Week 12 of the 2025 fantasy football season is here, and with playoff spots on the line, every lineup decision matters more than ever. Injuries, tough matchups, and shifting usage patterns are forcing managers to dig deeper across all four major positions: quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, and running back.
This week’s rankings break down every tier to help you make confident, data driven decisions heading into a crucial slate of games. You’ll also find four must start players who not only have strong matchup advantagesbut also carry high volume roles that make them nearly impossible to bench in Week 12. Whether you're fighting to secure a playoff seed or keeping your season alive, these rankings give you the clarity you need to set your best possible lineup.
Week 12 Quarterback Rankings
Tier 1
1. Josh Allen @ HOU
2. Lamar Jackson vs NYJ
3. Jalen Hurts @ DAL
Tier 2
4. Drake Maye @ CIN
5. Patrick Mahomes II vs IND
6. Matthew Stafford vs TB
7. Jared Goff vs NYG
8. Baker Mayfield @ LAR
9. Dak Prescott vs PHI
Tier 3
10. Brock Purdy vs CAR
11. Daniel Jones @ KC
12. Caleb Williams vs PIT
13. Jacoby Brissett vs JAC
14. Joe Flacco vs NE
15. Jameis Winston @ DET
16. Sam Darnold @ TEN
Tier 4
17. Jordan Love vs MIN
18. J.J. McCarthy @ GB
19. Trevor Lawrence @ ARI
20. Bryce Young @ SF
Tier 5
21. Justin Fields @ BAL
22. Davis Mills vs BUF
23. Kirk Cousins @ NO
24. Geno Smith vs CLE
Must Start: Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett vs JAC
Jacoby Brissett faces a bottom 5 defense against quarterbacks in the Jaguars this week and in the last 5 starts he has had Brissett has averaged 21.3 fantasy points per game. Nothing should change this week where they will have to air out the ball and is a must start this week.
Week 12 Tight End Rankings
Tier 1
1. Trey McBride vs JAC
Tier 2
2. George Kittle vs CAR
3. Brock Bowers vs CLE
4. Tyler Warren @ KC
5. Travis Kelce vs IND
6. Dallas Goedert @ DAL
Tier 3
7. Jake Ferguson vs PHI
8. Hunter Henry @ CIN
9. Kyle Pitts Sr. @ NO
10. Theo Johnson @ DET
11. Colston Loveland vs PIT
Tier 4
12. Mark Andrews vs NYJ
13. Cade Otton @ LAR
14. Dalton Schultz vs BUF
15. Harold Fannin Jr. @ LV
16. AJ Barner @ TEN
17. Juwan Johnson vs ATL
Tier 5
18. Luke Musgrave vs MIN
19. Mason Taylor @ BAL
20. T.J. Hockenson @ GB
21. Pat Freiermuth @ CHI
22. Noah Fant vs NE
23. David Njoku @ LV
24. Dawson Knox @ HOU
Must Start: Tight End
Mark Andrews vs NYJ
Mark Andrews faces a New York Jet defense that ranks in the bottom half against tight ends. In the last 3 weeks Andrews has had 10+ fantasy points and has found the end zone in all those games. Andrews has high touchdown upside and is a must start this week.
Week 12 Wide Receiver Rankings
Tier 1
1. Ja’Marr Chase vs NE
2. Puka Nucua vs TB
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba @ TEN
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs NYG
5. Drake London @ NO
6. CeeDee Lamb vs PHI
Tier 2
7. Rashee Rice vs IND
8. Emeka Egbuka @ LAR
9. Justin Jefferson @ GB
10. Davante Adams vs TB
11. Nico Collins vs BUF
Tier 3
12. Stefon Diggs @ CIN
13. George Pickens vs PHI
14. A.J. Brown @ DAL
15. Tee Higgins vs NE
16. DeVonta Smith @ DAL
17. Tetairoa McMillan @ SF
18. Chris Olave vs ATL
Tier 4
19. Michael Pittman Jr. @ KC
20. Rome Odunze vs PIT
21. Jameson Williams vs NYG
22. Zay Flowers vs NYJ
23. Wan’Dale Robinson @ DET
24. Michael Wilson vs JAC
Tier 5
25. Juan Jennings vs CAR
26. DK Metcalf @ CHI
27. Jordan Addison @ GB
28. Romeo Doubs vs MIN
29. Christian Watson vs MIN
30. Parker Washington @ ARI
Tier 6
31. Tre Tucker vs CLE
32. Alec Pierce @ KC
33. Tez Johnson @ LAR
34. Khalil Shakir @ HOU
35. Xavier Worthy vs IND
36. Jerry Jeudy @ LV
Must Start: Wide Receiver
Tetairoa McMillan @ SF
Tetairoa McMillan faces a bottom half defense in San Francisco against wide receivers this week and last week against the tough Falcons defense he had 8 receptions for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12 targets. McMillan is going to be the focal points against the 49ers and will explode again in week 12.
Week 12 Running Back Rankings
Tier 1
1. Christian McCaffrey vs CAR
2. Jonathan Taylor @ KC
3. Jahmyr Gibbs vs NYG
4. Bijan Robinson @ NO
Tier 2
5. TreVeyon Henderson @ CIN
6. Saquon Barkley @ DAL
7. Javonte Williams vs PHI
8. James Cook III @ HOU
9. Rico Dowdle @ SF
10. Kyren Williams vs TB
Tier 3
11. Derrick Henry vs NYJ
12. Chase Brown vs NE
13. Ashton Jeanty vs CLE
14. Jaylen Warren @ CHI
15. Quinshon Judkins @ LV
16. Travis Etienne Jr. @ ARI
Tier 4
17. Breece Hall @ BAL
18. Aaron Jones Sr. @ GB
19. D’Andre Swift vs PIT
20. Woody Marks vs BUF
21. Kenneth Walker III @ TEN
22. Sean Tucker @ LAR
Tier 5
23. David Montgomery vs NYG
24. Emanuel Wilson vs MIN
25. Tyron Tracy Jr. @ DET
26. Kareem Hunt vs IND
27. Alvin Kamara vs ATL
28. Rachaad White @ LAR
29. Zach Charbonnet @ TEN
Tier 6
30. Tyjae Spears vs SEA
31. Kyle Monangai vs PIT
32. Kenneth Gainwell @ CHI
33. Tyler Allgeier @ NO
34. Tony Pollard vs SEA
35. Devin Singletary @ DET
36. Nick Chubb vs BUF
Must Start: Running Back
Travis Etienne Jr. @ ARI
Travis Etienne Jr. the last 3 weeks is averaging 17.2 fantasy points per game and this week he faces a bottom half defense in the Cardinals. I would expect a game where the Jaguars run the ball heavily and Etienne will reap the benefit and should have a high production game again in week 12.
Conclusion
Week 12 offers several strong matchups that fantasy managers should take advantage of as playoff races tighten. Jacoby Brissett continues to provide steady production and draws a vulnerable Jaguars defense, while Mark Andrews remains a touchdown machine with another favorable matchup against the Jet.
Tetairoa McMillan has emerged as a true weekly difference maker and should continue his explosive run versus San Francisco, and Travis Etienne Jr. is positioned for another high volume outing against a weak Cardinals run defense. These four must start players anchor the week and provide the upside needed in such a critical stretch of the season. Stay aggressive, trust the matchups, and make every lineup spot count, week 12 is where contenders separate themselves.