Early Week 13 Fantasy RB Rankings PPR: Running back tiers and lineup tips on who to start, best sleepers, streamers

Early Week 13 Fantasy RB Rankings PPR: Running back tiers and lineup tips on who to start, best sleepers, streamers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

As is the case with a Thanksgiving table, fantasy football managers will have plenty of choices for their Week 13 running back lineup spots.

No NFL teams have a bye, giving fantasy players all active running backs from which to construct a winning squad.

Let's dig in to slotting many of these names to make important start-sit decisions with The Sporting News' Week 13 fantasy RB rankings.

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Fantasy Week 13 RB Rankings: Start 'em, sit 'em lineup tips for running backs this week

Please note these RB rankings reflect point-per-reception (PPR) scoring, with 0.1 point for every rushing or receiving yard and 6 points for every touchdown.

↕️ Week 13 Fantasy Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | PK | Flex

Rk

Tr

Name

TM

OPP

Week 13 Value

1

1

Christian McCaffrey

SF

@CLE

Elite RB1

2

1

Jahmyr Gibbs

DET

GB

Elite RB1

3

2

Jonathan Taylor

IND

HOU

Elite RB1

4

2

De'Von Achane

MIA

NO

Elite RB1

5

2

James Cook

BUF

@PIT

RB1

6

3

TreVeyon Henderson

NE

NYG

RB1

7

3

Kyren Williams

LAR

@CAR

RB1

8

3

Derrick Henry

BAL

CIN

RB1

9

3

Breece Hall

NYJ

ATL

RB1

10

4

Bijan Robinson

ATL

@NYJ

RB1

11

4

Saquon Barkley

PHI

CHI

RB1

12

5

Bam Knight

ARI

@TB

RB1/RB2

13

5

RJ Harvey

DEN

@WAS

RB1/RB2

14

5

Sean Tucker

TB

ARI

RB1/RB2

15

6

Kenneth Walker

SEA

MIN

Strong RB2

16

6

Quinshon Judkins

CLE

SF

Strong RB2

17

6

Ashton Jeanty

LV

@LAC

Strong RB2

18

6

Rico Dowdle

CAR

LAR

Strong RB2

19

7

Javonte Williams

DAL

KC

RB2

20

7

Chase Brown

CIN

@BAL

RB2

21

7

Emanuel Wilson

GB

@DET

RB2

22

7

Travis Etienne

JAX

@TEN

RB2

23

7

Kareem Hunt

KC

@DAL

RB2

24

8

Woody Marks

HOU

@IND

RB2/Flex

25

8

Kenneth Gainwell

PIT

BUF

RB2/Flex

26

8

Jaylen Warren

PIT

BUF

RB2/Flex

27

8

Kimani Vidal

LAC

LV

RB2/Flex

28

8

Kyle Monangai

CHI

@PHI

RB2/Flex

29

8

Devin Neal

NO

@MIA

RB2/Flex

30

9

Rhamondre Stevenson

NE

NYG

Strong Flex

31

9

Michael Carter

ARI

@TB

Strong Flex

32

9

Nick Chubb

HOU

@IND

Strong Flex

33

9

D'Andre Swift

CHI

@PHI

Strong Flex

34

10

Rachaad White

TB

ARI

Flex

35

10

David Montgomery

DET

GB

Flex

36

10

Tyler Allgeier

ATL

@NYJ

Flex

37

10

Zach Charbonnet

SEA

MIN

Flex

38

10

Dylan Sampson

CLE

SF

Flex

39

10

Tyjae Spears

TEN

JAX

Flex

40

10

Aaron Jones

MIN

@SEA

Flex

41

10

Tyrone Tracy

NYG

@NE

Flex

42

11

Blake Corum

LAR

@CAR

Flex/Bench

43

11

Jerome Ford

CLE

SF

Flex/Bench

44

12

Tony Pollard

TEN

JAX

Flex/Bench

45

12

Jordan Mason

MIN

@SEA

Flex/Bench

46

12

Bhayshul Tuten

JAX

@TEN

Flex/Bench

47

12

Devin Singletary

NYG

@NE

Flex/Bench

48

12

Brashard Smith

KC

@DAL

Flex/Bench

49

12

Chris Rodriguez

WAS

DEN

Flex/Bench

50

13

Jaleel McLaughlin

DEN

@WAS

Bench

51

13

Keaton Mitchell

BAL

CIN

Bench

52

13

Justice Hill

BAL

CIN

Bench

53

13

Brian Robinson

SF

@CLE

Bench

54

13

Raheem Mostert

LV

@LAC

Bench

55

13

Chuba Hubbard

CAR

LAR

Bench

56

13

Ollie Gordon

MIA

NO

Bench

57

13

Chris Brooks

GB

@DET

Bench

58

13

Ty Johnson

BUF

@PIT

Bench

59

13

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

WAS

DEN

Bench

60

14

Terrell Jennings

NE

NYG

Bench

61

14

Isaiah Davis

NYJ

ATL

Bench

62

14

Jaret Patterson

LAC

LV

Bench

63

14

George Holani

SEA

MIN

Bench

64

14

Ameer Abdullah

IND

HOU

Bench

65

14

Tyler Goodson

IND

HOU

Bench

66

14

Will Shipley

PHI

CHI

Bench

67

14

Jaylen Wright

MIA

NO

Bench

68

14

Malik Davis

DAL

KC

Bench

69

14

Hunter Luepke

DAL

KC

Bench

70

14

LeQuint Allen

JAX

@TEN

Bench

71

14

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

KC

@DAL

Bench

72

14

Jeremy McNichols

WAS

DEN

Bench

73

15

Ray Davis

BUF

@PIT

Bench

74

15

Brittain Brown

CHI

@PHI

Bench

75

15

Trayveon Williams

LAC

LV

Bench

76

15

Amar Johnson

LAC

LV

Bench

77

15

Kaleb Johnson

PIT

BUF

Bench

78

15

D'Ernest Johnson

NE

NYG

Bench

79

15

Adam Prentice

DEN

@WAS

Bench

80

15

British Brooks

HOU

@IND

Bench

81

16

Patrick Ricard

BAL

CIN

Bench

82

16

Sione Vaki

DET

GB

Bench

83

16

Tank Bigsby

PHI

CHI

Bench

84

16

Trevor Etienne

CAR

LAR

Bench

85

16

Travis Homer

CHI

@PHI

Bench

86

16

Alec Ingold

MIA

NO

Bench

87

16

Julius Chestnut

