Week 12 Fantasy Football Positional Power Rankings

Sportz Nation Staff
49 minutes ago
4 min read

by Zak Drapeau, Matt Hylen and Joseph McLaughlin

11/20/2025 Sportz Nation

Quarterbacks

(Zak Drapeau)

Photo Credits to Karolyn Kaster/ Associated Press

Lamar Jackson vs NYJ
Jalen Hurts at DAL
Drake Maye at CIN
Patrick Mahomes vs IND
Jared Goff vs NYG
Brock Purdy vs CAR
Matthew Stafford vs TB
Josh Allen at HOU
Jaxson Dart at DET
Dak Prescott vs PHI
Baker Mayfield at LAR
Sam Darnold at TEN
Daniel Jones at KC
Jacoby Brissett vs JAX
Caleb Williams vs PIT

The big question this week will be if Josh Allen can continue his heroics from last week into a short week IN Houston. For the first time this year, he is not inside my Top 3 and drops all the way down to #8.

The rest of the list is pretty standard stuff with Hurts, Maye, and Goff rising because of easy matchups. Opposite them are Caleb, Baker, and obviously the reigning MVP with their brutal games.

It's good to see Brock Purdy back in the ranks after a great game in Arizona last week, and speaking of Arizona, Brissett makes his second appearance on the list, albeit much lower down before his matchup with Jacksonville.

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Running Backs

(Matt Hylen)

Photo by Peter Jonelei/ Associated Press

Johnathon Taylor at KC
Christian McCaffrey vs CAR
Jahmyr Gibbs vs NYG
Bijan Robinson at NO
James Cook III at HOU
Kyren Williams vs TB
Derrick Henry vs NYJ
Breece Hall at BAL
Saquon Barkley at DAL
Tre'Veyon Henderson at CIN
Alvin Kamara vs ATL
Rico Dowdle at SF
Javonte Williams vs PHI
Josh Jacobs/Emanuel Wilson vs MIN
D'Andre Swift vs PIT

After his bye week last time out, Jonathan Taylor reclaims my top spot in my rankings heading into week 12. Christian McCaffrey and Jahmyr Gibbs are not too far behind, as they round out my first tier. All three are matchup-proof and have proven to be extremely explosive all season long, which is why I have them in a tier of their own at the top.

My second tier, which is not too far behind tier 1, consists of the players ranked 4-7. Robinson, Cook III, Williams, and Henry all have favorable matchups and should explode onto the scene in their games. Though they may not have the receiving upside, they should provide more than enough to be RB1s going into the week.

My third tier of players consists of those ranked 8-10. A smaller tier, but what separates them from the rest is their proven red zone usage. Barkley, Henderson, and Kamara have all been effective options when their teams reach the red zone, causing me to believe a TD or two will propel them over those under them.

My fourth tier is also rather small, but consists of Alvin Kamara and Rico Dowdle. The receiving upside of Kamara and the workhorse ability of Dowdle is what sets them apart from the rest of the list.

My fifth and final tier are those ranked 13-15. Javonte Williams has a tough matchup, but still should be fine in terms of production. When it comes to the Packers RBs, I included Emmanuel Wilson next to Josh Jacobs, who I would view in the same light if he gets the start with Jacobs being injured. Lastly, De'Andre Swift has proven to be efficient against good rush defenses, which is why he sneaks in with my final spot.

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Wide Receivers

(Joseph McLaughlin)

Photo by Chris O'Meara/Associated Press.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba at TEN
Puka Nacua vs TB
Amon-Ra St. Brown vs NYG
CeeDee Lamb vs PHI
Rashee Rice vs IND
Justin Jefferson at GB
Chris Olave vs ATL
Davante Adams vs TB
Emeka Egbuka at LAR
Stefon Diggs at CIN
Tee Higgins vs NE
George Pickens vs PHI
Tetairoa McMillan at SF
A.J. Brown at DAL
Nico Collins vs BUF

Spots 1-5 on my list for this week are the usual suspects. Smith-Njigba and St. Brown, I believe, will have the best days of that group because of the defenses they are playing. The Titans and Giants are ranked 26th and 27th in secondary defense, and with both being No. 1 targets on their respective teams, I expect them to rack up a lot of points.

Stefon Diggs joins the middle of the pack and makes my list for the first time this season. It is hard to ignore what Diggs has been doing with the Patriots this season. Diggs and the Patriots draw a favorable matchup this Sunday against a struggling Bengals defense, so I expect him to keep New England's momentum going.

McMillan and Higgins find themselves in the bottom third of the list. I expect McMillan to give the Panthers the offensive spark they will need on the road against the 49ers. As for Higgins, with Chase out due to suspension, he will be the No. 1 target for the Bengals this Sunday against the Patriots. I expect him to rack up a lot of points as well.

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Tight Ends

(Zak Drapeau)

Photo Credits to Kirk Irwin/ Associated Press

George Kittle vs CAR
Trey McBride vs JAX
Tyler Warren at KC
Travis Kelce vs IND
Juwan Johnson vs ATL
Dallas Goedert at DAL
Brock Bowers vs CLE
Hunter Henry at CIN
Mark Andrews vs NYJ
Kyle Pitts at NO
Theo Johnson at DET
Jake Ferguson vs PHI
Cade Otton at LAR
A.J. Barner at TEN
Dalton Schultz vs BUF

Similar to Josh Allen, I have a top tight end much lower on my list named Brock Bowers. The thing about Bowers is, besides his ridiculous comeback-from-injury game, he has looked like other Raiders in that he's trapped on a bad team and suffers for it.

This is also the first week in almost two months that I haven't had McBride as my #1. Kittle's matchup with Purdy back makes me really like him, while McBride has to face a tough Jags defense.

The rest of the list is pretty standard besides Jake Ferguson falling lower and lower as he's been relegated to the #3 option in Dallas after George Pickens continues to be scary.

The only other change is Mark Andrews sneakily moving up to #9 after three good performances in a row since Lamar came back and a date with the Jets this week.

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