Running Back Matchups to Target in Week 12 (2025) - Jahmyr Gibbs, TreVeyon Henderson, Travis Etienne Jr., More

Thunder Dan's favorite RB matchups to exploit for Week 12 of 2025 - DFS running backs to target on DraftKings and FanDuel. These RB matchups are GPP and cash game opportunities.

This is setting up for a really fantastic week of NFL DFS, and in weeks like this one, where we don't have someone like CMC in a smash spot soaking up a bunch of rostership, those who are willing to dig in a little deeper on matchups should be rewarded.

My player pool for tournaments isn't limited to just this list of backs; however, they are almost always my most highly-rostered players. That will likely be the case this week, too, except for Emanuel Wilson, who becomes a must-start for cash games if Josh Jacobs ends up sitting out.

However, these are also running backs you should smash into your season-long lineups and great candidates for prop bets, too. We also have lots of great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win MORE this season! Without any further ado, here are my top FOUR matchups for Week 12 (plus some honorable mentions).

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Week 12 Running Back Matchups

In my constant search for usable metrics, I crunched the first 11 weeks of data. The first column is the overall offensive rushing attack vs. their opponent, calculated using each team's offensive and defensive DVOA.

The second column is the offensive vs. defensive line matchup, calculated by using the "adjusted line yards" created and allowed by each team. The third column is simply Pro Football Focus's run-blocking grade for each team's offensive line.

Jonathan Taylor ($10,000 DK, $10,000 FD)

Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs

It should come as no surprise that Taylor and the Colts rank among the top matchups this week. He's been a staple of this column this season, and even against a KC defense that ranks 11th against the run and has given up the fifth-least fantasy points to running backs, he's been so good this year that he is going to pop anyway.

RBs with the most yards per carry this season:

Jonathan Taylor - 6.0
De'Von Achane - 5.5
James Cook III - 5.4
Jahmyr Gibbs - 5.1
JK Dobbins - 5.0
Javonte Williams - 5.0
Rico Dowdle - 5.0
Bijan Robinson - 5.0 pic.twitter.com/12kF6BYWTG

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) November 21, 2025

Taylor has the matchup and price both working against him this week, which should suppress his rostership in a big way. We are talking single-digit projected rostership, friends!

Finding the value to fit him in this week may be challenging, but I think we can all agree that no other back possesses the same ceiling that Taylor has this season. In a game with a 50-point total that is also projected to be close (Colts are 3.5-point dogs), the possibility of a 25-touch outing a multi-touchdown day certainly exists.

Jahmyr Gibbs ($8,300 DK, $9,100 FD)

Detroit Lions vs. New York Giants

The Lions are set up for a huge bounce-back week as they go from facing a loaded Eagles defense to the bottom-dwelling New York Giants. It feels like a week where Gibbs and company will take out their offensive frustrations from last week on the Giants' hapless run defense, and never underestimate Dan Campbell's ego, as he could easily try to run up the score in this one.

The Lions have the 8th-rated DVOA rushing offense, and you probably know by now that the Giants rank - dead last. Even if the Josh Jacobs play blew up in our faces last week (due only to an injury), we have to keep going back to this matchup, especially with an elite back like Gibbs, who can break off big plays in both the running game and as a receiver.

The only argument that I can see for not playing Gibbs this week is that eating his salary makes it tough to also play Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is expensive as well, and should get fed with Sam LaPorta looking like he's done for the season. Just play them both! Or spread out your exposures so that you have at least one or two Lions in every build. They are going to score a lot of points this weekend, and you don't want to be underexposed.

TreVeyon Henderson ($6,700 DK, $7,500 FD)

New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals

The rookie Henderson has been dynamic the last two weeks, going for 30+ DK points in two straight games with the Patriots' lead back Rhamondre Stevenson out. It's the perfect storm this week as the explosive Henderson now gets a matchup with the 31st-ranked Bengals run defense.

