The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks have started to take place. However, there are none this week. So Fantasy Managers will have full utilization of their roster and plenty of options to choose from when selecting who to start the week. On top of that, Injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season as well. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 12 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Rankings
Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB1 |
Must Start | Saquon Barkley | vs New England Patriots | RB2 |
Starting RB1 | Austin Ekeler | vs Baltimore Ravens | RB3 |
Starting RB1 | Alvin Kamara | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB4 |
Starting RB1 | Jahmyr Gibbs | vs Green Bay Packers | RB5 |
Starting RB1 | Breece Hall | vs Miami Dolphins | RB6 |
Starting RB1 | Joe Mixon | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB7 |
Starting RB1 | Jonathan Taylor | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB8 |
Starting RB1 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Houston Texans | RB9 |
Starting RB1 | Bijan Robinson | vs New Orleans Saints | RB10 |
High-End RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs Buffalo Bills | RB11 |
High-End RB2 | Derrick Henry | vs Carolina Panthers | RB12 |
High-End RB2 | Rachaad White | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB13 |
High-End RB2 | Josh Jacobs | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB14 |
High-End RB2 | Kyren Williams* | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB15 |
Starting RB2 | Rhamondre Stevenson* | vs New York Giants | RB16 |
Starting RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB17 |
Starting RB2 | De’Vone Achane* | vs New York Jets | RB18 |
Starting RB2 | David Montgomery | vs Green Bay Packers | RB19 |
Low RB2 | Jaylen Warren | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB20 |
Low RB2 | James Conner | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB21 |
Flex | Jerome Ford | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB22 |
Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB23 |
Flex | Gus Edwards | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB24 |
Flex | Alexander Mattison | vs Chicago Bears | RB25 |
Flex | Zach Charbonnet | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB26 |
Flex | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB27 |
Flex | Raheem Mostert* | vs New York Jets | RB28 |
Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Cleveland Browns | RB29 |
Flex | Najee Harris | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB30 |
Flex | A.J. Dillon* | vs Detriot Lions | RB31 |
Deep League Flex | James Cook | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB32 |
Deep League Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB33 |
Deep League Flex | Ezekiel Elliott | vs New York Giants | RB34 |
Deep League Flex | Keaton Mitchell | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB35 |
Deep League Flex | Ty Chandler | vs Chicago Bears | RB36 |
Deep League Flex | Khalil Herbert | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB37 |
Deep League Flex | Chuba Hubbard | vs Tennessee Titans | RB38 |
Leave on the Bench | Tyjae Spears | vs Carolina Panthers | RB39 |
Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs New Orleans Saints | RB40 |
Leave on the Bench | Miles Sanders | vs Tennessee Titans | RB41 |
Leave on the Bench | D’Onta Foreman* | vs Minnesota Vikings | RB42 |
Leave on the Bench | Antonio Gibson* | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB43 |
Leave on the Bench | Dameon Pierce* | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB44 |
Leave on the Bench | Zack Moss | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB45 |
Leave on the Bench | Latavius Murray | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB46 |
Leave on the Bench | Jaleel McLaughlin | vs Clleveland Browns | RB47 |
Leave on the Bench | Royce Freeman | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB48 |
Leave on the Bench | Rico Dowdle* | vs Washington Commanders | RB49 |
Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon | vs Las Vegas Raiders | RB50 |
Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs Buffalo Bills | RB51 |
Leave on the Bench | Ty Johnson | vs New York Jets | RB52 |
Leave on the Bench | D’Ernest Johnson | vs Houston Texans | RB53 |
Leave on the Bench | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs New York Jets | RB54 |
Leave on the Bench | Jamaal Williams | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB55 |
Leave on the Bench | Elijah Mitchell | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB56 |
Leave on the Bench | Samaje Perine | vs Cleveland Browns | RB57 |
Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juszczyk | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB58 |
Leave on the Bench | Dalvin Cook | vs Buffalo Bills | RB59 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB15 Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Kyren Williams could be activated from Injured Reserve this week. He has missed the past four games with an ankle injury. If Williams misses Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals Royce Freeman moves up to RB37 between Khalil Herbert and Chuba Hubbard. Darrell Henderson becomes the RB39 between Tyjae Spears and Tyler Allgeier.
RB16 Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a back injury last week agianst the Indianapolis Colts. His injury is not considered serious after having test done on it early in the week. If Stevenson misses Week 12 against the New York Giants Ezekiel Elliott moves up to RB25 between Alexander Mattison and Zach Charbonnet.
Miami Dolphins Running Backs: RB18 De’Von Achane & RB28 Raheem Mostert
De’Von Achane reinjured his knee last week against the Las Vegas Raiders. He was limited in practice because of the injury. Raheem Mostert was limited in practice on Tuesday with an ankle and knee injury. If Achane misses Week 12 against the New York Jets and Mostert is active Mostert moves up to RB18 between Isiah Pacheco and David Montgomery. Jeff Wilson Jr. moves up to RB44 between Dameon Pierce and Zack Moss.
If Mostert misses Week 12 against the New York Jets and Achane is active then Wilson Jr. moves up to RB44 between Dameon Pierce and Zack Moss.
If both Achane and Ahmed miss Week 11 against the Las Vegas Raiders Jeff Wilson Jr. becomes the RB20 between Jaylen Warren and James Conner.
RB31 A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers
A.J. Dillon was limited in practice on Tuesday with a groin injury. He is expected to have an increased workload this week if healthy. If Dillon misses Week 12 against the Detroit Lions Patrick Taylor moves up to RB42 between D’Onta Forman and Antonio Gibson.
RB42 D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears
D’Onta Foreman suffered an ankle injury last week against the Detroit Lions. It is unclear if Foreman could miss time because of the injury. If Foreman misses Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings Khalil Herbert moves up to RB31 between Najee Harris and A.J. Dillon. Rochon Johnson becomes the RB43 betweeen Antonio Gibson and Dameon Pierce.
RB43 Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders
Antonio Gibson missed last week’s game against the New York Giants with a toe injury. The injury limited Gibson in practice on Tuesday. If Gibson misses Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys Brian Robinson Jr. moves up to RB24 between Devin Singletary and Gus Edwards. Chris Rodriguez becomes the RB55 between Jamaal Williams and Elijah Mitchell.
RB44 Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
Dameon Pierce missed the past three games with an ankle injury. It is unclear if Pierce will more time because of the injury. If Pierce misses Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars Devin Singletary moves up to RB21 between Jaylen Warren and James Conner.
RB49 Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
Rico Dowdle missed practice on Tuesday with an ankle injury. It is unclear if Dowdle will miss time because of the injury. If Dowdle misses Week 12 against the Washington Commanders Deuce Vaughn becomes the RB53 between D’Ernest Johnson and Jeff Wilson Jr.
Players that are currently not expected to play
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III suffered an oblique injury last week against the Los Angeles Rams. He is expected to miss time with this injury. While Walker III is out Zach Charbonnet is expected to start at running back for Seattle. DeeJay Dallas should be the change of pace back in Seattle while Walker III is out.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones avoided major injury after hurting his knee last week against the Los Angeles Chargers. He is unlikely to play this week which makes A.J. Dillon Green Bay’s lead back going forward. Jones suffered an MCL sprain which is the second major lower body injury he has suffered this past year.
Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins
Salvon Ahmed was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a foot injury last week against the Las Vegas Raiders. This likely results in Jeff Wilson Jr. being the team’s third active running back for the remainder of the season.
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