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Week 14 is upon us, and it will undoubtedly arrive in full force on Thursday night when the Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) host the Oakland Raiders (10-2) in what could be an incredible game. Fantasy owners need to diligently prepare for their playoff matchups at this stage of the season if they want to hoist the league trophy in just a few weeks. This week’s slate of contests ends on a similarly high note as the one that began the week, as the New England Patriots (10-2) invite the Baltimore Ravens (7-5) to town for a crucial, late-season AFC showdown.
Here are my Top 60 RBs for Week 14 vs. FantasyPros' ECR rankings:
Fantasy Football rankings - Week 14
View Available Players| # | Player (team) | Matchup | ECR™ | vs. ECR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Johnson (ARI) | at MIA | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Le'Veon Bell (PIT) | at BUF | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) | at NYG | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Melvin Gordon (SD) | at CAR | 6 | +2 |
| 5 | Thomas Rawls (SEA) | at GB | 13 | +8 |
| 6 | LeSean McCoy (BUF) | vs. PIT | 4 | -2 |
| 7 | Spencer Ware (KC) | vs. OAK | 9 | +2 |
| 8 | DeMarco Murray (TEN) | vs. DEN | 5 | -3 |
| 9 | Devonta Freeman (ATL) | at LA | 8 | -1 |
| 10 | Matt Forte (NYJ) | at SF | 7 | -3 |
| 11 | Jordan Howard (CHI) | at DET | 10 | -1 |
| 12 | Lamar Miller (HOU) | at IND | 16 | +4 |
| 13 | Jeremy Hill (CIN) | at CLE | 11 | -2 |
| 14 | Latavius Murray (OAK) | at KC | 14 | 0 |
| 15 | Doug Martin (TB) | vs. NO | 12 | -3 |
| 16 | Mark Ingram (NO) | at TB | 20 | +4 |
| 17 | LeGarrette Blount (NE) | vs. BAL | 19 | +2 |
| 18 | Frank Gore (IND) | vs. HOU | 17 | -1 |
| 19 | Jay Ajayi (MIA) | vs. ARI | 15 | -4 |
| 20 | Todd Gurley (LA) | vs. ATL | 21 | +1 |
| 21 | Carlos Hyde (SF) | vs. NYJ | 18 | -3 |
| 22 | Theo Riddick (DET) | vs. CHI | 24 | +2 |
| 23 | Tevin Coleman (ATL) | at LA | 27 | +4 |
| 24 | Jonathan Stewart (CAR) | vs. SD | 22 | -2 |
| 25 | Dion Lewis (NE) | vs. BAL | 33 | +8 |
| 26 | Robert Kelley (WAS) | at PHI | 23 | -3 |
| 27 | Kenneth Dixon (BAL) | at NE | 29 | +2 |
| 28 | Devontae Booker (DEN) | at TEN | 25 | -3 |
| 29 | Rashad Jennings (NYG) | vs. DAL | 26 | -3 |
| 30 | Ryan Mathews (PHI) | vs. WAS | 45 | +15 |
| 31 | T.J. Yeldon (JAC) | vs. MIN | 37 | +6 |
| 32 | Terrance West (BAL) | at NE | 30 | -2 |
| 33 | Isaiah Crowell (CLE) | vs. CIN | 28 | -5 |
| 34 | Tim Hightower (NO) | at TB | 31 | -3 |
| 35 | Jerick McKinnon (MIN) | at JAC | 35 | 0 |
| 36 | Wendell Smallwood (PHI) | vs. WAS | 34 | -2 |
| 37 | Darren Sproles (PHI) | vs. WAS | 32 | -5 |
| 38 | Paul Perkins (NYG) | vs. DAL | 50 | +12 |
| 39 | Charles Sims (TB) | vs. NO | 52 | +13 |
| 40 | Duke Johnson (CLE) | vs. CIN | 39 | -1 |
| 41 | Mike Gillislee (BUF) | vs. PIT | 40 | -1 |
| 42 | Derrick Henry (TEN) | vs. DEN | 41 | -1 |
| 43 | Matt Asiata (MIN) | at JAC | 38 | -5 |
| 44 | Bilal Powell (NYJ) | at SF | 36 | -8 |
| 45 | Chris Ivory (JAC) | vs. MIN | 48 | +3 |
| 46 | Jalen Richard (OAK) | at KC | 47 | +1 |
| 47 | Rex Burkhead (CIN) | at CLE | 42 | -5 |
| 48 | Christine Michael (GB) | vs. SEA | 46 | -2 |
| 49 | James White (NE) | vs. BAL | 43 | -6 |
| 50 | Alfred Morris (DAL) | at NYG | 73 | +23 |
| 51 | James Starks (GB) | vs. SEA | 44 | -7 |
| 52 | Chris Thompson (WAS) | at PHI | 49 | -3 |
| 53 | Jacquizz Rodgers (TB) | vs. NO | 51 | -2 |
| 54 | Troymaine Pope (SEA) | at GB | 71 | +17 |
| 55 | Jeremy Langford (CHI) | at DET | 56 | +1 |
| 56 | Justin Forsett (DEN) | at TEN | 57 | +1 |
| 57 | Charcandrick West (KC) | vs. OAK | 55 | -2 |
| 58 | DeAngelo Williams (PIT) | at BUF | 60 | +2 |
| 59 | Aaron Ripkowski (GB) | vs. SEA | 63 | +4 |
| 60 | Andre Ellington (ARI) | at MIA | 79 | +19 |
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Notes & Analysis:
- Although the tremendous trio doesn’t need a fantasy endorsement, I simply like to note how dominant and versatile these real-life running backs are on a weekly basis.
- Melvin Gordon continues to amaze in his second NFL season as both a yardage supplier and a touchdown scorer, and he’ll get a Carolina defense that just allowed Seattle’s banged-up backfield to rush for 134 yards and two TDs.
- Thomas Rawls was the Seahawk RB who did most of this damage, powerfully rushing for 100+ yards and a pair of scores in the first half. Although Green Bay has allowed just 148 scoreless yards on the ground over the past two weeks, I think Rawls has the ability to rack up huge RB1 numbers when the Seahawks are clicking on offense.
- LeSean McCoy faces off against a Steelers run defense that has clamped down since their Week 8 bye, holding opposing RBs to just 65.0 YPG. Still, this ex-Pitt Panther is a strong RB1 at home.
- Spencer Ware didn’t find much room to run last week in Atlanta, but he bailed his owners out with two touchdowns. He’ll likely find a lot more daylight this Thursday against the Raiders and their bottom-three run defense. Ware should get plenty of chances to produce in Week 14.
- Devonta Freeman certainly doesn’t benefit from the return of Tevin Coleman, but he can still provide quality, low-end RB1 fantasy numbers as the Falcons’ main runner. Coleman is a threat to score any time he touches the ball, and is firmly back in the RB2/3 discussion.
- Latavius Murray is having an excellent 2016 campaign and has gotten plenty of scoring chances, most of which he’s capitalized on. The Chiefs present a tall task, but he’s a lock-in RB2 at least.
- Mark Ingram was able to get a heavy dose of carries while the Saints played from behind most of the game against Detroit, but he gets a fresh “set of downs” in Week 14 against Tampa and was in beast mode up until last week.
- Up against a stout Baltimore run defense, I’m willing to bet this is a touchdown-or-bust game for the 2016 stud LeGarrette Blount. Although, I cannot deny his multi-TD potential, even in tough matchups, keeping him in the RB2 tier.
- Todd Gurley is merely an average running back for the incompetent Jeff Fisher’s Rams, despite being one of the most physically gifted backs in the league. Sadly, he’s settled in as a low-end RB2.
- The other Patriots running back that figures to see more and more action as the playoffs near is scatback Dion Lewis. The Pats know exactly what they have in Dion, but who truly knows if/when they release him? I see this as a week that presents a prime opportunity for Lewis’ first big fantasy game.