FANTASY

Fantasy Player Projections

Running Backs

Rank	Team	Player	Projection	Opponent
1			C.J. Spiller 102 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 46 rec yards The Bills' coaching staff promised more work for Spiller and it delivered, handing him 25 touches in last Thursday's game. Fantasy owners can count on more of the same this week, as the Colts rank near the bottom of the league in yards allowed per game and per carry.	at
2			Arian Foster 101 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 42 rec yards The touchdown streak may be over, but the legend lives on. Foster is still the best fantasy back on the board, and he will mash a Lions defense that got bullied by Adrian Peterson two weeks ago for 171 yards.	at
3			Frank Gore 110 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 32 rec yards The Saints are allowing a league-worst 157 rushing yards per game, and teams are picking up more than five yards per carry against them. Gore will be one of the top fantasy running backs this week, once again.	at
4			Chris Johnson 114 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 25 rec yards There has not been a more reliable rusher over the past month. Go ahead, read that again. Johnson is no longer the guy who had fantasy owners crying in their beers in September.	at
5			Jamaal Charles 95 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 35 rec yards Charles carried the ball 17 times for 87 yards against the Bengals, and he was tied for the team lead in catches, with four for 31 yards. He has 226 rushing yards over his past three games and he remains a good fantasy starter against Denver.	vs
6			Marcel Reece 82 rush yards, rush TD, 4 rec, 48 rec yards Nothing suggests Darren McFadden or Mike Goodson will be able to return to the lineup this week, and Oakland's coaching staff is less worried about its backfield after seeing Reece gain 193 yards from scrimmage on 23 touches last week. The Bengals provide Reece with another favorable matchup.	at
7			Doug Martin 105 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 24 rec yards Martin's good day could have been great in Week 11, but his touchdown run was erased when he fumbled it away. He still finished with 138 rushing yards in an overtime win over Carolina. Week 12's opponent, the Falcons, are allowing more than 130 rushing yards per game, which bodes well for the rookie.	vs
8			Marshawn Lynch 110 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 12 rec yards Lynch surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in Week 10 for the fourth time this season and is on pace for 1,600 rushing yards. The Dolphins have improved against the run, but Lynch is still a must-start running back.	at
9			Ray Rice 55 rush yards, rush TD, 6 rec, 60 rec yards Rice was bottled up in Week 11 by Pittsburgh's run defense, which held him to 40 yards on 20 carries. Still, he was able to catch five passes for 53 yards. The Chargers are solid against the run, but Rice will produce in multiple ways.	at
10			Ronnie Hillman 85 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 24 rec yards With Willis McGahee (knee) injured, Hillman will likely start the Broncos' Week 12 game at Kansas City. He rushed 12 times for 43 yards against the Chargers last week and he is also adept at catching passes out of the backfield. The Chiefs are allowing more than 120 rushing yards per game, which could make for a nice breakout game for Hillman.	at
11			Trent Richardson 90 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 17 rec yards Based on the numbers, the Steelers' run defense matches up fairly evenly with San Diego in terms of yards allowed per game and per carry, and touchdowns allowed. Of course, Richardson had his best game against the Chargers only a few weeks ago.	vs
12			Matt Forte 68 rush yards, 3 rec, 38 rec yards, rec TD Forte's last score in this series came on a two-yard toss from Kyle Orton during the back's rookie season. He is long overdue, but considering how well Minnesota defends the run (3.9 yards per carry), we're predicting Forte will strike via the passing game again.	vs
13			Adrian Peterson 77 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 23 rec yards Peterson has as much reason to fear the Bears as Christian Ponder does. AP has averaged 3.1 yards per carry in his last two games against Chicago, and has not reached the 100-yard mark in his last four. He can make up for fewer rushing yards with more receiving yards and a score, though.	at
14			Steven Jackson 75 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 14 rec yards Jackson had 13 carries for 81 yards against the Jets, and he looked good doing it. Over his past two games, Jackson has 182 rushing yards and is getting two touches for every one touch backup Daryl Richardson sees.	at
