Week 12 Rankings (2019): Top 25 Quarterbacks: Identifying Numerous Potential Streaming Options, Difficult Sits & More

We are still maneuvering around bye weeks, but several favorable matchups create some intriguing streaming options. Of course we also get the flip side, where names we’ve become accustomed to simply slotting into our lineups become questionable options due to facing some of the toughest defenses in the league. Who should we start? Who should we sit? Let’s take a look at how our rankings currently shake out for Week 12:

1. Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens – at Los Angeles Rams
2. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Tampa Bay
3. Russell Wilson – Seattle Seahawks – at Philadelphia
4. Deshaun Watson – Houston Texans – vs. Indianapolis
5. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints – vs. Carolina
6. Tom Brady – New England Patriots – vs. Dallas
7. Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills – vs. Denver
8. Derek Carr – Oakland Raiders – at New York Jets
9. Baker Mayfield – Cleveland Browns – vs. Miami
10. Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Atlanta
11. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – at San Francisco
12. Carson Wentz – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Seattle
13. Jacoby Brissett – Indianapolis Colts – at Houston
14. Dak Prescott – Dallas Cowboys – at New England
15. Jimmy Garoppolo – San Francisco 49ers – vs. Green Bay
16. Sam Darnold – New York Jets – vs. Oakland
17. Nick Foles – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Tennessee
18. Ryan Fitzpatrick – Miami Dolphins – at Cleveland
19. Ryan Tannehill – Tennessee Titans – vs. Jacksonville
20. Mason Rudolph – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Cincinnati
21. Dwayne Haskins – Washington Redskins – vs. Detroit
22. Jared Goff – Los Angeles Rams – vs. Baltimore
23. Daniel Jones – New York Giants – at Chicago
24. Jeff Driskel – Detroit Lions – at Washington
25. Kyle Allen – Carolina Panthers – at New Orleans

Thoughts:

• Watching Kirk Cousins and company torch the Denver Broncos in Week 11 (319 yards, 3 TD and 0 INT) is going to grab your attention as a potential matchup to exploit.  Then how about the recent performance of Josh Allen, who has proven to be more than just a runner with 1,053 yards, 8 TD and 0 INT over his past four games (not to mention his 4 rushing TD over this stretch).  He’s been among the best in the league recently and should be viewed as a locked in QB1 for the coming week.
• With the Atlanta running game banged up the team leaned on Matt Ryan and company and they delivered, with Ryan throwing for 311 yards, 1 TD and 0 INT en route to a victory.  We’ve seen what he can do in a favorable matchup before (like torching the Cardinals for 356 yards and 4 TD a few weeks ago) and gets one of the most favorable matchups around against Tampa Bay this week (25 TD vs. 6 INT on the season).  With Devonta Freeman potentially out once again (and even if he plays, could he be limited), look for Ryan to get the opportunity to pile up the numbers once again.
• Deshaun Watson is coming off a disappointing performance against the Ravens, throwing for 169 yards, 0 TD and 1 INT (he also failed to get much going running the football, with 3 carries for 12 yards).  He’s now thrown for 201 yards or fewer in back-to-back weeks and the Colts aren’t necessarily a favorable matchup (they headed into Week 11 allowing the fourth fewest points per week to opposing QB over the previous 4 weeks).  Of course the latter shouldn’t deter us, with Nick Foles getting them for 296 yards and 2 TD in Week 11, as well as Watson going for 308 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT against Indianapolis a few weeks ago.  There is some risk, knocking Watson down slightly, but he remains a QB1.
• We all know how bad the Miami Dolphins are (they’ve allowed 23 TD vs. 6 INT to opposing quarterbacks this season) and Baker Mayfield has shown us a little something in recent weeks (he has 5 TD vs. 0 INT over his past three games).  The lack of yardage is a concern, as is the potential for the team to lean on the run, but there’s enough in the matchup to at least put him on the QB1 spectrum.
• Sitting quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott isn’t going to be an ideal decision, though both have difficult matchups this week.  They need to remain as QB1 potential options, given their ultimate upside, though we have to limit our expectations.
• Even with some favorable matchups of late the New York Jets have allowed 13 TD vs. 2 INT over the past four weeks.  You can argue against Derek Carr and what seems like a questionable receiving corps, but Carr has at least 285 yards throwing in four of his past five games (9 TD vs. 2 INT over this stretch).  Those recent numbers coupled with the matchup makes him an extremely strong option and a QB1 this week.
• Can Jameis Winston protect the football?  That’s obviously the only thing that suppresses his value, as he has 13 INT over his past five games (including two games with 4+ INT, including in Week 11).  He’s gotten a ton of chances, with 40+ throws in five straight games and topping 300 yards in each of them.  Atlanta also represents a favorable matchup (only 6 INT on the season), so the potential is there. 

Sources – ESPN, NFL.com

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Make sure to check out all of our Week 12 rankings: