16 Dec 10 Fantasy Football: Week 12 Running Back (RB)

Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesThis morning, we updated our fantasy rankings for Week 12. Here are some notes on running backs and run defenses heading into this week's games:For a second week in a row, Panthers running back Mike Goodson rushed for 100-plus yards. In those two games against the Bucs and Ravens, Goodson has rushed for 220 yards—or 12 more than Jonathan Stewart has (208) in his eight games played.In his past three games, Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew has 23-plus carries and 100-plus yards in Reebok Green Bay Packers #12 Aaron Rodgers Realtree camo Jersey
each game. Against the Browns in Week 11, MJD finished with 220 yards from scrimmage (133 rushing and 87 receiving).Atlanta's Michael Turner has had 20-plus carries, 100-plus yards and one or more touchdowns in three of his past four games. During that stretch Turner has 92 carries for 398 yards and five touchdowns.Buffalo's Fred Jackson has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. He has 249 rushing yards in addition to nine receptions for 50 yards in those two games. He has also scored five touchdowns in the past three games.San Francisco running back Frank Gore set season lows in rushing yards (23) and yards from scrimmage (60) last week against the Bucs. Although the Bucs have a fantasy-friendly defense for running backs, Gore has a better matchup tReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
his week against the Cardinals, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.Speaking of Gore, he is the featured running back in our fantasy football contest for Week 12.No team has allowed more fantasy points to opposing running backs than Denver. That sets up a great matchup for Rams running back Steven Jackson, who has failed to reach 100 rushing yards for three straight games.San Diego's Mike Tolbert rushed for a career-high 111 yards on 25 carries against the Broncos on Monday Night. The Chargers have another fantasy-friendly matchup this week as they face the Colts, who rank 30th in the NFL against the run.Here are the top 10 fantasy running backs for Week 12:1. Chris Johnson, Titans (at HOU) 2. Peyton Hillis, Browns (vs CAR) 3. Steven Jackson, Rams (at DEN) 4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (at WAS) 5. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers (at BUF) 6. Frank Gore, 49ers (at ARI) 7. Arian Foster, Texans (vs TEN) 8. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars (at NYG) 9. Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
Jamaal Charles, Chiefs (at SEA) 10. Ray Rice, Ravens (vs TB)See our full top 40 running back rankings for Week 12.More rankings for Week 12: Top 25 QBs | Top 50 WRs | Top 20 TEsFeel free to send start/sit questions to me via Twitter EDSFootball or post your questions in our free Fantasy Football forum.Good luck in your Week 12 matchup(s) and in our Week 12 contest.This article is also featured onThe Daily Blitz