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Week 12 MOP Rankings for Fantasy Football

Before we embark on a pivotal Thanksgiving Week, I am taking one final look back at the week that was. I do this while removing every player’s highest-scoring fantasy play from the equation. The result is the Week 12 MOP rankings. I designed this method to help filter out some of the flukier plays from around the league. I intend to reward players who receive more opportunities. These rankings can help identify players who are due for both positive and negative regression. Here are last week’s rankings, along with some notes on performances I found noteworthy.


More Week 13 Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Weekly Rankings | Dynasty Risers and Fallers


Running Back Takeaways

Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson may not have gone off for multiple touchdowns last week, but fantasy managers should still be highly encouraged by what we saw. New England fed Henderson 21 touches, compared to just seven for the returning Rhamondre Stevenson.

That may even out a bit as Stevenson ramps up his activity following a multi-week absence. But those who were worried that Henderson would immediately fall back should feel more secure about the rookie’s role.

Henderson gets an elite matchup this week when the Patriots host the New York Giants. New York has allowed the most touchdowns and the second-most scrimmage yards to opposing backs this year. Even if Stevenson is the team’s preferred goal-line option, Henderson should be in for a massive game on Monday night.

The Cleveland Browns produced two top-10 fantasy running backs last week. But a quick gaze at the Week 12 MOP rankings suggests that one of these things is not like the other. Quinshon Judkins scored two first-quarter touchdowns on his way to an overall RB9 finish in Half-PPR leagues.

Dylan Sampson’s overall RB10 finish was almost wholly the result of a 66-yard touchdown on a screen pass. Sampson totaled just 16 yards on his other eight touches. On the bright side, his nine touches were the most since Week 1. Sampson also played on 37 percent of snaps, which was his second-highest mark since the season opener. He at least looks to be ahead of Jerome Ford on the depth chart. However, fantasy managers should not put too much stock into Sampson’s overall numbers from last week just yet.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell has done nothing but produce when given the opportunity this season. In his lone start back in Week 4, he ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota. That week, he led the way in MOP points among running backs.

Two weeks ago, when Jaylen Warren left early with an injury, Gainwell had 105 scrimmage yards and two more scores. Last week was the first time Pittsburgh’s backfield looked like a true 1-2 punch. Warren carried the ball 18 times for 68 yards and a touchdown. But Gainwell was also heavily involved. Though he did not score, he earned 16 touches and parlayed them into 122 scrimmage yards. Warren is still the preferred option, but Gainwell may be worth starting against a porous Buffalo Bills run defense.

PlayerTeamFPTSRANKBIG PLAYMOP PTSMOP RANK
Jahmyr GibbsDET49.9112.9371
Emanuel WilsonGB25.526.119.42
Christian McCaffreySF23.737.216.53
Derrick HenryBAL21.846.215.64
Ashton JeantyLV20.85713.85
Kareem HuntKC18.586.212.36
Chase BrownCIN14132.211.87
Travis Etienne Jr.JAC19.17811.18
Bijan RobinsonATL13.7143.7109
James Cook IIIBUF20.4610.59.910
Quinshon JudkinsCLE16.796.89.911
Tyrone Tracy Jr.NYG14.5124.79.812
Kenneth GainwellPIT15.2115.59.713
Javonte WilliamsDAL11.11929.114
TreVeyon HendersonNE9.6211.28.415
Kenneth Walker IIISEA11.6173.48.216
Rico DowdleCAR9.4231.77.717
Breece HallNYJ11.9164.57.418
Saquon BarkleyPHI8.9242.16.819
Jaylen WarrenPIT12.8156.16.720
Devin NealNO8.6252.36.321
Aaron Jones Sr.MIN7.2291.35.922
Woody MarksHOU7.4271.95.523
Zonovan KnightARI11.2186.15.124
Michael CarterARI7.3282.3525
Jonathan TaylorIND7.6262.74.926
Kyle MonangaiCHI10.8206.24.627
Tony PollardTEN6.1321.54.628
Chuba HubbardCAR6.3311.94.429
Kyren WilliamsLAR5.3350.94.430
Sean TuckerTB5.1380.94.231
Tyler AllgeierATL5.4341.34.132
Ty JohnsonBUF6.7302.83.933
David MontgomeryDET5.2361.43.834
Brian Robinson Jr.SF4.9391.23.735
Devin SingletaryNYG4.7401.33.436
Rachaad WhiteTB4.7411.63.137
Brashard SmithKC5.13723.138
Zach CharbonnetSEA9.5226.5339
Tyjae SpearsTEN4.5421.72.840
Chris BrooksGB3.14512.141
Dylan SampsonCLE15.21013.12.142
Jordan MasonMIN4.2432.2243
Alvin KamaraNO2.5470.71.844
Clyde Edwards-HelaireKC2.7461.21.545
Blake CorumLAR2.45011.446
Nick ChubbHOU2510.71.347
Bhayshul TutenJAC1.7520.41.348
Raheem MostertLV3.5442.31.249
Keaton MitchellBAL2.4481.4150
Rhamondre StevensonNE1.55310.551
Isaiah DavisNYJ0.7580.20.552
Malik DavisDAL2.4492.10.353
Tahj BrooksCIN0.5600.30.254
Owen WrightTB0.6590.40.255
Ray DavisBUF6336056
Hunter LuepkeDAL1.2551.2057
Tank BigsbyPHI0.8560.8058
Reggie GilliamBUF0.7570.7059
Julius ChestnutTEN0.3610.3060
LeQuint Allen Jr.JAC0.2620.2061
D'Andre SwiftCHI1.4541.9-0.562

