Week 13 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Chris Johnson and Other Must-Starts

This week, a number of noteworthy running backs are set to have big days in their respective contests, meaning that they're primed to produce for your fantasy team should you be fortunate enough to have one (or more) of them on your roster.

In the next four slides, I detail who these running backs are and just why they'll be successful this week.

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans (at Buffalo Bills)

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson has had an up-and-down year that's been more down than up. He's only rushed for 100 or more yards three times this season, and whether a lack of effort on his part or a struggling offensive line are at fault, it's clear that CJ2K owners have needed to set their sights quite a bit lower this year.

However, he's managed to perform well when the matchup is in his favor, and that it is this week when his team takes on the Buffalo Bills and their 24th-ranked rush defense. The Bills have struggled stopping any offense, run or pass, meaning that Johnson could come up big on the ground as well as factor in when it comes to the short passing game.

On the year, Johnson has rushed 183 times for 699 yards and two scores and has caught 39 passes for 268 yards. He had 190 yards on 23 rushes last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another team that struggles against the run.

Though Johnson has been disappointing this season, there are still rewards he can provide for his fantasy owners. Start him this week and reap them.

DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys (at Arizona Cardinals)

DeMarco Murray is easily the biggest breakout running back of the year, with the rookie becoming an overnight fantasy stud the moment he took the field as a starter in Week 7. And now, after a 10-day rest following his team's Week 12 Thanksgiving game, he faces an Arizona Cardinal defense ranked 28th against the run.

Clearly, this is a favorable matchup for the back and should you be lucky enough to have him on your fantasy roster, you must start him. Murray has rushed 146 times for 832 yards and two scores and has 25 receptions for 177 yards so far this year. He also had 87 yards on 22 carries and four receptions for 41 yards last week.

Though the injured starter he replaced, Felix Jones, has returned to the team's lineup, he won't get his job back this season. Jones touched the ball just once in Week 12, so don't be concerned that Murray's success will be in any way affected by Jones' presence.

Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders (at Miami Dolphins)

When starting Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden went down with a foot injury, everyone thought that would be the end of Oakland's dominant running game. Not so, it seems, with Michael Bush in the starting role.

In the four weeks that Bush has started, he's had 114 total rushes and receptions for 593 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 99 yards in Week 7 when he came in after McFadden was injured. He's the highest-scoring fantasy running back since he took over the starting job.

This week, the Raiders face the Miami Dolphins; while they don't field a particularly soft rush defense, they were weak against the run in their last game against DeMarco Murray and the Dallas Cowboys. It seems that no one can stop Bush right now, so it's best to roll with this hot streak and start him.

Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers (vs. St. Louis Rams)

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore has had yet another solid year, with his team more successful than ever. He's already exceeded his rushing yardage total from 2010 and is on pace to run for well over 1,000 yards in 2011.

So far, he's rushed 203 times for 909 yards and five touchdowns while catching 16 passes for 101 additional yards. This week he faces the St. Louis Rams' struggling defense, which ranks just 31st against the run.

Considering that Gore is less and less involved in the passing game, a poor run defense is just what he needs to have a big day for his team, and thus for yours. Look for Gore to notch his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the year this week.