Fantasy Football Week 13 Running Back Preview: Mark Ingram is a start without Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara will not be playing for the Saints in Week 13, which once again leaves Mark Ingram in line for a big workload. It also means Ingram should be in your starting lineup, even with Taysom Hill under center.

In two games without Kamara, Ingram has averaged 20 touches, 110.5 total yards, and 19.05 Fantasy points. It's possible that Hill doesn't throw to him as much as Trevor Siemian did, and it's possible Hill steals a goalline touchdown, but Ingram's projected touches are enough to rank him in the top-12. and that puts him ahead of Ezekiel Elliott. 

Elliott, is banged up, sharing with Tony Pollard, and facing a Saints defense that still ranks as the best in the NFL against the run. I'm still starting him over Pollard, but I'm doing so with very little confidence.

As much as I like Ingram, he's still behind Alexander Mattison and Jamaal Williams. What a crazy week at running back.

Let's get to the rest of the Week 13 RB Preview:

Week 13 RB Preview

Who's Out

Numbers to Know

Matchups That Matter

Waiver Wire Targets

DFS Plays

Projections

RB Preview

Who's Out

The following players are not being projected to play Week 13 at this time. Here's what it means:

Who's Out

Dalvin Cook RB

BAL Baltimore • #33
Age: 28 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Alexander Mattison is a must-start running back until Dalvin Cook returns.

D'Andre Swift RB

CHI Chicago
Age: 25 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Jamaal Williams is a must-start running back until D'Andre Swift returns.

Miles Sanders RB

CAR Carolina • #6
Age: 27 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Boston Scott is a solid starter without Sanders

RB Preview

Numbers to know

• 32 -- Alexander Mattison had 32 touches in each of the first two games Dalvin Cook missed this season.
• 30.3 -- Lions running backs are averaging more than 30 touches per game this season.
• 51 -- Alvin Kamara had 51 receiving yards combined in Taysom Hill's four starts last season.
• 5 -- Elijah Mitchell has caught five passes in two of his past three games. Deebo Samuel's absence could make it three of four.
• 3.2 -- Saquon Barkley. is averaging 3.2 yards per carry since the beginning of 2020.
• 90.6 -- Since Week 7,  Myles Gaskin has scored 90.6 PPR Fantasy points, which makes him a top 12 running back.
• 24 -- Antonio Gibson is averaging 24 rush attempts per game since Washington's bye.
• 38.9% -- Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson both have exactly 38.9% of the Patriots rush attempts over the past two weeks. A true split.

RB Preview

Matchups that matter

Matchups that Matter

Damien Harris RB

BUF Buffalo • #22
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ BUF BUF -3 O/U 44

OPP VS RB 2nd

PROJ PTS 9.1

RB RNK 29th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 643	REC 13	REYDS 84	TD 8	FPTS/G 11.9

Ezekiel Elliott RB

DAL Dallas • #15
Age: 28 • Experience: 9 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ NO DAL -5 O/U 47.5

OPP VS RB 1st

PROJ PTS 10.9

RB RNK 9th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 720	REC 38	REYDS 228	TD 9	FPTS/G 17.2

Melvin Gordon RB

BAL Baltimore • #33
Age: 31 • Experience: 9 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ KC KC -10 O/U 47

OPP VS RB 16th

PROJ PTS 10.4

RB RNK 18th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 605	REC 22	REYDS 166	TD 7	FPTS/G 12.5

Boston Scott RB

LAR L.A. Rams • #35
Age: 29 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

@ NYJ PHI -6.5 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB 32nd

PROJ PTS 7.4

RB RNK 36th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 285	REC 9	REYDS 44	TD 4	FPTS/G 5.3

RB Preview

Waiver Wire Targets

Week 13 Adds

Sony Michel RB

LAR L.A. Rams • #24
Age: 29 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs JAC LAR -12.5 O/U 47.5

OPP VS RB 18th

RB RNK 39th

ROSTERED 55%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 305	REC 11	REYDS 62	TD 2	FPTS/G 5.2

If Darrell Henderson is ruled out, Michel becomes a must-start running back like Williams. For the time being, he's one of the top handcuffs to roster. And against Jacksonville, even if Henderson plays, Michel could be a touchdown dependent flex.

Tevin Coleman RB

SF San Francisco • #28
Age: 31 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs PHI PHI -6.5 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB 29th

RB RNK 31st

ROSTERED 24%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 185	REC 7	REYDS 26	TD 0	FPTS/G 4

Coleman had 18 touches last week, you could do a lot worse if you're desperate for a running back.

Stash

Dontrell Hilliard RB

TEN Tennessee • #40
Age: 29 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs JAC TEN -9 O/U 46.5

OPP VS RB 18th

RB RNK NR

ROSTERED 65%

YTD Stats
RUYDS 166	REC 9	REYDS 49	TD 1	FPTS/G 11.5

I prefer Hilliard slightly over Foreman, but both should be rostered everywhere through their bye week.

RB Preview

DFS Plays

Top Play

Jamaal Williams RB

NO New Orleans • #30
Age: 29 • Experience: 8 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs MIN MIN -7 O/U 46.5

OPP VS RB 22nd

PROJ PTS 10.3

RB RNK 15th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 388	REC 21	REYDS 117	TD 2	FPTS/G 9.3

Williams didn't get quite as much of a price bump as Mattison, which is why he's the top value. I'd expect 20 touches against a Vikings defense that has been gashed at times by running backs.

Contrarian Play

David Montgomery RB

DET Detroit • #5
Age: 26 • Experience: 6 yrs.

Weekly Breakdown

vs ARI ARI -7.5 O/U 45.5

OPP VS RB 8th

PROJ PTS 12.6

RB RNK 18th

YTD Stats
RUYDS 476	REC 12	REYDS 103	TD 3	FPTS/G 12.6

The Cardinals main weakness has been their rush defense, but I still don't think people are going to flock to Montgomery after a poor showing on Thanksgiving. It's not a bad week to go cheap at running back.

RB Preview

Heath's Projections

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