Houston Texans - Fantasy News

Top 5 Fantasy Running Back Sleepers for Week 12

by Adam Markowitz

11/22/17

NFL

Houston Texans

Alfred Blue

Thanksgiving weekend is one in which we give thanks for our friends, our family and our favorite football teams. The top running backs in the NFL, meanwhile, are all appreciative that they have reserves that can come in and give them a breather every now and again.

We present some of the top rushers that could provide surprisingly solid results on your Dober Play Cards in Week 12.

Alfred Blue (0.72 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Ravens: 1.0

Clearly, the best value on the board in Week 12 among running backs is Alfred Blue. Sure, the Baltimore defense is really tough, but we're only talking about a single Dober Fantasy Point for a running back who has proven to be capable both as a pass catcher and as a runner.

D'Onta Foreman's season is over, and Texans head coach Bill O'Brien has made it clear that he doesn't want to run Lamar Miller into the ground. It'll only take perhaps two or three carries to get Blue past his 1.0 PFP.

Thomas Rawls (3.06 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. 49ers: 2.5

There are times in fantasy football when you have to hold your nose, take a deep breath and take the plunge into an abyss you know could, should and seemingly inevitably will bite you in the butt.

The 49ers, though, allow more Dober Fantasy Points per game to running backs than any other team in the NFL. So even though the Seahawks are a wreck along their offensive line and can't move the ball against anyone, we have to pick a back and stick with him on Sunday.

Rawls makes more sense than any of the other Seattle backs due to the fact that he has such a low PFP. Even two or three touches could be enough for a man who has proven to be explosive in the past.

Terron Ward (0.88 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Buccaneers: 1.0

If you're going to get in on Terron Ward, this is the time to do it. He beat his PFP last week against Seattle when he was the second-string back. He may end up reverting back into a third-team role, but if Devonta Freeman is out for a second straight week with a concussion, Ward is absolutely going to post a second-straight win on Dober Play Cards.

Even if Freeman is in the lineup, Ward has had a bunch of games with the ball in his hands. There's a decent chance this one against Tampa Bay ends up being a blowout as well, and that would easily give Ward his two or three rushes required to get to his single PFP.

James Conner (1.13 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Packers: 1.5

The Steelers are two-touchdown favorites over the Packers, and if this game is anything like the one Green Bay played against Baltimore last week, there are going to be plenty of chances for Conner to get into the action. Though Le'Veon Bell is going to be the bell cow every single week when he's healthy, the Steelers do what they can to get Conner the ball since he's a hometown hero.

Furthermore, at some point, the Steelers are going to have to limit Bell's carries for the playoffs. Don't be stunned if Conner gets three or four rushes in this game, and that should be enough to beat his PFP.

Travaris Cadet (3.25 Dober Fantasy Points Per Game)
Projected Fantasy Points vs. Chiefs: 3.5

Cadet made a name for himself last week as Buffalo's second tailback. Most didn't even realize that he was being used on a lot of the Bills passing downs in the first place.

There's little reason to believe that the Bills are going to be competitive in this game in spite of the fact that the Chiefs have been so bad. Cadet could stand to be the beneficiary once again for a second straight week.