Heading into Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season, workloads, snap shares and more trends have been established across the league’s backfields. The fantasy RB landscape hasn’t played out as expected due to injuries, leaving fantasy managers with plenty of tough decisions to make. With that in mind, let’s break down my fantasy football RB start/sit Week 12 picks.
Check out my full Week 12 start/sit article with picks at each position here!
Start ‘Em: Emanuel Wilson (Green Bay Packers) vs. Minnesota Vikings
Josh Jacobs was forced to exit last week’s contest early with a knee injury. While the issue reportedly isn’t major, he’s expected to miss at least one week. With Jacobs sidelined, third-year RB Emanuel Wilson stepped in as the lead back and made the most of his opportunity.
Playing 71% of total offensive snaps, Wilson took 12 touches for 49 total yards and a touchdown, playing a pivotal role in Green Bay’s comeback over the Giants. Jacobs typically sees north of 20 touches a game, and while it’s unrealistic to expect an identical workload for Wilson, he should be heavily featured in Sunday’s matchup with the Vikings. The Packers and Vikings haven’t faced off yet this year, but in a crucial divisional duel it would be foolish for Green Bay to abandon the game plan that has led to their current 6-3-1 record, even if their star back is unavailable. Wilson holds RB2 value due to anticipated volume with RB1 potential.
Sit ‘Em: Kyle Monangai (Chicago Bears) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Monangai established himself as a competent workhorse in D’Andre Swift’s absence, and upon Swift’s return he has managed to produce FLEX/RB3 value in back-to-back weeks. Unfortunately, a huge chunk of that production can be chalked up to the pair of touchdowns he scored.
In Week 10 against the Giants, the rookie saw just seven carries, taking them for a respectable 28 yards and, thankfully for fantasy managers, a score. He followed up that performance with an expanded role in Minnesota, in which he delivered horrendous efficiency, averaging 1.92 yards on 12 carries. However, a touchdown salvaged his fantasy day once again.
That’s not a risk I would recommend taking three weeks in a row. The Steelers allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, setting the stage for a true dud performance from Monangai, as long as Swift stays healthy.
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Start ‘Em: Sean Tucker (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) at Los Angeles Rams
Sean. Tucker. Must. FLY.
In Bucky Irving’s extended absence, Rachaad White had been receiving a bellcow’s workload over the last few weeks while Tucker saw minimal opportunities. Yet, every time the third-year back touched the ball, he flashed a certain burst that White simply doesn’t have. So, Tucker started seeing a few more carries across Weeks 9 and 10. Then, finally, he broke out.
Tucker almost carried the Bucs to a win over Buffalo by himself, surpassing White as the new lead back. He took 21 touches for 140 yards and three total touchdowns, looking like the best playmaker on either team that day.
Irving has been sidelined since Week 5 with foot and shoulder injuries. If the star back isn’t able to return Sunday night, Tucker becomes a must-start RB1. Even if Irving does suit up, the Bucs will almost certainly ease him back, opening the door for 12-15 touches for the Syracuse product. The matchup isn’t ideal, but L.A. did just allow Kenneth Walker III to rush for 67 yards and a touchdown. I expect Tampa Bay to feed the hot hand.
Sit ‘Em: Tyrone Tracy AND Devin Singletary (New York Giants) at Detroit Lions
Tracy and Singletary took a combined 35 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns last week, putting up a valiant effort against the Packers.
Unfortunately, that successful committee approach doesn’t exactly set them up for similar production this week. Detroit surrenders the fewest fantasy points to running backs, allowing under 100 rushing yards per game. This is a defense that just held Saquon Barkley to 3.2 yards per carry, putting together a fantastic showing in Philly.
If Barkley couldn’t get anything going, I don’t expect Tracy and Singletary to be able to while splitting carries. Tracy was by far the more impressive of the two last week, but it was Singletary who found the end zone both times. That’s not an ideal dilemma to be facing heading to Detroit. Consider the upside for both guys capped, regardless of their respective workloads.
New RB start/sit picks drop weekly! Stay tuned for more RB start/sit Week 12 advice over the next few days.
Those are my RB start ’em, sit ’em Week 12 fantasy football picks! Stay tuned for more fantasy advice throughout the week.
All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
