The 2023-24 NFL season has been outstanding so far. Already there have been a ton of breakout players and fantasy duds that have made the game so entertaining. Bye weeks are starting to take place. This means that running backs like Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley will be out this week. On top of that, injuries have started to mount up at this point of the season. It’s always a great idea to evaluate backup options so that way fantasy managers are prepared if star players miss time. Here are the fantasy football week 13 running back rankings.
*Ratings are subject to change due to injury reports or possible move to the Injured Reserve List
(Check out the section below for details on players already rumored to possibly miss this week and how their replacement options rank for the week)
Key:
Must Start- a player who is in your lineup regardless of the matchup or most circumstances. They Will likely finish near the top of the league in points that week and in most weeks.
Starting RB1- a player who makes fantasy owners comfortable starting week after week. Regardless of the matchup, this player has a high floor.
High-End RB2- a player who may not be likely to carry a lineup that week, but has the ability to have a breakout game and is teetering between RB1 and RB2 territory.
Starting RB2- a player who should be started in most lineups and should reach their point projection. This player is started because of their consistency and moderately high floor
Low RB2- a player who may not be a lock to start for a team every week, but will start more times than not. Their production may not be pretty or win a person their lineup but the production is consistent enough to make a fantasy owner comfortable starting them.
Flex- a player who could float around the territory of being benched, but is started due to the potential to play better than their point projection. However, this player has the potential to flop and cause a fantasy team to lose if he has a bad game.
Deep League Flex- a player who is more of a Hail Mary throw at the position. There are enough reasons to leave this player on the bench, but their upside makes them an attractive option. Desperate times may call for a player like this to be inserted into starting lineups.
Leave on the Bench- a player who should be avoided in all lineups that week. Many times this player could even be left on waivers.
Rankings
| Category | Name | Opponent | Ranking |
| Must Start | Christian McCaffrey | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB1 |
| Must Start | Alvin Kamara | vs Detroit Lions | RB2 |
| Starting RB1 | Kyren Williams | vs Cleveland Browns | RB3 |
| Starting RB1 | Austin Ekeler | vs New England Patriots | RB4 |
| Starting RB1 | Bijan Robinson | vs New York Jets | RB5 |
| Starting RB1 | Rhamondre Stevenson | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB6 |
| Starting RB1 | Tony Pollard | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB7 |
| Starting RB1 | Rachaad White | vs Carolina Panthers | RB8 |
| High-End RB2 | Travis Etienne Jr. | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB9 |
| High-End RB2 | Breece Hall | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB10 |
| High-End RB2 | Derrick Henry | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB11 |
| High-End RB2 | Zack Moss | vs Tennessee Titans | RB12 |
| High-End RB2 | Jahmyr Gibbs | vs New Orleans Saints | RB13 |
| High-End RB2 | Isiah Pacheco | vs Green Bay Packers | RB14 |
| High-End RB2 | De’Von Achane* | vs Washington Commanders | RB15 |
| Starting RB2 | Joe Mixon | vs Jacksonville Jaguars | RB16 |
| Starting RB2 | David Montgomery | vs New Orleans Saints | RB17 |
| Starting RB2 | Jaylen Warren | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB18 |
| Starting RB2 | D’Andre Swift | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB19 |
| Starting RB2 | Aaron Jones* | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB20 |
| Low RB2 | Najee Harris | vs Arizona Cardinals | RB21 |
| Flex | Javonte Williams | vs Houston Texans | RB22 |
| Flex | Jerome Ford | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB23 |
| Flex | Zach Charbonnet | vs Dallas Cowboys | RB24 |
| Flex | Devin Singletary | vs Denver Broncos | RB25 |
| Flex | James Conner | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB26 |
| Flex | Brian Robinson Jr. | vs Miami Dolphins | RB27 |
| Flex | Chuba Hubbard | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB28 |
| Deep League Flex | Raheem Mostert | vs Washington Commanders | RB29 |
| Deep League Flex | Samaje Perine | vs Houston Texans | RB30 |
| Deep League Flex | A.J. Dillon | vs Kansas City Chiefs | RB31 |
| Deep League Flex | Kareem Hunt | vs Los Angeles Rams | RB32 |
| Deep League Flex | Ezekiel Elliott | vs Los Angeles Chargers | RB33 |
| Deep League Flex | Royce Freeman | vs Cleveland Browns | RB34 |
| Deep League Flex | Miles Sanders | vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers | RB35 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyler Allgeier | vs New York Jets | RB36 |
| Leave on the Bench | Antonio Gibson | vs Miami Dolphins | RB37 |
| Leave on the Bench | Rico Dowdle* | vs Seattle Seahawks | RB38 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dameon Pierce | vs Denver Broncos | RB39 |
| Leave on the Bench | Tyjae Spears | vs Indianapolis Colts | RB40 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jerick McKinnon* | vs Green Bay Packers | RB41 |
| Leave on the Bench | Jeff Wilson Jr. | vs Washington Commanders | RB42 |
| Leave on the Bench | D’Ernest Johnson | vs Cincinnati Bengals | RB43 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kenneth Gainwell | vs San Francisco 49ers | RB44 |
| Leave on the Bench | Elijah Mitchell | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB45 |
| Leave on the Bench | Michael Carter | vs Pittsburgh Steelers | RB46 |
| Leave on the Bench | Kyle Juzczyk | vs Philadelphia Eagles | RB47 |
| Leave on the Bench | Dalvin Cook | vs Atlanta Falcons | RB48 |
Possible Changes that can occur before Sunday
RB15 De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
De’Von Achane missed last week’s game against the New York Jets with a knee injury. He reinjured his knee two weeks ago against the Las Vegas Raiders. It is unclear how much more time Achane could miss with the injury. If Achane misses Week 13 against the Washington Commanders Raheem Mostert moves up to RB14 between Jahmyr Gibbs and Isiah Pacheco. Jeff Wilson Jr. moves up to RB35 between Miles Sanders and Tyler Allgeier.
RB20 Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones missed last week’s game against the Detroit Lions with a knee injury. He suffered the injury two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Chargers. It is unclear if Jones could return this week. If Jones misses Week 13 against the Kansas City Chiefs A.J. Dillon moves up to RB26 between James Conner and Brian Robinson Jr.
RB38 Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
Rico Dowdle was limited practice on Tuesday with an ankle injury. He missed practice because of this injury last week. If Dowdle misses Week 13 against the Seattle Seahawks Deuce Vaughn becomes the RB43 between D’Ernest Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell.
RB41 Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs
Jerick McKinnon missed last week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders with a groin injury. It is unclear if McKinnon could miss more time with the injury. If McKinnon misses Week 13 against the Green Bay Packers Clyde Edwards-Helaire becomes the RB42 between Jeff Wilson Jr. and Kenneth Gainwell.
Players that are currently not expected to play
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor will have surgery Wednesday on his thumb which could hold him out for a few weeks. Taylor is expected to miss 2-3 weeks because of the injury. In Taylor’s absence, Zack Moss will be the starting running back for the Indianapolis Colts and should be a bulk of the work.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III missed last week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers with an oblique injury. He suffered the injury two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Rams While Walker III is out Zach Charbonnet will continue to start at running back for Seattle. DeeJay Dallas will be the change of pace back in Seattle while Walker III is out.
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