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It's a great feeling to have players who are sure-fire starters every week and rack up huge point totals regularly. However, most teams aren't loaded with premier top-10 players at their positions. Most teams' RB2 and RB3/FLEX players have plenty of variability in their weekly scoring.
There are also changes that shake up many backfields throughout the season, like players returning from long absences due to injury. That should change things in one of these RB rooms, anyway.
So, who are five players in this range, and should you start or sit them for Week 12 in fantasy football? Let's take a look.
Should I Start Kareem Hunt for Fantasy Football?
UPDATE: Isiah Pacheco Will Not Play In Week 12
This is a tough one. Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt has enjoyed six games of double-digit PPR fantasy points, though that dipped to just six points in Week 11. Additionally, the return of RB Isiah Pacheco (fibula) from a broken leg in Week 2 could severely cut into his workload.
Kareem Hunt was the last Chief to rush for over 1,000 yards in 2017, securing the NFL rushing title with 1,327 yards. He now only needs 491 yards in his remaining 7 games to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in 8 seasons.@ChiefsFocus | #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/UqOygJIDEk
— P-Mac McGruder (@ChiefsFan4Lyfe) November 20, 2024
If Pacheco doesn't play, Hunt is a must-start. He can probably still be started as an RB3/FLEX if Pacheco does play, but that downgrades him from his RB2 status as the workhorse back. Hunt will have a very easy matchup, though -- the Chiefs face the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, who have one of the worst run defenses in the league. He should be started either way.
Should I Start Rhamondre Stevenson for Fantasy Football?
Yes. Despite his boom-or-bust, touchdown-dependent nature, New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson is the clear lead back for his team and has a nice workload and involvement in the passing game, which are big boosts for his value in PPR fantasy leagues.
Rhamondre Stevenson vs MIA pic.twitter.com/dMtBQl5QmJ
— Skrip (@P2WFantasy) November 21, 2024
He's the primary runner in goal-line situations as well, which helps and he has seven total touchdowns on the season. He'll likely maintain his role for the rest of the season -- his backup, Antonio Gibson, hasn't played particularly well, and third-string man JaMycal Hasty hasn't been much of a factor this season.
Should I Start Isiah Pacheco for Fantasy Football?
UPDATE: Isiah Pacheco Will Not Play In Week 12
This is another tough decision. Pacheco, when he returns, will be in a committee setup with Hunt. This is a tough injury to return from, and it may take months for him to get back to the shape he was in before, even after his first game back. These two factors will heavily cap his upside.
Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco (ankle) is expected to be healthy for Week 12 game vs. Panthers, per @RapSheet
It’ll be a coaches decision whether he plays as Kansas City will be on a short week. pic.twitter.com/70daleItMD
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 17, 2024
He's a very risky player to start because we don't know how much work he'll get if he returns. But, as was stated before, it's a very easy matchup against a soft Panthers run defense. In deeper leagues, he should be started but can be left on the bench in leagues with 10 or fewer teams.
Should I Start Rico Dowdle for Fantasy Football?
From this point forward, Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle can be treated as a risky RB3/FLEX start that can produce in a matchup-dependent manner. He scored just 5.4 PPR fantasy points in Week 11 against a tough Houston Texans run defense, but the upcoming Washington Commanders unit isn't nearly as scary.
Mike McCarthy’s decision to publicly anoint Rico Dowdle as Dallas’ lead back prior to this week ultimately led to him spending more time on the sidelines than usual.
I absolutely hate this team with a passion this year.
— Joe Beldner (@JoeBeldner) November 19, 2024
He's been involved in the passing game, so his playing just 49% of the snaps last week was odd and adds to his risk. He's a fine RB3/FLEX player for PPR leagues with 12 or more teams, but in other situations, he belongs on the bench for now. He was targeted five times, which is encouraging, but hauled in only two of those passes for six yards.
Typically, in blowouts, pass-catching backs can end up dominating snaps to serve as pass-protectors and outlets for dump-off passes and checkdowns. That doesn't appear to be how Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy wants to use Dowdle. Pro Football Focus fantasy analyst Nathan Jahnke did a great breakdown of the snaps for Dallas' running backs.
Backup RB Ezekiel Elliott took 31% of the snaps, and third-string man Deuce Vaughn took 19%. Dowdle will need more snaps than that to be an every-week starter, so things aren't looking good.
