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Fantasy Football: Week 12 wide receiver rankings

By Alex Butler
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) hauls in a pass for a 21-yard gain against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane (20) in the second quarter at CenturyLink Field on Monday in Seattle, Wash. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI
1 of 3 | Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) hauls in a pass for a 21-yard gain against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane (20) in the second quarter at CenturyLink Field on Monday in Seattle, Wash. Photo by Jim Bryant/UPI | License Photo

Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones is poised for a big performance down the stretch of the fantasy football season.

He is my top wide receiver for Week 12.

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Pittsburgh Steelers star Antonio Brown, Cincinnati Bengals' A.J. Green, Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant and New Orleans Saints' Michael Thomas are also in my top five for the week.

If you need to pick up a fill-in or want to try out a streaming play, check out my top pickups and drops article for some of my favorite targets in Week 12.

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Here are my Top 50 options at the position this week.

TOP 50 WEEK 12 RANKINGS BELOW

TOP SHELF

Julio Jones only has one touchdown this season. That is a remarkable statement, based on his previous résumé. But don't let that cloud your judgment for one second because Jones is still a remarkable talent. He is my top wide receiver for Week 12 after posting five catches for 71 yards on Monday against the Seattle Seahawks. This week he gets a much easier task against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a unit allowing the most receiving yards, third-most touchdowns and second-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.

Antonio Brown is another no-brainer start, but I love him this week as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Green Bay Packers. Brown is my No. 2 option for Week 12 in this matchup against a secondary allowing the fifth-most receiving yards and touchdowns to opposing wide receivers. Brown is also coming off of a monster performance. He had 10 catches for 144 yards and three scores in Week 11 against the Tennessee Titans. Expect Brown to keep getting a huge number of targets from Ben Roethlisberger.

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SNEAKY PLAYS

Los Angeles Chargers star Keenan Allen is another wide receiver coming off of a monster week and his biggest performance of the season. Allen plied up 159 yards and two scores on 12 catches in a Week 11 win against the Buffalo Bills. He is my No. 7 option for Week 12 with a matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, a defense tied for allowing the second-most receiving scores to opposing wide receivers. Allen is a high-end WR1 for the rest of the season.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess is a low-end WR1 for me this week. Funchess and Greg Olsen should be Cam Newton's primary receiving targets down the stretch. Funchess had five catches for 92 yards and two scores in Week 10 and gets a generous New York Jets secondary in Week 12. The Jets are tied for allowing the fourth-most receiving scores and tenth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Funchess is my No. 13 option for Week 12.

LONGSHOTS

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Marqise Lee has shaped into a borderline WR2 this season in good matchups. This week the Jacksonville Jaguars battle the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are tied for allowing the fourth-most receiving scores and are surrendering the sixth-most receiving yards and are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Lee has scored in two of his last three games and has at least four receptions in five consecutive contests. He is my No. 19 option this week.

Tennessee Titans playmaker Rishard Matthews is another WR2/WR3 option for Week 12. Matthews put together his best performance of the season in Week 11, posting five catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. He should find plenty of room to get deep again in Week 12 against an Indianapolis Colts secondary allowing the second-most receiving yards and seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Matthews is ranked as my No. 22 wide receiver.

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