ClutchPoints
Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season is here. For many, this is the final stretch before the fantasy football playoffs. Every touch, every snap, every red-zone carry matters now more than ever. Running back remains the position that most reliably swings weekly outcomes. That’s whether through volume dominance, explosive efficiency, or game-script fortune.
Week 12 delivered its own chaos, of course. We saw Christian McCaffrey’s latest masterclass to backfield shakeups across multiple teams. This left managers juggling injuries, workload shifts, and uncertain committee roles. With zero teams on bye in Week 13, the board is finally full. However, decisions aren’t any easier. This is the week where trusting elite talent, reading matchups correctly, and spotting emerging opportunities could be the difference between clinching a playoff berth or slipping into desperation mode.
Below are the running backs who rise above the pack in Week 13. We also have a few sleeper plays with the potential to deliver season-changing production.
Christian McCaffrey continues to redefine what it means to be a fantasy football workhorse. In Week 12, he racked up 89 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. He also caught all seven of his targets for another 53 yards in the 49ers’ 20–9 win over Carolina. That’s 142 total yards and yet another score for him. CMC has now logged five games with 30+ touches and has amassed 1,581 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 starts. Even against the Browns’ elite defense, McCaffrey is matchup-proof. San Francisco clearly has no intention of scaling back his workload. Start him with absolute confidence as a top Week 13 RB1.
De’Von Achane delivered a signature dual-threat showcase in the Dolphins’ overtime win in Madrid. He piled up 120 yards on 21 carries and added 45 receiving yards on five catches. His burst and vision were on full display. Achane has now posted consecutive 100-yard rushing performances. He has logged at least five receptions in four straight games. Even with a brief back scare in Week 12, he returned and dominated usage. Against a Saints defense that has been vulnerable to explosive runners, Achane slots in as a high-end fantasy football RB1.
The Rams cruised to a 34–7 win over Tampa Bay in Week 12. Kyren Williams finished with just 46 rushing yards on 12 carries and two receiving yards. That reflected the game script more than anything else. Los Angeles attacked through the air early and never looked back. Even so, Williams remained the team’s lead runner. He out-touched Blake Corum and maintained his grip on goal-line opportunities. With 980 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns through 11 games, Williams has been one of the most reliable RB2s in fantasy football. He is a strong bounce-back candidate in Week 13.
