Week 13 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Fantasy Football Running Backs: Is Cam Akers a viable starter?

Last week, Derrick Henry took over with three rushing touchdowns in the first half that got him 38.5 fantasy points to lead the week for running back fantasy points. Antonio Gibson also had himself a hat trick of touchdowns on Thanksgiving night, giving him the second-place spot on the standings. Wayne Gallman had his second-best performance of the year last week, and Nyheim Hines also made the top ten standings for fantasy points. Check out who to start and sit for running backs going into the last week of the regular season for fantasy football.

Start ‘Em

David Montgomery last week ran for the most amount of yards he has this season and his first game over 100 yards on the season. A 57-yard run helped him get most of the way, but the Bears were down a lot to Green Bay, so Montgomery did not get the chance to do much barring his 11 carries in the game. However, he did a lot of work in the passing game, putting up 5 catches for 40 yards and a receiving touchdown. His 25.3 fantasy points will not go overlooked. Next week, Montgomery and the Bears will take on the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the most points to running backs this season.

Wayne Gallman has been one of the most consistent running backs in the past six weeks of football. He was on my start ’em list last week, and he deserves it again this week. Last week he saw the most touches in a game he has ever seen with 24 touches against the Cincinnati Bengals. With that, he put up the second-most points in fantasy he has this season with 18.1 points. Gallman will take on the Seahawks on the road next week, who we know give up more fantasy points to receivers and quarterbacks than running backs, but they do allow 18.1 points on average. Wayne Gallman has projected 12.5 points next week, but I believe should be considered an RB1 until seeing otherwise. Gallman is ranked 9th in points in the last four weeks.

Nyheim Hines has been on and off in fantasy, but enough to make him a borderline starter week by week. Last week, Hines got 10 touches in the backfield for a mere 29 yards, however, he caught 8 passes in the backfield for 66 yards. He has been consistently involved in the passing game this season which has made him extremely valuable. Even though rookie Jonathan Taylor will be returning from the COVID reserve list next week, Hines is still a starter. Hines and the Colts will take on the Houston Texans on the road, who have allowed the second most amount of points to running backs this season.

Cam Akers has gotten the same amount of touches in the backfield as Darrell Henderson Jr. in the last four weeks. Cam Akers, opposite of Henderson, has produced off of his targets in the last two weeks. Akers put up 84 yards off of his nine touches and a goal-line rushing touchdown against the 49ers, who have a strong rushing defense. Henderson has only put up 4.8 fantasy points in the last two weeks combined. The rookie from Florida State may start to see a bigger role in the offense, and he will play the Cardinals next week, who allow 123.4 rushing yards per game. Cam Akers should be considered a possible week 13 streamer or a flex option for fantasy teams that need a running back.

J.K Dobbins was out against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 12 due to a positive test of COVID-19. However, before he went out he put up 18.5 fantasy points on the Tennessee Titans. He has been taking the haul of carries in the Ravens’ backfield and should have his touches back when he returns in week 13. The Ravens will take on the Dallas Cowboys in week 13 in a must-win game for them. The Cowboys have allowed the 5th most points to running backs this season and just let Antonio Gibson score three touchdowns on them on Thanksgiving. Ingram and Gus Edwards will provide competition, but Dobbins has done a lot with his touches and he will get Lamar Jackson back going into this game.

Sit ‘Em

Ezekiel Elliot had a really rough game against the Washington Football Team on Thanksgiving day. He got 10 carries for only 32 yards, giving him 2.9 points after a costly fumble too. He got half the touches he has seen in the last three weeks, rightfully so against Washington, who has a really good rushing defense. I mistakenly put him on the starter list last week, and I will put him on the sit ’em list this week because the Cowboys will take on the Ravens, who have allowed the 5th least amount of fantasy points to running backs this season. Ezekiel Elliot is most likely a must start for his owners, but I would consider picking up a boom/bust running back before starting him. However, he should not have a performance as bad as last week, so a start for Zeke would not be the worst thing in the world.

Todd Gurley is coming off of an injury this week to his knee that kept him inactive against the Las Vegas Raiders in week 12. Gurley has been putting up very solid numbers for fantasy this season, averaging 13.9 points per game. However, the Falcons will take on division rival New Orleans Saints next week. The last time Gurley played against the Saints, in week 11, he put up his lowest point total of the season with 3.9 fantasy points and his lowest amount of carries on the year with just 8 carries. The Saints have also allowed the fewest amount of fantasy points to running backs this season, hurting Gurley’s case to be a starter. Gurley is usually an RB2 that should be moved to flex potential next week.

Chase Edmonds’s attempts in the backfield are slim to none, but his catches in the backfield have gone down a bit in the last four weeks, averaging around 3.5 per game. He only has one touchdown in the last seven weeks too. Edmonds’s appearance on the sit ’em list is derivative of the Cardinals’ matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. This game will be imperative to the Cardinals’ future hopes for the playoffs, and I doubt they intend to make the running game nor Chase Edmonds a large part of that. Even if they do, Kenyan Drake has seen more touches in the last two weeks than he has in a two weeks span all-season. Plus, the Rams rank in the top ten for least amount of rushing yards and rushing touchdowns allowed per game, plus they allow the sixth least amount of fantasy points to running backs this season.