RADIO
Andy's running back start 'em, sit 'em picks for fantasy football Week 12 lineups (2025). Read his expert RB start/sit advice for D'Andre Swift, Aaron Jones Sr., Kareem Hunt, others.
Welcome back, RotoBallers, to another edition of our weekend start 'em sit' em columns. With the fantasy football playoffs quickly approaching, it is more important now more than ever to hit on our lineup calls.
This week, we will spotlight a No. 2 running back who is poised for a larger workload and a rookie who has enjoyed an impressive debut campaign but may be best to keep out of your starting lineup.
In this weekly piece, we don't look at those must-start options because if you have them, you start them. Instead, we look at those mid-range RB2/flex options that are on the verge of start territory. Let's take a look at which running backs we should lock into our fantasy lineups and which ones are better off on our bench. Don't see the running back you're looking for? Be sure to check out more running back start 'em sit 'em content, and our Week 12 RB rankings on RotoBaller. Let's dive in!
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Week 12 Starts - Potential Fantasy Football Booms
Emanuel Wilson - Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
With Josh Jacobs (knee) exiting their Week 11 contest with a knee injury and listed as questionable for Sunday's contest, Emanuel Wilson could take on the lead role. In Jacobs' absence last weekend, Wilson was deployed as the lead back and took 70% of the snaps. Wilson logged 11 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown.
He also brought in his lone target for nine yards.
Over the past four games, despite operating as the clear No. 2 option, Wilson has seen at least one target in each of the contests and even saw two or more back in Weeks 8 and 9. He has logged just 2.0 rushing attempts in two games and posted an overall 4.1 YPC during this four-game stretch.
While his track record is not overly impressive, Wilson will face minimal competition for a three-down role with Jacobs sidelined. Despite facing a tougher Minnesota defence that has allowed the 13th-fewest PPR points to opposing RBs this season, Wilson's projected volume pushes him into the high-end RB2 territory.
If Jacobs were to play, Wilson would revert to low-end RB3 territory.
Emanuel Wilson a Plug and Play RB2 in Week 12? https://t.co/WzLRixZ2mqg
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) November 19, 2025
Aaron Jones Sr. - Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
I would also suggest starting the other starting running back in this match. After missing time with an AC joint injury, Jones has returned and looked rather sharp in the backfield. While Jordan Mason saw an increase in snaps earlier, this is Jones' backfield now.
Since logging just 53% and 42% of the snaps in his first two games, Jones has seen 70% and 67% of the snaps in back-to-back games. During this two-game stretch, Mason has never logged more than 25% of the snaps in a single game.
Over the past two weeks, Jones has seen at least six targets in each game and taken 12.5 carries per game at a strong 4.7 YPC. Given his role as a pass catcher, Jones holds high-end RB2 upside in this matchup.
Even though he will be facing a tougher Green Bay defence, J.J. McCarthy has looked Jones' way quite often in the passing attack, providing him high-end RB2 upside in any matchup, especially in PPR leagues.
How about the block from Donovan Jackson on this Aaron Jones run? pic.twitter.com/Wrs2Aa2IjX
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) November 16, 2025
D'Andre Swift - Chicago Bears vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The final running back to lock into your RB2 pot this weekend is D'Andre Swift. Swift saw his stock drop a few weeks ago when rookie Kyle Monangai enjoyed a massive breakout showing in the one contest in which Swift was sidelined. In his return in Week 10, Swift took just 13 carries and drew on only 62% of the snaps, suggesting this backfield may have become a committee.
However, last Sunday, the veteran reclaimed his spot at the top of the depth chart. During their victory over the Vikings, Swift took a hefty 21 carries for 90 yards and saw one target in the passing game. In this match, Monangai took just 12 carries and logged 37% of the snaps, his lowest mark since Week 6.
Like Jones above, Swift has a tougher matchup on paper, facing the Steelers, who have allowed the ninth-fewest PPR points to opposing RBs. However, given his ability to draw 3.7 targets per game and see 14.9 attempts per game, Swift possesses mid-end RB2 value that is worth starting in all standard leagues.
Week 12 Concerns - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
Quinshon Judkins - Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas Raiders
The 22-year-old has typically held high-end RB2 value on most weeks despite playing one of the sport's worst offensive units. During his rookie season, Judkins has eclipsed the 20.0 PPR points mark twice. However, he has only punched in five total rushing scores and is averaging just 3.9 YPC, which has hindered his weekly upside.
Most of his production has come off sheer volume as he's averaging 17.4 attempts per game. He is coming off a disappointing showing against a mediocre Baltimore defence last week, in which he tallied just 59 yards on 17 carries, en route to earning 5.9 PPR points.
This weekend, he has a much tougher match and is trending toward FLEX territory. He will face the Las Vegas Raiders, who enter Week 12 allowing the 14th-fewest PPR points per game to opposing RBs. With rookie QB Shedeur Sanders slated to make his first career start, expect the Raiders to focus their attention on shutting down Judkins.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - New York Giants at Detroit Lions
After a disappointing showing in Week 10, where he scored just 8.1 PPR points, Tracy bounced back in a big way last Sunday, tallying 17.9 PPR points. In this game, Tracy took 19 carries for 88 yards and caught all four targets for 51 yards. However, despite his high usage, the red zone work once again went to the veteran Devin Singletary.
Devin Singletary finds the end zone ‼️
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/gapJzorC3A
— New York Giants (@Giants) November 16, 2025
In this game, Tracy logged just one carry within the 20-yard line and none within the 10-yard line. However, Singletary took six carries within the 10-yard line and four within the five-yard line.
Given that he is not receiving the high-upside opportunities, he sits in low-end RB2/FLEX territory facing a potent Detroit defence. The Lions have allowed the second-fewest PPR points to RBs this season, making Tracy a high-risk bust play. Given that he won't see the red zone carries, he may struggle to produce like he did last week, given the rough matchup.
Kareem Hunt - Kansas City Chiefs vs. Indianapolis Colts
The final running back to consider sitting this week is Kareem Hunt of the Chiefs. Even though Hunt is expected to lead the backfield once again with Isiah Pacheco (knee) set to miss another game, Hunt will be a high-end RB3 that is extremely touchdown dependent.
Over the past three games, Hunt has earned much of his fantasy production off rushing touchdowns, as he has punched in three scores over his past three games, averaging 14.3 PPR points per game. Last weekend, Hunt totalled just 59 yards with his legs and would have fallen under the 7.0 PPR points if it weren't for his rushing score.
This weekend, he will face the Indianapolis Colts, who have allowed the 12th-fewest PPR points to opposing RBs. Due to his low usage in the passing attack and high reliance on goal-line work, Hunt has a high-risk FLEX option that is best left on the bench in this difficult matchup. Given his low efficiency and the likelihood of the game being a shootout, as evidenced by the hefty 50.5 O/U spread on DraftKings Sportsbook, the power runner will not have the most favorable game script.
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