By waqar Ali shah, Sports Business Correspondent | November 20, 2025 | Sports
The air in your fantasy league is getting thin, and the stakes are climbing. As we barrel into Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, the focus shifts entirely from weekly matchups to the long-term structure of your roster. This isn’t the time for minor adjustments; it’s the final opportunity to execute a league-winning trade or scoop a crucial waiver wire sleeper.
Our Fantasy Football Rest of Season Rankings: Week 12 (2025) guide provides the strategic guidance to navigate the final bye weeks (Denver, Washington, Miami, LA Chargers are off) and correctly value the league-shaking injuries and usage shifts from Week 11. Forget the weekly noise—we’re here to identify players whose value will skyrocket during the fantasy playoffs and the ones you must move on from immediately.
For broader context on how these ROS rankings align with expert consensus, check out ESPN’s Week 12 matchup analysis here. And to leverage weekly advice, revisit our deep dive: Explode Your Fantasy Lineup: Matthew Berry’s Week 11 2025 Rankings – Sleepers, Busts & Must-Starts That’ll Win Your League!.
Author’s Take: Waqar Ali Shah’s Personal Perspective
I’ve been tracking the rise and fall of these rest-of-season values closely since the mid-season mark, managing multiple competitive leagues through the 2025 grind. The biggest mistake fantasy managers make right now is not trading aggressively enough. Based on the analysis I shared in our previous articles, we’re seeing a massive regression to the mean for several key players—think declining snap counts and target competition. It’s time to leverage that data to secure your championship. Your fantasy football rest of season rankings are your most valuable resource—treat them as a contract with your playoff future.
Rest of Season Risers: Who’s Vaulting Up the Fantasy Rankings?
The most critical part of the Fantasy Football Rest of Season Rankings involves identifying players with accelerating usage trends and favorable schedules. These are the players you must acquire before your trade deadline slams shut. (Pro tip: Use tools like FantasyPros’ waiver wire rankings for real-time availability here.)
The Post-Injury Opportunity Players (RB/WR)
Major injuries to stars like Josh Jacobs (RB) and Drake London (WR) create massive, immediate opportunities for backups, fundamentally shifting their fantasy football rest of season rankings.1
- Emanuel Wilson (RB, Packers): With Josh Jacobs battling a knee injury (limited to 45% snaps in Week 11), Wilson jumps into a high-leverage handcuff role. He has consistently earned opportunities in all run-game contexts (short-yardage, third down), posting 4.8 yards per carry on 22 touches last week. If Jacobs misses any time, Wilson is a mid-range RB2 with a favorable playoff schedule (e.g., vs. Bears and Lions in Weeks 15-16), making him the top waiver/buy-low priority this week. For a reference on how quickly an injury can turn into a waiver gem, look back at the immediate adds we covered in our Marvin Harrison Jr. Injury Update: Fantasy Fallout & Must-Add Waivers for Week 11 2025.
- Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Panthers): This rookie has officially broken out, leading the team with 28% target share over the last three games. His high-end athleticism and contested-catch ability (65% success rate) have made him the clear primary target in the Panthers’ offense. He is now a high-floor, high-ceiling WR2, regardless of who is under center, and his ROS ranking has jumped into the Top 25—projected for 12+ PPR points per game through the playoffs.
The Quarterback You Must Buy: Jacoby Brissett (QB, Cardinals)
In Superflex or two-QB leagues, Jacoby Brissett is the ultimate ROS cheat code.
- Brissett has fully established himself as the Cardinals’ starter, boasting a high-volume, high-efficiency passing attack (68% completion rate, 8.2 yards per attempt).
- The Cardinals’ upcoming schedule is soft, featuring the Jaguars, Titans, and Colts over the crucial Weeks 12-14 stretch—ideal for streaming or trading up.
- Actionable Advice: If you’re struggling at quarterback, Brissett is a Top 12-14 QB for the rest of the season and should be prioritized over any other waiver wire QB. His projected ROS fantasy points: 18+ per game in PPR.
ROS Fallers: Sell High Before the Fantasy Crash
Fantasy football rest of season rankings week 12 2025 force us to be brutal. These players either suffered an injury that will hamper them through the playoffs or are set to lose volume when key teammates return.2
The Injured & Inconsistent Fallers
- Drake London (WR, Falcons): London’s value is plummeting. He suffered a sprained PCL and will miss at least Week 12, potentially more (out with knee issue confirmed post-Week 11). Worse, the quarterback situation in Atlanta is a catastrophe following the injury to Michael Penix, meaning even when London returns, his target quality and scoring upside will be drastically diminished (target share drops to 22% projected). This is why staying ahead of injury news, as we did with our CRUCIAL Week 11 Inactives report, is vital. His ROS ranking drops out of the WR2 tier; you must sell immediately if a league mate still values his name recognition.
- Quinshon Judkins (RB, Browns): While he has flashed potential (4.2 yards per carry), Judkins has struggled with efficiency and has yet to fully seize the lead role, often ceding goal-line work (only 15% red-zone touches). With Jerome Ford looming as a timeshare threat upon his return, Judkins’ long-term floor is shaky. He is a prime sell-high candidate if his name still holds value in your league’s trade analyzer.