15			LaRod Stephens-Howlin 55 rush yards, rush TD, 3 rec, 30 rec yards LSH was the only bright spot for the Cardinals' offense in Week 11, as he ran for 127 yards and a touchdown at Atlanta. Beanie Wells (toe) is expected to return in Week 12, however, which will likely hurt Stephens-Howling's fantasy prospects for now.	vs
16			Bryce Brown 65 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 13 rec yards The rookie could be in for a big Week 12 against Carolina, as LeSean McCoy (concussion) might be unable to play. Brown rushed for 35 yards in Week 11, averaging seven yards per carry. All McCoy owners would do well to grab him as insurance.	vs
17			Alfred Morris 77 rush yards, rush TD The Redskins' surprise rookie is only a couple games away from reaching 1,000 yards, which is a very nice accomplishment for a player no one saw coming. Yards could be hard to come by this week, however; Dallas has kept the likes of LeSean McCoy, Ahmad Bradshaw and Ray Rice well below 100 yards in recent weeks.	at
18			Felix Jones 76 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 10 rec yards Jones played the second half against Cleveland with a bum knee. Lance Dunbar finished up the game but early signs suggest Jones should be fine for Thursday's contest. Fantasy owners should keep an eye on Jones' health and DeMarco Murray's status.	vs
19			Stevan Ridley 75 rush yards, rush TD While Ridley had the most carries (13) for the Patriots in Week 11, he averaged just more than two yards per carry. However, he did score for the third consecutive game and remains a solid fantasy starter. He had 65 rushing yards in Week 7 against the Jets.	at
20			Ahmad Bradshaw 68 rush yards, rush TD, 1 rec, 4 rec yards All of the medical tests came back clean, and Bradshaw was back at work Monday. He has averaged less than 4.0 yards per carry in three of the team's last four games, and could be passed over in a game that has "shootout" written all over it. If he scores, though, he'll salvage a mediocre showing.	vs
21			Rashard Mendenhall 52 rush yards, rush TD, 2 rec, 14 rec yards Mendenhall was a bit sluggish in Week 11, but that's to be expected coming back from an Achilles injury. Fantasy owners must be patient with his recovery; it's going to be tough to count on him for another week or two.	at
22			Michael Turner 60 rush yards, rush TD Turner scored his fifth touchdown of the season and he rushed for 46 yards against the Cardinals. The Buccaneers are tough against the run, but Turner should still be considered a decent RB2 in Week 12.	at
23			Lance Ball 28 rush yards, 4 rec, 30 rec yards, rec TD Ball had six carries for 35 yards against the Chargers, mostly because Willis McGahee went down with a knee injury. Ball should see backup carries in Week 12 at Kansas City, with Ronnie Hillman seeing the starter's workload.	at
24			Jonathan Stewart 55 rush yards, rush TD Stewart rushed 15 times for 43 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay in Week 11 -- his first rushing touchdown of the year. While DeAngelo Williams isn't as big of a threat to steal touches as he once was, quarterback Cam Newton still is.	at
25			Vick Ballard 86 rush yards, 2 rec, 17 rec yards This could be the week in which fantasy owners move Ballard from the flex to one of their two running back slots. He will see the bulk of Indianapolis' carries against the league's 32nd-ranked run defense.	vs
26			Ryan Mathews 65 rush yards, 3 rec, 34 rec yards Once again, Mathews was a fantasy disappointment in Week 11. He rushed for 47 yards and caught four passes for 36 yards, but he still has just one touchdown this season. The Ravens aren't great against the run, however, as they have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns this season.	vs
27			Bilal Powell 35 rush yards, rush TD Powell had his best fantasy game of the season, scoring twice on 11 carries for 42 yards against the Rams. He shook off a concussion suffered a few weeks ago, and he's looking like a possible flex play in Week 12 against the Patriots.	vs
28			Reggie Bush 70 rush yards, 2 rec, 15 rec yards Bush's fantasy owners must be annoyed, to put it nicely, by how the veteran has suddenly lost his swagger. Over the past four games, Bush has just 141 rushing yards and one touchdown. The Seahawks are better than average against the run, so don't look for Bush to explode.	vs
29			Jalen Parmele 72 rush yards, 2 rec, 9 rec yards Next man up. With Maurice Jones-Drew out and Rashad Jennings struggling, Parmele rose to the challenge and gained 80 yards against a stout Texans defense. Tennessee should give Parmele the opportunity to flash everything in his bag of tricks.	vs