Should I Start Javonte Williams for Fantasy Football?
Probably not. A week after it seemed like Denver Broncos running back Audric Estime was set to take over the backfield, a game in which Williams had just one carry, the situation returned to an ugly three-way committee in which Estime, Javonte Williams, and Jaleel McLaughlin split the backfield work.
What an amazing story it would be if a washed-up running back like Javonte Williams could revive his career at 24 years oldpic.twitter.com/xGLEIN5ZJy
— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) November 17, 2024
Williams had a rushing touchdown in Week 12, which was nice, but he carried the ball just nine times, though he was targeted five times, catching four of those passes for 28 yards. Still, it becomes difficult to predict when he'll have good games; the ceiling isn't very high, and his floor is abominably low (2.7 fantasy points in Week 11).
He's a fine start in deeper leagues against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12 due to their extremely poor run defense. Denver should dominate them, potentially leading to a run-friendly game script. He's a lower-end RB3/FLEX for this game.
Popular Week 12 Searches - Start/Sit Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 12 searches and comparisons from our Who To Start tool for Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Rhamondre Stevenson, Rico Dowdle, Javonte Williams compared to others. You can also use the free Who Should I Start tool to run your own start/sit comparisons, up to four players at once:
Rico Dowdle or Javonte Williams
Najee Harris or Kareem Hunt
Rhamondre Stevenson or Tyrone Tracy
Rico Dowdle or Bucky Irving
Isiah Pacheco or Chuba Hubbard
Cedric Tillman or Rico Dowdle
Javonte Williams or Chuba Hubbard
Kareem Hunt or Nick Chubb
Rhamondre Stevenson or Chuba Hubbard
Bucky Irving or Kareem Hunt
Bucky Irving or Rhamondre Stevenson
Kareem Hunt or Bucky Irving
Rhamondre Stevenson or Jk Dobbins
Tyrone Tracyjr or Rhamondre Stevenson
Austin Ekeler or Rico Dowdle
Brian Robinsonjr or Kareem Hunt
Bucky Irving or Javonte Williams
Javonte Williams or Tony Pollard
Aaron Jones or Rhamondre Stevenson
Austin Ekeler or Javonte Williams
DJ Moore or Rico Dowdle
Javonte Williams or Jerry Jeudy
Jaylen Warren or Javonte Williams
Kareem Hunt or Javonte Williams
Rhamondre Stevenson or Jaxon Smithnjigba
Rhamondre Stevenson or Rachaad White
Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle or Nick Chubb
Austin Ekeler or Rico Dowdle
David Montgomery or Kareem Hunt
Javonte Williams or Bucky Irving
Jerry Jeudy or Rico Dowdle
Isiah Pacheco or Bucky Irving
Javonte Williams or Austin Ekeler
Javonte Williams or Jaylen Warren
Javonte Williams or Nick Chubb
Kareem Hunt or Chuba Hubbard
Kareem Hunt or Isiah Pacheco
Kareem Hunt or Rico Dowdle
Kyren Williams or Kareem Hunt
Quentin Johnston or Kareem Hunt
Rhamondre Stevenson or Dandre Swift
Rhamondre Stevenson or Josh Downs
Rico Dowdle or Cedric Tillman
Rico Dowdle or Jameson Williams
Tank Dell or Javonte Williams
Tyrone Tracyjr or Kareem Hunt
Aaron Jones or Kareem Hunt
Austin Ekeler or Javonte Williams
Bucky Irving or Rico Dowdle
Chuba Hubbard or Kareem Hunt
Isiah Pacheco or Kareem Hunt
James Conner or Kareem Hunt
James Cook or Kareem Hunt
Javonte Williams or Quentin Johnston
