Below, I will focus on the running backs playing in the main slate of games which start at 1 PM. If you missed it earlier in the week, be sure to check out my Thanksgiving Day Special and if you need help selecting a value QB, check out my QB focus here. Please note that these are value plays which will cost you no more than $4,600.

Javorius Allen – $4,600

Allen is now the feature back in Baltimore with both Forsett and Taliaferro done for the season. Flacco also moved to IR after last week’s game, so I’m buying Allen based upon the workload he is sure to get alone. I feel like Baltimore will use him early and often in a very favorable matchup for the running game. Allen will face a Cleveland defense which ranks 26th against the RB. Look for him to also add PPR value as he will be targeted out of the backfield as well. Although he has yet to find the end zone, he has never had a workload like he will see this week. I’m going to predict that he will hit at least 3 times his value, and record his first career touchdown to boot.

Chris Johnson – 4,600

Johnson is receiving a solid workload in the Cardinals offense. In his past four games he has 18, 30, 25 and 18 attempts respectively. I simply love this matchup for Johnson going up against a SF defense that comes into week 12 ranked 31st vs the running back. This is a defense that was just absolutely shredded by Rawls last week. The last time these two teams met, Johnson ran for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns. I expect him to carry the ball at least 20 times this week and I believe he finishes close to four times his value.

Thomas Rawls – $4,500

Sometimes you can’t play the matchup and you just have to roll with whose hot. This is the case with Rawls this week. On paper, he has a tough matchup vs a stout Steelers running defense. However, I will roster him this week based on how explosive he looked last week while filling in for an injured Marshawn Lynch. His price, along with the fact that Pittsburgh could lower his ownership figures this week, is a main factor in me rostering him. The term “must start” gets thrown around a lot, but that’s truly how I feel about Rawls at this price point.

-DFS Pete