Top 10 Running Back Studs - Best Fantasy Football RB Performances Including Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Bucky Irving And More

Alex reviews the top ten running back performances from Week 12 of the 2024 season. Did you survive the first bye-pocalypse?

Despite a heavily diminished slate of football with six teams on bye, Week 12 was not short of action. The early slate of games was wild and an absolute joy to watch. Four of the seven early-window matchups were one-score games, while the remaining three were blowouts. Though, none were more exciting than the Dallas Cowboys matchup with the Washington Commanders. Seventy-five percent of that game was downright boring, with the Cowboys leading their divisional foes 10-9 after three frames. However, fans would get their money's worth in the fourth quarter with a whopping 41 points tallied between the two squads in an offensive explosion. This included an absurd 38 of those points coming in the final eight minutes of regulation. Dallas would ultimately complete the upset 34-26, with Washington favored by 10.5 entering the contest. Why can't all games be like that, am I right?

If you survived "byemageddon", then hats off to you. Don't hold your breath though, because in two weeks, we'll have yet another six-team bye week. A side-note: though I'm sure there's a good reason -- like perhaps the ability to slot three games into the Thanksgiving holiday -- it'd be much easier on us fantasy managers if the NFL would subtract two teams from each bye week in Weeks 12 and 14 and give us three straight four-team byes. However, these decisions are made by people who make far more money than I do, so who am I to question them?

The running backs had a tough go this weekend. Still, Saquon Barkley scored enough fantasy points for two RBs -- more on him below. With the six teams on bye, we have some notable stars omitted this week, including Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons, the Buffalo Bills' James Cook, Chase Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals, Breece Hall of the New York Jets, and fantasy's third-overall back on the season -- the New Orleans Saints' Alvin Kamara. Additionally, Derrick Henry and J.K. Dobbins won't qualify for this feature as the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers square off in the Har-bowl on Monday Night Football. Without further ado, let's get to Week 12's top ten PPR running backs.

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Top 10 Running Backs of the Week (Including SNF)

Here are the top-10 running backs from Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season in PPR scoring:

1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Can you say fantasy MVP? Saquon Barkley continued his torrid stretch on Sunday Night Football in Philadelphia's 37-20 thrashing of the Los Angeles Rams. He's had some fantastic performances in 2024, but this was his best work yet. The superstar running back toted the rock 26 times for 255 (!) yards and two scores, adding another 47 through the air on 4-of-4 receiving. That's 302 yards from scrimmage. Read that again.

Barkley obliterated his previous career-high of 189 rushing yards, which he set back in Week 16 of 2019 while ripping off a 70- and 72-yard touchdown. This individual performance ranks him ninth on the list in NFL history of most rush yards in a single game, nestled right between Jamaal Charles (259, 2010) and Jonathan Taylor and DeMarco Murray (253, 2021/2011). The Penn State product has racked up 25 or more touches in five games this season and 30 on two separate occasions.

Saquon Barkley has set an Eagles single-game rushing record AND career-high with 255 yards‼️@saquon | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/8spJ32UbFz

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 25, 2024

I'm beginning to run out of superlatives for him because he's straight up been that good -- finishing as a top-three fantasy scorer or better at his position in more than half of his games as an Eagle (six).

After his massive performance, the 27-year-old is on pace to rush for 2,151 yards, which would shatter Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season record set in 1984 (2,104). Incredible. He'll get a tough test next weekend on the road against a Baltimore Ravens defense that has limited their opponents to 3.4 yards per carry. Still, you're starting him.

2. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

With the 49ers missing a litany of key players, they were no match for a Packers squad that leaned heavily on Josh Jacobs in their 38-10 win. The former Alabama Crimson Tide back was a force in this one, piling up 106 yards and three touchdowns on his 26 carries. He failed to bring in his sole target. Jacobs could have had an even bigger day, but he sat out for most of the fourth quarter with the game safely at hand.

Despite being bottled up for three or fewer yards on half of his carries, the 26-year-old gashed San Francisco for gains of eight (thrice), ten, 13, and 18 yards on a day where Green Bay was in control from start to finish. Jordan Love attempted just 23 passes while the Packers' ground game dominated -- accruing 42 carries as a team. His touchdowns all came from one yard out.

Jacobs did briefly leave the game -- missing one series -- due to cramping but returned to score his third touchdown before getting benched for the remainder of the contest. He and the Pack will get a quick turnaround in Week 13, hosting the visiting Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving Day for TNF. Miami's defense has picked it up a bit in recent weeks, but Jacobs can be trusted as an RB1 yet again.

3. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It turns out that the recently-released Daniel Jones might not have been the issue as the Buccaneers dismantled the New York Giants 30-7 in one of Sunday's routs. One of the more head-scratching choices of 2024 was the Giants deciding to start quarterback Tommy Devito in their first game sans Jones instead of Drew Lock, who had been labeled as No. 2 on their depth chart for the entirety of the season. Bad franchises make bad decisions I suppose, but I digress.

