Fantasy Football Week 13 Running Back Start Decisions Involving Thursday Players: Tyrone Tracy, David Montgomery, Rico Dowdle, Rhamondre Stevenson, Bucky Irving and More

With three Thursday games in week 13, it’s a bit more difficult to put together start decision stories. We did it for quarterbacks, but are going for a different approach involving running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.

We’ll comb through the FantasySP start/sit tool and answer trending decisions involving any players in Thursday games. Let’s get to it, starting with running backs. Check back for wide receiver and tight ends articles.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Tyrone Tracy and David Montgomery vs. Bucky Irving, James Conner and Isiah Pacheco

Tracy is up to 587 rushing yards and three scores on 116 attempts this season. He’s added 145 receiving yards on 22 receptions and 27 catches.

Tracy has scored between 8-15 fantasy points the past three weeks, but two games were under 10 points. He scored nine in Tommy Devito’s first start last week.

Tracy has a very favorable matchup against the Cowboys this week. Dallas allows 26 fantasy points to opposing backs per game.

Montgomery, who is working through a shoulder injury, has 632 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns across 145 attempts. He also has 241 receiving yards on 24 catches and 26 targets.

He’s scored 13 or more fantasy points in five straight games. Montgomery has scored a touchdown in all but two games.

Montgomery faces the Bears on Thursday. That’s a pretty average matchup, with Chicago allowing 23 fantasy points a game. 

Irving might have emerged as the top back for the Buccaneers last week. He has 579 rushing yards and five scores on 108 attempts this season. He also has 252 receiving yards on 32 catches and 34 targets.

Irving scored a season-high 27 fantasy points last week. He’s been at or above 15 fantasy points in five of the past six games.

Irving has an even better matchup than Tracy, as the Panthers give up 29 fantasy points a week. Irving will lose some work to Rachaad White though, while Tracy only gives up a few touches to Devin Singletary.

Conner has 705 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 166 attempts this season. He also has 288 yards on 29 receptions and 35 targets.

Conner only scored 10 fantasy points last week - he had scored 15 or more in the previous four contests.

Conner has a tough matchup against the Vikings, who surrender just 16 fantasy points a week. Conner does handle most of the Arizona backfield touches, so he does have that working in his favor.

Pacheco hasn’t played since week 2, but has a real chance to return this week. He had 135 rushing yards and a score on 34 attempts and 54 receiving yards on seven grabs and eight targets across the first two weeks.

He scored 16 fantasy points in each of those contests. Kareem Hunt has handled the majority of the backfield touches and snaps in Pacheco’s absence.

Pacheco plays on Friday against the Raiders, who are a pretty average matchup. Las Vegas allows opposing backs to score 23 fantasy points a week.

The weekly projections like Tracy and Conner to score 14 PPR fantasy points each. Irving and Montgomery are at 13 points each and Pacheco sits at 12.

Taking everything into account, and assuming all these players suit up this week, I have the most trust in Irving. The matchup is great, and I trust the Bucs’ offense more than some of the other ones in question here.

I’d go with Tracy next, mostly because of the matchup. I don’t trust the Giants’ offense, and starting Tracy could blow up in your face, but I see a good fantasy total coming.

I’d take Montgomery next. He’d at least be second in this conversation if he was fully healthy, but on a short week, I think he’s at least limited a bit this week. 

I’d take Conner here. The matchup is brutal, but as the workhorse, he should score enough points on volume alone.

That leaves Pacheco for the last spot. I think the Chiefs will ease him into things, and that limited workload will hold him back from a huge fantasy score. He’s still worth a start, depending on your other RB options, because of the matchup.

Rico Dowdle vs. Rhamondre Stevenson

Dowdle is up to 488 rushing yards, but still no scores, on 112 attempts. He also has 184 receiving yards and three scores on 29 receptions and 37 targets.

Dowdle is coming off an 11-point fantasy showing in a game he rushed for 86 yards in. He has at least three targets in four straight games, which gives him some upside.

His matchup against the Giants is pretty favorable, with New York allowing 25 fantasy points a week. Dowdle is pretty much the workhorse in Dallas, so he could be in for a big week.

Stevenson has 598 yards and six scores on 162 rushing attempts this season. He’s added 118 yards and a touchdown on 28 grabs and 35 targets.

Stevenson is coming off a three-point fantasy showing - he was also in single digits as a fantasy performer in week 10, with a 13-point showing in between.

He’s got a favorable matchup against the Colts upcoming, as Indy allows 25 fantasy points a week.

Dowdle is projected for 14 PPR fantasy points, while Stevenson is at 12. 

I also like Dowdle more for week 13, as I think he’s a safer starting option. Dowdle could have a monster fantasy showing if the Cowboys get up a couple scores early in the contest.

I wouldn’t mind starting Stevenson in a standard league, but would much rather start him in a deeper one. I don’t trust Stevenson after a couple of his recent outings. The matchup is right to get back on track, but I’m not even sure if Stevenson is RB1 in New England anymore.

Josh Jacobs vs. Alvin Kamara

Let me start off this decision by saying this is a great problem to have. I’d do whatever I could to get both of these guys in my starting lineup, but with them on the trending decision list, I’ll assess each guy.

Jacobs has 944 rushing yards and seven scores on 202 attempts. He has 186 receiving yards and a touchdown on 23 receptions and 30 attempts.

Jacobs is coming off his best fantasy performance of the season and has scored 52 fantasy points over the past two weeks. He’s scored 12 or more points in eight straight games.

Jacobs faces the Dolphins on Thursday night. Miami is an average matchup, allowing 23 fantasy points to opposing backs.

Kamara has 782 yards and six scores on 183 rushing attempts this season. He also has 443 yards and a touchdown on 55 receptions and 73 targets.

He scored 13 fantasy points in his last game in week 11, which was his lowest mark in the past four games. Kamara only has one single-digit fantasy performance this season.

Kamara takes on the Rams in week 13. The Rams are a slightly above-average matchup for Kamara, with LA allowing 24 fantasy points a week.

Kamara is projected for 21 PPR fantasy points, while Jacobs is at 17.

I like Kamara a touch more than Jacobs this week, but think both are destined for monster fantasy showings. Bump a receiver or tight end out of the flex spot to make sure Kamara and Jacobs are starting in week 13. Both have good chances to be top-five fantasy backs this week.