Week 12 Fantasy Football has arrived. Only three games stand between you and the 2025 Fantasy Football playoffs and, per usual, chaos is in the air this time of year.
Every fantasy football season, exciting back-up RBs start to pop up for these stretch runs. Whether an injury or depth chart promotion earns them this path to more volume doesn’t matter. Catching the right RB2, at the right time, can make all the difference between hoisting that 2025 fantasy football trophy versus whimpering yourself to sleep for the next 9 months.
This phenomena has never been more key in 2025 than in Week 12 Fantasy Football. Bucky Irving is likely to sit again, and possibly longer. Josh Jacobs is highly questionable for Week 12 and beyond. Plus, exciting rookies are starting to get their chance, and thriving.
Consequently, fantasy football managers are weighing the Week 12 Fantasy Football Outlooks of Sean Tucker vs. Bhayshul Tuten vs. Emanuel Wilson. Granted, it’s unlikely you have all three options at your disposal, but you may even be wondering if one deserves Week 12 RB2 or Flex consideration over your current starter.
Let’s dive deep into the Week 12 Fantasy Football outlooks of Tucker, Tuten, and Wilson to determine our favorite of the three, as well as the startability of each.
Sean Tucker Week 12 Fantasy Football Outlook
Hopefully, you’re already aboard the Tucker Express and streamed him in Week 11. He posted 21 touches (2 receptions), 140 YFS, and a whopping 3 total TDs. This equaled 33 Half-PPR FPs, good for the No.1 RB of Week 11.
Tucker personally saved my buns last week after JK Dobbins was suddenly placed on IR. Though the sledding promises to be tougher in Week 12, I’m dipping right back into the Sean Tucker well versus the Rams, as Bucky Irving is once again expected to miss this week:
Tucker’s ascension may have taken a while to arrive. Bucky Irving went down in Week 4, and Rachaad White became the clear featured back. In Weeks 5-7, White saw 81%, 78%, and 89% of the snaps, alonsidede 72%, 71%, and 91% of the rushing share. This was a monstrous workload White rode to RB7, RB10, and RB26 fantasy finishes.
Yet, White’s production was far more a product of volume than talent or efficiency, and the Bucs clearly desired more from their backfield. Consequently, Tucker slowly had more and more added to his plate. In Weeks 8-11, Tucker’s rushing workload has jumped each week, from 41%, to 43%, to a season-high 59% in Week 12.
Somewhat bafflingly, Tucker has been provided double-digit carries just three times in his career. He’s put up the following stats:
- 17 touches (3 receptions), 192 YFS, 2 TDs, 34.2 FPs (RB1)
- 12 touches (0 catches), 42 YFS, 1 TD , 10.2 (RB23)
- 21 touches (2 receptions), 140 YFS, 3 TDs, 34.0 (RB2)
Yes, he’s scored 34+ FPs in 2-of-3 games he’s seen double-digit carries. How the man has not earned a greater workload, I’m not sure. Yet, the upside is clearly massive when Tucker gets used.
Tucker explained why he feels the volume bump helps him out with the rhythm of the game:
“I would say after a couple of carries, you get to feel out the defense and see what they’re trying to do and the scheme they’re doing for the day,” Tucker said. “The more carries after that, I am just able to get into my rhythm and mode and showcase what I can do.”
The big difference between Tucker and White is his explosivity. Tucker has that incredible long-speed to rip off the massive play when he gets into space, which creates real-life and fantasy upside only a select-few backs have. His QB Baker Mayfield is well aware:
“He has the extra gear, so any sort of those plays that can extend into being explosive runs or passes, it’s big for us,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “Obviously, continue to lean on him, continuing to trust him and grow whatever package we have for him and go from there. He has that big-play potential that you’re trying to take advantage of.”
In his phenomenal Week 11 Fantasy Takeaways article, FF’s Nathan Jahnke provided an excellent graphic displaying the RB usage tendencies in Week 12:
While Tucker may have exploded, these graphs do illustrate some concerning usage trends that must be noted:
- Rachaad White still played more total snaps
- White is the clear passing-down and two-minute drill back, which could open Tucker to some game-flow risk.
- White remained equally involved at the goalline and in short-yardage, suggesting Tucker has not fully secured this key part of the role even with a 3 TD day.
In particular, the lack of usage in clear passing situations creates a ton of risk for Tucker’s Week 12 Fantasy Football Outlook. The Buccaneers 6.5 underdogs on the road, implying a negative game script that does not favor Tucker. If this game gets out of hand early, Tucker could be put on ice for the majority of the game and leave fantasy owners with a major RB2 or flex hole in their lineups.
