Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back Start Decision: Bucky Irving, Chuba Hubbard, J.K. Dobbins, Austin Ekeler, Tony Pollard and More

After doing start decision stories for quarterbacks and wide receivers on Thursday, it’s time to tackle a running back decision.

Here, we’ll compare Bucky Irving, J.K. Dobbins, Austin Ekeler, Rachaad White, Tony Pollard, Aaron Jones, Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Season Stats

Irving is up to 492 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 96 attempts this season. He also has 188 receiving yards on 26 receptions and 28 targets. Irving, who has been dealing with a toe injury, has scored in double figures as a fantasy performer in four of the past five weeks and six of the past eight.

Dobbins has 726 rushing yards and eight scores on 152 attempts this season. He has 115 yards on 25 catches and 29 targets. Dobbins has scored in double figures in five of the past six weeks.

Ekeler has accumulated 33 rushing yards and four scores on 65 attempts and 344 receiving yards on 31 grabs and 36 targets. Ekeler has scored 17 or 18 fantasy points in three straight games.

White has 306 yards and a score on 80 rushing attempts this season. He also has 291 receiving yards and four scores on 37 receptions and 41 targets. White has scored in double figures in each of the past four games.

Pollard is up to 681 rushing yards and three scores on 160 attempts. He’s also got 168 receiving yards on 30 grabs and 40 targets. Pollard failed to reach double figures as a fantasy performer last week for just the third time this season.

Jones has 692 rushing yards and two touchdowns across 157 carries, while chipping in 262 yards and a score on 29 receptions and 33 targets. Jones is coming off his worst fantasy performance of the season, but has only failed to reach double figures twice this season.

Dowdle has 402 rushing yards, but no scores, on 93 attempts. He also has 172 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 26 grabs and 34 targets. Dowdle has scored 14 fantasy points in the two games without Dak Prescott.

Hubbard has already rushed for 818 yards and six touchdowns on 161 attempts. He’a got 124 receiving yards and a touchdown on 30 catches and 35 targets. Hubbard has only missed double figures as a fantasy player twice this season, but now might have to deal with rookie Jonathon Brooks, who is expected to debut this week.

Week 12 Matchups

Irving and White play against the Giants this weekend. It’s a pretty average matchup on paper, as New York allows opposing backs to score 23 fantasy points a week.

Dobbins goes up against the Ravens on Monday night. Baltimore allows just 21 points per week. Diving deeper into the numbers, fantasy backs fare better as pass catchers than ball carriers, and that doesn’t favor Dobbins.

Ekeler and Dowdle are part of the same game. It’s a favorable matchup for Ekeler, with Dallas allowing 27 points a week. The Commanders are a more average matchup for Dowdle, with Washington giving up 23 points per week.

Jones faces the Bears in week 12. Chicago gives up 23 fantasy points a week. 

Pollard has a matchup against the Texans, who allow only 18 fantasy points. Hubbard will take on the Chiefs, who give up only 15 points (the lowest mark in the NFL).

Projections and Starting Recommendations

In the week 12 projections, Dobbins is the highest of these RBs at 15 PPR points. Dowdle and Jones are each at 13 points.

White and Hubbard are projected for 12 points. Irving, Ekeler and Pollard all sit at 11 points.

This is about as difficult a start decision I’ve ever had. Not much separates these backs, and there’s positives/negatives to playing each guy.

I’m going to surprise a lot of people and take White first. I like what he’s done of late, and think he continues to be heavily involved in the passing game (even if Mike Evans is back). The matchup is favorable for him to have a big day, especially in what should be a Buccaneers' convincing win.

I’d then take Ekeler - I’m for the PPR backs this week I guess. I like that matchup against the Cowboys and think Ekeler can provide plenty of fantasy points, even if he’s clearly behind Brian Robinson Jr. in carries.

Give me Dobbins here. The matchup is not the best for him, but I think he could score to still deliver a good fantasy total. 

I’d take Pollard here, but only if Tyjae Spears misses the game. The matchup is tough, but if Pollard is the workhorse back, he should be able to do enough to deliver a good fantasy showing. If Spears play, I'd drop Pollard to the end of my list.

I’ll go with Irving here. Again, that matchup is favorable, and it can definitely support two fantasy backs. I’d start both backs this week (depending on my other fantasy options, of course).

Give me Jones here. Even if he does split the backfield, the matchup against the Bears is favorable enough for Jones and Cam Akers to deliver solid fantasy scores. 

I’d take Hubbard here, but prefer to stay away from him this week. The Chiefs’ defense is no joke, and the game script is not going to favor the Panthers running the ball a bunch. Add in that Brooks is likely going to cut into his workload and I’m trying to avoid Hubbard in standard leagues this week.

Dowdle falls to the final spot in this decision. The matchup is fine, but the Cowboys’ offense isn’t. I’m trying to stay away from just about all their fantasy options if I can.