Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings: Top 40 Running Backs

Potential injuries leave this rankings a bit in flux, but there certainly are a lot of unexpected names near the top of the rankings. Would anyone in preseason have predicted Mike Tolbert and Peyton Hillis, among others, to be viable options?

Let’s take a look at how things currently stand, but remember that these rankings will be updated later in the week if necessary:

1. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Buffalo
2. Arian Foster – Houston Texans – at Philadelphia
3. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons – at Tampa Bay
4. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans – vs. Jacksonville
5. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars – at Tennessee
6. Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Denver
7. LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Houston
8. Peyton Hillis – Cleveland Browns – at Miami
9. Mike Tolbert – San Diego Chargers – vs. Oakland
10. Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams – at Arizona
11. Matt Forte – Chicago Bears – at Detroit
12. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Pittsburgh
13. Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Baltimore
14. Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos – at Kansas City
15. Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills – at Minnesota
16. Cedric Benson – Cincinnati Bengals – vs. New Orleans
17. Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants – vs. Washington
18. Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders – at San Diego
19. BenJarvus Green-Ellis – New England Patriots – vs. New York Jets
20. LaDainian Tomlinson – New York Jets – at New England
21. Brian Westbrook – San Francisco 49ers – at Arizona
22. Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants – vs. Washington
23. Thomas Jones – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. Denver
24. Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys – at Indianapolis
25. Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers – at Seattle
26. Mike Goodson – Carolina Panthers – at Seattle
27. Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins – vs. Cleveland
28. Ricky Williams – Miami Dolphins – vs. Cleveland
29. Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions – vs. Chicago
30. Shonn Greene – New York Jets – at New England
31. Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – vs. St. Louis
32. Christopher Ivory – New Orleans Saints – at Cincinnati
33. Danny Woodhead – New England Patriots – vs. New York Jets
34. Brandon Jackson – Green Bay Packers – vs. San Francisco
35. Marshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Carolina
36. Joseph Addai – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Dallas
37. LeGarrette Blount – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Atlanta
38. Tim Hightower – Arizona Cardinals – vs. St. Louis
39. Keiland Williams – Washington Redskins – at New York Giants
40. Toby Gerhart – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Buffalo

Thoughts:

• If Adrian Peterson is healthy, he is the best option this week with a matchup with the worst rushing defense in the league (Buffalo is allowing 167.4 rushing yards per game). The early word is that he is going to be able to play, so I’ll leave him atop these rankings for now. Of course, if he can’t play or is limited, Toby Gerhart suddenly becomes a solid RB2 option. Keep a close eye on the news as the week proceeds.
• At this point, does it matter if Ryan Mathews is healthy or not? Mike Tolbert has been a beast the past two weeks with regular carries, picking up 214 yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries (as well as four receptions for 57 yards). Against a porous Oakland defense (Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown combined for 180 yards and a touchdown in Week 12), Tolbert becomes a solid RB1 option.
• Speaking of Williams, he’s averaging 4.4 yards per carry and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him finally start to pick up some extra carries. Until the situation fully plays itself out, I’d consider him a FLEX option, but he has the potential to develop into a RB2 option.
• What the heck happened to Chris Johnson in Week 12? He managed just seven total yards, and you have to think having an inept quarterback at the helm did significant damage. With Kerry Collins likely primed to return, let’s not push the panic button quite yet. Of course, if Rusty Smith is again under center, owners are going to have to consider the unthinkable… Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. For now, Johnson remains a RB1 and a top option in all formats.
• Jamaal Charles is one of just three backs with over 1,000 yards rushing on the season. He’s averaging over six yards per carry and is coming off his second 20-plus carry game of the season (and both times he rushed for over 170 yards). It’s unpredictable how many carries he’ll get, but against the Broncos you have to consider him a RB1.
• Ray Rice’s ability to contribute in the passing game keeps him as a borderline RB1, but it’s hard to imagine a big rushing game from him against the toughest defense in the league. Keep that in mind.
• It has now been back-to-back poor games for Darren McFadden, with just 16 yards on 18 carries. Yes, he added 63 yards on seven receptions in Week 12, but we can’t be happy with the total results. Consider him a mid-to-low RB2 at this point, especially against a tough Chargers defense.
• Fred Jackson proved how valuable he is, putting together his third consecutive game of at least 129 total yards. Even against the Pittsburgh defense he rushed for 59 yards while adding five receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. He has another tough draw against Minnesota, but he should be considered an RB2.
• While Jonathan Stewart looked good in his return (98 yards on 12 carries), Mike Goodson still had 55 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well as eight receptions for 81 yards. It’s that ability in the passing game that is going to keep him viable. Against Kansas City, you have to consider him a good FLEX play and a potential RB2. If the two continue to share carries, however, both of their values will have to be downgraded, making them tougher plays.
• There certainly has been highs and lows to BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ season, hasn’t there? The matchup with the Jets will be tough, so consider him a low-end RB2.
• Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs should both continue to see action. For now, if Jacobs continues to get the bulk of the carries, he will be the more valuable back, though both can be considered a low-end RB2.
• If Jahvid Best is healthy and playing, he’s an RB2. Check the news as the week progresses.
• Felix Jones would be a much better option this week if we had any idea how the Cowboys planned on splitting the carries. The unknown makes him a pretty big risk.
• If Joseph Addai returns he’s worth considering as a FLEX option. We’ll have to monitor the news and see what comes of this.
• Frank Gore’s season has come to an abrupt end after fracturing his hip in Week 12. Brian Westbrook showed that he still had plenty and should be considered a RB2 at this point.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who's too high?  Who's too low?

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 13 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Waiver Worthy

THIS ARTICLE IS ALSO FEATURED ON WWW.ROTOPROFESSOR.COM/FOOTBALL.