Fantasy: Running Back Primer
Fantasy Position Primers
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Running Backs
On Monday, we took a tour of all the quarterbacks worth considering in standard fantasy leagues. Now we turn our attention to running backs, a much deeper position and one that will see a ton of turnover before season's end.
It's important to remember that these primers are not intended to be tiers for drafting. You can view our complete running back rankings here.
The Big Four
LeSean McCoy, Eagles - McCoy led the league with 1,607 rushing yards last season and he has an excellent chance of repeating the feat as an elite talent playing in Chip Kelly's offense.
Jamaal Charles, Chiefs - While his team's schedule may not be quite as easy as it was a year ago, that won't stop Charles from getting it done as a rusher and receiver. Charles had the most touchdowns of any non-quarterback last season with 19 (12 rushing, 7 receiving).
Adrian Peterson, Vikings - Peterson could easily end up as the best running back in fantasy this season. New head coach Mike Zimmer talked about holding Peterson out of the preseason and why not. Save his body for when it truly matters… like the fantasy playoffs.
Matt Forte, Bears - Playing in an explosive offense, Forte shined last season, appearing in all 16 games for the first time since 2010. He also added 74 receptions on the year, making him especially valuable in PPR leagues.
Sophomore Stars
Montee Ball, Broncos - With Knowshon Moreno leaving town in the offseason, Ball essentially won the running back lottery. After averaging 4.7 yards per carry on 119 rushes, Ball will now become the lead back in a Peyton Manning offense. He is still unproven, which makes him a more risky first round fantasy pick, but if he can handle the role it will be well worth it.
Eddie Lacy, Packers - Lacy is being drafted behind the top four and for good reason. His rookie season was outstanding and all signs point to him growing as a player. And no, David P. Woods, that was not a 'Fat Eddie Lacy' joke.
Le'Veon Bell, Steelers - The Steelers added LeGarrette Blount in the offseason, but he doesn't present a threat to Bell's workload. Much like Lacy, Bell got the majority of his team's carries from the moment he took the field. That won't change in 2014, as Bell could easily top 300 touches.
Andre Ellington, Cardinals - Ellington didn't have the full-season success of some of the other rookies, but the team plans to get the ball in hands a lot more. If he can maintain anything close to his 5.5 yards per carry, he could be a steal in the third round of fantasy drafts.
Giovani Bernard, Bengals - The Bengals don't want to use Bernard as a three-down back, and they proved that by drafting Jeremy Hill in the second round. With a new run-heavy approach, the two backs will both see plenty of action. Bernard's usage should get a slight increase from last season when he had 226 touches for 1,209 total yards and eight touchdowns.
Zac Stacy, Rams - When you are a fifth-round pick who nearly rushed for 1,000 yards in just 14 games, and your team uses a third-round pick on a running back, there is some cause for concern. Stacy is a volume type runner, who projects to get the early down work. Tre Mason will have to earn his time, but a change of pace role should be in his future this year.
Surprisingly Underrated
DeMarco Murray, Cowboys - Murray still hasn't played a 16-game season and that sort of uncertainty can affect draft stock. He did, however, put together his best season as a pro in 2013 and showed an ability to make plays as a receiver out of the backfield. That may be critical to his 2014 value since the team may be trailing often due to a weak defense.
Alfred Morris, Redskins - With the Redskins no longer employing a zone-blocking scheme, owners may be worried about the impact it will have on Morris. The drop off in carries may be cancelled out by more overall success from the team's offense. Morris may not be as attractive in a PPR league, but he will still be a solid option in standard leagues.
Cracks in their Armor
Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks - With Christine Michael getting better with every rep, Lynch faces legitimate competition this season. That doesn't mean Lynch will be losing his job, only a fraction of his carries. It's still a reason to wait till the late first or early second round before drafting Beast Mode.
Arian Foster, Texans - Coming off a season where he appeared in just eight games, Foster is a major boom or bust pick. If he can stay healthy, he should produce the yards, but touchdowns may be another story. Foster found the end zone just twice in 2014.
C.J. Spiller, Bills - We are still waiting on the big breakout campaign from Spiller. After letting his owners down last season, the hope is that he can stay healthy and recapture some of his mojo from 2012 when he showed signs of being elite. With Fred Jackson still potentially serving as the goal line back, Spiller owners may be waiting a while.
