We're down to our final two byes of the season, as the Panthers and Bucs being off this week means no Christian McCaffrey, Mike Davis, Ronald Jones, or Leonard Fournette in our Week 13 fantasy RB rankings. There also could be a few key injuries and COVID-related issues that will continue to thin out the running back spot, but at least a few familiar faces are set to return.
James Conner and Jonathan Taylor landed on the COVID list late in the lead-up to Week 12, and while it's possible that either could be out of action in Week 13, we currently have both of them included in our rankings. If either does end up getting stuck on the list for another week, Nyheim Hines (@ Texans) will rise to the RB2 range while Benny Snell (vs. Washington) and Jordan Wilkins (@ Texans) will have high-end flex value. Todd Gurley (knee) didn't practice in Week 12, so we'll assume he'll miss Week 13, which opens the door for Brian Hill and Ito Smith (vs. Saints) to make some noise. (Update: Gurley is questionable but on track to play in Week 13.)""
WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Despite these issues, our rankings are strong overall thanks to some other players who could potentially return from injuries. Austin Ekeler (vs. Patriots) and Raheem Mostert (vs. Bills) returned to action last Sunday, while Chris Carson (vs. Giants) is set to return on Monday night. Myles Gaskin (vs. Bengals), D'Andre Swift (@ Bears), and David Johnson (vs. Colts) all have good chances of returning in Week 13, and all are worthwhile RB2s/flexes in our rankings. Justin Jackson (knee) and Devonta Freeman (ankle) are also eligible to return this week, but they're not in our rankings at the start of the week.
WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Injuries in recent weeks have allowed Wayne Gallman (@ Seahawks) and Giovani Bernard (@ Dolphins) to take control of the Giants and Bengals backfields, while JK Dobbins (vs. Cowboys) looked to be en route to being the Ravens' lead back before a positive COVID test knocked him out for Week 12. Those players should continue to be temporary lead backs and will certainly be RB2s thanks to volume alone.
WEEK 13 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Another similar player is Frank Gore (vs. Raiders). He has a great matchup against the Raiders this week and should get 15-plus touches. No one wants to start Gore with their season on the line, but he has a high floor and carries a decent amount of value in standard leagues. Someone like Cam Akers (@ Cardinals) is a more exciting option, as he looks to be breaking out as the Rams lead back, but you never know how many touches he'll get on a weekly basis. If you need to go for a higher-ceiling back, Akers would be your guy, but if you need "safe points," then Gore can get the job done.
WEEK 13 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Reminder: As always, we expect to make plenty of changes to these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for updates.
MORE WEEK 13 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Week 13 Fantasy RB Rankings (Standard)
These rankings are for non-PPR leagues.
WEEK 13 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Dalvin Cook, MIN vs. JAX |
| 2 | Derrick Henry, TEN vs. CLE |
| 3 | Alvin Kamara, NO @ ATL |
| 4 | James Robinson, JAX @ MIN |
| 5 | Nick Chubb, CLE @ TEN |
| 6 | Miles Sanders, PHI @ GB. Sanders had a season-low 22 total yards against the Seahawks and will certainly be looking to bounce back after that performance. The Packers have allowed the most receiving yards (601) to RBs this season, as well as 16 total TDs, so this is a good matchup fo Sanders to take advantage of. |
| 7 | Aaron Jones, GB vs. PHI |
| 8 | Antonio Gibson, WAS @ PIT |
| 9 | David Montgomery, CHI vs. DET. Montgomery had his first 100-yard rushing game against the Packers and scored through the air in Week 12. This week, he gets to take on a Lions defense that has allowed a league-high 28.2 fantasy points per game (FPPG) to RBs thanks largely to the 21 total TDs they've allowed to the position. |
| 10 | Chris Carson, SEA vs. NYG. In his first game back from a foot injury, Carson was out-touched 17-10 by Carlos Hyde, but he did score on the ground. The Seahawks were probably just trying to ease Carson back into action, as they have one fewer day of rest before their Week 13 game against the Giants, so he can still be trusted as a fringe-RB1. |
| 11 | Austin Ekeler, LAC vs. NE. Ekeler returned from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him for nearly two months and saw a whopping 16 targets against the Bills. He caught 11 of them for a season-high 85 yards and he should continue to have a sky-high receiving floor thanks to Justin Herbert's strong play. |
| 12 | Ezekiel Elliott, DAL @ BAL |
| 13 | Raheem Mostert, SF vs. BUF |
