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It is amazing how much better fantasy football lineups can look when there is a full slate of games.
Starting with three games on Thanksgiving, Week 12 will feature all 32 teams in action for the first time since Week 3. This not only will make an enjoyable weekend of watching football, but it also gives fantasy owners an opportunity to finally see their teams at full strength.
On the flip side, this only makes your roster decisions more difficult as you attempt to choose the best player for the week. Hopefully, these positional rankings will help you relax as you get to enjoy some turkey.
Quarterbacks
The Sunday night game between the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins showcased two different quarterbacks, but two men both moving up lists on fantasy boards.
Kirk Cousins was at his best on the national stage, finding different receivers all over the field to help lead his team to victory:
He ended up with 375 passing yards and three touchdowns, marking the fifth game in a row he was responsible for multiple touchdowns. Although the Dallas Cowboys defense represents a bigger threat on Thanksgiving, he has been consistent against all types of defenses and is worth starting in most leagues.
On the other side of the field was Aaron Rodgers, who has taken a lot of heat in the past few weeks with the Packers losing games. Then again, Bleacher Report's Zach Kruse noted why the recent slide isn't necessarily the quarterback's fault:
Rodgers has always been considered a top fantasy quarterback, but he slid on rankings lists after some weak showings at the start of the year. However, he is easily one of the top options once again.
Of course, so many quarterbacks are playing well now, and the top of the rankings is overcrowded with legitimate options. Andrew Luck doesn't even crack the top 10 after going three straight games without reaching 20 points.
With the way the rest of the field is lighting up the stat sheet, the Indianapolis Colts star just can't keep up.
Running Backs
As always, injuries are a big story with running backs, and a number of situations need to be monitored in the coming days.
LeSean McCoy is expected to play despite undergoing thumb surgery, per Pro Football Talk. If he is unavailable, Mike Gillislee becomes a top option at the position.
Injuries in the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints backfields could create openings for Wendell Smallwood and Tim Hightower, respectively, to become reasonable starters both on the field and in fantasy lineups.
The Seattle Seahawks situation also could be interesting, with C.J. Prosise picking up a serious shoulder injury that could keep him out for eight weeks, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. He had become the go-to option in the backfield for Seattle, causing the team to release Christine Michael. As a result, Thomas Rawls becomes the best healthy player remaining, and he is ready to take on the heavier role.
"I train myself not like an average person, but I train myself to take on these loads for situations like this," Rawls said, per Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. "You never know the outcome or the result of the game. Not just that, but for personal pride. I work hard, and that's all I know. All I know is go."
Rawls was a game-changer in fantasy leagues a year ago and can do the same this year in a strong offense with a lot of scoring opportunities. If he is available, he should be the top target on all waiver wires.
Finally, Todd Gurley could be headed back toward what fans were expecting at the start of the year. He scored his first touchdown since Week 5 on Sunday and has a favorable matchup coming up against the Saints. With another 20 carries, he could be a big-time performer.
Wide Receivers
What made Dez Bryant so dangerous of a fantasy player for so long was his ability to rack up touchdowns. The Dallas Cowboys are willing to lob it up to the receiver in one-on-one situations, and he often finds a way to bring the ball down.
This strategy led to two touchdowns Sunday and four scores in four games since returning from injury. He has at least 17 points in standard leagues in three of those four games.
Teammate Ezekiel Elliott summed up the receiver's level of play, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News:
In a rivalry game against the Redskins on national television Thursday, you can expect the best Bryant has to offer. He should be able to come through once again with a big showing for his team and the fans.
There are also several players moving up thanks to consistency that is just too hard to ignore. Rishard Matthews failed to score Sunday, but he ended up with nine catches for 122 yards—his highest yardage total of the season. Adding this to his ability to get into the end zone (six touchdowns in his last seven games), he has become a solid starter for fantasy leagues.
The same can be said for Jamison Crowder, who has reached at least nine points in standard leagues in each of the last six games. Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson will keep taking away targets, but Crowder is the best receiver for fantasy purposes going forward.
Julian Edelman is also on the rise after finally getting on the same page with Tom Brady. It also helps that so many of his teammates are currently on the sidelines with injuries.
Tight Ends
This is going with the assumption Rob Gronkowski will not be able to play in Week 12, but Martellus Bennett still remains a quality option despite his dud in Week 11. He was expected to explode with Gronk on the sidelines, but he instead ended with just one catch for 14 yards.
In reality, he is too talented and in too good of an offense not to succeed if he remains the starter.
Greg Olsen also slides down after another quiet showing, this time against the New Orleans Saints. After a hot start to the year, the Carolina Panthers star is averaging just 33.8 yards per game in his last four with one touchdown in this stretch.
There isn't the same type of concern about Jordan Reed, who only has three touchdowns this year and only one since Week 4. Like Bennett, there is a lot of talent and in an offense that is working really well at this stage of the year. There are a lot of mouths to feed in Washington, but Reed's time will come.
Eric Ebron also moves up after his third game in a row with at least 70 receiving yards. Adding a rushing touchdown on an end-around only helps his case.
Defense/Special Teams
The New York Giants defense, which was completely redone in the offseason, has played much better during the team's five-game winning streak. This is perfect timing to face the Cleveland Browns, who just allowed the Pittsburgh Steelers to sack two different quarterbacks a combined eight times.
Cleveland's offensive line has struggled mightily in recent weeks, and it could lead to some serious problems for Josh McCown in the coming week.
The New England Patriots will also get a chance to take advantage of Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was recently named the starter once again for the New York Jets, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Considering Fitzpatrick has 13 interceptions compared to just eight touchdowns this season in nine games, this is the type of fantasy matchup you want from a defense.
The Minnesota Vikings are also on the rise again after a huge Week 11 performance. Even with a tough matchup against the Detroit Lions, the unit is healthy and could be a threat for more turnovers and touchdowns.
Kickers
Week 11 was brutal for kickers, as there were 12 missed extra points—a new record for the most in a single day, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Even the seemingly reliable players struggled, as Stephen Gostkowski missed an extra point, and Adam Vinatieri missed a field goal.
It's tough to predict this type of mess, but all you can do is stick with the most consistent kickers on high-scoring offenses. This puts Dan Bailey at the top as someone who rarely misses and plays for one of the best teams in the NFL.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter.
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
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