Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

It seems like Peyton Manning is starting to trust Pierre Garcon, despite some ill-timed drops, and that makes him a fine WR3/4 with upside in most formats going forward. Garcon has great playmaking abilities, and the Colts know he can stretch the field and open things up for Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark. If he keeps getting a high volume of looks Garcon will be a weekly candidate for huge plays and consistent yardage. Pierre has posted at least 50 yards in four straight now (including 6 for 108 last week and a TD the week before), and the matchup at Houston this week sets up nicely again.

Chris Chambers has seen a mini resurgence since joining the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month. In three games he’s totaled 10 receptions for 249 yards and 2 TDs compared to just 9 receptions for 122 yards and 1 TD in his first seven games of the season with the San Diego Chargers. This week Chambers gets a chance to go into SD and get some revenge against the Bolts for cutting him earlier in the season. The Chiefs should be playing from behind often, and the revenge factor is always a nice angle, so we’re endorsing Chambers as a WR3 in deeper leagues.

Don’t let Terrell Owen’s explosion from last Sunday cloud your judgment. Before that 9-catch, 197-yard blowup the aging, depressing “star” wideout had only managed 26 catches and 1 TD in the previous eight games. He’s an option this week, but by no means a strong one.

Miles Austin stays inside our top-25 for the week, but his inability to shed doubles and respond to opponents game-planning for him the last few weeks is increasingly disconcerting. He’s merely a borderline WR2 right now.

The hits keep on coming for the Detroit defense. Starting strong safety Ko Simpson will miss Thursday’s game, leaving an already depleted secondary that much more vulnerable. The Lions already sport the worst secondary in the league, so you’ll obviously want to have Greg Jennings and Donald Driver in your lineups – and even James Jones makes for a solid speculative play for those in need of a WR4.

See also:
- Week 12 QB Rankings
- Week 12 RB Rankings
- Week 12 TE Rankings
- Week 12 DEF Rankings

1. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
2. Randy Moss, New England Patriots @ NO
3. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals @ TEN
4. Andre Johnson, Houston Texans vs. IND
5. Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers vs. KC
6. Wes Welker, New England Patriots @ NO
7. Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers @ DET
8. Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons vs. TB (Check Status)
9. Sidney Rice, Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
10. Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals vs. CLE
11. Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars @ SF
12. Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals @ TEN
13. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS
14. Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos vs. NYG
15. Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints vs. NE
16. Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers @ DET

WR rankings 17 through 42, after the jump…

17. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. GB (Check Status)
18. Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
19. Steve Smith, New York Giants @ DEN
20. Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers @ BAL
21. Stevonne Smith, Carolina Panthers @ NYJ
22. Nate Burleson, Seattle Seahawks @ STL
23. Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys vs. OAK
24. Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings vs. CHI
25. TJ Houshmandzadeh, Seattle Seahawks @ STL
26. Derrick Mason, Baltimore Ravens vs. PIT
27. Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets vs. CAR
28. Devin Hester, Chicago Bears @ MIN
29. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers vs. JAC
30. Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals @ TEN
31. Mario Manningham, New York Giants @ DEN
32. Kevin Walter, Houston Texans vs. IND
33. Chris Chambers, Kansas City Chiefs @ SD
34. Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts @ HOU
35. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills vs. MIA
36. Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants @ DEN
37. Earl Bennett, Chicago Bears @ MIN
38. Donnie Avery, St. Louis Rams vs. SEA
39. Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills vs. MIA
40. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles vs. WAS
41. Santana Moss, Washington Redskins @ PHI
42. James Jones, Green Bay Packers @ DET
43. Bryant Johnson, Detroit Lions vs. GB

See also:
- Week 12 QB Rankings
- Week 12 RB Rankings
- Week 12 TE Rankings
- Week 12 DEF Rankings