Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Andrew Thell

Joseph Addai is not having a good year. Frankly, he’s playing badly. On the season Addai is averaging just 3.7 yards a carry and 6.3 yards per reception, both of which are quite poor. That may come as a shock to his fantasy owners, though. After all, he’s put up the fifth-most fantasy points among running backs in ETB’s scoring format. And if he can keep rolling like that, fantasy owners won’t care about the paltry per-touch averages. Addai’s production has been a product of his sheer volume of opportunities on a great offense. He’s among the NFL leaders in red-zone opportunities, he’s caught 43 passes, and he’s even tossed a TD. As long as he keeps getting so many opportunities and holds off the more talented (yet apparently injury-prone) Donald Brown, he’s a great option in fantasy – even if he’s the second-best RB on his real-life team.

I know Jerome Harrison busted out for 97 total yards, 7 receptions and 2 TDs last week – but do you really want to be counting on a Cleveland Brown to advance in the fantasy playoffs? I mean, if you’re desperate you have to, but keep in mind this offense is putting up just 12.1 points a game. That’s not a big pie you’re carving a slice of, even if the Pittsburgh defense looks like a completely different animal sans Troy Polamalu, who could be donezo for the season.

Owners of Michael Turner will want to monitor Atlanta Falcons news closely in the coming days. We don’t think he’ll play and haven’t ranked him, but apparently the Falcons are more optimistic. If he does play Turner is worth a start against a sagging New Orleans rush defense. If he doesn’t play neither Jason Snelling nor Jerious Norwood are strong options with Chris Redman under center. Then again, there’s a chance Matt Ryan plays this week – if injured offensive linemen Sam Baker and Harvey Dahl suit up. It’s all very confusing and mired in contingencies. Unless definitive news breaks soon I think owners are best off just leaving all Falcons out of the starting lineup, except for Roddy White and Tony Gonzo.

The Ravens have only given up 6 rushing TDs to running backs on the season and are coming off a performance in Lambeau in which they held Ryan Grant to just 41 rushing yards on 18 carries (2.3 YPC) despite trailing all night. The Lions are going to be playing from behind, and I’m sitting Kevin Smith this week if I can help it.

See also:
- Week 14 QB Ranks
- Week 14 WR Ranks
- Week 14 TE Ranks
- Week 14 DEF Ranks

1. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans vs. STL
2. Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens vs. DET
3. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. MIA
4. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers @ CLE
5. Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams @ TEN
6. Thomas Jones, New York Jets @ TB
7. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings vs. CIN
8. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers vs. ARZ
9. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs vs. BUF
10. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts vs. DEN
11. Ricky Williams, Miami Dolphins @ JAC
12. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills @ KC
13. Cedric Benson, Cincinatti Bengals @ MIN
14. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers @ NE (Check Status)
15. Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints @ ATL
16. Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos @ IND

Running back rankings 17 through 40, after the jump…

17. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers @ CHI
18. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys vs. SD
19. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants vs. PHI
20. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles @ NYG
21. Laurence Maroney, New England Patriots vs. CAR
22. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers @ DAL
23. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears vs. GB
24. Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers @ NE
25. Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals @ SF
26. Tim Hightower, Arizona Cardinals @ SF
27. Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions @ BAL
28. Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks @ HOU
29. Quinton Ganther, Washington Redskins @ OAK
30. Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks @ HOU
31. Jason Snelling, Atlanta Falcons vs. NO
32. Carnell Williams, Tampa Bay Bucs vs. NYJ
33. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants vs. PHI
34. Ryan Moats, Houston Texans vs. SEA
35. Jerome Harrison, Cleveland Browns vs. PIT
36. Chris Brown, Houston Texans vs. SEA
37. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills @ KC
38. Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys vs. SD
39. Mike Bell, New Orleans Saints @ ATL
40. Jerious Norwood, Atlanta Falcons vs. NO
41. Correll Buckhalter, Denver Broncos @ IND
42. Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers @ DAL

See also:
- Week 14 QB Ranks
- Week 14 WR Ranks
- Week 14 TE Ranks
- Week 14 DEF Ranks