Fantasy: 2014 Player Rankings - Running Backs

Over the last two seasons, theScore's Justin Boone has finished in the top 10 in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links to see his rankings for every position heading into 2014 fantasy drafts.

Rankings
QB | RB | WR | TE | DST | K | IDP

Running Backs

• Finding a running back to complete the top-10 was more difficult than I expected this week. Andre Ellington gets the nod, but he is far from a sure thing this season. Ellington should get the opportunity to carry the load early in the year and if he can handle it, his first season as a fantasy RB1 could be in the cards. 

• Just because rookie Jeremy Hill had a big game in Week 4 of the preseason, doesn't mean Giovani Bernard owners should be worried. Bernard is an excellent fantasy option and much like Ellington, he has the chance to move into the elite conversation. The takeaway from Hill's performance last week should be that he is a Bernard injury away from being a major fantasy weapon. With Gio on the field, Hill could be a flex most weeks, but if Bernard goes down, Hill could flirt with RB1 numbers. 

• I don't have a lot of faith in Zac Stacy or Le'Veon Bell at the moment. Both players require volume to produce solid fantasy numbers and this year both have competition for carries. Spending a second or third-round pick on them is a dangerous move early in your draft.  

• The more I watched Ray Rice in the preseason, the more I came away convinced he could be a great value in 2014. Rice is only 27 years old and not far removed from being a first-round asset in fantasy. The veteran will miss the first two games due to a suspension, but don't let that impact your draft decision. The first two games of the season are nothing on the road to a fantasy championship. Bernard Pierce will be stifled by the Bengals and Ravens in those opening two weeks and Rice will return to save the Ravens' running game and reward owners who took a chance on him. 

• Late round running backs you should be targeting: Shonn Greene, Chris Ivory, Ahmad Bradshaw, Jonathan Stewart, Benny Cunningham, Jonathan Grimes.