Top 50 running back standard rankings for Week 12 fantasy football

UPDATE

Derrius Guice’s matchup is so good that I can’t help but move him up with the thought that he’ll see more work in his second game back.

The Jets defense has played week against running backs and Josh Jacobs isn’t getting the receiving work I’d like. I’ve pushed him down a few spots but he’s still firmly an RB1.

Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman are going in opposite directions after the bye, which has me widening the gap between the two in the rankings.

Week 12 is here, and now the rankings are as well. There are a host of tough matchups for the top running backs this week, but, as usual, you can’t discount usage. Thankfully, this is our last bye week, but with four teams out, we will have some tough decisions. Our rankings should help you make some of those tough decisions in Week 12.

Bye Weeks

Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings

RBs on bye: Kenyan Drake, Damien Williams, Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler, Dalvin Cook

Injury/Status Report

Marlon Mack is out with a fractured hand. Jonathan Williams played well in his absence last week, and Jordan Wilkins looks close to returning. If Wilkins can go, we will likely see a committee with Wilkins, Williams, and Nyheim Hines.

Devonta Freeman is “trending the right way,” according to coach Dan Quinn. If he can go, he gets a tough matchup with Tampa Bay.

James Conner’s Week 12 status is “up in the air,” according to NFLN’s Tom Pelissero. He likely needs time off to get back to his old self, but the Steelers seem to be pushing him. Jaylen Samuels would probably be the starter.

RB Ranking Tiers

Tier 1

Christian McCaffrey yadda, yadda, yadda. Alvin Kamara is in a smash spot for PPR leagues, but I think that smash spot extends to standard leagues as well, as the Panthers have given up the third-most fantasy points to running backs on the season. Derrick Henry also gets a great matchup against a Jaguars team that gave up two 100 yard rushing games to Marlon Mack and Jonathan Williams last week. Nick Chubb sticks in Tier 1 with a matchup against Miami at home. Ezekiel Elliott looks to have a tough matchup with New England, but the Patriots have had trouble against running backs over their last four games, as they’ve given up the second-most yards per carry and the fifth-most rushing yards per game.

Tier 2

There are some tough matchups this week with Chris Carson heading to Philadelphia and Aaron Jones playing in San Francisco. Both are must starts but get their upside chopped off a bit. Carlos Hyde continues to put up numbers when you don’t think he will, so roll him out as a must-start in standard leagues for the foreseeable future.

RB Streamers

Bo Scarbrough led the way for Detroit last week, but since he isn’t a receiving back, he lost work to J.D. McKissic. This week he faces Washington, which has trouble scoring points on any defense. Their lack of offense should help Scarbrough get some more work in a good matchup.

Derrius Guice split work with Adrian Peterson against the Jets but will get a much easier matchup against the Lions this week. Peterson has value as well, but Guice is more versatile, as shown by his long catch and run for a touchdown last week.