Fantasy Football: Week 13 Running Back Rankings

MIAMI, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- DeMarco Murray is the only elite runner unavailable for fantasy football teams this week due to a Week 13 bye.

While Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns players are benched with the off week, there are great options still available on the waiver wire and on your bench. Obvious studs like Le'Veon Bell, David Johnson, and Ezekiel Elliott have done a great job in carrying fantasy football teams into playoff contention, but there are other players who could give you an edge as the season winds down. To help you figure out who to sit or start at the position, take a look at my top 30 running backs for Week 13. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

TOP SHELF

Buffalo Bills speedster LeSean McCoy had a fantastic Week 12, now he gets a matchup against an Oakland Raiders defense allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs. McCoy had 134 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns on 21 touches last week. He has at least 100 yards from scrimmage and/or a touchdown in three consecutive games. Doug Martin should rebound from a lackluster Week 12 performance against a San Diego Chargers defense allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers workhorse had at least 100 yards from scrimmage and or a score in consecutive contests, before putting up 90 yards on 25 touches in the Buccaneers' Week 12 win against the Seattle Seahawks.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Spencer Ware should be deployed as an RB1 this week against an Atlanta Flacons unit allowing the third-most fantasy points to running backs. The Kansas City Chiefs stud has at least 13 carries in three consecutive games and should see a similar workload against the Falcons. Jordan Howard is a high-end RB2 for me against the San Francisco 49ers. The Chicago Bears are battling a unit allowing the most fantasy points and touchdowns to opposing running backs. Howard has at least 100 yards from scrimmage and/or a touchdown in three of his last four games.

LONGSHOTS

New York Jets veteran Matt Forte shouldn't disappoint owners this week against an Indianapolis Colts defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to his position. I think Forte's poor Week 12 showing was a blip on the radar. He had at least 100 yards from scrimmage and/or a touchdown in four consecutive games before last week's dud. Theo Riddick is an RB2 in any format this week against a New Orleans Saints defense allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs. The Saints have also allowed a dozen rushing scores to the position. Riddick's latest lack of production was largely due to facing the Minnesota Vikings twice in his last three games.