At this point in the fantasy football season, you’re likely no longer streaming, but things like injuries and bad performances happen, and may leave you wanting for another running back this week. Below are three running backs available in 50% of Yahoo! leagues or more (and one out there in at least 90%) in the best position to be fantasy relevant in week fourteen.[embedit snippet=”jeff-ads”]
Kenneth Dixon at New England (45% owned)
Dixon has got an increasing share of the workload in Baltimore, and there is little doubt that he is the more talented back to own over Terrance West. The problem is that West has got the touchdowns, making him the preferred play. Dixon is criminally underowned, as even with his split backfield situation, he has still be a decent contributor lately without scoring a touchdown (7.9 fantasy points per game without scoring since his snaps increased). The only thing he is missing at this rate is the touchdowns. If he snags you one, with that base, he has a shot at RB1 numbers this week.
Bilal Powell at San Francisco (44% owned)
It’s the weekly “play the backup running back against the 49ers” game, and it has mostly worked. The 49ers defense is a mess, and this is going to be a game that finds a lot of business decisions and low effort plays on defense. Powell hasn’t been insanely productive as of late, but that doesn’t matter against the 49ers. They give up literally the most fantasy points in the league, and since NaVorro Bowan went down in week four, they have given up twelve double-digit fantasy point games (in eight games). Powell should get the opportunity to produce in what will prove to be a sloppy game that you don’t want to see, but you’ll want to see the results.
Rex Burkhead at Cleveland (6% owned)
Burkhead is a relative unknown, a mostly special teams player thrust into the limelight due to injuries to Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. Bernard is out for the year and Hill is battling injury this week, which means that Burkhead will get his opportunity this week. He’s done well in his limited carries, but that is mostly in a change-of-pace role, which is questionable when translated to a more feature role. Luckily Burkhead gets the second-worst fantasy defense against running backs this week. He will be limited in carries, given that Hill isn’t banged up enough to miss the game, but don’t be surprised for him to get a good fantasy day against the woeful Browns defense.