Two TD Trey 😏@TreVeyonH4 | #NEPats

📺 Prime Video pic.twitter.com/uvSCkcI0wZ

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 14, 2025

You'd think that Henderson would be the chalk du jour this week, then right? Well, here's the rub. Stevenson is set to return to the lineup, and it's quite possible that Henderson now splits touches with Stevenson this week, lowering his ceiling despite the spectacular spot.

But Mike Vrabel can't put Henderson back in the box after he's been this good lately, right? He'd be a fool, right? Well, you combine the price increase to Henderson with the possibility of his touches getting cut in half, and now he goes from a slam-dunk play to a "boy, I hope this coach does the right thing, but I am not sure that he will...and I am holding my breath" play.

I am rolling him out there in tournaments anyway. Jaylen Warren was in line for a huge day last week before getting hurt, and his backup, Kenneth Gainwell, ended up going off instead. Gainwell's success as a receiver (8-81-2) was no surprise either as the Bengals are dead last in DVOA against backs as receivers.

So even if Stevenson eats into some early down work, I think Henderson could still have a big day as a runner or receiver, and his big-play potential (combined with the Cincy defense's vulnerability to give up explosive plays) makes him a pretty darn good play anyway.

Travis Etienne Jr. ($5,900 DK, $7,000 FD)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Arizona Cardinals

Our guy "ETN" was featured here last week and had a very solid game, running for 73 yards and two scores against the Chargers in what turned out to be a rout. ETN now has 50+ yards rushing in all but three games this season, and looks like he's back on track after a few tough matchups in the middle of Jacksonville's schedule. The Jags now rank sixth in rushing offense, and with their wide receiver room still very banged up, I look for them to keep pounding the football.

Travis Etienne Jr. reaches for the pylon! Jaguars lead 35-6.

LACvsJAX on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/sNUPPKI7FG

— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025

There's been some palpable buzz about the other Jags running back, Bhayshul Tuten, who ran for 74 yards of his own on 15 carries and also had a touchdown. The positive game script allowed both backs to be very productive in that matchup, and this week could prove to be a similar situation, as the Cardinals have been getting worse against the run as the season goes along, now ranking 24th in rushing defense (DVOA).

I really can't speculate as to how the touches will shake out, but Etienne Jr. is off the injury report and doesn't seem to be in jeopardy of losing his job anytime soon. This spot is so good (and Tuten is so cheap) that it probably warrants some exposure to both players in tournaments.

Honorable Mentions

This week, I had a weird situation where I had three backs all similarly rated. Instead of including or omitting them all, I am just going to do a quick honorable mention list, as I think all three backs are worthy of consideration for tournaments.

Javonte Williams ($6,500 DK, $8,200 FD) vs. PHI

The price on Williams and the perceived tough matchup (Eagles just shut down Gibbs) will keep people away, but Williams and the Cowboys' run game have been a top-10 unit this year. He has touchdown equity, and the Cowboys would be wise to get him more involved as a receiver, too, which is well within his skill set.

D'Andre Swift ($5,600 DK, $6,800 FD) vs. PIT

Kyle Monangai Fever has subsided in Chicago as Swift returned from his one-game absence and has handled the majority of the touches the last two weeks, while being the more productive back on a per-touch basis. The Steelers are a hard defense to peg; they're good one week and bad the next, but Chicago's run game is one of the best in the NFL in terms of their advanced metrics. They really just need a positive game script, and one of these weeks, Swift is going to pop off for a big game.

Kareem Hunt ($5,100 DK, $6,400 FD) vs. IND

With Isiah Pacheco out yet again, Hunt should handle the majority of the touches for the Chiefs. His rushing totals over the last few weeks have been modest, but he continues to be a fantastic short-yardage and goal-line back. He doesn't need to do all that much (50 scrimmage yards and a touchdown) to hit value, and anything on top of that would be icing on the cake.

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