It almost never fails. Invariably at least one RB who you’ve never heard of bursts upon the scene and becomes a viable back that you can insert into your fantasy lineup for the stretch run of the fantasy football season.

Based on his Week 12 performance, (104 rushing yards, three catches and a TD), Jonathan Williams should be given another opportunity to be the lead back in the Colts backfield while Marlon Mack ’s broken hand heals. Williams should be able to do some damage against the Titans this week. They’ve given up 10 total TDs to RBs on the season.

Lions RB Bo Scarbrough looked good in Week 12, rushing 18 times for 98 yards for a 5.44 YPC.He should be the Lions’ lead back going forward but the Bears, Vikings, Buccaneers and Broncos are his next four opponents and they all have tough run defenses. Remember, opportunity does not always lead to big time fantasy production.

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman who was dealing with a foot injury, is set to make his return to action on Thanksgiving night. Fantasy owners shouldn’t expect too much from Freeman. He’s facing the Saints, and they’ve given up just 129 rushing yards to RBs in their last four games.

Heading into Week 13 David Montgomery ’s rookie season could be filed under “B” for bust. He ran for just 22 yards on 13 carries (1.69 YPC) against a Giants defense that gives up 123 rushing yards per game. You can’t start Montgomery during this crucial part of your fantasy season.

The Jaguars run defense has fallen apart over the past few weeks. The Jags have given up 623 rushing yards over their last four games. Too bad the Buccaneers, the Jags’ next opponent, use a 50/50 time share between Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber in their backfield.

The Jaguars’ recent shortcoming defending against the run should remind all fantasy football players that they can’t only look at season long averages to determine who to plug into their lineups. Now is the time for fantasy football players to pay attention to recent trends. There are plenty of resources that break down statistics into anywhere from two to five week intervals.

Pay attention to the running back situation in Seattle. Chris Carson ’s fumbling problems may cause Rashaad Penny to eat into his playing time. Carson has lost four fumbles on the year, (his fourth coming in Week 12), and Penny had a season high 14 carries in Week 12. Coincidence? Probably not.

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott has averaged 3.13 YPC and hasn’t had a 100 yard rushing game in three straight contests. You’re never going to consider benching Elliott as a fantasy player but, you have to wonder if all of the time he missed in preseason training camp is starting to catch up to him.On the other hand, perhaps his recent slump is due to his playing against tougher oppositionin recent weeks. Just something to think about…

Team

Primary RB

Change of Pace

3rd Down Back

Handcuff

IR/PUP/Susp./Holdout/Injured

Arizona Cardinals

Kenyan Drake /David Johnson

   

Chase Edmonds hasn’t played since week 8 (hamstring)

Atlanta Falcons

Devonta Freeman

Quadree Ollison/Kenjon Barner

Kenjon Barner

Brian Hill

Ito Smith on IR

Baltimore Ravens

Mark Ingram

Gus Edwards /Justice Hill

 

Gus Edwards

 

Buffalo Bills

Devin Singletary

Frank Gore

 

Frank Gore

 

Carolina Panthers

Christian McCaffrey

Reggie Bonnafon  

 

Reggie Bonnafon

 

Chicago Bears

David Montgomery

 

Tarik Cohen

 

 

Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Mixon

 

Giovani Bernard

Giovani Bernard

 

Cleveland Browns

Nick Chubb

Dontrell Hilliard

Kareem Hunt

Kareem Hunt

 

Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott

 

 

Tony Pollard

 

Denver Broncos

Phillip Lindsay

Royce Freeman

 

Royce Freeman

 

Detroit Lions

Bo Scarbrough

Ty Johnson

J.D. McKissic

 

Kerryon Johnson , Tra Carson on IR

Green Bay Packers

Aaron Jones

 

Jamaal Williams

Jamaal Williams

 

Houston Texans

Carlos Hyde

Duke Johnson

 

Duke Johnson

Lamar Miller

Indianapolis Colts

Jonathan Williams

 

Nyheim Hines

Jordan Wilkins

Marlon Mack – broken hand

Jacksonville Jaguars

Leonard Fournette

 

 

Ryquell Armstead

Alfred Blue

Kansas City Chiefs

Damien Williams /LeSean McCoy

Darrel Williams

   

Los Angeles Chargers

Melvin Gordon

 

Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler

 

Los Angeles Rams

Todd Gurley

Malcolm Brown

 

 

 

Miami Dolphins

Kalen Ballage

Myles Gaskin

Patrick Laird

  

Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook

Alexander Mattison

 

Alexander Mattison

 

New England Patriots

Sony Michel

Rex Burkhead

James White

 

James Develin

New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara

 

 

Latavius Murray

 

New York Giants

Saquon Barkley

 

 

Wayne Gallman /Elijhaa Penny

 

New York Jets

Le’Veon Bell

  

Bilal Powell /Ty Montgomery

 

Oakland Raiders

Josh Jacobs

DeAndre Washington

Jalen Richard

DeAndre Washington /Jalen Richard

 

Philadelphia Eagles

*Jordan Howard

Boston Scott /Jay Ajayi

Miles Sanders

Miles Sanders

Darren Sproles ,*missed Wk 12 matchup-watch his progress

Pittsburgh Steelers

*James Conner

Kerrith Whyte/Trey Edmunds

Jaylen Samuels

Benny Snell

*Conner is likely to miss Wk 13 action. Based on last week’s game script if Conner is out, Snell would get the majority of touches.

San Francisco 49ers

Tevin Coleman

Raheem Mostert

Kyle Juszczyk

Raheem Mostert

Jerick McKinnon on IR, *Breida is dealing with ankle injury-has missed two straight games.

Seattle Seahawks

Chris Carson /Rashaad Penny

  

 Rashaad Penny

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ronald Jones

Peyton Barber

Dare Ogunbowale

Peyton Barber

 

Tennessee Titans

*Derrick Henry

 

 Dion Lewis

Dion Lewis

*Henry was limited with a hamstring injury at practice this week. Watch his progress as game time approaches.

Washington Redskins

Adrian Peterson

Wendell Smallwood /Derrius Guice

 

Wendell Smallwood

Chris Thompson