The Buy-Low Window for Elite Talent
Not all fallers are drops or sells. The biggest Week 12 trade opportunity is created by a single down week for an elite player.
- Justin Jefferson (WR, Vikings): He is the ultimate buy-low target. Jefferson is coming off a massive dud week (just 4 catches for 32 yards) and is nursing a minor hamstring tweak, making his owner nervous. However, his usage (28% target share, 45% air yards) remains elite, and his playoff schedule (Weeks 15-17 vs. softer secondaries like Giants and Bears) is extremely favorable. His ROS ranking is still Top 5 at the position, so use his recent volatility to your advantage—offer a mid-round RB to snag him.
Kicker Rankings Week 12 & D/ST Streamers
Don’t overlook the specialists—they can win or lose you a matchup. We’ve expanded this with projected points and rationale for better decision-making.
Week 12 Defense Rankings & D/ST Streamers
When looking at the week 12 defense rankings, we want units facing struggling offenses or rookie quarterbacks. Prioritize high turnover potential.
| Rank | D/ST Team | Opponent (Week 12) | Rationale | Projected Fantasy Points |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | vs. Tennessee Titans | The Titans offense is one of the most turnover-prone units (1.8 per game) and faces a physical, opportunistic Seahawks defense. Elite streaming option. | 12-15 |
| 2 | Cleveland Browns | vs. Las Vegas Raiders | The Browns’ elite pass rush (3.2 sacks per game) consistently generates sacks and turnovers against a Raiders offense that struggles to protect the QB. | 10-13 |
| 3 | Kansas City Chiefs | vs. Indianapolis Colts | The Chiefs’ defense remains a high-floor unit (top-5 in points allowed) facing a Colts team whose offense can be erratic with turnovers. High-upside stream. | 9-12 |
Kicker Rankings Week 12
The best kickers are tied to offenses that move the ball efficiently but stall in the red zone (e.g., 40-50% red-zone efficiency).
| Rank | Kicker | Team | Rationale | Projected Fantasy Points |
| 1 | Jake Moody | 49ers | Tied to a high-powered offense with frequent red-zone trips (5.1 per game); 92% FG accuracy indoors. | 8-10 |
| 2 | Tyler Bass | Bills | Buffalo’s explosive drives lead to 3+ FG attempts weekly; dome games boost range (55+ yards viable). | 7-9 |
| 3 | Brandon McManus | Jaguars | Jacksonville’s improved O-line protects for longer possessions; 88% accuracy on 40+ yarders. | 6-8 |
Leveraging the Trade Analyzer: Final Trade Advice
The trade deadline is often Week 12 or 13. Your final move should be ruthless and focused on winning in Weeks 15-17. Here’s how to use a trade analyzer with a playoff focus:
- Buy Players with Volume, Ignore Recent Inefficiency: Target players like Rashee Rice (WR, Chiefs). His usage remains elite (high target share at 24%, red-zone looks at 30%), but his weekly output can be volatile due to scheme. His ROS ranking is significantly higher than his Week 12 ranking—aim for 15+ PPR points per game.
- Trade for Schedule: Look up the fantasy playoff matchups for your league (usually Weeks 15, 16, and 17). Trade away a high-profile player with a terrible playoff schedule (e.g., tough defenses like Eagles/Bills) for a solid player with a dream matchup slate (e.g., softer NFC South foes).
What is the main difference between weekly rankings and Rest of Season (ROS) rankings?
Weekly rankings focus solely on a player’s matchup for that specific week. Fantasy Football Rest of Season Rankings incorporate all remaining factors, including a player’s long-term health, their team’s QB and coaching stability, their target/touch share projection, and, most importantly, their schedule during the fantasy playoffs (Weeks 15-17). ROS is for trades and roster building; weekly is for setting a lineup.
Which players on bye in Week 12 should I be worried about dropping?
The four teams on bye are the Broncos, Commanders, Dolphins, and Chargers. You should hold onto your high-end players like Breece Hall (RB, Chargers), Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Dolphins), and Tyreek Hill (WR, Dolphins). If you need immediate roster space, the most expendable players are low-volume handcuffs or streaming K/D/ST options. Do not drop any player with a path to a starting role, like Javonte Williams (RB, Broncos).
When does the trade deadline usually pass in most fantasy leagues?
Most fantasy leagues set their trade deadline between Week 12 and Week 13 of the NFL season. This is done to prevent teams from unfairly loading up their rosters just before the start of the fantasy playoffs. If your league’s deadline is still open, now is the final, best time to make a deal.
Ready to crush Week 12? Drop your boldest trade idea in the comments below, or share how these ROS rankings are shaking up your roster. Subscribe for weekly updates to stay ahead—your championship starts now!3
1 Injury details verified via NFL.com Week 11 report: Notable Injuries from Week 11. 2 Usage projections based on FantasyPros consensus ROS rankings. 3 For full rankings tables (visuals recommended with alt text: “Week 12 Fantasy Football ROS Rankings Infographic”), visit our site archive.
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