The 2023 fantasy football season has some crazy twists and turns. Last week was no different. We will see our 50th different starting quarterbacks. The year of the backup quarterback and the year of the rookie. This 2023 NFL draft class has churned out a full roster of every-week starters. Unfortunately, injuries have caused their own drama to all of your Week 12 fantasy football rankings. Playoffs are a couple of weeks away, these games carry a lot of weight this week.
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Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings: Who Should I Start?
We have you covered, and you can check out all of our rankings on the website. These are my rankings on the FantasyPros ECR. I have highlighted some players that I am higher on than the expert consensus. Obviously, start Christian McCaffrey. My highlights will be some deeper options. Good luck this week, and if you want any advice this season, please reach out. The easiest way to find us is by joining our Patreon and our discord.
We are live every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on our SGPN Fantasy Football YouTube channel. There, you can get injury updates from our resident football doctor. The guys will keep you updated on news and help you with those tough lineup decisions. Every week, it comes down to the wire for starts and sits. We have your back.
Starts of The Week
QB – Joshua Dobbs, MIN vs. CHI
Dobb had his worst game in four weeks, and it was almost 19 points. Scoring almost 27 points a game in three straight prior. He has a rushing touchdown in five straight games, and he is averaging 40 yards per game. This is the type of safe floor that has moved him from a streamer to a starter. He also could potentially be getting Justin Jefferson back. The matchup is pristine, and Dobbs is the 2023 version of Geno Smith. Start him with confidence.
QB – Gardner Minshew, IND at TB
I am going to continue to target this Tampa Bay defense. They are in the giving mood to fantasy quarterbacks. Fantasy quarterbacks have scored at least 32.7 points in three straight games. Gardner Minshew has also been throwing the ball at a high rate. Minshew has struggled as of late, but I wanted to show my confidence in him as a deeper option. Coming off of the bye, get ready for some Minshew mania.
Honorable Mentions: Baker Mayfield, Jake Browning, Matthew Stafford
RB – Gus Edwards, BAL at LAC
Gus Edwards is this year’s Jamaal Williams, just two touchdowns off of Jamaal Williams’ 2022 pace. Edwards eclipsed the 10-touchdown mark this week and has four top-12 weeks in the last five games. During that time, he has been a top-6 back, three of them. He has emerged as an every-week starter, but the ECR has him buried. I had to highlight him as I am much higher. I love this Ravens offense, and Edwards is an every-week starter.
RB – Kyren Williams, LAR at AZ
Kyren Williams came out of nowhere and was one of the best values in the first half of the year. He injured his ankle and has been out for some time. Williams is returning and gets an awesome matchup to start it off. Kyren was getting all of the work, 12 touches was his floor, and 20 touches in half of the games. Volume is king, and Kyren was getting it all. Henderson wasn’t even on the team. Go grab Kyren before he reminds everyone how good he is.
Honorable Mentions: Baker Mayfield, Jake Browning, Matthew Stafford
WR – Jordan Addison, MIN vs. CHI
Justin Jefferson may or may not be returning, but regardless, I am starting Addison. Right now, the rankers are playing it safe at WR29 with the threat of Jefferson returning. Addison was WR13, while Jefferson was healthy, and Chicago is a great matchup. I trust Dobbs, and more importantly, I trust Addison. The last three weeks have been tough. I have Addison bouncing back this week against Chicago.
WR – Josh Downs, IND vs. TB
Tampa Bay has allowed 4th most fantasy points to wide receivers and the 2nd most passing touchdowns. Downs is due for a bounce back following his bye week. A combination of injury and bad matchups has him slumping. Let’s not forget he went on a tear from Weeks 3-8, where he was WR14 during that time. He has led the team in first-read targets since Minshew has taken over. Look for a big bounce-back week for Downs.
Our @RecepPerception Rookie Report is out and Josh Downs ranks among my favorite players 🚨 pic.twitter.com/uFMvScm28q
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) November 17, 2023
Honorable Mentions: Nico Collins, Zay Flowers, and Gabe Davis
TE – Taysom Hill, NO at ATL
Taysom Hill has had his best year yet and has become a startable tight end every week. Hill is a triple threat, and the Saints have consistently used him. This has provided us with a safe floor and a major upside. Taysom has four targets in four of his last five games, getting targeted five or more three times in that span. Rushing: he has had at least three rushes in eight of ten games. This has resulted in four top-6 fantasy finishes in his last five games, starting Taysom Hill.
