Start: James Conner — Arizona Cardinals (at HOU)
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James Conner is back, Kyler Murray is back, and the Cardinals offense is ready to score some points again. Conner returned after a four game absence while Murray was making his debut. Arizona notched 25 points in Murray’s first game off an ACL tear, and Conner looked mostly uninhibited after nursing a knee injury of his own. We all know that this is Conner’s backfield when he’s healthy. And, with Murray at the helm, Arizona should be able to produce plenty of opportunities for Conner to cash-in near the end zone.
Sit: Tony Pollard — Dallas Cowboys (at CAR)
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It’s been tough sledding for Tony Pollard investors. With Ezekiel Elliott out of town, many expected Pollard to breakout in his first year as the clear-cut No. 1 back on Dallas’ roster. Instead, Pollard has struggled and really hasn’t been utilized like many fantasy pundits envisioned. He hasn’t scored since Week 1, a drought which has grown comical at this point. And, perhaps most notably, he went without a target in Dallas’ last game. Backup Rico Dowdle shined in the Cowboys’ most recent rout, leading many to believe Dallas could return to a committee approach as the season winds down.
Start: Gus Edwards — Baltimore Ravens (vs CIN)
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The ‘Gus Bus’ just has a nose for the end zone. Baltimore’s starting RB has cashed in on seven scores over the past four games. Edwards had just 28 yards in Baltimore’s last game, but once again converted a short touchdown run. This Ravens offense is humming, and it’s clear the team prefers to keep the ball on the ground near the red zone. Plus, it appears the coaching staff would rather not run Lamar Jackson down there. As such, Edwards has gotten plenty of looks at the goal line and reaped the rewards. Even against a tough defense, Edwards is a strong play given his massive touchdown-upside.
Sit: Dameon Pierce — Houston Texans (vs ARI)
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It appears that Dameon Pierce’s run as a fantasy viable running back are over. With the Texans moving towards a pass-happy attack, the rushing game has faltered as a result. Pierce is still receiving the bulk of the carries, but has yet to produce at a high level. Pierce’s touches had dwindled with each passing week. And, he hasn’t seen a target in the passing game in each of his last two outings. That’s a serious issue when it’s abundantly clear the Texans prefer to move the ball through the air. Pierce has just one touchdown on the year, and is tied for 7th on the team with just nine receptions on the season.
Start: David Montgomery — Detroit Lions (vs CHI)
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We predicted David Montgomery’s return to the field would ultimately hurt the fantasy viability of both of Detroit’s running backs. Instead, both Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs went off in Week 10. Perhaps this Lions team is capable of producing two fantasy relevant backs simultaneously. Montgomery’s day was highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown — his 7th TD on the year. He’s averaging nearly 20 touches per game in the five healthy contests he’s played in 2023.
Sit: Najee Harris — Pittsburgh Steelers (at CLE)
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Najee Harris has been one of the biggest fantasy busts thus far. After getting drafted in the first or second round of most leagues, Harris’ production has been nowhere near that level. Most troubling is Harris has seemingly lost snaps to backup Jaylen Warren. Neither have been very productive, and the Steelers offense isn’t nearly good enough to sustain two fantasy relevant RB’s. Harris is coming off a solid outing (18.60 PPR), but the Browns defense is a stingy group. It’ll be difficult for any Steeler to produce a big day against this week.
Start: Kenneth Walker — Seattle Seahawks (at LAR)
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Kenneth Walker is the league’s premier home run hitter. It seems like every other game he’s breaking off a big run of over 50 yards. In his last outing, Walker turned a short pass into a 64-yard touchdown. However, he tends to struggle fantasy-wise when the big play never surfaces. We’ll bank on him breaking free against a reeling Rams team.
Sit: Derrick Henry — Tennessee Titans (at JAC)
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Derrick Henry was held under 30 yards for the second time this year, and this Titans offense has serious problems. Two weeks after Will Levis threw for four touchdowns, Tennessee has scored just 22 points over their last two games. Their most recent six-point outing is likely emblematic for the type of offense we’ll see from Tennessee going forward. Teams will continue to make Levis prove himself while preferring to stack the box and shut down Henry and the Titans run game.
