NFL DFS Week 12 RB Coach: David Montgomery, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley
Published: Nov 20, 2024
Introducing the NFL DFS Week 12 RB Coach article! Joe Mixon made me look real smart in Week 11 and has been on a rampage since he returned to action in Week 6 after recovering from his high ankle sprain.
Christian McCaffrey hasn’t been a terrible NFL DFS RB since his season debut in Week 10, but his production has been consistent with his high DFS salaries yet.
NFL DFS Week 12 RB Coach For FanDuel & DraftKings Fantasy
My Week 11 recommendations to start De’Von Achane, Jahmyr Gibbs and Josh Jacobs were on the mark, but it looks like Audric Estime’s time as the Denver Broncos’ lead back was short and bittersweet.
Let’s put Week 11 behind us and get some NFL DFS RBs who can help us win some cash in our lineups with the NFL DFS Week 12 RB Coach!
NFL Week 12 RBs
The Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets are all on a bye in Week 12. There are only 13 games on the slate, but the good news is that you can probably get away without using a big chunk of your overall DFS budget on NFL DFS RBs this week.
As always, the NFL DFS Week 12 RB Coach recommendation would be a couple of high-priced top tier NFL DFS RBs that you can use in Week 12 but with several lower priced value RBs having good matchups you’ve got some flexibility in filling your DFS lineups and can spend up for other NFL DFS positions.
I’m staying away from the Cleveland Browns backfield which now appears to be a timeshare between Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford and while Dylan Laube is intriguing, I want no part of the Las Vegas Raiders backfield in DFS this week.
There are several NFL DFS RBs and backfields that I do want a part of in Week 12. These are a few of the NFL DFS Week 12 RB Coach favorites and I hope that by the end of Week 12 they’ll be your favorites as well.
NFL DFS RB Top-Tier Picks For Week 12
Derrick Henry, RB Baltimore Ravens - DraftKings: $7,800 | FanDuel: $9,200
Henry is an automatic start at this point. He continued his streak of scoring at least one TD in every game so far this season.
Overall, the Los Angeles Chargers have been good at containing NFL DFS RBs this season, but that has changed lately as they’ve given up 4.68 YPC to the position over their last five games.
Saquon Barkley, RB Philadelphia Eagles - DraftKings: $8,200 | FanDuel: $10,000
It breaks my heart to think of all those wasted years that Barkley spent running behind bad New York Giants offensive lines. Putting those occasional “Tush Push” TD vultures aside, Barkley has proven to be matchup proof this season.
I don’t love his matchup against the Los Angeles Rams’ improving run defense, but they’ve given up the fifth most receptions to NFL DFS RBs over the past three weeks so whether he does it on the ground or through the air, Barkley should be able to find a way to provide NFL DFS players with good production in Week 12.
NFL DFS RB Mid-Tier Picks For Week 12
Kenneth Walker, RB Seattle Seahawks - DraftKings: $6,900 | FanDuel: $8,100
Walker’s recent mediocre performances has driven his weekly DFS salary down for three consecutive weeks but that’s what makes him an attractive NFL DFS RB recommendation in Week 12.
The Arizona Cardinals run defense has improved recently but they’ve given up 4.56 YPC to NFL DFS RBs this season. Walker III has had good success against the Cards in his career, rushing for 4.32 YPC and scoring three rushing TDs against them in four games.
James Conner, RB Arizona Cardinals - DraftKings: $6,500 | FanDuel: $7,700
Don’t be fooled by Trey Benson’s increase in carries over the Cardinals’ last two games. The Cards had big leads in both games and that probably contributed to Benson’s increased usage.
He’ll probably be more of a factor as the season progresses but for now Conner is the Cardinals’ lead back. Conner has a good matchup against the Seahawks who’ve given up the fifth most rushing yards (1203) to NFL DFS RBs this season. Conner has five TDs in five career matchups against the Seahawks.
NFL DFS RB Value Picks For Week 12
Tyrone Tracy, RB New York Giants - DraftKings: $6,000 | FanDuel: $6,700
Don’t fall into the trap of avoiding using fantasy players who are part of bad real life teams. There aren’t too many worse teams in the NFL than the Giants, but Tracy Jr. has been one of the bright spots in their offense this season.
Over his last three games he has two TDs and is averaging 5.81 YPC. Tracy Jr. has a good matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who have given up 4.81 YPC to NFL DFS RBs in their last four games.
Brian Robinson, RB Washington Commanders - DraftKings: $5,900 | FanDuel: $7,900
Robinson Jr. finally seems fully healthy and is clearly the Commanders’ lead back, with Austin Ekeler working passing downs and filling the RB handcuff role.
Robinson Jr. has a great matchup against a Dallas Cowboys team that hasn’t been able to stop the run all season and who just got pummeled by Joe Mixon on Monday night. The Cowboys have given up the second most rushing TDs (13) and 4.61 YPC to NFL DFS RBs this season.
NFL DFS RB Fades For Week 12
KC Chiefs RBs
The Chiefs take on the Carolina Panthers who have had one of the worst defenses against NFL DFS RBs this season. I love to target the Panthers in this column but with Isiah Pacheco set to make his return to action in Week 12 after having been out since Week 2, I’m not sure if he’ll play enough to make him worth starting in DFS.
I’m also worried that even if Pacheco is eased into action in Week 12, he still might steal enough carries from Kareem Hunt to make him not worth starting as well. Despite the great matchup, I can’t trust any Chiefs NFL DFS RBs this week.
NFL Week 12 RB Play Of The Week
David Montgomery, RB Detroit Lions - DraftKings: $6,700 | FanDuel: $8,400
In any given week both Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are NFL DFS RBs worth starting based on their weekly usage and the fact that they are both very good RBs. Only two teams in the NFL (Eagles and the Steelers) run the ball more than the Lions do.
Lions NFL DFS RBs have a good matchup against an Indianapolis Colts team that has given up the fifth most rushing yards to RBs (549) over the past 5 weeks. I like both Montgomery and Gibbs this week (and you might want to start both in Week 12) but based on Montgomery’s DFS salary, I’d rather take my chances with starting him over Gibbs against the Colts.