Fantasy RB Rankings Week 14: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football

Sloan Piva

Fantasy RB Rankings Week 14: Who to start, sit at running back in fantasy football image

'Tis the season for gift-giving, ham-eating, and nervously sweating our make-or-break fantasy football lineup decisions. With six teams on bye, a handful of stud running backs injured, and plenty of tough matchups, it will be as difficult as ever to make start 'em, sit 'em calls. But this is also the season of giving, so ease your mind while we dish out advice in the form of our Week 14 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues. 

Before we begin (take a deep breath), here are the six teams on bye this week: Packers (Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon), Colts (Jonathan Taylor), Bears (David Montgomery), Saints (Alvin Kamara), Commanders (Brian Robinson, Jr., Antonio Gibson), and Falcons (Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier). We can also add Kenneth Walker III (ankle) to the lengthy list of injured RBs that includes Joe Mixon (concussion), Michael Carter (ankle), Damien Harris (thigh), and JK Dobbins (knee). 

With a ton of players off the table, countless fantasy owners will be stressing over which fringe starts to make at the all-important RB position. The top 15-20, of course, are about as easy of a batch of must-starts as ever. With so many RB1s and RB2s injured or off, the clear remaining workhorse backs all get an extra boost of confidence. That includes the Dolphins duo of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. (@ Chargers in Week 14), who disappointed mightily last week. Los Angeles has surrendered the third-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to the position and the most over the past month. The Dolphins should go back to getting both involved after a tough loss last week where Miami seemed to have a pass-happy plan from the start.

WEEK 14 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

D'Onta Foreman (@ Seahawks) and Latavius Murray (vs. Chiefs) become almost as valuable as the Cowboys' tandem of Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott (vs. Texans). Whereas the Dallas backs will split work against the porous Houston run defense (the worst in fantasy, regardless of format), Foreman and Murray will handle the majority of the run and passing downs against below-average rushing defenses.

WEEK 14 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Don't get cute with your bell-cow backs — if they get the work on their real-life team, they should most likely be getting the start in your lineup. So, unless you have guys who are ranked higher on our list, don't hesitate to start Miles Sanders (@ Giants), James Conner (vs. Patriots), Travis Etienne Jr. (@ Titans), Najee Harris (vs. Ravens), and Dameon Pierce (@ Cowboys) despite their tough matchups. Pierce is the biggest worry, but despite his recent slump, he's earned our trust as at least a flex thanks to volume and touchdown upside. The rest should similarly be able to piece their ways to flex finishes with either a short score or a decent number of total yards.

WEEK 14 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em

We even like Isiah Pacheco (@ Broncos) and Zonovan Knight (@ Bills) in their tough matchups, as both handled at least 16 touches and produced double-digit standard-league points last week. Jerick McKinnon is always lurking to steal touches in Kansas City -- and Knight's outlook would change if Carter is back -- but we expect these two talented youngsters to produce enough to merit flex spots. 

WEEK 14 DFS: Best stacks | Best values

As far as committee backs, we're back in on Cam Akers (vs. Raiders), who's back in the good graces of Sean McVay now that the games are pretty much meaningless for L.A. The Rams are looking at draft boards more so than the playoff picture, but you'll take the volume against Vegas' mediocre run defense. D'Andre Swift (vs. Vikings) also finally looks to have his burst back. If his usage continues to trend in the right direction, he could be a week-winner in a plus-matchup. Minnesota has surrendered at least 11 ground yards seven times this season and at least 120 rushing yards in five of the past six weeks.

WEEK 14 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

We're not nearly as excited about James Cook and Devin Singletary (vs. Jets), Rachaad White and Leonard Fournette (@ 49ers), or Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins (@ Steelers). All are in ambiguous situations and are facing top-12 run defenses. Given the offenses they play in, any could pop for a short score -- and both the Bills' and Bucs' backs have PPR upside -- but if at all possible, avoid these situations this week.

