Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back Rankings

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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