30			Jacquizz Rodgers 25 rush yards, 5 rec, 40 rec yards Rodgers totaled 51 yards in Week 11 and he continues to serve as Michael Turner's caddy in the Falcons' offense. Rodgers has just one touchdown on the season so far.	at
31			James Starks 63 rush yards Starks only averaged 3.0 yards per carry against Detroit, but he pushed piles and ran with purpose. The Packers seem prepared to have him handle the bulk of their carries moving forward, although fantasy owners probably cannot justify putting him in their lineups at this point.	at
32			Mikel Leshoure 62 rush yards, 1 rec, 4 rec yards Leshoure has not carried the ball enough to approach the 100-yard mark in recent weeks. Houston won't do him any favors. The Texans have allowed an average of 21.7 carries per game, among the fewest in the league.	vs
33			Shonn Greene 60 rush yards Greene ran 18 times for 64 yards against the Rams, but he was unable to score a touchdown. That's basically what he's averaging over his past three games, too. Bilal Powell scored twice for the Jets on the ground, so Greene's owners should be green with envy.	vs
34			BenJarvus Green-Ellis 59 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Green-Ellis' first 100-yard game of the season was borderline charity. After gaining an early lead, Cincinnati was able to continue to run the ball on the Chiefs' 25th-ranked run defense. That game does not represent Green-Ellis' fantasy value, nor is it what fantasy owners can expect from him in Week 12.	vs
35			Mark Ingram 55 rush yards, 2 rec, 10 rec yards Ingram is finally starting to show some life after being drafted in the first round last year. He has 67 rushing yards in his past two games, along with one touchdown. As long as Darren Sproles (hand) is sidelined, Ingram is worth using as a flex player.	vs
36			Daryl Richardson 30 rush yards, 2 rec, 22 rec yards Richardson had a respectable day for a backup running back, rushing six times for 26 yards against the Jets. Richardson has a better fantasy future than fantasy present.	at
37			Fred Jackson 32 rush yards, 1 rec, 13 rec yards Jackson will reportedly suit up for Week 12, but fantasy owners should expect to see limited action. He is not far removed from his concussion, plus the coaching staff may not wish to disrupt C.J. Spiller's rhythm.	at
38			Daniel Thomas 30 rush yards, 2 rec, 12 rec yards Thomas continues to produce in a limited role for the Dolphins, and he has 38 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown in his past four games. Even so, for now he's only a recommended fantasy starter as a flex in larger leagues.	vs
39			Pierre Thomas 20 rush yards, 3 rec, 22 rec yards Thomas totaled 58 yards against the Raiders in Week 11, and he continues to do just enough to ruin the other running backs' fantasy value. There are too many cooks in the kitchen in New Orleans' backfield, and Thomas is the odd man out.	vs
40			Jonathan Dwyer 41 rush yards, 2 rec, 9 rec yards Dwyer out-performed Rashard Mendenhall last week, but it was only one game -- and Mendenhall's first game back, no less. Over time the balance will shift, beginning this week.	at
41			Beanie Wells 40 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards Against the Rams, Wells (toe) is finally expected to return to the field for the first time since Week 3. LaRod Stephens-Howling has performed well in his place, so these two players could end up splitting carries, making neither a great fantasy start.	vs
42			Kendall Hunter 24 rush yards, 1 rec, 12 rec yards Hunter's touches have been different each week, but the 49ers should lean on their running game against the league's worst rushing defense. Hunter is still Frank Gore's backup, however, which limits his fantasy appeal.	at
43			Bernard Pierce 12 rush yards, 2 rec, 20 rec yards The rookie had three touches for a total of 19 yards at Pittsburgh Sunday night. He's still a better handcuff than fantasy starter.	at
44			Peyton Hillis 30 rush yards Hillis had just three carries for nine yards against Cincinnati and he coughed the ball up for a turnover. The Chiefs are among the league leaders in turnovers, and Hillis is not worth a look in fantasy play against Denver.	vs
45			Chris Ivory 30 rush yards, 1 rec, 7 rec yards Ivory rushed eight times for 37 yards against the Raiders in Week 11, and now he faces the 49ers, the other team across the Bay. With Darren Sproles (hand) close to returning and Ingram playing well, Ivory's fantasy value is dimming.	vs
46			DeAngelo Williams 30 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards Williams had just seven carries for 18 yards against the Buccaneers in Week 11 and he now has just 24 rushing yards in his past two games. Jonathan Stewart is getting the bulk of the action at tailback now, which limits Williams' upside.	at
