Below you will find our Week 12 wide receiver rankings, to help determine your WR starts/sits for this week, brought to you by Bill Dubiel (@Roto_Dubs), Nick Mariano (@NMariano53) and Ben Ruppert (@Ben_Ruppert_21).

Featured writer Ben Ruppert also highlights some WR rankings and matchups analysis for Week 12, and draws some matchup conclusions. He tells you who he likes, who he doesn't, and most importantly who he thinks you should be starting in Week 12. You can also check out RotoBaller's overall player rankings here.

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Week 12 Wide Receiver - Rankings & Matchups Analysis

Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree have a big opportunity this week against a weak Panthers secondary to have huge games. After being an extremely reliable target for most of the season, Crabtree has put up two dud performances in a row. Over the past two weeks, he has a combined five catches for 32 yards. Cooper on the other hand, has 10 catches for 113 yards and a TD over the past two weeks, and is currently on pace to best his stellar rookie season in nearly every category. Carolina has given up the ninth most fantasy points to the WR position this season, while giving up the eighth most receptions and ninth most touchdowns. Both WR should be able to find success this week, given how tough the Panthers defense is against the run. Oakland will need to pass to have a good day offensively.

Doug Baldwin has been coming on strong over the past few weeks, right alongside the turnaround of Russell Wilson. Over the past three weeks, Baldwin has averaged five receptions for 84 yards per game. In one of those games he caught three TD, in the narrow Seattle win over New England. Baldwin leads the team in targets over that time span with 19, two more than Jimmy Graham. The Buccaneers secondary has given up the fourth most touchdowns to opposing WRs this season, giving up the sixth most fantasy points to the position overall. With the Seattle offense rolling like it has been lately, Baldwin has top-10, even top-five potential this week in a glorious matchup.

Rishard Matthews has been absolutely killing it over the past several weeks, and should be looked highly upon for the remainder of the season. Matthews had his finest game of the season last week, catching 9-of-13 targets for 122 yards. Though this game broke a touchdown streak of three games, the receptions, targets, and yardage were season-high’s. He leads the team In targets over the past three weeks with 28, two more than standout TE Delanie Walker. This week the Titans take on the Bears, who have given up the third most receiving yards to opposing WR on the season, and the fifth most fantasy points against to the position overall. Fire up Matthews with high expectations this week.

With the Rams being so dominant against the run game this season, it just gives Drew Brees another reason to throw as often as he can. The Saints are home this week taking on the LA Rams, who have had one of the better defenses in the league this season. The Saints at home can only mean Brees is throwing the ball a ton, which bodes well for Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas.  Brees will be able to throw at CB E.J. Gaines a ton, who has a 38.2 grade from Pro Football Focus, which is the third lowest score in the league. Thomas will draw Gaines more often than not on Sunday, meaning his path to success is much clearer than Cooks’. Cooks will be stuck facing Trumaine Johnson and Lamarcus Joyner, who form one of the better 1-2 combo’s in the league. Thomas is a strong play this week, while Cooks will likely need a long touchdown score to have a productive day, which is possible with the game in the Superdome.

The Bengals were not able to get much of anything going last week after A.J. Green suffered a minor hamstring tear and was forced from the game. Tyler Boyd and Brandon LaFell will need to pick up the slack on offense until Green returns, along with TE Tyler Eifert. Boyd was able to find the end zone last week, finishing the day catching 6-of-8 targets for 54 yards and a TD. However, it was LaFell who was the most targeted WR on the day, finishing with four receptions on nine targets for 32 yards. Boyd is the type of receiver to make smaller, chain-moving receptions that he can use his athleticism on to make things happen. LaFell is a bigger deep threat, and doesn’t have the same quickness as Boyd. In PPR leagues you should be firing up Boyd until Green returns, but in standard formats put in LaFell for his big game ability and touchdown upside.

Sammy Watkins is making his return to the Bills this week, after missing the past two months with a foot injury. Watkins is going to return in a limited fashion, but with how banged up the WR corps is Buffalo needs all the help it can get. Robert Woods will be out this week, leaving Watkins and Marquise Goodwin to handle most of the load. Percy Harvin will also be in the mix for touches. Watkins gives the Bills something they have lacked since he left; someone on the outside that can legitimately scare a defense. Watkins’ return may be minimal at first, but if he is healthy he has the potential to make a huge impact in fantasy and for the Bills the rest of the season. The Jaguars have given up the ninth fewest fantasy points to the WR position this season, making Watkins a huge risk to play this week given his limitations.

Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings - Wide Receivers