Kareem Hunt or Jonathan Taylor
Kareem Hunt or Tyrone Tracyjr
Nick Chubb or Isiah Pacheco
Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt
Nick Chubb or Rico Dowdle
Quentin Johnston or Javonte Williams
Rachaad White or Javonte Williams
Rachaad White or Rico Dowdle
Rhamondre Stevenson or Bucky Irving
Rhamondre Stevenson or Raheem Mostert
Rico Dowdle or Austin Ekeler
Rico Dowdle or Calvin Ridley
Rico Dowdle or Chuba Hubbard
Terry McLaurin or Kareem Hunt
Tony Pollard or Kareem Hunt
Alexander Mattison or Javonte Williams
Cedric Tillman or Rhamondre Stevenson
Chuba Hubbard or Javonte Williams
Chuba Hubbard or Rhamondre Stevenson
Courtland Sutton or Rhamondre Stevenson
Dandre Swift or Kareem Hunt
Jauan Jennings or Javonte Williams
Jauan Jennings or Rhamondre Stevenson
Javonte Williams or Audric Estime
Javonte Williams or Trey Benson
Kareem Hunt or Alexander Mattison
Kareem Hunt or James Conner
Kareem Hunt or Jaylen Warren
Kareem Hunt or Jk Dobbins
Kareem Hunt or Rachaad White
Najee Harris or Rico Dowdle
Nick Chubb or Javonte Williams
Rachaad White or Kareem Hunt
Rhamondre Stevenson or Jonathan Taylor
Rhamondre Stevenson or Najee Harris
Rico Dowdle or DeAndre Hopkins
Rico Dowdle or Nick Chubb
Rico Dowdle or Quentin Johnston
Rico Dowdle or Tank Dell
Tyrone Tracyjr or Kareem Hunt
Alexander Mattison or Kareem Hunt
Cedric Tillman or Rico Dowdle
Dandre Swift or Javonte Williams
Dj Moore or Kareem Hunt
George Pickens or Kareem Hunt
James Conner or Rhamondre Stevenson
Javonte Williams or Deandre Hopkins
Javonte Williams or Jk Dobbins
Javonte Williams or Kareem Hunt
Javonte Williams or Rico Dowdle
Jaylen Waddle or Javonte Williams
Jerome Ford or Javonte Williams
Jerry Jeudy or Kareem Hunt
Jk Dobbins or Isiah Pacheco
Jk Dobbins or Javonte Williams
Jk Dobbins or Rhamondre Stevenson
Josh Downs or Rhamondre Stevenson
Kareem Hunt or Calvin Ridley
Kareem Hunt or Christian Watson
Kareem Hunt or Dandre Swift
Kareem Hunt or Devon Achane
Kareem Hunt or Jonathon Brooks
Kareem Hunt or Sam LaPorta
Mike Evans or Kareem Hunt
Najee Harris or Isiah Pacheco
Najee Harris or Rhamondre Stevenson
Najee Harris or Rico Dowdle
Rhamondre Stevenson or Aaron Jones
Rhamondre Stevenson or Kareem Hunt
Rico Dowdle or Calvin Ridley
Rico Dowdle or Jakobi Meyers
Rico Dowdle or Jayden Reed
Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle or Rachaad White
Rico Dowdle or Rome Odunze
Rico Dowdle or Tony Pollard
Tank Bigsby or Javonte Williams
Terry Mclaurin or Rhamondre Stevenson
Trey Benson or Javonte Williams
Aaron Jones or Rhamondre Stevenson
Alexander Mattison or Rico Dowdle
Audric Estime or Javonte Williams
Austin Ekeler or Kareem Hunt
Austin Ekeler or Rico Dowdle
Bucky Irving or Rico Dowdle
Cedric Tillman or Kareem Hunt
Christian Watson or Javonte Williams
Chuba Hubbard or Kareem Hunt
Chuba Hubbard or Rico Dowdle
Dandre Swift or Rico Dowdle
David Njoku or Javonte Williams
David Njoku or Kareem Hunt
Deandre Hopkins or Rhamondre Stevenson
Deandre Hopkins or Rico Dowdle
Devon Achane or Javonte Williams
DeVonta Smith or Isiah Pacheco
Dj Moore or Rico Dowdle
DK Metcalf or Kareem Hunt
Isiah Pacheco or Rico Dowdle
Jahmyr Gibbs or Kareem Hunt
Jakobi Meyers or Javonte Williams
Jakobi Meyers or Rhamondre Stevenson
James Conner or Isiah Pacheco
Jauan Jennings or Kareem Hunt