47			Donald Brown 28 rush yards, 1 rec, 9 rec yards Brown's inability to get healthy or stay healthy has opened the door for Vick Ballard to show what he could do. Now Brown is on the outside looking in.	vs
48			Andre Brown 27 rush yards Brown's worth all depends on Ahmad Bradshaw. If the Giants' top back is healthy, Brown's role will be minimal (three-five carries). If Bradshaw is sluggish, Brown could pick up where he left off before the Giants' bye: as the team's short-yardage back getting 10 or more touches.	vs
49			Robert Turbin 23 rush yards, 1 rec, 5 rec yards The rookie has 167 rushing yards so far this season, ranking him third on the Seahawks behind Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks are starting to give Turbin more touches, but he's still merely a fantasy handcuff for Lynch.	at
50			D.J. Ware 5 rush yards, 2 rec, 22 rec yards Ware appears to have overtaken LeGarrette Blount as Doug Martin's backup. Even so, he's not worth picking up in fantasy play unless Martin gets injured.	vs
51			Justin Forsett 21 rush yards, 1 rec, 4 rec yards Forsett is keeping Ben Tate's seat warm while the injured back tends to his bum hamstring. Last week Forsett looked sharp, averaging 8.4 yards on seven carries. He's a good change of pace rusher, but not a fantasy prospect or even a real handcuff option.	at
52			Shane Vereen 20 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards Vereen had 11 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown against the Colts in Week 11. It was his best fantasy day of the season, but it was mostly because the Patriots were blowing out Indianapolis. Vereen should return to his average numbers this week.	at
53			Lance Dunbar 20 rush yards Dunbar isn't a reliable play, but he could see a bump in carries if Jones proves less healthy than anticipated.	vs
54			Montario Hardesty 19 rush yards Hardesty is good for a carry here or there, but nothing more. He has just 29 carries for the season, and that includes a game in which he was Cleveland's designated starter.	vs
55			David Wilson 18 rush yards, 1 rec, 7 rec yards Is this the week Wilson breaks free from Tom Coughlin's chains and sees extensive action? He'll see more reps than he has been getting, but probably not enough work to grab the attention of fantasy owners. His development will be slow.	vs
56			Joique Bell 9 rush yards, 2 rec, 17 rec yards Bell remains a non-factor in the Lions' rushing attack, having received just one carry in each of the past two weeks and barely being used as a receiver against Green Bay. Detroit gave some time to Kevin Smith, and Mikel Leshoure performed well. Looks like Bell is back to square one.	vs
57			Jackie Battle 15 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards Battle totaled minus-two yards on four touches in Week 11 against the Broncos. Until Ryan Mathews is knocked out of a game again, Battle's fantasy value is limited.	vs
58			Michael Bush 13 rush yards Bush continues to see spot time, depending on the game situation and how well Matt Forte is performing. Usually there is no reason for Chicago to call Bush's name, giving fantasy owners no reason to keep tabs on the backup.	vs
59			Chris Polk 12 rush yards With LeSean McCoy possibly sidelined with a concussion, the Eagles may turn to Polk to back up rookie spot-starter Bryce Brown.	vs
60			Isaac Redman 11 rush yards There's a strong possibility Redman will sit this game out due to the concussion he suffered in the Sunday night loss to Baltimore. Even if he plays, fantasy owners shouldn't bother with him; the Steelers' backfield is plenty full already with Jonathan Dwyer and Rashard Mendenhall sharing the load.	at
61			Darren Sproles 0 rush yards Sproles missed his third game in a row with a hand injury, but he continues to get closer to a return. The 49ers' defense is formidable, so even if Sproles comes back this week, he's just a flex option in standard leagues and an RB2 in PPR leagues.	vs
62			LeSean McCoy 0 rush yards McCoy suffered a concussion in Week 11, and his status for Week 12 is up in the air. Before leaving the game, he rushed for 45 yards and caught a team-high six passes for 67 yards against Washington.	vs
63			Toby Gerhart 4 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards In the past five games Gerhart has more receptions (seven) than carries (four). The Vikings are getting more mileage from Christian Ponder's legs these days.	at
64			Rashad Jennings 6 rush yards Jennings couldn't keep the starting job with Maurice Jones-Drew on the sideline. His name no longer carries weight in fantasy circles (not that it ever carried much).	vs

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