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Week 14 Fantasy Football Running Back Preview

Top 50 Fantasy RBs for Week 13

Let's dig into the reasons you should -- or shouldn't -- play these guys ...

Check out the other positions as well:

• QB preview
• WR preview
• TE preview

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

De’Von Achane, Dolphins

Achane’s lack of rush efficiency is a bit troubling. But he remains a clear centerpiece in the Miami passing game. He’s hit 20 PPR points in five of his past six outings, a stretch that’s turned up 6.3 targets per game.

Braelon Allen, Jets

Breece Hall heads toward Sunday "doubtful," which positions Allen as the lead back vs. Miami. And the Dolphins rank just 25th in rush DVOA. The Jets head in as 6-point underdogs, though. And they just incorporated RB Isaiah Davis at his highest rate of the season last week. Allen has flashed impressive ability at times this season. There's upside if he gets the opportunities. We just don't know about his workload heading in. The upside's worth chasing at the bottom of RB2 range. Just don't over-trust him.

Raheem Mostert, Dolphins

Mostert was the clear RB2 on Thanksgiving, playing 25 snaps to only one for Jaylen Wright. He’s still far behind RB1 De’Von Achane, however. A shaky touch outlook leaves Mostert as just a deep-league Flex.

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings

Bijan Robinson, Falcons

The Falcons offense now runs through Robinson who had 32 touches last week. He has been an RB1 in six of the last seven games. Now with more receiving work, he is a top-five option despite the Vikings being a top five defense in yards per carry to RBs. 

Aaron Jones, Vikings

Jones had two fumbles last week and was essentially benched for a quarter. Don’t let his poor game fool you, he should go back to getting most of the backfield work over Cam Akers if he holds onto the football. He has downside, but the Falcons are middle of the road against fantasy RBs, but do leave the flat open for RB receptions. Trust Jones as an RB2.

Cam Akers, Vikings 

Akers got plenty of work last week after Aaron Jones fumbled the ball twice. The Vikings trust Akers as the primary back-up, and he has some TD upside. Ideally he’d stay on the fantasy bench, but as an RB4 with six bye weeks, he can be an upside play.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Bijan Robinson is getting more work, but Allgeier is talented enough to score fantasy points if their is an injury or has the hot hand. The downside is massive, but he settles as an RB4 this week.

New Orleans Saints at New York Giants

Alvin Kamara, Saints

This could be a huge game for Kamara who had 119 yards on 27 touches last week. He hasn’t found the end zone, but with Taysom Hill sidelined, Kamara should get more red zone work. The giants have allowed a 20 point RB performance in each of the last three weeks. Kamara has a smash opportunity.

Tyrone Tracy, Giants

Tracy has remained the lead back over Devin Singletary and looks swift and decisive on film. The lack Giants’ offense success limits his upside, but Tracy can break big runs and find the end zone, with the Saints second worst in rushing fantasy points given up to RBs.  RB2 this week

Devin Singletary, Giants

Singletary had seven touches last week and figures into the Giants gameplan. He clearly is behind Tyrone Tracy, but the consistent touches makes him an intriguing low-end RB3 with all the byes this week.

Kendre Miller, Saints

Miller is a solid pick-up if he is available on the waiver wire. HC Dennis Allen, who seemed to hate him, is gone. Interim HC Rizzi has praised Miller and he figures to take on the back-up role. He is an RB4 this week as we wait to see his role though.

Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles

Saquon Barkley, Eagles

The Panthers have allowed 118 more RB rushing yards than any other team this season. And that’s despite playing one fewer game so far than the next three teams behind them in that category. They’ve yielded 236 more RB rushing yards than any other 12-game team.

Chuba Hubbard, Panthers

Hubbard ceded more touches to Jonathon Brooks last time out, watching the rookie get 6 carries and 3 receptions to Hubbard’s 12 and 0. But Hubbard still played 40 more snaps and ran 26 more routes. So don’t overrate the work split. The bigger thing working against Hubbard this week is a matchup that finds his team a 13-point underdog. Hubbard’s not a great bet for yardage this week, and his Panthers carry the league’s lowest implied team total by nearly 2 points. Hubbard remains just inside RB2 territory because he does still lead the backfield and six teams have byes.

Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles

Gainwell’s never going to be a good bet for touches while Saquon Barkley’s healthy and the Eagles have something to play for. But this week at least presents opportunity for Philly to build an insurmountable lead and pull starters early. If you’re desperate for a RB with any kind of upside, Gainwell could be helpful. At the least, he’s worth stashing where possible as the handcuff in case of a Barkley injury.

Jonathon Brooks, Panthers

Brooks went from 2 touches in his NFL debut to 9 last week. But he still played just 15 snaps. He could easily play the exact same role this week and get less work. Or maybe Carolina wants to keep working him in more. That uncertainty plus a bad matchup – Philly’s fifth-toughest on RB scoring by our adjusted fantasy points allowed – mean you shouldn’t be trying to use Brooks in Week 14.

