Fantasy football is basically a game of managed anxiety, and by the time you're looking at Matthew Berry week 12 rankings, that anxiety has usually curdled into full-blown panic. We're at the point of the season where "potential" doesn't pay the bills anymore. You either have the points or you're looking at mock drafts for next August.
Honestly, Week 12 is a weird one this year. You've got teams like the Giants and Lions playing on short rest, and the "experts" are all over the place. Matthew Berry, the "Talented Mr. Roto" himself, has dropped his latest Love/Hate and positional ranks, and there are some absolute head-scratchers if you aren't paying attention to the underlying usage data.
People obsess over the names. They see a star and think "automatic start." But the 2025 season has been a graveyard for that kind of logic. If you're still blindly starting guys because of their ADP from four months ago, you're probably 4-7 and wondering why the universe hates you.
The QB Landscape: Why Drake Maye is Berry's Wildcard
Let's talk about the quarterback position. It's been a mess. But in the latest Matthew Berry week 12 rankings, there’s a massive emphasis on volume over "prestige." Berry actually has Drake Maye sitting as his QB1 for the week.
Yeah, you read that right.
The rookie is facing a Bengals defense that has been a literal sieve for fantasy points lately. On the flip side, you’ve got Patrick Mahomes at QB4. It feels wrong to put a rookie over a three-time Super Bowl champ, but Mahomes is playing the Colts, and Kansas City has been leaning so hard on the run that Mahomes' ceiling is capped.
And then there's Jacoby Brissett. Since taking over in Arizona, the guy has been a fantasy cheat code. Berry has him ranked at QB9 this week against Jacksonville. Why? Because five of the last six quarterbacks to face the Jags have dropped at least 20 fantasy points. It’s not about how "good" Brissett is in real life; it's about the fact that Jacksonville's secondary is currently a "Get Out of Jail Free" card for opposing offenses.
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Jared Goff is another one. He was brutal last week. Like, "drop him for a kicker" brutal. But Berry is sticking with him as a top-10 play (QB7) against the Giants. New York allows about 25 fantasy points per game to QBs. That’s a massive number. If you can't trust Goff against a team that allows passing touchdowns at the highest rate in the league over the last month, when can you?
Running Back Chaos: The Chase Brown Era is Here
If you didn't grab Chase Brown three weeks ago, I'm sorry. I really am.
In the world of Matthew Berry week 12 rankings, Brown has ascended to a top-tier RB1 (ranked RB8 overall this week). With Samaje Perine doubtful, Brown has basically been the entire Bengals offense. We're talking about a guy with a 95 Utilization Score. That’s fourth-best among all RBs.
He's getting 21 touches a game. He's got a 26% target share. Against the Patriots, who give up more receptions to RBs than anyone else? That's a smash play.
The Top RB Tiers for Week 12
- Christian McCaffrey (vs. Panthers) - He’s back. He’s healthy. He’s the 1.01.
- Jahmyr Gibbs (at Giants) - The Lions are going to run the ball 40 times in this game.
- Bijan Robinson (at Saints) - Kevin Stefanski taking over in Atlanta is the best thing that ever happened to Bijan owners.
- Jonathan Taylor (vs. Chiefs) - High volume, high floor, even against a tough KC front.
- Saquon Barkley (at Cowboys) - It’s a revenge game, sorta. He’s a lock.
Derrick Henry is an interesting one at RB7. He's facing the Jets. Usually, you’d be worried, but running backs who get at least 15 carries against the Jets are averaging nearly 20 points per game. Henry hasn't had fewer than 20 touches in five straight weeks. The math is simple here.
Don't sleep on Emanuel Wilson either. Berry has him at RB13. He’s had double-digit points in every game where he’s seen 10+ touches. Minnesota’s defense is good, but they face an NFL-high 26.3 rushes per game. The volume is there.
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Wide Receiver Shifts: No Ja'Marr, No Problem?
The big news for Week 12 was Ja'Marr Chase's suspension being upheld. It's a disaster for Cincy, but a goldmine for Tee Higgins.
Higgins is Berry’s WR8 this week. The concern is that he’ll be shadowed by Christian Gonzalez, but when you have Joe Burrow (who is finally back from that toe injury) and literally no one else to throw to, the targets are going to be there.
Wait. Did I mention Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the WR1 in the Matthew Berry week 12 rankings?
It sounds like a typo, but look at the matchup against Tennessee. JSN has been the focal point of that Seahawks offense while DK Metcalf has struggled with consistency under Arthur Smith’s scheme. Speaking of Metcalf, he’s plummeted to WR22. If you’re starting him, you’re basically praying for a 50-yard bomb, because the target floor just isn't there anymore.
Wide Receiver Rankings: The Top 10
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA)
- Puka Nacua (LAR)
- Nico Collins (HOU)
- Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET)
- CeeDee Lamb (DAL)
- Rashee Rice (KC)
- Emeka Egbuka (TB)
- Tee Higgins (CIN)
- Davante Adams (LAR)
- George Pickens (DAL)
George Pickens at WR10 is the one I’m most excited about. Since the trade to Dallas, he’s been a different player. Playing alongside CeeDee Lamb has opened up so much room for him. People were worried about "too many mouths to feed," but Dak Prescott is throwing for 4,400 yards a season. There’s enough food for everyone.
Tight End and Deep Sleepers
Travis Kelce is back in the elite conversation. Finally.
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Since Week 5, he’s second among all TEs in yards per game. This week he gets the Colts, who give up the second-most yards to tight ends. If you survived the first month of Kelce’s season, this is your reward.
For the deeper leagues, look at Alec Pierce. He’s the 17th-best WR in fantasy since Week 7. That’s not a fluke. He’s getting nearly 9 targets a game and a 26% target share. Against the Chiefs, who are currently giving up the highest completion rate on deep balls (15+ air yards), Pierce is a high-upside FLEX play.
Actionable Strategy for Your Week 12 Matchup
Winning in Week 12 isn't about finding a "sleeper" who scores three touchdowns. It's about not beating yourself.
First, check the weather for that New York/Detroit game. If it’s as windy as forecasted, Goff might struggle even against that terrible secondary. Second, don't overthink the "Love/Hate" list. If Matthew Berry "hates" a guy like Breece Hall (ranked RB17 this week), it doesn't mean you bench him for a waiver wire scrub. It just means you temper your expectations. Hall is facing a Ravens defense that is brutal against the run and his usage has been inconsistent since the coaching staff started leaning into the Justin Fields rushing attack.
Specific Steps for Your Roster:
- Pivot at QB: If you’ve been riding with Sam Darnold, swap him for Jacoby Brissett if he's still on your wire. The floor is significantly higher.
- Check RB Snap Shares: If you own Rhamondre Stevenson, be careful. With TreVeyon Henderson's role expanding, Stevenson is no longer a "set it and forget it" RB2.
- Target the Bengals/Patriots Matchup: Both defenses are exploitable. This game has a sneaky high over/under.
The biggest takeaway from the Matthew Berry week 12 rankings is that the "old guard" is changing. The rookies and second-year players like Drake Maye, Chase Brown, and JSN are the ones winning leagues right now. Trust the volume, ignore the jersey names, and play the matchups.
Double-check your injury reports on Sunday morning. With players like Michael Penix Jr. out for the season and various "questionable" tags on guys like Tee Higgins, the rankings will shift. Keep your roster flexible and don't be afraid to make a bold move if the data supports it. High-volume players in bad matchups are almost always better than low-volume stars in good ones.