All updated projections for the most current NFL season are here: weekly Yahoo projections - weekly DraftKings projections - weekly Fanduel projections.
If you are looking to get the most out of your week 13 RB picks on daily fantasy football sites like Draftkings and Fanduel you will need to identify key matchups as well as utilizing players with the most value. Value isn't just about finding a player who is inexpensive. More expensive players can have a lot of value too. If you can find a player who you think will get 40 fantasy points but they cost $9,000, then they absolutely have value (assuming they actually get that many points).
Another quick tip on strategy for your week 13 RB picks. Don't target just two running backs, and for that matter don't use just one lineup. Placing all your hope on one lineup is a good way to loose all your money. Targeting a handful of players at each position helps to reduce your risk and acts as a bit of an insurance policy. Perfect example is Brandon Marshall/Alshon Jeffery in week 12. Both players were in the low $7,000's and were facing a very favorable opponent in Tampa Bay but didn't deliver as expected, only producing 17.4 fantasy points combined. If you had them in your lineup, you likely took a big hit because what you payed to get them.
Luckily for me, I only played them in a few lineups even though they both seemed like a near lock to have great numbers. Below is just an example of how many different lineups I use every week. I wouldn't suggest using as many lineups as I do (anywhere from 12-20 different lineups) but the key is to be able to mix and match different combinations of players you have targeted for the upcoming week to give you consistent results.
Some of my week 12 results: Snippet showing 9 different lineups used ranging from 130.4-193.12 FTPS
Remember: If you want to get help putting together a complete lineup for all positions, try the Fantasy Knuckleheads Optimal Lineup Tool.
Eddie Lacy ($7,300) New England@Green Bay
Considering how Lacy has been playing recently and what he is priced at, he provides good value for your lineup. The only thing that concerns me here is that the Patriots have been playing the run very well recently, ranking 1st in fantasy points allowed to RBs in the last 3 weeks. Either way, great game to watch because it may be a preview of the Super Bowl.
C.J. Anderson ($6,900) Denver@Kansas City
Kansas City is very good against the pass (ranking 1st in passing yards allowed and 4th in points scored) but not so much against the run. I imagine that Peyton Manning will not be able to throw the ball at will going into Kansas City and will lean a bit on Anderson who has produced 3 consecutive 100+ yard games.
Rashad Jennings ($6,700) NYG@Jacksonville
Jennings had 8 catches for 68 yards against the Cowboys in week 12 and everyone knows that on DraftKings 1 ppr these kind of targets are golden. I expect similar production against a favorable matchup in Jacksonville.
Marshawn Lynch ($6,400) Seattle@San Fransisco
Had to add him on here last minute the more I thought about it. San Fransisco has a good pass defense and I don't imagine any of Seattle's WRs will do much so I figure that Lynch will be a big part of the offense. The price also makes this a very intriguing DraftKings week 13 RB pick.
Justin Forsett ($6,300) San Diego@Baltimore
Really? Forsett at $6,300? How do you not consider him for your lineup?
Andre Ellington ($6,200) Arizona@Atlanta
The Cardinals weren't able to get much going on offense against Seattle and Ellington's stats really suffered but this week has him against a much more generous defense. For the season, Atlanta is averaging the most fantasy points awarded to running backs, however, in the past 5 weeks they are about middle of the pack.
Denard Robinson ($6,000) NYG@Jacksonville
Robinson was a bit underutilized against the Colts last week even though it was a good matchup for running backs. The Giants again are a good matchup. I expect anywhere from 15-25 fantasy points from him this week.
Alfred Blue ($5,700) Tennessee@Houston
Had to include him on here in case Arian Foster doesn't play. If Blue starts, then he is a great play against the Titans who are dead last in fantasy points allowed to running backs in the last 5 weeks.
Alfred Morris ($5,500) Washington@Indianapolis
Good matchup and will likely do more than Denard Robinson was able to against the Colts. Having Colt McCoy start at QB this week over RGIII may enable this offense to get something going.
Jeremy Hill ($5,300) Cincinnati@Tampa Bay
It's difficult to say who will get more action in this game, Hill or Giovani Bernard. If they split 50/50, you're not going to see a big day from either. Taking a Cincinnati RB this week can be risky because of the uncertainty but the price and matchup definitely makes it worth some consideration
Giovani Bernard ($5,200) Cincinnati@Tampa Bay
Tre Mason ($4,600) Oakland@St. Louis
Tre Mason hasn't really had that big game yet, thus why he is priced so low. But that shouldn't detract you, he had 9.8 fantasy points last week and for his price that wasn't too bad. This week he faces one of the more favorable matchups of the season.
Darren Sproles ($4,500) Philadelphia@Dallas
Sproles always has good value nearly every week. He's inexpensive and he is pretty solid for 10-15 fantasy points.
LeGarrette Blount ( $4,400) New England@Green Bay
I don't know what to think about New England's running backs in fantasy land. I trust Bill Belichick knows exactly what he is doing here. I would guess that Blount will get the most action in the game due to last week but it could just as easily be Jonas Gray. Can't deny the ridiculous numbers Gray had in week 11 (201 yards and 4 TDs). The price is right if you want to take the risk on either back.
Jonas Gray ($4,000) New England@Green Bay
Latavius Murray ($3,800) Oakland@St. Louis
Ridiculous athlete who will see an increase in play time for the remainder of the season. 6'3'', 230 lbs and runs a 4.38 40 yard dash. Keep an eye on whether he will be cleared to play following the concussion protocol.
Ben Tate ($3,600) Carolina@Minnesota
This is a bit of a sneaky play here as Tate is new to the team but they brought him in for a reason and I expect him to play. The price is fantastic for a good back who may very well be the starter.
Jonathan Stewart ($3,400) Carolina@Minnesota
If you can get 10-15 fantasy points from Stewart this week, consider it a good investment. I think of it this way, there is always a RB in this price range that will get you 10-15 fantasy points. That is around the same amount of points you typically get from a TE in the $4,000-$5,500 range. Instead, find an RB2 in the $3,000's who can give you the same amount of fantasy points as a TE in the $4,000+ range and for your actual TE slot take someone like Gronk who is on a tier of his own among all TEs.
Results from week 12 projections:
- Marshawn Lynch 11.2
- Justin Forsett 36
- Giovani Bernard 8.7
- LeSean McCoy 23.1
- Andre Ellington 11.3
- Denard Robinson 10.2
- Alfred Blue 9.6
- Rashad Jennings 20
- Trent Richardson 10.2
- Darren Sproles 12.9
- Tre Mason 9.8
- Isaiah Crowell 20.8