Week 12 PPR Fantasy Football RB rankings ahead of Sunday's games
Excluding players from the Thanksgiving games, who are some last minute guys to trust?
Time to get back to the rankings. I have been so focused on promoting and branding my “Fantasy Files” podcast, that I disregarded how important these lists are to the content of the site. I hope you all appreciate these lists and enjoy some last-minute rankings before the games.
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts, Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Is this really any question now? Taylor put up 55 fantasy points in a 5 touchdown performance last weekend against the Bills and will torch the Buccaneers again today, even with their #1 defense against the run that only gives up 78.4 rush yards per game. Nonetheless, Taylor is still the #1 receiving option for this Colts team as well so slot him in at RB1.
Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers, Opponent: Miami Dolphins
CMC hasn’t performed to his elite #1 fantasy level since the first 5 weeks of the season. This may be due to him still being injured and playing through it, but just because of his elite pass-catching and running ability, he could finish as the overall RB1 this weekend even against an improving Dolphins run defense.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers, Opponent: Denver Broncos
Ekeler is fantastic and his 42 fantasy point performance against the Steelers last weekend was undermined by Taylor’s dominant performance earlier in the day. Ekeler won’t get another 4 touchdowns today against the Broncos, but his ability to be a dominant pass-catcher and rusher always sets his ceiling extremely high. However, he is playing a defense that doesn’t give up much against the run as the Broncos rank 14th in the NFL giving up 110 rush yards per game on average. This is a huge boom-bust game for Ekeler as he could do great or terrible. It all depends on how he is used.
Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers, Opponent: Cincinnati Bengals
Harris is a great pass catcher and runner but the Bengals rank 6th in the NFL in run defense only giving up 98 rush yards per game. However, Harris is the Steelers’ #1 option on offense so slot him in at RB1 with confidence.
James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars, Opponent: Atlanta Falcons
With the Falcons ranking 25th in defense against the run, Robinson should have a huge bounceback day. Slot him in at RB1 with confidence as he is the focal point of this Jags offense.
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings, Opponent: San Francisco 49ers
Cook would be ranked in the top 4 if he weren’t playing the 49ers. The 49ers definitely have a WAY better pass defense (3rd in the NFL only giving up 202 pass yards per game) than run defense (giving up roughly 115 yards per game ranking 20th against the run). I still think Cook gets 100 rush yards and a touchdown just because of how versatile he is so slot him in at RB1.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team, Opponent: Seattle Seahawks
People may say this is too high for Gibson but he is finally healthy and has a very favorable matchup against the 24th run defense Seahawks (122.2 rush yards per game). Slot him in with confidence at RB1 due to his great receiving skills as well. I am expecting a huge day from Gibson.
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals, Opponent: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have a good defense but they just gave up 42 fantasy points to Austin Ekeler, so Mixon should be due for a huge day considering half of the Steelers defense is still injured.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants, Opponent: Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley slides into the top 10 for two reasons. #1 is that he has become a lethal receiving option all of a sudden, something he hadn’t been ever until this year. #2 is that Daniel Jones hasn’t had a good game since Week 6 so Barkley is the focal point of the offense. The Eagles are hot and playing good football right now but that won’t stop Barkley from having a huge day.
Leonard Fournette, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Opponent: Indianapolis Colts
Fournette is always a great guy to start in Fantasy Football due to him scoring a lot of touchdowns and having a ton of red zone carries on this high-powered offense. Now Brady may have a great passing day, limiting Fournette’s touches, but I still think Fournette will find the end zone.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons, Opponent: Jacksonville Jaguars
Patterson is healthy and back to hopefully save the Falcons and their offensive struggles. Patterson is always a threat in the passing game due to his pass-catching abilities and will also get 10 + touches in the backfield. However, the Falcons offense has been so inconsistent lately that Patterson could have a dud of a game as well. Slot him in at RB1 or RB2 but not with much confidence.
A.J. Dillon/Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers, Opponent: Los Angeles Rams
Whichever RB plays is set up. for a huge day against the Rams because of Green Bay’s reliance on the run game and using their backs in the passing game. Expect 3-5 receptions for Dillon or Jones and over 80 yards rushing and a touchdown against a Rams defense that ranks 11th against the run and 16th against the pass.
Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns, Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Chubb is coming off of two 23+ fantasy point weeks but the Ravens defense ranks #2 against the run (only giving up 88 rush yards per game) and Kareem Hunt is back for pass-catching duties and a split backfield. Although Chubb is fantastic and one of the 3 best pure rushers in the NFL, this is a doom matchup for Chubb and his fantasy owners. Maybe a good day to sit Chubb unless he’s your #1 RB and you have to start him. As someone who is slotting Chubb in as my RB2, I am not confident at all in his ability to have a good game unless he scores a touchdown, which Kareem Hunt may do first.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns, Opponent: Baltimore Ravens
Hunt is known for one thing: Pass catching and the Ravens are 31st in pass defense giving up 281.2 pass yards per game making this a dream matchup for Hunt fantasy owners. He is coming off of an injury, but that shouldn’t stop him from catching 5+ passes and rushing 10+ times.
Darell Henderson Jr., Los Angeles Rams, Opponent: Green Bay Packers
Henderson would be ranked higher but the Packers are ranked 12th in defense against the run (only giving up 105.3 rush yards per game). Start him but not with confidence.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers, Opponent: Minnesota Vikings
Mitchell is still hurt, but he is playing and that means a huge workload for him with a 49ers offense that relies on the run. Start him at RB2 but just know that unless he scores a touchdown, his fantasy upside is very limited due to him not being involved in the passing game.
Melvin Gordon III, Denver Broncos, Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers have the worst run defense in the league ranking last/32nd giving up a whopping 145.1 rush yards per game. The Chargers couldn’t tackle air if it was running at them. Gordon shares a backfield with Javonte Williams, but both of those Running Backs should get you some solid fantasy points in a very favorable matchup.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos, Opponent: Los Angeles Chargers
Like I mentioned before, the Chargers rank last in run defense and Williams gets a ton of carries alongside Gordon III. Just like Gordon III, Williams should have a solid day.
Devonta Freeman, Baltimore Ravens, Opponent: Cleveland Browns
Freeman is great because of his pass-catching abilities and he has scored a touchdown in 4 out of his last 5 games. The Browns have the 7th ranked defense against the run (101 yards per game), but that should not stop Freeman from getting his touches and production. Freeman is a decent flex option but just remember that he is a touchdown-dependent back and his fantasy upside, like Elijah Mitchell, is limited without a touchdown.
Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins, Opponent: Carolina Panthers
Gaskin is going up against the 17th defense against the run as the Panthers give up 115 rush yards per game on average. However, Gaskin is dependent on receptions and he usually gets 5. He is the biggest boom/bust player of all time as some days he will get you 5 fantasy points and some days he will get you 20 fantasy points. You take the gamble if you want.