FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: Week 12 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings & Tiers: Studs, Sleepers, and Must-Starts
Date: November 19, 2025
Hosts: Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice ("Fitzy"), Andrew Erickson

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the Week 12 wide receiver rankings and tiers for fantasy football, equipping listeners with actionable insights to optimize their lineups for must-win matchups in the pre-playoff home stretch. Hosts Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Andrew Erickson break down the top 36 wide receivers, highlight key risers and fallers, discuss must-starts and high-upside sleepers, debate volatile flex options, and weigh in on the critical start/sit decisions that could make or break your week. Expect lively discussion and analysis, especially regarding controversial WRs, injury pivots, and matchup-driven recommendations.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Playoff Push and Recap of Ranking Accuracy

[00:33-04:57]

• Fantasy Playoff Mindset:
  • Chris Welsh notes, “We’re already at week 12. Playoffs are right around the corner… Some people starting up playoffs in like week 13, going early a little bit."
• Season Burnout and Momentum:
  • Andrew Erickson reflects: “Feeling good. Feeling not as burnt out as I usually am at this point… most of my leagues I’m in contention… still have a chance to make a playoff push.”
• Ranker Shoutouts:
  • Praise for last week’s most accurate experts, including mention of “Mike freaking Mayer” finishing sixth right after having a baby: “He is literally a machine.” [02:10-03:40]
  • Fitzy’s self-reflection on Week 11: “Week 11 felt like the weirdest week of the season and just like nothing felt right… if I cost you your Week 11 matchup, I apologize.” [03:40-04:01]

2. Top 12 Wide Receivers & Notable Debates

[05:00–13:46]

Consensus Top 12 WRs:

• Puka Nacua, Jackson Smith-Njigba (JSN), Amon-Ra St. Brown, Rashee Rice, CeeDee Lamb, Nico Collins, Emeka Egbuka, Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, T. Higgins, Chris Olave.

Big Debates

T. Higgins vs. Christian Gonzalez’s Coverage (Patriots)

• Erickson’s Stance:
  • Ranks T. Higgins 4th (!) this week, staking a contrarian position against expected tight coverage.
  • “Not overly concerned about the matchup because… Higgins wins 50/50 balls. He wins against man coverage... In those opportunities, Joe Flacco’s sending the ball to T. Higgins. And I also don’t think that Flacco necessarily cares what cornerback is on T. Higgins.” — Andrew Erickson [07:43]
  • Highlights Higgins’ upside in games sans Chase (“Last time… 5 catches, 140 yards and a touchdown…”).
• Fitzy’s Take:
  • Ranks Higgins at WR14, more cautious. “I’m not worried about starting Higgins. I’m just not so high on him that I’m putting him as quite as high as Erickson is.” [09:40]

Chris Olave vs. Atlanta

• Fitzy’s Analysis:
  • Likes Olave’s outlook: “So far… Olave had an average depth of target of 9.9 yards with Rattler, 15.9 yards with Schuck… Olave’s getting to stretch his legs a little bit here.” [11:39]
  • Highlights the opportunity against a deflated Atlanta secondary.
• Erickson’s Perspective:
  • Slightly lower at WR13 but sees Olave as a high-volume, safe start: “He’s shown a really high floor with the amount of volume he’s seeing and we’ve seen the deep ball get kind of unlocked…”

3. WR2 Tier (Ranks 13–24): Key Risers and Matchup Takes

[13:46–25:42]

Notables in the Range:

• Tetairoa McMillan (WR13):

  • Erickson: Enthusiastic: “Alpha. 49ers defense equals trash. Next question.” [14:54]
  • Points to TMAC’s expanding ceiling, increased target share, and matchup-proof recent breakout.
  • “Even if it’s Andy Dalton under center on Monday night, TMAC is a WR1 this week.”

• Fitzy: Some slight hesitance—targets & Bryce Young’s reliability the only concern—but still bullish due to 49ers' weak secondary and lack of pass rush.

• Michael Wilson (WR21):

  • Fitzy: “Jaguars defense is a complete pass funnel... Wilson should once again be the number one receiver on a team with limited options.” [18:44]
  • Erickson: On Wilson’s 18-target blowup: “Guys don’t put up 18 targets by accident, especially when you catch 15 of them for 185 yards... Stay in the flames.” [19:58]
  • Predict both are “over” 8.5 targets this week.

• DK Metcalf (WR23):

  • Erickson: Slightly above ECR. Likes matchup vs. Chicago; says QB situation is fluid but “you probably feel even better about pressing the button on Metcalf if you do have Mason Rudolph actually making the start.” [22:07]
  • Fitzy: Also has Metcalf at WR21 but notes possible downgrade if Jalen Johnson (CHI) returns. “It’s just been a downward trajectory for DK… since week 7, WR54 in fantasy points per game.” [24:04]

4. WR3 Range (Ranks 25–36): High Volatility and Sinkhole Options

[29:27–44:00]

Discussion Highlights:

• Christian Watson (WR26):

  • Fitzy: “In the four games since his debut… 19.5 yards per catch, 13.8 yards per target… obviously a boom-or-bust profile.”
  • Cites possible Jaden Reed return as only reason to downgrade.
  • Erickson: “I want to always try to shoot for upside, which Watson has shown he can do… [he] can help win your week for you.” [31:26]

• Risky WR3s This Week:

  • Welsh: “Is this the riskiest WR3 group of the season? ... There is just a lot of inherent risk.”
  • Players like Ricky Pearsall, Khalil Shakir, Jordan Addison, Xavier Worthy are discussed as “weird” or volatile options.

