These 2013 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings will be updated often throughout the spring and summer, so make sure you check back from time to time. Also, be sure to check out my other 2013 Fantasy Football articles, which will include sleepers, busts, tons of 2013 Fantasy Football mock drafts and other material. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (Sept. 4):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-40 | 41-60 | 61-75
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LeSean McCoy, RB, Eagles. Bye: 12.
AUG. 16 UPDATE: LeSean McCoy made his preseason debut against the Panthers. He looked outstanding. He rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, including one run in which he made three jukes to burst for 21 yards. McCoy solidified his standing as a first-round fantasy stud.
Chip Kelly’s arrival in Philadelphia is not a good sign for LeSean McCoy. Kelly likes to utilize tons of options on his offense, so McCoy probably won’t get as many touches as he’s used to. He may also fall out of favor if his fumbling problem continues.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Stats: 1,210 rushing yards. 49 catches. 400 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Points: 209.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 258.
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Steven Jackson, RB, Falcons. Bye: 6. 
AUG. 16 UPDATE: Steven Jackson looked a bit slow in his preseason debut, but he had a stronger showing in his second contest. He rushed for 42 yards on eight carries. He also recorded a 13-yard reception in which he broke a Michael Huff tackle. Jackson will have plenty of goal-line opportunities this year, making him a consensus first-round fantasy pick.
Michael Turner scored double-digit touchdowns every single season he was with Atlanta. Steven Jackson, who is much better than Turner was last year, hasn’t found the end zone more than eight times since 2006 because of the ineptness of St. Louis’ offense. Jackson will be a fantasy monster with the Falcons.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Stats: 1,100 rushing yards. 39 catches. 330 receiving yards. 11 total TDs.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Points: 209.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 248.
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David Wilson, RB, Giants. Bye: 9.
AUG. 30 UPDATE: Andre Brown’s broken leg opens the door for David Wilson to emerge as a potential top-10 running back. Wilson still has his pass-protection issues, but it’s not like Tom Coughlin has much of an alternative now. Wilson should be selected in the second round of all fantasy drafts.
AUG. 25 UPDATE: David Wilson started the third preseason game and took his first carry all the way into the end zone for an 84-yard touchdown, as anemic safety Antonio Allen failed to set the edge. Wilson finished with 92 yards and a score on just five attempts. The Giants will have to keep him on the field because of his unbelievable play-making ability.
AUG. 19 UPDATE: David Wilson once again started for the Giants and left the field on third downs. However, it was clear that Wilson was the superior runner. He ripped off a 21-yarder right away and did a great job of evading defenders all night. He had an amazing stop-and-start juke move on a Colt defender. He stepped out of bounds on the play, but he still drew “oohs” and “ahhs” from the crowd. Wilson finished with 34 yards on eight carries to go along with two catches for 21 receiving yards. He’s so talented that it’s going to be difficult to keep him off the field.
JUNE 19 UPDATE: The Giants’ running backs coach told the media that David Wilson has improved his pass blocking. This is huge because he’ll earn more snaps on third down. He’s still expected to lose the goal-line opportunities to Andre Brown, however.
David Wilson will probably be overdrafted in your league because of the Ahmad Bradshaw release overreaction. Wilson could have a huge year, but he’ll likely have to share a ton of touches with Andre Brown, particularly those near the goal line. Also, it’s unclear if Tom Coughlin trusts Wilson on third down just yet.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Stats: 1,190 rushing yards. 32 catches. 280 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Points: 207.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 239.
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Matt Forte, RB, Bears. Bye: 8. 
AUG. 24 UPDATE: Matt Forte had a monstrous performance in the third preseason game. Oakland’s pathetic defense had a lot to do with this, but Forte rushed for 76 yards on just six attempts and also caught two balls for 33 receiving yards and a touchdown. New coach Marc Trestman has big plans for Forte, who should be considered a high-end RB2.
AUG. 17 UPDATE: Forum member Knuckles pointed out something I saw last night, but didn’t mention because I was distracted with a lot going on: “I’m surprised that you weren’t jumping on the fact that the bears gave Forte the ball on the 3-yard line. Am I making a big deal out of nothing?” Forte has handled all three goal-line carries this year, rendering Michael Bush obsolete. This is definitely significant, as it raises Forte’s value.
AUG. 16 UPDATE: Matt Forte looked great against the Chargers, rushing for 74 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, thanks to a 58-yard burst. This performance was encouraging, considering the problems Chicago has on its offensive line.
