Free tool · Dec 1 – Dec 7
Week 13 RB start or sit
Running back start/sit calls live and die on game script. A back on a team likely to lead gets the fourth-quarter carries; a back chasing points loses them, which is why the swing column moves more here than anywhere else.
Week 13 · Dec 1 – Dec 7
Start these RBs — week 13
Biggest positive matchup swing at running back this week.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI | @ ARI | 20.8 | +2.9 | @ ARI grades smash spot — worth about 2.9 points above a normal week. |
| 2 | Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEA | vs DAL | 12.5 | +1.6 | vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.6 points above a normal week. |
| 3 | Christian McCaffreyRB · SF | @ NYG | 16.6 | +1.4 | @ NYG grades good matchup — worth about 1.4 points above a normal week. |
| 4 | Zach CharbonnetRB · SEA | vs DAL | 8.7 | +1.1 | vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.1 points above a normal week. |
| 5 | Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET | @ ATL | 18.3 | +0.9 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.9 points above a normal week. |
| 6 | Brian Robinson Jr.RB · WAS | @ TEN | 8.1 | +0.9 | @ TEN grades smash spot — worth about 0.9 points above a normal week. |
| 7 | RJ HarveyRB · DEN | vs MIA | 10.8 | +0.6 | vs MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week. |
| 8 | Omarion HamptonRB · LAC | @ TB | 12.3 | +0.5 | @ TB grades neutral — worth about 0.5 points above a normal week. |
| 9 | David MontgomeryRB · DET | @ ATL | 11.1 | +0.5 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.5 points above a normal week. |
| 10 | Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL | vs DET | 19 | +0.3 | vs DET grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
Sit or downgrade — week 13 RBs
The schedule works against these names. Elite players still start; use this to settle close calls.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | De'Von AchaneRB · MIA | @ DEN | 13.9 | -2.1 | @ DEN grades nightmare — about 2.1 points below a normal week. |
| 2 | Jaylen WarrenRB · PIT | vs HOU | 7.3 | -1.4 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 1.4 points below a normal week. |
| 3 | Kyren WilliamsRB · LAR | vs KC | 12.1 | -1.1 | vs KC grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week. |
| 4 | James CookRB · BUF | @ NE | 11.2 | -1 | @ NE grades nightmare — about 1 points below a normal week. |
| 5 | Bucky IrvingRB · TB | vs LAC | 13.3 | -0.9 | vs LAC grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 6 | Alvin KamaraRB · NO | vs GB | 10.4 | -0.9 | vs GB grades tough — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 7 | Isiah PachecoRB · KC | @ LAR | 8.5 | -0.4 | @ LAR grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 8 | Cam SkatteboRB · NYG | vs SF | 8 | -0.4 | vs SF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 9 | Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG | vs SF | 7.6 | -0.4 | vs SF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 10 | Josh JacobsRB · GB | @ NO | 12.9 | -0.2 | @ NO grades neutral — about 0.2 points below a normal week. |
Week 13 RB rankings
Every running back ranked by matchup-adjusted projection for this week.
