Most Accurate Experts vs. Consensus Rankings: Week 12

Happy post-Thanksgiving everyone! Now that we’ve been stuffed with food and three games of football, it’s time to look forward to Sunday/Monday. With plenty of games to go and fantasy playoff seeding on the line, we’re taking the time to ask the most accurate experts in the industry to help with your weekend decisions.

Based on our consensus rankings, we identified fringe players that you might have questions about. The experts featured below had differing opinions on those players compared to the consensus. See why they like and dislike the players listed below for this week.

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Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR): at NYJ
Pat’s Rank: RB9 | Consensus: RB15
“The Panthers finally seem to be figuring out how to deploy their uniquely skilled rookie. In the two games since Carolina traded away Kelvin Benjamin, McCaffery has punched in three touchdowns and averaged 4.5 yards per carry (after averaging 2.4 YPC over his first eight games). McCaffery had a season-high 20 touches in the first game after the Benjamin trade and should be prominently involved this week against a Jets defense that ranks 22nd in yardage allowed.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (The Football Girl)

C.J. Anderson (RB – DEN): at OAK
KJ’s Rank: RB28 | Consensus: RB36
“With Mike McCoy out in Denver, and Bill Musgrave’s spread offense combined with a power run game, I expect Anderson to have more room to operate especially against an average run defense like the Oakland Raiders in week 12.”
– KJ (Fantasy Team Advice)

Alex Collins (RB – BAL): vs. HOU
Rudy’s Rank: RB3 | Consensus: RB23
“The name of the game with RBs is projecting volume and Collins appears locked in as the 1st/2nd down back in Baltimore. Baltimore is a prohibitive favorite (-8.0) which only helps keep a true rushing threat like Collins on the field versus Woodhead or a slowly disappearing Javorius Allen. While Collins is nowhere near the dual rush/receiving threat of a Le’Veon Bell or LeSean McCoy, he saw 7 targets in Week 11 and Houston’s LBs are weak in pass coverage. I am projecting a roughly 100 combined yard game and about 2/3 of a TD which is top 5 these days even in PPR.”
– Rudy Gamble (Razzball)

Kenny Stills (WR – MIA): at NE
Jake’s Rank: WR20 | Consensus: WR36
“All you need to know is that Matt Moore is starting. Okay, you want the stats from this year? How about the fact that in essentially two games (one full start, two halves after Jay Cutler left) Kenny Stills has 22 targets, 15 receptions, 271 yards and three touchdowns with Moore at quarterback. They have some special kind of connection that was evident last year too. When Moore is at quarterback, great things are in store for Stills.”
– Jake Ciely (RotoExperts)

Corey Davis (WR – TEN): at IND
Jared’s Rank: WR30 | Consensus: WR38
“Davis has seen 22 targets in his 3 games back from injury but totaled just 103 scoreless yards. Those games, though, have come against the #2, #4 and #5 defenses in fantasy points allowed to WRs. Things finally lighten up for the rookie this week with a matchup vs. the Colts’ 26th-ranked WR defense. Davis should see another 7-10 targets and has a chance to have his coming-out party.”
– Jared Smola (DraftSharks)

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Joe Mixon (RB – CIN): vs. CLE
Ken’s Rank: RB30 | Consensus: RB18
“We keep waiting for the breakout game for Mixon but with a weak o-line in Cincinnati, I am done waiting. Mixon has averaged 2.9 yards per attempt this season and the Browns are one of the tougher teams to run on in the last 3 weeks. Mixon wasn’t getting the volume most wanted earlier in the season, but that doesn’t seem to be the issue any longer with Hill gone to IR. A matchup against the Browns in week 4, Mixon had 29 yards on 17 carries. He is a TD dependant RB3 this weekend.”
– Ken Zalis (PressBox)

Jordan Howard (RB – CHI): at PHI
Brett’s Rank: RB22 | Consensus: RB11
“This week sets up terribly for Howard. First of all, when he does carry the ball, it’ll be against a Philly run D that’s fifth in Football Outsiders run defense DVOA. But his usual volume may not be there in what could be a terrible game script for him as a two touchdown underdog on the road. You still probably have to start him as your RB2 or at flex, but he’s not in the RB1 discussion this week.”
– Brett Talley (Fantasy Alarm)

Jarvis Landry (WR – MIA): at NE
Rudy’s Rank: WR28 | Consensus: WR17
“Landry is in a monster streak where he’s had 10+ targets and 1 receiving TD in 6 of his last 7 games. It feels like I have been the most bullish expert on Landry (as well as Thielen) for the whole 2017 season. And yet this week, I seem to be the wet blanket ranker on Landry. Playing at New England is a bad matchup with Miami’s implied point total the 4th weakest for the Sun/Mon slate (15 points). Parker and Stills are both healthy so there is no reason why Landry needs to be overtargeted by Moore. I am projecting a solid 5 reception for 55 yard game for Landry but the low TD projection of about .25 makes this more of a 20th-to-30th ranked WR for the week versus the consensus top 20 ranking he will likely have.”
– Rudy Gamble (Razzball)

Demaryius Thomas (WR – DEN): at OAK
Sean’s Rank: WR28 | Consensus: WR19
“The Broncos are turning to their 3rd QB this season as they intend to start their potential QB of the future in Paxton Lynch this week. Despite the unknown chemistry between he and Thomas, I still think the plus matchup warrants Thomas as a safe WR2/3 type player. However, I’m shortening the gap between Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders to start until we see if Lynch tends to favor one over another. This is likely what’s causing me to be ranking Thomas a bit lower than ECR this week.”
– Sean Koerner (STATS)

Thank you to the experts for explaining their dissenting opinions. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.