Week 14 2024 Fantasy Football Rankings: RB

Bucky Irving adapts to life in the RB1 spotlight, Isaac Guerendo looking for plug and play RB1 viability and Rico Dowdle trying to force his way into the top 12.

Other positions: quarterback | Recipient | Tight End/Kicker/Defense

Week 14 running backs

RB Notes: Alvin Kamara is the last saint standing. This is good timing, as New Orleans has one of the few opponents “of its own size” in the Giants. The Saints are the clear favorites against a “defense” that allows the most yards per run. …to advance the home touchdown favorite against a Jets team that is simply running out of time in the Aaron Rodgers era, De’Von Achane Projects for some of his best game scripts of the entire season. In addition to his endless pass catching, he should finally get back into the 15-20 carry range as the Dolphins control the game against their collapsed opponent. …I don’t love keeping anything Bijan Robinson in the top 6-7 as a big underdog on the road against a defense that allows the fewest rushing yards. However, his workload dominance has become too all-encompassing to ignore, although the Falcons won’t be relying on Kirk Cousins’ arm against an elite passing D after he just had the worst start of his career. … Chase Brown has played over 80 percent of the snaps in every game since Zack Moss was injured. It’s a beautiful place with a game total of 50 against a Cowboys run D in the bottom three.

Fantasy managers were concerned about potential punishment from the team Jahmyr Gibbs after he not-so-wisely posted a team whiteboard that literally revealed the Lions’ protection code words, but coach Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson I laughed it off. Only ridiculously efficient and explosive This season, Gibbs expects a week full of highlights in the highest-scoring game on the list. … Josh Jacobs fights against calf pain, but apparently successfully. He played through the problem several games in a row. He has received fewer than 18 transmissions once in the last five weeks. … Bucky IrvingThe Week 13 explosion draws the attention, but he has rushed for at least 73 yards with a minimum of 5.6 YPC each of the last three weeks. In a word: he cooks. There is every reason to believe that the winning streak will continue and the Bucs will put their home touchdown favorites under pressure in a well-fought duel. … Maybe you’re not particularly interested in treatment Isaac Guerendo as RB1, but you’re in the same situation as the 49ers: you have no choice. There are six teams on byes, the Niners lack a viable backup and are home favorites against a poor run defense. This is what the RB1’s maximum plug-and-play performance looks like.

We don’t get nice after Guerendo Patrick Taylor Jr. or Israel Abanikanda as a second FLEX dart throw. It’s entirely possible that Deebo Samuel becomes the de facto RB2. … intention to interfere Blake Corum The Rams are strictly limited for breathers Kyren Williams on 15-16 runs in four straight contests while barely being used as a pass catcher. It’s hard to imagine Williams breaking the totes ceiling against Buffalo as the home coach, but maybe this is the week we finally get more receptions. …Don’t look now, but James Cook is tied for 12th in the red zone. He falls a little further behind the field within the five handles, but Cook is finally combining his explosive play skills with more frequent, quality touches. This is a great position to be in against a bottom-five Rams run defense. … The Cowboys have finally committed to it Rico Dowdle as their lead back and now he’s fourth in runs (41) over the last two weeks. The Bengals are an all-funnel defense for a game that is likely going to be Big D even with Cooper Rush at quarterback.

Is Kenneth Walker Good? For the most part, at least in fantasy, the answer is “yes.” He’s the RB11 based on average fantasy points, although that’s been a more worrisome RB27 over the last five weeks. Walker is negative in rush yards above expectations, and that shows in the more traditional measures, namely that he hasn’t averaged more than 3.9 yards per carry in any of his last five appearances. But with workload still king, Walker’s keeping him at the RB1/2 limit. … I don’t write about that James Conner much. That’s because I don’t know what to say. It has a decent bottom except when it falls out. He had a cap limit for 2024. The Seahawks kept him in check two weeks ago, even though they are middle of the pack when it comes to stopping the run. … It was a tough Week 13 for Aaron Jones. He at least had the decency to save it with a late touchdown. Speaking of touchdowns, the great Mike Clay points out why Jones is likely taking a step back on the ground. …The general workload was tough Tyrone Tracy coming over in a fighting offensive. His massive weekly potential keeps him in the top 20, but make no mistake about the downside.

Breece Hall (Knee) looks more doubtful than questionable. Before that would have sounded more like plug-and-play Top 18 status Braelon AllenWith Hall’s injury coming, the Jets have decided to take a longer look at the fifth-round rookie Isaiah Davis. Allen will crack the top 24 if players like Rachaad White and Travis Eitnne are the competition, but the floor could be lower than expected. Davis is just a desperate second FLEX. … Isiah Pacheco wasn’t ready for prime time when he returned in Week 13, but Kareem Hunt was running on exhaust fumes again. Hunt can’t afford a split backfield, while Pacheco will undoubtedly increase his workload as the Chiefs begin preparing for the postseason. … Gus EdwardsSnap share increased in JK Dobbins’ absence, but the Chargers predictably concluded he wasn’t really crying out for more work. He is a mediocre FLEX. Kimani Vidal is a boom/bust option with six teams on byes. … Jonathan Brooks isn’t in the current FLEX mix, but it’s already undermining Chuba Hubbard‘s RB2 floor. … Since the Browns likely have a negative game script, Nick ChubbThe entire FLEX case rests on touchdowns. Even if Jerome Ford or Jameis Winston gets the Browns within two or three, then it will be Chubb driving the ball in.