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon BarkleyRB · PHI | @ ARI | 20.8 | +2.9 | @ ARI grades smash spot — worth about 2.9 points above a normal week. |
| 2 | Bijan RobinsonRB · ATL | vs DET | 19 | +0.3 | vs DET grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
| 3 | Jahmyr GibbsRB · DET | @ ATL | 18.3 | +0.9 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.9 points above a normal week. |
| 4 | Christian McCaffreyRB · SF | @ NYG | 16.6 | +1.4 | @ NYG grades good matchup — worth about 1.4 points above a normal week. |
| 5 | De'Von AchaneRB · MIA | @ DEN | 13.9 | -2.1 | @ DEN grades nightmare — about 2.1 points below a normal week. |
| 6 | Chase BrownRB · CIN | @ CLE | 13.7 | +0.3 | @ CLE grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
| 7 | Bucky IrvingRB · TB | vs LAC | 13.3 | -0.9 | vs LAC grades nightmare — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 8 | Josh JacobsRB · GB | @ NO | 12.9 | -0.2 | @ NO grades neutral — about 0.2 points below a normal week. |
| 9 | Kenneth Walker IIIRB · SEA | vs DAL | 12.5 | +1.6 | vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.6 points above a normal week. |
| 10 | Omarion HamptonRB · LAC | @ TB | 12.3 | +0.5 | @ TB grades neutral — worth about 0.5 points above a normal week. |
| 11 | Kyren WilliamsRB · LAR | vs KC | 12.1 | -1.1 | vs KC grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week. |
| 12 | James CookRB · BUF | @ NE | 11.2 | -1 | @ NE grades nightmare — about 1 points below a normal week. |
| 13 | David MontgomeryRB · DET | @ ATL | 11.1 | +0.5 | @ ATL grades neutral — worth about 0.5 points above a normal week. |
| 14 | RJ HarveyRB · DEN | vs MIA | 10.8 | +0.6 | vs MIA grades neutral — worth about 0.6 points above a normal week. |
| 15 | Alvin KamaraRB · NO | vs GB | 10.4 | -0.9 | vs GB grades tough — about 0.9 points below a normal week. |
| 16 | Tony PollardRB · TEN | vs WAS | 10 | +0.2 | vs WAS grades good matchup — worth about 0.2 points above a normal week. |
| 17 | Aaron JonesRB · MIN | vs CAR | 9.1 | -0.2 | vs CAR grades neutral — about 0.2 points below a normal week. |
| 18 | Zach CharbonnetRB · SEA | vs DAL | 8.7 | +1.1 | vs DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.1 points above a normal week. |
| 19 | Isiah PachecoRB · KC | @ LAR | 8.5 | -0.4 | @ LAR grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 20 | Brian Robinson Jr.RB · WAS | @ TEN | 8.1 | +0.9 | @ TEN grades smash spot — worth about 0.9 points above a normal week. |
| 21 | Cam SkatteboRB · NYG | vs SF | 8 | -0.4 | vs SF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 22 | Najee HarrisRB · LAC | @ TB | 7.7 | +0.3 | @ TB grades neutral — worth about 0.3 points above a normal week. |
| 23 | Tyrone Tracy Jr.RB · NYG | vs SF | 7.6 | -0.4 | vs SF grades tough — about 0.4 points below a normal week. |
| 24 | Jaylen WarrenRB · PIT | vs HOU | 7.3 | -1.4 | vs HOU grades nightmare — about 1.4 points below a normal week. |
On bye in week 13
BAL · IND · LV
Comparing two specific names? Run them through the start/sit optimizer or check injury impact before you lock the lineup.
Week 13 RB matchup heatmap
Green is a matchup that adds points to a normal week, red is one that takes them away. The number is the average swing in points for that team's RB starters.
Biggest RB upside
- PHI @ ARILead option: Saquon Barkley · 20.8 pts+2.9
- SEA vs DALLead option: Kenneth Walker III · 12.5 pts+1.4
- SF @ NYGLead option: Christian McCaffrey · 16.6 pts+1.4
- WAS @ TENLead option: Brian Robinson Jr. · 8.1 pts+0.9
- DET @ ATLLead option: Jahmyr Gibbs · 18.3 pts+0.7
Biggest RB downside
- MIA @ DENLead option: De'Von Achane · 13.9 pts-2.1
- PIT vs HOULead option: Jaylen Warren · 7.3 pts-1.4
- LAR vs KCLead option: Kyren Williams · 12.1 pts-1.1
- BUF @ NELead option: James Cook · 11.2 pts-1
- NO vs GBLead option: Alvin Kamara · 10.4 pts-0.9
Built from the same matchup grades as the week 13 RB start/sit board, so a hot cell and a start call always agree.