Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back Preview: Waiver adds, DFS plays, and more

The rule we generally follow at CBS is a roster rate of 65% or lower for waiver wire guys. We don’t want to spend too much time on guys who are unavailable to the vast majority of you. But the later we get in the season the less roster rate tells us. And we have some really important backs who are available in 20-to-35% of leagues. Maybe I can help you with whether or not to start them if they’re already rostered. If they aren’t go get them

Zach Charbonnet is the most interesting. The rookie is still available in 30% of leagues and despite a terrible matchup against the 49ers, he projects as a top-15 back on Thanksgiving against the 49ers. Charbonnet saw 22 touches and totaled 15.9 PPR Fantasy points in Week 11 despite not scoring a TD. I am adding Charbonnet anywhere he’s available and starting him in most instances.

A.J. Dillon is available in 24% of league and likely starting against the Lions this week due to Aaron Jones‘ injury. I am less enthused about Dillon, though I’d still call him a must-roster and borderline RB2 in another tough matchup. Dillon has at least 15 touches in each of his last two games, and last week was his third game with at least three targets. I wouldn’t expect good efficiency, but 12 PPR Fantasy points certainly seems reasonable. 

Ty Chandler is the other guy. He is less appealing than Charbonnet and Dillon, but it’s much easier to pass against the Bears than run against them and Chandler looks to be the primary pass-catching back for Minnesota. There is also an outside shot that Mattison finally fumbles enough to lose his job and Chandler starts seeing 15-to-20 touches regularly. He’s anothr must-add, but he only projects as a flex this week.

You can find more in my weekly projections over at SportsLine. Now let’s get to the rest of the Week 12 RB Preview:

Week 12 RB Preview

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

• 83.1% — Kyren Williams played 83.1% of the Rams offensive snaps before his injury. No back has played a higher rate this season. 
• 60.9 — Per fantasypoints.com, Rachaad White’s 60.9 expected Fantasy points over the last three weeks is tied with Austin Ekeler for the highest amongst running backs since Week 9. His role is fantastic.
• 2.05 — D’Andre Swift leads all running backs with 2.05 yards before contact per rush. 
• 4.44 — Jaylen Warren’s 4.44 yards after contact per rush leads the NFL and is a full yard and a half better than Najee Harris.
• 26.9% — Khalil Herbert’s 26.9% avoid rate is second only to Warren.
• 11.6 — Brian Robinson’s 11.6 yards per reception leads all running backs with at least 30 targets this season.
• 1.74 — Breece Hall ranks third amongst running backs at 1.74 yards per route run. His receiving production is saving his season.

My full set of Week 12 Fantasy Football projections for every position are now available on SportsLine. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don’t live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 12. Projected stats for all starting quarterbacks are available, so be sure to check out the full set of projections at SportsLine.