2014 Fantasy Football: Top 40 Running Backs

This is part of the 2014 fantasy football preview. A look at the top quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, kickers and defenses can be found via the links on each position.

There is a point in the late spring and early summer where fantasy football players must get ready for the upcoming season. The running back position has always been looked at as one where owners needed to pick one in each of the first two rounds. While that thought process has been changed over the past number of years, there are many running backs that owners must be looking at early in 2014 drafts. The top 10-15 running backs must be taken in the first three rounds to anchor a solid roster. Here are the top 40 running backs for fantasy football going into the 2014 season.

1. Jamaal Charles- The No. 1 player overall is the multi-talented Charles, who had nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards in 2013. That production could easily rise in 2014 with more receiving opportunities and chances to have more than 259 carries. 2,500 yards is a reasonable goal for the Chiefs running back.
2. Adrian Peterson- Peterson rushed for just 1,266 yards last season in 14 games while dealing with some injuries. The Minnesota offense is one that is going to need Peterson to run wild all season long while they deal with some quarterback issues. Peterson should find himself around the 1,600 or 1,700 yard mark by season’s end.
3. LeSean McCoy- The leader in rushing yards last season with 1,607 yards has the potential to be the No. 1 running back before all is said and done and especially with a likely expanded role in the Eagles offense without DeSean Jackson being around anymore. He is also a threat out of the backfield and a PPR superstar.
4. Matt Forte- The 2013 season saw Forte turn into a fantasy superstar with 1,339 rushing yards and 74 catches out of the backfield. Those numbers are likely going to hold steady this season for a Chicago offense that appeared to be clicking on all cylinders when everyone was healthy last season.
5. Marshawn Lynch- It is a tricky proposition at times figuring out what to do with Lynch but he is still a top-5 running back going into the 2014 season. He rushed for 1,257 yards and made some plays out of the backfield. The Seahawks would love to feed him the ball 300 times again and get some additional chances in the passing game.
6. Eddie Lacy- It was a breakout rookie season for Lacy with 1,178 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns. His value goes way up strictly on the health of Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers is healthy, there are going to be fewer players in the box trying to slow Lacy down. A season with 1,500 rushing yards isn’t out of the question.
7. Le’Veon Bell- Bell played in just 13 games last season and had 880 rushing yards and while there is going to be some competition from LeGarrette Blount and Dri Archer, Bell will be Pittsburgh’s No. 1 RB all season long in 2014. The potential is there for Bell to rush for 1,200 yards and have 40-50 catches out of the backfield.
8. Montee Ball- Here is a chance for Ball to take over the starting running back in the strongest offense in the NFL with the Broncos. He had 559 rushing yards in a limited role last season but will begin the new season with the starting role. If he can keep that spot, Ball is going to become one of the top five running backs in fantasy football in 2014.
9. Giovani Bernard- Like Ball, Bernard is going to get an expanded role in 2014. The Bengals will be looking for every chance they can to get the ball into his hands. That means 1,100 rushing yards and 60-70 catches for the speedster. He is a player who needs to be taken as a RB1 in 2014 with confidence.
10. Arian Foster- Injuries slowed down Foster in 2013 but returns to a Houston offense that may need him to take on a very large role. He was averaging 4.5 yards per carry before his back injury and if that is completely healed, the 2014 season could make Foster a top-5 running back again. Don’t sleep on him in the draft.
11. Zac Stacy- There was a lot of work for Stacy last season in the St. Louis offense where he rushed for 973 yards and seven touchdowns. This could turn into a very tricky pick depending on how much time rookie Tre Mason takes from Stacy. If he can keep his starting job, a season with a 1,200 yards is quite possible for Stacy.
12. DeMarco Murray- If an owner wants a running back who averaged over five yards a carry last season, Murray is their player. 1,121 rushing yards on 217 carries and nine touchdowns will do wonders. A season that is very similar is very likely for Murray with higher stats quite possible depending on how many big holes the Cowboys offensive line gives him.
13. Doug Martin- Martin is another case of a player whose first-round status from the 2013 season took a hit because of injuries. He played in just six games but has had plenty of time to recover and with Josh McCown at quarterback now in Tampa, Martin should get back to his 2012 statistics. That’s great news for fantasy owners.
14. Andre Ellington- There are definitely candidates for breakout player of the year and Ellington leads that list. He rushed for 652 yards but was just as dominant in the passing game. His role will be much bigger for Arizona in 2014 and that means he should be taken as a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2 going into this season.
15. Alfred Morris- A solid 2013 season with 1,275 rushing yards and seven touchdowns makes Morris a solid pick and he could become a big part of the team’s passing game. He will go into the season as a RB1 but owners who take him should watch to see how well Morris does in his new role.
16. Reggie Bush- A talent in both the rushing and passing game for the Lions, Bush could easily finish near 1,800 all-purpose yards in 2014. The problem is that Detroit has so many weapons that Bush may not get as many touches as he did last season. There are high expectations but should be somewhat tempered.
17. C.J. Spiller- Finally healthy, Spiller will have the chance to prove what he can do as a full-time running back in 2014. He still rushed for 933 yards in 15 games last season and while some owners took him in the first round last season, he is more of a RB2 to begin the 2014 year. It may be too low before the season is over with.
18. Rashad Jennings- Jennings goes cross country and will be starting for the Giants this season. He got his chances with the Raiders in 2013 and had 733 rushing yards and five touchdowns. The New York offense was in need of a solid running back and if Jennings can do that on a week in and week out basis, fantasy owners will be quite pleased.
