Fantasy Football Top Tens: Running Back

By Joey Figueroa on July 21, 2014

Nearing the end of July, the summer is beginning to dwindle which would be completely heartbreaking if it weren’t for football in the fall.

While NFL teams are preparing for the 2014 season at training camp, fantasy football fanatics are preparing for the season with a stack of fantasy magazines, mock drafts and cheat sheets. It’s never too early to start preparing, and some of the biggest fantasy football heads are already laying out their draft strategies.

That includes me, as I’ve been mulling over my first round options for the past few weeks now. As arguably the most important position in fantasy football, running backs usually own most of the first round.

That being said, you need to know when to start turning to other positions. So, here is a ranking of the top ten running backs for the 2014 fantasy football season. Once these guys are off the board it’s time to consider some other options.

1. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs

[Photo Credit: Fan Sided]

I had the luxury of experiencing Jamaal Charles’ top fantasy performance last year, as I took him with the number three overall pick. If he drops to number three this year, you should be shocked.

Charles led the NFL in total touchdowns in 2013 with 19 and was the centerpiece of Andy Reid’s offense in Kansas City. He also had 70 grabs last year, seven of those going for touchdowns, so Charles will do it on the ground and through the year at a dominant.

He has no real competition in the backfield and is entering the prime of his career at 27 years of age, so if you’re go all-in on anyone, make it Jamaal Charles.

2. Lesean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

[Photo Credit: NFL]

Shady McCoy silenced all the critics in his first season with offensive Chip Kelly by leading all running backs in rushing attempts, rushing yards and yards from scrimmage. Not too shabby.

You can’t really expect McCoy to have another 20 total touchdowns like he did in 2011, but you can bet on him having at least seven or eight games with more than 100 yards rushing, double digit TDs, and a big chunk of catches out of the backfield.

The addition of Darren Sproles to the backfield has me worried about his catch totals, but McCoy is still the top dog and an undeniable top five running back.

3. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

[Photo Credit: Twin Cities]

After his ridiculous, nearly record-setting 2012 season, AP had somewhat of a down year in 2013. However, for Peterson a down season still means over 1,200 yards rushing and 10 TDs on the ground. Now with Toby Gerhart out of the backfield and a rookie quarterback likely taking the snaps, Peterson’s offensive role will be as large as ever.

Peterson has been knocked for his inability to catch passes out of the backfield, but if new Minnesota offensive coordinator Norv Turner could get Chris Ogbonnaya to catch 48 passes, I’m sure he could figure out something with AP.

There may be other flashy options emerging, but Peterson remains the premier all-around back in the NFL. Don’t hesitate to take him in the top five, even in PPR formats.

4. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

[Photo Credit: The Score]

Since his rookie season, Matt Forte has been the unquestioned workhorse of the Chicago Bears and he has done nothing but improve.

Last season was his best fantasy season yet, with over 1,300 rushing yards, 12 total TDs, and over 70 receptions. Forte is an offensive coordinator’s dream, as he does anything he’s asked, whether it’s picking up blockers or going down field for a 40-yard catch.

The only concern with Forte’s production is the plethora of offensive weapons Chicago has around him. That wasn’t much of an issue last season, however, as every Bears’ weapon had his fair share of targets and yards.

Forte remains the best offensive player on one of the top offenses in the league, so take him confidently in the top five, especially in PPR leagues.

5. Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers 

[Photo Credit: Packers]

The Packers struck gold in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, landing electric Alabama running back Eddie Lacy, who would go on to become the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year and arguably the Packer’s MVP, as he kept their offense afloat while Aaron Rodgers was down with an injury.

Lacy started off slow, but only improved as his rookie campaign went on, scoring eight touchdowns in the final nine weeks of the 2013 season to push his total up to eleven on the year. He also racked up nearly 1,200 rushing yards and 35 receptions, which is a number that should only grow.

The Packers will remain a pass-first team as long as Rodgers is around, but Lacy looks to be the main option in the backfield on a very potent offensive club. That will only lead to a plethora of goal-line chances, which Lacy was born to capitalize on. Look for the former ‘Bama stud to establish himself as an elite backfield producer this season.

6. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks

[Photo Credit: Fantasy Wired]

Beast Mode kept on trucking last season on his way to a Super Bowl win and another impressive fantasy season. He put up the stats we’ve all come to expect from him now: over 1,200 yards rushing, double digit rushing TDs, and an inordinate amount of tackles broken. He even had 36 receptions, which is about ten more than he had in either 2011 or 2012, and his 14 total touchdowns was the most he’s had in the past three seasons.

It seems like Lynch has been around forever, but he’s only 28, and there seems to be no end to his production in sight. The Seahawks do have to face premier defenses in the Cardinals, 49ers and Rams all twice, but they still pound it up the middle with Beast Mode.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

 7. DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

[Photo Credit: Dallas News]

I’ve always thought DeMarco Murray had AP-like potential because of the same intensity and vigor he runs with, but he just hasn’t been able to stay on the field in Dallas.

That was until last season, when Murray played in a career-high 14 games and had 1,100 yards, 5.2 yards per carry and 10 total touchdowns. He’s going into the last season of his contract, so he’ll have a lot to prove, and if he can stay on the field, Murray will be a surefire top ten back.

 8. Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers

[Photo Credit: ESPN ]

Le’Veon Bell had a banged up rookie season, with a preseason foot injury and a nasty midseason concussion, but he still managed to put up impressive numbers and showed much promise for things to come.

The numbers don’t jump out at you, especially his 3.5 yards per carry average, but Bell finished the 2013 season strong, with 4.0 yards per carry and four TDs over the last five weeks.

His 2014 fantasy owners will hope that momentum will carry over, which it should. Off-season pickup LeGarrette Blount could get in the way of some goalline carries, but Bell remains the primary back and will also see a generous handful of receptions per game.

9. Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins

[Photo Credit: Standing O Sports]

Following his stellar rookie campaign that came almost out of nowhere, defenses were sure to load the box against Morris in 2013. That and the general decline of the Redskins’ offense led to a sharp decline in Morris’ numbers, but fantasy owners shouldn’t be completely scared away yet. Morris still put up an impressive 4.6 yards per carry, which was the best among running back with at least 250 carries.

Washington also added offensive depth and will have a hungry RG3, ready to prove himself after a dismal 2013 season. Defenses won’t be able to hone in on Morris in 2014, so expect a return close to his rookie numbers.

PPR owners beware, though, as Morris gets next to zero looks as a receiver. If this was strictly a PPR list, Bengals stud Giovani Bernard would likely be in this spot.

10. Zac Stacy, St. Louis

[Photo Credit: Rant Sports]

This is where I get to brag about drafting the relative unknown Vanderbilt product in the twelfth round of a keeper league draft only to see him break out as the Rams’ workhorse after four games of relatively no action.

If you weren’t genius enough to draft Stacy in the later rounds, he was likely the hottest waiver-wire pickup in your league last year and is now a top-10 running back.

In just 12 games as a starter, Stacy racked up 250 carries, nearly 1,000 yards rushing, and eight total touchdowns. He also had seven touchdowns in a seven-game stretch between weeks nine and 16, proving his consistency.

He isn’t much of a threat as a pass catcher and he’s in the very scary NFC West, but Zac Stacy will once again be the workhorse in St. Louis and will look to better his rookie numbers.

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