Week 13 Fantasy Rankings: Running Back Rankings, Projections

LeGarrette Blount vs. Panthers

It took a couple of games for Tampa Bay's LeGarrette Blount to return to form after returning from a knee injury, but this big running back has been a stud of late. Two weeks ago we saw Blount rip off one of the more impressive touchdowns of the season across the NFL, and last week he busted out one of his trademark hurdles over cornerback Jason McCourty on his way to a 35-yard gain.

Blount is fast becoming one of the more feared running backs in football and should be considered one of the top five running backs to start this week against a pathetic Panthers defense. In fact, Blount owners should feel good about Blount’s chances to dominate down the stretch as he faces two defenses that were strong early in the year but have had problems of late in the Cowboys and Jaguars, and then plays the Panthers once again during the fantasy Super Bowl weekend.

Look for the Buccaneers to feature Blount as the main weapon in the offense, as this offense will continue to run through the second-year back from Oregon, and not on the arm of third-year quarterback Josh Freeman.

C.J. Spiller vs. Titans

Johnny White received some attention on waiver wires this past week, but former first-round pick C.J. Spiller was clearly used as the main option in the running game with Fred Jackson lost for the year. Newly signed Tashard Choice had a few touches as well, but it seems clear for now the Bills coaching staff is determined to see what Spiller can do with an expanded role, so he’s likely to be a weekly flex play going forward.

I was disappointed to see Spiller look soft running up the middle at times, and Chan Gailey needs to work on more designed calls in the passing game for Spiller to make an impact in that area. Against the Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick was pushing the football down the field most of the game and rarely checking down to his playmaker underneath.

A better matchup this week, Spiller should be a lock for more than 100 total yards from scrimmage, even though he’s still going to struggle between the tackles.

More WK 13 Rankings – QB | WR | TE | Flex | K/D | Waivers | Start / Sit |

1	Arian Foster	Falcons
2	LeSean McCoy	@ Seahawks
3	LeGarrette Blount	Panthers
4	Frank Gore	Rams
5	Maurice Jones-Drew	Chargers
6	Matt Forte	Chiefs
7	Ray Rice	@ Browns
8	DeMarco Murray	@ Cardinals
9	Marshawn Lynch	Eagles
10	Chris Johnson	@ Bills
11	Michael Bush	@ Dolphins
12	Michael Turner	@ Texans
13	Rashard Mendenhall	Bengals
14	Reggie Bush	Raiders
15	Beanie Wells (I)	Cowboys
16	BenJarvus Green-Ellis (I)	Colts
17	Jonathan Stewart	@ Buccaneers
18	DeAngelo Williams	@ Buccaneers
19	Ryan Mathews	@ Jaguars
20	Willis McGahee (I)	@ Vikings
21	Brandon Jacobs	Packers
22	Cedric Benson	@ Steelers
23	C.J. Spiller	Titans
24	Roy Helu	Jets
25	Shonn Greene	@ Redskins
26	Kevin Smith (I)	@ Saints
27	Toby Gerhart	Broncos
28	Steven Jackson	@ 49ers
29	Peyton Hillis (I)	Ravens
30	Mike Tolbert	@ Jaguars
31	Mark Ingram	Lions
32	Darren Sproles	Lions
33	Donald Brown	@ Patriots
34	Ben Tate	Falcons
35	Joe McKnight	@ Redskins
36	James Starks	@ Giants
37	Kendall Hunter	Rams
38	Pierre Thomas	Lions
39	Maurice Morris	@ Saints