Fantasy Football: Week 13 running back rankings

Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Leonard Fournette my top running back option for Week 13.

Pittsburgh Steelers star Le'Veon Bell, Los Angeles Rams' Todd Gurley, Chicago Bears' Jordan Howard and Buffalo Bills' LeSean McCoy round out my top five running backs this week.

The final week of the fantasy football regular season means win or go home for many players, but if you are one of the lucky team owners assured of a playoff spot, don't get complacent.

Several high-end running back options have emerged in recent weeks and need to be added to your bench. Even if you are stacked at running back, you should still consider adding them so you don't give a running-back-needy team an advantage in a potential playoff matchup down the road.

If you want some depth at running back or other positions, check out my top options for each position in free agency by visiting my Week 13 add/drops article.

Here are my Top 30 options at the position this week.

FULL TOP 30 WEEK 13 RANKINGS BELOW

TOP SHELF

Rookie Leonard Fournette has been sensational this season for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although he has cooled off after his smoldering start to begin the season, Fournette is still a reliable RB1. This week, Fournette battles the Indianapolis Colts, a unit allowing the third-most fantasy points per game and fourth-most touchdowns to opposing running backs. Ride Fournette through the fantasy football playoffs as an every week RB1 play.

Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard has been a bit more inconsistent than Fournette, but he is still an RB1 for me in Week 13. Howard and the Bears are hosting the San Francisco 49ers. This season, the 49ers are tied with the Los Angeles Rams for allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. San Francisco has also allowed the most rushing yards in the NFC. Howard is my No. 4 running back for Week 13 in this matchup.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Have the New England Patriots finally revealed their No. 1 running back? Dion Lewis has been just that in recent weeks for the Super Bowl champions. He has been great after the Patriots' Week 9 bye, averaging more than 14 touches and 85 yards from scrimmage in his last three games. In last week's win against Miami, he rushed for 112 yards on just 15 carries. Lewis is an RB1 consideration for me this week against the Buffalo Bills, a defense allowing the second-most fantasy points per game and most rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs.

If you have been in on the Green Bay Packers running backs this season, you are well overdue for a reward. Jamaal Williams could prove to be just that. The Packers rookie was phenomenal in Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, picking up 135 yards from scrimmage and two scores on 25 touches. That is an RB1 workload. I have Williams penciled in that category again for Week 13, as my No. 13 running back. If Ty Montgomery's ribs force him to miss another week, Williams is a must-start play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This season, the Buccaneers are tied for allowing the fourth-most rushing scores to opposing running backs. Tampa Bay is also tied for allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the position. If you were lucky enough to snatch up Williams a few weeks ago, enjoy the ride.

Week 13 Running Back Rankings

LONGSHOTS

Arizona Cardinals veteran Adrian Peterson is my No. 16 option for Week 13, putting him in the high-end RB2 range. Peterson is still getting a heavy workload and managed 99 yards on 24 touches in Week 12. This week he'll get the bulk of the carries against the Los Angeles Rams, one of the worst defenses against opposing running backs. As previously mentioned, the Rams are tied with the 49ers for allowing the most fantasy points to the position. Los Angeles is also one of three teams in the NFL to have given up at least 10 rushing scores to running backs this season. The Rams have alos allowed the fourth-most rushing yards to the position.

Finally we get to Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell. After an offseason of the Browns bulking their offensive line, many experts believed Crowell would have a great year. But a slow star to the season quieted all of Crowell's backers. Crowell looks to have turned things around. While he still only has two touchdowns on the year, Crowell has plowed for at least 95 yards from scrimmage in three of his last four games. In Week 12, he posted 105 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches. Crowell is my No. 20 option this week, making him an RB2 consideration. He is a matchup play down the stretch. The Browns are facing the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13, a defense that has allowed the most rushing yards to opposing running backs.