RADIO
Zach analyzes the top fantasy football RB committees, looking for fantasy football RB breakouts heading into Week 12 (2025). Read his key takeaways about seven RB committees.
Week 12 continues the stretch run of playoff races in most fantasy football leagues, and as you get your team tuned up and ready for the sprint to the finish, be sure to have the horses in your backfield all ready to run. Especially at running back, the landscape shifts around the league each week, as teams try to tweak and adjust their backfield committees for ultimate success. That strategy allows multiple players a chance to succeed and produce fantasy points, and also provides more depth options for fantasy managers to consider.
With 28 teams in action in Week 12, it's another big week of byes, with the Commanders, Dolphins, Broncos, and Chargers getting the week off. As you make your lineup decisions, especially in the backfield. Matchups, game flow, and injuries can impact who plays each week and for how long, with coaches always looking for a "hot hand" to ride. If you're also looking to add a surging running back to your fantasy lineup, check out the latest from each of these seven committees from Week 12.
What can we learn from the work distribution in Week 10, and how does it change our projections going forward? What follows are my breakdowns of the backfields in Tampa Bay, Chicago, New England, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Arizona, and New York. We've got lots to get to, so let's jump in!
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Buccaneers Committee: Sean Tucker Breakout Part II
In Week 11, Tucker torched the Bills and their circles wagons on 19 carries for 106 yards and two touchdowns, while adding two catches for 34 receiving yards and a third touchdown.
He was zoomin' @FedEx
TBvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/e5Z1CwkE6b
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025
Tucker had the second-highest fantasy point total of the week behind only Josh Allen, who led his Bills past Tucker's Bucs.
Looking forward, though, the Bucs now have a fascinating backfield committee. Tucker has been more effective than Rachaad White for the past few weeks, even though White continues to get plenty of playing time since he's such a trusted part of the team's pass-blocking schemes. Normally, a massive week like Tucker's would secure him a larger role moving forward, but it's more complicated than it initially appears.
Tucker has had this kind of monster game before. Last season against the Saints, he finished with 14 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown while adding three catches for 56 more yards and a second touchdown. The problem was that after that big breakout, he only had one touchdown over the entire rest of the season, and he only got 10 carries over his next four games. He quickly faded behind White and Bucky Irving after that big game, and the same script seems to be lined up for this year.
Starting running back Irving has been sidelined since Week 4, but he was having a strong season with 71 carries for 237 rushing yards and added 19 catches on 19 targets for 193 receiving yards with two touchdowns through his first four games. He played over 70% of snaps in the three full games he played, while Tucker only played three total snaps in those games. He's been dealing with a shoulder subluxation and a sprained foot, but he could be ready to return to the field this week, since he returned to practice last week and has increased his work this week, according to coach Todd Bowles.
Another factor against Tucker is that White still out-snapped Tucker 42-to-31 in Week 11. He wasn't nearly as effective, with only 51 yards on his 10 carries and two catches for 11 yards on three targets, but it doesn't seem likely that White will drop totally out of the rotation any time soon.
To add one more layer, the Bucs have an awful matchup this week against the Rams, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, allowing only three RB touchdowns in 10 games with 76.9 rushing yards and 33.6 receiving yards against them per game.
All of the Bucs' backs are extremely high-risk in this matchup, but it does give us a chance to let the dust settle, so that maybe we have a clear leader in the committee before their Week 13 matchup with the Commanders. With a favorable set of matchups after the Rams, the Bucs have long-term upside, though, so all three running backs should be owned in most leagues in case they secure the biggest part of the committee, which is loaded with potential and very much up in the air right now.
Bears Committee: Close to an Even Split
The Bears rallied for a big win on Sunday over their division rivals, the Vikings. D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai rotated series and split things pretty evenly. They were both solid fantasy plays against Minnesota after Monangai was the clear lead back when Swift was out, and Swift seemed to take back over last week in his return.
Swift did have a slight advantage in snaps and carries, playing 57% of snaps with 90 rushing yards on his 21 carries. Monangai played 37% of snaps and had only 23 rushing yards on his 12 carries, but he did get the only running back touchdown of the game.
