Fantasy Football: Week 12 Wide Receiver Rankings

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.

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.

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.