Fantasy Football 2014 rankings and stat projections: Running Backs

Top running backs are often the first players off of the draft board. Because more teams are dividing running back duties between two players, there are so few

Top running backs are often the first players off of the draft board. Because more teams are dividing running back duties between two players, there are so few featured backs with ample scoring opportunities and relatively few injury concerns. That's why owners want to draft one early.

There will likely be 18-20 running backs drafted by the end of Round 3. That’s more than half of the 36 draft spots in a 12-team league. The term “if you snooze, you lose” has never been more apt.

POSITION PRIMERS: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DST

Find all our running back fantasy rankings -- as well as stat projections -- below. The rankings are based on standard-scoring leagues, awarding one point for 10 rushing and receiving yards, one point for 25 passing yards, six points for rushing and receiving touchdowns, and four points for passing touchdowns.

FANTASY FOOTBALL POSITION RANKINGS AND PROJECTIONS:

• TOP 300
• QB
• RB
• WR
• TE
• K
• DST

	PLAYER	TEAM	BYE	VALUE	RUSH YDs	RUSH TDs	RECS	REC YDS	REC TDs	TIER
1	Jamaal Charles	KC	6	$60	1,350	11	65	600	5	1
2	LeSean McCoy	PHI	7	$59	1,450	10	55	515	3	1
3	Matt Forte	CHI	9	$55	1,225	9	62	525	3	1
4	Adrian Peterson	MIN	10	$53	1,285	12	35	230	2	1
5	Eddie Lacy	GB	9	$48	1,250	11	40	280	2	2
6	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	4	$46	1,150	11	30	265	2	2
7	Le'Veon Bell	PIT	12	$45	1,200	8	50	450	1	2
8	DeMarco Murray	DAL	11	$42	1,175	8	48	325	2	2
9	Montee Ball	DEN	4	$40	1,150	8	45	310	2	2
10	Arian Foster	HOU	10	$38	1,085	9	30	285	2	2
11	Giovani Bernard	CIN	4	$36	1,025	5	50	415	4	3
12	Doug Martin	TB	7	$34	1,115	5	46	350	2	3
13	Alfred Morris	WAS	10	$32	1,300	10	10	85	0	3
14	Reggie Bush	DET	9	$28	975	5	55	425	3	3
15	C.J. Spiller	BUF	9	$26	1,050	6	40	350	2	3
16	Andre Ellington	ARI	4	$22	900	4	50	425	2	3
17	Ryan Mathews	SD	10	$20	1,075	6	20	165	1	3
18	Zac Stacy	STL	4	$19	1,025	7	20	115	1	3
19	Rashad Jennings	NYG	8	$17	925	6	33	255	1	4
20	Shane Vereen	NE	10	$16	675	3	65	625	4	4
21	Toby Gerhart	JAC	11	$14	900	6	30	245	1	4
22	Frank Gore	SF	8	$12	985	6	20	140	1	4
23	Ben Tate	CLE	4	$12	845	5	24	230	1	4
24	Joique Bell	DET	9	$11	680	5	48	490	1	4
25	Chris Johnson	NYJ	11	$11	905	5	36	255	1	4
26	Bishop Sankey	TEN	9	$10	820	7	25	180	1	4
27	Trent Richardson	IND	10	$10	875	5	40	240	1	4
28	Stevan Ridley	NE	10	$8	1,020	6	10	60	0	4
29	Ray Rice	BAL	11	$8	790	5	40	285	1	4
30	Steven Jackson	ATL	9	$7	880	5	30	175	1	5
31	Pierre Thomas	NO	6	$6	540	2	75	505	4	5
32	Lamar Miller	MIA	5	$5	820	4	32	265	1	5