Both backs are getting almost even playing time in a situation very similar to what coach Ben Johnson had for the last few years with the Lions, with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Swift has more big-play potential, like Gibbs, while Monangai has a role similar to Montgomery, receiving more goal-line attention.
“I think we're very comfortable with both (D’Andre Swift & Kyle Monangai) right now.”
The Bears are one of two teams to have multiple players with 400+ rushing yards this season (Detroit Lions). pic.twitter.com/P0l6vmB3wg
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) November 17, 2025
Both are solid plays with touchdown-dependent upside this week against the Steelers, who Chase Brown just posted a solid game against last week. The Bears have a challenging schedule ahead, but their offense is peaking at the right time, and both backs are getting enough work to be RB2 or flex plays.
Patriots Committee: TreVeyon Henderson Triples Up
Patriots rookie Henderson has gotten big workloads the last two weeks and has turned them into impressively outstanding performances. He broke free for two long runs for touchdowns on his way to 147 rushing yards on 14 carries, while catching his only target for a three-yard reception as well in Week 10. In Week 11, he followed that up with three touchdowns with 62 rushing yards on 19 carries and 31 receiving yards on five catches against the Jets.
THE TREYFECTA @TreVeyonH4 😤
📺 Prime Video pic.twitter.com/pCYLVNsQSL
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 14, 2025
He has flourished while in the full-time role, with Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) sidelined for the last two weeks. However, before Stevenson's injury, snaps were hard to come by for the rookie from Ohio State. Stevenson was a limited practice last Wednesday, just before the team's Thursday Night football game, but he was ultimately ruled out. He's expected to practice again this week, according to coach Mike Vrabel, and he appears to be tracking towards getting back on the field this week. If he does, the timeshare will be fascinating to watch play out after all of Henderson's success.
Unlike the Bucs, the Patriots have an outstanding matchup against the Bengals this week, so both backs are strong starts if they're available. Henderson has proven he has RB1 potential, and Stevenson is a solid RB2 if he's available. If he's out, Henderson would be one of the top plays of the week.
Despite a knee injury, Terrell Jennings was active on Thursday but did not play an offensive snap. Instead, it was D'Ernest Johnson who got three carries as a change-of-pace play and had just six yards. It isn't totally clear if Johnson passed Jennings on the depth chart or if it was just injury-related. If Stevenson and Henderson are both healthy, neither Jennings nor Johnson carries enough value to be owned in standard formats.
Steelers Committee: Kenneth Gainwell Gains Ground
The Steelers lost Aaron Rodgers to a wrist injury and Jaylen Warren to an ankle injury on Sunday, in their 34-12 win over the Bengals.
Before his injury, Warren had been getting most of the carries in the backfield for the Steelers. In fact, in Week 10, he had 14 carries, Kaleb Johnson had two carries, and Gainwell had no carries. Gainwell still played 52% of snaps and had three targets, but didn't get any handoffs.
In Week 11, Gainwell played 63% of snaps, Johnson just 12%, and Warren 28% before his injury. Gainwell had a pair of receiving touchdowns and led the team in receiving with seven catches for 81 yards while adding 24 yards on his 10 carries.
Gainwell's main contributions were due to his impressive work as a receiver out of the backfield, and he caught a touchdown from both Rodgers and his replacement, Mason Rudolph. Rudoph checked it down to Gainwell repeatedly and has an especially strong connection with him.
Kenneth Gainwell showing off
CINvsPIT on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/zJ8SM5NIex
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025
With Warren out, Johnson also got five carries and finished with 15 rushing yards.
The Steelers are "optimistic" that Warren will play in Week 12 against the Bears, and if he does, he's likely to regain his role as the primary running back. He will be a low-end RB2 or a high-end flex play since he has run effectively with double-digit carries in every game he has played this season, with an average of 59.6 rushing yards per game. He has three touchdowns on the year, while Gainwell has five scores and a few more receptions.
If Warren is available, Gainwell will be a flex play with high upside but a low floor against Chicago. If Warren isn't available, Gainwell would be a solid RB2, and Johnson could even re-enter the mix on early downs against Chicago, since Gainwell's strengths are in the passing game and near the goal line.
