Week 13 Fantasy Rankings: 3 RBs Who Will Run to Glory

These running backs are going to ramble their way to massive fantasy days. Their matchup and/or situation make the awesomeness in Week 13 inevitable.

Texans RB Arian Foster

Opponent: Falcons

Arian Foster is going to prove that he is ready to carry the burden of moving the Texans offense on his back for the remainder of the season.

It will not be easy in this game. The Falcons are going to key on him on early downs, and then pin their ears back and harass rookie QB TJ Yates into making bad throws. This will make running lanes scarce for Foster—especially considering this Falcons defense is second in the league in rushing yards allowed per game.

However, Foster is not just going to get carries in this one. He is going to get passes. The fact that Foster is going to be the security blanket for the Texans' patchwork QB situation was evident last week.

This tweet was posted before Matt Leinart went down, but the strategy remained the same once Yates took over.

Foster ended the game with seven catches on nine targets. He is likely to get a similar amount of looks in this one. And with a Falcons defense anxious to rattle a young QB, Foster is going to catch Atlanta off guard with a quick pass and take it to the house.

Prediction: 193 total yards, two TDs

Ravens RB Ray Rice

Opponent: Browns 

The Ravens will not forget about Ray Rice in this game. 

Inexplicably, that is not always a given. Baltimore is 23rd in the league in rushing attempts per game. Rice has had three games where he has had less than 10 carries.

Despite that, he has gained 722 yards on the ground this season. He will get a chance to add to that number in a big way this week. 

Cleveland is first in passing yards allowed, but No. 29 in rushing yards allowed this season. These numbers make the strategy of attacking Cleveland clear: run the ball!

Baltimore will give it to Rice early and often in this game.

Besides the fact that the running game is the way teams are choosing to attack the Browns, Cleveland is going to have an exceptionally hard time scoring.

This means the Ravens are going to feel little need to do much else but grind out yards and wear down the clock.

What will also benefit Rice's production is the fact that Football Outsiders ranks the Browns 17th in stopping opposing RBs in the passing game.

Rice has been a focal point of the Ravens' passing attack all season. He leads the team in catches at 54 and is third in yards with 537.

Rice will get plenty of touches in this game, and he will produce in a big way.

Prediction: 167 total yards, two TDs

49ers RB Frank Gore

Opponent: Rams

Frank Gore is going to have a very memorable Sunday.

Gore has been limited in practice this week with a sore ankle, but he is listed as probable for Sunday's game.

That means, barring a setback, Gore will play and he is going to be fresh. The 49ers have not played since last Thursday.

That is not the only thing that is going to add a little pep to Gore's step. The running back is also going to be motivated by the crowd and the moment. Gore is on the verge of history.

Don't expect the hard-working back to slow down after he gets the record either. The 49ers can clinch their first playoff berth since Gore has been there.

Winning the game and securing that playoff spot is undoubtedly his goal. Here is Gore, as quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle:

"

"This is my seventh year, and a lot of us have been in this locker room for a while and there have been some tough times. Our goal was always to make it to the playoffs. It's the closest we have ever been—if we do it, I'll celebrate a little bit."

"

This game is going to be a celebration of Gore and the 49ers' remarkable season. And all of that is going to be facilitated by the awful play of the Rams.

The Rams have struggled to a 2-9 record, and at the root of their massive woes is a paper-towel run defense. St. Louis is 32nd in the league, allowing 159 rushing yards per game.

They are also 31st in the league, allowing 5.1 yards per rush. Gore and his 4.5 yards per carry average must be licking his chops.

Prediction: 137 yards rushing, one TD