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Week 13 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 13

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

Check out the other positions as well:

• QB preview
• WR preview
• TE preview

Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs

Friday, 3 p.m. ET

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

Pacheco’s set to return from a Week 2 fibula fracture. He’ll surely see a limited workload against Vegas, but the favorable matchup helps support RB2 value.

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

Hunt has handled 14+ carries in each game since Week 4. But with Isiah Pacheco returning, Hunt’s best-case for Week 13 might be a 50/50 split. Fortunately, he sticks on the Flex radar for a plus home matchup with Vegas.

Ameer Abdullah, Raiders

Abdullah played a huge role in Vegas’ Week 12 loss to Miami. He should at least see a fantasy-friendly role in the passing game, giving him some deep PPR appeal vs. Kansas City. The Raiders are installed as 13-point road underdogs. Note: Zamir White is out, but Alexander Mattison (ankle) is questionable to play.

Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

The Chargers have allowed 5.1 YPC over the past five weeks. They might remain without LB Denzel Perryman.

Gus Edwards, Chargers

Edwards slides into a primary ball-carrying role with J.K. Dobbins sidelined. Current projections have him for 14 carries against a Falcons defense that’s 19th in rush defense DVOA.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Last week, Allgeier was held without a carry for the first time this season. He remains a shaky Flex option vs. the Chargers.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

Chase Brown, Bengals

Brown has been an RB1 in every game since Zack Moss went on IR. He is getting every RB touch for the Bengals and continues to be utilized in the passing game. The Steelers have a stout run defense, but have given up 10 rushing TDs to RBs this year. Brown is locked in as an RB1.

Najee Harris, Steelers

Harris was less effective than Jaylen Warren last week, but still led the RB touches. He did lose the only goal-line touch to Warren however. He should continue leading in carries, and if the Steelers get up, they could run behind Harris. Due to his potential inefficiency, Harris is only a high-end RB3.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers

Warren outperformed Najee Harris last week and was used as the goal-line back in only carry inside the five-yard line. He also has been rising in touches since coming back from injuries. With the Bengals defense bottom five in most categories against RBs, Warren has high-end RB3 value this week.

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Joe Mixon, Texans

The Jaguars are a respectable run defense, allowing 4.3 yards per carry to RBs and ranking 13th in DVOA. But they rank 31st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs -- because their pass defense is so bad and they're often trailing. With the Texans four-point favorites in Jacksonville on Sunday, Mixon is a strong volume and TD bet.

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

RB Tank Bigsby's return threatens Etienne's early-down role. And the matchup is brutal against a Texans run defense ranked second in run defense DVOA and fifth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Etienne should control passing-down work but would be weak RB3 or Flex play even in PPR leagues.

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars

Bigsby has been a full-go in practice this week and will be back from his ankle injury for Week 13. He could wind up leading Jacksonville in carries. But he gets a Texans squad that ranks second in run defense DVOA and has limited RBs to 4.1 yards per carry.

Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones matched his season high with 22 carries last time out and topped 20 touches for the third time in his past five appearances. He gets a challenging matchup in a Cardinals D that ranks 11th in rush DVOA and has climbed to 12th in total DVOA, though. That keeps him in RB2 territory across formats.

James Conner, Cardinals

Conner’s total touches dipped last week as his team managed just 6 points in the loss to the Seahawks. But that followed four straight games of 17+ touches. His work shares remain fine. But the matchup is difficult. Minnesota arrives as the No. 1 defense in both total and rush DVOA, and third-toughest on RB scoring by adjusted fantasy points allowed.

Cam Akers, Vikings

Akers followed two weeks of 12+ touches with just 4 against the Bears his last time out. You should be able to find a better option with no teams on bye.

Trey Benson, Cardinals

Benson dipped from 9 and 12 touches in consecutive games to just 4 his last time out. Now comes the league’s No. 1 defense by DVOA and third-toughest on RB scoring by adjusted fantasy points allowed.

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

Jonathan Taylor, Colts

Taylor has been bottled up in two straight games. But he's handled all 35 of the Colts' RB carries and played 92% of the offensive snaps in those two games. Better days are coming with that role. Sunday presents a prime opportunity against the Patriots' 21st-ranked RB defense.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

Stevenson got game-scripted out of last week's 34-15 loss to the Dolphins. In more competitive contests over the previous four weeks, he averaged 17.5 carries and 3.3 targets per game. The Patriots are only 2.5-point underdogs to the Colts this weekend, so Stevenson's volume should bounce back. Indianapolis ranks 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Antonio Gibson, Patriots

Gibson's playing time was up in last week's blowout loss to the Dolphins, but he still tallied just six carries and two targets. He hasn't hit double-digit touches in a game since Week 6 and would be a desperation fantasy play vs. the Colts on Sunday.

Seattle Seahawks at New York Jets

Breece Hall, Jets

Hall delivered his best fantasy outing of the season last time out. His 23 touches in that game matched his season high. That followed a mere 14-touch game the week before but also marked his fifth game of 19+ opportunities among his past six contests. Seattle hits this week as a middling run defense both by DVOA and adjusted fantasy points allowed.

