With several every-week starting running backs on bye for Week 12, fantasy football managers must continue to enlist borderline options for their lineups during the chase for a postseason spot.
There’s much rejoicing for fantasy players who can slide likely fantasy MVP Jonathan Taylor back into their lineups after his own vacation week. Does Alvin Kamara deserve a spot of his own after his own Saints bye? That’s a murkier answer.
For answers to that and even more start/sit problems, keep scrolling for our top running backs to start in fantasy Week 12 lineups.
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Fantasy Week 12 RB Rankings: Start, sit lineup tips for running backs this week
Please note these RB rankings reflect point-per-reception (PPR) scoring, with 0.1 point for every rushing or receiving yard.
📋 Week 12 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Flex Half-PPR Cheat Sheet
| Rk | Tr | Name | TM | OPP | Week 12 Value |
| 1 | 1 | Jahmyr Gibbs | DET | NYG | Elite RB1 |
| 2 | 1 | Christian McCaffrey | SF | CAR | Elite RB1 |
| 3 | 1 | Bijan Robinson | ATL | @NO | Elite RB1 |
| 4 | 1 | Jonathan Taylor | IND | @KC | Elite RB1 |
| 5 | 2 | TreVeyon Henderson | NE | @CIN | RB1 |
| 6 | 2 | Saquon Barkley | PHI | @DAL | RB1 |
| 7 | 2 | James Cook | BUF | @HOU | RB1/RB2 |
| 8 | 2 | Kyren Williams | LAR | TB | RB1 |
| 9 | 3 | Breece Hall | NYJ | @BAL | RB1/RB2 |
| 10 | 3 | Derrick Henry | BAL | NYJ | RB1/RB2 |
| 11 | 3 | Ashton Jeanty | LV | CLE | RB1/RB2 |
| 12 | 3 | Sean Tucker | TB | @LAR | RB1/RB2 |
| 13 | 3 | Chase Brown | CIN | NE | RB1/RB2 |
| 14 | 4 | Woody Marks | HOU | BUF | Strong RB2 |
| 15 | 4 | Travis Etienne | JAX | @ARI | RB1 |
| 16 | 4 | Alvin Kamara | NO | ATL | INJ-QUE |
| 17 | 4 | Kenneth Walker | SEA | @TEN | INJ-QUE |
| 18 | 4 | Javonte Williams | DAL | PHI | Strong RB2 |
| 19 | 4 | Rico Dowdle | CAR | @SF | Strong RB2 |
| 20 | 5 | Kenneth Gainwell | PIT | @CHI | RB2 |
| 21 | 5 | Quinshon Judkins | CLE | @LV | RB2 |
| 22 | 5 | Emanuel Wilson | GB | MIN | RB2 |
| 23 | 5 | Kareem Hunt | KC | IND | RB2 |
| 24 | 6 | D’Andre Swift | CHI | PIT | RB2 |
| 25 | 6 | Tyrone Tracy | NYG | @DET | RB2 |
| INJ | 7 | Rhamondre Stevenson | NE | @CIN | RB2/Flex |
| 26 | 7 | David Montgomery | DET | NYG | RB2/Flex |
| 27 | 7 | Zach Charbonnet | SEA | @TEN | RB2/Flex |
| 28 | 7 | Jaylen Warren | PIT | @CHI | RB2/Flex |
| 29 | 7 | Aaron Jones | MIN | @GB | RB2/Flex |
| 30 | 7 | Tyjae Spears | TEN | SEA | RB2/Flex |
| 31 | 7 | Kyle Monangai | CHI | PIT | RB2/Flex |
| 32 | 7 | Rachaad White | TB | @LAR | RB2/Flex |
| 33 | 8 | Nick Chubb | HOU | BUF | Flex |
| 34 | 8 | Brian Robinson | SF | CAR | Flex |
| 35 | 8 | Tyler Allgeier | ATL | @NO | Flex |
| 36 | 8 | Bam Knight | ARI | JAX | Flex |
| 37 | 8 | Devin Singletary | NYG | @DET | Flex |
| 38 | 9 | Terrell Jennings | NE | @CIN | Flex |
| 39 | 9 | Blake Corum | LAR | TB | Flex |
| 40 | 9 | Bhayshul Tuten | JAX | @ARI | Flex |
| 41 | 10 | Chuba Hubbard | CAR | @SF | Flex/Bench |
| 42 | 10 | Keaton Mitchell | BAL | NYJ | Flex/Bench |
| INJ | 10 | Justice Hill | BAL | NYJ | Flex/Bench |
| 43 | 10 | Jordan Mason | MIN | @GB | Flex/Bench |
| 44 | 10 | Tony Pollard | TEN | SEA | Flex/Bench |
| 45 | 11 | Devin Neal | NO | ATL | Bench |
| 46 | 11 | George Holani | SEA | @TEN | Bench |
| 47 | 11 | Isaiah Davis | NYJ | @BAL | Bench |
| 48 | 11 | Dylan Sampson | CLE | @LV | Bench |
| 49 | 11 | Zavier Scott | MIN | @GB | Bench |
| 50 | 11 | Ty Johnson | BUF | @HOU | Bench |
| 51 | 11 | Michael Carter | ARI | JAX | Bench |
| 52 | 11 | Brashard Smith | KC | IND | Bench |
| 53 | 12 | Dare Ogunbowale | HOU | BUF | Bench |
| 54 | 12 | Will Shipley | PHI | @DAL | Bench |
| 55 | 12 | LeQuint Allen | JAX | @ARI | Bench |
| 56 | 12 | Jaydon Blue | DAL | PHI | Bench |
| 57 | 12 | Trevor Etienne | CAR | @SF | Bench |
| 58 | 12 | Kaleb Johnson | PIT | @CHI | Bench |
| 59 | 12 | Nathan Carter | ATL | @NO | Bench |
| 60 | 12 | Brittain Brown | CHI | PIT | Bench |
| 61 | 12 | Ray Davis | BUF | @HOU | Bench |
| 62 | 12 | Ameer Abdullah | IND | @KC | Bench |
| 63 | 12 | Raheem Mostert | LV | CLE | Bench |
| 64 | 13 | D’Ernest Johnson | NE | @CIN | Bench |
| 65 | 13 | British Brooks | HOU | BUF | Bench |
| 66 | 13 | Sione Vaki | DET | NYG | Bench |
| 67 | 13 | Malik Davis | DAL | PHI | Bench |
| 68 | 13 | Hunter Luepke | DAL | PHI | Bench |
| 69 | 13 | Patrick Ricard | BAL | NYJ | Bench |
| 70 | 13 | Jerome Ford | CLE | @LV | Bench |
| 71 | 13 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire | KC | IND | Bench |
