Sometimes, no matter who the running back, a favorable matchup is all you need to rack up some points. Just ask Benny Cunningham who came in to spell an injured Zac Stacy and ran 13 times for 109 yards and a touchdown against a Bears defense that has allowed a ton of running back points. This week features some great looking matchups, though not necessarily for great looking running backs.
Rashad Jennings has by far the most favorable matchup this week, if he’s healthy enough to play by Thursday. Unfortunately, he’s banged up and Darren McFadden is likely going to play so they may cancel each other out but I’d still roll with Jennings if he’s active.
Andre Brown, Frank Gore, Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles, Marshawn Lynch, and even the surging Maurice Jones-Drew are all must-starts this week as usual and have favorable matchups. With Chris Ivory out, Bilal Powell looks like a very strong start against the Miami defense as well. Unfortunately, the Colts’ and Browns’ running backs do not get enough touches or are productive enough to warrant a start in their favorable games. C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson have a highly favorable matchup against the Falcons and Spiller finally showed some signs of life before the bye so either could do in a pinch.
On the unfavorable side, feel free to roll with LeSean McCoy, Danny Woodhead, Alfred Morris, Chris Johnson, and Knowshon Moreno as you normally would. On the other hand, Lamar Miller, Le’Veon Bell, Bobby Rainey, Steven Jackson, Pierre Thomas, and Gio Bernard all have tough matchups this week.
Let’s take a look at all of the running back matchups for Week 13.
Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE
 Highly Unfavorable, Unfavorable, Neutral, Slightly Favorable, Favorable
|
Rank |
AVG |
Defense |
Week 13 Opponents |
|
1 |
12.63 | Cardinals | LeSean McCoy |
|
2 |
12.74 | Jets | Lamar Miller |
|
3 |
12.97 | Ravens | Le’Veon Bell |
|
4 |
13.62 | Bengals | Danny Woodhead, Ryan Mathews (Q) |
|
5 |
14.61 | Panthers | Bobby Rainey |
|
6 |
14.98 | Bills | Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers |
|
7 |
15.02 | Seahawks | Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles |
|
8 |
15.11 | Giants | Alfred Morris, Roy Helu |
|
9 |
15.2 | Colts | Chris Johnson, Shonn Greene |
|
10 |
15.36 | Chiefs | Knowshon Moreno, Montee Ball |
|
11 |
15.38 | Buccaneers | DeAngelo Williams, Mike Tolbert, Jonathan Stewart |
|
12 |
15.42 | Chargers | Giovani Bernard, BenJarvus Green-Ellis |
|
13 |
15.92 | Lions | Eddie Lacy |
|
14 |
16.21 | Raiders | DeMarco Murray |
|
15 |
16.47 | Packers | Reggie Bush, Joique Bell |
|
16 |
16.69 | Texans | Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Brandon Bolden |
|
17 |
16.81 | Patriots | Ben Tate, Dennis Johnson |
|
18 |
16.91 | Saints | Marshawn Lynch |
|
19 |
17.09 | Browns | Maurice Jones-Drew |
|
20 |
17.8 | Eagles | Andre Ellington, Rashard Mendenhall |
|
21 |
18.4 | 49ers | Zac Stacy (Q), Benny Cunningham |
|
22 |
18.63 | Broncos | Jamaal Charles |
|
23 |
20.23 | Steelers | Ray Rice |
|
24 |
20.35 | Falcons | C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson |
|
25 |
20.97 | Jaguars | Chris Ogbonnaya, Willis McGahee, Fozzy Whittaker |
|
26 |
21.05 | Bears | Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart |
|
27 |
21.87 | Titans | Donald Brown, Trent Richardson |
|
28 |
21.93 | Vikings | Matt Forte |
|
29 |
22.7 | Dolphins | Bilal Powell |
|
30 |
23.11 | Rams | Frank Gore |
|
31 |
23.11 | Redskins | Andre Brown, Brandon Jacobs |
|
32 |
24.03 | Cowboys | Rashad Jennings (Q), Darren McFadden (Q), Marcel Reece |
*Values based on Yahoo standard scoring.
Browse Matchups by Position: QB – RB – WR – TE