Doug Martin, Buccaneers - Martin is coming off a season-ending injury, which caused him to miss 10 games. On top of that, the team drafted a pass-catching specialist Charles Sims in the third round and new offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford went on record in favor of a running-back-by-committee approach. If that doesn't scare you, then sure, draft Martin.
Ryan Mathews, Chargers - After a 1,255-yard season, you would think the general feeling about Mathews would be more positive. The presence of Danny Woodhead and the signing of Donald Brown are signs that he will not be asked to carry the load. Even Mathews knows it, as he proclaimed the backfield to be a "three-headed monster."
Ready for Launch
Toby Gerhart, Jaguars - It's not inspiring to see Gerhart already dealing with what's being called "tightness in his hip flexor." Gerhart is getting a few days off from practice to deal with the ailment. If he stays healthy, he could see up to 25 touches per game.
Bishop Sankey, Titans - The first running back selected in this year's draft only has to beat out Shonn Greene and Dexter McCluster to earn playing time. Sankey won't be a workhorse, but he will lead the team in touches behind a strong offensive line.
Lamar Miller, Dolphins - Miller has been mentioned in almost ever fantasy piece we've written so far this season. Take notice. With Knowshon Moreno dealing with a knee injury, Miller has the opportunity to become the clear cut starter in the Dolphins backfield.
Ben Tate/Terrance West, Browns - Forget about Johnny Manziel, this is the real competition to be watching in Browns camp. With offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan bringing his run game to Cleveland, the winner of this battle could be a fantasy star.
Rashad Jennings, Giants - David Wilson's career is likely over, so Jennings and rookie Andre Williams will account for the majority of touches in the Giants backfield. Jennings will likely start, but Williams flashed some impressive running ability and was brought in near the goal line during the Hall of Fame Game.
Veteran Presence
Frank Gore, 49ers - For the last few seasons, we've been asking if age would finally catch up to Gore. The 31-year-old is holding strong, so far, against the undefeated Father Time. However, the writing may be on the wall after the 49ers drafted Carlos Hyde, who projects to be a feature back. It may still take an injury to remove Gore from the starting lineup.
Chris Johnson, Jets - Coming off knee surgery, Johnson puts on a green jersey and will try to return to form as a member of the Jets. From a fantasy perspective, Johnson is tough to trust as he will share carries with Chris Ivory and maybe even Bilal Powell. Johnson also won't get a sniff near the goal line.
Steven Jackson, Falcons - The words "out indefinitely" are worrisome for a 31-year-old running back. The Falcons are saying he will be back from the hamstring injury in time for Week 1, but it's a warning sign that fantasy owners should be thankful for. Draft rookie Devonta Freeman, not Jackson.
Ray Rice, Ravens - Having guard Kelechi Osemele back from injury should be an instant upgrade to the team's running game. Whether that benefits Rice or Bernard Pierce remains to be seen. Rice will miss the first two games of the season, so plan accordingly if you do draft him.
PPR Kings
Reggie Bush/Joique Bell, Lions - The Lions will have a similar approach to their backfield as the Saints have had in recent years, shuffling in a variety of backs. That is great for their offense, but terrible for fantasy owners. Bush and Bell still have value, just not the sort of top-15 fantasy running back potential one would have if the other went down to injury.
Shane Vereen, Patriots - A wrist injury caused Vereen to miss most of the 2013 campaign. Now healthy, he will be a significant part of the Patriots' attack. Stevan Ridley and rookie James White will take on most of the between-the-tackles work, leaving Vereen to excel in the passing offense.
Pierre Thomas, Saints - Thomas led all running backs with 77 receptions in 2013. With Darren Sproles now in Philadelphia, Thomas could see even more work in the passing game, although Khiry Robinson will also be a factor.
Don't Forget About Us
Trent Richardson, Colts - Richardson was arguably the most disappointing fantasy player of 2013. There is hope, though, for the former third overall pick. The Colts addressed their offensive line woes, but guard Donald Thomas will miss the season after tearing his quad. If Richardson falters again, Ahmad Bradshaw may get the call.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Raiders - What ever happened to MJD? He signed with the Raiders and was never heard from in fantasy leagues again. Splitting time with Darren McFadden behind one of the league's worst lines is not a good look for the veteran. If you haven't learned to stay away from Raiders players in fantasy, that's on you.