| 72 | 13 | Chris Brooks | GB | MIN | Bench |
| 73 | 13 | Julius Chestnut | TEN | SEA | Bench |
| 74 | 13 | Travis Homer | CHI | PIT | Bench |
| 75 | 13 | Tyler Goodson | IND | @KC | Bench |
| 76 | 13 | Tahj Brooks | CIN | NE | Bench |
| 77 | 13 | Kendall Milton | CIN | NE | Bench |
| QUE | — | Josh Jacobs | GB | MIN | |
| DBT | — | Samaje Perine | CIN | NE | |
| OUT | — | Bucky Irving | TB | @LAR | |
| OUT | — | Isiah Pacheco | KC | IND | |
| OUT | — | Emari Demercado | ARI | JAX | |
| SUSP | — | Josh Williams | TB | @LAR | |
| IR-R | — | Trey Benson | ARI | JAX | |
| IR | — | Cam Skattebo | NYG | @DET | |
| BYE | — | De’Von Achane | MIA | BYE | |
| BYE | — | RJ Harvey | DEN | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Kimani Vidal | LAC | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Omarion Hampton | LAC | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Chris Rodriguez | WAS | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Ollie Gordon | MIA | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Jeremy McNichols | WAS | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Jacory Croskey-Merritt | WAS | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Jaret Patterson | LAC | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Jaylen Wright | MIA | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Trayveon Williams | LAC | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Amar Johnson | LAC | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Tyler Badie | DEN | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Alec Ingold | MIA | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Adam Prentice | DEN | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Nyheim Hines | LAC | BYE | |
| BYE | — | Hassan Haskins | LAC | BYE |
Which fantasy running backs have a Week 12 bye?
Replace these RBs before your matchup:
- De’Von Achane and Ollie Gordon, Dolphins
- RJ Harvey, Broncos
- Kimani Vidal, Chargers
- Chris Rodriguez and Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders
➕ Best fantasy RB pickups this week: Week 12 waiver wire
Which RB injuries are affecting Week 12 fantasy rankings?
- The Packers’ Josh Jacobs (knee) appears to have avoided a major injury but still could miss Week 12, leaving Emanuel Wilson for a possible lead-back role against the Vikings.
- Isiah Pacheco remains uncertain for the near future, leaving Kareem Hunt to continue thriving in his comfortable role in Andy Reid’s Chiefs system.
- Rhamondre Stevenson could be back soon, which could negate the momentum gained by TreVeyon Henderson in Week 11. However, Stevenson could take a back seat to the rookie in a dual role.
- Bucky Irving Watch continues, though Week 12 looks unlikely for a return date at the outset of this week.
- Will the Cardinals active Trey Benson? Stay tuned.
Who are the best Week 12 fantasy running backs?
Until Stevenson is active, TreVeyon Henderson belongs among the top tiers of RBs, and a matchup with the Bengals’ bottom-ranked RB fantasy defense should allow him to find plenty of space to gobble up yards from scrimmage.
Nudging up into the RB1/RB2 outlooks are opponents in Breece Hall and Derrick Henry; Hall may get more work as a receiver now that Tyrod Taylor is replacing Justin Fields under center, because Taylor isn’t as mobile as Fields and could look Hall’s way to extend plays more often.
The Cowboys’ 30th-ranked RB fantasy defense should be a welcome get-right spot for Saquon Barkley and the Eagles. Same goes for the 26th-ranked Bucs with the Rams’ Kyren Williams.
Which RB fantasy sleepers should I start in Week 12?
The Bills’ defense has allowed one of the highest points-per-game averages (27.6 PPR) to running backs in the past four weeks; given who’s off this week, Woody Marks and Nick Chubb deserve fantasy RB2 and flex nods, respectively, for the Texans this week.
Alvin Kamara should re-establish himself as a late-season fantasy darling, facing the Falcons (28th against fantasy RBs) coming off a bye.
Kenneth Walker took the baton as Seahawks lead back in Week 11, but Zach Charbonnet should at least grab a bigger share of fantasy production against the 27th-ranked Titans.
Who are the biggest RB bust candidates for fantasy Week 12?
We’re rarely going to tell you to bench James Cook, but the Texans’ defense has stood up to running backs as a bottom-10 fantasy opponent. It’s more of an “expect RB2 numbers and not league-winning output.”
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