Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings: Looking Ahead to the Best Matchups

A bad matchup can make even the most studly fantasy player a low-scoring lodestone on your roster, and though there are players you are never going to bench, having the proper expectations going into the week helps stave off any surprises.

At the same time, a solid opponent can make second-tier players look like some of the best fantasy option around.

With both considerations in mind, here are four players set to have big games for your fantasy team in Week 12.

WR Nate Burleson, Detroit Lions (vs. Green Bay Packers)

With star Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson seeing ever-increasing double and triple coverage, fellow wideout Nate Burleson is seeing his numbers increase.

In his team's Week 11 shootout victory over the Carolina Panthers, Burleson caught all seven passes thrown his way, for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Though his numbers are relatively low on the year, with 49 receptions for 391 and two scores, the upcoming Thanksgiving afternoon matchup against the Green Bay Packers provides him with serious fantasy upside.

The Green Bay defense is notorious for allowing teams to pass on them, and with Johnson likely to see more of that heavy coverage, Burelson will be heavily targeted by quarterback Matthew Stafford as Detroit tries to hand the Packers their first loss of the season.

Burelson is widely available on the waiver wire, so if you need a low risk, high reward starting wide receiver for Week 12, you should easily be able to add him and give him the starting nod, especially in PPR leagues or those that start three wide receivers.

QB Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (at Miami Dolphins)

Though the Miami Dolphins are riding high on the merit of their three-game win streak and only looking better with every week, the Dallas Cowboys come to town in Week 12 and will likely bring the Dolphins back to earth.

The Miami defense's strength lies in their ability to stop the run more so than stifling the passing game, and the Cowboys' Tony Romo has been on fire in his last three games, leading the Cowboys to three straight wins and throwing six touchdowns and zero interceptions in that time.

Romo completed 23-of-37 passes in the Cowboys' overtime win over the Washington Redskins in Week 11, for 292 yards and three touchdowns. With 2,800 yards on the year and 19 scores to seven interceptions, the inconsistent Romo we all remember seems to be a fading memory.

Look for Romo's streak of victories to continue; while he may get intercepted once in this game, the touchdowns and yardage he's likely to rack up will mitigate that relatively small pain.

RB Matt Forte, Chicago Bears (at Oakland Raiders)

With Bears quarterback Jay Cutler likely lost for the remainder of the regular season with a broken thumb that requires surgery, Chicago head coach Lovie Smith confirmed that the team will rely even more on the run game than they have thus far.

And with the 26th-ranked Oakland Raiders defense (27th against the run) up next, Bears running back Matt Forte is primed to have quite the big day for your fantasy team.

Forte has 187 rushes on the year for 928 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 46 receptions for 465 yards and an additional score. He had 85 all-purpose yards in his team's Week 11 victory over the San Diego Chargers, carrying the ball 21 times and catching four passes.

Look for Forte to see somewhere closer to 30 carries while Cutler is sidelined; backup quarterback Caleb Hanie just isn't as skilled at passing as Cutler, and as such, taking to the air will prove to be a major risk.

That doesn't mean Forte's usefulness in the passing game has come to an end, however. Look for Hanie to check down to the reliable Forte a number of times on Sunday (and beyond).

TE Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers (at Kansas City Chiefs)

Steelers tight end Heath Miller isn't always the most reliable fantasy starter, but with the Kansas City Chiefs' 30th-ranked pass defense up ahead in Week 12, he's on the positive end of a game that looks on paper as a serious mismatch.

Miller has 38 catches for 465 yards and two scores thus far this year, and though his production is up and down, there are a number of reasons that make him a worthwhile starter this Sunday.

For one, that weak Kansas City pass defense will be easily exploited by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his impressive cadre of receivers, practically guaranteeing a number of targets to Miller. And Miller is reliable—he doesn't drop many passes and is invaluable in 3rd-and-long passing situations.

Further, Roethlisberger will be playing through a broken thumb on his throwing hand, which may limit his ability to toss the long bomb. A shorter passing game only benefits Miller that much more. Though he's not the fastest tight end in the league, he's tough and can gain yards after the catch.

This is certainly Miller's big chance to put up 80 or more receiving yards and a score (or even two), making him an excellent starter for Week 12.