If you need to go deep for sleepers, your best bets off the waiver wire are Seattle's DeeJay Dallas and Tony Jones, Jr. (vs. Panthers). Only five teams have allowed more rushing yards than Carolina over the past four weeks, so there's upside with whoever starts for the Seahawks if Walker is out. (And don't forget Travis Homer!) Samaje Perine (vs. Browns) should also maintain flex value even if Mixon returns thanks to a highly favorable matchup, similar to Alexander Mattison (@ Lions) and Chuba Hubbard (@ Seahawks). None are safe bets for even seven touches, but if you're desperate in deep leagues, they have plus matchups.

Kyren Williams (vs. Raiders), Jordan Mason (vs. Buccaneers), and Joshua Kelley (vs. Dolphins) have all been seeing more playing time lately, but only Williams has an even slightly favorable matchup. Don't take a chance with these backs this week, but they make for solid postseason stashes.

Note: We'll be updating these RB rankings throughout the week, so check back for analysis and the latest player movement.

Week 14 fantasy RB rankings for standard leagues

Rankings based on standard, non-PPR scoring leagues

Rank    Player
1    Dalvin Cook, Vikings @ Lions
2    Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Dolphins
3    Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Jaguars
4    Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Rams
5    Joe Mixon, Bengals vs. Browns
6    Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Eagles
7    Nick Chubb, Browns @ Bengals
8    Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Cardinals
9    Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Texans
10    Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Buccaneers
11    Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys vs. Texans
12    D'Onta Foreman, Panthers @ Seahawks
13    Jamaal Williams, Lions vs. Vikings
14    Raheem Mostert, Dolphins @ Chargers
15    Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins @ Chargers
16    Miles Sanders, Eagles @ Giants
17    Latavius Murray, Broncos vs. Chiefs
18    James Conner, Cardinals vs. Patriots
19    Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars @ Titans
20    Najee Harris, Steelers vs. Ravens
21    Dameon Pierce, Texans @ Cowboys
22    Cam Akers, Rams vs. Raiders
23    Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Broncos
24    Zonovan Knight, Jets @ Bills
25    Devin Singletary, Bills vs. Jets
26    D'Andre Swift, Lions vs. Vikings
27    James Cook, Bills vs. Jets
28    Rachaad White, Buccaneers @ 49ers
29    Travis Homer, Seahawks vs. Panthers
30    Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers @ 49ers
31    Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Steelers
32    Tony Jones Jr., Seahawks vs. Panthers
33    Samaje Perine, Bengals vs. Browns
34    Chuba Hubbard, Panthers @ Seahawks
35    Kyren Williams, Rams vs. Raiders
36    Michael Carter, Jets @ Bills
37    JK Dobbins, Ravens @ Steelers
38    Joshua Kelley Chargers vs. Dolphins
39    Kareem Hunt, Browns @ Bengals
40    Jordan Mason, 49ers vs. Buccaneers
41    Alexander Mattison, Vikings @ Lions
42    Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs @ Broncos
43    Ameer Abdullah, Raiders @ Rams
44    Jaylen Warren, Steelers vs. Ravens
45    Dontrell Hilliard, Titans vs. Jaguars
46    Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles @ Giants
47    Melvin Gordon III, Chiefs @ Broncos
48    Keaontay Ingram, Cardinals vs. Patriots
49    Mike Boone, Broncos vs. Chiefs
50    Raheem Blackshear, Panthers @ Seahawks
51    Benny Snell Jr., Steelers vs. Ravens
52    Justice Hill, Ravens @ Steelers
53    JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars @ Titans
54    Nyheim Hines, Bills vs. Jets

Week 14 RB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

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Sloan Piva

Sloan Piva Photo

Sloan Piva is a content producer for The Sporting News, primarily focused on betting, fantasy sports, and poker. A lifelong New Englander, Sloan earned his BA and MA in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts and now lives in coastal Rhode Island with his wife and two kids.