Top 10 Running Back Studs - Best Fantasy Football RB Performances Including Bucky Irving, Bijan Robinson, Najee Harris And More

Alex jumps into the top 10 PPR running back performances from Week 13 of the 2024 season. Good luck with your final playoff push!

Week 13 felt strange, even though it was the first time since Week 8 that we had a full slate of football. However, stay vigilant, as there is one more six-team bye week that I hope you've been preparing for. That'll be your final test. Your final push for the playoffs relies on a week with no Ravens, Broncos, Colts, Texans, Patriots, or Commanders. Ouch! Additionally, this week was full of duds, so if you've already clinched a playoff spot -- congrats! If not, buckle down; you've got one more week.

Six of the games this weekend were divisional outings, and they were all one-score matchups, making this weekend feel weirder -- even though the Steelers and the Bengals provided us with a bunch of fantasy fireworks. Still, rushing scores were down overall in this slate, matching the fewest through any week this season (23). You'll notice we have a new face donning the top spot this week -- more on him below -- while other mainstays continue their weekly residency in this feature.

With no teams on bye, the only players not qualifying for this list are the Cleveland Browns' Nick Chubb and Javonte Williams of the Denver Broncos. Now, get to those waiver wires and prepare for "byepocalypse" part deux. Let's dive into Week 13's top running back plays.

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Top 10 Running Backs of the Week (Including SNF)

Here are the top-10 running backs from Week 13 of the 2024 NFL season in PPR scoring:

1. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rachaad White got the ceremonial first few backfield touches in this one, but it was undoubtedly all Bucky Irving in Tampa's win over the Carolina Panthers. The rookie was again impressive, tallying 185 yards and a touchdown on 28 touches. Irving rushed for 152 yards on his 25 totes (6.08 YPC) and hauled in all three of his targets for the other 33.

Tampa Bay's fourth-round selection in this year's draft was a menace on Sunday, ripping off five yards or more on several occasions. His longest gain of the day was a 43-yard burst where he perfectly followed his blocking, breaking a tackle and scooting up the sideline. The touchdown came from six yards out.

Bucky Irving (5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6 yards
pic.twitter.com/3rbJ82KfKH

— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) December 2, 2024

It's been an excellent run for the 22-year-old, who has at least 73 rushing yards, three receptions, and a touchdown in his previous three outings. Additionally, he appears to have superseded White as the preferred lead back -- picking up more targets and receptions than his predecessor over the last two weeks.

With his outlook on the rise, Irving gets a slightly stiffer matchup in Week 14 when his team hosts the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders aren't the scariest test, but they aren't exactly fantasy-friendly either. Still, it'd be tough to sit him right now.

2. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Coming off the bye, Bijan Robinson didn't miss a beat despite his squad losing 17-13 to the Los Angeles Chargers. It was another strong performance for him, piling up 26 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown, adding 33 yards through the air on 6-of-6 receiving. Honestly, it's a wonder they could do anything offensively with quarterback Kirk Cousins tossing four interceptions. Still, the 22-year-old got it done.

The second-year back has been a fantasy force in 2024, racking up six games of at least 21.5 fantasy points in his last seven appearances and recording seven touchdowns over that span.

Robinson is one of the safer fantasy assets, garnering heavy workloads both on the ground and through the air. He's an elite RB1 pick weekly, and that doesn't change despite a difficult outing against a staunch Minnesota Vikings run defense in Week 14. The former first-round pick is one of the few matchup-proof options in fantasy football.

3. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh and Cincinnati played a wild one on Sunday afternoon, and Najee Harris had an excellent day in his team's 44-38 win. The 26-year-old accrued 75 yards and a touchdown on his 16 carries, adding 54 yards through the air on six of six receiving.

Harris started off the game receiving six touches on the Steelers' first two drives of the game, totaling 53 yards in what would be a foreshadowing of a productive day. It was only his second outing all season with 20 or more fantasy points and the first time since Week 6 that he's done so.

Despite ceding a lot of work to backfield mate Jaylen Warren in the Week 12 snow game versus the Cleveland Browns, he and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for just six carries.

The fourth-year back has been a viable RB2 option all season and will get another matchup against those very same Browns again in Week 14. It'd be nice if he got this type of role in the passing game every week, as it would drastically boost his fantasy floor.

Whether that remains the case is still to be determined, but as long as his appearance against the Browns isn't once again in the snow, fantasy managers can start Harris as a mid-low-end RB2.

4. Joe Mixon, Houston Texans

The Houston Texans completed the season sweep of the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-20 in nearly the same fashion they did when they first squared off back in Week 4 (24-20). Joe Mixon didn't get to suit up for the division rivals' first meeting, but he was incredible yet again on Sunday -- just as he has been for the entirety of the season.

The former Cincinnati Bengal churned out 101 yards and a touchdown on his 20 carries, pulling in four of six targets for another 18 yards receiving. He's been superb in 2024, rushing for a touchdown and 100 or more yards in seven of 10 contests. That list includes the game where he went down with an ankle injury and played just 47% of the team's snaps.

Mixon and the Texans have a bye in Week 14 before returning home to face the visiting Miami Dolphins the following Sunday.

5. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers

Despite putting together another valuable fantasy performance, Josh Jacobs was inefficient against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. The sixth-year veteran rushed for an abysmal 43 yards on his 19 totes (2.26 YPC), scoring a touchdown in the 30-17 win. However, he produced 74 yards through the air -- reeling in all four of his targets to help elevate his stat line further.

Jacobs has been white-hot, turning in his third straight 20-plus-point fantasy performance. Additionally, he'd tally at least four receptions for the second time in his last three. Over the three-game stretch, the 26-year-old has racked up 357 total yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Josh Jacobs (9)
Green Bay Packers
1 yard
pic.twitter.com/GYMbHaYobF

— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) November 29, 2024

Even in a tough Week 14 matchup against the division-rival Detroit Lions, the lead back will be a recommended fantasy option -- firmly entrenched as an RB1.

6. Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys

Rico Dowdle and the Dallas Cowboys kicked off the week on Thanksgiving Day, featured during a slate in which all three home teams emerged victorious. The Cowboys won their meeting against the New York Giants 27-20, and the South Carolina product was a large part of the effort. For what it's worth, the box score makes this game appear closer than it felt.

Dowdle diced up the Giants all afternoon, rushing for 112 yards on his 22 carries, chipping in an additional 11 yards while bringing in all three targets. The 26-year-old set high marks with his rushing output and carry totals in a fantastic effort. He dominated the backfield share in Week 13, amassing 25 touches, while Ezekiel Elliott and Hunter Luepke combined for eight yards on four touches.

The Cowboys have an intriguing Week 14 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals on tap. See Najee Harris above.

7. De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins couldn't continue their winning ways Thursday evening, falling 30-17 to a Packers squad seemingly out to prove something. Still, De'Von Achane got his -- registering eight receptions, 56 yards, and a touchdown on nine targets. His work on the ground wasn't at all remarkable, though (7/14).

Thus far in 2024, he's been Miami's most consistent fantasy asset aside from tight end Jonnu Smith. This year is weird.

Achane is becoming almost automatic through the air. It's uncanny. Fantasy managers would surely like to see the second-year back do a bit more in his role on the ground. However, there are only so many backs you'd want over him for fantasy purposes in this role.

Keep rolling with the Texas native, especially in an outing against the New York Jets in Week 14, whose defensive unit hasn't been the same without former head coach Robert Saleh.

8. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles

Talk about automatic. Saquon Barkley was his usual productive self in Sunday's 24-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The superstar back again went over 100 yards on the ground (107), scoring a touchdown on his 23 totes. He notched four targets, corralling only two for 10 yards receiving. Ho-hum.

Saquon Barkley (13)
Philadelphia Eagles
25 yards
pic.twitter.com/aQVfu5yuNc

— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) December 2, 2024

It has been an incredible season for the former New York Giant, matching his career-best 11 rushing scores with five games left to play. For the record, he's still on pace to break the all-time mark with 2,123.58.

He moves differently.

Barkley gets a choice matchup next weekend in a Carolina Panthers squad that had allowed the second-most rushing yards (1,766) and touchdowns (17) of any other team leading up to Week 13.

T-9. James Cook, Buffalo Bills

In yet another snow game, the Bills could not be stopped -- trampling the San Francisco 49ers 35-10. For all the talk about the Lions and their dominance, Buffalo has scored 30 or more points in six straight outings and a win in seven consecutive games. Even with the inclement weather, James Cook was incredible -- leading the Bills' offense on a night when their ground game was the difference.

The former Georgia Bulldog rushed 14 times for 107 yards -- including a 65-yard touchdown -- in the victory, bringing in his sole target for a gain of 13 yards. It's always fun to see whether snow will affect a player or not. It did not appear to do so for Buffalo's ground game. Perhaps a testament to their home-field advantage.

James Cook (11)
Buffalo Bills
65 yards
pic.twitter.com/T4SnyKcn7i

— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) December 2, 2024

Cook will face another vulnerable opponent next Sunday: the Los Angeles Rams. Heading into Week 13, the Rams had allowed the second-most rushing yards to their opponents (1,587).

T-9. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

In one of the bigger surprises of the second half, Chase Brown has been quite the stud since taking over as Cincinnati's full-time back. The 24-year-old was again uber-effective despite his team losing yet another one-score game. There always seems to be one of those teams that loses all their one-score matchups every year, and that appears to be the Bengals.

Brown rushed 12 times for 70 yards and a touchdown (5.83 YPC), hauling in all three of his targets for 30 yards. His touchdown was a one-yard goal-line plunge. Even more encouraging is the fact that he continues to get the lion's share of opportunities out of Cincinnati's backfield. Teammate Khalil Herbert garnered just one touch.

The Illinois product gets the Dallas Cowboys next Monday night in Week 14 in an interesting matchup. On paper, Dallas is a solid spot for RBs -- but they've been better over recent weeks with key pieces returning from injury.

Still, they gave up 109 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries to Mixon three weeks ago. So, Brown is still likely to be productive again, particularly if his role in the passing game continues.

Thanks for reading, and best of luck in all your matchups in Week 14!

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