It was the Bucky Irving show on Sunday afternoon. The rookie running back churned out 87 yards and a touchdown on his 12 rush attempts and was heavily involved in the passing game -- reeling in all six of his targets for another 64 yards. In fact, all three Bucs RBs tallied a rushing score (Rachaad White, Sean Tucker), but Irving was easily the best of the bunch. Not only did he lead all backs in rushing, but he led his team in receptions and came in second with his receiving total and target count.

.@BakerMayfield as the lead blocker for @BuckyIrving 😤

📺: #TBvsNYG on CBS pic.twitter.com/xiglUhxeFV

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) November 24, 2024

Curiously, all three Tampa Bay backs rotated in on the first drive, but Tucker totaled three yards on his four carries, and White ran for 3.1 on his 12 totes (37). On the other hand, Irving averaged 7.3 YPC and ripped off a long gain of 56 yards. He appeared to get the hot-hand treatment until the game was out of reach for the G-Men, ceding seven carries to White on the team's final three drives in the fourth quarter.

Interestingly enough, the 22-year-old also appeared to take on the primary receiving-back role, as White commanded only a single target. It will be interesting to see how the touches shake out moving forward, but the Oregon product has easily been the team's best pure rusher this season. He'll get another shot to show his stuff next Sunday against a Swiss-cheese Carolina Panthers rush defense that allowed the second-most yards in the NFL heading into Week 12. Irving is firmly on the RB2 radar.

4. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

The Lions continue to roll, and while they didn't score 40 points this week, they still took it to the Indianapolis Colts. Detroit was yet again the victor, defeating Indy 24-6 in another blowout to rack up their ninth straight win. It's impressive to see a team clicking on all cylinders like this, and with a savage RB duo in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (shoulder), there might be no stopping them.

Gibbs took on his most significant workload of the season in this one, with Montgomery forced from the contest late in the third quarter due to a shoulder injury. The second-year back handled 21 carries, amassing 90 yards and two scores with another nine yards on 3-of-3 receiving. He was actually held in check for most of the day by a Colts D that allowed the third-most rushing yards in the league ahead of Week 12. Still, he picked up gains of 15, 16, and 17 yards. You can only contain him for so long.

While Montgomery exited the contest and did not return, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports that the veteran RB indicated he'll be ready to go for the team's annual Thanksgiving Day matchup. The Lions will line up against the Chicago Bears at Ford Field for a divisional clash in Week 13. Chicago has been a chore for opposing pass attacks, but they're vulnerable on the ground. Fortunately, that's Detroit's specialty.

Fire Gibbs up as a strong RB1 play for the outing. He'll be even better if Monty were to miss time.

5. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

In one of my "I'm proud of me" moments this weekend, I called the Titans upsetting the Houston Texans, and Tony Pollard was a large part of the effort. The sixth-year back has gone a bit under the radar this season, finishing as a top-12 RB just twice with no appearances in the top ten. However, that changed Sunday afternoon in the Titans' 32-27 win. For now, at least, anyway.

Pollard piled up 24 carries in Week 12, rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown. He also garnered five targets but added only ten yards on his three receptions. It was just the second time in 2024 that the former fourth-round pick eclipsed 100 yards on the ground, but the second time he's done so in his last four outings. No other Tennessee running back touched the ball more than twice (Julius Chestnut).

There was some talk a few weeks back that the Memphis native's workload would be reduced, but that hasn't really been the case. After his third stout matchup in a row, Pollard's schedule opens up heading into the fantasy playoffs with favorable opposition in four of his next five outings. He's an RB2, and if the touchdowns begin to flow (he has four on the season), fantasy managers would be pretty pleased as the yardage and touch count have been there for him.

He'll get a Washington Commanders team on the road next Sunday that allowed the most rushing yards (1,655) and the second-most yards per carry (5.0) leading up to Week 12.

6. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

Miami manhandled the Patriots on Sunday afternoon, cruising to a 34-15 win. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa tossed four touchdowns as the Dolphins deployed a pass-heavy approach against the Pats at home. While De'Von Achane matched a season-low touch total in games he's played a full complement of snaps, he still got it done for fantasy managers.

The Texas A&M product tallied ten carries for 32 yards but did most of his damage through the air -- corralling 3-of-4 targets for 24 yards and two scores. His production on the ground in 2024 has left fantasy gamers wanting, but he's up to five receiving touchdowns and 49 receptions through 11 contests, helping to buoy his fantasy floor. Achane might've had an even bigger outing but ceded a good amount of work to rookie backfield mate Jaylen Wright (7/28), with Miami handily controlling the outing.

Tua Tagovailoa (12) to Devon Achane (8)
Miami Dolphins
11 yards
pic.twitter.com/P6Ip1appwW

— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) November 24, 2024

For all the talk head coach Mike McDaniel did this offseason of Raheem Mostert still being "the guy" in the backfield, it's been Achane leading the way for the entirety of 2024. In fact, Wright has one fewer carry than the veteran (59) and has out-gained Mostert by 26 (243). Since Week 10, Wright has out-snapped him, too (40-to-39). This is just an interesting observation, as the handcuff to own may be changing. Regardless, Achane is the back you want on this squad.

