clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2020 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks for Week 12

Ranking the top 32 QBs for Week 12.

By NHB
New England Patriots v Houston Texans Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

We’re onto Week 12! Here are my fantasy football rankings for quarterbacks this week.

Houston Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson takes the QB1 crown this week with an outrageously favorable match-up against the Detroit Lions’ impossibly bad defense.

An exciting battle between Justin Herbert and his pre-draft comp, Josh Allen, awaits the two top 12 options.

The Taysom Hill train is moving full steam ahead.

Six high-quality streamers make up the QB12-18 ranks, including Kirk Cousins and Alex Smith.

Carson Wentz and Matthew Stafford are tough to trust, even in good match-ups.

Week 12’s Tiered Quarterback Rankings

Rank High-Floor/High-Ceiling QB1s Team Opponent Breakdown
Rank High-Floor/High-Ceiling QB1s Team Opponent Breakdown
1 Deshaun Watson HOU at DET Detroit's bottom-barrel defense is a fantasy gold mine.
2 Josh Allen BUF LAC The Chargers' pass defense is still problematically banged up.
3 Kyler Murray ARI at NE Assuming Murray's shoulder injury doesn't scare him away from his normal rushing workload, he's a locked-in Top 5 option.
4 Russell Wilson SEA at PHI Philly's leaky secondary is good news for Seattle.
5 Patrick Mahomes KC at TB A brutal match-up can't even move him outside of the Top 5.
6 Justin Herbert LAC at BUF The stud rookie is set to do battle with his pre-draft comp.
7 Cam Newton NE ARI Arizona's mid-tier defense won't slow the dual threat play-maker.
8 Tom Brady TB KC Shootout on tap.
9 Taysom Hill NO at DEN Denver's defense won't present much of a challenge for the dual threat QB.
10 Ben Roethlisberger PIT BAL Tough match-up.
11 Teddy Bridgewater CAR at MIN Excellent match-up.
12 Aaron Rodgers GB CHI Tough match-up.
Rank High-Floor/High-Ceiling QB2s Team Opponent Breakdown
13 Lamar Jackson BAL at PIT With Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins shelved (COVID-19/Reserve List), Jackson will inherit part of the their rushing work.
14 Alex Smith WAS at DAL Dallas has allowed the most passing touchdowns in the NFL (24), while record the fewest passes defended (25) and 2nd-fewest interceptions (3)*.
15 Ryan Tannehill TEN at IND Tough match-up but just an incredibly well coached offense*. The absence of Colts' DE DeForest Buckner is a big bump.
16 Kirk Cousins MIN CAR A pair of talented offenses and trash defenses. This ranking is subject to change, depending on Adam Thielen's availability (COVID-19/Reserve List).
17 Ryan Fitzpatrick MIA at NYJ Fitzpatrick immediately enters the high-end streaming conversation as he prepares to fire off YOLO bombs against one of the league's all-around worst teams.
18 Andy Dalton DAL WAS A pair of talented offenses and trash defenses.
19 Daniel Jones NYG at CIN Cincy's JV defense makes Jones a solid streaming option.
20 Derek Carr LV at ATL Great match-up.
21 Carson Wentz PHI SEA Outstanding match-up but Wentz's play is outrageously sporadic.
22 Philip Rivers IND TEN Excellent match-up.
23 Jared Goff LAR SF SF's injury-depleted defensive front is helpful.
24 Matt Ryan ATL LV Julio Jones' likely absence is a severe impediment to Ryan's fantasy viability.
Rank QB3s Team Opponent Breakdown
25 Matthew Stafford DET HOU Ranking subject to change if Kenny Golladay is able to return.
26 Mike Glennon JAX CLE Glennon is a near 1:1 clone of Jake Luton in the size/speed/athleticism department. Perhaps a stronger arm.
27 Baker Mayfield CLE at JAX Great match-up but Mayfield could lose out to 40+ touches between Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
28 Brandon Allen CIN NYG Tough match-up but he has a great group of pass catchers and some decent starting experience from his time in Denver last year.
29 Sam Darnold NYJ MIA The Miami secondary is a total avoid.
30 Nick Mullens SF at LAR Gonna be a rough day at the office, staring down bull rushes from Aaron Donald.
31 Mitchell Trubisky CHI at GB GB plays severe run-funnel defense.
32 Kendall Hinton DEN NO WR/former QB Kendall Hinton is the Broncos' likely starting quarterback this week, making the Saints' D/ST the top ranked unit in fantasy.
Source links: The Dallas Cowboys’ pass defense stats and the Tennessee Titans’ excellent play-calling, per Dan Orlovsky.

Next Up In Fantasy Football