Is the running back position a dying breed? They are not as high in demand as they used to be, there are fewer featured backs and the new dual-RB system is catching on quick in the NFL. However, they remain a crucial position in fantasy football.
There are the clear cut top five or six running backs but after that there is a bit of a drop-off. Use these rankings to sort out who you should take and where.
If you have any fantasy questions or just want to chat, follow Chat Sports’ fantasy aficionados Al King (@alking906) and Tom Downey (@whatgoingdowney) on Twitter.
Don't forget to check out our Top 200!
Positional Rankings:
Al King: QB
Last Update: Aug 20, 2014
| Player | Notes |
| 1. Lesean McCoy, RB, PHI | Very up-tempo offense, focusing on runs and quick passes. McCoy will be an attempt monster. |
| 2. Adrian Peterson, RB, MIN | Arguably the best RB in the game and this offense runs through him. |
| 3. Jamaal Charles, RB, KC | Got the ball more than anyone last season, expecting more of that this season with tougher schedule. |
| 4. Matt Forte, RB, CHI | Had a career high 1,933 yards from scrimmage last season, second year in offense could be even more bountiful. |
| 5. Eddie Lacy, RB, GB | Got an incredible amount of touches last season and that looks to continue again this year. |
| 6. Marshawn Lynch, RB, SEA | Unhappy with his contract, 987 carries over last three seasons along with more use for Christine Michael and Robert Turbin makes "Beast Mode" a risky round 1 pick. |
| 7. Arian Foster, RB, HOU | Expected to be a bell-cow type under new Head Coach Bill O' Brien. Great bounce-back candidate. |
| 8. Giovani Bernard, RB, CIN | Capable of having a huge season if he shows he can handle the heavy workload. Jeremy Hill may take goal-line work but not enough to hinder his value. |
| 9. Demarco Murray, RB, DAL | Cowboys beat writer believes Murray could have career high carries, if he can stay healthy. A big IF. |
| 10. Zac Stacy, RB, STL | Stacy is one of the more steady picks as he looks to continue his rookie year success into the 2014 season. |
| 11. Alfred Morris, RB, WSH | New offensive scheme has a lot of people questioning Morris. Should still be big part of offense. |
| 12.Le'Veon Bell, RB, PIT | Easily the most talented back on the roster with Blount possibly taking an occasional TD away. |
| 13. Andre Ellington, RB, ARI | Very explosive athlete who will be plenty involved in both the run and pass game. |
| 14. Doug Martin, RB, TB | Currently the leader for carries in a crowded backfield that may want to use a rotation. But Martin could run away with job if he returns to elite form. |
| 15. Montee Ball, RB, DEN | An emergency appendectomy just 33 days before week 1 puts a question mark on Ball's opening game status. |
| 16. Ryan Mathews, RB, SD | Mathews had a career year last season and will be relied on again to lead the Chargers' backfield. |
| 17. C.J. Spiller, RB, BUF | What to do with Spiller? Draft at your own risk, could prove big dividends though. |
| 18. Ben Tate, RB, CLE | If we're being honest here, it's far too early to gauge exactly what is going to happen in the Cleveland backfield. |
| 19. Frank Gore, RB, SF | A 31-year-old running back is often undesirable and this could be the year that Gore falls off the edge, but I wouldn't count on it yet. His workload will be reduced though. |
| 20. Reggie Bush, RB, DET | Supposed reduced workload could hurt value but should see increase in receptions making him a valuable PPR asset. |
| 21. Toby Gerhart, RB, JAC | Gerhart is the lead back in an offense that should give him all the opportunities in the world. |
| 22. Bishop Sankey, RB, TEN | Titans coaching staff seems to be serious about making him earn his snaps. Currently listed with the third string behind Shonn Greene and Dexter McCluster. |
| 23. Rashad Jennings, RB, NYG | Early favorite to lead the Giants in rushing attempts with Andre Williams getting the goal line work and stealing some carries away. |
| 24. Stevan Ridley, RB, NE | Ridley is still the most capable between the tackles running back in this backfield and should get enough goal-line and early down work to have value. |
| 25. Shane Vereen, RB, NE | Best receiver out of the backfield for New England but his lack of carries this preseason is concerning. |
| 26. Chris Johnson, RB, NYJ | You might want to sit down for this. The Jets OC said that he is a 'first ballot Hall of Famer.' Let the laughing commence. |
| 27. Joique Bell, RB, DET | Bell is splitting the backfield with Reggie Bush but will get the goal-line work and between the tackle carries. |
| 28. Mark Ingram, RB, NO | Have a feeling that this is the year to own Mark Ingram, but please, don't ask me why? In a contract year and could be auditioning for other teams. |
| 29. Trent Richardson, RB, IND | Richardson has averaged only 3.0 yards per carry in the NFL and has yet to live up to his potential. He's hard to trust at this point. |