Start: Rachaad White — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at SF)
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Tampa’s leading rusher Rachaad White certainly has talent. While he’s had limited running room to operate, White has been a useful fantasy asset thanks to his reliability as a pass catcher. He’s been especially utilized in that role in recent weeks In fact, he’s been one of the most reliable pass-catching backs in all of football this season having hauled in 35-of-37 targets. Last week, he scored his first receiving touchdown of the year off a screen pass that went 43 years. While he won’t gash many teams on the ground, White’s all-around contributions make him a great start in PPR leagues.
Sit: Alexander Mattison — Minnesota Vikings (at DEN)
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It appears Alexander Mattison’s time as Minnesota’s unquestioned starter is over. The veteran exited Sunday’s game with a concussion, but was already ceding touches to the speedy Ty Chandler before that. Chandler has some serious juice, and could potentially run away with the starting role while Mattison tries to pass protocols. An unfortunate turn for those who invested in Mattison during draft season, as a matchup with the Broncos — who have allowed the most points to opposing RB’s this year — would be a perfect opportunity.
Start: Aaron Jones — Green Bay Packers (vs LAC)
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If the Packers can’t get Aaron Jones going against the Chargers, it might be time to call it a season in Green Bay. Jones — a fantasy stud in previous years — has struggled with injuries and a lack of opportunities. It doesn’t help that the Packers offense as a whole has been uneven with Jordan Love at the helm. Since Week 1, Jones is averaging less than 50 yards per game and has as many fumbles as he does touchdowns (2). The Chargers boast one of the league’s worst run defenses (8th most points allowed to RB’s), and present a great chance for the Packers lead back to get back on track.
Sit: Chuba Hubbard — Carolina Panthers (vs DAL)
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We want no part of the Panthers backfield. Miles Sanders entered the year as the starter, but has since lost that role. Chuba Hubbard has seen increased run over the last month, and is averaging over 16 carries per contest over his last four games. Unfortunately, the increased workload hasn’t led to many results for Hubbard. He’s scored just one touchdown on the year. Carolina just played two of the worst defenses in the league in their last two games, but this week face off against a stingy Cowboys group. Hubbard won’t be able to do much.
Sit: Dalvin Cook — New York Jets (at BUF)
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Dalvin Cook joined the Jets thinking he was going to be the star back of an Aaron Rodgers-led offense. Instead, he’s the clear backup for a Zach Wilson-led offense. Quite the downfall. Cook has been a bit underutilized with the Jets, but can you really blame the team? Breece Hall is clearly the more effective back, and Cook looks to have lost a step. Following reported trade demands during the Bye Week, the Jets handed the ball off to Cook just two times in their win over the Giants. The coaching staff doubled that number to four in a loss to the Raiders. It’s unlikely (barring injury) we see him get much more usage moving forward, and that’s not nearly enough for him to make any sort of positive impact.
Start: Joe Mixon — Cincinnati Bengals (at BAL)
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The Bengals offense has been uneven this season, and part of that has been due to a lack of a consistent rushing attack. Joe Mixon is off to a slow start. He recently set his season high for rushing yards at 87, and has broke 70 just twice this year. He hasn’t been much of a threat in the passing game, either, ranking 24th in receiving yards among RB’s. That being said, he’s looked better in recent weeks and has scored in three straight. The Ravens are a tough matchup, but these AFC North games end up being grind-it-out slugfests. Perhaps Mixon can be the beneficiary of a couple short touchdown runs.
Sit: D’Onta Foreman — Chicago Bears (at DET)
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After being held out last Thursday, it appears that in all likelihood Khalil Herbert should return for this game. Additionally, we may finally see the return of Justin Fields after a four-week hiatus. That would mean two more players that will cut into Foreman’s workload on the ground. The former Panther has played well as Chicago’s starter, though it’s unlikely he has a big enough role when everybody is healthy.
Sit: Isiah Pacheco — Kansas City Chiefs (vs PHI)
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Pacheco hasn’t been much of a factor for the Chiefs over their last two games, and could be in for another rough outing against the Eagles. In a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl, Pacheco will face off against one of the league’s most potent defensive lines. The Eagles have held opposing RB’s to the fewest fantasy points this year, with most of the damage having been done by elite pass-catching backs. The Eagles haven’t given up over 60 rushing yards to a single back all year. Pacheco has been used more in the passing game in ’23, but isn’t much of a threat in that regard.
Start: Darrell Henderson Jr. — Los Angeles Rams (vs SEA)
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Reports indicate that Kyren Williams could return in Week 12 versus the Cardinals. That means another week of Darrell Henderson Jr. who could be a strong start across most leagues. Henderson isn’t the most dynamic back, but he’s gotten a ton of touches since the Rams brought him on back in Week 7. He’s eclipsed double-digit carries in each game. While he doesn’t boast a ton of upside, Henderson should produce a decent line for those who are still waiting for Williams to return to the field.