Jauan Jennings or Rico Dowdle
Javonte Williams or Cedric Tillman
Javonte Williams or Christian Watson
Javonte Williams or Jakobi Meyers
Javonte Williams or Jaleel Mclaughlin
Javonte Williams or Jameson Williams
Javonte Williams or Jaylen Warren
Javonte Williams or Justice Hill
Javonte Williams or Xavier Legette
Javonte Williams or Xavier Worthy
Jayden Reed or Javonte Williams
Jayden Reed or Rhamondre Stevenson
Jayden Reed or Rico Dowdle
Jaylen Warren or Kareem Hunt
Jaylen Warren or Rico Dowdle
Jk Dobbins or Kareem Hunt
Jk Dobbins or Rhamondre Stevenson
Jonathan Taylor or Kareem Hunt
Josh Downs or Rhamondre Stevenson
Josh Jacobs or Kareem Hunt
Kareem Hunt or Austin Ekeler
Kareem Hunt or Brian Robinsonjr
Kareem Hunt or Bucky Irving
Kareem Hunt or David Montgomery
Kareem Hunt or Deebo Samuelsr
Kareem Hunt or James Conner
Kareem Hunt or Jauan Jennings
Kareem Hunt or Jaylen Waddle
Kareem Hunt or Jaylen Warren
Kareem Hunt or Jk Dobbins
Kareem Hunt or Josh Downs
Kareem Hunt or Ladd McConkey
Kareem Hunt or Mike Evans
Kareem Hunt or Najee Harris
Kareem Hunt or Rhamondre Stevenson
Kareem Hunt or Tank Dell
Kareem Hunt or Tee Higgins
Kareem Hunt or Will Dissly
Kareem Hunt or Zay Flowers
Kyren Williams or Kareem Hunt
Kyren Williams or Rhamondre Stevenson
Ladd Mcconkey or Javonte Williams
Mike Evans or Rhamondre Stevenson
Najee Harris or Javonte Williams
Najee Harris or Rico Dowdle
Nick Chubb or Rhamondre Stevenson
Quentin Johnston or Rico Dowdle
Rhamondre Stevenson or Austin Ekeler
Rhamondre Stevenson or Breece Hall
Rhamondre Stevenson or Bucky Irving
Rhamondre Stevenson or Deebo Samuelsr
Rhamondre Stevenson or Jayden Reed
Rhamondre Stevenson or Jk Dobbins
Rhamondre Stevenson or Kayshon Boutte
Rhamondre Stevenson or Ladd Mcconkey
Rhamondre Stevenson or Nick Chubb
Rhamondre Stevenson or Rachaad White
Rhamondre Stevenson or Wandale Robinson
Rhamondre Stevenson or Zay Flowers
Rico Dowdle or Christian Watson
Rico Dowdle or Darius Slayton
Rico Dowdle or Javonte Williams
Rico Dowdle or Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle or Kareem Hunt
Rico Dowdle or Najee Harris
Rico Dowdle or Roschon Johnson
Rico Dowdle or Wandale Robinson
Rico Dowdle or Xavier Worthy
Tank Dell or Rhamondre Stevenson
Tony Pollard or Isiah Pacheco
Tony Pollard or Rico Dowdle
Tyrone Tracyjr or Javonte Williams
Tyrone Tracyjr or Rhamondre Stevenson
Zamir White or Rico Dowdle
Zay Flowers or Javonte Williams
Aaron Jones or Javonte Williams
Aaron Jones or Rhamondre Stevenson
Adam Thielen or Javonte Williams
Alexander Mattison or Rico Dowdle
Audric Estime or Rico Dowdle
Austin Ekeler or Rico Dowdle
Brandon Aubrey or Rico Dowdle
Breece Hall or Kareem Hunt
Brian Robinsonjr or Javonte Williams
Brian Robinsonjr or Kareem Hunt
Brian Robinsonjr or Rhamondre Stevenson
Brian Thomasjr or Kareem Hunt
Bucky Irving or Javonte Williams
Bucky Irving or Kareem Hunt
Bucky Irving or Rico Dowdle
Cade Otton or Javonte Williams
Cade Otton or Kareem Hunt
Cade Otton or Rhamondre Stevenson
Cade Otton or Rico Dowdle
Calvin Ridley or Javonte Williams
Calvin Ridley or Kareem Hunt
Calvin Ridley or Rhamondre Stevenson
Cam Akers or Kareem Hunt
Cam Akers or Rico Dowdle
Cedric Tillman or Javonte Williams
Cedric Tillman or Kareem Hunt
Cedric Tillman or Rico Dowdle
CeeDee Lamb or Rhamondre Stevenson
Chase Brown or Javonte Williams