For someone who was just the RB1, Tucker’s floor is sneaky low and must be acknowledged.
Nonetheless, this same floor also existed last week versus the explosive Bills offense. The Bills were favored similarly by 5.5 points, and Tampa Bay hung strong enough to keep Tucker involved all game.
In fact, Tucker almost single-handedly kept them alive with his bruising burst all afternoon. He was the reason this game did not slip away from Tampa, and the Bucs could very well mimic that game plan in Week 12. OC Josh Grizzard suggested Tucker’s usage uptick has been fully earned, and will continue doing so:
“Without giving away a competitive advantage in terms of those guys’ roles, I think Sean has proven he deserves more carries. From the time he’s played, he’s gotten more carries each week and I suspect that will continue.”
Thus, unless disaster strikes (i.e. an early pick-six and a quick 14-0 hole), I expect Tucker to remain involved early and often this week.
Granted, the matchup will be much more difficult. The Bills surrender the second most FPs to RBs (25.26 Half PPR) and 2nd most rushing yards per game (121) in the league. Comparatively, the Rams surrender the third-fewest FPs to RBs (14.9) and nearly half as many rushing yards (76.9).
The Rams have held Saquon Barkley (7.5 Half-Points)), Jonathan Taylor (12.1), Derrick Henry (13.5), and even Christian McCaffrey (13.6) in check this season. Still, the defense flashed holes to attack vs. the Seahawks last week, allowing Ken Walker to rack up a season-high 18.6 FPs. They are difficult, but not impossible, to attack on the ground, and the Bucs line is moving bodies now that it’s fully healthy.
While it’s a limited sample-size, Tucker’s elite performances when he’s afforded the opportunity make him near impossible to bench. Consequently, even in this tough spot, Tucker slides in as my RB17 (+10 ECR!) in my Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings.
Even if you prefer to bench Tucker this week, there is a chance Irving could remain out for future weeks too. Mike Florio suggested as much in a cryptic quote and clip yesterday:
While the Rams are a tough opponent, the remaining Bucs schedule is quite juicy. They have the 7th easiest Rest of Season Strength of Schedule, and 5th easiest Playoff Schedule, squaring off with Atlanta (4th most points allowed), Carolina (13th), and Miami (11th) during Weeks 15-17. They also have dates with the Cardinals and Saints prior, which are two soft defenses too.
Ultimately, Tucker remains available in 50% of leagues, and must be rostered at minimum to prevent yourself from receiving a 30+ point bashing. While ~15-20 FPs feels closer to the ceiling in this matchup, and the game-flow risk of his low passing-involvelment creates a terrifying floor, Tucker is a near must-start for me in Week 12. He’s my favorite of this group.
Bhayshul Tuten Week 12 Fantasy Football Outlook
Bhayshul Tuten was in the midst of a true breakout game last week before suffering an ankle injury.
Through seven drives of action versus the Chargers, Tuten was out-touching and outplaying Travis Etienne. Tuten saw 15 carries to 12 for Etienne, racking up 74 yards and a TD.
More importantly, Tuten was POPPING. He was consistently churning through contact and bringing a physical presence that felt like the heartbeat of the offense. Liam Coen emphasized the physicality was the exact type of identity this offense wants, raving:
“I thought the Tut ran hard. He ran downhill. Couple third-down runs, got us vertical. You know, he did a really nice job.”
Eight of his 15 carries went for 5+ yards and a TD. Josh Norris chopped up the tape and pointed out Tuten was “shoestring tackle away” from breaking some huge plays, too:
Unfortunately, Tuten suffered the ankle injury and ultimately did not return. Prior to that, he had a 41% snap share and 44% rush share—season-high marks.
However, the ankle injury does not appear overly serious. Tuten has gotten in limited practices throughout the week; interestingly, Etienne was actually in a non-contact jersey as of Thursday. While he seems unlikely to miss, Tuten would SKYROCKET if he’s the clear lead back come Sunday.
Even if not, the rookie clearly has some pop to his game. He only has two games with double-digit touches, and he recorded 15.4 (RB17) and 13.4 (RB20) FPs across both. Assuming the injury is indeed minor, Tuten’s workload seems likely to continue progressing upwards.
Remember, Liam Coen similarly limited rookie-year Bucky Irving to begin his career before Irving absolutely erupted down the stretch. The two players shared many parallels as prospects, especially as tackle churners:
Tuten led all Power Conference RBs in career yards after contact per attempt (4.08) and missed tackles forced per touch (0.35). He ranked in the 96th percentile in after contact rate and 98th percentile in missed tackles forced rate.
