Week 14 Running Backs: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds

December 1, 2014

Rek analyzes Week 14 fantasy football running backs (RB) - waiver wire pickups, adds and sleepers for both PPR and non-PPR leagues. NFL running backs are a key component.

Well folks, many of your leagues are heading into the fantasy football playoffs. I hope my column has been instrumental in getting you there, but we aren't quite done yet.

I'm going to continue listing, analyzing and breaking down waiver wire running backs who might be sleepers or viable stashes/starts for your fantasy football teams, that can help you win throughout your playoffs and get you to the promised land.

Let's get started.

Special Treat: We've heard your requests for more position-specific live advice, so at the bottom of this post you'll find our week 14 running backs waiver wire chat room, where you can discuss the players in this article and other possible running back waiver wire additions. 

Fantasy Football Running Backs (RB) - Week 14

Dan Herron (RB,IND) - 28% owned on Fleaflicker

Regular readers will remember that Herron was featured last week. Those of you who come to my weekly moderated chats with Zach will also know I was very high on Herron. So what did he do to reward me for talking him up? He rushed eight times for 88 yards and a TD. Granted this came against Washington whose defense isn't exactly scaring anyone, but a win is a win.

I like Herron to continue to be the dominant back for the Colts for the rest of the season, barring a surprise Ray Rice signing. Herron has gotten more yards per carry all season than his top competitor Trent Richardson, and that was even more drastic Sunday, with Herron achieving 11.0 yards per carry and Richardson managing just 1.5. Still, this is the Colts we're talking about. They did started Hakeem Nicks over Donte Moncrief repeatedly this season, so they do have a history of sticking with less talented players.

Regardless, it's not often that you can find a guy who is the de facto lead back on the waiver wire so late in the season. Do what Herron will be doing a lot of and dash to pick him up off the waiver wire. He'll "Boom" for your team.

Charles Sims (RB,TB) - 18% owned on Fleaflicker

As many of you already know, Doug Martin had a rushing TD this weekend. So why am I featuring Charles Sims? Because Sims can be useful for those of you in deep PPR leagues. I mean, he tied Mike Evans for receiving yards today.

Okay, so it was more of a bad day for Mike Evans than a great day for Sims, but still! Sims managed four receptions for 49 yards. In a PPR league, that's 9.5 points, and outputs like that aren't easy to find this late in the season, either.

I should mention that now that Martin is producing it will be a fight between Bobby Rainey and Charles Sims for the backup job. Honestly, both players have played well enough to consider back-end PPR consideration, but I'd lean towards Sims because his potential is a bit higher than Rainey's.

Roy Helu (RB, WAS) - 34% owned on Fleaflicker

I know that he has had some bad games in between, but I feel like I've been shouting this guy's name from the mountain tops for PPR owners for most of the season now. In fact, he's so much better of a receiver than he is a rusher that pro-football-reference.com lists his receiving stats before his rushing stats.

Obviously that's not enough to convince you to pick him up. So what else has he done? Well, this Sunday Helu had four receptions for 61 yards and a TD, otherwise known as a whopping 16.6 points in PPR leagues. Still not convinced?  How about the fact that he's only had two games all season under 5.0 points in PPR formats, and that he's had eight games of 8.0 points or more in PPR formats. Or that of those eight games, he scored 12.0 points or more in half of them. I think you get the idea-- the guy is well worth owning in PPR formats.

Trust me, as a Giants fan I understand not wanting to own any Washington players. Really, I do. But at this point in the season, beggars can't be choosers. If you've made it this far and you're in a deep PPR format, you need to own Helu. It's that simple.

Theo Riddick (RB, DET) - 13% owned on Fleaflicker

Speaking of guys I've talked up all season, have you met my friend Theo Riddick? No? Really? Because I've mentioned him a lot. Maybe you know his friend Reggie Bush? The one who has been injured all season and has barely done anything worth mentioning?

Last week, I mentioned that Reggie Bush, who only has 11.7 total ppr points since Week 6 is still 74% owned. Meanwhile, Riddick has 74.7 PPR points over that same span, including an 11.4 point effort in the Thanksgiving Game against the Bears.

I don't know how to say it politely anymore. Those of you who haven't dropped Bush for Riddick in PPR leagues are really dropping the ball. I can't sit here and tell you how awesome Riddick is anymore or draw attention to the fact that that in the same span I mentioned, he hasn't had a point total under 5.6. Maybe you're allergic to people named Riddick, but I'd get over that allergy fast.

Robert Turbin (RB, SEA) - 25% owned on Fleaflicker

Minus Herron, a lot of backups have been featured this week, and Turbin is no exception. What has the 5'10'' 222-lb. back done to get himself noticed? Well, he seemed to really enjoy being on national TV on Thanksgiving.

Despite a lackluster rushing day, Turbin did have two receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. It should be noted that this was an atypical week for Turbin, who has only had one other game all season where he scored over 10 points in PPR formats. That probably has something to do with playing behind a guy named Beast Mode. Just maybe.

That'd be the end of the conversation for Turbin, except that there have been rumors of Lynch retiring. While I don't really buy those rumors personally, it leads me to believe that Lynch is feeling a bit run down. Add in the fact that it's very unlikely the Seahawks bring Lynch back next season, and you have a good recipe for Turbin getting more looks. He's still not much more than a handcuff, but if anything were to happen to Beast Mode he'd be the next man up.

Honorable Mentions

• Carlos Hyde (RB, SF) - 48% owned
• Tre Mason* (RB, STL) - 58% owned
• Jonathan Stewart (RB, CAR) - 52% owned

*Loved seeing his big game after talking him up all season

Injury Watch for Week 14

These are players to watch in case the running backs ahead of them on the depth charts can't go:

• Andre Williams (RB, NYG) - 48% owned
• Matt Asiata (RB, MIN) - 45% owned
• Marion Grice / Stepfan Taylor (RB, ARI) - 1% / 7% owned

Special Bonus

Avoid all Patriots running backs if you can. Bill Belichick hates your fantasy team.

Okay, that's it for this week folks. Until next time, and good luck RotoBallers...

Week 14 Running Backs Live Chat

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