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USATSI

Week 11 saw the return of three big-name running backs from injury, and while it was nice to see Saquon Barkley, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Miles Sanders back on the field, I'm not sure we saw enough from any of the three to feel great about starting them in your Fantasy Football lineups in Week 12.

Well, you definitely won't be starting Edwards-Helaire this week with the Chiefs on a bye, so that's one decision made for you. But Barkley returned Monday to a Giants offense that looked as hapless as ever, and he finished with just 25 rushing yards on six carries; six catches for 31 yards salvaged his game to a certain extent, and that's probably enough to make him worth starting for Week 12 against the Eagles in PPR leagues. But it's hard to feel too confident in him.

And it's even harder to feel confident in Sanders. He did lead the team with 94 yards on 16 carries, but he was targeted just once and was actually out-carried by Jordan Howard in the first half, 9-8. Howard is likely to miss Sunday's game against the Giants with a sprained MCL, which should lock Sanders into enough of a rule to be worth starting in a good matchup, but it's another situation where you wish you felt better about him after awaiting his return. In Sanders' case, more so because of role questions than anything else.

We could see the returns of Alvin Kamara, Cordarrelle Patterson and Kareem Hunt this week, so that'll be one thing to watch out for this week. Additionally, it looks like Michael Carter will miss at least a few weeks with a high-ankle sprain, so add the Jets to the list of teams with uncertainty in the backfield -- a list that also features the Patriots, Bills, Titans, Texans, Ravens, and Falcons, at least. 

There are a lot of question marks at RB this week, but here's my first crack at the rankings. To see the rankings of Jamey Eisenberg, Dave Richard, and Heath Cummings, make sure you head here. 

Week 12 RB Rankings

  1. Christian McCaffrey @MIA
  2. Jonathan Taylor vs. TB
  3. Najee Harris @CIN
  4. Austin Ekeler @DEN
  5. Dalvin Cook @SF
  6. Joe Mixon vs. PIT
  7. Cordarrelle Patterson @JAX
  8. Leonard Fournette @IND
  9. Darrell Henderson @GB
  10. Saquon Barkley vs. PHI
  11. James Robinson vs. ATL
  12. Nick Chubb @BAL
  13. Myles Gaskin vs. CAR
  14. Antonio Gibson vs. SEA
  15. Elijah Mitchell vs. MIN
  16. Dontrell Hilliard @NE
  17. Aaron Jones vs. LAR
  18. Kareem Hunt @BAL
  19. AJ Dillon vs. LAR
  20. Miles Sanders @NYG
  21. Ty Johnson @HOU
  22. Melvin Gordon vs. LAC
  23. Javonte Williams vs. LAC
  24. D'Onta Foreman @NE
  25. Alex Collins @WAS
  26. Damien Harris vs. TEN
  27. Rhamondre Stevenson vs. TEN
  28. Devonta Freeman vs. CLE
  29. David Johnson vs. NYJ
  30. Mike Davis @JAX
  31. Deejay Dallas @WAS
  32. Latavius Murray vs. CLE
  33. J.D. McKissic vs. SEA
  34. Nyheim Hines vs. TB
  35. Boston Scott @NYG
  36. Jeff Wilson vs. MIN
  37. Devontae Booker vs. PHI
  38. Alexander Mattison @SF
  39. Rex Burkhead vs. NYJ
  40. Brandon Bolden vs. TEN

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