Fantasy Football Week 12 Rankings: Top 60 Wide Receivers

Many considered Randy Moss, Brandon Marshall and Steve Smith among the best wide receivers in the league prior to 2011.  Now, none of them are considered usable, even in three-wide receiver formats.

Of course, others have taken their place near the top, but that is no condolence for fantasy owners who drafted them, now is it?

With that said, let’s take a look at how the rankings currently look for Week 12:

1. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions – vs. New England
2. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers – at Atlanta
3. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans – vs. Tennessee
4. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Buffalo
5. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Green Bay
6. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts – vs. San Diego
7. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs – at Seattle
8. Brandon Lloyd – Denver Broncos – vs. St. Louis
9. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles – at Chicago
10. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints – at Dallas
11. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals – vs. San Francisco
12. Mario Manningham – New York Giants – vs. Jacksonville
13. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets – vs. Cincinnati
14. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings – at Washington
15. Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at Detroit
16. Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals – at New York Jets
17. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New Orleans
18. Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Pittsburgh
19. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Tampa Bay
20. Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals – at New York Jets
21. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Chicago
22. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New Orleans
23. Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – vs. New England
24. Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts – vs. San Diego
25. Braylon Edwards – New York Jets – vs. Cincinnati
26. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – at Arizona
27. Mike Williams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Baltimore
28. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins – vs. Minnesota
29. Vincent Jackson – San Diego Chargers – at Indianapolis
30. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Buffalo
31. Mike Thomas – Jacksonville Jaguars – at New York Giants
32. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. Philadelphia
33. Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals – vs. San Francisco
34. Mike Williams – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Kansas City
35. Donald Driver – Green Bay Packers – at Atlanta
36. Deion Branch – New England Patriots – at Detroit
37. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – at Oakland
38. Danny Woodhead – New England Patriots – at Detroit
39. Davone Bess – Miami Dolphins – at Oakland
40. Nate Washington – Tennessee Titans – at Houston
41. Sidney Rice – Minnesota Vikings – at Washington
42. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints – at Dallas
43. James Jones – Green Bay Packers – at Atlanta
44. Lance Moore – New Orleans Saints – at Dallas
45. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Cleveland
46. Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills – vs. Pittsburgh
47. Derek Hagan – New York Giants – vs. Jacksonville
48. Randy Moss – Tennessee Titans – at Houston
49. Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Tampa Bay
50. Louis Murphy – Oakland Raiders – vs. Miami
51. Jabar Gaffney – Denver Broncos – vs. St. Louis
52. Kevin Walter – Houston Texans – vs. Tennessee
53. Danny Amendola – St. Louis Rams – at Denver
54. Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New Orleans
55. Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns – vs. Carolina
56. Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos – vs. St. Louis
57. Deon Butler – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Kansas City
58. Jacoby Ford – Oakland Raiders – vs. Miami
59. Devin Hester – Chicago Bears – vs. Philadelphia
60. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Tampa Bay

• Steve Smith is still out and now comes word that Hakeem Nicks will miss at least three weeks and possibly more.  The once-vaunted Giants passing attack will now be led by Mario Manningham, clearly not an optimal scenario.  You have to think that we may get a bigger dose of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs this week.
• Does anyone remember Greg Jennings’ slow start?  Over the past five weeks, his worst game was 74 yards (and has games of 133 and 152).  He has six TDs over that span, as well as 32 catches.  There’s little not to like and he clearly has reestablished himself among the elite in the game.
• Roddy White vs. Charles Woodson is one of the more intriguing matchups this week.  Considering his 79 receptions for 1,017 yards and 7 TD through 10 games it’s impossible to rank White outside the Top 10, but the matchup does pull him just outside the Top 5.
• In the last three games, Mike Wallace has had 362 yards and four touchdowns.  He draws a defense that has allowed 20 passing TDs on the season.  It certainly has the makings for a big day for the Steelers' big-play threat, doesn’t it?
• Wes Welker finally appears to be getting healthy, though he’s not quite there yet.  Consider him a WR2, but realize that he has the potential to produce like a WR1 moving forward.
• Dwayne Bowe has come alive, now with 45 receptions for 715 yards and 11 TD.  He has scored touchdowns in six straight games, with 10 TDs over that span (including four two touchdown games).  This week the Chiefs get a Seahawks team that has allowed 283.2 passing yards per game and 16 passing TDs.  You have to like the matchup.
• Originally the talk was that Darrelle Revis would shadow Terrell Owens.  Now, that may not be the case.  Either way, you have to downgrade him and Chad Ochocinco slightly.
• Still think Santonio Holmes can only produce in overtime?  He’s coming off a seven reception, 126 yard, two touchdown performance and clearly has developed a great rapport with Mark Sanchez.  Consider him a WR2, especially after the performance Steve Johnson and Ryan Fitzpatrick put on against the Bengals in Week 11 (8 catches, 137 yards, 3 TD).
• Anquan Boldin has struggled for three straight weeks, with just 10 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown over that span.  He’s still a WR2, but you clearly would like to see more before trusting him.
• Vincent Jackson is going to play and early word is that he is going to quickly play a major factor in the Chargers offense.  Malcolm Floyd & Antonio Gates are no sure thing and Patrick Crayton is most likely out for Week 12.  The Chargers need a threat on the outside and remember, Jackson has been practicing and was not out due to injury, just a holdout.  He’s a borderline WR2, but definitely a usable option in three-receiver formats.
• Does anyone want to trust Brandon Marshall at this point (even if he plays)?  He’s only borderline usable as a WR3.  The same can be said for Randy Moss and Steve Smith.  Would anyone have expected these three big-name receivers to be left virtually unusable?
• Sidney Rice may have had just three receptions for 56 yards, but the more telling number is the 10 targets he had.  That led the team by a wide margin and shows that Brett Favre desperately wants to get him significantly involved in the offense.  Obviously, we want to see him perform before trusting him, but he easily could become a viable option before long.
• Robert Meachem may be coming off a big game, but he was targeted just three times and hasn’t had more than 76 yards in a game all season.  The Saints have too many options to consider him viable outside of deeper formats.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who's too high?  Who's too low?

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 12 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 20 Tight Ends (coming soon)
• Top 15 Kickers (coming soon)
• Top 15 Defenses (coming soon)
• Waiver Worthy
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em (coming soon)
• Sunday Sleepers (coming soon)

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