2011 PPR Fantasy Football Week 13: Running Backs (RB) Rankings and Projections

Marshawn Lynch vs. Eagles

After a horrible first half of the season, Marshawn Lynch has been great over the past month. In three of his past four games, Lynch has eclipsed the 100-yard mark three times and has a touchdown score in every game. With Tarvaris Jackson playing threw a partially torn pectoral muscle, the Seahawks have had to lean on Lynch as their go to option on offense, and he’s helped them stay competitive.

On a short week, we should have some concern for Lynch’s workload normally, but because he worked so little in the early portion of the year, don’t be surprised if he touches the football up to 25 times.

Besides, it’s not like you're going to take him out of your lineup as he faces an Eagles defense that has given up some huge fantasy performances to running backs this year. Keep Lynch in the lineup as long as he’s healthy, as he’s playing like a low end RB-1 of late.

Peyton Hillis vs. Ravens

Coming off of one day of practice after missing several weeks after re-aggravating his hamstring injury, Peyton Hillis ran the football 19 times for 65 yards against the Bengals. Hillis also had two receptions, but failed to gain a yard, finishing with negative-four yards through the air. The performance wasn’t worthy of a starting spot, even in PPR leagues, but if Hillis can start to put together full practices and stay healthy, he should be worth using down the stretch.

As for this week, consider Hillis likely to carry the load, but I wouldn’t use him in your starting lineup this week unless you're desperate for help. Assuming you drafted Hillis this year, that may be the case, and if you still have a chance to make the playoffs, consider yourself fortunate.

The Browns schedule isn’t pretty down the stretch, but Hillis’ fantasy value is more about his health than his matchups, as he’s proven to be a worthy RB-2 in PPR leagues, even with bad matchups—last year anyway. Let’s hope he can stay healthy, and maybe we can use him in the coming weeks against the Steelers or Cardinals.

More WK 13 PPR Rankings: QB | WR | Flex | K/D | Waivers | Start / Sit |

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