NFL Running Back Playoff Rankings: Week 14 Fantasy Football

RotoBaller brings you our Week 14 fantasy football running back rankings by authors Zach Wilkens (@LopsidedTrades) and Ryan Rufe (@RyanRufe), along with running back rankings analysis by Zach Wilkens.

For even more Week 14 rankings and analysis, be sure to check out our positional rankings for all other positions.

 

Week 14 Running Back Rankings Analysis

Le’Veon Bell is the hottest running back in the game right now, having gone over 200 total yards in each of his last two games. This might sound crazy, but he has basically played like a better version of Matt Forte this season. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had as many touchdowns as his owners would like. The Bengals should be a nice help there, as they’ve allowed 12 rushing touchdowns, tied for the third-highest mark in the league.

I still like Justin Forsett a lot, despite the tough matchup against the Dolphins. He’s gone over 100 rushing yards in each of the past three games, and 100 total yards in four straight. Additionally, the Dolphins have looked pretty weak defensively over the past two weeks. I didn’t think much of it when the Broncos were able to run well. The Jets, though? When they hardly ever even threw the ball? Something isn’t clicking there, and Forsett should be able to benefit.

On the other side of the ball in Miami will be Lamar Miller, and the Ravens are a very tough matchup. Or at least they were until DE Haloti Ngata was suspended. I think this will impact the contest, as Ngata was PFF’s 10th-best run-stopping DE. It’s a huge loss, and changes this from an awful matchup to slightly below average in my mind.

It looks like Rashad Jennings will be missing or strictly limited. He continues to miss practice, so I have Andre Williams ranked as if he will be the lead back again. I’m not a big fan of his, but it’s a nice matchup. The Titans are awful against the run, which makes me think Williams can be a nice RB2. If Jennings plays he is pretty much a must-start.

I’m afraid it looks like Frank Gore is finally showing his age, and if Carlos Hyde takes over next year, this might be his last great matchup (as a 49er, anyway). Even here, I can’t put him higher than RB21, but there is definitely room for a big day.

Another running back who was left for dead but has value this week is Jonathan Stewart. He went over 100 total yards for the first time since 2011 last week, in a decently tough matchup against the Vikings. The Saints should prove a much easier task. The worry here that keeps him from being higher is whether the Panthers can stay close enough to give J-Stew plenty of touches. If he does, he will be a surprisingly nice play.

Dan ‘Boom’ Herron is another guy I want to like, but I have trouble doing so, especially knowing that he is in a full split with Trent Richardson. The Colts supposedly have no plans to change the split, which makes Herron a decent (but not great) play. If he can’t get over 12 touches, it’s hard to feel great about him, even though he came through last week.

If you’re looking for a deep sleeper, you have Stepfan Taylor and Marion Grice of the Cardinals. It looks very likely that Andre Ellington will be out. Grice got most of the touches last week, but Taylor got the touchdown. I wouldn’t expect much from either, but if I had to pick one, I’d go with Taylor, who is more likely to score.

Good luck in Week 14 RotoBallers!

 

Week 14 Running Back Fantasy Football Rankings

Staff Rankings Average	Player Name	Team Name	Ryan Rufe Rankings	Zach Wilkens Rankings
1	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	1	1
2	Matt Forte	CHI	3	2
3	DeMarco Murray	DAL	2	4
4	Jamaal Charles	KC	6	3
5	Arian Foster	HOU	4	5
6	Eddie Lacy	GB	5	9
7	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	8	8
8	Justin Forsett	BAL	12	6
9	C.J. Anderson	DEN	11	7
10	LeSean McCoy	PHI	10	10
11	Mark Ingram	NO	9	16
12	Lamar Miller	MIA	16	11
13	Joique Bell	DET	14	14
14	Ryan Mathews	SD	13	19
15	Giovani Bernard	CIN	17	15
16	Fred Jackson	BUF	15	18
17	Tre Mason	STL	22	12
18	Alfred Morris	WAS	20	17
19	Shane Vereen	NE	25	13
20	Daniel Herron	IND	18	23
21	Denard Robinson	JAC	19	22
22	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	21	21
23	Rashad Jennings	NYG	7
24	Jeremy Hill	CIN	23	25
25	Latavius Murray	OAK	24	27
26	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	31	24
27	Frank Gore	SF	29	26
28	Chris Johnson	NYJ	26	30
29	Andre Williams	NYG	38	20
30	LeGarrette Blount	NE	27	32
31	Steven Jackson	ATL	28	37
32	Jerick McKinnon	MIN	51	28
33	Roy Helu	WAS	40	29
34	Trent Richardson	IND	37	33
35	Reggie Bush	DET	30	48
36	Pierre Thomas	NO	35	36
37	Christopher Ivory	NYJ	36	35
38	Darren Sproles	PHI	41	31
39	Bishop Sankey	TEN	32	40
40	Andre Ellington	ARI	33
41	Theo Riddick	DET	49	34
42	Matt Asiata	MIN	34	46
43	Stepfan Taylor	ARI	55	38
44	Terrance West	CLE	46	39
45	Doug Martin	TB	39	44
46	Charles Sims	TB	43	41
47	Marion Grice	ARI	58	42
48	Benny Cunningham	STL	42	45
49	Marcel Reece	OAK	44	43
50	Devonta Freeman	ATL	45	54
51	Darren McFadden	OAK	47	60
52	Bryce Brown	BUF	57	47
53	Carlos Hyde	SF	48	53
54	Dexter McCluster	TEN	62	49
55	Toby Gerhart	JAC	63	50
56	Mike Tolbert	CAR	50
57	Robert Turbin	SEA	52	51
58	Anthony Dixon	BUF	61	52
59	Branden Oliver	SD	53
60	Travaris Cadet	NO	54
61	DeAngelo Williams	CAR		55
62	Knile Davis	KC	65	56
63	Glenn Winston	CLE	56
64	Bobby Rainey	TB		57
65	Lance Dunbar	DAL		58
66	Bernard Pierce	BAL	70	59
67	Jonas Gray	NE	59	63
68	James Starks	GB	60	61
69	Juwan Thompson	DEN	67	62
70	Joseph Randle	DAL	72	64
71	Ben Tate	MIN	64
72	Alfred Blue	HOU	66
73	Daniel Thomas	MIA	68
74	Khiry Robinson	NO	69
75	Shonn Greene	TEN	71

 

 

Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.