Chiefs Committee: Kareem Hunt Living the Dream
Even after the bye week, Isiah Pacheco (knee) wasn't ready to return, leaving most of the work in the backfield to Hunt against the Broncos. Even in a tough matchup, Hunt matched his season-high with 13 carries and took them for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Kareem Hunt and the @Chiefs tie the game right back up
KCvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/3WJIVDsz0I
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025
No other running back had any carries, and Brashard Smith had two catches on three targets but only for eight yards. Smith did play 12 snaps (17%), but he was a passing situation specialist while Hunt took most of the work.
Before the injury, Pacheco seemed to be claiming the top spot in the committee, but the injury may have shaken that up. Even if he's ready to return this week at home against the Colts, he's hard to trust in a flex spot since Hunt is typically given the short-yardage and goal-line work.
If Pacheco returns, Hunt will be a touchdown-dependent flex play, but if Pacheco is out again, he would be a solid flex play in an offense that will need him to carry the load again. Keep a close eye on the injury report this week to see if he's on track to get back into this committee in Week 12.
Cardinals Committee: Emari Demercado Goes Down
The Cardinals lost James Conner (foot) for the season and had to put Trey Benson (knee) on IR as well. Demercado was the latest Cardinal to go down with an injury, and he looks like he'll miss Week 12's matchup with the Jaguars.
Initial tests revealed that Cardinals RB Emari Demercado suffered a high ankle sprain against the 49ers and now is unlikely to play Sunday vs. the Jaguars, per source. pic.twitter.com/HThlzU9mHm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 18, 2025
Without Demercado, it'll be Bam Knight and Michael Carter who carry the load, unless Benson can get back on the field in time, which seems unlikely since the team still has not opened his 21-day practice window. Benson is reportedly doing better, but he still hasn't been able to return to practice, so his playing in Week 12 seems like a long shot.
Before Week 11, Demercado looked like the best back of the bunch for a couple of weeks after the bye week, but this week it was Knight who was most effective with a team-leading 24 rushing yards and the one running back score of the week. He only had five carries, though, since the Cardinals went pass-heavy as they tried to rally against the 49ers.
Carter actually had 33 snaps compared to 32 snaps for Knight, but he only had two carries. Both backs were involved as receivers, with Carter catching five passes for 22 yards and Knight hauling in four passes for 21 yards.
It looks like it will be a fairly even timeshare between Carter and Knight coming into a tough matchup for running backs, since the Jaguars have allowed the fifth-fewest running back fantasy points per game this season. Assuming Benson is out, both backs would be touchdown-dependent flex options, with a slight edge to Knight. Each player's ceiling is severely limited by the timeshare, though, leaving both of them as shaky flex options despite their upside this week.
Giants Committee: Both Backs Stay Busy
With Jaxson Dart out with a concussion and Jameis Winston under center, the Giants leaned heavily on the running game in the first game of Mike Kafka's stint as interim head coach. Dart could return this week, but he could be forced to keep his running limited, allowing both Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary to carry the load in the backfield.
Tracy and Singletary have been sharing work since the season-ending injury to promising rookie Cam Skattebo. In Week 9, Singletary got more snaps and was more productive, but Tracy led the way in Week 10. In Week 11, Tracy played 51% of snaps and Singltary played 49% of snaps in a near-even split that allowed both to have solid fantasy days.
Tracy had 19 carries for 88 yards and added four catches for 51 more yards. It was by far his best yardage of the season, but he didn't get into the end zone. Singletary had two rushing scores and took his 16 carries for 44 yards.
Opening drive touchdown for Devin Singletary and the Giants!
GBvsNYG on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/pE7FTB8oXp
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025
The Giants' running backs will be hard-pressed to duplicate their solid stat lines in the next few weeks, though, because they have very tough matchups. In Week 12, they face the Lions, who allow the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs, and then in Week 13, they face the Patriots, who allow the second-fewest. In Week 14, they have a bye week before a much more favorable matchup against the Commanders.
Both backs will remain touchdown-dependent flex options with upside, with Tracy bringing a slightly higher floor and ceiling. However, their matchup makes them high-risk, especially if Dart can return from injury, since he could continue to steal some rushing production as well.
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