For those of you needing a win this week to stay alive, you shouldn't be thinking weeks down the road.

If you're at the top of or toward the top of your league's standings, congratulations. The playoffs are likely in sight if you haven't clinched them already, so now is the time to manage your roster with December in mind.

The waiver wire hasn't been a big help this season, at least not for long-term solutions. You should be proactive about grabbing players who could find themselves in important roles during the fantasy playoffs.

Mark Ingram II had another strong performance as part of the Baltimore Ravens' league-leading rushing attack. Even though Ingram has been healthy for the most part, he's one injury away from having Gus Edwards take over one of the most important and busiest backfields in fantasy football. Regardless of what Edwards did in Week 11 and what he could do in Week 12, he should be off the waiver wire and on your bench for safekeeping.

The Minnesota Vikings hold the No. 3 spot in rushing offense thanks to a superb season from Dalvin Cook. Rookie Alexander Mattison has been used infrequently behind Cook but has done a very good job when his number is called. Snatching Mattison now would eliminate any battles for a big role if Cook is unavailable for any reason.

Here's my first look at points-per-reception (PPR) rankings for Week 12. These will change throughout the week and up to Sunday's action as we get more information about injuries and limitations, so make sure to bookmark this page for my full rankings for all scoring formats.

Top 100

I present my top 100 players (minus quarterbacks) for the week as a way to help determine your flex spots. You may favor a certain position or player over another based on his role and/or your scoring rules.

As an additional tiebreaker, here are the teams I like as a whole this week based on their matchups:

• Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)
• Indianapolis Colts (at Houston Texans)
• New Orleans Saints (vs. Carolina Panthers)
• Oakland Raiders (at New York Jets)

Quarterbacks

Better Than Usual

Jacoby Brissett, IND (at HOU)

A one-game absence for Brissett ended when he returned to action in Week 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sometimes reality outweighs fantasy, which explains why his average fantasy performance didn't matter in an impressive victory. Brissett had full-game season lows in attempts (24) and completions (15) and his second-lowest yards (148) while throwing for one score and one interception. Luckily, he ran in a touchdown on one of his two carries for 12 yards.

The Colts won in Week 11 mostly because the team's running backs racked up 236 yards and two scores on the ground. However, Indianapolis won't have Marlon Mack (hand) on Thursday night, so Brissett should be carrying more of the offense. The Houston Texans have been the seventh-easiest matchup for quarterbacks in the last four weeks and sixth-easiest matchup in 2019. In Week 7, Brissett got them for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Go back to him in Week 12.

Derek Carr, OAK (at NYJ)

Simply put, Carr was good enough in Week 11. He made the sleepers because of a nice matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals and came through with a QB11 finish. Carr hit on 25 of 29 passes for 292 yards with a touchdown and interception in addition to a rushing touchdown. Carr now has at least 285 yards in four of his last five games.

The New York Jets remain a defense to target, especially in the last month. During that span, quarterbacks have scored nearly 24 fantasy points per game against the Jets, which makes them the fifth-easiest matchup for the position. The Raiders and Jets are moving in opposite directions this season, so even with the trip across the country, you should have faith in Carr and the Raiders to stay hot.

Concern

Dak Prescott, DAL (at NE)

Let me start by saying unless you feel great about another option on your roster, do not bench Prescott. He lands in this category out of respect for the New England Patriots defense. That just means you should lower expectations for Prescott, who's been QB3 through 11 weeks.

In the last four weeks (three games), New England has surrendered just 571 yards and three touchdowns to quarterbacks through the air. That came in games against Carson Wentz, Lamar Jackson and Baker Mayfield. The Patriots remain the toughest defense for quarterbacks to face on the season, allowing just 7.9 fantasy points per game. You can stick with Prescott since tough matchups go both ways, but since you're lowering expectations, think about being a bit more aggressive with other spots in your lineup.

Running Backs

Better Than Usual

Tevin Coleman, SF (vs. GB)

The roller-coaster season for Coleman seems to be in a bit of a valley in the last month but should be rising back up to a peak this Sunday night. In his last three games, Coleman has just 77 rushing yards on 33 attempts and nine receptions for 93 yards. Those down games have coincided with Jimmy Garoppolo's three busiest games of the year with 37, 46 and 45 pass attempts and two of his highest-yardage games (317, 424).

With Matt Breida (ankle) out last week and up in the air for this week, Coleman should be in line to lead this backfield with a good chance to bounce back against the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have been the seventh-easiest matchup for running backs in the last month and third-easiest matchup on the season. On the flip side, Green Bay has been the eighth-toughest matchup for quarterbacks this year. The 49ers could lean on Coleman more than in previous weeks, so consider him a low-end RB1.

Derrius Guice, WAS (vs. DET)

If you waited to see what Guice would bring to the table in his return to action before inserting him into your lineup, you were probably feeling good about the decision until his 45-yard touchdown reception in garbage time of the loss to the New York Jets. Guice had just seven carries for 24 yards while playing 29.4 percent of the snaps.

Adrian Peterson didn't fare any better with nine carries for 25 yards and two catches for five yards on two targets on 25 percent of the snaps. Amazingly, the Redskins gave Wendell Smallwood 45.6 percent of the snaps, likely due to game flow. He had a single reception for 11 yards on three targets and didn't have a carry. While he may be the team's hurry-up back, that might not matter against the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions have been the fourth-easiest matchup for running backs in the last four weeks and the best possible matchup this season. As a whole, the defense has allowed the third-most yards per game (412.8) and sixth-most points per game (27.2). While the Lions are still a better team than the Redskins, another likely start for Jeff Driskel means this game shouldn't get out of hand. Plus, now that Guice has a game under his belt after his injury, Washington should increase his workload and snaps. Consider him an RB3/flex with upside.