Check out all of our Week 13 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings


Wide Receiver Takeaways

Christian Watson is usually on the wrong side of the MOP outliers. Throughout his career, he has made big plays here and there but has lacked volume and consistency. However, he may be proving to be much more than a one-trick pony.

Over the last two weeks, Watson has earned a 36.7 percent first-read share from Jordan Love. That level of involvement is huge for Watson’s weekly potential. So even though he “only” finished as the overall WR36 last week, his WR20 finish in the Week 12 MOP rankings should not go ignored.

Watson has a Thanksgiving Day matchup with a Detroit Lions defense that should enhance his strengths. Detroit plays a ton of man coverage, which is where Watson has historically done most of his damage. I am looking for another big game out of Watson in Week 13.

Some other wide receivers who stood out from a MOP perspective last week were Chris Olave, Zay Flowers, Luther Burden III, and Justin Jefferson.

Olave’s presence here should not surprise anyone who has read this column throughout the year.

Flowers is arguably the most boringly consistent fantasy producer there is. In Half-PPR scoring, he has finished between WR26 and WR33 seven times in 11 games. I view him as more of a WR2 than a WR3, but the results have been less than ideal.

Jefferson will always get a ton of volume, as he should. Fantasy managers still have to start him every week, of course. But his quarterback situation prohibits him from being the top-five fantasy wideout we have grown accustomed to seeing.

Burden is an interesting case. By all accounts, the rookie has been a disappointment for fantasy managers who were expecting more out of him. But he has caught three passes in each of his last three games. That may not seem like much, but it is a stark improvement considering he caught a total of 13 passes in his first seven NFL contests.

Burden has also seen a similar uptick in his snap count over the last three weeks. A crowded wide receiver room and some upcoming difficult matchups will likely keep him out of starting fantasy lineups. However, I am keeping my eye on him as a potential buy-low down the stretch. At the very least, he should be added in leagues where he is still available.

On the flip side, Darnell Mooney and Greg Dortch finished last week as top-15 fantasy wideouts, but were outside the top-30 in the Week 12 MOP rankings.

Dortch continues to fly under the radar, as Michael Wilson has grabbed all the headlines of late with his two straight monster target and receiving games. Dortch has six catches and a touchdown in back-to-back games. But Marvin Harrison Jr. may return this week. Dortch and Wilson could earn more looks than they had before Harrison went down. However, the days of each of them posting top-15 fantasy numbers are likely limited.

Mooney may be in for another decent week with Drake London doubtful. His inefficiency this year (just 19 catches on 45 targets) makes him a tough player to start, even if he gets more targets this week than usual.

