season. And kickers have made only one or fewer field goals against the Buccaneers in five games this season (half of the time).

Additionally, Vinatieri’s offense will be led by 40-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. He has proved to be a worthy backup, but it seems like it’s only a matter of time before he starts to slow down—which would hurt Vinatieri’s fantasy value, assuming the Colts wouldn’t be in field-goal range quite as often.

Defense and Special Teams: Stream the Cleveland Browns D/ST in Week 12

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The Arizona Cardinals D/ST is the top unit heading into Week 12 with its matchup against the San Francisco 49ers coming up. San Francisco quarterback Blaine Gabbert was surprisingly decent in Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks, but the 49ers still only scored 13 points. In their last four games combined, they have only scored 39 points.

Week 12’s Top 10 D/STs

1. Arizona Cardinals (at SF)
2. New York Jets (vs. MIA)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. STL)
4. Cleveland Browns (vs. BAL)
5. Carolina Panthers (at DAL)
6. Green Bay Packers (vs. CHI)
7. New England Patriots (at DEN)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at IND)
9. Philadelphia Eagles (at DET)
10. Baltimore Ravens (at CLE)

Breakout D/ST of the Week: Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland D/ST will get first dibs at the 2015 version of Matt Schaub, who will be starting at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12.

Schaub has a penchant for back-breaking turnovers—which often result in D/ST touchdowns going the other way—and while he may not throw a pick-six against the Browns (it's just not all that common of an occurrence), multiple turnovers seems like a given.

D/ST Bust of the Week: Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos D/ST has been—by far—the best fantasy unit in the league this year, but it is notably absent from the top 10 this week due to the matchup. Heading into Week 12, D/STs that played against the New England Patriots scored an average of zero points per game, according to ESPN.com.

Even the Buffalo Bills D/ST, which looked fantastic against the New England offense on Monday Night Football in Week 11, was only able to score two fantasy points.

Bold Predictions: Brian Hoyer Puts Up Top-5 Numbers in Week 12

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Brian Hoyer

Below are five bold predictions for Week 12 of the 2015 fantasy football season.

• Brian Hoyer finishes in the top five in terms of fantasy points scored among quarterbacks. The Houston Texans quarterback is expected to return to the field in Week 12, according to a post in the Houston Chronicle, written by the Associated Press' Kristie Rieken. And he could not walk into a better situation. The Texans will be playing against the New Orleans Saints, who have given up a whopping 3,081 yards and 28 passing touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks so far this season. New Orleans is giving up 24.1 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, while no other team is giving up more than 20 fantasy points per game. The Saints are also on a putrid four-game stretch in which they’ve given up 17 passing touchdowns and 1,378 yards. Extrapolated over a full season, that equates to 68 passing touchdowns and 5,512 yards. Hoyer will feast this week.

• Philadelphia Eagles running back DeMarco Murray finishes with 175 total yards and two scores. Murray has had a bunch of decent games this season, but he has yet to truly explode. That could change in Week 12 against the Detroit Lions, who are one of the worst teams at stopping running backs from scoring fantasy points this season, per ESPN.com. The Philadelphia Eagles passing attack has been lackluster—to say the least—so it would make sense for the team to start to lean more on its pricey free-agent signing.

• Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green is held to less than 50 yards and doesn’t score. Green has had at least 50 yards in all but two games this season, with an average of 84.8 yards per game. But he’ll play against the St. Louis Rams in Week 12, who have given up just four scores to wideouts all season long and have held entire receiving corps to just 85 yards per game since Week 7.

• Jordan Reed of the Washington Redskins catches two touchdowns. This might not be all that bold of a prediction, actually, because Reed has accomplished this feat in two of his past four games. So maybe the bold prediction should be “three touchdowns”—but the point is the same either way: Reed is going to score against the New York Giants in Week 12, a team that has given up three scores to tight ends over its past three games. The Giants have also given up more than 100 receiving yards to tight ends in two of their past three games.

• Melvin Gordon gets his first touchdown of the season for the San Diego Chargers. The rookie running back has yet to score a touchdown this season, but he is still seeing about 15 touches per game, which suggests a score is imminent. And he will play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 12, who have given up the (tied for) sixth-most rushing touchdown to running backs so far this year.

The rankings provided throughout this article are the author's own preliminary Week 12 rankings. His rankings are updated throughout the week at FantasyPros.com. Fantasy stats courtesy of ESPN.com.