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

title: “Fantasy Rb Rankings Week 13 Who To Start Sit At Running Back In Fantasy Football” ShowToc: true date: “2023-02-01” author: “Kathrine Smart”

After a one-week hiatus, the byes are back. Only two teams — the Cardinals and the Panthers — are idle this week, so owners of Arizona’s James Conner and Carolina’s D’Onta Foreman will be unable to start those two. Playing an even more negative role this week will be injuries, which have stacked up at the RB position this season as much as we’ve ever seen. 

Adding to a growing list of injured backs, Week 12 saw Jacksonville’s Travis Etienne Jr. (foot), the Jets’ Michael Carter (ankle), Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris (abdomen), and New England’s Damien Harris (thigh) exit early. With Leonard Fournette (hip), Joe Mixon (concussion), and Raheem Mostert (knee) not even suiting up, there are plenty of unsettled situations to watch around the league.

WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

With every injury comes a new opportunity. Case in point: A hearty welcome to the top 20 to Jacksonville’s JaMycal Hasty (@ Lions in Week 13), who impressed after Etienne went down in Week 12. The former Niner is no stranger to impressing in relief efforts, and he gets a superb matchup with a Detroit D that entered Week 12 allowing the 10th-most rushing yards and fourth-most rushing TDs in the NFL. If Etienne is out, Hasty is a better start than touch-poor Lions back D’Andre Swift in that same game and about even with Jamaal Williams considering Williams’ TD upside. 

WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Fantasy owners know that all of the top 15-20 RBs are must-starts virtually every week (yes, even the disappearing Dameon Pierce, who has a much better matchup against Cleveland this week), but most of the backs ranked in the 20s this week have bounced up, down, and all around this season. Gus Edwards (vs. Broncos) appears back to full health and should be solid against a reeling Broncos’ defense that just gave up over 100 yards to D’Onta Foreman. Brian Robinson Jr. (@ Giants) is coming off his best NFL game and should be ready to impose his power on a New York D that Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard gashed for 152 yards and a TD on the ground on Turkey Day. That’s why we like him and Antonio Gibson as at least flexes. By the way, those Cowboys are both must-starts vs. the Colts — way too much volume and talent to bench them. 

WEEK 13 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

Guys we would have considered questionable plays a few weeks ago have become RB2 and flex options today. Cam Akers (vs. Seahawks) has done a 360-degree as the Rams’ RB1, and he quietly tallied 4.6 yards per carry in Week 12 against the Chiefs. More important, he has a highly favorable matchup against the Seahawks’ porous run defense this week. Kyren Williams (vs. Seahawks) also has some sneaky flex upside in that matchup, too, considering he had more carries and snaps than Akers last week. Chiefs’ rookie Isiah Pacheco (@ Bengals) also looked good last week, amassing 89 scrimmage yards and a score on a whopping 23 touches. He’s a must-start even in a middling matchup this week.

WEEK 13 DFS: Best values | Best stacks

Going even deeper, don’t sleep on the Jets’ Zonovan Knight (@ Vikings), who could be starting if Carter is out. There’s a chance James Robinson is active after being a healthy scratch last week, but Knight impressed with over 100 total yards, so we’re expecting him to get the bulk of the carries. It’s a tough matchup, though, so consider Knight nothing more than a flex in 12-team leagues.

WEEK 13 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em

Along those same lines, Cordarrelle Patterson (vs. Steelers) remains a high-ceiling player despite splitting carries with Tyler Allgeier, but we admittedly downgrade him a bit in standard formats. Latavius Murray (@ Ravens) isn’t in a committee, but he only had one good run last week. If he doesn’t break a big play or score a short TD, he could disappoint in a tough matchup against Baltimore. Similarly, Rachaad White (vs. Saints) has a brutal matchup against New Orleans, so if Fournette is back, be careful with both. The same goes for Devin Singletary (@ Patriots) facing a New England defense allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to RBs.

Kareem Hunt (@ Texans), Samaje Perine (vs. Chiefs), and possibly Darrell Henderson Jr. (@ Lions) are your best deep sleepers thanks to highly favorable matchups, but shallow leaguers don’t need to worry about them.

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

Week 13 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues

Rank    Player 1    Nick Chubb, Browns @ Texans 2    Austin Ekeler, Chargers @ Raiders 3    Josh Jacobs, Raiders vs. Chargers 4    Derrick Henry, Titans @ Eagles 5    Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Chiefs 6    Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Dolphins 7    Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Commanders 8    Dalvin Cook, Vikings vs. Jets 9    Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks @ Rams 10    Dameon Pierce, Texans vs. Browns 11    Aaron Jones, Packers @ Bears 12    Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Bills 13    Jonathan Taylor, Colts @ Cowboys 14    David Montgomery, Bears vs. Packers 15    JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars @ Lions 16    Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Buccaneers 17    Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Jaguars 18    Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Colts 19    Jaylen Warren, Steelers @ Falcons 20    Miles Sanders, Eagles vs. Titans 21    Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins @ 49ers 22    Gus Edwards, Ravens vs. Broncos 23    Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders @ Giants 24    Cam Akers, Rams vs. Seahawks 25    Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Colts 26    Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Bengals 27    Antonio Gibson, Commanders @ Giants 28    Cordarrelle Patterson, Falcons vs. Steelers 29    Latavius Murray, Broncos @ Ravens 30    Rachaad White, Buccaneers vs. Saints 31    Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers vs. Saints 32    Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Texans 33    Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Vikings 34    Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Seahawks 35    Devin Singletary, Bills @ Patriots 36    Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ 49ers 37    D’Andre Swift, Lions vs. Jaguars 38    Tyler Allgeier, Falcons vs. Steelers 39    Benny Snell Jr., Steelers @ Falcons 40    Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Dolphins 41    James Robinson, Jets @ Vikings 42    AJ Dillon, Packers @ Bears 43    Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Chiefs 44    Darrell Henderson Jr., Jaguars @ Lions 45    Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Bengals 46    Darrynton Evans, Bears vs. Packers 47    Deon Jackson, Colts @ Cowboys 48    Kenyan Drake, Ravens vs. Broncos 49    Dontrell Hilliard, Titans @ Eagles 50    Alexander Mattison, Vikings vs. Jets 51    James Cook, Bills @ Patriots 52    Joshua Kelley Chargers @ Raiders 53    Travis Homer, Seahawks @ Rams 54    Caleb Huntley, Falcons vs. Steelers 55    Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles vs. Titans 56    Marlon Mack, Broncos @ Ravens 57    Mark Ingram II, Saints @ Buccaneers 58    Matt Breida, Giants vs. Commanders 59    Justice Hill, Ravens vs. Broncos 60    Nyheim Hines, Bills @ Patriots

Week 13 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

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