TEN

JAX

Bench

88

16

Kendall Milton

CIN

@BAL

Bench

INJ

--

Josh Jacobs

GB

@DET

INJ

--

Bucky Irving

TB

ARI

INJ

--

Alvin Kamara

NO

@MIA

INJ

--

Isiah Pacheco

KC

@DAL

INJ

--

Emari Demercado

ARI

@TB

INJ

--

Samaje Perine

CIN

@BAL

OUT

--

Tahj Brooks

CIN

@BAL

IR-R

--

Omarion Hampton

LAC

LV

IR-R

--

Trey Benson

ARI

@TB

IR-R

--

Nyheim Hines

LAC

LV

IR-R

--

Hassan Haskins

LAC

LV

IR

--

J.K. Dobbins

DEN

@WAS

SUSP

--

Josh Williams

TB

ARI

🦃 PLAY ON TURKEY DAY: Fantasy Thanksgiving Player Rankings | Thanksgiving Start 'Em Sit 'Em

Which fantasy running backs have a Week 13 bye?

No NFL teams have a Week 13 bye, so fantasy managers have every active running back at their disposal.

➕ Best fantasy RB pickups this week: Week 13 waiver wire

Which RB injuries are affecting Week 13 fantasy rankings?

Josh Jacobs missed Week 12, but the Packers calmly relied on Emanuel Wilson, who filled in seamlessly and exploded for 125 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. The latter is the direct handcuff but could provide flex value if Jacobs returns on Thanksgiving.

A few more potential returns from long-injured backs loom over player values in this all-important week:

• Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) is set to practice all week and, if he's deemed healthy by end of Friday, should return to the Buccaneers lineup in Week 13. Sean Tucker could still serve as a flex play with everyone healthy, but his upside would take a major hit.

• The Cardinals may activate Trey Benson (knee), which jeopardizes the future value of Bam Knight, Michael Carter, and the also injured Emari Demercado. Benson probably won't act as the majority back out of the gate but should occupy the heavy majority of touches out of the backfield.

• Updates early in the week are quiet on the Chargers' Omarion Hampton (ankle), but many estimations soon after his Week 5 high-ankle sprain pointed to Week 13 as a possible target to come back. Kimani Vidal's value remains directly tied to Hampton's status, so make backup plans if you're relying on Vidal as an every-week flex.

Meanwhile, heed these updates around the league, as well:

• Alvin Kamara is undergoing an MRI on his knee and remains uncertain for the Saints' upcoming game and beyond. Devin Neal remains one of the top waiver-wire pickups for Week 13 for the speculation of a major workload in Kamara's absence.

• Isiah Pacheco (knee) has missed the past three games, which sandwiched the Chiefs' Week 10 bye, but Kareem Hunt looks to have recaptured the lead in this backfield. Kansas City may relegate a healthy Pacheco to understudy duty.

Who are the best Week 13 fantasy running backs?

TreVeyon Henderson has cemented his spot as an RB1 the rest of the way, pending matchups, having dominated the Patriots snap count 65% to 31% in Week 12 over a returning Rhamondre Stevenson. The Giants just let every-week starter Jahmyr Gibbs have one of the best fantasy performances of all time, making Henderson a top-10 fantasy name this coming week.

De'Von Achane and a newly crowned Broncos RB1 RJ Harvey resurface from bye as lineup bedrocks.

Which RB fantasy sleepers should I start in Week 13?

With all teams on the field, the threshold for labeling and starting a fantasy sleeper becomes much tougher to establish.

The Giants' gap-laden run defense could allow the Pats' Stevenson to produce flex-worthy numbers in backup work to Henderson.

Let's talk about a few more matchup and snap count bumps:

• If you're hurt by injuries, go back to Woody Marks against the Colts. His shifty style could replicate Kareem Hunt's gashing of Indy.

• Though it appears Quinshon Judkins is OK after trips back-and-forth into the medical tent Sunday, Dylan Sampson could see more work than usual as backup so the Browns can keep both healthy. Shedeur Sanders fed Sampson a screen pass that the rookie back took the house -- a fine reminder that the Tennessee alum can break off a big play at will.

• As a top waiver-wire pickup, Neal also gets a vulnerable Dolphins defense. A 15-touch day could help him sneak into fantasy RB1 territory.

Who are the biggest RB bust candidates for fantasy Week 13?

While it's tough to recommend benching any touch hogs, Rico Dowdle's matchup with the Rams provides a tough wall to barge through, hence why he's placed in the confirmed RB2 tiers.

Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift are best left for flex duty, even with Monangai's recent momentum. Chicago could find themselves tilting back toward Swift if they need to keep up with the Eagles' offense through the air.

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