Chase Brown or Kareem Hunt
Christian Watson or Rico Dowdle
Chuba Hubbard or Isiah Pacheco
Chuba Hubbard or Javonte Williams
Chuba Hubbard or Kareem Hunt
Chuba Hubbard or Rhamondre Stevenson
Chuba Hubbard or Rico Dowdle
Courtland Sutton or Javonte Williams
Courtland Sutton or Kareem Hunt
Courtland Sutton or Rico Dowdle
Dallas Goedert or Javonte Williams
Dandre Swift or Isiah Pacheco
Dandre Swift or Kareem Hunt
Dandre Swift or Rhamondre Stevenson
David Montgomery or Isiah Pacheco
David Montgomery or Kareem Hunt
David Montgomery or Rhamondre Stevenson
David Njoku or Kareem Hunt
David Njoku or Rico Dowdle
Deandre Hopkins or Javonte Williams
Deandre Hopkins or Rhamondre Stevenson
Deandre Hopkins or Rico Dowdle
Deebo Samuelsr or Kareem Hunt
Deebo Samuelsr or Rhamondre Stevenson
Derrick Henry or Kareem Hunt
Derrick Henry or Rhamondre Stevenson
Devonta Smith or Javonte Williams
Devonta Smith or Rhamondre Stevenson
Dj Moore or Kareem Hunt
Elijah Moore or Javonte Williams
Elijah Moore or Rico Dowdle
Gus Edwards or Isiah Pacheco
Gus Edwards or Rico Dowdle
Isiah Pacheco or Austin Ekeler
Isiah Pacheco or Christian Watson
Isiah Pacheco or Davante Adams
Isiah Pacheco or Javonte Williams
Isiah Pacheco or Jaylen Warren
Isiah Pacheco or Jerry Jeudy
Isiah Pacheco or Jk Dobbins
Isiah Pacheco or Kareem Hunt
Isiah Pacheco or Ladd Mcconkey
Isiah Pacheco or Rhamondre Stevenson
Isiah Pacheco or Rico Dowdle
Isiah Pacheco or Trey Benson
Jahmyr Gibbs or Javonte Williams
Jakobi Meyers or Javonte Williams
Jakobi Meyers or Kareem Hunt
James Conner or Isiah Pacheco
James Conner or Rhamondre Stevenson
Jameson Williams or Isiah Pacheco
Jameson Williams or Javonte Williams
Jauan Jennings or Isiah Pacheco
Jauan Jennings or Kareem Hunt
Jauan Jennings or Rhamondre Stevenson
Jauan Jennings or Rico Dowdle
Javonte Williams or Audric Estime
Javonte Williams or Austin Ekeler
Javonte Williams or Brian Thomasjr
Javonte Williams or Bucky Irving
Javonte Williams or Cedric Tillman
Javonte Williams or Chris Boswell
Javonte Williams or Isiah Pacheco
Javonte Williams or Jaylen Waddle
Javonte Williams or Jaylen Warren
Javonte Williams or Jerome Ford
Javonte Williams or Jk Dobbins
Javonte Williams or Jonathan Taylor
Javonte Williams or Keenan Allen
Javonte Williams or Kenneth Walker
Javonte Williams or Keon Coleman
Javonte Williams or Marvin Harrisonjr
Javonte Williams or Najee Harris
Javonte Williams or Nick Chubb
Javonte Williams or Rachaad White
Javonte Williams or Rhamondre Stevenson
Javonte Williams or Rico Dowdle
Javonte Williams or Rome Odunze
Javonte Williams or Roschon Johnson
Javonte Williams or Travis Etiennejr
Javonte Williams or Tyrone Tracyjr
Javonte Williams or Zamir White
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Kareem Hunt
Jaxon Smithnjigba or Rhamondre Stevenson
Jayden Reed or Rhamondre Stevenson
Jayden Reed or Rico Dowdle
Jaylen Warren or Javonte Williams
Jaylen Warren or Kareem Hunt
Jaylen Warren or Rico Dowdle
Jerome Ford or Kareem Hunt
Jerry Jeudy or Javonte Williams
Jk Dobbins or Isiah Pacheco
Jk Dobbins or Rhamondre Stevenson
Joe Mixon or Rico Dowdle
Jonathan Taylor or Kareem Hunt
Jordan Mason or Kareem Hunt
Josh Downs or Kareem Hunt
Josh Downs or Rhamondre Stevenson
Josh Downs or Rico Dowdle
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