| 14 | Jonathan Taylor, IND @ HOU. Taylor should be able to return from the COVID list and take advantage of this highly favorable matchup. The Texans have allowed a league-high 1,564 rushing yards to RBs and 14 TDs on the ground. Hines has averaged 14.7 touches per game for 81 yards in his past three outings, so he will have a high ceiling if that type of workload continues. |
| 15 | Melvin Gordon, DEN @ KC |
| 16 | Kareem Hunt, CLE @ TEN |
| 17 | Damien Harris, NE @ LAC |
| 18 | Myles Gaskin, MIA vs. CIN. Gaskin (knee) hasn't played since Week 8, but he was close to playing against the Jets and should return against the Bengals. If he can, he'll get to take advantage of a defense that has allowed the third-most rushing yards to RBs this season (1,318) and the 10th-most FPPG to RBs (19.3). And if Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) is out, Gaskin could function as a true lead back. |
| 19 | Devontae Booker, LV @ NYJ |
| 20 | Wayne Gallman, NYG @ SEA. Gallman's scoring streak reached five games against the Bengals and he had a season-high 94 yards in that contest, as well. Gallman's Week 13 matchup against the Seahawks will be tough, as Seattle has allowed just 701 rushing yards on the season, the third fewest in the NFL, but they have allowed 10 rushing TDs. Gallman should continue to get volume, especially with Colt McCoy starting, so expect another game when he fits in solidly as an RB2. |
| 21 | David Johnson, HOU vs. IND. Johnson (concussion) is eligible to come off IR this week, and the current expectation is that he will barring any setback. The matchup on paper with the Colts defense is a tough one, but the Colts just allowed Derrick Henry to rack up 178 yards and three TDs on the ground, so if they're without DeForest Buckner again, Johnson could have a great day. Either way, his 16.7 touches per game will put him into the RB2 territory as a volume-based play. |
| 22 | Kenyan Drake, ARI vs. LAR. In three games since returning from an ankle injury, Drake has averaged 87.3 yards per game and a TD for the Cardinals. He's getting more opportunities to carry the ball in the red zone, which should bode well for him moving forward. The Rams allow only 14.9 FPPG to RBs this year, but they have allowed a rushing TD to an RB in four straight games. Drake should have a chance to find the end zone again and post some solid numbers despite a tough matchup. |
| 23 | JK Dobbins, BAL vs. DAL. Dobbins (COVID) has been cleared to play in the Ravens' postponed Week 12 game, so he should be able to play against the Cowboys in Week 13, as well. Dobbins is emerging as the top RB in the Ravens' backfield and the Cowboys have surrendered an average of 157 total yards to RBs in their past six games. They have also allowed four TDs to the position in the past two weeks, so expect Dobbins to take advantage of this matchup. |
| 24 | Benny Snell, PIT vs. WAS. |
| 25 | Clyde Edwards-Helaire, KC vs. DEN. In his past five games, Edwards-Helaire has become a bit more TD-dependent as a fantasy contributor. He has averaged 48.8 yards per game during that span but has found the end zone four times. His matchup against the Broncos could prove to be difficult depending on the health of the Broncos' defensive line. They've been down a few starters in recent weeks and have given up a lot of yardage as a result, including a 124-yard game to Latavius Murray last week. Edwards-Helaire could post similarly large numbers, but because of his decreased workload in recent weeks, he's just a fringe RB2. |
| 26 | Giovani Bernard, CIN @ MIA. Bernard has averaged 50.4 total yards in his past three outings in place of the injured Joe Mixon (foot) and hasn't scored since Week 8 against the Titans. The numbers haven't been great, but the volume (11.7 touches per game) is there, and the Dolphins have allowed 19.1 FPPG to RBs, good for the 11th most in the NFL, so Bernard is still largely a must-start with only Samaje Perine competing for carries with him. |
| 27 | Frank Gore, NYJ vs. LV. La'Mical Perine was supposed to take on a bigger role in the Jets backfield, but he landed on IR with an ankle injury. As a result, Gore has averaged 19 touches per game in his past two outings and should continue to be a massive part of the Jets' game plan. Gore has 157 total yards and a TD in his last two outings, and he should continue to do relatively well against a Raiders defense that has allowed 21.8 FPPG to RBs. |
| 28 | Todd Gurley, ATL vs. NO |
| 29 | Cam Akers, LAR @ ARI. Is Akers' breakout finally here? The second-round rookie logged a career-high 84 yards against the 49ers and scored for the second time in as many weeks. The Rams are increasingly relying on him to help move the ball and that trend in his direction should only continue in the coming weeks. Still, the Cardinals are above-average against the run and Darrell Henderson is still out-touching Akers, so trusting him as more than a flex play would be too risky. |
