Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

16. Justin Forsett (Seattle Seahawks) @ St. Louis

Starting in place of the injured Julius Jones, Justin Forsett had just eight carries for a whopping nine yards. However, his day was not completely wasted for fantasy owners who took a chance on him as he added eight receptions for 80 yards and scored a rushing TD. It was not the rushing performance that many had hope for, but he did face a Minnesota Vikings defense that is ranked No. 3 against the rush, and he did finish with double digit fantasy points. If Jones is out again for Week 12, Forsett should have a much better rushing performance against a St. Louis Rams’ defense that is allowing more than 146 rushing yards per game and has given up 14 rushing touchdowns in 10 games. Make sure you check Jones’ status heading into the game, but if he is out again Forsett could be used as a No. 2 fantasy running back.
Point Projection: 15 points

17. Jamaal Charles (Kansas City Chiefs) @ San Diego

Jamaal Charles had a very good game in the Chiefs surprising Week 11 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He started the game with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, before adding 17 carries for 58 yards. He also had two catches for eight yards with a touchdown. He has 35 carries for 168 yards with two total touchdowns in his last two games since the release of Larry Johnson. Charles is the No. 1 running option for the Chiefs and should be used as a RB2 this week against the San Diego Chargers, who have allowed 118.5 rushing yards per game with seven rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 15 points

18. Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants) @ Denver **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

Brandon Jacobs had 12 carries for 39 yards with a touchdown and added two catches for 13 yards in last week’s victory over the Atlanta Falcons before leaving the game with a knee injury in the fourth quarter. Jacobs said he believes he could have returned to the game, but the coaches decided to keep him out. It is unclear whether he will be able to play on a short turn-around this week when the Giants take on the Denver Broncos in a night-time Thanksgiving Day game. If he is healthy enough to play this week, use Jacobs as a No. 2 fantasy running back, but make sure you keep an eye on the injury report before inserting him into your starting lineup on Thursday.
Point Projection: 14 points

19. Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Baltimore

In a shocking Week 11 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Rashard Mendenhall had 21 carries for 80 yards and added four receptions for 36 yards with a touchdown. He has scored double digit fantasy points in five of seven games since taking over as the starting running back in Pittsburgh. This week, the Steelers travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens, who are their bitter division rivals. Use Mendenhall as a RB2 this week against a Baltimore defense that has allowed 921 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns through 10 games this season. 
Point Projection: 14 points

20. LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Washington

Filling in for the injured Brian Westbrook, rookie LeSean McCoy had a very good game with 20 carries for 99 yards with a touchdown in the Eagles’ Week 11 victory over the Chicago Bears. He has played well when given the chance as it was the third time this season he has had more than 80 rushing yards, while scoring a touchdown in each of those games. It was the fifth time this season that McCoy had more than 10 carries in a game and that should continue this week against the Redskins as Westbrook will once again be inactive. Consider McCoy a No. 2 fantasy running back this week against a Washington rush defense that is allowing 128.4 rushing yards per game this season. 
Point Projection: 14 points

21. Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) @ Tennessee

Beanie Wells had 14 carries for 74 yards with a touchdown last week against the St. Louis Rams. He continues to get an expanded role in the Cardinals offense and has carried the ball 12 or more times in five of his last six games. He received an equal split of the carries with starter Tim Hightower, and it appears he could be on his way to assuming the starting running back role in Arizona sooner than later. He has had his three best rushing performances of the season in his last three games. Wells has scored three touchdowns in his last two games and should be used as a RB2 this week against the Tennessee Titans.
Point Projection: 13 points

22. Laurence Maroney (New England Patriots) @ New Orleans

After losing a fumble early in the game on Sunday, Laurence Maroney bounced back and had 22 carries for 77 yards with two touchdowns in a victory over the New York Jets. Since taking over the starting role in Week 6, he has yet to have less than 13 carries in a game and has scored at least one touchdown in five straight games. The Patriots have a big match-up this week against the undefeated New Orleans Saints, a match-up in which Maroney should be used as a RB2 as the Saints have allowed 12 rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 12 points