19. Toby Gerhart- There is some unknown about what Gerhart can do now that he is with the Jaguars. There will be a lot of pressure on him to prove he can be a full-time starter. He averaged nearly eight yards a carry last year in Minnesota. He could be a steal if drafted late enough.
20. Stevan Ridley- The New England run game is always a puzzle to figure out. Ridley had 773 rushing yards and seven touchdowns last year and appears to be the starter going into 2014 but who knows these days. He would be the perfect RB2 or flex selection because of the unknown with the Patriots.
21. Chris Johnson- The running back movement continues with Johnson and his new spot with the Jets. There is no doubt what Johnson can do and may be ranked too low here at No. 21 but the quarterback decision is key. Geno Smith keeps Johnson down while Michael Vick would raise Johnson’s stock.
22. Ryan Mathews- Mathews rushed for 1,255 yards in 2013 on 285 carries. Many people forget that while lost in the Danny Woodhead PPR action. There is still a lot of talent there and Mathews is someone who is a solid starter while healthy. It isn’t always the case though but must be picked as a RB2 or flex starter each week.
23. Shane Vereen- If an owner is going to take Vereen, it is under the assumption that he is going to be in there for most of the passing plays in a PPR league. There were just eight games of action from Vereen last season but he had 47 catches in those games. He won’t double those stats but could end up with 70-80 catches in 2014.
24. Ben Tate- Tate had his chance last season with the Texans and rushed for 771 yards and four touchdowns. He has taken his talents to Cleveland where he will be the starter. The quarterback battle with the Browns will be key to how good Tate is in 2014. In the right scenario, Tate should finish with over 1,000 yards rushing and 20-30 catches.
25. Frank Gore- The San Francisco offense focuses a lot of Gore and his ability and while he will be 31 years old this season, he isn’t slowing down. He rushed for 1,128 yards in 2013 and should be close to that amount again in 2014. He is a solid flex starter each week moving forward this season.
26. Trent Richardson- 2013 was a disaster for Richardson with just 458 rushing yards between the Browns and Colts. He will need a much better year in 2014 to justify drafting him too high. There are simply too many unknowns but he is a starting running back which gives him fantasy value no matter what.
27. Knowshon Moreno- A new team in Miami for Moreno means learning a new offense that isn’t as strong as what he left in Denver. He is in a fight for the starting job with Lamar Miller and if he can hold on to it, he should be expected to have around 1,000 rushing yards. That could be a struggle however with Miller cutting into his time.
28. Bishop Sankey- The rookie from Washington will get the chance to start for the Titans replacing Chris Johnson. Sankey is the best rookie running back out there this season and should be treated that way in drafts. A season with 1,100 rushing yards and 40-50 catches wouldn’t be bad in Tennessee.
29. Steven Jackson- The career of Jackson has been going downhill for the last couple years but like in other cases, a starting NFL running back is worth a pick in fantasy football. He had just 543 rushing yards last season and there are other younger players pushing him for the starting role. Jackson is a risky pick.
30. Joique Bell- Even in a non-starting role, Bell is worth having on a fantasy roster this season. He had 650 rushing yards and 53 catches last season. Reggie Bush is going to need a rest and Bell has been able to handle the extra workload. He is a possible flex start every single week when Detroit is in action.
31. Danny Woodhead- Woodhead has a similar position to Bell with his PPR stats. He had just 429 rushing yards but had 76 catches for 605 yards. He is a great option at the flex position each week especially with previous health issues revolving around Ryan Mathews. Take Woodhead late and see if lightning can strike twice.
32. Ray Rice- The demise of Rice last season was dramatic. A player that was taken in the first round of drafts failed miserably to the tune of 660 rushing yards and only four touchdowns. He is scheduled to be the starter this season but shouldn’t be taken early in the draft. Rice is a classic boom or bust candidate.
33. Pierre Thomas- The Saints need someone to be their starting running back and Thomas appears to be the option right now. He added 77 catches out of the backfield last season to go with his 549 rushing yards. It’s a great combo to have and with Darren Sproles out of town, Thomas and his value have gone up.
34. Terrance West- Owners should be watching what happens with the Browns to decide on what to do with West. If Ben Tate fails, West should be the first player taken off the waiver wire. He could find himself becoming a sleeper candidate who leads fantasy teams to championships in 2014. A handcuff for Tate.
35. DeAngelo Williams- It has been a rough career for Williams, who rushed for 843 yards last season. His starting job is always in jeopardy with Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert around but he is still worth a roster spot since he is starting. His value may have decreased some but Williams is still relevant.
36. Maurice Jones-Drew- There will be a competition between Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden for the starting spot in Oakland. The winner of that competition likely will be Jones-Drew and if he does start, he should be taken as a flex-only player or bye week replacement until he proves he is back to his former self.
37. Devonta Freeman- Here is another rookie who could make a big impact in 2014. Freeman should get plenty of chances with the Falcons and aging running back Steven Jackson. It is very possible that Freeman finds himself as the starter before the season is out. It may be worth stashing Freeman on the bench until that time comes.
38. Fred Jackson- There was a big role for Jackson last season with nine touchdowns while replacing C.J. Spiller in the Buffalo backfield. His role is expected to go down but Spiller can’t always stay healthy. Jackson’s value could easily go way up again even with the acquisition of Bryce Brown in the offseason.
39. Bernard Pierce- It was a rough year in 2013 for all Ravens running backs including Pierce, who averaged just 2.9 yards per carry. He will get his chances for Baltimore moving forward behind Ray Rice but needs an injury to move up the depth chart in any shape or form. It doesn’t look too likely though.
40. Darren Sproles- The move to Philadelphia pushes the value of Sproles down. He has had 86, 75 and 71 catches the last three seasons but he won’t reach those numbers this year in all likelihood. He will spell LeSean McCoy and could be a bye week flex replacement with the potential of 3-4 catches a game.