| 30 | Nyheim Hines, IND @ HOU. If Taylor (COVID) can't play for the Colts this week, Hines will have a chance to emerge as a potential RB2, but with it looking like Taylor was just a close contact of someone with the virus, he should be good to go. Hines should still do well against a poor run defense but he'll just be a flex play considering that the Texans haven't yet allowed an RB to score a receiving TD on him this year and that will be his primary role. |
| 31 | Zack Moss, BUF @ SF. Coming out of the Bills' bye week, Moss was actually outworked by Devin Singletary, but he still managed to produce 59 yards on nine carries against the Chargers. Given the frustrating carry split and the fact that the 49ers have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards to RBs this year (792), Moss can only be counted on as a flex play at most. |
| 32 | Adrian Peterson, DET @ CHI |
| 33 | J.D. McKissic, WAS @ PIT. McKissic's workload has fallen a bit in the past couple of weeks, but he's still one of the best pass-catching backs in the NFL and is just a couple of weeks removed from seeing 14 targets in the passing game. The game script against Pittsburgh may benefit McKissic, as Washington may have to throw more to keep pace with the Steelers' offense. That could lead to more opportunities for McKissic, so feel free to flex him again this week and if Antonio Gibson continues to take on a larger role in Week 13, McKissic can be downgraded after that. |
| 34 | Gus Edwards, BAL vs. DAL. Edwards has seen his workload dwindle as Dobbins has emerged, but he still remains a goal-line threat and the likely top backup to the rookie. The Cowboys have allowed the fourth-most rushing TDs in the league (12) so Edwards could have a chance to score in that contest if given the opportunity. |
| 35 | Darrell Henderson, LAR @ ARI. The good news for Henderson: He still had more carries than Cam Akers against the Cardinals (10-9). The bad news: Henderson was outgained 84-19 by Akers. Henderson will continue to be a part of the Rams' game plan, but with Akers emerging and Sean McVay continuing to mix up his RBs, Henderson is merely a low-level flex at this point. |
| 36 | Phillip Lindsay, DEN @ KC. |
| 37 | Kalen Ballage, LAC vs. NE. Like Ahmed, Ballage (ankle/calf) missed last game for the Chargers and will now be behind Austin Ekeler in the team's RB rotation. Ballage still could get some goal-line opportunities if he can return, as those went to Joshua Kelley with him out, but it's hard to trust him with an uncertain workload against a decent Patriots run defense that has only allowed two total TDs to RBs in the past four weeks. |
| 38 | James White, NE @ LAC. White looks like the top backup to Damien Harris with Rex Burkhead (knee) out for the season. He had two goal-line TDs against the Cardinals, but he's more likely to do damage as a receiver in most matchups. |
| 39 | Kerryon Johnson, DET @ CHI |
| 40 | Mark Ingram, BAL vs. DAL |
| 41 | Le'Veon Bell, KC vs. DEN |
| 42 | Chase Edmonds, ARI vs. LAR |
| 43 | Devin Singletary, BUF @ SF. Singletary racked up 102 yards on 14 touches against the Chargers last week, but Zack Moss still got the goal-line work and Singletary did lose a fumble. He'll continue to be an explosive threat to rack up yardage, but his low TD upside makes him entirely yardage-dependent. |
| 44 | Duke Johnson, HOU vs. IND. With David Johnson likely back, Duke Johnson goes back to being a top handcuff and potential PPR flex in the right matchup. |
| 45 | Latavius Murray, NO @ ATL. Murray had a 124-yard, two TD game against the Saints and out-touched Alvin Kamara 20-12, but that was more about game script than anything else. With the Broncos unable to do anything on offense, the Saints rode Murray more to give Kamara a break down the stretch run. Murray may be able to work his way into flex territory in favorable matchups down the stretch, but don't read into this outing too much. |
| 46 | Jeff Wilson Jr., SF vs. BUF |
| 47 | Jamaal Williams, GB vs. PHI |
| 48 | Carlos Hyde, SEA vs. NYG. Hyde outworked Chris Carson in Carson's first game back from an injury, but that was probably just to ease Carson back into action. Hyde only 29 yards on 17 touches anyway, so he shouldn't be started unless Carson misses more time moving forward. |
| 49 | Jordan Wilkins, IND @ HOU |
| 50 | Anthony McFarland, PIT vs. WAS. |
| 51 | Jerick McKinnon, SF vs. BUF |
| 52 | Malcolm Brown, LAR @ ARI |
| 53 | Tony Pollard, DAL @ BAL |
| 54 | Brian Hill, ATL vs. NO |
| 55 | Dion Lewis, NYG @ SEA |
| 56 | Samaje Perine, CIN @ MIA |
| 57 | Boston Scott, PHI @ GB |
| 58 | Mike Boone, MIN vs. JAX |
| 59 | Joshua Kelley, LAC vs. NE |
| 60 | Ty Johnson, NYJ vs. LV |
| 61 | Corey Clement, PHI @ GB |
| 62 | Ito Smith, ATL vs. NO |
| 63 | Darrel Williams, KC vs. DEN |
| 64 | D'Onta Foreman, TEN vs. CLE |
| 65 | Sony Michel, NE @ LAC. Michel didn't have a carry against the Cardinals. It looks like James White will be the preferred backup to Damien Harris with Rex Burkhead out for the season. |
| 66 | Jeremy McNichols, TEN vs. CLE |
