The 2025-26 NFL season is underway which means we are in the thick of fantasy football season! The fantasy landscape has already changed since the preseason due to breakout players and major injuries across the league. Bye weeks have been taking place. This means that quarterbacks like Justin Herbert and Bo Nix will be out this week. It would be irresponsible to start a player with a rough matchup over a player with a more favorable one that is ranked or projected to perform similarly. Here are fantasy football Week 12 quarterback rankings.
[Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to Injured Reserve List]
[Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week]
Must Start- a player who should definitely be in your lineup that week because of the combination of matchup and talent. They will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and could repeat the production most weeks.
Starter- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
Low-End Starter- a player who should be started in most lineups but can possibly bottom out and finish below average on a given week. A high ceiling play in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.
Streamer- a player who could be a perfect replacement for a starter for a week or two. Starting this player may not win you your lineup but they will make sure that your production out of that position will not lose you your matchup either. Also a viable option in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.
Deep League Streamer- a player who could fill a void at a position in a deeper league. Their ceiling may be close to average point production at the position but their floor is enough to get through the week. A reasonable player to have in your lineup in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Josh Allen | vs Houston Texans | QB1 |
| Must Start | Lamar Jackson | vs New York Jets | QB2 |
| Must Start | Jalen Hurts | vs Dallas Cowboys | QB3 |
| Starter | Patrick Mahomes | vs Indianapolis Colts | QB4 |
| Starter | Drake Maye | vs Cincinnati Bengals | QB5 |
| Starter | Jaxson Dart* | vs Detroit Lions | QB6 |
| Starter | Matthew Stafford | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | QB7 |
| Low-End Starter | Brock Purdy | vs Carolina Panthers | QB8 |
| Low-End Starter | Daniel Jones | vs Kansas City Chiefs | QB9 |
| Low-End Starter | Jacoby Brissett | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | QB10 |
| Low-End Starter | Dak Prescott | vs Philadelphia Eagles | QB11 |
| Low-End Starter | Caleb Williams | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | QB12 |
| Low-End Starter | Baker Mayfield | vs Los Angeles Rams | QB13 |
| Streamer | Sam Darnold | vs Tennessee Titans | QB14 |
| Streamer | Jared Goff | vs New York Giants | QB15 |
| Streamer | Jordan Love | vs Minnesota Vikings | QB16 |
| Streamer | Davis Mills | vs Buffalo Bills | QB17 |
| Streamer | Bryce Young | vs San Francisco 49ers | QB18 |
| Streamer | Joe Flacco | vs New England Patriots | QB19 |
| Deep League Streamer | Tyler Shough | vs Atlanta Falcons | QB20 |
| Deep League Streamer | Trevor Lawerence | vs Arizona Cardinals | QB21 |
| Deep League Streamer | J.J. McCarthy | vs Green Bay Packers | QB22 |
| Deep League Streamer | Kirk Cousins | vs New Orleans Saints | QB23 |
| Leave on the Bench | Mason Rudolph | vs Chicago Bears | QB24 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyrod Taylor | vs Baltimore Ravens | QB25 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dillon Gabriel* | vs Las Vegas Raiders | QB26 |
| Leave on the Bench | Cam Ward | vs Seattle Seahawks | QB27 |
| Leave on the Bench | Geno Smith | vs Cleveland Browns | QB28 |
QB6 Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Jaxson Dart missed last week’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a concussion. He has been in concussion protocol four times since the preseason. If Dart misses Week 12 against the Detroit Lions Jameis Winston becomes QB22 between J.J. McCarthy and Kirk Cousins.
QB26 Dillion Gabriel, Cleveland Browns
Dillion Gabriel suffered a concussion last week against the Baltimore Ravens. The nature of the injury makes it unlikely that Gabriel plays this week. If Gabriel misses Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders Shedeur Sanders becomes QB28 below Geno Smith.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud has missed the past two games because of a concussion. He has been ruled out for this week’s game against the Buffalo Bills. Houston did not want to rush Stroud on a short week unless he was definitely ready to go. Davis Mills has played well in place of Stroud. He has been a solid streamer for teams in desperate need for a quarterback in their fantasy lineups.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers suffered a minor fracture in his wrist last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. After tests it doesn’t seem like this injury will put Rodgers on the shelf for long. But he is expected to miss this week. Mason Rudolph will start for the Steelers while Rodgers is out. Rudolph likely will not be on the fantasy radar while he’s in the starting quarterback.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix Jr. suffered a partially torn ACL this past week. This will likely end his 2025-26 season. Penix Jr. has had multiple season-ending injuries since college. The recovery period for Penix Jr. isn’t clear yet. Atlanta could look to bring in a veteran next season to compete with Kirk Cousins or replace him if Penix Jr. is not likely to be ready to begin next season. While Penix Jr. is out for the remainder of this season Cousins likely will not put up enough production to be on fantasy radars. At this point of his career Cousins is a definite QB2 in 2 quarterback or superflex leagues.
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