Fantasy RB Rankings Week 13: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy RB Rankings Week 13: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football image

It's going to be a tough week at running back for at least a few fantasy football owners, but some favorable matchups for a few handcuffs create some much-needed sleepers. Our Week 13 fantasy RB rankings try to navigate all the byes, injuries, committees, and good/bad matchups to help with your start 'em, sit 'em decisions.

First, let's start with the byes. The Panthers, Browns, Packers, and Titans are off this week, which takes away some studs (Christian McCaffrey, Nick Chubb, Aaron Jones), key flexes (Kareem Hunt, AJ Dillon), and matchup-based sleepers (D'Onta Foreman, Dontrell Hilliard). However, all of those backs except Dillon have missed time this year, so fantasy owners should be used to playing without them. 

WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

The players dealing with injuries are a little trickier since you don't know if they'll play. Dalvin Cook (shoulder), Alvin Kamara (knee), Mark Ingram (knee), Jordan Howard (knee), D'Andre Swift (shoulder), and Ezekiel Elliott (knee) are all up in the air for this week, and it's likely more will wind up being "questionable" by Sunday. The Saints' backs, Cook, Swift, and Howard are especially interesting because they all have favorable matchups. If they're out, suddenly Tony Jones Jr. (vs. Cowboys), Jamaal Williams (vs. Vikings), Alexander Mattison (@ Lions), and Boston Scott (@ Jets) become must-starts. 

WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Those won't be the only sleepers in action. Jeff Wilson Jr. (@ Seahawks), Samaje Perine (vs. Chargers), and J.D. McKissic (@ Raiders) all have top-five matchups. When you add in whoever is the No. 2 for the Lions and Eagles, you have five flex-worthy "handcuffs." That's more than most weeks.

WEEK 13 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo

On the flip side, the mess that is the Bills backfield has a tough matchup against the Patriots, which actually makes things a little easier. Don't bother with any Bills' backs unless you're desperate. The same goes for Houston's backs (vs. Colts). Alex Collins (vs. 49ers) still gets enough touches to be a low-end flex, but he's also in a tough spot. Ditto for Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Bills), whose timeshare has really reduced both of their values, especially in a tough matchup like this. Some might worry about Devonta Freeman (@ Steelers), but with the way Pittsburgh's defense has been struggling lately, Freeman is still in play as a flex.

WEEK 13 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

Overall, this is a decent week for RBs. There are some tough matchups for star backs, but as long as they're active, they should be in your lineups. It's unlikely most fantasy owners have enough depth to even consider benching someone like Clyde Edwards-Helaire (vs. Broncos) or Javonte Williams (@ Chiefs), so as long as you're ready for whatever injuries/illnesses rear their ugly heads late in the week, you should be able to field a solid 1-2 punch at RB. 

WEEK 13 DFS: Best values | Best stacks | Lineup Builder

Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.

Fantasy RB Rankings Week 13: Who to start at running back

Rankings are based on standard, non-PPR scoring

Rank Player
1 Jonathan Taylor, IND @ HOU
2 Joe Mixon, CIN vs. LAC
3 Najee Harris, PIT vs. BAL
4 Austin Ekeler, LAC @ CIN
5 Leonard Fournette, TB @ ATL
6 Antonio Gibson, WAS @ LV
7 Elijah Mitchell, SF @ SEA
8 Alexander Mattison, MIN @ DET
9 Saquon Barkley, NYG @ MIA
10 Myles Gaskin, MIA vs. NYG
11 Miles Sanders, PHI @ NYJ
12 Javonte Williams, DEN @ KC
13 Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL vs. TB
14 James Robinson, JAX @ LAR
15 James Conner, ARI @ CHI
16 Darrell Henderson, LAR vs. JAX
17 Jamaal Williams, DET vs. MIN
18 David Montgomery, CHI vs. ARI
19 Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ NO
20 Josh Jacobs, LV vs. WAS
21 Boston Scott, PHI @ NYJ
22 Devonta Freeman, BAL @ PIT
23 Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC vs. DEN
24 Mark Ingram, NO vs. DAL
25 Tevin Coleman, NYJ vs. PHI
26 Alex Collins, SEA vs. SF
27 Damien Harris, NE @ BUF
28 Tony Pollard, DAL @ NO
29 Ty Johnson, NYJ vs. PHI
30 Latavius Murray, BAL @ PIT
31 Devin Singletary, BUF vs. NE
32 Jeff Wilson Jr., SF @ SEA
33 Rhamondre Stevenson, NE @ BUF
34 Godwin Igwebuike, DET vs. MIN
35 Darrel Williams, KC vs. DEN
36 Matt Breida, BUF vs. NE
37 Jaret Patterson, WAS @ LV
38 Samaje Perine, CIN vs. LAC
39 Kenyan Drake, LV vs. WAS
40 Rex Burkhead, HOU vs. IND
41 Devontae Booker, NYG @ MIA
42 Kene Nwangwu, MIN @ DET
43 Royce Freeman, HOU vs. IND
44 Salvon Ahmed, MIA vs. NYG
45 Ronald Jones II, TB @ ATL
46 DeeJay Dallas, SEA vs. SF
47 Nyheim Hines, IND @ HOU
48 Sony Michel, LAR vs. JAX
49 Kenneth Gainwell, PHI @ NYJ
50 Mike Davis, ATL vs. TB
51 Eno Benjamin, ARI @ CHI
52 Austin Walter, NYJ vs. PHI
53 Carlos Hyde, JAX @ LAR
54 Brandon Bolden, NE @ BUF
55 Ty'Son Williams, BAL @ PIT
56 Khalil Herbert, CHI vs. ARI
57 Giovani Bernard, TB @ ATL

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.