Concern

Brian Hill, ATL (vs. TB)

Hill may not have cared about his fantasy performance last week, but it's my job to care about what he did, and that's why expectations have to be lowered for Week 12. Yes, Hill will likely lead the Atlanta Falcons backfield with Devonta Freeman (ankle) still out, but leading a backfield doesn't necessarily translate to good fantasy production.

In the lopsided victory over the Carolina Panthers, Hill caught just one of three targets for eight yards and carried 15 times for 30 yards. Hill now has as many 15-carry games as Freeman, but with 35 carries in the last two weeks, he totaled just 91 yards. The Buccaneers allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs in the last four weeks but the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Atlanta will likely look to exploit the weak pass defense while staying away from running too much. Hill is a flex at best.

Wide Receivers

Better Than Usual

Allen Robinson, CHI (vs. NYG)

The quarterback situation in Chicago hasn't been ideal for Robinson's fantasy value, but with Chase Daniel potentially set to take over for the injured Mitchell Trubisky (hip), maybe there's hope for Robinson. This week's game against a shoddy New York Giants secondary adds to that hope.

In the two games primarily handled by Daniel, Robinson had 14 receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns against the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders in Weeks 4-5. Robinson is coming off a four-catch, 15-yard effort against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11. Hopefully, he can come through against a Giants defense that allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in the last month. Even average quarterback play would likely be enough to help Robinson take advantage of this matchup, although Daniel might be the preferred option. Call Robinson a solid WR2.

Tyrell Williams, OAK (at NYJ)

Williams was efficient yet not spectacular in what should have been an exploitable matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. He caught all four of his targets for 82 yards on a day when Derek Carr threw just 29 passes while Josh Jacobs ran 23 times for 112 yards. You can't have second thoughts about feeling good about Williams since the matchup was in his favor. There just wasn't a lot of volume in the passing game.

The good feelings about Williams should remain for Week 12, as the Jets rank fourth in easiest matchups for wide receivers in the last four weeks and second on the season. The Jets have a little more firepower than the Bengals, so if their offense can take advantage of a shaky Raiders defense, it would give Oakland more reason to throw the ball. Put Williams right back into the WR2 conversation this week.

Concern

Amari Cooper, DAL (at NE)

In Week 10, it seemed like Cooper killed any concerns about his knee injury with 11 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings. Those concerns returned in a big way when he posted just three receptions for 38 yards on eight targets and was limited to 55.4 percent of the snaps (41 snaps) in Week 11.

The Cowboys had no problem feeding Michael Gallup and Randall Cobb, who combined for 13 receptions, 263 yards and a touchdown on 20 targets. Aside from Cooper's injury status, the New England Patriots also pose the toughest matchup for wide receivers both in the last four weeks and on the season. There's not much working in Cooper's favor, so if he is active, you must lower expectations.

Tight Ends

Better Than Usual

Ryan Griffin, NYJ (vs. OAK)

Griffin was featured in last week's sleepers article and wound up as TE2. He posted his best game of the season with five receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown on five targets. Griffin now has at least 50 yards in three of his last four games and three touchdowns in those four games. He's TE2 over that span with 58.3 fantasy points (14.6 fantasy points per game).

Griffin has graduated from sleeper to starter, but you still may need a push in the right direction. He will face a Raiders defense that has been the ninth-easiest matchup for tight ends over the last month and fifth-easiest for the season. The Jets defense is also struggling, so this could be an ugly but productive game for both passing attacks. Griffin is a reliable play for Week 12.

Dallas Goedert, PHI (vs. SEA)

The Philadelphia Eagles might have the worst wide receiver group in the league. Luckily, they have one of the best tight end tandems in the league between Zach Ertz and Goedert. For as bad as the Eagles looked last week against the Patriots, Goedert came through with three receptions for 36 yards and a score on six targets. He was tied with Darren Waller for TE9 with 12.6 fantasy points.

With Alshon Jeffery out last week and his status unknown for Week 12, Goedert could be in another prime spot to be featured. The Seattle Seahawks defense has yielded the fifth-most receiving yards this year (285.3), so the matchup is a good one. Ertz might lead the way, but Goedert is probably the No. 2 option in the passing game, so he is in the low-end starter conversation.

Concern

George Kittle, SF (vs. GB)

The fantasy world has been without George Kittle for the last two weeks, and his status for Week 12 remains in question. He has been listed as doubtful the last two games because of knee and ankle injuries. In Kittle's absence, Ross Dwelley turned five targets into four receptions for 14 yards and a pair of scores in a choice matchup with the Cardinals. Keep an eye on Kittle during the week, as he'd have to be in lineups if active.

Defenses

Best Streaming Option

Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins)

The Browns defense hasn't been an ideal choice for fantasy purposes this season, but first, let's focus on this week's opponent. The Dolphins have been a team to target throughout 2019 as no one has allowed more fantasy points to opposing defenses. There's been some improvement as of late, but that still makes the unit the 10th-easiest matchup for fantasy defenses.

Outside of the controversy, the Browns had an impressive performance in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. Cleveland's defense ranked third for the week after racking up four sacks and four interceptions while allowing just seven points. Jump on the Browns for Week 12.

Ownership percentage: ESPN, 29.1; Yahoo, 51.0

Kickers

Best Streaming Option

Younghoe Koo, ATL (vs. TB)

Teams that change kickers are often the best places to look for a new kicker of your own. Koo took over for veteran Matt Bryant in Week 10 and has been a valuable fantasy performer in the last two games with four extra points and seven field goals in eight attempts. You can expect another productive outing from Koo this weekend against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that gives up a league-high 31.3 points per game.

Ownership percentages: ESPN, 5.9; Yahoo, 11.0