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Fantasy Football: Week 12 Wide Receiver Rankings

By Alex Butler
Seattle Seahawks Wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) is pushed out of bounds by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Stephen Tulloch (50) after catching a pass for 15 yards.at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington on November 20, 2016. Seahawks beat the Eagles 26-15. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI
1 of 5 | Seattle Seahawks Wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) is pushed out of bounds by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Stephen Tulloch (50) after catching a pass for 15 yards.at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington on November 20, 2016. Seahawks beat the Eagles 26-15. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Slow starters are rounding into form and contenders are separating from pretenders when it comes to fantasy football wide receivers.

Despite a huge injury to A.J. Green last week, there are still plenty of attractive options available at a very deep position. Buffalo Bills stud Sammy Watkins is nearing a return and Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant is gaining chemistry with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott just in time for the playoffs.

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To help you figure out who to sit or start at the position, take a look at my top 50 wide receivers for Week 12. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

TOP SHELF

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin comes in as a top-5 option for me this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers' secondary has allowed 14 touchdowns to wide receivers and ranks as the fifth-worst unit against the position. Baldwin should be the main benefactor of Russell Wilson's second half surge. After scoring three times in Week 10, he scorched the Philadelphia Eagles for 104 yards on just four grabs in Week 11. Larry Fitzgerald might have lost a step, but its not killing his fantasy stock. The Arizona Cardinals veteran is in my top-10 against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have also allowed 14 scores to the position and rank as the fourth-worst secondary against wide receivers. That unit has allowed three or more touchdowns to wide receivers in two of its last three games. Fitzgerald has at least five receptions in every game this season. He has at least nine grabs in three of his last four appearances. Both players are easy WR1's on your holiday game slate.

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SNEAKY PLAYS

Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews is locked and loaded as a WR1/WR2 against the Green Bay Packers, the worst unit in the NFL against wide receivers. The Packers have also allowed 17 touchdowns to the position, including three scores to wide receivers in two consecutive games. Miami Dolphins target magnet Jarvis Landry should outdo his Week 11 numbers against a San Francisco 49ers unit that has allowed a league-high 18 touchdowns to wide receivers. The 49ers rank as the second worst unit against the position. Landry is a safe WR2 option.

LONGSHOTS

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree had a horrid showing on Monday in Mexico, but I expect a rebound in Week 12. Crabtree battles the Carolina Panthers, a unit ranked as the seventh worst against wide receivers. The Panthers have allowed 11 touchdowns to the position. I expect a WR2 showing from Crabtree here. Cincinnati Bengals rookie Tyler Boyd was one of my top waiver wire pickups this week. I expect Boyd to put up WR3 numbers, despite a tough matchup. Boyd should see plenty of targets from Andy Dalton in the absence of superstar A.J. Green.

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RANK NAME TEAM OPPONENT
1 Odell Beckham Jr. New York Giants at Cleveland
2 Dez Bryant Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington
3 Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis
4 Doug Baldwin Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay
5 Julio Jones Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona
6 Allen Robinson Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo
7 Jordy Nelson Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia
8 Brandin Cooks New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles
9 Stefon Diggs Minnesota Vikings at Detroit
10 Larry Fitzgerald Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta
11 Mike Evans Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Seattle
12 Jordan Matthews Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay
13 Michael Thomas New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles
14 Demaryius Thomas Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City
15 Kelvin Benjamin Carolina Panthers at Oakland
16 Amari Cooper Oakland Raiders vs. Carolina
17 Terrelle Pryor Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants
18 Rishard Matthews Tennessee Titans at Chicago
19 DeAndre Hopkins Houston Texans vs. San Diego
20 Davante Adams Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia
21 Jarvis Landry  Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco
22 Michael Crabtree Oakland Raiders vs. Carolina
23 Julian Edelman New England Patriots at New York Jets
24 T.Y. Hilton Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh
25 Brandon Marshall New York Jets vs. New England
26 Jamison Crowder Washington Redskins at Dallas
27 Steve Smith Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati
28 Emmanuel Sanders Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City
29 Tyrell Williams San Diego Chargers at Houston
30 Kenny Britt Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans
31 Willie Snead New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles
32 Donte Moncrief Indianapolis Colts vs. Pittsburgh
33 Golden Tate Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota
34 Randall Cobb Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia
35 Devante Parker Miami Dolphins vs. San Francisco
36 Mike Wallace Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati
37 Tyler Boyd Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore
38 Sterling Shepard New York Giants at Cleveland
39 Marqise Lee Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo
40 DeSean Jackson Washington Redskins at Dallas
41 Quincy Enunwa New York Jets vs. New England
42 Tyreek Hill Kansas City Chiefs at Denver
43 Adam Thielen Minnesota Vikings at Detroit
44 Brandon LaFell Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore
45 Corey Coleman Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants
46 Eli Rogers Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis
47 J.J. Nelson Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta
48 Marvin Jones Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota
49 Cole Beasley Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington
50 Cameron Meredith Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee
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