NFL Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back Rankings

Chris Johnson has a tougher matchup than usual against a decent Cardinals defense, but you simply can't bet against this guy right now. He's a must-start every week.

However, outside of him, there are choices to be made :

1. Chris Johnson vs. AZ
2. Adrian Peterson vs. CHI
3. Maurice Jones-Drew @ SF
4. Steven Jackson vs. SEA
5. Frank Gore vs. JAC
6. DeAngelo Williams @ NYJ
7. Ricky Williams @ BUF
8. Ray Rice vs. PIT (Sit )
9. Bernard Scott vs. CLE
10. Thomas Jones vs. CAR
11. Ryan Grant @ DET
12. Marion Barber vs. OAK
13. Pierre Thomas vs. NE
14. Brandon Jacobs @ DEN
15. Joseph Addai @ HOU
16. Jason Snelling vs. TB (Start )
17. LaDainian Tomlinson vs. KC
18. Justin Forsett @ STL
19. LeSean McCoy vs. WAS
20. Knowshon Moreno vs. NYG
21. Matt Forte @ MN
22. Rashard Mendenhall @ BAL
23. Laurence Maroney @ NO
24. Jamaal Charles @ SD
25. Rock Cartwright @ PHI (Waiver Wire )
26. Steve Slaton vs. IND
27. Kevin Smith vs. GB
28. Chris Wells @ TEN
29. Mike Bell vs. NE (Waiver Wire )
30. Tim Hightower @ TEN
31. Carnell Williams @ ATL
32. Jonathan Stewart @ NYJ
33. Jamal Lewis @ CIN (Waiver Wire )
34. Fred Jackson vs. MIA
35. Darren Sproles vs. KC
36. Marshawn Lynch vs. MIA (Check Status)
37. Felix Jones vs. OAK
38. Donald Brown @ HOU
39. Shonn Greene vs. CAR
40. Cedric Benson vs. CLE (Check Status)

Notes: Be aware of tough matchups for studs like Rashard Mendenhall and Ray Rice, and don't take a chance on Matt Forte this week. The elite run defenses all three players are facing don't bode well for their fantasy production.

We like Justin Forsett this week, so much so that we've ranked him 18th, and we're not even ranking Julius Jones, who is set to return this week. Forsett should still have a big role and is likely to be much more effective, while a tasty matchup with the St. Louis Rams is hard to ignore.

The bottom five consists of backs with solid potential that don't see the ball enough, as well as Cedric Benson, who is looking more and more like a strong candidate to miss Week 12's action. With Bernard Scott looking so solid last week, we advise just benching Benson and taking a chance on him next week.

Be sure to check out the Quarterback , Wide Receiver, and Tight End rankings for Week 12.