Week 13 Fantasy Football Rankings: Rating the Week's Elite RB Plays

In Week 13 of the NFL season, the following five running backs top our fantasy projections:

1. Frank Gore, 49ers

Gore hasn't broke 100 yards rushing since Week 9, but a game against the lowly Rams could be exactly what the doctor ordered. St. Louis is the 29th-ranked fantasy run defense, and they've surrendered 250 yards or more in two games this season, including last week's 250 on the ground from Cardinals. Unless things turn around in a hurry for the Rams, Gore should have a huge game.

2. LeGarrette Blount, Buccaneers

Blount has more than a few things going for him on Sunday against the Panthers. For starters, Blount has rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back weeks. He now looks completely over an injury that kept him out of two weeks during the middle part of the season. But the most encouraging sign for Blount this weekend is the Panthers run defense, which ranks dead last against fantasy running backs this season.

Blount is as close to a sure bet as you'll find this weekend.

3. Matt Forte, Bears

Like Gore, Forte has failed to go over 100 yards for three straight games. And, like Gore, Forte has a nice matchup on Sunday that could allow him to break that streak. The Chiefs' 24th-ranked fantasy run defense has allowed 169.7 yards a game to opposing backs over the past three weeks. I think it'd be a safe call to say that Forte will see more than the 12 rushes he got against Oakland a week ago, too.

4. Ray Rice, Ravens

The Browns have been very good against the pass in 2011, but they've been hurt at times by the run. The Ravens will be counting on Rice to ensure that continues on Sunday. He's now carried the ball 20 or more times in two straight games, which is only the second time Rice has done that this season. Let's bank on him making it three-in-a-row for the first time on Sunday as Rice runs over the Browns' soft run defense. 

5. Chris Johnson, Titans

Is it still risky putting Johnson in the top five, even after a 190-yard performance a week ago? Most likely, yes.

Johnson hasn't put together two straight productive weeks all season long. But the Titans' matchup with the Buffalo Bills is an enticing one, and he should be able to find the space he needs to get going early. Although 190 yards again isn't going to happen, Johnson will have every opportunity to have another big day against a poor defense.