Start: Josh Jacobs — Las Vegas Raiders (at MIA)
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Is Josh Jacobs officially back? Last year’s rushing leader got off to a slow start following a tumultuous offseason of contract negotiations. With Josh McDaniels ousted two weeks ago, it seemed like there was new life breathed within this Raiders team. And, they showed it with back-to-back wins over the two New York teams. In victories over the Jets and Giants, Jacobs saw 53 carries and ran for 214 yards and two scores. He added two receptions for 11 yards against the Jets. It’s obvious that interim HC Antonio Pierce wants to get the ball in the hands of his two All-Pros — Jacobs and Davante Adams. Keep riding the Raiders RB until the wheels fall off.
Sit: Kareem Hunt — Cleveland Browns (vs PIT)
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Jerome Ford was back in a big way for the Browns, and that ultimately limits Kareem Hunt’s viability in the long run. While Hunt did reach the end zone in the win over the Ravens, his output has not been fantasy friendly since reemerging in Cleveland. Previously a prolific pass catcher, Hunt hasn’t caught a pass in each of his last two outings. He has just six receptions in seven games with the Browns. With a time-share in the backfield, Hunt can’t be trusted as a TD-dependent option.
Start: Saquon Barkley — New York Giants (at WAS)
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At this point, the Giants don’t have any choice but to give Saquon Barkley all he can handle and pray for a big game. The Giants are enduring a nightmare season which has seen major injuries befall their starting QB and their big free agent acquisition TE. Daniel Jones is out of the year, and Darren Waller is definitely going to miss this one. Barkley is all alone, and surrounded by a crew of unproven skill players. Expect him to get plenty of work against a division rival as the Giants try to recoup whatever they can from this season.
Sit: D’Andre Swift — Philadelphia Eagles (at KC)
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It’s difficult to imagine either of the backs in this game having a big day. D’Andre Swift will be facing an elite Kansas City Chiefs defense that has been excellent at limiting opposing RB’s. Though Swift has put up some good fantasy numbers in his first year with the Eagles, he hasn’t been terribly efficient. Swift has relied on a heavy workload and a ton of touchdowns to make up his point totals. He hasn’t eclipsed 100 yards since Week 3, and his role in the passing game has been uneven. We’d stay away in this marquee matchup.
Start: Jahmyr Gibbs — Detroit Lions (vs CHI)
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Jahmyr Gibbs has arrived. The Lions shocked everyone when they selected Gibbs with the 12th overall selection in last April’s draft, but they clearly had a plan for the dynamic runner. After a slow start, Gibbs has emerged as one of the most explosive backs in the entire league. He’s been dominant ever since the Lions began giving him extended run back in Week 7. With Detroit’s potent offense consistently putting forth strong efforts, Gibbs is a great play for his dual-threat ability.
Start: Travis Etienne Jr. — Jacksonville Jaguars (vs TEN)
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Travis Etienne has really come into his own in his second full year in the league. The Jaguars spent a first-round pick on the former Clemson runner a few seasons ago, and have leaned on him heavily in ’23. Etienne leads the league in touches per game, and is among the league leaders in touchdowns. The Jaguars haven’t exactly stormed out of the gates offensively, but Etienne has been by far the team’s best player on that side of the ball. They’ll continue to feed him for as long as he can go.
Start: Austin Ekeler — Los Angeles Chargers (at GB)
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Austin Ekeler has really picked it up as of late. Following a slow start powered by injuries, Ekeler has come into his own over the last few weeks and has once again emerged as one of the top backs in all of fantasy. Ekeler is a pass-catching dynamo who is among one of the best offensive players at finding the end zone. And, the Chargers love going to their bellcow near the goal line. Start him with confidence this week.
Start: Christian McCaffrey — San Francisco 49ers (vs TB)
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The improbable TD streak has been broken, but there will be plenty of touchdowns in Christian McCaffrey’s future. The No. 1 back in all of fantasy, McCaffrey is the surest bet to dominate his matchup every week. What separates him from other top backs is in his dual-threat ability. No players puts more stress on defenses both on the ground and through the air than CMC. And, 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan always has a play in his back pocket that goes McCaffrey’s way. He’s the top option this week and for the remainder of the year.