Running backs who hold out for contracts typically struggle. That’s what happened to Matt Forte this past season, as he was sluggish early on. After missing some time with an injury, Forte finished strong, however. Head coach Marc Trestman reportedly loves Forte’s pass-catching ability, so that could be utilized heavily in 2013.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Stats: 1,080 rushing yards. 59 catches. 500 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2010 Fantasy Points: 206.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 265.
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Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars. Bye: 9.
AUG. 14 UPDATE: According to the Florida Times Union, Maurice Jones-Drew has missed just one day of practice through three weeks, and that one day was a predetermined rest day. Jones-Drew is set to have a bounce-back campaign.
JULY 23 UPDATE: Maurice Jones-Drew has been cleared for training camp. This is big news, as Jones-Drew is over the Lisfranc injury that sidelined him for 10 games last year. He’s going later than he should in fantasy mock drafts (ADP 2.07), so he’s a tremendous value as a high-end RB2.
If you don’t know how much fullback Greg Jones meant to Maurice Jones-Drew, check out MJD’s Twitter timeline to see how he felt about Jones signing with Houston. He was devastated. Jones-Drew’s fantasy stock took a hit. Stuck in a miserable offense, Jones-Drew won’t reach his statistical potential.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Stats: 1,220 rushing yards. 37 catches. 300 receiving yards. 7 total TDs.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Points: 194.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 231.
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Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots. Bye: 10. 
It’s tough to trust any Bill Belichick running back because a fumble will knock that player out of the game, as we saw last year when Stevan Ridley was benched against the 49ers. However, Ridley has apparently put in a ton of work this offseason and packed on several pounds of muscle. He’ll serve as New England’s primary back and goal-line hammer as long as he doesn’t put the ball on the ground.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Stats: 1,140 rushing yards. 6 catches. 50 receiving yards. 12 total TDs.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Points: 191.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 197.
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Frank Gore, RB, 49ers. Bye: 9.
MAY 28 UPDATE: Frank Gore missed some OTAs because he’s “working through a little something,” according to Jim Harbaugh. It doesn’t sound like it’s a big deal, but every injury to a running back is worth noting – especially when the running back in question has an extensive injury history.
It was always a given that Frank Gore would get hurt and miss some games every season, but that has inexplicably changed since Jim Harbaugh came on. Gore has missed zero games in the Harbaugh regime. In fact, he had his best campaign since 2006 last year, averaging 4.7 YPC. It’s also worth noting that he scored four touchdowns in three playoff contests.
Projected 2012 Fantasy Stats: 1,170 rushing yards. 24 catches. 190 receiving yards. 9 total TDs.
Projected 2012 Fantasy Points: 190.
Projected 2012 PPR Fantasy Points: 214.
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Reggie Bush, RB, Lions. Bye: 9. 
Considering that Joique Bell caught 52 passes last year, Reggie Bush could be a PPR monster. He’ll also have more scoring opportunities in a better offense. The concern with him, as always, is his durability.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Stats: 850 rushing yards. 65 catches. 550 receiving yards. 8 total TDs.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Points: 188.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 247.
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Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers. Bye: 4.
AUG. 28 UPDATE: Forget about DuJuan Harris; he’s been placed on injured reserve with a knee. Given Johnathan Franklin’s struggles, Eddie Lacy is now guaranteed to be the top running back on Green Bay’s depth chart. Draft him confidently as an RB2.
AUG. 26 UPDATE: Mike McCarthy named DuJuan Harris the starter over Eddie Lacy recently. It was obvious this wasn’t going to stick for long. Well, it’s over now. Harris is going to be out for several weeks with a knee injury. McCarthy has no choice but to start Lacy.
AUG. 18 UPDATE: Eddie Lacy was unbelievable in his first outing. He opened up with an 8-yard run in which he utilized a spin move to evade a tackler. His next carry saw him break five tackles to rip off a 15-yard gain. Later on the opening possession, he bounced a 7-yard burst outside on a 3rd-and-1, though it was called back because of a penalty. Lacy also caught a pass for 11 yards. He used another spin move to get away from Trumaine Johnson. Lacy finished with 40 yards on eight carries. He’s looking like a very strong fantasy RB2.
AUG. 15 UPDATE: Eddie Lacy has thrived in pass-protection drills, according to his running backs’ coach, Alex Van Pelt. This is huge, as it’ll mean Lacy will be on the field more often. With Johnathan Franklin struggling, Lacy has really separated himself from the other Green Bay backs. He should be a solid RB2 this year.
AUG. 7 UPDATE: If you saw my updated Fantasy Football Sleepers list, you may have noticed that Johnathan Franklin dropped out. That’s because Eddie Lacy has distanced himself from Franklin and has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to start at running back.
