MIAMI, Dec. 5 (UPI) — Rico Dowdle and Issac Guerendo are among my four must-have fantasy football running backs for Week 14.
Saquon Barkley tops my weekly running back rankings. Alvin Kamara, Bucky Irving, De’Von Achane and James Cook are my other Top-5 options.
Chase Brown, Bijan Robinson, Tony Pollard, Kyren Williams and Tyrone Tracy Jr. should also be considered Top 10 players for Week 14.
D’Andre Swift joins Dowdle, Guerendo and Cook in my must-play pieces. My rankings were based on several factors, including likely workload, opponent strength, previous game history, expected red zone opportunities, and anticipated game scenario.
Bye-bye players from the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Washington Commanders are expected to be benched or potentially waived . The players from Thursday’s Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game have been removed from my rankings.
Those stocked in Breece Hall and other injured running backs should continue to monitor their status ahead of their respective kickoffs.
My top free agent goals for Week 14 are available here. My Quarterback of Week 14 and wide receiver leaderboards are also available. All position rankings will be updated throughout the week, based on injuries and other factors.
James Cook
Cook totaled the eighth-most fantasy points among running backs in Week 13, when he produced 120 yards from scrimmage and a score in a Buffalo Bills win over the San Francisco 49ers.
He’s averaged the seventh-most points per game among running backs over the past four weeks and also ranks seventh in points per game this season.
Cook has scored in each of his last three games, finding the end zone four times in total. He has also scored in eight of his last 10 appearances. Cook has received at least 14 touches in each of his last five appearances and should see a heavy workload again in Week 14 against a vulnerable Los Angeles Rams defense that was tied for allowing the fourth most high number of rushing yards (116.4) per game to running backs through 13. weeks.
The Rams also just gave up 112 rushing yards to Alvin Kamara in Week 13. This performance came a week after they gave up over 300 yards from scrimmage to Saquon Barkley.
Cook should easily eclipse 100 yards from scrimmage in this game. He is my number 5 option.
By André Swift
Swift sits at No. 11 in my Week 14 rankings and can be plugged in as a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2. The Chicago Bears veteran has only reached the end zone once in his last six appearances, but continues to see plenty of work out of the backfield. He’s faced several tough matchups recently, but he’s poised to explode in Week 14 against the 49ers.
The 49ers, who just allowed Cook’s breakout performance, have given up the sixth-most fantasy points and are tied for allowing the second-most rushing touchdowns per game to running backs so far this season.
I expect this to be a close game, with the Bears featuring Swift. He should eclipse 75 rushing yards and could climb into mid-range RB1 territory if he finds the end zone.
Rico Dowdle
Dowdle posted the fifth-most fantasy points among running backs in Week 13, when he ran for 112 yards and a score in a Dallas Cowboys victory over the New York Giants. He had a record 22 carries – in addition to three catches – in this victory. The performance follows a 98-yard performance from scrimmage by Dowdle in Week 12.
Dowdle and the Cowboys will now host a Cincinnati Bengals defense that just allowed 129 yards from scrimmage and a score to Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris in Week 13.
The Bengals have given up at least 100 yards after a scrimmage and/or touchdown to an opposing running back in every game this season. Both defenses will likely struggle in this matchup. I expect the Cowboys to continue feeding Dowdle, who is No. 12 in my rankings.
Isaac Guerendo
Guerendo, who was among my top waiver priorities for Week 14, can be immediately slotted into starting lineups as an RB2 or play flexibly in leagues with at least 12 teams.
The 49ers rookie is expected to return to the RB1 role due to injuries suffered in Week 13 by Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason. Guerendo found the end zone for his second touchdown of the season in Week 13, when he rushed just four times for 19 yards.
This week, the 49ers will face a Bears defense that has tied the Rams for allowing the fourth-most rushing yards (116.4) per game to running backs so far this season.
The Bears just allowed Detroit Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs to produce over 100 yards from scrimmage each in Week 13. Those performances marked the fifth time in five weeks that the Bears allowed over 100 yards from scrum to a ball carrier.
Guerendo is my #15 option.
Week 14 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
1. Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles vs. CAR
2. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints at NYG
3. Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. LV
4. De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins vs. NYJ
5. James Cook, Buffalo Bills at LAR
6. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals at DAL
7. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons at MIN
8. Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans vs. JAX
9. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams vs. BUF
10. Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants vs. NO
11. From Andre Swift, Chicago Bears to SF
12. Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys vs. CIN
13. Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks at ARI
14. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals vs. SEA
15. Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers vs. CHI
16. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings vs. ATL
17. Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs vs. LAC
18. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. CLE
19. Braelon Allen, New York Jets MIA
20. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers at PHI
21. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns at PIT
22. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. CLE
23. Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars at TEN
24. Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns at PIT
25. Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. LV
26. Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs vs. LAC
27. Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders at TB
28. Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers at KC
29. Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars at TEN
30. Sincere McCormick, Las Vegas Raiders at TB