PlayerTeamFPTSRANKBIG PLAYMOP PTSMOP RANK
Jaxon Smith-NjigbaSEA33.1112.820.31
George PickensDAL25.146.618.52
Amon-Ra St. BrownDET25.437.617.83
Wan'Dale RobinsonNYG26.1210.415.74
Rashee RiceKC20.185.214.95
Michael WilsonARI16.8103.613.26
A.J. BrownPHI2158.112.97
Chimere DikeTEN18.996.612.38
DJ MooreCHI20.96911.99
Davante AdamsLAR20.778.911.810
Puka NacuaLAR13.2163.69.611
Chris OlaveNO11.5232.19.412
Parker WashingtonJAC15.6117.48.213
Khalil ShakirBUF13174.98.114
John Metchie IIINYJ15.5127.87.715
DeVonta SmithPHI11.9204.67.316
Christian KirkHOU13.9146.77.217
Zay FlowersBAL9.4302.56.918
Andrei IosivasCIN8.6322.46.219
Christian WatsonGB7.4361.75.720
Jakobi MeyersJAC13187.55.521
DK MetcalfPIT11.9216.65.322
Luther Burden IIICHI7.6352.45.223
Jauan JenningsSF12.6197.74.924
Jayden HigginsHOU11.8227.34.525
Justin JeffersonMIN6.8402.44.426
Tyler LockettLV8.2333.84.427
Xavier WorthyKC7.9343.64.328
CeeDee LambDAL9.5295.34.229
Michael Pittman Jr.IND11.2247.14.130
Nico CollinsHOU7372.94.131
Rome OdunzeCHI6.8382.74.132
Darnell MooneyATL14.91311.43.533
Tee HigginsCIN5.6422.13.534
Isaiah HodginsNYG11.2257.73.535
Greg DortchARI13.81510.43.436
Mason TiptonNO4.8491.43.437
Devaughn VeleNO5.2471.93.338
Calvin Austin IIIPIT5.6442.43.239
Tez JohnsonTB10.8267.92.940
James Proche IITEN5.7412.82.941
Jalen CokerCAR4.7502.32.442
Adonai MitchellNYJ5.2483.12.143
Dontayvion WicksGB4.2542.31.944
Tre TuckerLV4.3532.41.945
Dylan DrummondATL3.3621.41.946
Xavier LegetteCAR3.7561.91.847
Mitch TinsleyCIN9.9288.21.748
Xavier RestrepoTEN3.6581.91.749
Cooper KuppSEA3.4611.71.750
Konata MumpfieldLAR3.5601.91.651
Sterling ShepardTB2.7701.21.552
Joshua PalmerBUF3.1651.61.553
Jordan WhittingtonLAR3.2641.81.454
DeMario DouglasNE5.6434.21.455
Kalif RaymondDET4.7513.51.256
David Sills VATL8.6317.41.257
Mack HollinsNE4552.91.158
Stefon DiggsNE3671.91.159
Kayshon BoutteNE2.5721.41.160
Tetairoa McMillanCAR10.5279.41.161
Isaiah BondCLE6.8395.71.162
Emeka EgbukaTB4.7523.7163
Romeo DoubsGB3.3632.3164
DeAndre HopkinsBAL2.3741.40.965
Josh DownsIND2761.10.966
Chris Godwin Jr.TB1.97910.967
Darius CooperPHI1.7810.90.868
Ricky PearsallSF1.8801.10.769
Jaylin NoelHOU1.4860.90.570
Ashton DulinIND5.3455.3071
Gunner OlszewskiNYG5.3465.3072
Devontez WalkerBAL3.5593.5073
Alec PierceIND3.1663.1074
Darius SlaytonNYG2.8682.8075
Gabe DavisBUF2.7692.7076
Ben SkowronekPIT2.6712.6077
Kyle WilliamsNE2.3752.3078
Dont'e Thornton Jr.LV1.9771.9079
Dante PettisNO1.9781.9080
Jimmy Horn Jr.CAR1.6821.6081
Van JeffersonTEN1.6831.6082
Marquise BrownKC1.5841.5083
Xavier WeaverARI1.4851.4084
Allen LazardNYJ1.4871.4085
JuJu Smith-SchusterKC1.3881.3086
Demarcus RobinsonSF1.3891.3087
Olamide ZaccheausCHI1.1901.1088
Cedric TillmanCLE1911089
Xavier HutchinsonHOU0.9920.9090
Arian SmithNYJ0.8930.8091
Rashid ShaheedSEA0.5950.5092
Elijah MooreBUF0.2960.2093
Malachi CorleyCLE0.7941.3-0.694
KaVontae TurpinDAL3.7575.3-1.695
Jerry JeudyCLE2.4734.4-296

Tight End Takeaways

Colby Parkinson has scored in three straight games for the Los Angeles Rams. As a result, he is lower in the MOP rankings than where he finished. That usually is a red flag for me. But I don’t think we can toss his recent results aside either. Sure, he won’t score every week. However, he has been very involved in one of the best passing offenses in the NFL.

