Running Back START/SIT Advice: Week 12 of THE CUTBACK

Win Your Week 12

• Week 12 Positional CheatChart to Spot the Best Fantasy Producers
• Quarterback START/SIT Advice: Week 12 of THE AUDIBLE
• Running Back START/SIT Advice: Week 12 of THE CUTBACK
• Wide Receiver Start/Sit Advice | Week 12 of The SLANT PATTERN
• Tight End START/SIT Advice: Week 12 of THE 12 FORMATION
• IDP Fantasy START/SIT Advice: Week 12 of THE BLINDSIDE
• The Week 12 IDP Waiver Wire | Best Free Agent Targets
• Week 12 Sunday Preview | Fantasy Points Data Suite | THE FULL SLATE

Nerds! The Dynasty Nerds writers are here to provide you with weekly start/sit advice all season long. We will be making our recommendations based on weekly consensus PPR rankings. Here is the Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit from Running Back Nerd Mychal Warno.

Win Your Week 12 | QB | RB | WR | TE | IDP | CheatChart | Full Slate

One thing to keep in mind when making your Week 12 running back start/sit decisions; it will ALWAYS depend on who your other options are. Don’t take the players below out of (or put them into) your lineup unless the alternatives are worth it.

Week 12 Running Back Top 50 PPR Rankings by Mychal Warno

NOTE: Rankings for the Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit are sourced from FantasyPros expert consensus expert rankings (ECR). Our terminology is for a 12-team PPR league: RB1 means top 12, or RB2 means top 24, etc.

WEEK 11 RUNNING BACK START/SIT RESULTS

START | Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit

Brian Robinson Jr. | Washington Commanders | RB 15

Week 11 Stats | RB 13 | FPts 13.2 | Att 16 | Yds 63 | TD 1 | Tgts 1 | Confidence 90%

Brian Robinson Jr. returned after missing the previous two weeks dealing with a hamstring injury. He immediately provided fantasy managers with a double-digit fantasy performance including a touchdown. Robinson Jr. has scored a touchdown in 6 of the 8 games he has played this season.

In Week 12, Robinson Jr. gets an excellent matchup against division rival the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas is fresh off of a Monday Night Football beatdown where the defense allowed 3 touchdowns to Joe Mixon, propelling him to finish as the RB1 for Week 11. The atmosphere is set for Robinson Jr. to finish as an RB1.

START | Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit

Rachaad White | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB 23

Week 11 Stats | Bye Week | Confidence 80%

Over the last 4 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rachaad White has been the RB7 in FPPG. A significant portion of White’s fantasy points have come through the passing game. White has caught 20 receptions for 164 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.

In Week 12, White faces the New York Giants who are in the top 10 in receiving yards allowed to RBs this season per Fantasy Points Data. I would also not hesitate to start White’s running back counterpart Bucky Irving as Tampa Bay has shown both running backs can produce stand-alone fantasy value.

START | Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit

Ameer Abdullah | Las Vegas Raiders | RB 46

Week 11 Stats | RB 23 | FPts 10.7 | Att 1 | Yds 1 | TD 1 | Tgts 3 | Confidence 55%

Due to injuries, Zamir White and Alexander Mattison left their Week 11 game early. Ameer Abdullah entered the game and finished the week as the RB23 while only receiving one carry. Abdullah was able to do that based on his usage in the passing game and the help of a receiving touchdown.

The Raiders have a tough divisional matchup against the Denver Broncos. I anticipate a negative game script for Las Vegas that could involve playing from behind and several check-downs to Abdullah, an excellent pass catcher. If your team is struggling because of the bye week, Abdullah is a flex option worth considering.

SIT | Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit

Audric Estime | Denver Broncos | RB 30

Week 11 Stats | RB 34 | FPts 5.5 | Att 6 | Yds 16 | Tgts 3 | Confidence 65%

In Week 10, Audric Estime appeared to have supplanted Javonte Williams as the lead back in Denver carrying the ball foureen times to Williams’ one. However, Sean Payton hates your fantasy team and in Week 11, Javonte Williams saw nine carries to Estime’s six.

The Denver backfield is too unpredictable to start a Broncos running back confidently. Maybe Week 12 will shed more light on this backfield, but I would not hold my breath.

SIT | Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit

Rico Dowdle | Dallas Cowboys | RB 27

Week 11 Stats | RB 49 | FPts 24.9 | Att 28 | Yds 153 | TD 1 | Tgts 6 | Confidence 55%

Without Dak Prescott in the lineup, Rico Dowdle has struggled and finished as the RB52 and RB49. The Cowboys are a dreadful football team currently and 10.5-point underdogs. I currently have Dowdle as my RB29 on the week and would be much more comfortable starting a wide receiver in my flex position, but I understand if you do not have a better option with numerous players on a bye.

Rico Dowdle has only had more than 12 carries in 1 game this season, and the utilization of Ezekiel Elliott and Deuce Vaughn in Week 11 has me fading Dowdle for Week 12.

SPOTLIGHT | SIT | Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit

Chuba Hubbard | Carolina Panthers | RB 17

Week 11 Stats | RB 2 | FPts 24.9 | Att 28 | Yds 153 | TD 1 | Tgts 6 | Confidence 55%

Chuba Hubbard has been nothing short of amazing for fantasy managers this season. Hubbard is fresh off of finishing as the overall RB2 after running all over the New York Giants’ defense. Unfortunately, his Week 12 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs is an extremely daunting task. Week 12 also appears to be the NFL debut of Carolina’s rookie running back Jonathon Brooks who will likely take some touches from Hubbard.

The most rushing yards allowed by Kansas City to a running back in a game this season was 58 to Jordan Mason while facing stud running backs such as Derrick Henry, Alvin Kamara, Bijan Robinson, and J.K. Dobbins. I think your expectations for Hubbard need to be lowered several tiers.

Win Your Week 12 | QB | RB | WR | TE | IDP | CheatChart | Full Slate

If you enjoyed reading the Week 12 Running Back Start/Sit, I encourage you to check out our other start/sit positional articles in the series using the navigation tool above or in the series navigation at the top of the page.

In case you missed it, our Senior NFL Prospects Nerd Mike Johrendt released his 2025 Rookie Big Board with his first two rounds of a dynasty rookie draft, plus his sleeper for the 2025 NFL Draft class:

Week 12 Running Back Top 50 PPR Rankings

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