Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back Preview: Waiver adds, projections, DFS plays, and more

The trend in the NFL over the past 10 years has definitely been moving towards fewer workhorse backs. That's been a major headache for Fantasy managers, but for the past couple of weeks at least, that trend appears to be reversing itself. 

An injury to Khalil Herbert looks to have David Montgomery lined up for 20 touches per game once again. The Cardinals surprisingly cut Eno Benjamin, putting James Conner in a similar situation. And Jaylen Warren's hamstring injury has the potential to do the same thing for Najee Harris. But the one workhorse back no one anticipated was Latavius Murray.

The Broncos released Melvin Gordon after yet another fumble and Chase Edmonds is going to miss multiple weeks with an ankle injury. That leaves Murray with Marlon Mack and Devine Ozigbo as his competition for touches. And it probably makes him a top-20 running back for the foreseeable future.

• Week 12 Previews: QB | WR | TE

Murray isn't going to be an efficient rusher, but neither is Conner nor Montgomery. Like them he also appears to have the high-value touches locked down. He has seven catches in the past two weeks combined and no one is taking him off the field inside the five yard line.

At running back, more than any other position, role matters more than talent. And Murray's role looks like a near must-start running back.

Now let's get to the rest of the Week 12 RB Preview:

Week 12 RB Preview

Who's Out

Numbers to Know

Matchups That Matter

Waiver Wire Targets

DFS Plays

Projections

RB Preview

Who's Out

The following players are not being projected to play in Week 12 at this time. Here's what it means:

Joe Mixon RB

HOU Houston • #28
Age: 27 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Samaje Perine could be a week-winner based on volume alone.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire RB

KC Kansas City • #25
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon are both solid PPR flexes.

Jaylen Warren RB

PIT Pittsburgh • #30
Age: 25 • Experience: 3 yrs.

If Warren remains out Najee Harris is a must-start.

RB Preview

Numbers to know

• 84.1% -- Route involvement rate for Najee Harris. The 37 routes in Week 11 were the most by far Harris has run this season and it showed up in his Fantasy output. 
  
• 154.7 -- Tony Pollard leads the NFL in scrimmage yards per game since Week 8 and also is tied with Jamaal Williams for the most touchdowns (6) during that time. 
  
• 17 -- Carries for David Montgomery in the first game without Khalil Herbert. Trestan Ebner had six carries for eight yards. 
  
• 3 -- Alvin Kamara has just three touchdowns this season and they all came in Week 8 versus the Raiders. 
  
• 7 -- Touches for Kareem Hunt last week. At this point, he's just a handcuff. 
  
• 54 -- The Commanders haven't allowed more than 54 rushing yards from a running back in five consecutive games.
  
• 4 -- Weeks in a row Isiah Pacheco has led the Chiefs backfield in carries. He's established as the lead ball carrier but does nothing in the passing game.
  

RB Preview

Matchups that matter

Matchups that Matter

Cordarrelle Patterson RB

PIT Pittsburgh • #84
Age: 33 • Experience: 12 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ WAS WAS -4 O/U 42

OPP VS RB 7th

PROJ PTS 8.3

RB RNK 33rd

YTD Stats
RUYDS 454	REC 8	REYDS 46	TD 5	FPTS/G 12.3

Jamaal Williams RB

NO New Orleans • #30
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs BUF BUF -9.5 O/U 54

OPP VS RB 12th

PROJ PTS 10.9

RB RNK 23rd

YTD Stats
RUYDS 668	REC 9	REYDS 57	TD 12	FPTS/G 15.4

Tony Pollard RB

TEN Tennessee • #20
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs NYG DAL -9 O/U 44.5

OPP VS RB 13th

PROJ PTS 16.6

RB RNK 11th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 701	REC 21	REYDS 243	TD 8	FPTS/G 16.3

D'Onta Foreman RB

CLE Cleveland • #21
Age: 28 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs DEN DEN -2.5 O/U 36

OPP VS RB 11th

PROJ PTS 8.2

RB RNK 26th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 450	REC 4	REYDS 25	TD 4	FPTS/G 7.1

Jeff Wilson RB

MIA Miami • #23
Age: 28 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs HOU MIA -12 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB 32nd

PROJ PTS 10.8

RB RNK 16th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 638	REC 15	REYDS 136	TD 4	FPTS/G 11.2

David Montgomery RB

DET Detroit • #5
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ NYJ NYJ -4.5 O/U 41

OPP VS RB 10th

PROJ PTS 10.3

RB RNK 19th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 501	REC 18	REYDS 204	TD 3	FPTS/G 10.5

RB Preview

Waiver Wire Targets

Week 12 Adds (RB Preview)

Latavius Murray RB

BUF Buffalo • #28
Age: 34 • Experience: 11 year

Weekly Breakdown

@ CAR DEN -2.5 O/U 36

OPP VS RB 28th

RB RNK 24th

ROSTERED 59%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 266	REC 12	REYDS 64	TD 4	FPTS/G 11.6

We would rather start Samaje Perine than Latavius Murray this week, but only if Joe Mixon is ruled out and we won't likely know that before waivers run. Murray has more staying power than Perine; he could be an RB2 rest of season.

Samaje Perine RB

DEN Denver • #25
Age: 28 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ TEN CIN -1.5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB 5th

RB RNK 18th

ROSTERED 15%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 163	REC 22	REYDS 178	TD 4	FPTS/G 8

Joe Burrow is throwing more than eight passes per game to his running backs. Perine should be in line for 15-plus carries and five or more catches if Mixon is out. The Titans present a difficult matchup, but Perine has top-five upside because of his volume.

Jerick McKinnon RB

KC Kansas City • #1
Age: 32 • Experience: 10 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs LAR KC -14.5 O/U 44

OPP VS RB 8th

RB RNK 36th

ROSTERED 48%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 149	REC 26	REYDS 212	TD 1	FPTS/G 6.6

McKinnon continues to play the most snaps among Chiefs running backs and he's their clear passing-downs back. He has about a 50-50 chance at red zone work as well. If Edwards-Helaire misses significant time, McKinnon could be a league-winner in the playoffs due to touchdown potential.

Stashes (RB Preview)

James Cook RB

BUF Buffalo • #4
Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ DET BUF -9.5 O/U 54

OPP VS RB 18th

RB RNK 38th

ROSTERED 29%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 255	REC 7	REYDS 96	TD 1	FPTS/G 4.6

Cook has performed like a startable flex lately, but you probably don't need to start him this week since there aren't any byes. Still, he's one injury away from league-winning upside. Cook has shown big-play ability in a limited role and could have a Tony Pollardesque breakout if he gets the opportunity.

RB Preview

DFS Plays

Top DFS Play

Samaje Perine RB

DEN Denver • #25
Age: 28 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ TEN CIN -1.5 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB 5th

PROJ PTS 9.3

RB RNK 18th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 163	REC 22	REYDS 178	TD 4	FPTS/G 8

If Mixon is out then Perine will be the chalk at running back and I will be happy to try to be contrarian somewhere else.

Contrarian DFS Play

Leonard Fournette RB

BUF Buffalo • #5
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ CLE TB -3 O/U 42.5

OPP VS RB 31st

PROJ PTS 13.2

RB RNK 29th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 462	REC 43	REYDS 315	TD 6	FPTS/G 15.5

I know Rachaad White started the last Buccaneers' game, but Leonard Fournette had more touches, more yards, and a touchdown before he got hurt. Assuming he's back to full strength, there's at least a 40% chance he's the best Tampa running back against one of the worst run defenses in the league.

RB Preview

Heath's Projections