NFL Picks Week 12: Ranking the Top and Bottom 10 Running Backs' Production

NFL running backs are arguably the most talented all-around athletes of any position in the league.

This Thanksgiving week, defenses are wearing down later in the season while the best running backs are heating up.

Here are the Bottom and Top 10 starting running backs ranked on how they will perform in Week 12 compared to the rest of the league's backs:

20. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 21: Fred Jackson #22 of the Buffalo Bills runs with the ball while defended by Johnathan Joseph #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bills won 49-21.

Jackson and the Buffalo Bills battle the league's best run defense in the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.

The Steelers don't just have the best run defense in the league this season, but they have one of the best ever.

They allow only 63 yards a game on the ground.  Opposing running backs only average 2.9 yards a pop against them, and have only rushed for one run of over 20 yards all season long.

19. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 10: Joseph Addai #29 of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the football against the Kansas City Chiefs at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Joseph Addai has begun to practice again for the first time since Week 6.  If he isn't able to go, this spot belongs to Donald Brown.

The Colts just don't run the football.  Neither of the Colts backs has received more than 20 carries in a game this season.

Against the Chargers third-ranked run defense, the Colts ground game will be nonexistent.

18. Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 31: Jahvid Best #44 of the Detroit Lions runs for a first down as Carlos Rogers #22 of the Washington Redskins gets ready to make the stop during the first quarter of the game at Ford Field on October 31, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Phot

Best flashed potential early in the year, but he's only averaging three yards per carry, no thanks to the Lions' horrible offensive line.

The Patriots run defense isn't great, but their pass defense is so bad that that is what the Lions offense will have to attack to keep pace with the high-scoring Patriots offense.

17. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals

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CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 21: Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at Paul Brown Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Benson is only averaging 3.7 yards a carry this season.  It's starting to look like last year's success was a fluke.

Going up against the Jets fifth-ranked run defense, he should have no room to run Thanksgiving night.

16. Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys

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GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 07: Felix Jones #28 of the Dallas Cowboys hits the ground as Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers moves in at Lambeau Field on November 7, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Cowboys 45-7. (Photo by Jonath

Jones doesn't get that many carries because he has to share reps with Marion Barber.  He hasn't carried the ball 100 times yet this season.

He's banged up and going up against a solid Saints run defense, so he should continue to put up low numbers.

15. Chris Ivory, New Orleans Saints

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NEW ORLEANS - NOVEMBER 21: Chris Ivory #29 of the New Orleans Saints is tackled by Walter Thurmond #28 of the Seattle Seahawks at Louisiana Superdome on November 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Cowboys run defense is nothing special, but neither is Chris Ivory.

He is averaging 4.8 yards a carry this year, but he's a little banged up.  On top of that, Reggie Bush could make his return this week, so Ivory would have to share playing time with him.

14. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 14: Matt Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears runs as Husain Abdullah #39 of the Minnesota Vikings closes in at Soldier Field on November 14, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Vikings 27-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Ima

Mike Martz's offense is always pass first, run second.

Against Philadelphia's explosive offense, the Bears will need to pass first, pass second to keep up.

The Eagles also have the eighth-best run defense in football, which will make it hard on Forte to find running room behind the worst offensive line in the league in the few carries he'll get.

13. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 22: Running back Knowshon Moreno #27 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on November 22, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers won 35-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Image

The Broncos pass the ball almost twice as much as they run it.  When they do run the ball, Moreno only averages 3.7 yards a carry, anyway.

Against the Rams 10th-ranked run defense, the Broncos should continue to ignore the running game.

12. Brandon Jackson, Green Bay Packers

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MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 21: Brandon Jackson #32 of the Green Bay Packers is kept from scoring by Chris Cook #31 of the Minnesota Vikings at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 21, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty

The Packers throw the football far more times than they run it.

Their opponent this week, the Atlanta Falcons, have the sixth-ranked run defense in the NFL.

The Falcons should have no problems slowing down Brandon Jackson on Sunday.

11. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 21: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Eagles are a pass-first football team.  

They are going up against the second-best run defense in the league in the Chicago Bears.

The running game has never been a priority in Andy Reid's offense, but this week it should be even less important than usual.

10. Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders

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OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Jason Campbell #8 hands the ball off to Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 7, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed

McFadden's great season hit a speed bump last week at Pittsburgh, but so has that of every running back who has gone up against the black and gold.

He should regain that burst against the mediocre Dolphins run defense.

The return of Darrius Heyward-Bey should also help stretch the field for McFadden.

9. Mike Tolbert, San Diego Chargers

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 22: Mike Tolbert #35 of the San Diego Chargers in action against Denver Broncos at Qualcomm Stadium on November 22, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Tolbert should have a big day against the Colts' 30th-ranked run defense.

Last week against the Broncos, this battering ram rushed for 111 yards.  When he gets his carries, he's been one of the best in the league this season.

How come the Chargers always have good running backs?

8. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

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CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 21: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The Buccaneers have the fourth-worst run defense in the league this season, giving up 136.5 yards a game.

Even though he's not having the unstoppable year experts predicted, Rice should still be able to run all over Tampa Bay.

7. Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns rushes during a game agaisnt the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on November 21, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Hillis is one of the league's biggest surprises in 2010.

Through 10 games, he has 774 rushing yards.  That's almost twice as much as he's had in his entire career.

Going up against Carolina's 24th-ranked run defense, he should have another field day.

6. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Andre Carter #99 of the Washington Redskins tackles Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Redskins won 19-16 in overtime. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Imag

In an "off year," Chris Johnson is third in the league in rushing.

All he needs is one play, and he's had plenty of success in the past against the Houston Texans.

With Rusty Smith starting at quarterback, he will be leaned on heavily this Sunday.

5. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

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SAN FRANCISCO - NOVEMBER 14: Frank Groe #21 of the San Francisco 49ers in action against the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick Park on November 14, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Frank Gore is one of league's most talented running backs.

Gore and the 49ers will go up against one of the least talented teams in the league in the Arizona Cardinals this week.

Facing the Cardinals' 28th-ranked run defense, Gore should easily rush for 100 yards or more.

4. Arian Foster, Houston Texans

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans runs the ball against David Harris #52 and Trevor Pryce #93 of the New York Jets on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim

Arian Foster is the first running back in the league to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark on the year.

He also leads the league in rushing touchdowns, with the second-place back having three fewer end zone appearances.

If the Texans were a winning football team, he'd be in discussions for league MVP.

3. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

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PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 21: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs by Mike Mitchell #34 of the Oakland Raiders during the game on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Forced to carry the Steelers offense through the first four weeks due to Ben Roethlisberger's suspension, Mendenhall is having a career year.

This week, he will face off against the league's worst run defense in the Buffalo Bills.

If his offensive line weren't so beaten up, he could have challenged the 200-yard mark.

2. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 14: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings hands off to Adrian Peterson #28 against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 14, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Vikings 27-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Ima

The Redskins run defense is ranked 27th in the NFL, giving up 131 yards a game, but even if they were ranked seventh, Adrian Peterson would still make this list's Top 10.

He's Adrian Peterson.

He's second in the NFL in rushing while being the only bright spot in the the failure that was the Minnesota Vikings season.

1. Stephen Jackson, St. Louis Rams

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ST. LOUIS - NOVEMBER 15: Stephen Jackson #39 of the St. Louis Rams carries the ball during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Edward Jones Dome on November 15, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

The Broncos have the second-worst run defense in the NFL, surrendering 143.5 yards a game.

As one of the league's most talented backs, Stephen Jackson should have his best game of the year.

One hundred fifty rushing yards should be a given for Jackson in this one.