FantasyPros – Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: Week 13 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings & Tiers: Studs, Sleepers, and Must-Starts (Ep. 1868)
Date: November 26, 2025
Hosts: Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice, Andrew Erickson

Episode Overview

This week’s episode is all about navigating the chaos of Week 13 running backs—with multiple game days, key injuries, and lineup shake-ups, it’s a crucial time for fantasy managers making a final push for the playoffs. Hosts Chris Welsh, Pat Fitzmaurice, and Andrew Erickson deliver in-depth breakdowns of the top RB plays, tiered rankings, injury updates, and flex-worthy sleepers to help you make the smartest start/sit calls.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Week 13: Running Back Landscape & Strategy

• Multi-day slate (Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday) and heavy injuries make lineup locks tricky.
• Advice: Stay vigilant for news and late-week updates, especially with players returning from injury or uncertain availability.
  • “You might want to play Bucky Irving, but you might not be a hundred percent sure he’s coming back … so try to stay on top of things as best you can.” —Pat Fitzmaurice [01:31]

2. Top 12 Running Back Rankings (RB1 Tiers)

• Hosts’ Top Six (Consensus):
  1. Jameer Gibbs
  2. Christian McCaffrey (tough CLE matchup)
  3. Jonathan Taylor
  4. Devon Achane
  5. Bijan Robinson
  6. Derrick Henry
• RB7-12: James Cook, Chase Brown, Saquon Barkley, TreVeyon Henderson, Kyren Williams, Ashton Jeanty

Saquon Barkley: Is He Still a Must Start?

• Barkley at #9, but running game and efficiency crashing (3.7 YPC, just 2.8 YPC over last 3).
• Pat: “It hasn’t been great for Barkley ... at least they’re getting him a little bit involved as a pass catcher, but I just don’t know if there’s top five upside here.” [03:48]
• Erickson: “He’s a volume play, right? ... you’re starting him, still a top 10 running back, matchup is divine against the Bears, but is he going to win you your week? I think the sample size says no.” [05:22]

TreVeyon Henderson vs. Saquon Barkley

• Henderson coming off strong game, still getting volume despite RamonDre returning.
• Erickson: “Trayvon got compared to Jameer Gibbs—who’s got more juice, Saquon Barkley or Trayvon Henderson? ... that’s why I’m starting him over Saquon.” [07:03]
• Pat: “I have hemmed and hawed about this ... [but] RamonDre Stevenson could eat into Henderson’s workload more than anyone is going to eat into Barkley’s.” [07:24]

3. RB2 Range (RB13-24) – Deeper Decisions & Questionable Upside

• Key names: Josh Jacobs, Travis Etienne, Rico Dowdle, Breece Hall, Jalen Warren, RJ Harvey, Bucky Irving, Quinshon Judkins

Travis Etienne: Trust in a Big Matchup?

• Best matchup of the week vs. Titans, ECR14, Pat has him at 12, Erickson at 16.
• Pat: “His concern was touchdown dependency, but Etienne is averaging 20.5 touches and 95.3 scrimmage yards per game this month.” [09:20]
• Erickson: “Not entirely getting off the Tootin tugboat horn ... they like to use both backs, especially around the goal line ... still, a very strong start but it wouldn’t surprise me if Tootin gets more run.” [10:13]

RJ Harvey: Lower Than Consensus

• Good matchup vs Commanders, but committee concerns.
• Erickson: “Still ranked top 24... just like a couple of other guys more. Only one game of Harvey ‘being the guy’ and it was underwhelming in a tougher matchup.” [12:00]
• Pat: “Sean Payton ... is not a one running back kind of guy. So 61% snap share is probably the ceiling or close to it.” [13:24]

Injured/Returning RBs:

• Bucky Irving: If healthy, a high-upside, swing-for-the-fences play against Arizona.