Eddie Lacy was the favorite to be the top fantasy rookie after Day 2 of the draft – and then the Packers selected Johnathan Franklin. The two will negate each other’s fantasy value, which sucks. There’s a chance Lacy could approach double-digit touchdowns as Green Bay’s goal-line hammer, but I thought Mark Ingram would do the same for the Saints. These Alabama backs have been disappointments thus far.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Stats: 950 rushing yards. 11 catches. 70 receiving yards. 10 total TDs.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Points: 167.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 178.
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Daryl Richardson, RB, Rams. Bye: 11.
AUG. 20 UPDATE: Daryl Richardson has been named the starting running back on the Rams. The competition wasn’t really all that close, so Richardson should be able to maintain the job all year, barring injury. He’s a solid, lower-end RB2.
AUG. 9 UPDATE: Daryl Richardson started in St. Louis’ backfield against the Browns. Aside from a drop, Richardson had a quality performance. He gained 24 yards on four carries. He also was targeted thrice, coming up with two catches for 20 more yards. He could emerge as a decent RB2 – especially with the other running backs struggling. Isaiah Pead fumbled his first carry and nearly stumbled out of the end zone on a kickoff return. Zac Stacy, meanwhile, dropped a pass in the 2-minute drill at the end of the first half.
AUG. 7 UPDATE: If you saw my updated Fantasy Football Sleepers list, you may have noticed that Johnathan Franklin dropped out. That’s because Eddie Lacy has distanced himself from Franklin and has emerged as the overwhelming favorite to start at running back.
Daryl Richardson’s fantasy stock was way up following Steven Jackson’s departure to Atlanta. However, the Rams spent a fifth-round pick on the promising Zac Stacy. Richardson could find himself losing touches to the Vanderbilt product.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Stats: 970 rushing yards. 40 catches. 310 receiving yards. 5 total TDs.
Projected 2013 Fantasy Points: 158.
Projected 2013 PPR Fantasy Points: 198.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - Running Backs (Sept. 4):
Top 10 | 11-20 | 21-40 | 41-60 | 61-75
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More 2013 Fantasy Football Articles:
2013 Fantasy Football: Home
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/1 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: RUNNING BACKS - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/2 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 6/3 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 6/3 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Auction Values - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings - 5/5 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/28 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Season Features:
Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings - 12/26 (Walt)
Week 17 Fantasy Football Rankings: PPR - 12/26 (Walt)
Week 17 Fantasy Football Injury Reports - 12/26 (Walt)
Week 17 Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em - 12/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Add/Drop: Week 15 - 12/9 (Walt)
Week 14 Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em - 12/8 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Fan Duel Picks - 11/22 (Walt)
FanDuel FanDuel $15,000 Contest - 11/22
FanDuel Exclusive Offer to WalterFootball.com Readers - 8/24
FanDuel Week 1 $500 Freeroll - 8/24
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets (Printable Option):
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Traditional Scoring - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: PPR Scoring - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Touchdown Scoring - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: 2-QB Format - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Downloadable Spreadsheets - 9/2 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team, 3-WR, Flex - 9/2 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team, PPR - 8/29 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team, Standard - 8/22 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 12-team, Dynasty - 8/15 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 14-team, PPR - 8/8 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 3-WR - 8/1 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 2-QB - 7/26 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: 14-teamer - 7/19 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: PPR - 7/11 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Standard - 6/29 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Four-Man Mock - 6/13 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Articles:
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Training Camp - 9/4 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Preseason Stock - 8/30 (Walt)
2013 NFL Preseason Recap, Fantasy Football Notes - 8/30 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Quarterback Targets - 8/30 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 8/28 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Busts - 8/28 (Walt)
2013 ESPN Fantasy Football Magazine: 10 Reasons Not to Buy It - 8/21 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football IDP Tips - 8/17 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy - 8/16 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Draft Boards for Sale - 6/13
2013 Fantasy Football All-Value Team - 6/9 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Hot Finishers - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Quarterbacks - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Running Backs - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Wide Receivers - 4/24 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football: Overdrafted Players - 2/17 (Walt)
2013 Fantasy Football: First-Round Bust History - 2/17 (Walt)
Running Backs with Most Carries - 2/17 (Walt)
NFL Picks - Dec. 13
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
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Injured/injury risk
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Potential bust
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Potential sleeper
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Rank higher in touchdown leagues
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Rank lower in touchdown leagues
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Rank higher in PPR (points per reception) leagues
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Rank lower in PPR leagues
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