Better yet, he has been remarkably efficient. Parkinson has caught 19 of 21 targets this year, including 10 of 11 over the past three weeks. With the team missing Tyler Higbee, Parkinson could continue to be a viable option for fantasy managers looking to stream tight ends. This week, he faces a Carolina Panthers defense that is dead last (yes, even lower than Cincinnati) in DVOA versus opposing tight ends.

Last week was the second straight week that Tennessee Titans tight end Gunnar Helm has popped in the MOP rankings. This development feels noteworthy following the team’s Week 10 bye. Helm led the team in receptions and receiving yards last week.

Of course, Chig Okonkwo led the team in receiving yards the week prior. So it is not as if Helm has a stranglehold on the position by any means. But much like Parkinson, Helm is playing in a system that is friendly for tight end production.

That may seem strange considering Tennessee’s 30th-ranked passing attack. However, with the team lacking consistency among their wide receivers, Helm is another player who fantasy managers may want to stream in certain matchups. Tennessee faces a Jacksonville defense in Week 13 that has given up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this year.

PlayerTeamFPTSRANKBIG PLAYMOP PTSMOP RANK
Hunter HenryNE2119.311.71
Trey McBrideARI12.431.910.52
Brenton StrangeJAC11.853.58.33
George KittleSF10.8637.84
Brock BowersLV8.51026.55
Jake FergusonDAL8.692.46.26
Gunnar HelmTEN8.11126.17
Juwan JohnsonNO7.6132.15.58
Colston LovelandCHI12.927.75.29
Colby ParkinsonLAR12.1475.110
Tyler WarrenIND7142.14.911
Theo JohnsonNYG9.284.44.812
Harold Fannin Jr.CLE6.4162.24.213
Travis KelceKC6.4172.24.214
Mike GesickiCIN5.5191.83.715
Ian ThomasLV5.6181.93.716
Jonnu SmithPIT4.3241.3317
T.J. HockensonMIN3.92812.918
Austin HooperNE5.4212.62.819
Pat FreiermuthPIT9.476.82.620
Davis AllenLAR4.42322.421
Chig OkonkwoTEN5.5203.12.422
Cade OttonTB4.1251.82.323
Mason TaylorNYJ3.6301.42.224
Brock WrightDET4.4222.51.925
Dawson KnoxBUF3.2321.41.826
Noah GrayKC4262.21.827
Charlie WoernerATL3.9272.31.628
Darnell WashingtonPIT3.2331.81.429
Jackson HawesBUF3.6292.31.330
Taysom HillNO1.7380.41.331
Dallas GoedertPHI3341.81.232
AJ BarnerSEA2.8351.8133
Drew OgletreeIND7.8126.90.934
Kyle Pitts Sr.ATL3.5312.80.735
Mark AndrewsBAL1.6391.40.236
Brevyn Spann-FordDAL6.9156.9037
Michael MayerLV1.9361.9038
Johnny MundtJAC1.7371.7039
John FitzPatrickGB1.6401.6040
Isaiah LikelyBAL1.5411.5041
Andrew BeckNYJ1.5421.5042
Tanner HudsonCIN1.4431.4043
Noah FantCIN1.4441.4044
Mo Alie-CoxIND1.4451.4045
Dalton SchultzHOU1.3461.3046
Grant CalcaterraPHI1.3471.3047
Luke MusgraveGB1.2481.2048
Jack StollNO1.2491.2049
Josiah DeguaraARI1.1501.1050
Ja'Tavion SandersCAR1.1511.1051
Elijah ArroyoSEA1521052
Durham SmytheCHI0.9530.9053
Josh OliverMIN0.9540.9054
Cole KmetCHI0.8550.8055
Luke FarrellSF0.8560.8056
Josh WhyleGB0.6570.6057
Drew SampleCIN0.5580.5058

Make sure to check out all of our Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!


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Mick Ciallela
Mick Ciallela
Mick Ciallela has been writing for FantraxHQ since July 2017. He is a lifelong sports fan and has been an avid fantasy sports player for many years. Mick has won two overall titles in nationwide fantasy football contests. Mick was born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, and currently resides in Massachusetts with his incredibly understanding wife, Erica.

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