Week 12: RB Rankings - Start & Sit Advice - 2011 Fantasy Football

Week 12 RB Rankings - Start & Sit Advice. Week 12 RB Rankings are based on weekly matchups and the highest projected potential fantasy football point outcomes among all fantasy football RB in Week 12. Use these Week 12 RB Rankings to help you decide which RB to start and which RB to sit on your fantasy football team for Week 12.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them at my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fantasy-Football-Start-Sit-Lineup-Advice/262183993792691 and get live replies and answers to your questions there.

- Hawk Michaels @ Hawk Fantasy Sports Blog - www.hawkfantasysports.wordpress.com

Week 12 RB Rankings will be updated throughout the week

Week 12 --- QB Rankings --- RB Rankings --- WR Rankings --- TE Rankings --- Defense Rankings --- Waiver Wire Pickups --- NFL Picks & Predictions

1. Arian Foster - Hou = @Jac ----- Should be interesting to see how Foster and the Texans running game does without Matt Schaub under center. I'm thinking Foster will still be good for 100-150 total yards and 1-2 touchdowns.

2. LeSean McCoy - Phi = NE ----- Another must win game for the Eagles if they wish to keep their playoff hopes alive, McCoy should see plenty of touches in this game. Facing a susceptible Patriots defense could easily lead McCoy to 100-150 total yards, and a touchdown is definitely within reach as well.

3. Matt Forte - Chi = @Oak ----- This could be a boom or bust game for Forte this week, as Oakland will likely stack the line with Jay Cutler not playing and posing as a passing threat. On the flip side, with Cutler out the Bears will likely give Forte even more touches in this game.

4. Michael Turner - Atl = Min ----- The Vikings are solid against the run, but I think the Falcons will be able to move the ball offensively enough to set up several red zone scoring opportunities in this game. Turner is a solid bet to rack up at least one of those TDs.

5. Steven Jackson - StL = Ari ----- Excellent matchup for Jackson this week as he faces one of the worst run defenses in the entire NFL. 100-150 total yards and 1-2 touchdowns is absolutely possible.

6. Rashard Mendenhall - Pit = @KC ----- If Mendenhall is healthy for this game, it could be a nice stat output for him in the range of 75-100 rushing yards and 1-2 touchdowns.

7. DeMarco Murray - Dal = Mia ----- The return of Felix Jones will continue to chip away a few carries from Murray, but there is no denying that Murray is the feature back and should get his 15-20 rushing attempts in this game.

8. Cedric Benson - Cin = Cle ----- If Benson can manage to score not one but two touchdowns in last weeks game against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, then a matchup against the Cleveland Browns defense this week looks like candy for this big bruising RB. 75-100 rushing yards and 1-2 touchdowns are easily within reach.

9. Ray Rice - Bal = SF ----- Very tough matchup for the Ravens running game this week as they face one of the top run defense in the 49ers. Still the potential for rushing and receiving yards always make Rice a threat.

10. Maurice Jones-Drew - Jac = Hou ----- The Houston Texans defense is solid, and since Blaine Gabbert is not a threat in the passing game, there is little for the Texans defense to do but focus on shutting down Jones-Drew.

11. Beanie Wells - Ari = @StL ----- Love the matchup for Wells this week, now if only he was fully healthy. All in all, there is plenty of potential for a boom game from Beanie this week.

12. Frank Gore - SF = @Bal ----- Tough matchup, but as long as Gore is healthy he should get plenty of carries as the 49ers try to pound the ball on the ground in what should be a low scoring game.

13. Michael Bush - Oak = Chi ----- With McFadden not 100% healthy, there is little reason for the Raiders to rush him back too soon. Bush should get the ground and pound duty this week, as 25 plus rushing attempts are knocking on his door for this game.

14. Chris Johnson - Ten = TB ----- Very tempting to believe in Chris Johnson this week, but the possible loss of Matt Hasselbeck under center could do significant damage to Johnson's potential running room in this game.

15. Jonathan Stewart - Car = @Ind ----- I love the potential for Stewart to break out with a huge stat output in this game. 100 rushing yards and 1-2 touchdowns are within reach for Stewart if all goes well.

16. LeGarrette Blount - TB = @Ten ----- A nice breakout game against the Packers defense was refreshing for Blount fantasy owners last week, and a matchup against a not so great Tennessee Titans defense could easily allow for another 100 yard rushing game for Blount this week as well.

17. Kevin Smith - Det = GB - 19% ----- If 201 total yards and 3 touchdown does not get your attention, then obviously nothing will in the fantasy football world. Right now it looks like Smith is 100% healthy, and with a roll in this potent Detroit Lions offense, Smith could turn into fantasy football gold down the stretch of the season. This weeks matchup against a struggling Green Bay Packers defense could easily have Smith topping the 100 total yard mark in this game.

18. Fred Jackson - Buf = @NYJ ----- injury ? WILL NOT PLAY - OUT FOR SEASON ----- Even if Jackson is active for this game, I think his upside is very low and I would try someone else as your starting RB if you can.

19. Adrian Peterson - Min = @Atl ----- injury ? - unlikely to play ----- After sustaining a high left ankle sprain in last weeks game, Peterson is very doubtful for being able to play this week. And even if he does play, I'm not sure I would expect too much from him.

