Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) celebrates a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

For most fantasy football leagues, this is the home stretch. There are only a couple of extra weeks to cement a playoff spot.

Start-and-sit decisions for wide receivers are going to be a problematic part of Week 12 lineup strategy. Not only are there even more standout wide receivers dealing with injuries after an injury-riddled Week 11, but several quarterbacks may not play this week with their own injuries.

Add onto that the four teams on bye this week – all of which feature a receiver or two worth considering for a start in any other week – and coming up with the most successful lineup permutations gets even harder. Starting the wrong receiver, or worse, sitting the wrong receiver, can be what prevents fantasy managers from rolling into the playoffs.

Here are five wide receivers with matchups to monitor for extra consideration in Week 12:

Fantasy football start 'em: Week 12 WRs

Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (@ San Francisco 49ers)

Through 11 weeks, the 49ers have allowed the third-most receiving yards to opposing wide receivers. Trimming down the data to the last four weeks, San Francisco ranks first in the statistic. The same is true for the last two weeks.

McMillan has been pushing toward rookie breakout status all season in Carolina, but Week 11 was his coming-out party with eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons. He now leads all rookie wideouts with 54 catches and 748 yards, and he gets an even better fantasy matchup this week against a 49ers defense that has proven incapable of shutting down opposing receivers, especially recently.

Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

Atlanta just allowed 130 yards and two touchdowns to Carolina's lead receiver in Week 11. That continued a trend the Falcons' defense has been following in recent weeks. In each of their last four matchups, only one opponent's leading receiver failed to tally 100 yards and a touchdown: Dolphins star Jaylen Waddle, who had 99 yards and a touchdown.

Over the last four weeks, the Falcons rank third in average fantasy points allowed to receivers. Over the last two weeks, they rank second.

Olave and the Saints are fresh off a bye. The week prior, New Orleans' top receiver put up 104 yards – his first 100-yard effort of the year – and a touchdown on five catches in his second full game with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. With Brandin Cooks and the Saints parting ways on Nov. 19, he also has one fewer receiver to compete with for target share.

Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns (@ Las Vegas Raiders)

Want a bold "start" recommendation? Here's a bold start recommendation. Jeudy will be playing his first game with rookie Shedeur Sanders as his starting quarterback. Given Sanders' 4-of-16 for 47 yards and an interception last week, that's not a super promising sign for the veteran wideout being more productive.

It's just that there is so much going right for Jeudy otherwise. His four targets after Sanders entered the game were more than half of the seven total he saw on Nov. 16. What's more, the Raiders' passing defense has allowed the fourth-most receptions to receivers in 2025 and the fifth-most in the last two weeks. Las Vegas currently ranks second in average fantasy points allowed to wide receivers (38.87).

If Sanders can get going against this subpar Las Vegas defense, Jeudy would hypothetically be the biggest beneficiary as the rookie quarterback's top target in limited snaps last week.

Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 12 WRs

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (@ Houston Texans)

On one hand, Shakir might have new "Dad Power" from the birth of his daughter, Summer, on Nov. 17. On the other hand, the fantasy odds are stacked against the Bills' receiver.

Houston boasts one of the NFL's best defenses – one that is particularly good against opponents' passing attacks. The Texans rank first in EPA allowed on dropbacks (-0.109) and second in dropback success rate allowed (40.4%). They've allowed the second-fewest average fantasy points to receivers so far (26.08), the third-fewest yards (1,224) and the fourth-fewest touchdowns (6).

Worse, Shakir's most recent performance was a one-catch outing for -3 yards, even as reigning MVP and Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns.

Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Cleveland Browns)

Cleveland's poor record has obfuscated the excellence of its passing defense this season. The Browns rank seventh in EPA allowed on dropbacks (-0.004) and ninth on dropback success rate allowed (44.4%). They also rank eighth in fewest average fantasy points allowed to receivers (28.25), a ranking that jumps to fourth in the last four weeks (23.07) and first in the last two (10.35).

Tucker might be the top wide receiver in Las Vegas' offense with Jakobi Meyers gone to Jacksonville at the trade deadline, but tight end Brock Bowers is the Raiders' true top target. Given that Cleveland has had a slightly harder time stopping tight ends this year, Bowers will likely see a notably heavier target share than Tucker.

Fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em, Week 12

Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:

→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 12.

→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here's who to start and who to sit in Week 12.

→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here's who you should start and sit in Week 12.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Start 'Em, Sit 'Em wide receivers for Week 12 fantasy football

Reporting by Jack McKessy, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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