  • Pat: “If he’s healthy enough to carry the load, he’s going to carry a heavy load ... Bucky Irving is just way better than Rashad White ... and Sean Tucker.” [17:13]
  • Erickson: “If Bucky Irving plays, starts cooking, that boy’s gonna eat ... I think it's hard pressed to find a better upside option this week.” [18:35]

• Quinshon Judkins: Banged up, committee in play, but still high week-winning upside if he gets goalline work.

  • Erickson: “They want to get Dylan Sampson more involved ... but I do admit, he comes with a bit of a scarier floor.” [20:30]
  • Pat: “Since week six, Quinshon Judkins is averaging 3.2 yards per carry and has caught five passes for eight yards. That’s the downside.” [21:50]

4. RB3 & Flex Plays (RB25-36) – Sleepers, Committee Problems & Fades

• Names: Aaron Jones, DeAndre Swift, Tyrone Tracy, Kenny Gainwell, Kymani Vidal, David Montgomery, Kyle Monangai, Devin Neal, Bashel Tootin, Zach Charbonnet, Chris Rodriguez, Sean Tucker

Bears Backfield: Swift vs. Monangai

• Pat: “It’s getting hard to get a read ... one week it seems like Swift is the guy, the next it’s a split ... Swift has been banged up, and Monangai out-snapped him last week.” [23:56]
• Erickson (Swift at 33): “I am fade Bears backfield, don’t want either piece ... Swift after he fumbled last week got just two carries the rest of the way.” [25:44]
• Favorite Quote: “If ands and buts and candies and nuts and we’d all have a Merry Christmas type of situation” —Welsh on Swift backfield [25:44]

Kenny Gainwell: Waiver-Wire RB Emerges

• Facing a battered Buffalo run D.
  • Erickson: “Kenneth Gainwell, he is the receiving back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.... right now, rest of season give me Kenneth Gainwell over Swift.” [27:23]
  • Pat: “Gainwell has been getting a solid amount of work ... I’m on board, I might have to move him up a bit.” [28:40]

Devin Neal: Saints’ Last Man Standing

• Kamara’s status unclear; big opportunity for Neal, but Taysom Hill looms.
  • Pat: “It is possible the number one running back in New Orleans is Taysom Hill ... talk about stones in shoes.” [29:27]
  • Erickson: “It’s going to be a dual backfield between Taysom Hill and Neal in terms of carries, but in terms of targets, Devin Neal’s the guy ... played 74% of the snaps last week.” [30:17]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is a must win. So this is a must watch show.” —Chris Welsh [00:37]
• “If Bucky Irving plays, starts cooking, that boy's gonna eat.” —Andrew Erickson [18:35]
• “We can get by with committee backfields in good matchups ... fade the Bears backfield into oblivion.” —Andrew Erickson [25:44]
• “Taysom Hill gets people so angry. I’m prepping myself for a good rant here.” —Pat Fitzmaurice [30:12]

Important Timestamps & Segment Guide

• 00:37: Episode kickoff, overview and importance of Week 13
• 01:31: Tips for navigating multi-day, injury-impacted slates
• 03:48: Barkley RB1 discussion and concern
• 07:03: TreVeyon Henderson vs. Barkley vibe check
• 09:20: Etienne evaluation and Jacksonville backfield volatility
• 12:00: RJ Harvey usage outlook and committee worries
• 17:13: Bucky Irving’s late-season upside
• 20:30: Quinshon Judkins injury and goal line debate
• 23:56: Bears backfield breakdown (Swift vs. Monangai)
• 27:23: Kenny Gainwell's surge and Buffalo matchup
• 29:27: Devin Neal vs. Taysom Hill, Saints backfield predictions

Conclusion

This episode provides a robust, player-by-player breakdown of every fantasy-relevant running back for Week 13, mixing actionable analysis with the hosts’ signature wit. The show offers clear reasoning, matchup info, and the bold calls you need for critical playoff push start/sit decisions. For even more dynamic, up-to-the-minute rankings, visit fantasypros.com/rankings.

Useful For: Managers seeking concise expert rankings, injury updates, floor/ceiling debates, and honest risk/reward context for all the key RB options in Week 13.