5 breakout fantasy football stars to pick up for Week 12

2. Top Week 12 fantasy football pickups – Houston Texans RB Rex Burkhead

It is a general rule to try and avoid the Houston Texans’ offense whenever possible. Beggars can’t be choosers, however, especially if you are in need of help at the running back position.

Most assumed that the Houston backfield would belong to David Johnson after Mark Ingram was traded to the New Orleans Saints and Johnson has done pretty much nothing with his opportunity. The Texans did something about that in Week 11, breaking Rex Burkhead out of mothballs and handing him 18 carries in their win over the Tennessee Titans.

Burkhead registered just 40 yards on his touches, but that was a far more effective line than Johnson’s 18 yards on 13 carries. Johnson received more passing game work than Burkhead, but any running back who is getting 18 carries is worth rostering, especially since the Texans looked more functional on offense with Tyrod Taylor under center.

It’s not shocking that Burkhead is rostered in less than one percent of Yahoo leagues but that should change ahead of a Week 12 matchup against the New York Jets’ struggling defense. Burkhead isn’t a weekly start but he should be a flex consideration as a touch-based RB3 for anyone in need of help in their backfield.