33	Maurice Jones-Drew	OAK	5	$4	580	5	40	280	2	5
34	Danny Woodhead	SD	10	$4	380	2	65	595	4	5
35	Fred Jackson	BUF	9	$4	645	5	35	245	1	5
36	Bernard Pierce	BAL	11	$3	585	6	30	180	1	6
37	Darren Sproles	PHI	7	$3	180	1	80	680	4	6
38	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	12	$3	785	2	20	185	1	6
39	Knowshon Moreno	MIA	5	$3	615	4	32	230	1	6
40	Chris Ivory	NYJ	11	$3	735	6	4	20	0	6
41	Terrance West	CLE	4	$3	645	4	20	165	1	6
42	Devonta Freeman	ATL	9	$2	460	4	35	280	1	6
43	Tre Mason	STL	4	$2	480	5	24	185	1	6
44	Darren McFadden	OAK	5	$2	455	5	25	190	1	6
45	Jeremy Hill	CIN	4	$2	540	6	12	80	0	6
46	Mark Ingram	NO	6	$2	515	5	15	90	1	6
47	Andre Brown	HOU	10	$2	565	4	25	145	0	6
48	Carlos Hyde	SF	8	$2	410	4	30	180	2	7
49	Khiry Robinson	NO	6	$2	655	4	8	50	0	7
50	Christine Michael	SEA	4	$1	515	3	15	120	1	7
51	Shonn Greene	TEN	9	$1	470	5	8	60	0	7
52	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	12	$1	375	2	24	195	1	7
53	LeGarrette Blount	PIT	12	$1	420	4	4	35	0	7
54	Knile Davis	KC	6	$1	360	4	15	85	0	7
55	Donald Brown	SD	10	$1	380	3	18	140	0	7
56	Ahmad Bradshaw	IND	10	$1	345	3	15	95	1	7
57	Lance Dunbar	DAL	11	$0	310	3	12	125	1	8
58	Andre Williams	NYG	8	$0	330	3	6	40	2	8
59	Roy Helu	WAS	10	$0	190	2	40	295	1	8
60	Stepfan Taylor	ARI	4	$0	275	3	20	125	1	8
61	James Starks	GB	9	$0	380	3	12	80	0	8
62	C.J. Anderson	DEN	4	$0	415	2	16	95	0	8
63	Bryce Brown	BUF	9	$0	380	3	8	70	0	8
64	Latavius Murray	OAK	5	$0	360	2	10	85	1	8
65	Charles Sims	TB	7	$0	155	1	30	260	2	8
66	James White	NE	10	$0	260	2	18	150	1	8
67	Jordan Todman	JAC	11	$0	310	2	25	155	0	9
68	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	4	$0	290	2	10	115	1	9
69	Mike Tolbert	CAR	12	$0	260	2	23	140	1	9
70	Ka'Deem Carey	CHI	9	$0	250	2	30	135	1	9
71	Jacquizz Rodgers	ATL	9	$0	175	1	43	260	1	9
72	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	CIN	4	$0	345	3	5	20	0	9
73	Lache Seastrunk	WAS	10	$0	325	2	8	65	0	9
74	Marcus Lattimore	SF	8	$0	305	2	12	80	0	9
75	Marcel Reece	OAK	5	$0	220	1	24	240	0	9
76	Chris Polk	PHI	7	$0	260	1	15	165	0	9
77	Brandon Bolden	NE	10	$0	235	2	18	115	0	9
78	Robert Turbin	SEA	4	$0	250	2	12	90	0	9
79	Daniel Thomas	MIA	5	$0	235	2	12	95	0	9
80	Bobby Rainey	TB	7	$0	285	2	9	40	0	9
81	Denard Robinson	JAC	11	$0	245	1	5	35	1	10
82	Ryan Williams	DAL	11	$0	280	1	5	50	0	10
83	Joseph Randle	DAL	11	$0	180	2	15	85	0	10
84	Mike James	TB	7	$0	280	1	10	45	0	10
85	Jonathan Dwyer	ARI	4	$0	250	1	10	70	0	10
86	Storm Johnson	JAC	11	$0	165	0	13	105	0	10
87	Dri Archer	PIT	12	$0	90	0	13	115	1	10
88	Benny Cunningham	STL	4	$0	155	1	5	45	0	10
89	Bilal Powell	NYJ	11	$0	135	0	18	125	0	10
90	Travaris Cadet	NO	6	$0	150	1	6	45	0	10
91	Ronnie Hillman	DEN	4	$0	135	0	15	115	0	10
92	DuJuan Harris	GB		$0	180	1	13	85	0	10