Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back Rankings

The 2021-22 NFL season is past its halfway point. Bye weeks have been taking place the past few weeks. This means that running backs like Clyde Edwards-Helaire and James Conner will be out this week. On top of that injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. It is 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 reserve/COVID-19 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 isn’t likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 category.

Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started is 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 causes 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.

Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday

RB9 Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons

Cordarrelle Patterson missed last Thursday’s game against the New England Patriots because of an ankle sprain. If Patterson does not play this week against the Jacksonville Jaguars then Mike Davis moves up to RB25 between A.J. Dillon and Rhamondre Stevenson. Wayne Gallman would move up to RB55 between JaMychal Hasty and Brandon Bolden. Quadree Ollison would then move up to RB59 between Ronald Jones and Devonte Booker.

 RB11 Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Jones missed last week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings with an MCL sprain. The initial timeline for his injury was between one and two weeks. Green Bay has a bye in Week 13 so they may choose to rest Jones this week and through the bye. If Jones doesn’t play against the Los Angeles Rams this week then A.J. Dillon moves up to RB12 between David Montgomery and Saquon Barkley.

New Orleans Saints Running Backs: RB15 Alvin Kamara & RB39 Mark Ingram

Alvin Kamara was held out of the past two games with a knee injury. Mark Ingram is dealing with his own knee injury that made him a limited practice participant Monday and held him out of practice Tuesday. If both miss Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills then Tony Jones Jr. moves up to RB33 between Myles Gaskin and Dontrell Hilliard.

If Kamara doesn’t play this week and Mark Ingram does then Mark Ingram moves up to RB18 between Melvin Gordon and Darrell Henderson. Tony Jones Jr. then moves up to RB46 between Jeff Wilson Jr. and Devin Singletary. 

If Kamara plays this week and Mark Ingram doesn’t then Kamara retains his value and Tony Jones Jr. moves up to RB53 between Sony Michel and JaMycal Hasty.

San Francisco 49ers Running Backs: RB16 Elijah Mitchell & RB54 JaMycal Hasty

Elijah Mitchell is dealing with a finger fracture that held him out of practice Wednesday. JaMycal Hasty was unable to play the last two weeks with an ankle issue. Mitchell is expected to play while Hasty’s status is uncertain. If both are inactive then Jeff Wilson Jr. moves up to RB18 between Melvin Gordon and Darrell Henderson. Kyle Juszczyk would move up to RB55 between Brandon Bolden and Ameer Abdullah and Trey Sermon would move up to RB58 between Ronald Jones and Devontae Booker.

If Mitchell is inactive but Hasty plays then Jeff Wilson Jr. moves up to RB22 between Javonte Williams and Devonta Freeman. Then JaMycal Hasty would retain his value and Trey Sermon would then move up to RB62 between Jaret Patterson and Chuba Hubbard.

If Mitchell is active and Hasty is inactive then Mitchell and Wilson Jr. retains their value. Trey Sermon would move up to RB64 between Kyle Juszczyk and Wayne Gallman.

RB21 Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns

Kareem Hunt could return this weekend from Injured Reserve from his calf injury. However, if he doesn’t return this week then Nick Chubb moves up to RB10 between Cordarrelle Patterson and Joe Mixon. D’Ernest Johnson then would move up to RB42 between Mike Davis and Kenyan Drake.

RB45 Jeremy McNichols, Tennessee Titans

Jeremy McNichols missed Tennessee’s game last week against the Houston Texans with a concussion. If he misses this week’s game against the New England Patriots expected Dontrell Hilliard to take over the change of pace back role for the Titans.