The Washington Football Team will be without running back J.D. McKissic during their Week 13 matchup vs the Las Vegas Raiders. McKissic suffered a concussion in Monday night’s win over the Seattle Seahawks and was carted off the field. He did not practice all week, leaving Washington’s backfield a bit shorthanded. 

 

That will provide an even greater ceiling for starting running back Antonio Gibson. McKissic has always limited Gibson’s chances for fantasy football managers, typically stealing a lot of the pass catching work.

But after McKissic left Monday’s game, Gibson reeled in a season-high seven catches for 35 additional yards that otherwise would have gone to McKissic. Gibson moves up the ranks given the usage and potential for massive volume. Look at what he did last week when given volume against the Seahawks.

 

Washington Football Team running back Wendell Smallwood looks like he will back up Gibson Sunday. Smallwood should not carve out much of a role.

That should allow Gibson to move up the Week 13 ranks into RB1 territory. The Las Vegas Raiders have allowed the sixth most points in fantasy football to running backs this season.

Washington is suddenly playing for a potential playoff berth, so it would make sense for head coach Ron Rivera to roll with his trusted players. Gibson has shown in the past that he can handle a heavy workload. The fact that McKissic did not practice all week also brings into play the possibility that he does not suit up Week 14 either. That would provide Gibson a solid floor next week in a more difficult matchup vs the Cowboys.