Fantasy Football Week 13 Running Back Who Should I Start? Kimani Vidal, Quinshon Judkins, Rico Dowdle, and More

Since taking over the backfield for the Los Angeles Chargers, Kimani Vidal has looked like a starting running back at times. He has started six games since Omarion Hampton went on IR, three times topping 90 rushing yards but failing to go over 30 yards in the other three.

That inconsistency leaves him as something of a fantasy enigma, and as we're running out of weeks before Hampton returns, Vidal's shelf life is running short. With owners sensing the end, Vidal has been a popular player on our FantasySP start/sit tool.

Let's look at Vidal and four running backs that he has been matched up with often on the start/sit tool. We'll do a head-to-head quick-hit exercise to determine the best starter in each situation. Most stats are from NFL.com.

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Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers vs. Las Vegas Raiders

In Vidal's three good games as a starter, he averaged 124.3 total yards per game with a touchdown in each contest (one of them receiving). In the three games in which he faltered, Vidal averaged just 25.7 total yards with no scores. It's a stark contrast.

Two of his poor games came against good run defenses in Indianapolis and Jacksonville, but Vidal had a curiously slow game against the paltry Titans, when Justin Herbert did most of the damage with both his arm and his legs. Vidal is dependent on his matchup and surroundings.

The Raiders have been good against the run, allowing the second-fewest yards per rush attempt. They sit in the middle in fantasy points allowed to RBs, maybe more of a product of getting beat often and teams running more; Vegas has also given up 12 total touchdowns to backs in 11 games, which adds up in fantasy.

Vidal has a decent outlook here. He is more of a flex player who could maybe sneak into that RB2 range, but a lot will depend on your roster.

Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers vs. Los Angeles Rams

Dowdle has been a revelation for the Panthers, who will have a tough decision to make after the season with Dowdle a free agent, Chuba Hubbard under contract, and Jonathon Brooks set to return from a major knee injury in 2026. Dowdle has been much better than Hubbard and rightfully has taken the bulk of the snaps over the past month.

The Rams offer a really tough matchup, allowing the eighth-fewest yards per rush attempt and the second-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. LA also doesn't give up much receiving production to backs, only getting beaten in that area by Christian McCaffrey.

Advice: Start Kimani Vidal over Rico Dowdle. The Carolina back has been the better player, but the Rams are just so good, and there's a chance they could get ahead and force the Panthers to throw to keep up. I like Vidal's situation a little more, though this one is close.

RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos @ Washington Commanders

Harvey is now the lead man in Denver after J.K. Dobbins went down for the rest of the regular season. His first game without the veteran was in Week 11 (before their Week 12 bye), and Harvey fell victim to a tough matchup against the Chiefs, running the ball 11 times for just 30 yards, though he added three receptions for 20 yards. There will be better days ahead for the rookie.

This is likely to be one of those days. Washington has allowed the eighth-most yards per rush attempt and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. RBs also find success in the passing game, averaging close to four receptions and 40 yards per game against the Commanders.

Advice: Start RJ Harvey over Kimani Vidal. Harvey has the much better matchup and should get plenty of chances in this one.

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns vs. San Francisco 49ers

Judkins will be drafted as a top-10 running back in fantasy next year. He was an early second-round pick, and while he didn't sign his contract until right before the season, he stepped on the field in Week 2 and has led the way since. Judkins is the only player on the Browns with at least 100 rushing yards (he has 667), and he also owns seven of the eight rushing touchdowns for the team.

The 49ers are trying to navigate their way through copious injuries on both sides of the ball and have done well so far, sitting 8-4 heading into this one against Cleveland (which they should win on paper). San Fran is right in the middle in both yards per rush attempt allowed and fantasy points given up to RBs, providing a very middling matchup.

Advice: Start Quinshon Judkins over Kimani Vidal. Judkins is the much better player, and he has the better matchup here on paper, making this close to a no-brainer.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills

Coming into the season, it was thought that Warren would have to share the backfield work with rookie Kaleb Johnson. Well, Warren has had to split snaps, but it's veteran Kenneth Gainwell who stepped into that second slot, particularly in the passing game.

Warren has carried the ball about twice as much as Gainwell (141 to 71), but the latter has 42 receptions for 234 yards and two touchdowns, while Warren has 25 for 219 and a score. Gainwell has just a slight lead in most of those areas, but he is stealing production from Warren, the main point of contention here.

The Bills offer a fantastic matchup, which might be a surprise given their defensive reputation in recent years. Buffalo is giving up the second-most yards per carry and the fourth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Teams haven't found success throwing to their backs, instead doing damage in the run game; that benefits Warren in this game rather than Gainwell.

Advice: Start Jaylen Warren over Kimani Vidal. This is a tougher one, especially as Warren might have to share the workload, but the matchup is so much better for the Pittsburgh back that he is the better flex option between the two.