He'll get another decent test on Thanksgiving Day against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Still, he's a locked-in RB1.

7. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings

The Bears gave the Vikings all they could handle in Week 12, but they held on despite it taking nearly an entire fifth quarter -- eking out a 30-27 victory in overtime. Minnesota held a 24-10 lead after three frames, but Chicago made it a game with 17 fourth-quarter points to knot it up at 27. It was nice to see Aaron Jones rebound after a tough go against the Titans back in Week 11.

The 29-year-old veteran was effective in the win, tallying 106 yards and a touchdown on his 22 rush attempts while remaining involved in the air with 23 yards on 3-of-4 receiving. He'd lose a fumble on the Vikes' first drive of the game at Chicago's 1-yard line and was stymied for two or fewer yards on 13 of his carries, but one of those was a touchdown. However, he was efficient on his other nine totes, picking up gobs of yardage, including 11, 13, 14, and 41-yard gains. Cam Akers garnered three carries.

Jones now has just three games on the season with fewer than 11 fantasy points and has been a solid RB2 for fantasy managers. He'll be as such again next weekend when Minnesota hosts the visiting Arizona Cardinals.

8. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland picked up their third win of the season on Thursday Night Football, felling the Steelers 24-19 amid an aggressive snowstorm. If you didn't see the game, I suggest you at least watch quarterback Jameis Winston's pre and post-game antics, as he had TNF analysts Ryan Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whitworth doing snow angels after the win. It was pretty fun to watch, and fantasy managers got a solid game out of Nick Chubb for the first time since his return from a devastating knee injury.

The former Georgia Bulldog was inefficient again, churning out 59 yards on his 20 carries (2.95 YPC), and he caught his lone target for an additional yard. However, it was the two touchdowns that propelled him to a top-ten finish sans the MNF matchup. Each of his scores was from two yards out, the second of which helped seal the victory for the Browns.

Nick Chubb (3)
Cleveland Browns
2 yards
pic.twitter.com/UDuP1N2nqS

— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) November 22, 2024

Through five appearances, Chubb has rushed for a paltry 3.04 yards per carry on his 73 totes -- a stark contrast from the 5.26 YPC he attained over the previous six seasons. Still, it's hard to expect him to be the same player he was after a second complex surgery and multiple torn ligaments in his left knee. Whether or not he can return to his old self remains to be seen, but he'll get another staunch outing in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.

He feels tough to trust as more than a touchdown-dependent RB3, but at least Cleveland's offense is fun to watch with Winston playing the way he is.

9. Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders dropped their seventh game in a row, falling 29-19 to their division-rival Denver Broncos, but that didn't stop Ameer Abdullah from having a productive fantasy day. Thrust into a starting role with fellow RBs Zamir White (quad) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) ruled out, the 31-year-old racked up his most touches in a game since Week 18 of 2021.

Abdullah didn't lead the team in rushing yardage -- as Sincere McCormick held those honors (5/33) -- but he made his touches count and had an excellent role in the Raiders' passing game. The journeyman running back took eight carries for 28 yards but salvaged his day with 37 yards and a touchdown on 5-of-7 receiving. It was the second week in a row that he scored through the air and the third touchdown for him on the season. His 65 total yards were a new season high.

It's unclear when White and Mattison will return to action, and losing quarterback Gardner Minshew (clavicle) for the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone only makes this offense's situation more murky. Regardless, Abdullah can likely be avoided in Week 13 with a matchup against a sturdy Kansas City Chiefs defense on tap. They had allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs through ten games (9.3).

10. David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

For the second week in a row, Sonic and Knuckles (the Detroit RB duo) have breached the top-ten running back feature, not including the Monday night matchup. To say they're astounding would be an understatement, as Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery (shoulder) fully encompass the identity of the Lions' squad. They're tough and gritty and complement each other's play style. Gibbs is the more dynamic player, but Monty has his own valuable skill set.

The Iowa State product is a bulldozer and consistently fights for tough yards with total disregard for defenders in his path. Despite exiting Detroit's matchup in the third quarter with a shoulder ailment, the sixth-year veteran still put up respectable numbers. He'd go for 37 yards and a TD on his eight carries and out-gained his counterpart in the passing game with 36 yards on 3-of-3 receiving.

David Montgomery & Jahmyr Gibbs have each scored a rush TD in the same game for the 9th time.

That's tied for the 3rd most by teammates in NFL history. 🔥@Lions | @FedEx pic.twitter.com/QwIxTTt0Uk

— NFL (@NFL) November 24, 2024

According to the man himself -- he'll be good to go this Thursday when Detroit squares off against the Chicago Bears at home. However, that decision ultimately comes down to the coaches. On a short week, it's expected that he'll at least be limited at practice. If he suits up, he's a strong play against a Bears D that can be beaten on the ground. If he can't, Gibbs would be in store for a massive day. Keep an eye on his status.

Thanks for reading, and best of luck in all your matchups in Week 13!

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