Trey Tucker (WR32): Boom/Bust Replacement in LV

• Erickson (pro): “He’s the number one wide receiver on the Raiders… they find ways to scheme him up the ball. So even against a tougher pass rush… the Browns aren’t as good on the road… If you’re Smith doesn’t have time to throw, he’s going to check it down to Trey Tucker.” [33:55]
• Fitzy (skeptical):
  • “I don’t trust the Raiders offense… I don’t really love the player… he’s boomer bust. He’s bricked in half his games.”
  • Corrects: “Brock Bowers is their number one receiver.” [35:29]

Darnell Mooney (WR33): Sicko Start for ATL

• Fitzy (pro): “Can we ascribe a Michael Wilson type setup to Darnell Mooney? … He is technically the number one receiver, but we could see just as many targets for guys like Hodge and Washington. I think he’s startable, but I’m not expecting 10–12 targets.” [37:33]
• Erickson (con): “Feels like a trap… He has one top-36 finish all season… the first thing the coaches say is, 'Oh yeah, we got to run the ball more'… I think Mooney's a trap this week.” [38:52]

Jerry Jeudy (WR36): Deep Desperation Play

• Erickson: “Legendary. Yes. Jerry Jeudy is in starting consideration… With a rookie quarterback making his first start on the road, I think when they are dropping back, they're going to be throwing to Jerry Jeudy... most targeted receiver in [Shadour Sanders'] time playing was Jerry Jeudy with four targets.” [41:19]
• Fitzy: “It’s hard to make a case, but Jeudy does rank 19th among WRs in targets, 17th in air yards and gets a matchup against the Raiders, whose cornerbacks are terrible… Wide receiver 3 is just kind of a sinkhole this week.” [43:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Andrew Erickson on Tetairoa McMillan:
  “Alpha. 49ers defense equals trash. Next question.” [14:54]
• Pat Fitzmaurice on the risk of WR3s:
  "I've got Andre Yosivas ranked in WR3 range and I'd rather play Yosivas than Tucker. Quite frankly, I think Yosivas might be a better receiver." [35:29]
• Chris Welsh on volatility:
  “Is this the riskiest WR3 group we've had all season? ... I'm looking at this and I'm like, this stinks. These are options, but there is just a lot of inherent risk.” [32:50]
• Erickson on Michael Wilson:
  “Guys don’t put up 18 targets by accident, especially when you catch 15 of them for 185 yards. So Michael Wilson… stay in the flames, man…” [19:58]
• Fitzy’s self-deprecation (re: 49ers’ pass rush):
  “The 49ers have less of a chance of getting a sack on an opponent drop back than I have of finding a fairway with one of my tee shots.” [16:00]
• Fitzy on Jerry Jeudy:
  “It's hard to make a case... Wide receiver 3 is just kind of a sinkhole this week.” [43:08]

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [00:33] – Show opening, playoff context, and ranker recap
• [05:00] – Announcement of top 12 WRs for Week 12, with T. Higgins and Chris Olave debates
• [13:46] – WR2s and matchups: Tetairoa McMillan, Michael Wilson, DK Metcalf discussions, including key injury notes
• [29:27] – Wrapping up with the “sinkhole” WR3 tier; discussion of Watson, Worthy, Trey Tucker, Darnell Mooney, Jerry Jeudy as desperation plays

Takeaways for Setting Your Lineup (Week 12)

Strong Must-Starts (Top 12 WRs)

• T. Higgins: Aggressive upside stance if you believe in talent over matchup (Erickson WR4)
• Chris Olave: Floor + unlocked deep threat profile with new QB in good matchup

WR2s with High Upside

• Tetairoa McMillan: Alpha usage, exploitable defense—possibly elite WR1 territory even with backup QB
• Michael Wilson: “Stay in the flames”—target hog, pass-funnel defense ahead
• DK Metcalf: Buy-the-dip in a plus spot; modest optimism hinges on QB clarity, monitor CHI’s Jalen Johnson

Risk/Reward Flex Plays (WR3)

• Christian Watson: High ceiling, low floor, still worth the risk for upside
• Trey Tucker, Darnell Mooney, Jerry Jeudy: All volatile with roles fueled by team injuries, opportunity, and game scripts; deploy only if you need lotto-ticket types

Final Notes

• The hosts urge listeners to keep up-to-date with injury updates and late-week news to maximize flex spots, especially amid late-season volatility.
• For specific start/sit dilemmas, tune in to the FantasyPros Thursday livestream ([~44:00]).

In the words of Chris Welsh:

“That is going to do it. Wide receivers for week 12 in the books. If you’ve got more questions, check out the weekly Start and Sit live stream... We’ll be here every Thursday... Get all those questions answered!”