Giovani Bernard, Jeremy Hill's Instant Fantasy Reaction After Week 12

The Cincinnati Bengals have two legitimately talented running backs in Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, and each made a case to be the starter in Week 12 against the Houston Texans.

For fantasy owners, the success of both players is a double-edged sword.    

Player	Carries	Yards	Avg.	TDs	Rec./Targets	Rec. Yards	Rec. TDs
Jeremy Hill	18	87	4.8	1	1/1	9	0
Giovani Bernard	17	45	2.6	0	2/3	22	0

Bernard has been dealing with hip and collarbone injuries for weeks and had missed the three previous games. During that stretch, Hill took the starting job and ran with it, amassing 361 yards and two touchdowns.

In the first seven games of the season with Bernard as the starting running back, he racked up 446 yards and five touchdowns. While Bernard deserves a hefty dosage of the carries each week when he is healthy, Hill has earned more playing time with his recent performances and has been more effective per carry.

It is tough for fantasy owners to decipher which of the backs will be used more, but both have become fantasy options. They will each be dependent on touchdowns for big days, but both Bernard and Hill are consistent enough to be worth starting as at least a flex each week.

With only one week remaining in the fantasy football regular season for most leagues, a matchup against the leaky Tampa Bay Buccaneers run defense makes both players must-starts in Week 13.

Cincinnati is better with two talented running backs playing well, but the time share has created problems for fantasy owners. Thankfully, both Bernard and Hill are still producing.

*Stats via NFL.com.