23. Matt Forte (Chicago Bears) @ Minnesota

After posting double digit fantasy points in each of the three weeks prior to week 11, Matt Forte left fantasy owners disappointed when he had 14 carries for just 34 yards and caught just four passes for 20 yards in a Week 11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He has not been the consistent fantasy option owners were hoping for when he was drafted as a top-five pick in most fantasy drafts this past summer. On the year, Forte has 915 total yards with three touchdowns. Use Forte as a RB2 this week in a tough match-up against NFC North division foe Minnesota Vikings.
Point Projection: 11 points

24. Tim Hightower (Arizona Cardinals) @ Tennessee

Even while getting an even split in carries with rookie Beanie Wells, Tim Hightower rushed for season-high 110 yards in a Week 11 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Yet, he did not score a touchdown for the third straight week, after scoring a touchdown in each of the four previous weeks. His numbers have slipped a bit of late with Wells continually getting a bigger role in the offense, but both backs were effective last week against the Rams as they each received 14 carries. Hightower should be used as a low-end RB2 in a good match-up in Week 12, as the Cardinals take on a Titans’ defense that has allowed over 100 rushing yards per game to go with 8 rushing TDs in 10 games.
Point Projection: 11 points

25. Pierre Thomas (New Orleans Saints) vs. New England

With 92 rushing yards, Pierre Thomas led the Saints in rushing Week 11, even though his 11 carries were two less then his backup Mike Bell received. Sadly for his owners, Thomas was held without a touchdown for the second straight week, while Bell had two. The running back situation in New Orleans is getting harder to read each week. Thomas is the starter, but he continues to lose carries and touchdowns to Bell and Reggie Bush when healthy. The Saints will face a Patriots’ defense that is allowing less than 110 rushing yards per game and has yielded just three rushing touchdowns in 10 games. With New Orleans using more of a running-back-by-committee approach of late, consider Thomas a low-end RB2 or flex option this week. 
Point Projection: 11 points

26. Steve Slaton (Houston Texans) vs. Indianapolis

Steve Slaton returned to the starting lineup for the Texans on Monday night against the Tennessee Titans, but he once again did not lead the team in rushing; Chris Brown took that honor. Slaton had five carries for 21 yards and added five receptions for 42 yards with a touchdown. Even though he is not receiving a majority of the carries, he has still been effective catching the ball out of the backfield. He is no longer a must-start fantasy running back, but thanks to his pass catching abilities he still has fantasy value. Use Slaton as a low-end No. 2 running back or a flex option this week at home against the Colts.
Point Projection: 11 points

27. Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions) vs. Green Bay

Fantasy owners were expecting more than the 12 carries for 45 yards Kevin Smith had in a Week 11 victory over the Cleveland Browns, especially when you consider Cleveland was giving up more than 165 rushing yards per game heading into the contest. Smith did make up for his low rushing totals with four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. He finished the game with double figure fantasy points for just the fourth time this season. The Lions face the Packers on Thanksgiving Day, a tough match-up for Smith. In three career games versus Green Bay, he has carried the ball 53 times for 193 yards with just one touchdown; including a 63-yard effort in Week 6 of this year. Use Smith as No. 3 running back or a flex option this week.
Point Projection: 10 points

28. Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos) vs. New York Giants

Knowshon Moreno had 80 yards on just 10 carries in a loss to the San Diego Chargers last week. He did not score a touchdown, and making matters worse, lost a fumble near the goal line as he tried to get into the end zone. With 600 rushing yards through 10 games and three total touchdowns, he is having a good rookie campaign, but there is cause for concern as he has lost four fumbles. In Week 12, he goes against a New York Giants’ defense that is allowing 104.8 rushing yards per game and has given up 14 rushing touchdowns this season. Moreno is hanging onto the starting running back role in Denver and should be used as a No. 3 fantasy running back this week against the Giants.
Point Projection: 10 points

