The holidays have arrived, and so has the home stretch of the fantasy football regular season. It seems like parity has become a bigger part of more leagues than ever, so wins are as crucial at this time of year as they have ever been. That means cashing it on the ever-important position of running back. Our Week 12 fantasy RB PPR rankings will help you optimize your performance by making the right decisions with your backs.
All 32 teams will be in action between Turkey Day and Monday Night Football, and we even have a Black Friday contest for the first time ever. As always, we strongly recommend checking our rankings early and often — a sentiment that seems even more important in a zero-bye week with plenty of RB injuries to monitor and awkward scheduling. We're a one-stop shop for RB PPR information and analysis.
With that in mind, let's break down our Week 12 RB rankings.
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Which RBs are on bye in Week 12?
There are no byes on the schedule this week, giving fantasy owners a much-needed break.
WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Almost as good as having every healthy RB at our disposal is having every matchup at our disposal. That creates more studs and sleepers -- something we'll never be upset about.
WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy RBs in Week 12?
Stop me if you've heard this before, but Christian McCaffrey (@ Seahawks in Week 12) and Austin Ekeler (vs. Ravens) are matchup-proof locks atop the PPR rankings. With Saquon Barkley (vs. Patriots) looking as healthy as we've seen him this season, we're adding him to the upper echelon against a very banged-up and beatable New England defense.
Lions rookie Jahmyr Gibbs (vs. Packers) continues to dazzle, needing just 14 touches to amass 95 yards against Chicago in Week 11. His running mate David Montgomery might remain the superior option in standard formats, but Monty can't come close to Gibbs' ceiling in PPR formats. Over Detroit's past four games, the rookie has racked up 23 catches for 189 yards to go with his 333 rushing yards and five total TDs.
Just when we thought the Dolphins' Raheem Mostert (@ Jets) would see a reduction in usage, rookie phenom De'Von Achane aggravated his knee injury one carry into his Week 11 return. Miami coach Mike McDaniel mentioned after the game that Achane was begging to go back in but McDaniel was worried about his "rust." For now, in a short week, we are operating with the assumption that Achane will be on the sideline and Mostert will be a top-five PPR back. The 'Fins also placed backup Salvon Ahmed on IR (foot), so Jeff Wilson Jr. might be back in play as a handcuff.
Rounding out the top 10, Travis Etienne (@ Texans), Tony Pollard (vs. Commanders), David Montgomery (vs. Packers), Breece Hall (vs. Dolphins), and Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Giants) all have very juicy matchups. Montgomery is the only back of this bunch to not play a significant pass-catching role, but Detroit has been so downright dominant — and the Packers' run D has been so abysmal — that we can't imagine him finishing as anything less than an RB1.
WEEK 12 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit
Who are the best fantasy RB sleepers, waiver pickups Week 12?
Devin Singletary (vs. Jaguars) must be loving life right now. The veteran back has returned to fantasy relevance thanks in large part to the emergence of rookie QB C.J. Stroud and the injured ankle of running mate Dameon Pierce. The dude has 279 all-purpose yards and two TDs in the past two weeks, so he's an auto-start even against a strong Jacksonville D. We also really like Alexander Mattison (vs. Bears) at home against a Chicago D that has surrendered 24.8 PPR points per game this season.
Many will be ambivalent after a lackluster performance against the Rams, but Seahawks rookie Zach Charbonnet (vs. 49ers) can be trusted at home. Geno Smith has used Charbs early and often as a safety valve, so he should be even more busy now that Kenneth Walker III has an oblique strain. His pass-catching upside and YAC-friendly skill set seem too good to pass up in a big divisional home game.
Speaking of pass-catching upside, James Cook (@ Eagles) could be utilized heavily to soften the attack from a strong Philadelphia pass-rush. Cook was, well, cooking in Week 11 against the Jets, finishing with 73 yards on the ground and 29 yards and a TD through the air. Buffalo fires Ken Dorsey and realizes the running back position exists? What novel concepts!
We continue to love Jaylen Warren (@ Bengals) as a high-ceiling RB2 in PPR formats. If Mike Tomlin and the Steelers turned to Warren with 60-70 percent of carries and looked his way more in the passing game, they would have defeated the Browns last week. The guy racked up 145 yards and a TD — maybe you should give him more than nine carries and 12 total touches. He is vastly better than Najee Harris — FREE JAYLEN!
WEEK 12 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks
Who are the biggest potential fantasy RB busts in Week 12?
He's not a bust per se, but Derrick Henry (vs. Panthers) has been brutal as of late and his PPR ceiling seems pretty low even against Carolina. Will Levis under center clearly isn't helping matters, but we can't help but think something might be physically ailing the two-time rushing champ. You're starting King Henry if you have him on your roster (unless you have the Dream Team), but temper your expectations.