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers

Najee Harris, Steelers

Harris has garnered 21+ touches in five of his past six games. And the other game still found him getting 18. That “low” point came in the first meeting with Cleveland, but that was also a Thursday night game after Harris had touched the ball 22 times to 13 for Jaylen Warren the previous Sunday. Last week’s rebound in Harris’ favor should make him a safe bet for touches and a high-floor option in a game that finds his team favored by 6.5.

Jaylen Warren, Steelers

Warren’s carries fell off last week. But he drew 4 targets for the third straight game and played just 10 fewer snaps than Najee Harris. Warren had drawn 9+ carries in five straight contests before that one. And his 14 touches in the first meeting with Cleveland tied his second-largest tally for the season. Warren’s a solid bet for work and upside at this level. But he has also reached 70 total yards in just one game this year and found the end zone only once.

Nick Chubb, Browns

Chubb has masked his continued issues with TDs the past two weeks. He got a season-high 20 carries in the first meeting with Pittsburgh but turned them into just 59 yards (and 2 TDs). He scored on a reception(!) last week but also managed just 45 total yards in a game that found his team amassing 552. If you need a RB in this range, you might get lucky with TDs again. But don’t mistake Chubb for an attractive play because of 3 TDs over the past two games.

Jerome Ford, Browns

Last week marked the first time since Week 5 that Ford reached 10 touches in a game. He also played nearly twice as many snaps as Nick Chubb, including a 39-14 edge in pass routes. That should tell us more about their usage than Chubb beating Ford 2-1 in targets and catches for the game. But Jameis Winston has never been great for RB receiving volume.

Las Vegas Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers

Irving had a monstead week with 28 touches for 185 yards and a TD. He has been an RB1 for three straight games now. Irving appears to be the clear starter over Rachaad White. Irving’s film has only gotten better with his contact balance being at an elite level these past few weeks. He did have a noticeable limp after the game due to a hip injury. If Irving plays though, he is a high-end RB2 at worst. The Raiders are middle of the league giving up fantasy points to RBs. 

Rachaad White, Buccaneers

With Bucky Irving a bit banged up. White might get more work this week. He only had 12 touches last week but had 78 yards. White’s touch share has gone down due to Irving’s emergence, including the loss of passing work. Luckily, White continues to be effective running the ball. If Irving plays, White is a low end RB2. If Irving is out, White could flirt with RB1 numbers against a middle-of-the-league Raiders run defense.  

Alexander Mattison, Raiders

Mattison (ankle) appears on track to return vs. the Bucs, but he might end up being a game-time decision. If active, he projects to split carries with Sincere McCormick, limiting the fantasy ceiling.

Sincere McCormick, Raiders

McCormick has looked like Vegas’ best RB lately, notching 5.7 YPC over the past two weeks. He might lead this backfield in carries, even if Alexander Mattison is back from an ankle injury. Still, McCormick doesn’t project for much in the passing game, which restricts his fantasy appeal.

Ameer Abdullah, Raiders

Abdullah split carries with Sincere McCormick last week in a close loss to Kansas City. While Abdullah dominated in routes run (23-7), his role would likel be disrupted if Alexander Mattison is able to play through an ankle injury. Regardless, Abdullah is best left on fantasy benches.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

Tony Pollard, Titans

Pollard only has 12 touches last week, but Tyjae Spears didn’t cut into his volume much. When the game script allows for more running, Pollard can definitely eat. The Jaguars are top five in rushes allowed to opposing RBs and bottom five in success rate for those RBs. With Pollard still running more routes than Spears, that should benefit him as well. Low-end RB1.

Travis Etienne, Jaguars

Etienne proved he is the lead back topping Tank Bigsby 16 to eight in touches. But Etienne hasn’t had an RB1 week all year and is unlikely to make much headway this week. With all the byes, the hope would be more passing game usage from Mac Jones to make Etienne startable. High-end RB3.

Tank Bigsby, Jaguars 

Bigsby received only eight touches to Travis Etienne’s 16 last week, and he hasn’t had an RB1 week while Etienne was on the field for the full game. The Titans run defense has been pretty solid all year, so Bigsby is a TD dependent RB3 this week.

Tyjae Spears, Titans

Spears only had one touch for three yards last week and only ran nine routes to Tony Pollard’s 22 as well. Coming off of injury, Spears may be folded in slowly, so the hope is for more work this week. His receiving upside makes him a low end RB3 this week.

Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

James Conner, Cardinals

Conner’s carries rebounded from 12 and 7 the previous two games to 17 his last time out. And his touch counts have remained strong: 17+ in five of his past six games, with 20+ in four of those. Seattle arrives allowing 4.9 yards per carry to RBs on the season and ranking a just-OK 13th in run-defense DVOA. Even Conner’s brutal rushing performance in the first match with Seattle two weeks ago accompanied 5 receptions for 41 yards. Conner has 3+ catches in each of his past four games.

Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks

Walker has struggled with yardage efficiency, falling short of 4.0 yards per touch in four of his past five games. But he has still ranked 12th among RBs in expected PPR points per game over the past five weeks. That means good usage, in both the run and pass game. Seattle faces a well-performing Arizona defense this week, and Walker’s dealing with ankle and calf injuries that have him questionable for the game. We’ll watch for signals of his status and expected role for Sunday’s clash through the weekend.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

Charbonnet controlled backfield work for Seattle’s go-ahead scoring drive late in last week’s win over the Jets. That included the 8-yard TD run to win the game. He could see more work again this week, as Kenneth Walker heads toward Sunday questionable with ankle and calf issues. Watch our fantasy football news for updates throughout the weekend.

Trey Benson, Cardinals

Benson got a couple of higher-usage games in weeks 9 and 10 but has seen just 4 and 3 touches the past two weeks. He seems unlikely to get a useful number of touches in this one.

Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams

Kyren Williams, Rams

Williams’ carry share dipped last week, but we wouldn’t be concerned about a rising role for Blake Corum. The rookie typically gets one series to himself, and this one surprisingly lasted 12 plays. HC Sean McVay also committed to Williams as the clear lead back this week. The much bigger issue is a Bills defense that’s allowed only six rushing scores all season.

James Cook, Bills

Cook has finished as a top-12 fantasy RB in three straight and in four of his past five. He projects for another 15+ touches in a neutral matchup vs. Los Angeles.

Ray Davis, Bills

A blowout helped Davis see 11 carries on Sunday night – his highest total in any game with a healthy James Cook. That number will likely come down in what should be a close game vs. the Rams. He’s a wild card TD bet with the Bills implied for 26.5 points.

Blake Corum, Rams

Corum’s role still doesn’t allow for projectable fantasy upside. He’s totaled 37 season-long carries, with only four coming in the red zone. The rookie hasn’t hit five PPR points in a single game.

Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers

Isaac Guerendo, 49ers

Guerendo is the new starter and his athletic upside with a 4.33 40 time at 222 pounds gives him ultimately upside in the 49ers zone scheme. He has flashed, including last week catching a TD, but without Trent Williams, it may be tough. The Bears can be had through the run though, as they are bottom five in yards per carry given up. Guerendo is an RB2 with upside. 

D’Andre Swift, Bears

Swift had a solid game with 13 touches for 74 yards on Thanksgiving, helped by Roschon Johnson leaving with a concussion. The 49ers also have weakened against the run, including being gashed by James Cook last week. Swift is an RB2 with some upside -- more now that Johnson has been ruled out. Of course, we'll have to watch Swift's status. He's questionable with a quad issue.

Patrick Taylor, 49ers

The 49ers signed Izzy Abanikanda, but Taylor was brought up from the practice squad. The RB breakdown is unknown outside Isaac Guerendo as the starter, so Taylor isn’t an advisable start this week.

Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs

Pacheco saw near identical playing time to Kareem Hunt in his return from injury last week. He also trailed both Hunt and Samaje Perine in passing game use. HC Andy Reid said this week, though, that we should expect Pacheco’s work to increase. How much? That’s the question we can’t answer before the game. And that keeps Pacheco in low-RB2 territory even on this six-team bye week. The Chargers matchup looks fairly neutral, allowing 4.6 yards per RB carry on the season.

Gus Edwards, Chargers

Edwards got just 6 carries and 1 target in the first game after J.K. Dobbins landed on IR. That came against an Atlanta D that ranks just 17th in rush DVOA. This week finds a Chiefs D that ranks eighth. Edwards remains the easy best bet to lead the L.A. backfield. That even included a clear lead in receiving work last week. But there’s little reason to expect significant upside here.

Kareem Hunt, Chiefs

Hunt led Isiah Pacheco by 1 snap, matched his carry total and ran twice as many pass routes last week. But that was Pacheco’s first action since Week 2. HC Andy Reid indicated we should expect more work for Pacheco going forward. And Samaje Perine also took significant passing-game snaps last time out. Altogether, it makes Hunt tough to like for Week 14 use.

Kimani Vidal, Chargers

Vidal played just 12 snaps, got 4 carries and drew no targets in the first game without J.K. Dobbins. Perhaps he gets a bit more receiving run against a Chiefs D that plays the run tough. But there’s little reason to believe in Week 14 upside for Vidal.

Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys

Chase Brown, Bengals

Brown’s role has shown no signs of slowing down. Since Week 9, he’s handled carry shares of 90%, 87%, 100%, and 92%. Keep him active as an upside RB1.

Rico Dowdle, Cowboys

Dowdle faces a Bengals defense that’s missing LB Logan Wilson (knee). The Cowboy has garnered 47 touches over the past two weeks.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.