29. Cadillac Williams (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) @ Atlanta

Playing from behind most of the game, Cadillac Williams had just 11 carries for 32 yards in a loss to the New Orleans Saints last week. Fantasy owners were hoping for a big game from him in what appeared to be a good match-up, but the Buccaneers offense couldn’t do much after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of the game. Tampa Bay is 1-9 and tends to get behind in games early and often which restricts their chances to establish the run. Consider Williams a RB3 of flex option this week against a Falcons defense that is allowing 126.1 rushing yards per game and has given up nine rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 9 points

30. Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) @ New York Jets

Even though Jonathan Stewart had just one less carry than DeAngelo Williams, he was much more ineffective in a Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Stewart had 12 carries for 43 yards, while Williams had 13 carries for 122 yards. Neither back managed to score a touchdown in the game. Stewart has been very inconsistent this season as he has scored double digit fantasy points three times, but never in back-to-back games. Williams is the more consistent running back in Carolina and the No. 1 option. Use Stewart as a No. 3 running back or flex option this week against the New York Jets.
Point Projection: 8 points

31. Rock Cartwright (Washington Redskins) @ Philadelphia

With injuries sidelining both starter Clinton Portis and backup Ladell Betts this week, Rock Cartwright will get the start for the Redskins as they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. He was very effective last week filling in for the injured Betts when he had 13 carries for 67 yards and seven receptions for 73 yards. Cartwright is a strong runner with good hands and could be used as a RB3 or flex option in this week’s match-up with the Eagles.
Point Projection: 8 points

32. Fred Jackson (Buffalo Bills) vs. Miami

With Marshawn Lynch banged up, Jackson should see an expanded role this Sunday against the Dolphins; however, fantasy owners should not expect to see the same back that dominated the first two weeks of the season with 19 and 16 fantasy points. The Bills offense has struggled mightily of late, so much so that Dick Jauron was let go, and as a result so has the fantasy value of their players. Jackson makes nothing more than a RB3 option.
Point Projection: 8 points

33. Felix Jones (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Oakland

Felix Jones received a ringing endorsement from fellow Arkansas alum and Cowboys’ team owner Jerry Jones heading into Dallas’ Week 11 victory over the Washington Redskins. Jones suggested that the Cowboys needed to get the speedy second-year back more involved in the offense, and it worked. He had 10 carries in the game, which is his highest total of the season, finishing the game with 49 yards. Jones has scored double digit fantasy points just twice this season, but he has a good match-up this week against the Raiders who rank No. 30 against the run. Use him as a RB3 or flex option this week.
Point Projection: 8 points

34. Jamal Lewis (Cleveland Browns) @ Cincinnati

In what was one of his better rushing performances of the season, Jamal Lewis had 24 carries for 75 yards in a Week 11 loss to the Detroit Lions. It was only the second time this season that he has surpassed 70 rushing yards in a game (he has only topped 100 yards just once). He did not score a touchdown and has yet to score one this season. He faces a familiar foe this week when the Browns travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals. He has faced the Bengals 15 times in his career and has averaged 113.7 rushing yards per game against them, while scoring 11 rushing touchdowns. Most of those totals, though, were amassed when he was a younger stronger running back playing for the Baltimore Ravens. Lewis should be used as nothing more than a RB3 or flex option this week against a Cincinnati defense that has been very stingy against the run this season. 
Point Projection: 8 points

35. Mike Bell (New Orleans Saints) vs. New England

In the ever confusing situation that is the New Orleans Saints running back situation, Mike Bell had his first double figure fantasy performance since Week 2 when the Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. He finished the game with a team-high 13 carries for 75 yards with two touchdowns. He had two more carries than starter Pierre Thomas, but 11 of Bell’s 13 carries came in the fourth quarter when the game was well in hand for New Orleans. Even with the solid performance in Week 11, Bell should not be used as anything more than a RB3 this week against a Patriots rush defense that has allowed just three rushing touchdowns this season.
Point Projection: 7 points