Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back Preview: If Aaron Jones is back, A.J. Dillon a borderline No. 2

The Packers backfield could be very messy if Aaron Jones returns in Week 12

On Friday, Aaron Jones participated in his third straight day of practice, which is great news for the Packers who have a very important game in Week 12 against the Rams. But for Fantasy managers, things could get very uncomfortable in the Packers backfield if Jones does indeed return. 

I have it projected that way in the projections below, with Jones as a mid-range No. 2 running back and Dillon as a borderline starter. But that projection doesn't properly reflect the uncertainty of the situation.

For one thing, we don't know exactly what Jones' workload will look like in his first game back. As we saw last week with Saquon Barkley, teams can limit their star backs in their first game back. Also, the lines between Jones and Dillon were getting a bit blurred before the injury. 

In Week 8, Dillon had one more carry than Jones, who saw seven targets because Davante Adams was out. In Week 9, Jones had 12 carries to Dillon's eight, but Dillon saw two more targets. In other words, we wouldn't have a great deal of certainty about the roles for these backs even if both were 100%.

Most likely, I'll start Jones or Dillon in just about every league I have them. Same goes for Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, with Hunt expected back in Week 12.

Let's get to the rest of the Week 12 RB Preview:

Week 12 RB Preview

Who's Out

Numbers to Know

Matchups That Matter

Waiver Wire Targets

DFS Plays

Projections

RB Preview

Who's Out

The following players are not being projected to play Week 12 at this time. Here's what it means:

Who's Out

Michael Carter RB

ARI Arizona • #22
Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.

We expect Tevin Coleman to handle a majority of the rushing work and Ty Johnson to play more on passing downs.

Jordan Howard RB

NO New Orleans • #24
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Miles Sanders and Boston Scott should see a boost

RB Preview

Numbers to know

• 5.5 -- Yards per carry for Tony Pollard this season, nearly a yard better than Ezekiel Elliott.
• 57% -- Snap share for Javonte Williams in his last game, a season-high.
• 219 -- Derrick Henry still leads the NFL with 219 carries.
• 20 -- Mark Ingram has averaged 20 touches per game the past two games that Alvin Kamara has missed.
• 63% -- Dontrell Hilliard led Titans running backs with a 63% snap share last week.

RB Preview

Matchups that matter

Matchups that Matter

David Montgomery RB

DET Detroit • #5
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP @ DET CHI -3 O/U 41.5	OPP VS RB 29th	PROJ PTS 13.9	RB RNK 7th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 430	REC 9	REYDS 75	TD 3	FPTS/G 12.9

Mark Ingram RB

NO New Orleans • #5
Age: 34 • Experience: 13 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP vs BUF BUF -6 O/U 45.5	OPP VS RB 5th	PROJ PTS 10.4	RB RNK 13th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 499	REC 24	REYDS 156	TD 2	FPTS/G 9.1

David Johnson RB

NO New Orleans • #31
Age: 32 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP vs NYJ HOU -2.5 O/U 44.5	OPP VS RB 32nd	PROJ PTS 10.8	RB RNK 30th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 137	REC 26	REYDS 198	TD 1	FPTS/G 6.4

Javonte Williams RB

DEN Denver • #33
Age: 24 • Experience: 4 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP vs LAC LAC -2.5 O/U 48	OPP VS RB 24th	PROJ PTS 9.4	RB RNK 22nd

YTD Stats
RUYDS 514	REC 24	REYDS 136	TD 2	FPTS/G 9.9

RB Preview

Waiver Wire Targets

Week 12 Adds

Dontrell Hilliard RB

TEN Tennessee • #40
Age: 29 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP @ NE NE -6.5 O/U 43.5	OPP VS RB 22nd	RB RNK 28th	ROSTERED 31%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 35	REC 8	REYDS 47	TD 0	FPTS/G 8.1

It's still uncertain how the return of Jeremy McNichols and the departure of Adrian Peterson will affect Hilliard's role, but he currently looks like the best bet to lead the Titans backfield in Fantasy points.

David Johnson RB

NO New Orleans • #31
Age: 32 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP vs NYJ HOU -2.5 O/U 44.5	OPP VS RB 32nd	RB RNK 30th	ROSTERED 55%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 137	REC 26	REYDS 198	TD 1	FPTS/G 6.4

Both Texans backs are in play this week against the Jets, but Johnson is the primary pass-catching back and that's where the Jets have been their most vulnerable.

Stash

DeeJay Dallas RB

ARI Arizona • #31
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP @ WAS WAS -1 O/U 46.5	OPP VS RB 15th	RB RNK NR	ROSTERED 5%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 60	REC 9	REYDS 72	TD 1	FPTS/G 2.8

Both Alex Collins and Rashaad Penny have struggled to stay healthy. It's not that hard to picture Dallas in a lead role during the Fantasy playoffs.

RB Preview

DFS Plays

Top Play

Christian McCaffrey RB

SF San Francisco • #23
Age: 27 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP @ MIA CAR -2 O/U 42	OPP VS RB 17th	PROJ PTS 21	RB RNK 1st

YTD Stats
RUYDS 407	REC 37	REYDS 343	TD 2	FPTS/G 20.7

The Dolphins have given up some monster performances to running backs this season. Hopefully Jonathan Taylor's emergence impacts McCaffrey's roster rate.

Contrarian Play

Leonard Fournette RB

BUF Buffalo • #5
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP @ IND TB -3 O/U 52.5	OPP VS RB 2nd	PROJ PTS 16.4	RB RNK 14th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 521	REC 44	REYDS 323	TD 4	FPTS/G 15.2

I like Fournette both as a part of a stack with Tom Brady and without Brady, but with the Tampa Bay defense.

RB Preview

Heath's Projections

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