The fantasy football season is approaching the playoffs, and it’s time to set your lineups. Week 12 is a tough week for bye weeks, with six teams on a bye. The quarterbacks missing this week are Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Derek Carr, Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers. Below are the quarterback rankings, tiers and analysis to help you navigate your lineup decisions for Week 12.
Quarterback Rankings for Week 12 Fantasy Football
Tier 1: Superstar Quarterbacks
1. Jalen Hurts
2. Lamar Jackson
3. Justin Herbert
4. Jayden Daniels
Herbert continued his hot streak on Sunday Night Football, scoring 24.38 fantasy points. His accuracy was a problem, only completing 17 of 36 passes, but he had two passing touchdowns and 65 rushing yards. He finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback for the third time in the last four weeks. He gets a great matchup in Week 12 against a Ravens defense that has a struggling pass defense. They have given up the third most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Herbert should continue his great play in the Harbaugh Bowl on Monday Night Football.
Daniels has been struggling recently, failing to finish as a top-20 fantasy quarterback in back-to-back weeks. However, he has played both the Steelers and the Eagles in the last two weeks, which are two of the better pass defenses in the league. Daniels has a much better matchup against a struggling Cowboys defense. This is the week for Daniels to get back on track.
Tier 2: Mid to Low-End QB1s
5. Bo Nix
6. Brock Purdy
7. Jordan Love
8. Kyler Murray
9. Baker Mayfield
10. Patrick Mahomes
11. Jared Goff
12. Anthony Richardson
Nix continued his hot streak in Week 11, scoring 28.78 fantasy points to finish as the overall QB3 on the week. He threw for a career-high four passing touchdowns. He has now finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback in four of the last seven weeks. Nix plays the Raiders in Week 12, which is a favorable matchup. Nix should continue his great play this week.
Richardson returned to being the starting quarterback for the Colts in Week 11, and he delivered a comeback victory over the Jets. He was the QB4 on the week, which was the first time he finished as a top-20 quarterback since Week 1. Richardson threw for one touchdown and rushed for two more. This is what fantasy managers expected when they drafted him as a top-six fantasy quarterback in drafts this summer. Richardson has a tougher matchup against the Lions in Week 12, but his rushing upside keeps him as a low-end QB1 in the quarterback rankings.
Tier 3: Mid-Tier QB2s
13. Drake Maye
14. Russell Wilson
15. Sam Darnold
16. C.J. Stroud
Maye had a good performance in Week 11, completing 30 of 40 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns while adding 27 rushing yards. This is the fifth time in six starts that Maye has finished between the QB7 and QB18. He is playing as a mid-tier QB2 with a solid floor and remains in this tier for Week 12.
Darnold rebounded in Week 11, finishing as a top-10 fantasy quarterback, throwing for 246 yards and two touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown. This was the second time in the last three weeks that he finished as a top-10 quarterback. However, he has a tougher matchup in Week 12 against the Bears. Darnold continues to be a solid fantasy starter, but temper expectations this week.
Tier 4: Streaming Options
17. Matthew Stafford
18. Geno Smith
19. Tua Tagovailoa
20. Caleb Williams
Stafford had his best performance of the season last week, throwing 295 yards and four touchdowns. The returns of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have rejuvenated Stafford. Stafford has finished as a top-20 fantasy quarterback in four straight weeks, after failing to do so in the previous five. Stafford has a tough matchup against the Eagles in Week 12, but with all the bye weeks, he is a solid streaming option.
Smith did not do much in the passing game, failing to throw for a touchdown, but he rushed for 29 yards and a touchdown to give the Seahawks the victory over the 49ers. Smith is a streaming option in Week 12 against the Cardinals.
Main Photo Courtesy of Eric Hartline – Imagn Images
