So I may have been a bit off with Saquon Barkley during the fantasy football draft.
I didn’t want Barkley on my fantasy football team in the preseason based on his Average Draft Position being so high. However, with his usage and production, Barkley is easily a top-tier running back and that showed once again in week 11. He tallied more than 30 fantasy points in week 11 against Tampa Bay, with three total touchdowns.
He’s receiving touches in multiple ways and not leaving the field. He’s a regular contributor in major ways and should once again be a top-five fantasy football running back in week 12. For those players with less expectations, here’s the week 12 fantasy football start ’em, sit’ em list for running backs.
Start
Nick Chubb vs. Cincinnati Bengals
No I haven’t gone mad. I am supportive of the Cleveland Browns offensive attack in week 12.
Chubb has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy football owners. With Carlos Hyde traded away, Chubb is the primary back in Cleveland and making the most of it. He has at least 18 carries in each of the last four games.
And he’s tallied at least one touchdown in three of four games, along with more than 80 yards rushing in those three games.
The Bengals have been terrible on defense in recent weeks, allowing the most fantasy points per game to running backs in the last four games. Chubb is going to get a major amount of touches and the Bengals won’t be able to stop him.
Gus Edwards vs. Oakland Raiders
The Baltimore offense has been a quagmire for running backs in 2018.
So now enter Edwards into the mix as an undrafted free agent. Edwards tallied more than 100 yards in Lamar Jackson’s debut in week 11 against a bad Cincinnati defense. Now, the Ravens get a bad Oakland defense and Edwards should be the bell-cow for a Ravens offense still unsure of how to use running backs.
Alex Collins has been a major disappointment for the Ravens and his playing time is dwindling. Edwards will be trusted in week 12 as the main running back after last week’s performance, so he should have an opportunity at solid production.
The Raiders are giving up the second-most fantasy points per game to running backs in the last four weeks. That’s enough to even put trust in a Baltimore running backs.
Chris Carson vs. Carolina Panthers
Don’t worry about Carolina’s rush defense prowess. The Seattle running game is among the best in the NFL.
And the leader of that pack is Carson.
Rashaad Penny showed some upside recently, but after injuring his foot in week 11, he was held in check, while Carson turned in another solid performance. As long as Carson stays healthy, he will earn the majority of carries.
And in Seattle’s offense, that matters in a major way. The Seahawks’ offensive line has improved immensely since last year, so Carson should produce once again in week 11 against a solid Carolina rush defense.
Sit
Adrian Peterson vs. Dallas Cowboys
Peterson’s 2018 fantasy football campaign has been nothing short of a miracle.
He’s turned back the clock, but in recent weeks, that production has dwindled, making him a touchdown-dependent running back in fantasy football. And I’m not a huge fan of touchdown-dependent running backs.
This can’t all be Peterson’s fault. He’s been hampered by an offensive line that is almost completely different from the beginning of the season. And with more injuries piling up for the Redskins, defenses, like Dallas, will stop Peterson first, forcing Colt McCoy to beat them.
That should reduce Peterson’s value, so I wouldn’t start him in week 12.
Jordan Howard vs. Detroit Lions
He’s disappeared completely from the passing game. That’s an issue in many ways.
Tarik Cohen is the more favorable option for the Bears, both in the rushing and passing departments. Even with 18 carries in week 11, Howard couldn’t eclipse the 70-yard mark. And while the Vikings are one of the best rush defense, Detroit isn’t bad, either.
The Lions are a top-half defense against the run, in terms of allowing fantasy points, so I’ll trust the Lions to stop Howard, leaving opportunities for Cohen.
LeSean McCoy vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
If you can afford it, I would pass on McCoy this week.
The Jaguars are still one of the better units against the run, which should spell doom for the Bills. I’m just not sure how the Bills are going to move the football against Jacksonville.
The Jaguars don’t allow many yards per play and the Bills don’t average enough yards per play to make a dent in the Jaguars defense. That’s a major problem for McCoy. McCoy looked like his old self in Buffalo’s most recent outing in week 10. However, don’t expect that to happen each week.
The Bills will struggle and will probably find themselves down early in this game. That will create a negative game script for McCoy, rendering him not as productive as we saw in week 10.
