RB RANKINGS 65-80
Auction...............$5
Bye Week.............4
Michael has a boatload of upside and could end up being a viable fantasy starter at some point in his career, but it won't happen while Marshawn Lynch remains the lead runner in Seattle. Still, the Texas A&M product is a player to watch during the preseason and training camp. If he can pass Robert Turbin and serve as the immediate backup to Lynch, he'll be worth a late-round look as a fantasy handcuff. Otherwise, Michael's immediate fantasy draft value will be limited to dynasty leaguers.
Auction...............$5
Bye Week.............10
Once a legitimate fantasy starter, Bradshaw has seen his stock decline in recent seasons due in large part to injuries. He missed most of the 2013 campaign with a bad neck that required a surgical procedure, so Bradshaw is once again at risk to finish a full season -- something he hasn't done since 2010. He re-joined the Colts in the offseason and figures to share time in the backfield with Vick Ballard, behind starter Trent Richardson. Unless injuries occur, Bradshaw doesn't figure to make much of an impact.
Auction...............$4
Bye Week.............9
Freeman, a rookie running back out of Florida State, has a chance to earn a future featured role for the Falcons. Of course, it's not likely to happen right away with Steven Jackson still the unquestioned top runner in their backfield. He's still a player to watch, though, as Freeman would have added fantasy value if he is able to earn the second spot on the team's depth chart during training camp. Overall, though, it's likely that Freeman's stock will be limited to dynasty leagues.
Auction...............$4
Bye Week.............6
Davis showed some flashes of potential in limited playing time as a rookie, but being behind a featured runner like Jamaal Charles didn't leave a whole lot of chances for the Arkansas product. That's the same scenario he's looking at for 2014, as Davis will continue to be a caddie of sorts for his explosive backfield mate. Charles did see a sizable workload in 2013, so owners who land him in Round 1 might want to nab Davis late as backfield insurance. Otherwise, his overall draft value is limited for this year.
Auction...............$4
Bye Week.............12
The Patriots backfield is one of the most difficult in the league to predict. Want proof? Blount, who was buried on the depth chart in the summer, finished with more fantasy points than bigger names like Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. He also averaged an impressive 5.0 yards per carry and scored a career-best seven rushing touchdowns. Now in Pittsburgh, Blount will serve as a backup and fantasy handcuff for Le'Veon Bell. That makes him more of a late-round running back with a low ceiling in fantasy land.
Auction...............$4
Bye Week.............12
Unrealized potential is a good definition when it comes to the description of Stewart. He's rarely been a featured runner with DeAngelo Williams also in the Carolina backfield, and recent injuries have caused him to slide in fantasy land. In fact, he's missed a combined 17 games in the last two seasons including 10 in 2013. As long as he's still mired in a committee with both Williams and Mike Tolbert, Stewart's value is going to be very limited. Unless he has a dynamite camp, he's just a late-rounder.
Auction...............$4
Bye Week.............10
Grimes has collected a total of 23 rushing attempts in his two seasons in the league. He's crept up the depth chart in Houston this summer as Andre Brown was recently cut. With Arian Foster nursing a few injuries already in training camp including a hamstring and his recovery from back surgery, there's a chance Grimes could see significan playing time if he does indeed solidify the No. 2 job in Houston.
Auction...............$4
Bye Week.............9
Starks is coming off the most impressive statistical season of his career, posting 493 rushing yards and four total touchdowns with a solid 5.5 yards-per-carry average. His time was limited, though, as Eddie Lacy had secured a featured role and made it difficult for any other Packers runner to make an impact. He'll remain with the team after signing a new deal during the offseason, so Starks will be one of the better late-round fantasy handcuffs in the NFL. Unfortunately, that's the extent of his value.
Auction...............$3
Bye Week.............11
A third-year runner from North Texas, Dunbar will open training camp as the favorite to back up incumbent starter DeMarco Murray. Whle small at 5-foot-8 and 188 pounds, Dunbar has shown flashes of potential and could wind up seeing a bigger role in the offense under new OC Scott Linehan. Remember, Reggie Bush and Joique Bell both finished in the top 20 in fantasy points among backs under Linehan in 2013. That makes Dunbar worth a late-round look in some formats, especially for owners who select Murray.
Auction...............$3
Bye Week.............4
Hillman was considered a deep sleeper last season, but the emergence of Knowshon Moreno and Montee Ball made him more of an afterthought. While he's still young and has talent, it's tough to promote the San Diego State product as much more than a late-round pick ... and that's if he beats out C.J. Anderson for the second spot on the depth chart behind Ball. Hillman, who is a good pass catcher but has had issues holding onto the football, isn't very likely to make an impact unless injuries occur ahead of him.
Auction...............$3
Bye Week.............10
A versatile running back out of Nebraska, Helu etched out a third-down role for former coach Mike Shanahan in the Redskins backfield last season. Playing behind starter Alfred Morris, he hauled in 31 receptions for 251 yards but saw a mere 93 touches overall. While his targets could increase in the pass-laden offense of new coach Jay Gruden, much of Helu's value is limited to that of a handcuff for Morris or a late-round reserve back. At best, Helu is a matchup-based flex starter for those owners in deeper PPR leagues.
Auction...............$3
Bye Week.............4
Cunningham entered his rookie season with the Rams in a battle for carries, but he finished with a mere 47 rushing attempts and little fantasy value behind eventual starter Zac Stacy. That scenario appears to be what he'll be looking at in 2014, as Stacy is the favorite to remain the featured runner for coach Jeff Fisher. With the addition of rookie Tre Mason in the NFL draft, however, Cunningham is no lock to be his top handcuff in 2014. At best, he'll have late-round value.
Auction...............$3
Bye Week.............9
Rodgers can be nicknamed "Darren Sproles lite" for his size, skill set and statistics. While his rushing totals have been mediocre, the Oregon State product has put up a combined 105 catches, 743 receiving yards and three touchdowns as a receiver out of the backfield. So while he ranked 41st among backs in standard leagues, Rodgers did hold low-end flex starter value in all formats that rewarded points for catches. Unfortunately, that's about the ceiling for Rodgers while playing behind starter Steven Jackson.
Auction...............$2
Bye Week.............12
A bruising, bowling ball of a runner who can also be an effective pass catcher, Tolbert finished with seven touchdowns and ranked 39th in fantasy points at his position last season. He's tough to trust in what is a crowded backfield, though, as DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart figure to serve as the team's one-two punch on the ground. Tolbert would have some added value if he's able to move up to third on the depth chart during camp, but overall he's not going to be worth more than a late-rounder.
Auction...............$2
Bye Week.............4
The Law Firm, who is entering his age-29 season, is pointing down in terms of his fantasy value. He's failed to rush for 1,000 or more yards in two of the last three seasons, and his touchdown production has declined as well since his 2011 departure from New England. He'll also lose more work to second-year runner Giovani Bernard, who appears to be poised to break out in the stat sheets. Green-Ellis is worth a look in the later rounds, but he's a No. 4 fantasy runner at best heading into the 2014 campaign.
Auction...............$2
Bye Week.............4
A preseason hero in the stat sheets, Anderson's success didn't equate to fantasy value during the regular campaign for the rookie out of California. With Knowshon Moreno no longer a member of the Mile High backfield, however, Anderson will be allowed a chance to compete for the second spot on the depth chart behind projected starter Montee Ball. Should he have another stellar camp, he could even push Ball for attempts. Regardless, Anderson is going to have some late-round value as a deep sleeper candidate.
RB RANKINGS 65-80