Honorable Mentions: Isaiah Likely, Michael Mayer, and Cade Otton
Denver Broncos D/ST vs. CLE
The Denver Broncos have turned things around, and it started with their defense. Their defense has scored at least 10 fantasy points in three straight games. The team has been creating turnovers, 9 turnovers in the last three games to go with five sacks. Cleveland is a great matchup with their rookie quarterback and their injuries. They are not the same without Nick Chubb, and they are down three starting offensive linemen. Broncos are a must-add with a great upcoming schedule.
Honorable Mentions: New England Patriots, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans
Sits of The Week
QB – Russell Wilson, DEN vs. CLE
Cleveland’s defense has been the best against the fantasy quarterback position. They are only allowed 12.3 points per game. This defense has three corners that can defend and an aggressive pass rush. Teams are best to run the ball against them, and that is also tough. Wilson has been much better this season, but this will be a tough matchup. We have zero teams on bye. You should definitely have better options than Wilson this week.
QB – Derek Carr, NO at ATL
Derek Carr is a streaming option at best. The only reason to consider him is because of other QB injuries. But this week we have plenty of good options, and Carr is not one. Atlanta is a good matchup, allowing the 6th most fantasy points to the quarterback position. Don’t let this fool you into starting Carr. Taysom Hill eats into his production in the red zone, and Carr offers zero rushing upside. Carr has only two games inside the top-10. Park the Carr.
Yeah AK ain’t happy lol
🎥 @nofnetwork pic.twitter.com/REtKSs06Lh
— kadin (@kadinjanisch) November 24, 2023
RB – Khalil Herbert at MIN
I don’t like any of the running backs in this game, but I am out on the Bears particularly. Chicago’s runners get to face the 5th worst fantasy football defense against running backs. Herbert returned last week to take 16 carries and turn them into 35 yards. He had two catches on six yards on his three targets. The volume was there, but the production was terrible. It’s a muddled backfield and a bad offense. Sit all Bears’ backs until they prove otherwise.
RB – Chuba Hubbard, CAR at TEN
Hubbard had taken over this job, but unfortunately, it only led to one top 12 finish. Last week he had the same amount of touches as Miles Sanders and finished RB26. Tennessee is only allowing 17.8 points per game to fantasy football running backs. With Sanders and Hubbard sharing a bad matchup, I am out. This Carolina offense is awful. The only person worth starting is Adam Thielen.
WR – Amari Cooper, CLE at DEN
Death, Taxes, and Amari Cooper stinking it up on the road. Cooper continues his oddly bad performances on the road this season, a career-long trend. Cleveland can’t pass block, and they are down to their third-string quarterback. Last week, Cooper was WR48 with Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He is averaging 8.8 points per game without Watson. Cooper gets Patrick Surtain to add to the problems. Sit him if you can’t trade him.
WR – DeAndre Hopkins, TEN vs. CAR
The Carolina Panthers are only allowing 23.1 fantasy points to the wide receiver position this year. This is the 4th lowest in the league, which might come as a surprise. Tennessee is struggling to sustain drivers and pass blocks right now. Hopkins exploded in his first game with Will Levis, but last week, he only ran 15 routes and was targeted five times. Carolina has only allowed two deep touchdowns on the season, so hard to bet on that, too. Sit Hopkins!
TE – Kyle Pitts, ATL at NO
The nightmare that is rostering Kyle Pitts continues. Pitts has two top-10 performances this year. Unfortunately, he has four games outside the top 20. He has not scored more than 8 points since Week 6. Let someone else deal with the headache that is starting Kyle Pitts. New Orleans only allowed 10.7 points to the position to add to the concerns.
Baltimore Ravens D/ST @ Los Angeles Chargers
The Ravens are one of the hottest teams and best defenses. But, the Chargers offense is not one I am targeting. They are only allowing 3.4 points per game to fantasy defenses, 32nd in the league. Baltimore has a bye next week and a tough upcoming schedule. Might be time to look for better options.
