Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Running Backs in Week 13 of Fantasy Football

Dear friends, it’s already week 13! Time to set up those fantastic lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is a best and worst look at the week’s best and worst matchups in fantasy football leagues. Each week I’ll be examining running backs who could exceed or fall short of expectations based on their weekly opponent… like Bucky Irving and D’Andre Swift in Week 12!

To make your final lineup decision, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them every day! Make sure too subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me as we cover all things fantasy football five days a week!

All positions: QB | RB | WR | TE | Fr | Summer time

Hi: Thread

1. Saquon Barkley for the Ravens
2. Joe Mixon with the Jaguars
3. Alvin Kamara vs. Rams
4. Derrick Henry vs. Eagles
5. Bijan Robinson vs. Chargers
6. Jahmyr Gibbs vs. Bears (Thursday)
7. Breece Hall vs. Seahawks
8. Josh Jacobs vs. Dolphins (Thursday)
9. James Cook vs. 49ers
10. Chuba Hubbard vs. Buccaneers

Complete Week 13 Rankings (coming soon)

The beginning of the week

Bucky Irving on Panthers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Irving, named the starter last week, had his best game of the season, scoring 27.1 points in the victory over the Giants. I also like him this week because the rookie has a favorable matchup against the Panthers. Their defense held defenders to over 14 points 10 times, including six that exceeded 20 points. This puts Irving and Rachaad White in a position to start battling it out in the NFC South.

Run them

Chuba Hubbard vs. Buccaneers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Hubbard overcame a bad matchup last week, scoring 15 points in a loss to the Chiefs. He has now scored at least 15 points in three straight games, and this week’s matchup against the Buccaneers will be positive. This season, defensemen averaged 4.7 yards per rush against Tampa Bay, and nine players at that position scored at least 13.8 points, including two with 20 or more.

Chase Brown vs. Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Brown has been one of the hottest running backs in fantasy football lately, scoring over 19 points in three straight games while also posting 50 points per contact during that span. He’s a must-start against the Steelers, who have allowed eight runners to score more than 16.1 points this season. That includes five running backs who have scored more than 17 points against them since Week 5.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. on Cowboys (Thursday 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox): Last week Tracy Jr. and the entire Giants team have been fantastic turkeys, but the rookie could still start in the matchup in Dallas. Their defense allowed running backs to average 4.5 yards per rush, not to mention the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game. In total, the Cowboys gave up more than 18 points to seven different running backs, including three who scored more than 30 points.

Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Stevenson was terrible last week, scoring just 3.3 points despite having a great game on paper against the Dolphins. However, I have no intention of abandoning this trend because he has another positive matchup with the Colts ahead of him. Over the last four weeks, their defense has allowed six rushing touchdowns and the fourth-most points per game. That makes Stevenson worth a flex start.

RB with good matchups

Sit of the week

Najee Harris on Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Harris’ numbers have been declining since teammate Jaylen Warren’s return, as he hasn’t scored more than 13.3 points in any of the last three straight games. This week, he’s playing a risk-reward flex start against a Bengals team that has only allowed one return since Week 7 to beat them by more than 14.1 points. This includes fantasy superstars Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley, so watch out for Harris.

Sit down

James Conner on Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Conner is coming off one of his worst games of the season, scoring just 9.9 points in a loss to the Seahawks. While he’s still averaging 14.6 points per game on the season and is having a hard time sitting out, Conner has a tough game in Minnesota next on the schedule. Over the last four weeks, no defense in the league has given up fewer yards per rush (2.7) or fantasy points per game to running backs.

D’Andre Swift on Lions (Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET, CBS): Swift has failed to score in double figures in two of his last three games, and his touch has waned somewhat over that time. I would steer clear of the veteran against the Lions, who gave up the second-fewest points per game to running backs. Moreover, their stout defense has seen James Conner, Jonathan Taylor, Rachaad White and Bucky Irving all score 3.5 or fewer points this season.

Travis Etienne Jr. vs. Texans (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Etienne Jr. he was one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football, scoring in single figures in five of nine games while averaging just 8.3 points. With Tank Bigsby returning from injury this week and the poor matchup against the Texans, Etienne Jr. hard to trust. Houston’s defense has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season.

Nick Chubb on Broncos (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Chubb is coming off his best game of the season, scoring two touchdowns and scoring 19 points in a win over the Steelers. Despite this, his average results exceed three yards per run, and the duel with the Broncos is not optimistic. Their defense has given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to run-only defenses, and Chubb does next to nothing as a pass catcher for Cleveland.

RB with bad matchups