As a prospect, Irving interestingly ranked in the 92nd percentile after contact rate and in the 99th percentile missed tackle rate since 2014.
The main difference? Tuten’s insane athleticism:
Rootin’ Tuten can flat out fly! He ran a 4.32 forty, while also posting 98th percentile explosion metrics with a 40.5 vertical & 10’10” broad jump. This forty-time ranked in the legitimate 100th percentile via Player Profiler:
Indeed, Tuten’s weekly and rest of season upside will be somewhat capped as long as Etienne is healthy and playing well. Nonetheless, the team clearly had a mission to bump up Tuten’s involvement, and he absolutely rewarded their faith by setting the tone for the offense all afternoon.
Additionally, similar to last year’s Bucs, Coen’s Jaguars present one of the most valuable “backfield pies” in the entire league — both from a touch volume and quality perspective. Via Hayden Winks, the Jags rank first in Expected Backfield Fantasy Points across their last 3 games — a whopping +5 more FPs more than the next closest Dolphins:
Indeed, there’s plenty of fantasy goodness to sustain multiple mouths.
Thus, as long as he’s active, Tuten is an intriguing low-end RB2 / Flex for me. I have him at RB25 (+7 ECR) in my Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings. If Etienne is surprisingly ruled out this week (or any other moving forward), Tuten would rocket into the Top-12 RB conversation.
Emanuel Wilson Week 12 Fantasy Football Outlook
Emanuel Wilson was among the hottest Week 12 Waiver Wire pick ups with Josh Jacobs seemingly shelved with a knee injury.
Unfortunately for those who blew massive FAAB or waiver claims on him, Wilson’s “handcuff upside” might not be realized any time soon.
Jacobs has missed just nine of a possible 109 regular season games dating back to his rookie season in 2019. Jacobs constantly pushes through injuries for his team, saying it’s part of his mentality:
Consequently, he’s pushing to play through a knee contusion that would cause most normal humans to rest. He suggested as long as it’s a matter of pain tolerance (and not sapping his physical ability), he will be out there. Ultimately, Jacobs promised to be back by Thanksgiving, but seems to be really pushing for Week 12:
Beyond just his own word, Jacobs actually looks solid in released practice clips, too. He was limited Thursday, and seemed to be moving around just fine:
As of Friday, HC Matt LaFluer also noted “”He’ll be limited & we’ll see what he can do. Just talking to him, he’s feeling pretty good.”
All this to say: Jacobs has a very real chance of returning to the field this week, crushing any streaming hopes of Emanuel Wilson owners.
Let’s play the hypothetical game, though, and pretend Jacobs does sit. After all, some writers speculate the Packers will hold Jacobs out until Thanksgiving, with a massive divisional clash with the Lions on deck.
Per FantasyLife’s Dwain McFarland, after Jacobs exited the game on the second drive, Wilson handled 94% of the snaps and scored 11.9 fantasy points. He took 11 carries and ran 17 routes (60% share!), ultimately racking up 49 YFS and a TD while finishing as the RB21 for the week.
Prior to this, Wilson had been operating as the clear RB2. In the four games leading up to Week 11, he outsnapped Chris Brooks 31% to 11%, and averaged 5.8 attempts and 1.8 targets. He uietly put up 219 yards on a paltry 43 touches, 11 of which were for first downs prior to being thrust into the starting role.
Thus, Wilson would be highly viable in Week 12 Fantasy Football if Jacobs sits. Matt LaFleur has always loved committee backfields, and I do think Chris Brooks would be more involved than last week. Still, Wilson should be expected to handle 65-70% of the work if Jacobs misses Week 12.
The Vikings aren’t the most friendly matchup, but aren’t terrifying by any means either. They have given up the 13th fewest FPs to RBs (18.14 Half FPPG), and recently held both Jahmyr Gibbs (4.3 FPs) and Derrick Henry (9.9) under double digits.
Still, backups like Kenny Gainwell (28.4 FPs) and Kimani Vidal (19.2) have erupted for monstrous Top-6 performances against the Vikings, so they are far from bulletproof.
If Wilson is indeed the starter, I’d rank him RB24 for the week, which is where he currently stands in my Week 12 Fantasy Football Rankings. This would be just ahead of Tuten, and a bit below Tucker.
Wilson will be unplayable if Jacobs is ruled in, however.
Have a Week 12 Fantasy Football Sit Start Question involving Sean Tucker, Emanuel Wilson, Bhayshul Tuten, or really anyone else? Tune into The Wolf’s Week 12 Fantasy Football Show, LIVE Sunday (11/23) @ 8am ET!
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