Fantasy: Week 13 Rankings - Running Backs (Analysis)

theScore's Justin Boone is currently ranked second in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition and is tied as the top-ranked pro over the last three seasons. Scroll down to see his rankings for Week 13. 

A final rankings update will be available on Sunday morning.

Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | K

Running Backs

• Last we saw Le'Veon Bell, he was rushing for 204 yards in a victory over the Titans in Week 11. Bell now gets to do battle with the Saints, who are playing on a short week after giving up 182 rushing yards to Justin Forsett on Monday night. Sometimes the stars just align. 

• It's the usual injury situation with Arian Foster. If he plays, he's a top-5 fantasy back. If the Texans hold him out another week, Alfred Blue will assume high-end RB2 status. At the moment, it appears Foster is on track to return against the Titans. 

• On paper the Chiefs have allowed the eighth fewest fantasy points to running backs, but if you look closer you'll see they've allowed back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. Since taking over the starting job, C.J. Anderson has put a rest to the talk about the lead back in Denver with 473 total yards in three games. He's a solid RB1 on the road in Kansas City. 

• The typically strong San Francisco run defense has surrendered a pair of 100-yard games to opposing running backs recently, including 125 yards and a score in Week 12. That bodes well for Marshawn Lynch, who averaged 93 rushing yards and a touchdown in three games against the 49ers last season. Lynch has been dealing with back issues and is on a short week, but you can still dial him up as a low-end RB1 on Thursday night. 

• Andre Ellington is not a goal-line back and can't continue to handle the workload the Cardinals are putting on him. The signing of Michael Bush made that clear. While that may affect Ellington's value going forward, Bush likely won't be ready to contribute this week. Ellington shouldn't have trouble finding room to run against the Falcons. 

• Despite all the distractions around him, Alfred Morris has been on a tear recently, with rushing totals of 73, 92, 96 and 125 yards over the last four games. Morris has also found the end zone four times during that stretch. While his stats have normally been better when Robert Griffin III has been under center, you shouldn't be scared away in this matchup with the Colts. 

• The Browns seem intent on splitting carries between Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West, but Crowell has clearly established himself as the more dangerous back in Cleveland. The Bills started the season strong against the run, but have been vulnerable to opposing rushing attacks over the last five games. Crowell is an RB2 with low-end RB1 upside on the road in Buffalo. 

• Either the Colts are trying to be sneaky about their backfield plans or they don't want to hurt Trent Richardson's feelings, but it sounds as though Dan "Boom" Herron is going to be the starter the rest of the season, while Trent Richardson stays in a similar role he occupied prior to Ahmad Bradshaw's injury. Washington is surprisingly solid against the run, so both players are ranked lower than they will be most weeks. 

• Remember Jonas Gray? How quickly things can change in the NFL. LeGarrette Blount stepped in and performed well as the Patriots power back and it appears as though Blount and Shane Vereen will handle the majority of the touches for New England. That being said, this is still a Bill Belichick backfield, so use at your own risk. 

• Here's how the Buccaneers distributed carries in their Week 12 matchup with the Bears: Doug Martin 11 carries for 27 yards (28 snaps), Charles Sims six carries for 22 yards (26 snaps) and Bobby Rainey one carry for three yards (25 snaps). That should tell you all you need to know about the Tampa backs and why you shouldn't be starting any of them.