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks

The Jets have allowed more than 100 total yards to the lead RB for four of their past six opponents. That included 97+ rushing yards three times. Walker has fallen short of 4.0 yards per carry in four straight outings but has consistently done well on touch volume. That included 20+ touches in two of the past three games.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Charbonnet’s 6 carries last time out marked his largest tally in the past four games. But he hasn’t topped 6 touches in a game since Week 7.

Tennessee Titans at Washington Commanders

Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard’s enjoyed workhorse usage with Tyjae Spears sidelined. Now, with Spears likely to return from a concussion, it’s time to adjust expectations for the former Cowboy. Fortunately, the Commanders matchup doesn’t look daunting. They sit 28th in rush defense DVOA; 29th in PFF rush defense grade.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears practiced fully on Thursday, putting him on track to return from a concussion. His return should eat into Tony Pollard’s role, but it’s tough to trust Spears as anything more than a deep-league Flex.

Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders

Robinson missed most of Week 12 with an ankle injury, but he surprisingly returned to practice on Wednesday. “If all goes well, yes, I will play on Sunday ... I think I'm in a great spot,” he said this week. He’ll carry some extra risk if action – particularly with the Titans turning up as a tough matchup. They sit fifth in rush defense DVOA.

Jeremy McNichols, Commanders

McNichols will see a boosted role with Austin Ekeler (concussion) sidelined. But he could take on something of a workhorse load if Brian Robinson (ankle) is unable to go. The Tennessee matchup simply isn’t ideal, though. They haven’t allowed a RB to reach just 12 PPR points since Week 9.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Hubbard’s workload wasn’t even touched by rookie Jonathon Brooks and is locked in as the workhorse for the Panthers, even if Brooks gets ramped up a bit more. With that volume and playing the worst fantasy defense per touch to RBs, Hubbard is a high end RB2 this week.

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Irving blew up last week with six catches, 152 total yards and a TD. He had more snaps and ran more routes than Rachaad White. It still was a bit of a three-way split with both White and Sean Tucker getting a TD last week. The Panthers are currently giving up the most rushing fantasy points to opposing RBs in the league, so Irving is a solid RB2 with RB1 upside. 

Rachaad White, Buccaneers

White is falling behind Irving in snaps and routes, but he continues to be even on the carries, scoring a TD last week despite a paltry 3.1 yard per carry. He is used enough and has a great match-up against the worst fantasy rush defense against RBs. RB2 this week.

Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara, Saints

Kamara comes off a bye with recent fantasy finishes of RB3, RB11, and RB17. He’s hit 20+ touches in each of those matchups. Fire him up against a Rams defense with question marks at LB.

Kyren Williams, Rams

Williams snapped a four-game scoring streak in last week's loss to Philly. Most importantly, his volume remained an asset; his 94% carry share marked the second-highest tally of 2024. Next up is a Saints run D allowing 5.0 YPC to enemy RBs.

Philadelphia Eagles at Baltimore Ravens

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

Barkley gets a tough matchup but not nearly enough to threaten his lineup status. Najee Harris, Chase Brown, and Javonte Williams have all tallied 84+ total yards against Baltimore, just among the past four games.

Derrick Henry, Ravens

Despite a tough matchup, the Ravens head in as 3-point favorites. That helps the touch outlook for Henry, as does a Philly defense that ranks relatively tougher against the pass (fifth in DVOA) than the run (ninth). The Eagles have been the fourth-toughest defense on RB scoring, though, by adjusted fantasy points allowed. Don’t be surprised if Henry endures a down week.

San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers

 CMC had a rough game with Brandon Allen at RB, with 68 total yards and only three catches. Another game without LT Trent Williams does give McCaffrey some downside, but his use in the passing game is enough to keep him as an RB1 in PPR. If he is highly targeted, RB1 overall for the week is still possible against a Bills team that can be exploited on the ground.

James Cook, Bills

Cook remains the clear leadback for the Bills, and they have relied on him to score TDs for the team. His 11 TDs makes him a TD dependent bet, but we have seen the 49ers give up big time rushing performances. RB2 with upside.

Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos

Nick Chubb, Browns

Chubb punched in two scores last week but mustered just 3.0 yards per carry. He's at an identical 3.0 yards per carry on the season. It's tough to expect efficiency -- or a TD -- this week with the Browns 5.5-point road underdogs vs. the Broncos' 13th-ranked RB defense.

Javonte Williams, Broncos

After a strong Week 11, Williams crashed with four total yards on 10 touches last week. He remains the best fantasy bet in the backfield because of his passing-game role. But Williams has been too unreliable to start unless you're totally desperate. The Browns rank sixth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Audric Estime, Broncos

Since his 14-carry, 53-yard Week 10, Estime has totaled just nine carries for 31 yards. No matter how much HC Sean Payton talks him up, the rookie can't be trusted in Week 13 fantasy lineups against Cleveland's sixth-ranked RB defense.

Jerome Ford, Browns

Ford has handled most passing-down snaps since returning three weeks ago, but that's amounted to just 11 carries and eight targets. Game flow could work in his favor on Monday night with the Browns 5.5-point underdogs in Denver. But there is not exciting upside here.

Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos

It was McLaughlin's turn to lead Denver in rushing last week, taking seven carries for 44 yards. That guarantees him nothing in Week 13, though. And the matchup is tough against Cleveland's sixth-ranked RB defense.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.