NFL Fantasy Football RB Rankings: Rashard Mendenhall Tops Week 12

Here’s my Week 12 running back rankings.

1. Rashard Mendenhall @ Buffalo
2. Adrian Peterson @ Washington
3. Chris Johnson @ Houston
4. Arian Foster vs. Tennessee
5. Peyton Hillis vs. Carolina
6. Frank Gore @ Arizona (Monday)
7. Ray Rice vs. Tampa Bay
8. Michael Turner vs. Green Bay
9. Jamaal Charles @ Seattle
10. Knowshon Moreno vs. St. Louis
11. Maurice Jones-Drew @ New York Giants
12. LeSean McCoy @ Chicago
13. Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Jacksonville
14. Darren McFadden vs. Miami
15. Steven Jackson @ Denver
16. Ronnie Brown @ Oakland
17. Thomas Jones @ Seattle
18. Matt Forte vs. Philadelphia
19. LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Cincinnati (Thursday)
20. Cedric Benson @ New York Jets (Thursday)
21. BenJarvus Green-Ellis @ Detroit (Thursday)
22. Fred Jackson vs. Pittsburgh
23. Mike Goodson @ Cleveland
24. Mike Tolbert @ Indianapolis
25. LeGarrette Blount @ Baltimore
26. Christopher Ivory @ Dallas (Thursday)
27. Felix Jones vs. New Orleans (Thursday)
28. Danny Woodhead @ Detroit (Thursday)
29. Brandon Jacobs vs. Jacksonville
30. Maurice Morris vs. New England (Thursday)
31. Keiland Williams vs. Minnesota
32. Shonn Greene vs. Cincinnati (Thursday)
33. Brandon Jackson @ Atlanta
34. Tim Hightower vs. San Francisco (Monday)
35. Ricky Williams @ Oakland

Inside the numbers:

The Raiders did a decent job slowing Rashard Mendenhall, but I’ll take a shot on him in the number one slot again as he takes on Buffalo’s league-worst run defense (163.5 yards allowed per game).
Washington is giving up 131 yards per game on the ground. Adrian Peterson should find plenty of running lanes against them.
Peyton Hillis’ magical season continues with a juicy match-up against Carolina, who is yielding 128.4 rushing yards per game. Hillis has ten combined TDs and 1125 total yards.
Frank Gore failed to capitalize against Tampa’s previously porous run defense, but he should bounce back against Arizona.
Both BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead are borderline RB2s against Detroit.
Reggie Bush may be able to go against Dallas, but Christopher Ivory is still the RB to use for New Orleans.
Mike Goodson will likely get another start, but he’s not a sure RB2 going up against Cleveland.
Brandon Jacobs will get the start for the Giants, which moves him up a few spots. Ahmad Bradshaw should still be used heavily so I only bumped him down a few.
I have been burned by Knowshon Moreno in the past, which made me back off a little on my rankings. I'm taking a leap with him. He's been great in the past two games and has a good match-up.

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