3 RBs returning undisputed value for fantasy owners

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Week in and week out, high-quality, tournament-winning results are turned in from the likes of Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott, Pittsburgh Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell and Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson. These assured elite performances and lofty fantasy point totals routinely come with monstrous salaries, limiting the options of owners at other positions.

Finding value at the running back position is a necessity when targeting top-tier receivers in their ideal matchups. These three running backs have routinely provided daily fantasy owners with the tournament results they need regardless of their weekly opponent:

Jordan Howard, Bears

Howard has not scored a touchdown of any variety in three consecutive games, but he has finished with at least 99 total yards in each of those contests, topping 100 total yards in three of his past four games. He has three TDs on the year but has already topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage despite receiving 10 or more touches in only eight of the 10 games he has played.

He has received 15 or more carries in seven of his past eight games (he got hurt in the eighth), even with the Bears winning just one of those seven games. He remains largely involved regardless of game script. Even with QB Matt Barkley under center in Week 12 and the Bears trailing for much of the game, Howard received three-week highs of 18 carries and three receptions.

With WR Alshon Jeffery injured and QBs Jay Cutler and Brian Hoyer injured, Howard is the most talented player in the Bears' offense. If they're going to move the ball and/or score points, he'll continue to be heavily involved. Neither his usage nor his performance thus far are reflected in his weekly salary. He's a great cash-game option with tournament upside.

Tevin Coleman, Falcons

Coleman doesn't receive nearly the same volume as Howard, but what he lacks in quantity he makes up for in quality. He is firmly in the smaller half of a timeshare with teammate Devonta Freeman, but Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan continues to find ways to get both players involved. Coleman averages fewer than eight carries per game, but has caught 21 of 26 targets.

Coleman has 334 receiving yards to just 243 on the ground. He has had eight carries in each of his first two games back from injury, but has totaled just 73 yards on the ground. He is reportedly healthier for Week 13, and enters a much better matchup than he had in Week 12.

With the exception of an injury-shortened Week 6, Coleman's worst game of the year came in Week 12, when he totaled just 13 yards on 10 touches. He still managed to score a red-zone touchdown, allowing him to provide adequate cash-game value at a near-minimal cost on most daily fantasy sites.

He'll maintain a high touchdown potential in Atlanta's NFL-best offense, while his five plays of 20-plus yards signal his tournament upside.

Carlos Hyde, 49ers

While the 49ers have lost each of Hyde's past eight games, he received at least 13 touches in each of them. He topped 20 touches in three of those games, with a high of 28 coming in a 33-21 loss to the Cardinals in Week 5. It was his best receiving line of the season, catching six balls for 36 yards.

He has six rushing touchdowns on the year, with two two-score games. He hasn't found the end zone since Week 5, but the volume and the yardage have consistently been provided.

San Francisco's overall lack of red-zone opportunities caps his upside, but he has an extremely high floor with a prominent role in the oft-used passing game. He should only be considered for tournaments in his best matchups, while he is extremely dependable for cash-game use.