Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 12: Running backs

Welcome to Week 12 of the fantasy football season. The playoffs are just around the corner and the bye weeks are almost over. Owners should be sticking with their top stars the rest of the way, but there are still a few tough decisions to make about which players should be starting.

Injuries have shaken up the running back landscape this week, with several key players going down and others stepping up in their place. There are also no bye teams to worry about, so let’s take a look at the top recommended starters this week, along with players you should be avoiding.

Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (@ Cleveland Browns)

The Giants finally ditched their backfield committee and made Jennings the lead man. The veteran has responded with 172 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries in his past two games. Now healthy after missing time earlier in the season, Jennings should re-establish his RB2 floor against the Browns, who are allowing an average of 143.9 rushing yards per game.

Thomas Rawls, Seattle Seahawks (@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

C.J. Prosise suffered a shoulder injury that will keep him out for the rest of the regular season, while Christine Michael was waived a couple weeks ago. That leaves Rawls as the last man standing in Seattle’s backfield, and it couldn’t have come as a better time with Rawls recovered from a leg injury of his own. He looked like his old self against the Philadelphia Eagles and figures to see plenty of volume against the Bucs, who have a 23rd-ranked run defense. Rawls could help win fantasy championships if he returns to his 2015 form.

Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Green Bay Packers)

Ryan Mathews is out after picking up a sprained MCL last week. Darren Sproles is dealing with a rib injury that could limit his playing time, even if he’s active for Monday night. That sets up Smallwood well for a high-volume game against a Packers defense that’s been generally good against the run, but prone to getting carved up. Smallwood had a solid performance against the Seahawks with 79 total yards on 17 touches. He’s on the RB2 map for as long as Mathews is out.

Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals (@ Baltimore Ravens)

With Giovani Bernard done for the season, Hill will have all the backfield carries to himself. He should also be a bigger focus of the offense after A.J. Green tore his hamstring last week. Hill will have high-upside fantasy performances, but this week probably won’t be one of them. The Ravens have the league’s top-ranked run defense that even managed to slow down Ezekiel Elliott for a while in Week 10. Hill could be slamming into brick walls all day. He’s not a must-start in 12-team leagues.

Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears (vs. Tennessee Titans)

It’s the Matt Barkley show in Chicago, with Jay Cutler suffering a potential season-ending shoulder injury. With no Cutler, no Alshon Jeffery, and no Zach Miller, the Bears are running out of offensive weapons. Perhaps Howard will get enough volume to be productive, but we don’t like his fantasy floor against the Titans’ seventh-ranked run defenses. Fantasy owners should stay far away from Chicago’s offense.

James Starks/Christine Michael, Packers (@ Eagles)

Michael is expected to be active after taking a week to learn the playbook, but he’s still the clear No. 2 behind Starks. This is just not an inspiring backfield at all and neither player has a good matchup with the Eagles, whose run defense has slipped to 19th but still has a strong unit on paper. Green Bay’s running has disappeared since losing Eddie Lacy.