20. Darren McFadden - Oak = Chi ----- injury ? - unlikely to play

21. Ryan Mathews - SD = Den

22. Willis McGahee - Den = @SD ----- injury ?

23. Darren Sproles - NO = NYG

24. Marshawn Lynch - Sea = Was

25. Ben Tate - Hou = @Jac - 68% ----- For all that Tate has done so far this season, he enters week 12 at just 68% owned in fantasy football leagues. With Matt Schaub out and defenses focusing solely on shutting down the Texans running game, the going could get a lot tougher for Tate and Arian Foster. But until a defense can prove to slow this Texans duo down, there is no reason that Tate should not be a starting flex option this week in nearly all fantasy football lineups this week.

26. Donald Brown - Ind = Car - 8% ----- Don't look now, but Brown is actually the Colts most reilable offensive weapon right now. Yikes. But in all seriousness, Brown faces a weak Carolina Panthers run defense, and it would not be surprising it Brown was able to rack up 50-100 yards, and maybe even a touchdown.

27. DeAngelo Williams - Car = @Ind

28. Mike Tolbert - SD = Den

29. Brandon Jacobs - NYG = @NO

30. Reggie Bush - Mia = @Dal

31. Shonn Green - NYJ = Buf ----- injury ?

32. Chris Ogbonnaya - Cle = @Cin - 35% ----- Ogbonnaya showed no problem in his ability to rack up rushing yards in last weeks game against what was considered a solid Jacksonville Jaguars run defense entering the game. A matchup against a solid but not great Bengals defense this week could easily allow Ogbonnaya to post numbers in the 50-100 rushing yard range, and a touchdown is possible as well. Also on a side note, with Ogbonnaya playing well right now, why would the Browns rush back Montario Hardesty or Peyton Hillis? Let's hope both Hardesty and Hillis are once again held out this week.

33. Ahmad Bradshaw - NYG = @NO ----- injury ?

34. BenJarvus Green-Ellis - NE = @Phi

35. James Starks - GB = @Det ----- injury ?

39. Marion Barber - Chi = @Oak - 20% ----- Barber has become a classic red zone TD vulture in the Bears offense this season, and Matt Forte owners cannot be happy. However for fantasy football teams in need of a spot starting RB or Flex option, Barber offers lots of TD potential in this game.

36. Roy Helu - Was = @Sea

37. Lance Ball - Den = @SD - 27% ----- Ball's value obviously depends on the health of Willis McGahee this week. If Ball gets the majority of the carries, he could be a show in for 100 rushing yards in this game, with a touchdown definitely possible as well.

38. Joe McKnight - NYJ = Buf - 12% ----- If Shonn Greene and LaDainain Tomlinson are still dealing with their injuries come Sunday, McKnight will surely get the starting nod for the Jets this week. And facing a struggling Buffalo Bills defense could easily lead the speedy McKnight to a huge stat output if given the opportunity.

40. Felix Jones - Dal = Mia ----- injury ?

41. Daniel Thomas - Mia = @Dal

42. Jackie Battle - KC = Pit

43. Ryan Grant - GB = @Det - 35% ----- The late game knee injury to James Starks will determine Grant's value for this week.

44. CJ Spiller - Buf = @NYJ - 16% ----- In the same boat at Toby Gerhart and Ryan Grant, Spiller's playing time rests on the health of Fred Jackson. And even at that, this is a tough matchup for whoever is the Bills RB in this game.

45. Ryan Torain - Was = @Sea

46. Pierre Thomas - NO = NYG

47. Toby Gerhart - Min = @Atl - 6% ----- Obviously Gerhart's value rest solely on the health of Adrian Peterson this week. And while the matchup is not great for Gerhart to excel in that stat department if given the starting spot, there is always potential for a starting RB in fantasy football lineups.

48. Mark Ingram - NO = NYG

49. Maurice Morris - Det = GB

50. Kendall Hunter - SF = @Bal

51. Montario Hardesty - Cle = @Cin

52. Delone Carter - Ind = Car

53. Javon Ringer - Ten = TB

54. Joseph Addai - Ind = Car

55. Dexter McCluster - KC = Pit

56. Chris Ivory - NO = NYG

57. Bernard Scott - Cin = Cle

58. Danny Woodhead - NE = @Phi

59. LaDainian Tomlinson - NYJ = Buf

60. Stevan Ridley - NE = @Phi

61. Leon Washington - Sea = Was

62. Ronnie Brown - Phi = NE

63. Jacquizz Rodgers - Atl = Min

64. John Kuhn - GB = @Det

65. Tashard Choice - Was = @Sea

66. Thomas Jones - KC = Pit

67. Isaac Redman - Pit = @KC

68. Kregg Lumpkin - TB = @Ten

69. Justin Forsett - Sea = Was

70. Kevin Faulk - NE = @Phi

71. Marcel Reece - Oak = Chi - 1% ----- If McFadden is once again out, and backup RB Taiwan Jones is also out with injury, the TD threat Reece could get a handful of carries in this game.

72. Jason Snelling - Atl = Min

73. Taiwan Jones - Oak = Chi

74. Keiland Williams - Det = GB

75. Ricky Williams - Bal = SF

76. Jonathan Dwyer - Pit = @KC

77. Derrick Ward - Hou = @Jac

78. Shane Vereen - NE = @Phi

79. Carnell Williams - StL = Ari

80. Deji Karim - Jac = Hou

81. LaRod Stephens-Howling - Ari = @StL

82. Steve Slaton - Mia = @Dal

83. Le'Ron McClain - KC = Pit

84. Jerious Norwood - StL = Ari

85. Dion Lewis - Phi = NE

86. Johnny White - Buf = @NYJ

87. Chester Taylor - Ari = @StL

Peyton Hillis - Cle = @Cin ----- injury ?

Jahvid Best - Det = GB ----- injury ?