Speaking of Carolina, two backs we simply can't fathom starting right now are the Panthers' Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders (@ Titans). Neither has reached 60 rushing yards in a game in well over a month, and they simply aren't a big enough part of Bryce Young's passing game to trust in PPR formats. The floor matches the ceiling — late-limbo low.
The Chicago backfield continues to perplex us. Khalil Herbert (@ Vikings) finally got back onto the field in Week 11, only to barf on his cleats with 41 yards on 18 touches. Roschon Johnson averaged five yards per carry but only saw six touches all game. D'Onta Foreman, who had been operating as the lead back until he aggravated an ankle injury, got the Bears' only rushing TD. It feels difficult to trust anybody here, but we are the highest on Herbert against a soft Minnesota run D.
What are the biggest RB injuries in Week 12?
Kenneth Walker III suffered an oblique injury in Week 11 that Pete Carroll referred to as "legit." With a game on Thursday night, it's gonna be tough for Walker to be cleared in time, so expect Zach Charbonnet to take the reins against San Francisco.
Aaron Jones suffered a knee injury but seems to have at least caught a break in the sense that he didn't tear his ACL. It's still highly unlikely he'll be ready for Thanksgiving's game against Detroit, and with Emanuel Wilson (shoulder) also hurt, AJ Dillon will handle almost all of the touches in this backfield.
De'Von Achane aggravated his MCL injury two drives into his return game against the Raiders. Achane has a chance to return for Miami's Friday tilt with the Jets, but we wouldn't be surprised if the 7-3 'Fins play it safe and keep him out until he's back to 100 percent. Meanwhile, Miami placed backup Salvon Ahmed on IR with a foot injury, so Jeff Wilson Jr. could be back in play as a handcuff.
D'Onta Foreman exited early last week due to an ankle injury. With Khalil Herbert back in the fold, the Bears likely won't rush Foreman back to play on Monday night against Minnesota if he's not 100 percent, but at least he'll have extra time to heal.
Dameon Pierce missed his third-straight game because of an ankle injury against the Cardinals. We could see him return this weekend, but we're keeping him out of our rankings until we hear more positive news. Either way, it seems Devin Singletary is the new RB1 in this breakout offense.
We'll be updating these RB PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement.
Fantasy RB PPR Rankings Week 12: Who to start, sit at running back
Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring formats
Rank Player
1 Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ Seahawks
2 Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Ravens
3 Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Patriots
4 Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions vs. Packers
5 Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Jets
6 Travis Etienne, Jaguars @ Texans
7 Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Commanders
8 David Montgomery, Lions vs. Packers
9 Breece Hall, Jets vs. Dolphins
10 Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Giants
11 Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Falcons
12 Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Chiefs
13 Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Raiders
14 Bijan Robinson, Falcons vs. Saints
15 Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Cowboys
16 Jonathan Taylor, Colts vs. Buccaneers
17 James Conner, Cardinals vs. Rams
18 Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ Colts
19 D'Andre Swift, Eagles vs. Bills
20 Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Steelers
21 Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Bears
22 Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks vs. 49ers
23 Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Panthers
24 Kyren Williams, Rams @ Cardinals
25 Javonte Williams, Broncos vs. Browns
26 Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Chargers
27 Khalil Herbert, Bears @ Vikings
28 Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Broncos
29 Jerome Ford, Browns @ Broncos
30 Devin Singletary, Texans vs. Jaguars
31 AJ Dillon, Packers @ Lions
32 James Cook, Bills @ Eagles
33 Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Bengals
34 Najee Harris, Steelers @ Bengals
35 Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Cowboys
36 Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Titans
37 Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Saints
38 Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots @ Giants
39 Roschon Johnson, Bears @ Vikings
40 Royce Freeman, Rams @ Cardinals
41 Latavius Murray, Bills @ Eagles
42 Keaton Mitchell, Ravens @ Chargers
43 Ty Chandler, Vikings vs. Bears
44 Joshua Kelley, Chargers vs. Ravens
45 Miles Sanders, Panthers @ Titans
46 Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins @ Jets
47 Rico Dowdle, Cowboys vs. Commanders
48 Tyjae Spears, Titans vs. Panthers
49 Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Jaguars
50 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs @ Raiders
51 Dalvin Cook, Jets vs. Dolphins
52 Zack Moss, Colts vs. Buccaneers
53 Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Bills
54 Elijah Mitchell, 49ers @ Seahawks
55 Chase Edmonds, Buccaneers @ Colts
56 Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos vs. Browns
57 Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals vs. Rams
58 Justice Hill, Ravens @ Chargers
59 Tank Bigsby, Jaguars @ Texans
60 Boston Scott, Eagles vs. Bills
61 Jamaal Williams, Saints @ Falcons
62 Samaje Perine, Broncos vs. Browns
63 Matt Breida, Giants vs. Patriots
Week 12 RB PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
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