| 30. Steven Jackson, RB, ATL | Jackson has already suffered a hamstring injury and is listed as out indefinitely. He is expected to be ready for week 1. Still a very risky pick. |
| 31. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, OAK | Admitted to contemplating retirement after last season and didn't look like the MJD we are used to in 2013. |
| 32. Darren McFadden, RB, OAK | Still only 26, the book is out on McFadden. Talented runner with huge injury risk. |
| 33. Lamar Miller, RB, MIA | Very shaky O-line and potential inconsistent QB play make Miller a risky bet. He has averaged 4.4 yards per carry in his NFL career up to this point. |
| 34. Darren Sproles, RB, PHI | Sproles will see a lot of work in the slot and possibly in a two-back backfield next to McCoy in special packages that will keep defenses guessing. |
| 35. Fred Jackson, RB, BUF | Bills have been working in packages where both Spiller and Jackson are on the field at the same time. Jackson could be decent value in the late rounds. |
| 36.Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR | Williams may be the starter, but I believe that Stewart will have more of an impact on the season, both in real life and in fantasy. |
| 37. Danny Woodhead, RB, SD | He is very good at what he does and should continue to work as a receiving back out of the backfield for the Chargers offense. PPR value is much higher. |
| 38.Deangelo Williams, RB, CAR | Panthers are expected to lean heavy on the run game with their lack of weapons in the passing game and Williams is the projected starter. |
| 39. Chris Ivory, RB, NYJ | Going to work as the "thunder" to Chris Johnson's "lightning" and should see the majority of the goal line work. |
| 40. Terrance West, RB, CLE | Talented rookie in an offense that should have enough rushing attempts to give two running backs fantasy value. |
| 41. Andre Williams, RB, NYG | Williams has looked very good so far this preseason and is the favorite for goal-line work, adding even more value. |
| 42. Pierre Thomas, RB, NO | Listed as the No. 3 running back behind Ingram and Robinson, Thomas is going to be used as the third-down running back. |
| 43. Carlos Hyde, RB, SF | The direct backup to the 31-year-old Frank Gore. Could force a timeshare with solid play. |
| 44. Ray Rice, RB, BAL | A two game suspension to begin the season and coming off a terrible year. Rice is a very shaky pick this season. |
| 45. James Starks, RB, GB | Eddie Lacy's handcuff who averaged 5.53 yards per carry and is the direct backup with Franklin no longer in the mix. |
| 46. Jeremy Hill, RB, CIN | Big back with loads and talent and will split time with Gio Bernard, getting most of the short-yardage and goal-line work. |
| 47. Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL | Backing up the 31-year-old Steven Jackson and could see good amount of work as the Falcon try to maintain Jackson's health. |
| 48. Khiry Robinson, RB, NO | Currently expected to split the early down reps with Mark Ingram. |
| 49. Benny Cunningham, RB, STL | Working his way up the Rams' depth chart and is currently the backup for Zac Stacy. |
| 50. Donald Brown, RB, SD | Mathews is expected to be the workhorse with Woodhead playing the part of receiving back, leaving Brown an injury away from any real value. |
| 51. Stefan Taylor, RB, ARI | Going to see plenty of short-yardage work and I believe many will be shocked by the amount of carries he will see per game. |
| 52. Dexter McCluster, RB, TEN | Could put up decent numbers as the check down target for Jake Locker. The Titans will look for ways to get him involved. Will be a better real life option than fantasy option. |
| 53. Knile Davis, RB, KC | Super handcuff: Davis is the direct backup to Jamaal Charles and will see a ton of work if Charles goes down. |
| 54. Ronnie Hillman, RB, DEN | Looks to be the backup to Montee Ball who is recovering from an appendectomy. |
| 55. Bernard Pierce, RB, BAL | Ray Rice is suspended for the first two games of the season putting Pierce on the draft radar and should still see work once Rice returns. |
| 56. Shonn Greene, RB, TEN | Has the rookie Bishop Sankey and Dexter McCluster to share the backfield with. Has the makings of a true RBBC. |
| 57. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, IND | With Ballard now out for the year, Bradshaw is the backup to Trent Richardson. |
| 58.Knowshon Moreno, RB, MIA | Reported to camp out of shape, had to have a knee procedure done and is behind a mediocre O-line. I'm not drafting him. |
| 59. Christine Michael, RB, SEA | Lynch could begin to be phased out in the final year of his contract and Michael will be the beneficiary. |
| 60. Robert Turbin, RB, SEA | As far as Lynch's backups go, Turbin has looked to be the better of the two this preseason. |